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So many robot vacuums go on sale for Black Friday that decision fatigue is imminent — unless you're specifically set on a Roomba, that is.
Roombas do tend to run slightly more expensive than competitors with the same features, so November is a wise time to buy one — Black Friday has been known to trigger new record-breaking discounts on several Roomba models. In terms of where that happens, Amazon is the best place to find a Roomba on sale despite the flop of the acquisition of iRobot by Amazon (though iRobot's own website has good options, too). Because iRobot doesn't debut new models for the year at CES in January like many other big robot vacuum brands do, you can also be confident that the Roombas on sale during Black Friday won't be phased out in a month or two.
SEE ALSO: How to choose a robot vacuum in 2024: Consider these 5 features before buyingBut wouldn't it be nice to get this Roomba in your home sooner to prepare for Thanksgiving guests or take care of the dust from the boxes of holiday decor? Several Roombas are already on sale weeks ahead of actual Black Friday on Nov. 29, including the hidden gem sitting at nearly 50% off that we've highlighted below.
This story will be updated any time a new noteworthy Roomba deal drops between now and Black Friday, so if you're still waiting for a certain model to go on sale, check back often. Not sure which Roomba model is best? Check out my guide that unpacks the differences between the main Roombas.
Best Roomba deal pre-Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j5 $399.00 at AmazonBeing offered almost 50% off the Roomba Combo j5+ weeks before Black Friday is a treat on its own, but the deal is sweetened considerably when put next to the current deal on the less-smart Roomba Combo i5+.
So for $100 less than the $499.99 Combo i5+ — let that sink in — the Combo j5+ brings home my favorite Roomba feature, one that lead me to crown the Combo j5+ as the best mopping Roomba value: iRobot's obstacle avoidance tech that keeps the vacuum from trying to suck up phone chargers or pet waste. I first experienced small obstacle avoidance when testing the Combo j7+, and it's easily the feature I prioritize most in robot vacuums now. If your previous complaint about robot vacuums was that you had to tidy up so that they wouldn't get stuck while cleaning, this will change the game.
Note that both the Combo j5 and i5 require you to be home to manually click the water tank on, and both can map your home and avoid (or tackle) carpeted rooms on command.
Other Roomba deals at AmazoniRobot Roomba Vac — $149 $249.99 (save $100.99)
iRobot Roomba Vac and Mop (Y0140) — $159 $274.99 (save $115.99)
iRobot Roomba Vac 2 with self-empty station — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)
iRobot Roomba i5+ — $279.99 $499.99 (save $220)
iRobot Roomba Combo j5 — $299.99 $529.99 (save $230)
iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ — $899.99 $999.99 (save $150)
SAVE OVER 80%: Hundreds of audiobooks are on sale at Amazon, with some discounted by over 80%.
Best audiobook deals at Amazon Best mystery audiobook deal 'The Charity Shop Detective Agency' by Peter Boland $5.99 at Amazon (save $27.91) Get Deal Best historical fiction audiobook deal 'The Good Wife of Bath' by Karen Brooks $6.99 at Amazon (save $28.10) Get Deal Best travel-inspired audiobook deal 'Burma Sahib' by Paul Theroux $7.99 at Amazon (save $17.20) Get DealNow that we're dealing with early sunsets and cooler temps, settling in with a good audiobook for the evening has a special kind of appeal. Or if you're not one to sit still for long, following along with an audiobook on a walk, during the morning commute, or while doing chores around the house is a great addition. Pop in your earbuds and you'll be whirled off to a new world, on new adventures, or heading deep into learning mode.
If you're in the mood to save some money for Black Friday sales but are still on the lookout for new audiobooks, Amazon has some great titles on sale today. Here are a few of our top picks:
Best mystery audiobook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Podium Audio 'The Charity Shop Detective Agency' by Peter Boland $5.99 at AmazonDogs Need Nice Homes, the local charity shop, has lost a favorite customer. Sarah Brown, an 86-year-old who frequented the shop, was murdered under suspicious circumstances. She held a domino in her hand with a name sketched into it upon her death. Not long after, another death occurred, also with a domino in the hand of the deceased.
The ladies who work at Dogs Need Nice Homes take it upon themselves to solve the mystery of the unidentified serial killer and find unlikely allies with the Cats Alliance across the road.
Help the charity shops solve the case with the audiobook version of The Charity Shop Detective Agency by Peter Boland. The audiobook typically costs $33.90, but thanks to Amazon's sale price, you can download the audiobook for just $5.99, which means you'll save a massive 82%.
Best historical fiction audiobook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Harper Audio 'The Good Wife of Bath' by Karen Brooks $6.99 at AmazonThe Good Wife of Bath by Karen Brooks takes us to the Middle Ages to meet Eleanor. Married off at just 12 years old to an elderly farmer, Eleanor realizes her life isn't going well. But her knack for business and a thankfully kind husband leads Eleanor to turn the tables on her fate. Follow along as the novel moves through her life's adventures, marriages, pilgrimages, and more.
With an impressive listening time of almost 20 hours, The Good Wife of Bath is a great pick if you're ready to spend some quality time with an audiobook over the holidays.
Best travel-inspired audiobook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Podium Audio 'Burma Sahib' by Paul Theroux $7.99 at AmazonFrom acclaimed writer Paul Theroux, Burma Sahib takes a glimpse into the life of Eric Blair, a conscript who's less than pleased about his assignment as a servant to the British Empire in Burma. Adjusting to a new life mixed with fellow British and the language, culture, and people of Burma prove to be a challenge for Blair. Clashing with superiors means Blair is in for quite the adventure in his new home.
Those who are fans of George Orwell books might be particularly interested in Burma Sahib, since Eric Blair chose then pen name of George Orwell.
An Amazon editor's pick, the audiobook version of Burma Sahib is on sale for just $7.99, down from the list price of $25.19 which means you're in for a 68% discount.
More audiobook deals at Amazon:Inside These Halls by Adrian J. Smith — $5.99 $33.90 (save $27.91)
The Black Swan of Paris by Karen Robards — $5.99 $33.29 (save $27.30)
The Last Boleyn by Karen Harper — $6.99 $38.69 (save $31.70)
On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin — $7.99 $46.79 (save $38.80)
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy — $7.99 $46.79 (save $38.80)
The Stories of Paul Bowles — $7.99 $46.79 (save $38.80)
SAVE $101.99: As of Nov. 7, you can get the Sony INZONE H9 Wireless Gaming Headphones for $198. That's 34% off the original price, or $101.99 off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony INZONE H9 wireless gaming headphones $198.00 at AmazonWade into the game with total immersion, with the Sony INZONE H9 Wireless Gaming Headphones. Whether you’re an esports champ or a co-op player signing on to the next Warhammer Space Marine 2 session with your pals, these headphones provide better audio with 360 spatial sound.
SEE ALSO: Where to pre-order the PlayStation 5 ProSpatial audio puts you into the action, creating a sonic panorama that tells you exactly where the action is happening on the battlefield and where you are in relation to it. Whether you’re investing in your own gaming war chest, or looking for a gift for a game aficionado, this headphone set is a great pick.
As of Nov. 7, the INZONE H9 wireless gaming headphones are available for $101.99 off. Get them for $198 and save 34%.
Tip-top sound doesn’t have room to shine unless you’re also able to eliminate distractions, and the Sony INZONE H9s do just this with noise cancellation. Passing sirens or barking dogs get mixed out of the world, allowing you to tune out distractions and focus on the game. An Ambient Sound Mode is also available, which will mix in nearby sounds so that you remain aware of your surroundings.
These wireless gaming headphones aren't only designed to tune the real world out. Bluetooth keeps them seamlessly locked into the action, but this 2.4GHz Bluetooth connection also means you'll be able to dial into other tech. Take calls from your phone or voice chat through software mid-game.
Black Friday isn't here just yet, but it kind of already is, if that makes sense. You know the drill: Before most big shopping events nowadays, we usually see a bunch of early deals start to slowly crop up, ones that are definitely worth paying attention to. Especially if you're looking for tech products — Black Friday and pre-Black-Friday are always exciting times for those who are looking to catch up on the latest and greatest that the industry has to offer.
Headphones definitely fall into that category, specifically Apple's line of popular audio tech: AirPods. A few different AirPods models are on sale in the weeks preceding Black Friday, including the lastest release, the AirPods 4.
SEE ALSO: The 8 best noise-cancelling headphones of 2024Check out all the best early Black Friday AirPods deals we could find below, and be sure to keep checking back, because we'll be updating this page as more offers go live.
Best AirPods Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.99 at Best BuyThe Apple AirPods Pro 2, which come packed with great features like ANC, hearing protection options, personalized spatial audio, and more, are currently $80 off at Best Buy ahead of Black Friday. Best Buy is already advertising that there may be an even better offer during the official Black Friday sale, but if you can't wait to pick up a pair of the best-selling noise-cancelling earbuds, this discount isn't too shabby.
Best AirPods Max deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max $459.00 at AmazonIf you're not really into earbuds, the AirPods Max are a good pair of over-ear headphones that'll allow you to stay within the Apple ecosystem (we get it, we like our tech to have synergy, too). The headphones come with active noise cancellation, personalized spatial audio, and a 20-hour battery life among other high-end features. They're usually pretty pricey, so it's best to snag them when they're on sale — ahead of Black Friday, you can get some for just $459 at Amazon, which saves you almost $100.
More early Black Friday AirPods dealsApple AirPods (2nd Generation) — $123.49 $129.99 (save $6.50 with My Best Buy Plus)
Apple AirPods 4 + 3 months of Apple Music — $123.49 $129.99 (save $6.50 with My Best Buy Plus)
Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) — $129.99 $169 (save $40)
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC + 3 months of Apple Music — $170.99 $179.99 (save $9 with My Best Buy Plus)
All you holiday shopping early birds will be pleased to know there are tons of deals you can already shop at Amazon. Weeks ahead of Black Friday, you can start checking off your shopping list (or treating yourself to a few things). We've rounded up some of the best discounts we could find at the mega retailer on Nov. 7, including brands like Fitbit, Google, and Samsung.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If you don't see anything that catches your eye, take a look at our picks from Nov. 5 and Nov. 6. Many of those deals are still live, including the new Bose Smart Soundbar's first price drop and a $700 (!) discount on the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at AmazonBoth Prime Day and October's Prime Big Deal Days event left a lot to be desired in the Fitbit department, so we're pretty surprised to see this deal on the Inspire 3 on Nov. 7 — weeks before Black Friday. We're big fans of the Fitbit Inspire 3's intuitive design impressive app suite, workout insights, and sleek and slim build. "For anyone new to fitness or any dedicated gym rat, the Fitbit Inspire 3 gets you more than you pay for," our reviewer writes, giving it the Mashable Choice award honor. Usually $99.95, it tops our fitness tracker roundup as our favorite budget-friendly option, but as of Nov. 7, you can get it for only $69.95 and save 30%. That matches its record-low price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch FE (40mm, Bluetooth) $152.99 at AmazonIf you're looking for more than just a fitness tracker, but don't want to break the bank, Samsung's Galaxy Watch FE is a solid budget-friendly smartwatch just released this past summer. We haven't had the honor of testing it out, but our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) have and were big fans, giving it the coveted Editors' Choice award. It may only come in one size and is missing the Galaxy AI holistic health insights, but otherwise it offers almost the same lifestyle and wellness features as the flagship Galaxy wearable. Those include body composition measurements, continuous blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring, detailed sleep and snore tracking, and more. Usually only $199.99, you can save 24% on Nov. 7 and pick up the pink or blue Watch FE at Amazon for just $152.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung T9 portable SSD (4TB) $299.99 at AmazonSamsung's just throwing deals at us on Nov. 7. Here's another impressive price drop: the Samsung T9 portable SSD with 4TB is down to just $299.99 from $549.99 at Amazon. While not quite its lowest price ever, it's a savings of 45% and gives you a massive 4TB of storage space in a lightweight little box. Our sister site PCMag awarded it a 4.5-star "outstanding" rating, crediting its blazing throughput speeds, huge capacity, drop-proof design, and useful Samsung Magician software. If you're sick of deleting all of your old content to make space for new stuff, this portable SSD has enough to last you for years, if not forever.
Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $99.95 at AmazonAnother Fitbit model that never got a discount on October Prime Day, the Fitbit Charge 6 is back down to its all-time low price from last Black Friday, just $99.95. That's a savings of 38%. With a seven-day battery life, 40+ exercise modes, heart rate, step, sleep, and stress tracking, it's a solid choice if you're looking to improve your health and habits. Plus, it comes with six months of Fitbit Premium to help you kickstart your fitness routine.
Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Nest Cam 2-pack (2nd gen, indoor/outdoor) $229.99 at AmazonOne of our top picks for a home security camera, the Google Nest Cam is a slick, waterproof camera you can place inside or outside to catch 24/7 live HD video with 6x digital zoom. It'll act as your eyes and ears when you're away and allow you to share your stream with anyone using a public or password-protected link. You can even add a Nest Aware plan (for an extra fee) and enjoy more perks like intelligent alerts, continuous video recording, clip sharing, emergency alerts, and beyond. A two-pack of these cameras is on sale for just $229.99 at Amazon as of Nov. 7. That's a savings of 30% and just $20 shy of its lowest price to date.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
SAVE UP TO $60: Amazon's latest Kindles are seeing some of their first discounts. Find the Kindle Scribe bundled with a cover and power adapter for $479.97, saving $60 for 11% off.
Early Black Friday Kindle deals Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle $479.97 (Save $60) Get Deal Best basic Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Essentials Bundle $146.97 (Save $15) Get Deal Best Kindle Paperwhite deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle $184.97 (Save $20) Get Deal Best Kindle Colorsoft deal Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Essentials Bundle $349.97 (Save $35) Get DealWhile Black Friday falls at the end of November, retailers aren't waiting to cut prices. Best Buy is running deals all months long, while brands like Apple have a smattering of deals across the internet. Amazon is also joining in on the fun, launching sales on their own devices like Echos and more.
Amazon has a knack for launching new devices around Prime Day, so it was no surprise when they dropped a new batch of Kindles post-October Prime Day. We've tested our way through the latest models, and they're improving upon already great tech for the fastest, brightest Kindles yet.
Because these items are so new, we don't expect to see amazing discounts — and that's exactly the case here. Ahead of Black Friday, there are some deals on Kindles to be had, but they're conservative so far: up to 11% off bundles only.
Here are the best Kindle deals to shop ahead of Black Friday. Check back for better deals as the big shopping day approaches.
Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle $479.97 at AmazonAmong the new Kindles is a redesigned Scribe, which comes in classic black or a flashy metallic jade and won't be officially available until Dec. 4. The new Scribe's screen got a makeover with added white borders to give it a more notebook-like feel. If the new model is anything like the current one, I'm excited to see what it offers.
If you're an annotator, the Kindle Scribe is the e-reader for you. The matte screen feels like writing on paper, and includes a notebook section so you can take notes in addition to annotating your e-books. Personally, I like writing with the Kindle Scribe far more than I do with an iPad and Apple Pencil.
This deal gives you a little extra off ahead of the Scribe's December release. The Essentials Bundle comes with the device, premium pen, folio-style case, and power adapter — everything you need to get started. Normally $539.97, you can find the bundle for $479.97, saving you $60 for 11% off.
Not sold on the Scribe (or its price)? There are other bundle deals to explore ahead of Black Friday.
More Kindle dealsAmazon Kindle Essentials Bundle — $149.97 $161.97 (save $15)
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle — $184.97 $204.97 (save $20)
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle — $237.97 $257.97 (save $20)
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Essentials Bundle — $349.97 $384.97 (save $35)
SAVE $80: As of Nov. 7, you can get Apple AirPods Pro 2 for just $169.99. That's 32% off the original price or $80 off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.99 at Best BuyAirPods Pro 2 are your go-to for listening to podcasts or music while walking around town. With exceptional Bluetooth connectivity and an extremely comfortable ergonomic design, they stay connected even during strenuous exercise or busy subway rides and sound great doing it.
SEE ALSO: Walmart just leaked more of the best deals from its first Black Friday saleWith AirPods Pro 2, innovation happens internally. These look similar to past AirPods Pro, but they have new features like Adaptive Transparency, improved active noise cancellation, and a juicier battery.
With a redesigned audio driver and custom amplifier, these earbuds sound even better than the first generation. They sound just as great on nuanced live performances as bassy electronic music.
Right now you can get Apple AirPods Pro 2 for just $169.99 — that’s 32% off or $80 in savings. And just $1 off from their Prime Big Deal Days pricing.
The Adaptive Transparency feature reduces noise while keeping you in contact with the world, inserting sounds from the outside world into the mix. When you only want to hear the music, the improved active noise cancellation eliminates the world, quieting even loud street sounds so effectively that we were in awe.
AirPods Pro are exceptional earbuds for an on-the-go lifestyle. With their case, AirPods Pro will give you upwards of 30 hours of charge.
The video game industry made several surprise announcements this week.
In the midst of the U.S. presidential election, news broke that the Nintendo Switch 2 would be backwards compatible. A few days later, Death Stranding shadow launched on Xbox and the Windows PC game store, with a time-limited sale price of $20. That's a bit shocking because, for the last five years, Death Stranding has been a PlayStation console exclusive.
It did get a Steam release a while back courtesy of 505 Games, but as far as anyone knew, it wouldn't come to Xbox because PlayStation had published the game originally.
Tweet may have been deletedThat's not the case anymore. According to IGN (Disclaimer: IGN and Mashable are under the same parent company, Ziff Davis), Death Stranding developer Kojima Productions has seized control of the Death Stranding IP from Sony. Death Stranding is now theoretically open to a wider range of platforms. However, it’s worth noting that the upcoming sequel is being published by Sony and will launch exclusively on PS5, although it may not remain exclusive indefinitely.
If you never played Death Stranding, the perfect time was in 2020 when everyone was locked up inside, but the second best time is now. It's about a post-apocalyptic deliveryman braving the wastes of a ruined United States to bring people pizza and other basic goods. Death Stranding is equally as likely to provoke thoughts about isolation, emotional availability, and the gig economy as it is to make you laugh because you stumbled down a hillside.
There's nothing else like it, for better or worse.
SAVE UP TO 40%: Fitbit trackers are on sale at Amazon for up to 40% off, including the Fitbit Inspire 3 — a Mashable favorite.
Fitbit deals at Amazon Best overall Fitbit deal Fitbit Versa 4 $119.95 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Best budget-friendly Fitbit deal Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Best Buy (save $30) Get Deal Best Fitbit deal for varied workouts Fitbit Charge 6 $99.95 at Amazon (save $60) Get DealSomehow we're just a handful of weeks away from 2025. If you have fitness goals in mind for either the holidays or for the new year, a fitness tracker is a great companion for keeping tabs on your progress. You don't have to have super ambitious fitness goals to get good use out of a tracker. Even starting a new walking routine calls for a tracker since it's the perfect way to count steps, keep records of your activity, and monitor sleep. Plus, it's really nice to have the time just a quick glance away on your watch, instead of reaching for your phone.
Fitbit has always been one of the leading brands in fitness trackers, and their tech has only improved since Google acquired the brand in 2021. Instead of waiting for Black Friday sales, you can snag a Fitbit tracker at Amazon for up to 40% off today, which mean you'll be well on your way to tracking fitness by the time 2025 rolls around. Here are some of our top recommendations if you're in the market for a new Fitbit.
Best overall Fitbit deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Versa 4 $119.95 at AmazonWhether you're training for a 5k, a marathon, or going on the occasional hike, the Fitbit Versa 4 has ideal functions. Compatible with both iOS and Android devices, the Fitbit Versa 4 gets up to 6 days of battery life while tracking your workouts and sleep. Choose from over 40 exercise modes and get your daily readiness score each morning to help determine the best level of activity for the day ahead. The Versa 4 also gives a daily stress management score.
The Waterfall Blue, Pink Sand, and Black models are all included in the sale price at Amazon of just $119.95 which works out to a 40% discount off the normal price of $199.95.
Best budget-friendly Fitbit deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at AmazonA Mashable favorite, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is down to just $69.95 at Amazon which means you'll be saving a sweet 30% off the typical price of $99.95.
When it comes to the best fitness trackers, Mashable lists the Fitbit Inspire 3 as the best budget-friendly option. Sam Stone's review of the Inspire 3 for Mashable mentions major pros include intuitive functions, workout insights, and its wide range of included apps.
Stone writes, "It sits easily on the wrist, and compared to other wearables it’s relatively small. The watch counts steps, tracks heart rate, and measures calories burned, among other metrics, and, in combination with Fitbit app, converts all that information into data you can use to inform your workouts." All that for under $70 mean is a great deal, and you'll get both a small and large size band with the watch, so you can find a comfortable fit.
Best Fitbit deal for varied workouts Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Charge 6 $99.95 at AmazonIf you're one to go for a run on Monday, take a HIIT class on Tuesday, and head off for a bike ride on Wednesday, the versatile Fitbit Charge 6 could be great. With over 40 exercise modes, the tracker is designed to keep tabs on all your varied activities. It also includes advanced health tools like a heart rate monitor that can detect irregularities and a sleep score.
The Fitbit Charge 6 also has convenient Google integrations like Google Maps and Google Wallet for paying on-the-go.
Australia is set to ban social media for kids under 16, in a stated attempt to minimise "harms that are being caused to young people" through the platforms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the measures on Thursday, after a decision by his government on Monday.
"Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it," Albanese said in a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. "I've spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online."
"We don't argue that the changes that we will be legislating will fix everything immediately," he added. "We have laws such as people can't buy alcohol if they're under 18, and from time to time that can be broken. But those laws set what the parameters are for our society and they assist in ensuring the right outcomes."
SEE ALSO: Teens feel burnt out. Social media can make it worse.Albanese said the law will not allow exemptions for users under 16 who have parental consent, nor will it accept "grandfathering arrangements" for young people already on social media.
The government intends to put "the onus will be on social media platforms" instead of parents and teens. Big tech companies are making slow progress in this space — for example, Instagram recently added Teen Accounts, a more restricted way for teens under 16 to use the app.
Most social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat don't let users under 13 make accounts, with varying levels of restriction for users under 16 and 18. However, in August, the U.S. Justice Department sued TikTok for allegedly violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), for allowing kids to create accounts without parental consent and collecting personal information from children under 13. It's one of several lawsuits across the U.S. against TikTok on the grounds of child safety.
Studies around teens, mental health, and social media aren't in short supply. In his address, the prime minister specifically called out campaigns run by Australian media organisations around the legislation, in particular the debated "Let Them Be Kids" campaign run by NewsCorp. Social change initiative 36Months, who have campaigned to ban social media for under-16s in Australia, were also present at Parliament House on Wednesday.
So, what's the timeline on Australia's social media ban?The Australian government will determine the details of the law in a virtual national cabinet meeting on Friday, the legislation will be introduced to Parliament in two weeks time, and will come into force 12 months after passage. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said "social media companies have been put on notice", and emphasised there is a one-year lead time before the law would be implemented.
The law's new definition of age restriction on social media will be adapted from Australia's current Online Safety Act. Passed in 2021, it's the country's online harms protection law, much like the UK's version. The eSafety Commissioner, Australia's independent regulator for online safety, will "provide oversight and enforcement" by issuing regulatory guidance for social media platforms.
OK, which social media platforms will be covered under Australia's ban?When asked about specific social media platforms, Rowland clarified, "In terms of the services that will be covered, there will be a definition in the Act. But I think it is commonly understood that those definitions of what constitutes social media include ones such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. YouTube would likely fall within that definition as well."
How will the social media ban be enforced in Australia?In a nutshell, it's currently unclear exactly how the social media ban will be regulated, as the prime minister said "there will be no penalties for users." When asked about age restrictions and the practicalities around it (how identification will work etc), Rowland said an "age assurance trial" would happen over the next year, with the government examining the platforms' individual measures and whether they're enough.
"There will need to be measures put in place to ensure that reasonable steps are being taken by the platforms to ensure that that age limit is complied with," she said.
"These platforms know their users better than anyone. These platforms understand their habits, their capabilities, what sort of content should be driven to them and what their behaviours are. So in this year that we will take in terms of implementation, that will be the key focus."
For more on internet safety for kids, Mashable's got you covered.
This beastly 16-inch MacBook Pro, packed with Apple's new herculean M4 Pro chip, is not designed for amateurs like myself — people who think "intensive" means opening 100 Google Chrome tabs and praying one's laptop doesn't self combust.
No ma'am.
This mammoth of a laptop is, instead, for professional power users. I'm talkin' 3D designers, seasoned animators, skilled video editors, and veteran music producers — folks who need a powerhouse that can handle heavy workloads without a single stutter.
However, thanks to the 16-inch MacBook Pro's eye-popping power efficiency, I'd argue that normies can splurge on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, particularly if they prefer laptops with Energizer Bunny-like endurance. (And I mean, who doesn't?)
You won't believe how long the 16-inch MacBook Pro lasted on a charge. It doesn't quite beat the record-breaking Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, but it's pretty darn impressive.
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) price and specsThe 16-inch MacBook Pro in this review costs a whopping $3,649, and it comes with the following:
M4 Pro chip
14-core CPU
20-core GPU
48GB of RAM
2TB of storage
Nano-texture display
Ouch! My wallet is screaming just looking at that price tag. Luckily, the cheapest 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro has a more palatable cost of $2,499. Although it's still pricey, there's less sticker shock. This configuration comes with the same M4 Pro chip, but knocks you back down to 24GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage.
If you’re a video editor, or any other professional handling massive files, you might need to bite the bullet and upgrade to at least 1TB of storage.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) $2,499.99I mean, it's a 16-inch laptop, so don't expect it to be a featherweight. It weighs nearly five pounds and it's 0.66 inches thick.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableCompared to its last-generation counterpart (i.e., 16-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro), the new model is pretty much the same when it comes to design. It still sports a 100% recycled aluminum enclosure and that shiny, tell-tale logo on the lid that yells, "Yes, I'm an Apple laptop!"
It comes in Space Black and Silver.
My review unit sports the Space Black colorway. With a name like that, I was expecting the deepest, darkest black — think inky, onyx, obsidian vibes. After all, isn’t space, as in the vast, empty void beyond Earth, pitch dark? Apparently, I was wrong. Not to get all nerdy, but NASA says that “space isn’t absolutely black; the universe has a faint, suffused glimmer.”
Space Black is quite dark to the naked eye, but under bright lighting, it has a deep gray hue.
This colorway diminishes fingerprints, but it doesn't completely fend them off. Keep a microfiber cloth handy.
Other than that, the M4 Pro shares the same design as its predecessor. In fact, it's got the same design as far back as the 2021 model, But I can't blame Apple; consumers love it. The MacBook Pro continues to be a solid and sturdy dream machine.
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) displayThis configuration comes with a new nano-texture display option.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThis doesn't come with the laptop. You have to pay an extra $150 to snag one. Is it worth it? It depends. Do you work in a sun-drenched office? Are you always working outdoors? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you'd benefit from a nano-texture display, as it's designed to handle challenging lighting situations while still providing decent visibility for users.
I couldn't wait to take the MacBook Pro outside in my backyard to test the nano-texture display, and I must say, I'm impressed!
The Apple laptop remained crystal clear, even as dappled sunlight attempted to wash out the screen. I didn't have to squint, adjust angles, nor play hide-and-seek with shadows — the display stood its ground, refusing to surrender to the sun’s relentless glare.
If you’re someone who spends a lot of time working in bright, unpredictable lighting, this nano-texture display might just be the unsung hero you didn’t know you needed.
Plus, compared to the last generation, the M4 Pro MacBook Pro's screen is brighter. It can hit a peak SDR brightness of 1,000 nits, up from 600 nits. The HDR brightness score continues to be 1,600 nits.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro, like the previous model, features a 16.2-inch, 3,456 x 2,234-pixel resolution display with ProMotion technology (i.e., up to 120Hz refresh rate). As expected, the display looked gorgeous while I feasted my eyes on the new Squid Game 2 trailer. It's rich, vibrant, and pure visual eye candy.
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) portsThe M4 Pro MacBook Pro now has Thunderbolt 5 ports, an upgrade from the previous generation's trio of Thunderbolt 4 ports. Thunderbolt 5 offers double the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4 at 120Gb/s, which means faster data transfer speeds for your peripherals.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableOver Thunderbolt, the 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro supports up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz.
You'll also get an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, a 3.5mm headset jack, and a MagSafe 3 port.
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) audioIf music were a dish, the 16-inch MacBook Pro would be a gourmet apple pie, straight out of grandma’s oven — piping hot, golden, and worth every sinful calorie.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashablePacked with a high-fidelity, six-speaker sound system (with fore-cancelling woofers), Era Istrefi's "Bonbon" sounded delicious to my ears. Yum!
The MacBook Pro is one of the most recommended laptops for music producers — and I see why. The laptop perfectly captured the gritty, exotic undertones and the pulsating, driving beat.
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) keyboard and trackpadI'd describe my typing experience on the 16-inch MacBook Pro in two words: snappy and responsive. Plus, it's got enough key travel to make typing comfortable over long periods of time.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableJust make sure you're not sitting next to someone who prefers piece and quiet. The keyboard emits some loud clacks.
Apple’s glass-covered Force Touch trackpad is, as always, a pleasure to use. It's spacious, responsive, and perfectly balanced between smoothness and resistance. Every swipe and click feel effortless.
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) benchmarks and performanceSomebody call the coroner because the M4 Pro chip inside the 16-inch MacBook Pro has obliterated the competition.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableOn Geekbench 6, which tests CPU prowess, the 16-inch MacBook Pro delivered a multi-core score of 22,758. For reference, the entry-level M4 MacBook Pro notched a score of 15,199 on the same test.
This is the best Geekbench 6 score we've seen at Mashable for a laptop. Coming in close second is the Razer Blade 18, which sports an Intel Core i9-14900HX. So yeah, the MacBook Pro just torched a gaming laptop.
Here are some other scores:
Cinebench R3 - 23,336 (multi-core)
Blender GPU test - 2,533.57
Once again, for reference, the entry-level M4 chip notched scores of 13,891 and 1,065, respectively, for Cinebench R3 and Blender. The M4 Pro chip is fast!
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) webcamThe M4 Pro MacBook Pro’s 12MP webcam is a step up, delivering sharper video quality with less artifacting in various lighting conditions. FaceTime calls looked great, and my fiancé was quick to notice the improvement in clarity.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableDesk View is the real star, allowing a top-down perspective of your desk setup using only the built-in webcam. I assumed I’d need a secondary camera, but the 12MP webcam handles it all on its own. Whether you’re presenting or demoing, Desk View is a clever addition that’s both fun and functional.
The updated webcam also supports Center Stage, which may be familiar to those who own iPads. For the uninitiated, Center Stage ensures that you're kept in frame at all times, even if you lean a little bit to the left or shuffle over to the right.
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) battery lifeThe 16-inch MacBook Pro lasted an eye-popping 20 hours and 51 minutes in our video rundown test. In other words, this laptop nearly lasts 21 hours on a single charge.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableAs mentioned at the outset, it doesn't quite beat our reigning champ (i.e., Microsoft Surface Laptop 7), but it's nipping at its heels.
Is the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) worth it?The 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro didn't come to play. With jaw-dropping performance, impressive battery life, and a gorgeous nano-texture display option, this laptop is geared for professionals who need powerhouse specs and are willing to pay for them. If you’re a video editor, a 3D designer, or someone who needs serious firepower, this MacBook is as good as it gets.
Even if you're just an internet surfer and a Netflix browser, get it for the 20-hour+ battery life — if you have the money to blow, of course.
Either way, the M4 Pro is a future-proof machine that won’t leave you disappointed, as long as you’ve got the budget for it.
The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro has officially entered the chat — and it’s here to remind Windows who's boss.
For those who haven't been closely following the PCs vs. MacBooks battle in recent months, Windows laptops began to gain the upper hand with the introduction of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor. Machines with this new chip delivered shockingly long battery life and jaw-dropping performance — so much so that they began to eclipse the M3 MacBooks.
But that was then. This is now. The M4 chip is here and its presence is monstrous — it's a beastly gem that is the pride of Apple, but a scary-fast rival for the Windows world.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip may have sparked whispers of Windows’ comeback, but Apple’s M4 has arrived to make those whispers vanish. This MacBook Pro is everything we hoped for and more — and it’s ready to prove that Windows’ short-lived bragging rights end here.
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) price and specsThe 14-inch MacBook Pro in this review costs $1,799 via Apple's official website and comes with the following specs:
10-core CPU
10-core GPU
16GB of RAM
1TB SSD
If that’s too pricey for you, the cheapest configuration has a price tag of $1,599, but you’ll have to downgrade your storage to 512GB of SSD storage.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M4, 14-inch) $1,599.99 at AppleMy 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro comes in Space Black, but it's not quite black enough, if that makes sense.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableIf you’re hoping this colorway would scream "Batmobile black," you might be a bit disappointed. But it’s still deep enough to deliver that brooding, refined vibe.
My Space Black M4 MacBook Pro gives off the vibe of a mysterious man in the corner, smoking a cigar and sipping a bitter Old Fashioned — the kind of guy who doesn’t want company, but you can’t help being drawn to him. That said, I wish this hue leaned more toward a true inky black. Under certain lighting, it veers into dark gray territory, leaving me craving an even darker, sexier, more enigmatic finish.
Space Black is a new option for MacBook Pro models with the vanilla M-series chip. Last year, the Space Black colorway was reserved for the M3 Pro and M3 Max configurations — not for the entry-level, vanilla M3 models. However, it looks like Apple is being a little more generous this year. This onyx finish is now available for the base M4 models. Woot! (Last year, I begged Apple to bring Space Black to more Apple products, so this is likely a forecast that my wish may be coming true.)
While this color variant minimizes fingerprints, it doesn't get rid of them completely. You'll have to keep a microfiber cloth handy anyway.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableYou can also get the M4 MacBook Pro in Silver.
Other than that, there aren't any other notable gen-over-gen design changes for the M4 MacBook Pro. And why should there be? It's just fine the way it is, with Apple's signature logo on the lid and an island-style keyboard on the deck. The new MacBook Pro continues to feature a 100 percent recycled aluminum enclosure.
Plus, it brings a lot of power in such a portable package (more on that later); I could see this being my new travel companion for sure.
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) displayYou may be wondering, "Did Apple make any upgrades with the display?" The answer is yes, but they're minor.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableSimilar to the M3 MacBook Pro, the M4 MacBook Pro sports a 3,024 x 1,964-pixel display that continues to be quite striking to the eye. While watching Netflix’s Time Cut on the new laptop, I was blown away by the vivid, lush colors that brought the early-2000s sci-fi slasher to life. The Ugg boots, Victoria’s Secret PINK tracksuits, and Rollie Sneakers gave me flashbacks of peak Y2K cringe — but thankfully, the display’s stunning visuals made up for the throwback fashion fails.
The M4 MacBook Pro continues to sport a 16:10 aspect ratio, slim bezels, and that controversial notch that gets people in a tizzy. Do I love the notch? No. Will you get over it and forget it's there? Yes. My only complaint is that the notch should make itself useful and add Face ID to the mix.
The gen-over-gen improvement featured on the M4 MacBook Pro's display is brightness. Like its predecessor, the M4 MacBook Pro emanates 1,000 nits of sustained brightness for general use as well as 1,600 nits peak brightness for HDR content. However, the difference lies in the brightness offerings for SDR (Standard Dynamic Range). The M3 MacBook Pro delivered SDR content at 600 nits, but the M4 MacBook Pro is now more brilliant, now emanating SDR content at up to 1,000 nits.
There's also a new nano-texture display option. My review unit doesn't sport this feature, but I've had experience with this panel offering on the iPad Pro as well as the M4 Pro MacBook Pro. Its mission is to ensure that the display remains highly visible, even in challenging lighting situations (e.g., a sun-drenched room).
It holds up impressively well in bright settings, but the trade-off is a slight dip in the vividness and saturation you’d get from the non-nano-texture display.
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) portsYou'll now find three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the MacBook Pro. Compared to its last-generation counterpart, that's one additional Thunderbolt 4 option for you to play with.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThe M4 MacBook Pro also sports an HDMI port (supports TVs and 4K displays at up to 240Hz or 8K TVs up to 60Hz), a full-size SDXC card slot, as well as MagSafe 3 charging.
No, the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro doesn't come with Thunderbolt 5; you'll have to upgrade to configurations with M4 Pro and M4 Max for that. As it stands now, the 14-inch M4 MacBook supports up to 40Gb/s of throughput for accessories. (With Thunderbolt 5, however, you can get faster data transfer up to 120Gb/s). The M4 MacBook Pro, in addition to the built-in display, can handle up to two high-res external displays. For example, the M4 MacBook Pro can support two 6K external displays at 60Hz.
This is awesome for anyone who desires a multi-monitor setup. The last-generation 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro could only support one external display at up to 6K at 60Hz. Womp, womp!
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) audioThe 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro continues to have angelic audio that sounds like it's been tuned by a choir of heavenly beings.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableI listened to "Timeless" by The Weekend and Playboi Carti, and as incredible as my M2 MacBook Air sounds, nothing on the entire planet beats the MacBook Pro's six-speaker sound system with four force-cancelling woofers and two tweeters.
I've been reviewing laptops for several years now, and nothing comes close to what the MacBook Pro has been able to do with sound. "Timeless" sounded so good that it gave me chills — as if the music danced around me in 3D.
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) keyboard and trackpadApple didn't change a darn thing about the built-in Magic Keyboard. As a reviewer who has tested countless laptops, I wouldn't say the MacBook Pro sports the best keyboard (that praise is reserved for the HP OmniBook X), but it's up there.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThe keys are spacious and well-placed with a black-and-white theme that provides high contrast for peak visibility. Plus, there's still Touch ID support, which is always a breeze to setup (unlike Windows PCs).
Still, I can’t quite crown this keyboard as king. While it’s undeniably snappy and clicky, I’ve tested plenty of laptops with a springier feel that gives my fingers a more satisfying launch from letter to letter.
I have no notes for the glass-covered Force Touch trackpad. It's roomy and has the right balance of smoothness and resistance for highly responsive swiping.
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) benchmarks and performanceThe M4 chip is a monster that must be haunting Windows PCs' dreams.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableLong story short, in the realm of Windows, Qualcomm has been bragging about its energy efficiency and performance numbers, claiming that it's better than the M3 chip. And according to our testing, Qualcomm was right; it does, indeed, have an edge over M3-based MacBooks.
As such, Qualcomm-based laptops, particularly those packed with Snapdragon X Elite processors, have been enjoying praise from laptops reviewers, like myself, who were blown away by their performance scores.
However, Apple dropped the M4 chip and obliterated Windows laptops in one fell swoop. On Geekbench 6, the MacBook Pro notched a sweet multi-core score of 15,199. This beats our most powerful non-gaming PC laptop, Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, which delivered a score of 14,548 on the same test.
We also tested the MacBook Pro on other benchmarks (higher is better):
Cinebench R3 (multi-core) - 13,891
Blender GPU score - 1,065
(Just a note: while we don’t yet have competitor scores for Cinebench R3 and Blender, this gives you a look at the MacBook Pro’s own impressive results.)
And hallelujah, the entry-level MacBook Pro now has a starting configuration of 16GB as opposed to 8GB, which means the risk of slowdowns while multitasking has decreased. Feel free to flood Google Chrome with as many tabs as you want.
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) webcamApple upgraded the webcam from yawn-worthy 1080p to a better-quality 12MP.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableTo test the new webcam, I made two FaceTime calls with my fiancé: one using my M2 MacBook Air with its 1080p webcam and the other using the M4 MacBook Pro with the upgraded 12MP camera. He accurately identified the 12MP webcam. However, he noted that the difference between the two wasn’t dramatic, aside from a slightly sharper image. He observed "less artifacting" on the new camera, which handles varying lighting conditions much better than the 1080p webcam.
Personally, I'm lovin' the updated camera, which supports Center Stage, a feature that was once limited to newer iPad models and Macs connected to an Apple Studio Display.
What's Center Stage? It's a feature designed to automatically keep you centered in the frame, even as you move around during video calls. (This is available on video-conferencing apps like FaceTime and Zoom.)
Whether I swayed to the left or shuffled over to the right, the updated webcam followed me like a loyal dance partner.
The real star of the show, however, is Desk View, which lets the webcam capture a top-down view of whatever’s on your desk. Initially, I thought a second camera might be required to make Desk View work, but it turns out you don’t need one. With just the 12MP camera, I was able to activate Desk View during a FaceTime call. It’s pretty impressive.
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) battery lifeApple claims that the MacBook Pro can provide up to 24 hours of video streaming on a single charge.
To test this proclamation, we kicked off our 1080p video rundown with the Tears of Steel film at 50 percent brightness. The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro didn't quite reach 24 hours, but it survived for 16 hours and 32 minutes, which is still quite good. That's nearly 17 hours of battery life.
Is the Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) worth It?The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro basically said, "In your face!" to Windows laptops after they made noise with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip this year.
From its impressive battery life to its monstrous M4 chip performance, this machine is built to dominate. But let’s be real — at a starting price of $1,599, it’s an investment that’s not for the faint of heart.
If you’re a creative professional who thrives on serious power in a sleek, portable package, this MacBook Pro is your best friend. But if you’re only using it to browse the web or stream Netflix, you might want to save your cash for a more budget-friendly option. (Perhaps wait for the next-generation MacBook Air.)
For those ready to embrace Apple’s latest powerhouse, though, the M4 MacBook Pro won’t disappoint.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M4, 14-inch) $1,599.99 at AppleAs Walmart gears up for its initial Black Friday sale next week (yes, there will be multiple), the big-box store has shared a further look at some of its top holiday doorbusters.
The first Walmart Black Friday Deals event gets underway on Monday, Nov. 11, bringing "deep savings on toys, tech, home, fashion, and more" to the retailer's website and mobile app, per a press release. Paid members of the Walmart+ program can start adding deals to their carts at noon ET, or five hours before they open to the general public at 5 p.m. ET. Non-members interested in joining for that head start can save 50% on an annual Walmart+ membership through Dec. 2.
SEE ALSO: When do Black Friday sales start? Be on the lookout for early holiday deals.New deals will drop randomly throughout the week as the first Walmart Black Friday Deals event progresses and eventually pops up in stores on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 a.m. local time.
Walmart previously teased a handful of its best deals from the sale upon announcing its holiday plans in late October — and with just a few days left until go time, it's dropped another batch. Here's what shoppers can expect to see, with newly revealed deals flagged with an asterisk (*) and links added when available:
Samsung 65-inch DU69 4K TV — $398 (Special Buy)
TCL 75-inch 4K Roku TV — $378 (Special Buy)*
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 — $429 $599 (save $170)*
Apple MacBook Pro, 13.3-inch (Restored) — $299 $499 (save $200)
Apple iPhone 13 — $199 $399 (save $200 with Straight Talk wireless plan)
Beats Solo 3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones — $69 $99 (save $30)
Shark Pet Pro WZ250 Stick Vacuum — $144 (Special Buy)
Dyson V12 Detect Slim — $399.99 $649.99 (save $250)
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium High-Speed Dual Ionic Dryer (Matte Black) — $159.99 $199.99 (save $40)
Contixo 10-inch Android Kids Tablet and Smart Watch Bundle — $76.99 $133.99 (save $57)*
Toy Dyson Supersonic Styling Set — $19.50 $30 (save $10.50)*
Lego Friends Autumn’s Horse Stable Building Set — $30 $59.99 (save $29.99)
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Crash Crew, 5-pack — $10 (Special Buy)
Squishmallows 8-inch Disney Boo — $5 (Special Buy)
Franklin Pickleball Set — $25 (Special Buy)*
Treetopia Heritage Balsam Spruce, 6ft. — $269 $359 (save $90)*
Walmart's holiday programming continues later this month with a second Black Friday Deals event, which goes live online and in the app on Monday, Nov. 25 before continuing in stores on Friday, Nov. 29. (That's Black Friday proper.) The same five-hour, members-only early access period will be in play.
Walmart will wrap things up with a Cyber Monday sale that starts on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. ET for members and 8 p.m. ET for everyone else. That event runs through Cyber Monday proper on Dec. 2.
The battle for the thinnest flagship phone has, apparently, begun.
Late last month, Korea's ET News published a report that Samsung is working on a slim smartphone that could launch "several months" after the launch of the Galaxy S25 series, which is likely to happen in the first quarter of 2025.
It appears that the report was accurate, as Smartprix (via MacRumors) has discovered a mysterious new Galaxy S25 model, listed in the GSMA IMEI database under the model number SM-S937U. The phone is listed under the Galaxy name, and there's no mention of it being called "slim," but there's a good chance that this is an entirely new Galaxy phone model, developed alongside the already existing new Galaxy phones.
Why would Samsung be working on a "slim" variant of its Galaxy flagship? Well, rumors say that Apple plans to launch a super-thin and light version of the iPhone, potentially under the name iPhone Air or iPhone 17 Air.
The new iPhone, which might be a replacement for the iPhone Plus variant, could have a 6.5 to 6.6-inch display, and a far thinner profile than any other existing iPhone.
As for the "slim" Samsung phone, we have no details, but can glean some clues from Samsung's Galaxy Alpha, a 2014 smartphone that was a lot thinner than other Galaxy models at the time. That device had a very slim body, reinforced by a metallic frame, a smallish 4.7-inch display, and it wasn't received particularly well. Samsung later incorporated some of the design elements from the Alpha into the Samsung Galaxy S6, which also had a thin profile and a metal frame.
SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone 17 will come with a huge RAM upgrade, report claimsOne thing is certain: Neither Samsung nor Apple have lately changed their winning formulas much when it comes to flagship phones. Perhaps it's time to shake things up a little with some super-slim smartphones.
SAVE $26: As of Nov. 7, the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite is on sale for $63.99 at Amazon. That's 29% off its list price of $89.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Govee Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite $63.99 at AmazonGovee's lights are a great investment when you want to add a pop of color into your room. Their TV backlights, in particular, can elevate whatever you're watching into a colorful, immersive experience. If you've been hoping to pick up lights like these to make an impression for your next movie night, Amazon currently has the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite for 55-65-inch TVs on sale.
Right now you can get the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite for $63.99, 29% off its list price of $89.99. Amazon has these lights marked as a limited-time deal, so there's no better time to scoop them up. This box also comes with everything you need to get started.
SEE ALSO: Best Buy is already going hard with QLED TV deals ahead of Black FridayAlongside the light strip, you'll get an easy-to-setup camera that's placed just above your TV to capture all of the colors on screen. And controlling the lights is simple, too. You can do it all right from the Govee Home App or they can even be paired with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice control.
Lights like these can really improve a watching experience, so don't miss out on this deal at Amazon.
If you're looking for even more deals to check out, you're in luck with Black Friday right around the corner. Some retailers have been getting in the seasonal sale spirit early — like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy — so it's worth checking out our breakdowns for each to learn more about what they've got planned for the sale event and when their sale events are expected to kick off.
When it comes to streaming options, the list goes on and on: Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at their vast libraries of movies and television within each one!
It can be overwhelming. So Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, animation, and more. But maybe you don't know what you want beyond something new and entertaining. No worries.
SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2024 (so far)Mashable's Entertainment Team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least to most watchable. Whether you want horror documentaries, awaited animation, or directorial debuts, we've got you.
8. A Man Called OttoSeeking something feel-good? This American adaptation of Fredrik Backman's darkly comic Swedish novel A Man Called Ove aims to provide. But be warned, it misses the balance of grief and good humor that the book (and its Swedish movie version) manage. A Man Called Otto shaves off a lot of the saddest bits of the plotline, including casting America's Dad, Tom Hanks, in the lead role of a recently widowed curmudgeon, who reluctantly becomes a part of his neighbors lives.
For Mashable's review, I jeered, "Sadly, this feel-good movie falls flat because it never allows us to feel that bad. Gestures at grief and regret are not enough to make the emotions hit us at our core…. Hanks in the lead role, though committed, cannot escape his generations-long persona to be a believable son of a bitch. Without such saltiness, which made A Man Called Ove exhilarating, A Man Called Otto feels infuriatingly inert and frankly idiotic."
— Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Mike Birbiglia, and Rachel Keller
How to watch: A Man Called Otto is now streaming on Hulu.
7. PoolmanChris Pine swings big with his directorial debut. For one thing, he pulls triple duty, co-writing the screenplay, helming the production, and headlining as the titular poolman, Los Angeles native Darren Barrenman. Bolder yet, he's crafted a neo-noir comedy that references everything from Chinatown to Golden Girls to Erin Brakocovich with equal enthusiasm. And yeah, that makes for a movie that's humor can be confounding to those not tapped into L.A. culture. The result is a movie that is an absolute mess of ideas.
In Mashable's review out of the film's Toronto International Film Festival premiere, I wrote, "That the plot barely makes sense might’ve been forgivable if Pine could elicit from his performers the kind of exhilarating energy and distinctive wackiness we’ve seen in the works of the Coens and Anderson. Instead, his cast, while charismatic, dances between a blurry line of broad comedy and nuanced parody that can't find its footing. Theirs is a world vaguely interesting but never sharply realized. And as such, we, the audience are always treated as outsiders. In the end, Poolman plays an inside joke that never let its audience inside."— K.P.
Starring: Chris Pine, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Danny DeVito, Annette Bening, John Oritz, and DeWanda Wise
How to watch: Poolman is now streaming on Hulu.
6. Meet Me Next ChristmasNetflix's 2024 slate of cheesy Christmas rom-coms kicks off with Meet Me Next Christmas. Christina Milian plays Layla, who hits it off with James (Kofi Siriboe) when they meet at an airport on Christmas. They decide to reunite next Christmas at a Pentatonix concert (very specific, I know), but Layla isn't able to score tickets to the sold-out show in time. Now, it's a race against the clock for Layla to secure her fairytale ending. But when sparks fly with the concierge (Devale Ellis) she hires to help her out, she may just have to re-evaluate what she truly wants.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
Starring: Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe, Tymika Tafari, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, Matt Sallee, Kalen Allen, Nikki Duval, and Wesley French
How to watch: Meet Me Next Christmas is now streaming on Netflix.
5. The Lost CityDoes it ever feel like nothing will fix your problems but a Sanda Bullock romantic comedy? Enter 2022’s The Lost City, which is streaming on Netflix from Saturday. Is it a perfect movie? No. Is it a ridiculously fun adventure chock-full of charismatic actors and one iconic sequin jumpsuit? Heck yes, it is!
Bullock is Loretta Sage, a reclusive romance novelist who has given up on love in her own life after the death of her husband. Channing Tatum is simply perfect as the himbo cover model for her books who is secretly in love with her. When an unhinged billionaire kidnaps Loretta because her latest book recalls similar details to a lost treasure he’s hunting, Tatum takes it upon himself, and his zero useful skills, to rescue her.* — Kristina Grosspietsch, Writer
How to watch: The Lost City is streaming on Netflix from Nov. 9.
4. The J Horror VirusIf you watched Ring back in the day and were both forever afraid of technology and straight onto The Grudge, watch The J Horror Virus on Shudder. Directed by Sarah Appleton and Jasper Sharp, the film tracks the evolution of Japanese supernatural horror that specifically embeds sinister forces within modern tech — think Ju-On, Cure, Marebito, Pulse, Shutter, Psychic Vision: Jaganrei and more. Yes, you'll need to watch it on a screen. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
Starring: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Takashi Shimizu, Rie Inoo, Shinya Tsukamoto
How to watch: The J Horror Virus is now streaming on Shudder.
3. Black CabNick Frost as a creepy cab driver? We're in. Directed by Bruce Goodison and written by Virginia Gilbert, Black Cab sees a couple's cab home from a night out turn into a terrifying ordeal. Anne (Synnøve Karlsen) and Patrick (Luke Norris) are the imperilled passenger protagonists, whose driver (Frost) takes a turn into a creepy stretch of possibly haunted road. — S.C.
Starring: Nick Frost, Synnøve Karlsen, Luke Norris
How to watch: Black Cab is streaming on Shudder Nov. 8.
2. My Old AssGetting a visit from your future self sounds intimidating and fascinating. They're also two words I'd personally use to describe Aubrey Plaza, who plays a young woman's future self in My Old Ass, directed by Megan Park and produced by Margot Robbie. The film sees Plaza as a woman who emerges when pre-college attendee Elliott (Maisy Stella) enjoys a psychedelic trip. There's a lot to learn here, from both past and present.
As Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko writes in her review, "Though among this year's Sundance darlings, the coming-of-age comedy — from Margot Robbie's LuckyChap Entertainment — doesn't fall into maudlin navel-gazing or complicated artsy twists. Instead, it's a briskly funny time-travel movie that bucks genre convention and allows its characters to be as charming as they are messy." — S.C.
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella, Kerrice Brooks, Maddie Ziegler, Percy Hynes White
How to watch: My Old Ass is now streaming on Prime Video.
1. Arcane Season 2It's been three years since League of Legends-based series Arcane first rocked our world with gorgeous animation, kick-ass fight scenes, and a truly devastating story of lost sisters. Now, with its heavily anticipated second — and final — season in November, we'll finally be able to see what happened after Jinx blasted the Council of Piltover with her shark rocket.
Any chance of Mel, Jace, and Viktor surviving is slim, and an action-packed Season 2 teaser promises that things will only get darker from there. With Piltover and Zaun in an all-out war, is there any hope for Vi and Jinx to reconcile? Or is their sisterly bond gone for good? Either way, you can bet we're in for the return of one of the best fantasy series on TV.* — B.E.
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Katie Leung, Reed Shannon, Amirah Vann, Mick Wingert, Ellen Thomas, and Brett Tucker
(*) denotes a blurb has been lifted or modified from a prior TV preview.
SAVE $90: As of Nov. 7, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14-inch Chromebook is on sale at Target for $139.99 as part of its early Black Friday sale. That's 39% off its list price of $229.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14-inch Chromebook $139.99 at TargetOver the years, Black Friday has grown to take over a large chunk of November. There are many retailers that like to jump on the seasonal sale bandwagon early, and Target's offering just that this year with an early Black Friday sale running until Nov. 9. There are some excellent offers included in this early sale, like this deal on a Lenovo Slim Chromebook.
You can score this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14-inch Chromebook for just $139.99. That's $90 off its list price of $229.99, and worth picking up if you're in need of a budget-friendly upgrade.
SEE ALSO: Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 review: Google Gemini practically lives here rent freeThis laptop is a great fit for students or those just looking to have a nice new work laptop. It's got a thin, lightweight design with a 14-inch FHD display, MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage capacity. It also offers up to 13.5 hours of battery life, which is nice for those who need a laptop to last them throughout the work day.
Target is not the only location offering some excellent early Black Friday deals. Walmart and Best Buy have their own sale plans for the month that are worth catching up on. These retailers are bound to have a wide variety of discounts up their sleeves as we inch closer to the sale event itself.
SAVE $50: As of Nov. 7, Bose's Ultra Open wireless earbuds are on sale for $249.99 at Target, $50 off their list price of $299.99. This deal is part of Target's early Black Friday sale event.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open-Ear True Wireless Bluetooth Open Earbuds $249.99 at TargetIt may only be the start of November, but quite a few retailers are jumping into the Black Friday shopping season early. Target is one such spot that has already launched its early Black Friday sale event that runs through Nov. 9, and this first wave of deals has some real gems. In particular, this discount on the Bose Ultra Open earbuds caught our eye.
Right now, you can score the Bose Ultra Open earbuds for $249.99 as part of Target's early Black Friday sale. This is $50 off their list price of $299.99. This sale is only running until Nov. 9, so if you've been looking to upgrade your earbuds, now's your chance. They're worth the investment, too.
SEE ALSO: Save $70 on Bose QuietComfort Ultra noise-canceling earbudsIn our review of Bose's Ultra Open earbuds, writer RJ Andersen said that not only are these earbuds "cool and functional, but the sound quality is great, the fit is incredible, and the comfort level is off the charts." We've also ranked them as great earbuds for working out due to their noise transparency. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino said that, "they're super comfortable even for long periods of time, and they're ideal if you hate the clogged-up feeling of traditional earbuds."
This early Black Friday deal won't stick around for long, so pick up the Bose Ultra Open earbuds at Target before the offer is gone forever.
This Back Friday sale at Target is just the beginning of a month of delightful deals. Other retailers are jumping in on the action as well with more early sale events. Check out our breakdowns of Walmart and Best Buy's Black Friday events to learn more about what to expect from them in the coming weeks.
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