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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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All the best early Black Friday streaming deals live: Apple TV+, AMC+, Spotify, and more

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 11:38
The best early Black Friday streaming deals at a glance: BEST So far Apple TV+ (Prime Video add-on) $5.99/month for 6 months (save $42) Get Deal Best annual plan Walmart+ (includes Peacock OR Paramount+) $49/year for your first year (save $49) Get Deal Best for Christmas movies Hallmark+ (Prime Video add-on) $2/month for 2 months (save $5.99/month) Get Deal Best bundle deal MGM+ and AMC+ bundle (Prime Video add-on) $3.25/month for 2 months (save $9.74/month) Get Deal

This has been a rough year for bank accounts overall, but streaming services in particular have really upped the ante. Nearly every major streamer got more expensive in 2025, including Netflix, Peacock, HBO Max, Apple TV+, YouTube TV, Disney+, Hulu, and Paramount+. So needless to say, we're extra excited about this year's Black Friday streaming deals. We could all use some discounts, amirite?

Black Friday is famously the best time of year to sign up for streaming services, as you can typically score some serious savings on monthly or annual subscription fees. And we're pleased to report that this year is no different. If you're looking for a way to cut back on streaming costs for 2026, now's a great time to take advantage of a majorly discounted subscription.

One thing to note: most Black Friday streaming deals are limited to new and returning subscribers (as in, you once subscribed to Peacock, but cancelled your subscription months ago) only.

We're still patiently waiting for the heavy hitters to drop their annual Cyber Week deals, but since Amazon's official Black Friday sale kicked off on Nov. 20, several impressive Prime Video add-on streaming deals are already live. In 2024, Peacock, Paramount+, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max all dropped their deals closer to Black Friday proper. So we'll certainly be keeping our eyes peeled and will update you when those go live.

In the mean time, you can already lock in some serious savings on streaming — particularly if you're a Prime member or Prime Video subscriber. Here are all the best early Black Friday streaming deals live.

Best early Black Friday streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV+ Apple TV+ (Prime Video add-on) $5.99/month for 6 months (save $42) Get Deal Why we like it

Apple TV+, just like several other streamers, raised its subscription cost by 30 percent a few months back — from $9.99 to $12.99 per month. So this deal, which knocks the price down to only $5.99 per month for half a year, is much appreciated. The only catch? It's in the form of a Prime Video add-on, meaning you need to be a Prime member or Prime Video subscriber to secure the subscription discount.

Apple TV+ features a virtually all-original lineup filled with Emmy-winners like The Studio, Ted Lasso, Severance, and The Morning Show and Oscar-winners and nominees like CODA and Killers of the Flower Moon. TL;DR: You'll get more than your money's worth with this Black Friday deal.

More Black Friday streaming deals

Half-Life 3 announcement: Why people think its happening

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 11:24

There's probably never been another unannounced video game with more hype around it than Half-Life 3, the theoretical follow-up to Valve's seminal first-person shooter series that has been mostly dormant since 2007. Now, as Kotaku and others have noted, a lot of folks online are theorizing that we're actually going to see or hear about it soon.

If you've been following games for a long time, that's probably pretty hard to believe. We've all been down this road before with Half-Life 3. However, there is a tiny bit of smoke to this fire. For starters, the series got an injection of life back in 2020 with the launch of Half-Life: Alyx for VR headsets, a game whose ending has major story implications for the future of the series, assuming it has a future. Data-miners also identified files for something in Valve's database called "HLX" in 2024, and further reporting on that has concluded that it is a new Half-Life game.

SEE ALSO: Valve announces new Steam Machine console: Price, specs, release date

The simplest and most believable theory going around is that Valve is going to launch Half-Life 3 next year alongside its new Steam Machine home console. For more than two decades, new Half-Life releases have always been meant to sell you something else alongside the game. Half-Life 2 was the first blockbuster release on Steam, Half-Life 2: Episode 2 was bundled with Portal and Team Fortress 2, and Half-Life: Alyx was a system seller for the Valve Index VR headset. If Valve wants to get people interested in the Steam Machine, marketing it alongside a new Half-Life game would definitely do the trick.

You say there are two games, but I only see one, Valve. Credit: Screenshot: Valve/Steam

Beyond that, there's an upcoming releases page specifically for Valve products on Steam. While the "Games" tab only shows Valve's in-development multiplayer shooter Deadlock right now, there's actually a little "2" next to it, meaning there may be one more unannounced game alongside that. As Kotaku noted, some believed that Nov. 18 would be the day of the announcement because that was when Alyx was announced several years ago, but that day came and went with nothing.

There's a slight (in my opinion) possibility that the game is announced at The Game Awards in December, which is something people online have also speculated about. While that is the only big game announcement event in the near future, it also stands to reason that Valve doesn't need anyone else's platform for Half-Life 3. It would be, by a wide margin, the most seismic video game announcement in more than a decade. Valve could just throw a trailer up on YouTube in the middle of the night, and it would still break the internet.

Fingers crossed we get some kind of resolution to all of this in the next year or so.

When Black Friday sales start and end: Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, Kohl’s and more

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 11:21

Remember when Black Friday was an in-person, rush-the-store event held only on the actual Friday after Thanksgiving? Thankfully, those days are long gone. Now, the sales last for weeks, you can shop online, and there is no reason for a stampede of shoppers.

In fact, in many cases, the Black Friday deals have already begun. The shopping team at Mashable has collected some of the best early Black Friday deals — but here's all you need to know about when the shopping begins for some of the major retailers.

Walmart

The Walmart Black Friday deals span nearly half of November. It had deals from Nov. 14-16, but will have another event Nov. 25-30. It will also have deals on Dec. 1, aka Cyber Monday.

SEE ALSO: 60+ early Black Friday deals: Score huge discounts on MacBooks, Nintendo Switch 2, Keurig, and Garmin Amazon

Amazon's Black Friday sale runs from today, Nov. 20, through Cyber Monday.

Best Buy

The retailer gave the events a bunch of different names, but in plain English, Best Buy has had deals going since Halloween and will continue to do so through Cyber Monday. It's actual Black Friday sale, however, began today, Nov. 20.

Kohl's

Kohl's Black Friday deals kick off Nov. 23 and run through Nov. 29.

Target

Target is promoting deals pretty much the entirety of November and December. It started its promotions on Nov. 1 and they run through Christmas Eve.

45+ Amazon Black Friday deals: We found record prices on AirPods, Kindles, and Anker power stations

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 11:12
A glance at the best Black Friday deals at Amazon Best Apple deal Apple AirPods 4 with ANC $109.99 (save $69.01) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Christmas Tree $26.99 (save $18) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) $124.99 (save $35) Get Deal Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $349 (save $450) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Black or Smoke White) $298 (save $131) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $199.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer $152.99 (save $27) Get Deal Best beauty tech deal Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex $179.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $499.99 (save $400) Get Deal

Black Friday falls on Nov. 28 this year, but that doesn't mean you need to wait until after pumpkin pie to shop. Amazon's official Black Friday sale is already underway, and we're seeing a bunch of epic deals. Some of our favorite products from Bose, Apple, Anker, and Lego are on sale, in addition to Amazon devices like Kindles and the Echo lineup. Shopping early means you get to relax during the hustle of the holiday shopping season. Plus, buying in November likely means everything will arrive with plenty of time to get wrapped.

Amazon has dropped prices on many seasonal must-haves, including some of our favorite gifts for 2025. Some are even back down at all-time low prices that match what we saw during October Prime Day or even cheaper.

SEE ALSO: The 40+ best early Black Friday deals: We found record prices on Apple gadgets, headphones, TVs, and robot vacuums

Check back here as we continue to update this page with new sale info and fresh product drops. It's also worth checking out Black Friday sales at competing retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart to make sure you're getting the best deal. Another insider shopping tip is to do a few seconds of researching price history. Mashable's favorite Amazon price tracker, camelcamelcamel, will let you know if the deal you're seeing is actually worth snatching up.

Best Amazon Black Friday Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 with ANC $109.99 at Amazon
$179 Save $69.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple deals are going hard this Black Friday. The Apple AirPods 4 with ANC are sitting at a record-low price at Amazon of $109.99. These are an upgraded model of the entry-level AirPods that earned a coveted Mashable Choice Award. They come with great active noise cancellation, a snug but comfortable fit, and a great price.

More Black Friday Apple deals at AmazonBest Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Christmas Tree $26.99 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Lego makes for some of the most wonderful gifts, and it's also a great activity for quality time with friends or family. Fitting for the season, the Lego Christmas Tree is on sale at Amazon for a record-low price of $26.99, marked down from $44.99. This Lego set could make for a great gift or a fun way for kids to have their own tree this year.

More early Black Friday Lego dealsBest Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $124 at Amazon
$159 Save $35   Get Deal Why we like it

Down at a record-low price, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is Mashable's favorite Kindle. It can get up to 12 weeks of battery life before you'll need to recharge, and the 16GB storage gives plenty of room for downloaded books. Gift it to the reader in your life or snag one for yourself to stay entertained during holiday travel. It's also fully waterproof, so you can invite it along to the pool or on your tropical winter vacation.

More Kindle dealsBest portable power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $349 at Amazon
$799 Save $450   Get Deal Why we like it

The new Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is one of my favorite portable power stations to hit the market this year. Anker's new Gen 2 models focus on portability, and the C1000 Gen 2 is shockingly easy to carry around at 25 pounds. It's a great model for taking to the campground or keeping in the garage in case of power outages. Thanks to Amazon's Black Friday sale, this model is down to a new record low.

More Black Friday portable power station dealsBest headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Black or Smoke White) $298
$429 Save $131   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for the most comfortable noise-cancelling headphones on the market, you want the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. As long as you're cool with black or white, they're on sale for $298. Since we spend plenty of the day listening to music, podcasts, or streaming YouTube, there's good reason to invest in a super comfortable pair. Of course, they'll make for a special gift this holiday season, or consider it a gift of self-care to get yourself through holiday travel.

More Black Friday headphones dealsBest smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch SE 3 earns the top spot on Mashable's list of the best smartwatches. The SE 3 is the first SE model to come with an always-on display. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth wrote, "In addition to its gorgeous OLED display, it has the same S10 chip inside the Ultra 3, the same water resistance as the Series 11, and all the necessary features you're looking for in a smartwatch." All of that now comes in at under $200 thanks to this Black Friday sale at Amazon.

More early Black Friday smartwatch deals

Gift Lab

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 11:03

The latest Anker Solix C1000 power station is under $350 for Black Friday — get the best-ever price on Amazon

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 10:56

SAVE 56%: The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is on sale for $349 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's the lowest-ever price for this model

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $379.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $419.01   Get Deal

We're expecting a wave of deals on portable power stations over Black Friday. We hope to see record-low prices on the likes of Bluetti, Jackery, DJI, and Anker. But you don't need to wait any longer because the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is already down to its lowest-ever price in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

The latest Anker Solix C1000 offers shorter recharging times and smaller dimensions compared to the original. When Mashable reviewed the new model, Lauren Allain said it was the "perfect model for taking on a weekend camping trip or keeping around the house for occasional power outages."

SEE ALSO: Save $70 on the Anker Solix C300X portable power station at Best Buy

The new Anker Solix C1000 offers a 1,024Wh capacity for keeping all your devices juiced up when you need them most. It includes three USB-C ports, one USB-A, and five standard AC. And it recharges in under 49 minutes, so you should still have time to get sufficient charge even in a last-minute emergency.

Pick up the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 for its lowest-ever price in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

Googles Pluribus Easter egg is a little too good

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 10:44

Considering the complexities of the set-up in Vince Gilligan's Pluribus, it's a little hard to put yourself in Carol's (Rhea Seehorn) shoes to know how you'd react. But if you're looking for a taste, just type "Pluribus" into Google Search.

SEE ALSO: I have a 'Pluribus' question: What's going on with the animals?

The search engine's latest Easter egg celebrates the Apple TV series with a neat trick if you search for the series title. Underneath the search bar and above the results, you'll see a small sentence scrolling from the right reading:

"What are you searching for, Carol?"

Uhhh... Credit: Mashable screenshot: Google

The response mimics the all-seeing, all-knowing hive mind that is the human race in Pluribus, a connected population known as those of The Joining, who constantly communicate with the protagonist Carol as one. They know everything in an instant and deliver incessant positive reinforcement — something Carol realises through speaking with them through the phone or in person.

Essentially, the Joined are giving AI chatbot — which makes Google's Easter egg, sitting right above AI Overviews in Search and created by a platform whose own Gemini is the answer to OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, and xAI's Grok, pretty damn freaky.

If anyone needs me I'll be in a Norwegian ice hotel catching up on Bloodsong of Wycaro.

Featured Video For You 'In Your Dreams' director Alex Woo teaches us how to draw Baloney Tony

Shop the best early board game deals now ahead of Black Friday

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 10:40
Best early Black Friday board game deals at a glance: Best Early Black Friday Cooperative Board Game Deal Horrified Dungeons & Dragons $24.49 (Save $10.50) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Family Board Game Deal The Chameleon $19.99 (Save $5) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Board Game With App Deal Soundtrack Trivia $39.99 (Save $10) Get Deal

Forget the next gen console for a moment. It’s almost Black Friday, the start of the holiday season — which means it’s also the start of family board game season. Board games, or table top games as they’re sometimes called, are all part of the holiday tradition: Get the family together, bust out the board games, get seriously competitive. And with plenty of Black Friday deals already live, you can find great discounts on a variety of board games — games for all ages and all budgets — that will keep you and yours entertained for hours.

SEE ALSO: The 17 best Advent calendars to buy in November. Take advantage of early Black Friday sales.

Luckily for you, we know a thing or two about board games. We also know the score when it comes to finding the best Black Friday deals around — even when there’s still a week to go until the big day itself. And don’t worry if you’re late to the game because we’ll keep updating this page as new deals go live. Keep checking back in the days leading up to and during Black Friday, the biggest shopping event of the year, for even more discounts.

Best early Black Friday cooperative board game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ravensburger Horrified Dungeons & Dragons $24.49 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $10.50   Get Deal Why we like it

The latest edition in the excellent Horrified board game series takes on four classic monsters from Dungeons & Dragons — Beholder, Displacer Beast, Mimic, and Red Dragon. The aim of the game is to work together and defend the land against these monsters, while saving innocent citizens along the way — but be careful the monsters don’t attack. Horrified can get unexpectedly tense in the final rounds, and you’ll be surprised how tricky it is to work together and slay the beasts. You can play with different combinations of monsters, which means each game is different.

Best early Black Friday family board game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Big Potato Games The Chameleon $19.99 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $5   Get Deal Why we like it

This brilliant game of deception and bluffing is sure to raise plenty of laughs. Each player picks a card, but only one of them will pick the Chameleon card. The object is to then play a word association game, with each player describing a secret word everyone knows except the Chameleon. It’s the Chameleon’s job to keep their identity hidden and bluff their way through by picking up on clues. The seriously silly fun.

Best early Black Friday board game with app deal Opens in a new window Credit: Game Night Media Soundtrack Trivia Board Game $39.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10   Get Deal Why we like it

This game is part of a recent trend for app-assisted board games — hey, there really is an app for everything these days —which syncs with your smart device and plays a clip from a movie soundtrack. You then have to guess the movie in 15 seconds or less. It’s safe to say it will best suit movie buffs, but can choose your favorite movie genres and movie decades.

More early Black Friday board game deals

The Kindle Colorsoft is finally under $200 — Black Friday is the only time to buy this e-reader

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 10:12

SAVE OVER $30: The Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) is on sale for $169.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's the lowest-ever price for this model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) $169.99 at Amazon
$250 Save $80.01   Get Deal

I've been hunting for deals for many years. I know my around a sale, so Black Friday doesn't really scare me anymore. But does that mean I can look at every product and tell you with complete confidence whether or not it's worth your cash? No, unfortunately not.

It's a good thing then that I work with loads of experts who test these products on a regular basis, so when I see the Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) on sale for $169.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale, I can ask them for their opinion.

I asked Mashable's resident Kindle expert Samantha Mangino for her assessment: "The Kindle Colorsoft is a solid e-reader. It has everything I love in the Paperwhite — adjustable warmth and brightness, a waterproof rating, and long battery life — but it has the bonus of color. Having tested the Colorsoft for our guide on the best color e-readers, I found it was a good e-reader at a not so great price. However, its Black Friday price of $169.99 is really superb. It finally brings the device under $200, one of the only color e-readers to be that cheap."

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

What's clear is that buying the Kindle Colorsoft at full price was not a straightforward decision, but at under $170? It's hard to resist. This e-reader has never dropped to anything near this price before, so we really can't see it falling any lower over Cyber Week. If you're interested in buying, this is your moment to strike.

Score the best-ever price on the Kindle Colorsoft in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

Everything to know about Black Friday 2025: Best early deals, sale dates, price matching, and more

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 10:09

Anyone who's had even a cursory brush with online shopping in the last few weeks has noticed the shift — Black Friday 2025 is here.

The shopping holiday, which could more accurately be described as a shopping mega-event, has retailers dropping sales all throughout the month of November and into early December. The days of lining up outside of your local Target in the freezing late-night hours of Thanksgiving are long gone. The sheer amount of savings that can be found online during Black Friday and Cyber Week is unmatched by any other sale.

SEE ALSO: I found 30+ early Black Friday tech deals I'd recommend to friends and family: Save on Apple, Samsung, DJI

Great as the savings potential may be, it's an insane amount of information for any normal person to take in. That's why our team of shopping experts is hard at work sourcing the best deals around the clock — and why we've created this guide to everything you need to know about Black Friday 2025. You can also check out our guide to the best Black Friday deals so far.

When exactly is Black Friday 2025?

The actual date of Black Friday falls on Friday, Nov. 28. However, most retailers' sales are live before and after the actual day of Black Friday. Here are some of the major retailer sales we're tracking this year:

  • Amazon: Amazon's Black Friday sale starts Thursday, Nov. 20, and ends on Monday, Dec. 1.

  • Best Buy: In-stores and online from Thursday, Nov. 20 to Friday, Nov. 29.

  • Walmart: Online only from Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Thursday, Nov. 27; online and in-stores from Friday, Nov. 28 to Sunday, Nov. 30; online only for Cyber Monday on Dec. 1.

How long do Black Friday sales last?

Though Black Friday deals start weeks early, most sales wrap up with Cyber Monday, which this year falls on Monday, Dec. 1. Historically, we have seen some deals linger into Tuesday (and sometimes even the rest of what's called Cyber Week), but if that's the case, we'll be sure to track any markdowns in our ongoing deals coverage.

SEE ALSO: Mashable will send the best Black Friday deals directly to your phone — how it works What deals will be available on Black Friday?

Though the when of Black Friday has changed over the years, the what of Black Friday stays true to its origins. That's to say, if you're shopping for tech gadgets, appliances, home and kitchen products, or even cars, then Black Friday will likely be the best time of the year to shop. In terms of tech, we especially recommend picking up TVs, laptops, headphones, Apple products, Amazon devices, and robot vacuums during this time of year.

Granted, you're likely to find pretty much anything under the sun on sale during the shopping holiday: we've also spotted lots of outdoor gear, Legos and toys, gaming consoles, stocking stuffers, and reusable water bottles on sale in years' past.

In particular, you can expect big discounts on:

  • QLED and OLED TVs from Samsung, Sony, LG, Hisense, TCL, and Fire TV

  • Apple MacBooks, iPads, and AirPods

  • Power stations from Jackery, Anker, and Bluetti

  • Vacuums from Dyson, iRobot, Eufy, Roborock, Dreame, and Bissell

  • Amazon devices, including Echo speakers, Eero Wi-Fi extenders, Ring and Blink cameras

  • Kindles, e-readers, and books

  • Video games, gaming laptops, and gaming console bundles

  • Fitness tech from Oura, Garmin, Whoop, and Fitbit

  • Flagship headphones and earbuds from Bose, Sony, Beats, JBL, and Apple

  • Household essentials

  • Designer clothing and accessories

  • Skincare, beauty, and grooming products

  • Kitchen appliances

The top early Black Friday deals so far

Most official Black Friday sales haven't kicked off just yet, but the spirit of the season is certainly there with early Black Friday deals we're spotting. Here are some of the best:

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Best headphones deal: Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $298 at Amazon
$429 Save $131   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Best Apple deal: Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $349.99 at Amazon
$399 Save $49.01   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Narwal Best robot vacuum deal: Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra $799.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $500   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Best kitchen deal: Ninja Slushi $269.99 at Amazon
$369.99 Save $100   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Best Kindle deal: Like-New Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $106.99 at Amazon
$143.99 Save $37.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Best laptop deal: Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus $349 at Best Buy
$599 Save $250   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Best power station deal: Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 $699 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $800   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Best TV deal: Hisense 65-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $547.99 at Amazon
$847.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Check out 60+ of our favorite early Black Friday deals here.

Do any stores price-match Black Friday deals?

Short answer: not really, or at least, not against each other. Long answer: Earlier this year, Target ended its price-matching policy, which allowed customers to price-match from competitors' stock at the time of purchase or within 14 days. Target stood alone as the sole retailer with an official price-matching policy last Black Friday.

This year, Target still has its holiday price match policy, which allows you to price match against Target's own prices, from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24. That means if you buy something at Target and it gets discounted later, you can get still get the discount. Best Buy also offers a price match policy year-round, but it excludes products on sale from "the Thursday before Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving," essentially excluding them from Black Friday price matching. Amazon and Walmart offer no price match policies.

How to shop smart on Black Friday

It's easy to get caught up in the swarm of markdowns and record-low prices that pop up during Black Friday. The best way to avoid buyer's remorse and actually score the savings you want? Come in with a plan and understanding the tools at your disposal. Here's what we mean:

Make a game plan

This may seem basic, but making a list of what you're shopping for can go such a long way to avoid deals FOMO. Begin by creating a list for yourself, and then consider what holiday gifts you need to purchase. This can help you whittle down the absolute essentials of what you want to grab.

SEE ALSO: 20+ early Black Friday deals under $25

That said, it's also great to have a general understanding of what will be available, so take a peek at the latest Black Friday ad scans (again, ideally after you've made your own list). For your convenience, we've perused the major ones, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, Lowe's, and Home Depot.

As a final step, having a sense of your holiday shopping budget can be helpful in avoiding overspending (or at the very least, having some awareness that it's happening).

Organize your Amazon wishlist

In line with making a game plan, you'll want to dust off your Amazon wishlist and make sure it's up to date. Amazon has convenient wishlist alert features, which can definitely come in handy during the chaos of Black Friday.

Download retailer apps

As annoying as having too many apps on your phone can be, downloading apps from retailers like Best Buy and Walmart can make shopping easier and give you access to exclusive deals. That's especially true for Best Buy, which likes to offer limited-time deals available only on its app.

Use price tracking tools

Price tracking tools can be absolute game changers any time of year, but especially during Black Friday. The unanimous favorite of the Mashable Shopping team is camelcamelcamel, an Amazon price tracking tool that details essential knowledge like record low prices and price histories across the mega-retailer.

Of course, we also recommend following along the Mashable shopping team's Black Friday coverage — we make sure to take the full context of a deal into account to only choose the best of the best.

Which day has cheaper deals, Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

While these were once two distinct days of deals, the month-long-ifcation of Black Friday essentially means that both Black Friday and Cyber Monday get wrapped up into one long wave of discounts to punctuate the end of the month. That's not to say what's available on Black Friday will absolutely be better or worse than what's available on Cyber Monday.

Historically, we've seen really good TV deals on Black Friday sell out by Cyber Monday, while laptop deals tend to stick around (and therefore, be worth holding out for any additional price drops come Cyber Monday). Ultimately, though, if you see a deal you're interested in during Black Friday weekend, chances are it's worth grabbing it when you spot it.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping teaser has arrived

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 09:56

In The Hunger Games movies, Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) was a grizzled mentor, ravaged by years of trauma and drink. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping takes audiences back 24 years to Haymitch's youth, when he was a tribute in the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

The teaser for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping introduces Joseph Zada in the role of young Haymitch. But keen eyes will also spot some other familiar figures from the Jennifer Lawrence-fronted Hunger Games movies. Playing Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee, Jesse Plemons takes on the role originated by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Elle Fanning pops in as a younger Effie Trinket, originally portrayed by Elizabeth Banks. Ralph Fiennes steps into the role of President Snow, previously played by the late Donald Sutherland, and then Tom Blyth in the prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Not spotted in this trailer are Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman (formerly Stanley Tucci) and Maya Hawke as Wiress (previously Amanda Plummer).

Also joining the cast are Glenn Close, Mckenna Grace, Whitney Peak, Iris Apatow, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Ben Wang. Director Francis Lawrence, who's helmed every Hunger Games movie to date, is back in charge, with Billy Ray on board as screenwriter.

Playing as a sequel to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and a prequel to The Hunger Games (2008), The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping adapts the 2025 novel from Suzanne Collins. So, if you haven't checked out the book yet and want to before the movie hits, your countdown begins now.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in theaters on Nov. 20, 2026.

Charli XCX shines in trailer for A24 music industry satire The Moment

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 09:49

She's an icon, she's a legend, and she IS the moment. The trailer for Aidan Zamiri's The Moment starring Charli XCX just dropped and it looks set to be another iconic moment for the brat singer.

The movie is based on an original idea by Charli XCX and the cast includes Rosanna Arquette, Alexander Skarsgård, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Kylie Jenner, Hailey Benton Gates, Isaac Powell, and Rachel Sennott.

The Moment will hit theaters Jan. 30.

Apple AirPods 4 have never been cheaper at Amazon — score these popular earbuds for $109.99 this Black Friday

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 09:36

SAVE OVER $60: Apple AirPods 4 are on sale for $109.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's the lowest-ever price for this model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $109.99 at Amazon
$179 Save $69.01   Get Deal

Amazon has kicked off its Black Friday sale with a huge number of record-low deals, and we're not talking about big discounts on products you've never even heard of. We're talking about best-ever prices on the most popular products, like AirPods.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 are down to their best-ever price at Amazon, but that's not all: Apple AirPods 4 are on sale for $109.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's the lowest-ever price for this model, so there really couldn't be a better time to shop.

SEE ALSO: Stuff Your Kindle Day is live — score free romance books in the Closed-Door Book Blast until Nov. 22

The only question we have at this early stage is whether or not we're going to see anything better. Usually, we would say that patience can be rewarded, but this really is a low price and stock on Apple has been known to drop over these busy shopping seasons. This price is better than we saw in the October Prime Day, so we would be surprised to see another dip.

Grab the Apple AirPods 4 at their best-ever price in the Amazon Black Friday sale. For more deals on AirPods, check out our breakdown of everything on offer over Black Friday.

Wow, Apple AirPods Pro 3 are down to a new record-low price for Black Friday — save over $20 at Amazon

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 09:21

SAVE OVER $20: Apple AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for $219.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's the lowest-ever price for this model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $219.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $29.01   Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday sale has started incredibly strongly. So strongly in fact that I'm starting to worry where we can go from here. We've already been treated to record-low prices across the board. Are the prices going to continue to fall? That seems unlikely. Will everything just stay the same throughout Cyber Week? I can't see that happening either.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for $219.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's the lowest-ever price for this model.

Seeing best-ever prices on brand new AirPods is obviously great, but it has left me wondering how Amazon can possibly top this. Has Amazon just thrown all its cards on the table right away with a huge deal on the most popular earbuds? I should be happy to see this deal but it has left me puzzled.

SEE ALSO: Stuff Your Kindle Day is live — score free romance books in the Closed-Door Book Blast until Nov. 22

In Mashable's review of the AirPods Pro 3, Adam Doud said "The AirPods Pro 3 are a remarkable upgrade in functionality over their predecessors, with better battery life and ANC, as well as a new heart rate sensor. If you need a new set of AirPods, this is an easy buy." And at this new low price, it becomes an even easier decision.

Score the best-ever price on Apple AirPods Pro 3 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. For more deals on AirPods, check out our breakdown of everything on offer over Black Friday.

Critical Role fans, heres your first look at The Mighty Nein Origins on WEBTOON

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 09:00

It's a great time to be a Critter. Critical Role's fourth campaign is in full swing, and their second animated series, The Mighty Nein, just premiered on Prime Video.

That's not the end of The Mighty Nein goodness, though! This Sunday, Nov. 23, WEBTOON will be launching Critical Role and Dark Horse's The Mighty Nein Origins graphic novels as a reformatted vertical scroll comic — and Mashable has your exclusive first look.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mighty Nein' review: Critical Role hits new highs with their darkest series yet

This prequel series delves deep into the pasts of the outcasts who will one day grow to be the heroic Mighty Nein. From Caleb Widogast's traumatic time at the Soltryce Academy to Mollymauk Tealeaf's first visit to the Fletching and Moondrop Traveling Carnival of Curiosities, there's tons to unpack in each story.

The first story to hit WEBTOON is that of everyone's favorite blue chaos agent, Jester Lavorre. As the daughter of the celebrated courtesan the Ruby of the Sea, Jester's childhood is anything but ordinary. Things get even stranger when this budding prankster encounters the Traveler, a trickster deity who encourages her mischief-making. Covering everything from Jester's youth in Nicodranas to her first meeting with the Traveler, The Mighty Nein Origins: Jester Lavorre unveils the wild pranks and mishaps that brought Jester to the Mighty Nein.

Below, get your first look at The Mighty Nein Origins in vertical scrolling form on WEBTOON.

What was Jester like before the Mighty Nein? Credit: Courtesy of WEBTOON and Dark Horse What trouble have Jester's pranks gotten her into this time? Credit: Courtesy of WEBTOON and Dark Horse "Technically..." Credit: Courtesy of WEBTOON and Dark Horse I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Credit: Courtesy of WEBTOON and Dark Horse Behold, the Traveler in all his glory. Credit: Courtesy of WEBTOON and Dark Horse The citizens of Nicodranas had better watch out. Credit: Courtesy of WEBTOON and Dark Horse What mischief will these two get up to next? Credit: Courtesy of WEBTOON and Dark Horse

The first three episodes of The Mighty Nein Origins hit WEBTOON Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. ET. Five additional episodes will be available through Fast Pass, and the series updates every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. Following Jester's arc, The Mighty Nein Origins will follow the same publication schedule as the original graphic novels, meaning Caleb's story is up next, followed by Yasha's.

The release of The Mighty Nein Origins as a webcomic is part of a partnership between Dark Horse and WEBTOON. Earlier in 2025, the two teamed up to make WEBTOON the online home of other Dark Horse titles like The Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077, Plants vs. Zombies, and The Legend of Korra.

Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins launches Nov. 23 on WEBTOON.

The Kindle Paperwhite is back to its best-ever price for Black Friday — save over $30 at Amazon

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 08:43

SAVE OVER $30: The Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) is on sale for $124.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's the lowest-ever price for this model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) $124.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal

I spend a lot of my time searching for the best deals from across the internet, but I don't generally buy much for myself. Maybe I'm too deep in the world of online shopping to ever hit "buy now." It's not that I'm reluctant to spend. It's just that there's usually nothing I want to buy. That is until now.

I went into this busy shopping season with one thing on my shopping list: a new Kindle Paperwhite. I've owned a Paperwhite for many years and I love it, but I can only charge it if it's pressed up against the wall at a very specific angle. If the floor creaks in another room, the charge drops. This cannot go on, so I'm committed to finding a good price on a new device.

SEE ALSO: Stuff Your Kindle Day is live — score free romance books in the Closed-Door Book Blast until Nov. 22

And it looks like my search is over on the first day of Amazon's Black Friday sale. The Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) is on sale for $124.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's the lowest-ever price for this model, only ever matched in the October Prime Day.

Mashable's Kindle expert, Samantha Mangino, declared in her review that the new Paperwhite "is the only one you need." Sure there are other e-readers out there, but I'm only shopping for the Kindle Paperwhite.

Score the best-ever price on the Kindle Paperwhite in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

The creator-favorite DJI Mic Mini has hit a new record-low price at Amazon — save over $90 this Black Friday

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 08:13

SAVE OVER $90: The DJI Mic Mini (2 TX, 1 RX, and Charging Case) is on sale for $78.90 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's over $90 off and the lowest price we've ever seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mic Mini (2 TX, 1 RX, and Charging Case) $78.90 at Amazon
$169 Save $90.10   Get Deal

The DJI Mic Mini is one of those products that we keep a particularly close eye on. Mashable readers seems to absolutely love it and it goes on sale a lot. That's a recipe for success, so we make sure we're the first to tell you about any new price drops. And with Amazon launching its Black Friday sale, we were waiting patiently for something to happen.

And we didn't need to wait long, because the DJI Mic Mini (2 TX, 1 RX, and Charging Case) is on sale for $78.90 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's over $90 off and the lowest price we've ever seen. It's worth noting that this item is being sold by Top Sports. We don't generally recommend third-party sellers, but Top Sports have a strong track record and a new record-low price deserves your attention.

SEE ALSO: DJI launches Neo 2 mini drone ahead of potential U.S. ban (updated)

This DJI Mic Mini bundle includes everything you could ask for: two transmitters, one charging case, four windscreens, one receiver, two magnetic clips, and all the other bits you need to start making content without delay. It's a super portable piece of kit with about 48 hours of battery life, so you really can take this mic with you wherever you plan to shoot.

Mashable's Bethany Allard reviewed this mic and said that it "offers a lot of versatility, and for a great value." But at a steep discount? It's a steal.

Score the best-ever price on the DJI Mic Mini in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

Beat the DJI ban over Black Friday — get the best-ever price on the DJI Mini 4K drone at Amazon

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 07:43

SAVE $60: The DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale for $239 in the Amazon Black Friday sale (exclusively for Prime members). That's $60 off and the lowest-ever price for this model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mini 4K Drone $239 at Amazon
$299 Save $60   Get Deal

DJI has been in the news a lot lately, and no we're not talking about how much all the TikTokers, YouTubers, and filmmakers love the brand. Unfortunately, it's looking increasingly likely that DJI drones will be banned by the end of 2025. That's bad news for creatives, and makes this Black Friday even more important.

This could be the last chance to secure a good deal on DJI drones before they cease to exist in the U.S.

Do not panic, because the DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale for $239 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. According to camelcamelcamel, that's the lowest-ever price for this model. This deal is exclusive for Prime members, but you can always sign up for a 30-day free trial to make the most of this limited-time offer. With all the deals dropping over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it's a good time to be a member.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online today

It's worth noting that this drone is being sold by the Xingtai Store. We don't generally recommend purchasing from third-party sellers on Amazon, but DJI is obviously facing problems importing its drones right now, resulting in stock issues. With that in mind, we're making some allowances right now. And anyway, the Xingtai Store has excellent reviews, so we feel comfortable making this recommendation.

Score the DJI Mini 4K drone for its best-ever price in the Amazon Black Friday sale.

2025 Black Friday ads: Best deals from Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, Kohls, Target, Home Depot, and more

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 07:19

Black Friday is fast approaching, but the reality is that it's already here in a big way. You can find discounts on hot products like MacBooks, AirPods, Lego, Pokémon, and so much more. It's the single best time of the year to secure a deal, with heavy discounts on offer from all the leading retailers.

The biggest retailers are always looking to get ahead of the competition by launching early-access deals, with savings-packed Black Friday ads that include a snapshot of what shoppers can expect. We recommend that savvy shoppers take some time to check out everything that's showcased in these ads, but if that sounds like far too much work, we can help you out.

SEE ALSO: Gaming deals are going strong ahead of Black Friday 2024

We've checked out all the best deals from the Black Friday ads of leading retailers. We're talking about the likes of Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot, and Target. Amazon doesn't release a traditional Black Friday ad, but we've still gone ahead and pulled the best deals that you can already shop. Aren't we helpful.

These are the best Black Friday deals from Black Friday ads that you can already buy online.

Best early Black Friday deals from AmazonBest early Black Friday Apple deals

AirTags

iPhones

Apple Watch

iPads

iMacs

Mac Minis

Macbooks

Headphones

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Amazon Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online today

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 07:09

Don't you just love it at this time of year? You're minding your own business, slowly approaching the end of the year, and then Black Friday hits you like a train, delivering huge discounts of MacBooks, Pokémon, Lego, and everything else on your shopping list. It's not exactly a relaxing period, but boy can you save a lot of cash. So buckle up, shoppers. We've got weeks of deals to check out.

The only way to survive and thrive over Black Friday is to do a little planning. We recommend bookmarking our many Black Friday pages so that our professional deal hunters can showcase all the offers that are genuinely worth your consideration. But besides that, we also suggest making the most out of the Black Friday ads released by leading retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

SEE ALSO: The 40+ best early Black Friday deals: We found record prices on Apple gadgets, headphones, TVs, and robot vacuums

Looking for the Amazon Black Friday ad? Aren't we all. Amazon does things a little differently from other Black Friday retailers because it doesn't release a traditional Black Friday ad. Instead, Amazon announces its plans for Black Friday via a press release and then drops a boatload of deals when the time comes.

Amazon's Black Friday sale officially begins on Nov. 20 and runs through Dec. 1, with plenty of deals on offer throughout this bumper event. According to Amazon's official press release, these are the deals we can look forward from Nov. 20:

  • Up to 55% off select home products from Shark and kitchen appliances from Ninja

  • Up to 50% off Amazon devices like the Echo Dot Max, Fire TV Stick lineup, Fire tablets, and Kindles

  • Up to 50% off electronics from JBL and Canon

  • Up to 45% off Bose audio

  • Up to 40% off kitchen items from Vitamix, Staub, Nespresso, and more

  • Up to 40% on select floorcare from Bissell and iRobot

  • Up to 40% off home entertainment from Hisense, TCL, and LG

  • Up to 40% on toys from Melissa & Doug, Little Tykes, Play-Doh, and Nerf

  • Up to 35% on select Samsung and Google products

That's a strong lineup, but it's really only a small sample of what's to come. In fact, we're already seeing record-low prices on hot items like Apple products, Lego sets, and power stations.

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