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If you know someone who eats, sleeps, games, and repeats — we don’t envy you when it comes to buying gifts for them. Even if you’re looking to upgrade your own setup, scrolling through the sea of specs can be exhausting.
We’ve rounded up 15 picks for every type of gamer on your list, including yourself. Each of these gaming laptops, PCs, and Graphics Cards comes with its own unique perks, but they also have something in common: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs and NVIDIA DLSS 3, a breakthrough in AI gaming graphics that’ll knock any gamer’s holiday-themed socks off.
Pricing is controlled by the retailer and is subject to change, so you'll want to act fast.
If retail therapy is just what the doctor ordered, you'll be thrilled to know you can get more for your money with these early holiday deals at Amazon. As of Nov. 8, prices on gadgets from major brands like Google, Fitbit, and Sony have dropped by up to 40%. And there's still a few weeks until Black Friday. We've rounded up a few of our favorite deals at the mega retailer to help you kick off your shopping.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If you don't see anything that sparks your interest, take a look at our picks from Nov. 6 and Nov. 7. Many of those are still live, including 30% off the Mashable Choice award-winning Fitbit Inspire 3 and a coupon that takes $700 off the fancy Roborock S8 Pro Ultra.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 $179.00 at AmazonJust released this past August, this is the first time we've seen the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 get this big of a price drop. As of Nov. 8, you can snag a pair in any of the four color varieties for just $179. That's 22% in savings. The second generation of these buds promise to trump their predecessors in every way. Like most tech in 2024, they're AI-powered. They feature a new Tensor A1 Chip for better audio processing and active noise cancellation, boosted battery life, a more comfortable fit, and a lighter, smaller, and more secure design. We haven't had a chance to test them out, but our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) gave them 4 out of 5 stars and called them "great for Pixel users and good for everyone else."
Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Versa 4 $119.95 at AmazonWe haven't had a chance to review Fitbit's Versa 4, but we did love its predecessor, the Versa 3. Our sister site PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) reviewed it, however, and called it "an excellent fitness-focused smartwatch with welcome design improvements over the last generation." Is it a perfect smartwatch? No, but it does sport a larger selection of built-in fitness features, notable design and usability upgrades, and a more responsive touch screen. We just wish it had more sensors and third-party app support to expand its versatility. The Versa 4 typically goes for $199.95, but as of Nov. 8, you can grab it on sale for $119.95. That's 40% in savings and about $15 shy of its record-low price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones $298.00 at AmazonWe've tested lots of headphones at Mashable and the Sony WH-1000XM5s are some of our favorites. Our Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern gave them a nearly perfect rating and a Mashable Choice award for their impeccable sound quality, great noise cancellation, and customizable sound. They also packs up to 30 hours of battery life, crisp call clairty, voice assistant support, comfy ear cushions, and a "quick attention" ambient mode feature that can help you tune into your surroundings in a flash. As of Nov. 8, they're back down to their record-low price of $298 at Amazon. That's 25% in savings.
Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Nest Cam with Floodlight $189.00 at AmazonShine a light on what's happening outside of your home — literally — with the Google Nest Floodlight Cam. As of Nov. 8, it's down to just $189 instead of $279.99 at Amazon, saving you 32%. That's the lowest price we've seen on this model. It packs the same Google Nest Cam (one of our top picks) features you know and love, but adds a bright LED floodlight and 180-degree motion detection with built-in intelligence that can help you decipher between a grazing deer, a car pulling up, or a mischievous person. It'll send you alerts directly through the Google Home app to let you know which one it is with no subscription requires.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
SAVE UP TO $1,900: The Samsung early Black Friday sale has major discounts on TVs, tablets, watches, earbuds, home appliances, and more. Slash $1,700 off the 4-Door Flex refrigerator.
Best early Black Friday deals at Samsung Best earbuds deal Galaxy Buds3 Pro $209.99 at Samsung (save $40) Get Deal Best home appliance deal Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator (full-depth) $3,299 at Samsung (save $1,700) Get Deal Best TV deal Samsung 55-inch Class Neo QLED 4K $999.99 at Samsung (save $400) Get DealFrom phones to watches to earbuds and almost every major home appliance, Samsung consistently makes some of the highest quality tech. If you're thinking of updating some of your personal tech in 2024, like earbuds or a smartwatch, the Samsung early Black Friday sale has discounted prices on tons of wearable tech.
There are also major discounts if you could use a new TV, refrigerator, or washing machine. All in all, the early Black Friday deals at Samsung are worth paying attention to. Here are some of our top recommendations:
Best earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro $209.99 at SamsungLess than a month since their release, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are already seeing a pretty sweet discount. While they usually sell for $249.99, Samsung's early Black Friday sale puts them at just $209.99, which saves you a nice $40.
The Galaxy Buds3 Pro focus on fit and comfort, with a redesigned ear canal form that's both more comfortable for wearing all day and better when it comes to immersive sound. The Buds3 Pro also feature some of Samsung's most advanced features, like hearing language translations in the buds during face-to-face conversations. If you have international travel coming up in 2025, the Buds3 Pro could be ideal for both the long flights and having a better understanding on the ground once you arrive with the translation feature.
More wearable tech dealsSamsung Galaxy Buds FE — $79.99 $99.90 (save $20)
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro — $129.99 $229.90 (save $100)
Samsung Buds3 — $149.99 $179.90 (save $30)
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE — $169.99 $199.90 (save $30)
Samsung Galaxy Watch7 — $239.99 $299.90 (save $60)
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra — $599.99 $649.90 (save $50)
With incredibly convenient features, the Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator will become the reason people gather in the kitchen during holiday parties. For starters, the model comes with Samsung's Family Hub display, a large screen that lets you display photos, check on recipes, or stream your favorite shows and playlists.
This model also includes extra features like a door sensor that opens with a light touch, dual ice makers, and a flexible zone that you can use as a refrigerator or a freezer.
More home appliance dealsSamsung Bespoke Over-the-Range Microwave (2.1 cubic feet) — $299 $499 (save $200)
Samsung Auto Release dishwasher — $549 $899 (save $350)
Samsung Bespoke Slide-In Range With Air Fry and Air Sous Vide — $1,099 $2,099 (save $1,000)
Samsung Pet Care Solution Top Load Washer and Dryer — $1,489 $2,298 (save $800)
Winter calls for enjoying some relaxing time at home with no pressure to be productive. A great excuse to add to your arsenal of reasons to chill at home this winter is enjoying a new TV. The Samsung 55-inch Class Neo QLED 4K is the perfect reason to enjoy football games, the new season of Squid Game in December, or learn from baking tutorials. The Samsung uses Quantum Matrix with mini LEDs that work to increase brightness and clarity in every scene.
Samsung also uses Motion Xcelerator, which gives off crisp images at the speed of 120 frames per second. Plus, enabling AI Energy Mode means you could be reducing energy consumption this winter.
More TV and home entertainment dealsSamsung The Frame 50-inch Class QLED 4K — $1,099.99 $1,299.99 (save $200)
Samsung 65-inch Class The Serif QLED 4K — $1,699 $1,999 (save $300)
Samsung Q-Series Wireless Dolby Atmos Soundbar + rear speakers — $1,499.99 $1,999.99 (save $500)
T-Mobile’s early Black Friday sale has started, offering up to 4 new iPhone 16 phones for free with trade-ins of eligible phones and new lines.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 16 Get 4 free iPhone 16s with eligible trade-in and new lines at T-Mobile Get DealHas your phone seen a little wear and tear this year? Now’s the time to do something about that with T-Mobile’s new iPhone 16 deal for up to four phones. If you have a qualifying used phone, you can trade it in to get access to this deal and get $830 off on a new iPhone 16. Trade in four phones and start new lines to update the whole family.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 15: How are they different?First, select a new iPhone 16 — available in five colorways. This deal only triggers when you trade, so make sure you don’t skip that option on the website menu. To get the credit you’ll need to trade in an iPhone 11 Pro or newer, or equivalent value phone from another brand. If your phone is too old, then T-Mobile will offer you an alternate credit of $415 off.
After you select your phone and set up the trade, add a new eligible T-Mobile line. Once your purchase and trade go through, you’ll receive a bill credit, which will fund the balance of the offer over 24 months. This bill credit will apply each month. Keep paying for the whole 24-month cycle to take full advantage of the deal.
Additionally, grab this deal now and T-Mobile will waive your online activation fee, for $35 of savings per line.
Apple is planning a major camera upgrade, but it might not arrive until 2026.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is working on adding a variable aperture main camera to its iPhone 18 Pro series.
That wasn't a typo: We're talking about the iPhone 18 Pro, the one that's likely to arrive in 2026. Yes, we know that's very far in the future, but Kuo gets his info from Apple's supply chain, and the company often does plan this far ahead.
SEE ALSO: Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) review: Record-breaking performanceKuo's post focuses on the potential suppliers of this new camera; he thinks they'll be Sunny Optical, Largan Precision, and Luxshare.
Notably, an earlier report from The Information claimed that Apple would bring the variable aperture camera to the iPhone in 2025, but it appears that the launch has been delayed for a year.
For the end user, the variable aperture main camera should bring noticeable improvements; the camera should perform better in low light, as the variable aperture allows the camera to control how much light hits the lens. It could also improve portrait mode, as variable aperture should allow for more precise depth of field control.
While we'll apparently have to wait two years for an Apple phone with this tech, phones with variable aperture cameras do exist on the market already. One example is the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which Xiaomi unveiled (as a global device) during Mobile World Congress in February this year.
A young couple kidnapped by a creepy driver is a straightforward enough horror concept, but Bruce Goodison's Black Cab throws in a spooky twist to shake things up.
While the first two acts are easy enough to follow, the movie's ending — and particularly the final moments — is a bit more of a head scratcher.
What was the deal with that ghost? Is Anne (Synnøve Karlsen) alive or dead at the end? We've had a go at breaking it down below.
SEE ALSO: 25 hidden gems of horror found on Shudder What's Black Cab about?First, a quick recap of the key points. In Black Cab, Anne and her fiancé Patrick (Luke Norris) are kidnapped by a taxi driver called Ian (Nick Frost), who claims to have driven Anne previously. After remembering that he picked her up from a hospital maternity ward and spoke to her about her pregnancy in their last ride, Ian electrocutes Patrick with a taser and zip-ties both of them.
Ian then drives them to Mabel Hill, a notorious road that he claims is haunted by the ghost of a woman whose child died before she did — a ghost that Anne herself keeps catching glimpses of during their drive. But it isn't until the final act that we discover why Ian is doing this.
What happens at the end of Black Cab?We learn Ian has a wife and son of his own, but he's clearly mentally unstable. Although he changes his story a couple of times, the final version reveals that he's had ideas of killing the boy as a way to punish his wife for accusing him of cheating. Ian believes these dark thoughts are what's led to him being haunted by the ghost he's seen on the road; he thinks she's searching for a living child as a replacement for her own that she lost.
Ian's twisted plan in kidnapping Anne, therefore, is to offer her and her unborn baby up to the ghost as a way of getting her to leave him alone. The problem? As Anne finally reveals to Ian, she's no longer pregnant; she had a miscarriage shortly after he gave her that previous lift from the hospital.
After breaking this news Anne chases after the ghost, accusing her of taking her baby. Ian runs away through the woods only to circle back to his black cab. He gets in, drives off, then appears to crash into Anne when she runs out into the road — but when he gets out and checks, there's nobody there. As he drives off again we see a ghostly image of Anne sitting in the back seat of his cab.
Credit: Shudder What really happens to Anne at the end?A lot to unpack, isn't it? The main question we were left with when Black Cab finished, though, had to do with Anne's fate. Is she alive at the end of the film, or dead? What's happened to her?
Ultimately Anne's fate isn't clear, but the implication seems to be that she's dead at the end of the movie. Maybe she collapsed in the woods while chasing the ghost, dying from complications related to Ian also tasering her earlier in the film? Her cause of death isn't clear, but the fact that the road is empty after Ian appears to crash into her strongly suggests that Anne is a ghost at this point — as does the final shot of her sitting in the back seat of his cab as he drives away.
Our best guess? Anne has essentially replaced the ghost haunting her and Ian throughout the film. The ghost lost a child, so she took Anne's — and now that Anne's dead, like a curse being passed down, she'll be the one haunting Mabel Hill in search of what she's lost.
How to watch: Black Cab is streaming now on Shudder.
TL;DR: Live stream Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
We're quickly approaching the conclusion of the 2024 WTA Finals. There's a place in the final up for grabs as Sabalenka takes on Gauff in the second semi-final matchup. The Riyadh singles champion will win no less than $4.45 million, so this game really matters.
If you want to watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for freeThe 2024 WTA Finals are available to live stream for free on TVNZ+ in New Zealand, including Sabalenka vs. Gauff.
If you're abroad for this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock TVNZ+. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2024 WTA Finals by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand
Visit TVNZ+
Watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of Sabalenka vs. Gauff without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every WTA Finals match before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the WTA Finals?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the WTA Finals for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2024 WTA Finals are nearing their conclusion. We're at the semi-final stage, meaning the remaining players can almost taste the absolutely huge prize money reward on offer. The Riyadh singles champion will win no less than $4.45 million, so there's quite literally a lot of stake.
Zheng meets Krejcikova in the first semi-final matchup. If you want to watch Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for freeThe 2024 WTA Finals are available to live stream for free on TVNZ+ in New Zealand, including Zheng vs. Krejcikova.
If you're abroad for this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock TVNZ+. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2024 WTA Finals by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand
Visit TVNZ+
Watch Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of Zheng vs. Krejcikova without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every WTA Finals match before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the WTA Finals?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the WTA Finals for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
15% OFF: As of Nov. 8, Target Circle members can get 15% off Fandango gift cards.
Opens in a new window Credit: Fandango Target Circle Members: Get 15% Off Fandango Gift Cards Get DealThis time of year is all about excellent deals. Target, in particular, is already dropping early Black Friday deals for shoppers to enjoy. If you're part of their Target Circle program (and if not, it's free to join), you can score even more discounts. One of our favorites at the moment is this deal on Fandango gift cards, but you'll want to act fast as it expires after Nov. 8.
Target Circle members can get 15% off Fandango gift cards. This offer applies to the $25 card, $50 card, and $100 card. If you've been looking for a good gift idea, you truly can't go wrong with a Fandango gift card that can set someone up for some fun visits to the movie theater.
SEE ALSO: Movie lovers can score 50% off The Criterion Collection at Barnes and NobleThese gift cards can be used to purchase tickets online for a wide variety of upcoming movies at numerous movie theaters. Thankfully, their website has a full breakdown of movie theater partners as well so you can find your best local option. And with so many movies coming out this holiday season — from Gladiator II to Wicked to Nosferatu — a gift like this can save someone a lot on multiple trips to the cinema.
Target's got plenty more deals to check out right now as well, given their early Black Friday sale event is running until this Saturday. A few other retailers are jumping in on the Black Friday action ahead of the actual day as well, like Walmart and Best Buy, so check out our breakdowns of each to learn more about what their plans are.
TikTok will now let you share songs directly from Apple Music and Spotify to the platform.
Announced by the company on Thursday, the new "Share to TikTok" feature gives users of music streaming platforms the ability to share tracks, podcasts, or even audiobooks straight to TikTok.
The option to "Share to TikTok" will now appear when you go to share a song or album on Spotify or Apple Music. You can either post your selected track straight to the TikTok feed, using Photo Mode or the green screen feature to appear in the video steaming with hot takes. Or you can share straight to TikTok DMs to send it to your friends, where clicking on the song will open it in either Apple Music or Spotify.
SEE ALSO: What does WLW mean? The term is all over TikTok.Amazon Music, Tidal, YouTube Music, and other music streaming platforms were not named in the announcement.
The feature is meant to be a complementary addition to TikTok's "Add to Music App" launched in November last year, which lets users tap the button next to the name of the song playing in a video and add it to their chosen music streamer.
Credit: TikTok"Today's launch of 'Share to TikTok' is the latest example of our ongoing commitment to support music discovery and artist promotion in partnership with music streaming services," said Ole Obermann, global head of music business development, in a press statement.
"Since its launch, 'Add To Music App' has already been responsible for hundreds of millions of track saves and billions of streams on our partner music streaming services. 'Share to TikTok' takes the user experience full circle, and will be an amazing way of promoting artists and tracks to the TikTok community."
It won't be this straightforward with every share, however. Major labels have different licensing agreements in place with TikTok; for example, in May, TikTok and Universal Music Group (UMG) reached a "multi-dimensional" deal to put their artists back on the platform after the label pulled its whole catalogue. Warner Music Group (WMG) and Sony Music Entertainment have their own deals with TikTok.
Meanwhile, indie labels have their own deals. When TikTok's licensing deal with the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA), which represents a number of indies, expired in April, the NMPA said it would not renew its license with TikTok. Indie nonprofit label licensing group Merlin is threatening to remove a large chunk of its catalogue from TikTok.
So, while sharing music to your TikTok DMs seems pretty safe as it's just a link, sharing to your feed might be more complicated.
The news also comes after TikTok said it would be pulling the plug on TikTok Music by November. The music streaming service never made it to the U.S., and had debuted in Brazil and Indonesia in July last year.
50% OFF: As of Nov. 8, The Criterion Collection is 50% off at Barnes and Noble. This sale runs until Dec. 2.
Opens in a new window Credit: The Criterion Collection The Criterion Collection 50% off at Barnes and Noble Get DealIt's a fantastic time of year to be a movie fan. Not just for the Black Friday shopping event, which usually offers some great 4K and Blu-ray discounts, but also for the big Criterion Collection sale at Barnes and Noble. For those looking to get their hands on some incredible films from their collection, this is an excellent time to stock up.
The Criterion Collection is currently 50% off at Barnes and Noble. This sale features a wide variety of 4Ks, Blu-rays, and DVDs to build out your physical media collection, but also a variety of boxed sets are on sale, including the massive CC40 box set. This sale only runs until Dec. 2, so if you've had your eye on some films, now's a great time to pick them up.
SEE ALSO: Save over 80% on Audible audiobooks and dive into new stories this winterThe added bonus of purchasing from The Criterion Collection is that each cover has a unique design that'll stand out beautifully in your collection. They're physical editions that are worth every penny, and investing in high-quality 4Ks and Blu-rays is always a good idea. Though streaming is there with a touch of a button, there's nothing quite like watching a physical copy of your favorite films.
There are plenty more deals on physical media still to come as Black Friday approaches. Some retailers are jumping into the seasonal sale event early this month as well, so it's worth having a look at our breakdowns of Walmart, Best Buy, and Target's shopping events to see what they've got planned.
GET A FREE RED CUP: Starbucks has revealed its new holiday menu, meaning Red Cup Day is right around the corner. Here's how to get your free reusable red cup on that day.
Opens in a new window Credit: Starbucks Get Free Starbucks Red Cup on Red Cup Day Learn MoreStarbucks has dropped their holiday menu with some festive new cup designs, and that means Red Cup Day is coming up soon. While we don't know the official day yet, it's usually not long after their new seasonal drinks drop.
If you're not familiar, Red Cup Day is when Starbucks gives out reusable red cups to shoppers. But how do you go about getting a free cup on this one-day-only event? Don't worry, we're here to help.
SEE ALSO: Score a free $20 Starbucks gift card when you buy a $300 Delta gift cardIf you order any size seasonal beverage on Red Cup Day — doesn't matter if it's hot, iced, or blended — you'll get a free grande reusable red cup with your purchase. If you'd like to see what new drinks and food items are joining the Starbucks menu for the holiday season this year, have a look at their reveal here.
Below, we've listed the drinks included in the offer on Red Cup Day last year to give you a better idea. Unfortunately, the Christmas Blend brewed coffee and Christmas Starbucks Reserve weren't included at the time, but who knows what this year holds:
Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
Caramel Brulée Latte
Chestnut Praline Latte
Gingerbread Latte
Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai
Hot Chocolate
Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Oleato Gingerbread Oatmilk Latte
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Mocha
Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
White Hot Chocolate
These colorful reusable cups are a helpful item to keep year-round. Having a reusable cup is better for the environment, plus it features a cute design to always remind you of the holiday season. What's even better is bringing this reusable cup back to Starbucks will net you a $0.10 discount off your drink order, which is a nice bonus!
As we near the holidays, there are plenty more offers for shopper to check out, especially with Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up. It's truly the season of savings, and plenty of retailers are jumping in on the seasonal sale event with some excellent deals, like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Sorry, folks: You won't be able to share your Max login credentials much longer.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service announced it would start cracking down on accounts that are sharing their password back in March, but not much has really happened so far.
In the company's third quarter 2024 earnings call on Thursday, JB Perrett, CEO and president of global streaming and games for Warner Bros., said Max will start with "very soft messaging" around password sharing later this year.
SEE ALSO: The best Christmas movies now streaming on Netflix"As we kick into '25 and into '26 you'll see more and more progress on that, which in effect is a form of a price rise as well, obviously asking members who have not signed up or multi-household members to pay a little bit more," he said. "And so you're going to see that as an additional kicker."
This probably means users can expect emails warning them about password sharing, followed by offers to start paying for extra members.
The company previously said it would fully roll out paid sharing in 2025.
There's potentially worse news, too. According to Perett, Max might also increase the prices of its streaming service as it deems there is a "fair amount of room" for higher prices due to the service's "premium nature."
"We think the premium nature of our product in particular lends us to have a fair amount of room to continue to push price," he said. "We've been judicious about it, but every price rise we've done so far the churn has actually been lower than we projected and expected and the retention continues to be strong."
The company increased the prices for its streaming service twice this year, most recently in June.
Max's move to curb password sharing is hardly surprising given that Netflix saw a big subscriber increase after it put an end to password sharing on its streaming service.
It would come as a surprise to more people than you think that "roomba" isn't the universal term for a robot vacuum. It is, in fact, a capital "R" that denotes Roomba as a proper noun rather than a generic trademark, though the Band-Aid level interchangeability really does exemplify just how iconic iRobot has become in the world of automated floor cleaners.
That can be attributed to the fact that iRobot has consistently delivered some of the most reliable robot vacuum models for two decades. More than 20 Roombas have come out since the first one hit homes in 2002, but tracking the best Roombas isn't so chaotic when you consider that only a handful of those models are actually relevant at the time of your shopping.
How to tell the difference between the Roomba modelsThe arbitrary numbers and letters of the Roomba family tree are confusing at face value, but nothing that can't be told apart after learning a few super general classification themes.
SEE ALSO: Why Eufy's X10 Pro Omni is the most surprising robot vacuum I've tested all yearWhen shopping for a Roomba, you'll really only be choosing from what I call iRobot's core lineup: the group of three to five Roomba series that are actively sold on iRobot's website. Any Roomba whose title includes a letter and a number (like j9+ or i5) or the word Max is more advanced than a Roomba with just numbers in the title (like 692) or just words (like Roomba Vac or Essential).
As of fall 2024, the five main Roomba collections up for grabs are as follows, from most advanced to least advanced: Max, j series, s series (though nearly obsolete), i series, and Essential series.
A plus sign (like j9+) denotes that the model comes with a self-emptying dock, and Roombas that mop will have "Combo" in the title. Note that there are several Roombas that can be purchased with or without mopping capabilities or self-emptying docks. "Max" is a new layer of Roomba typology that was introduced with the drop of the Roomba Combo 10 Max — it refers to the ability of a mopping Roomba to wash and dry its own mopping pad within the self-empty dock. On the other end of the spectrum, "Essential" means "most basic" in the Roomba family, and that means no smart mapping.
SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum Do Roombas go on sale for Prime Day?Yep, most Roombas will be on sale for Black Friday. And most Black Friday Roomba deals won't wait until actual Black Friday on Nov. 29 — we all know that Black Friday is more of a season nowadays than a day or even a week, and solid robot vacuum deals will be popping up throughout November. For instance, the mopping, smart mapping, and phone charger-avoiding Roomba Combo j5+ is already on sale for $399.99 — 45% off — during the first week of November. My fingers are also crossed to see the new Roomba Combo 10 Max beat its October Prime Day price and drop below $900.
Not sure which Roomba to eye on Black Friday? I've composed an exhaustive comparison guide to all of the best iRobot options below, including my experience with any of the models I've tested hands-on at home. Not every single Roomba model in existence will be listed in this guide, and not every "main" Roomba on iRobot's website will be recommended as one of the best. Rather, I've pulled Roombas from multiple price points that I think offer the best value in various categories that people care about, whether that's mopping, smart mapping, small obstacle detection, the cheapest possible path to all of those features, or budget alone. Each Roomba's battery life and automatic emptying capabilities will be noted, along with my reasoning for choosing the highlighted model over other Roombas with similar prices.
Here's your easy breakdown of all of the best Roomba vacuums as of fall 2024:
Black Friday is the absolute best time for finding good deals on laptops. (I would know: I've tracked them for Mashable since 2019.) And with retailers taking full advantage of the holiday's abnormally late timing this year, running sales that span most of November, steep discounts are expected to be plentiful all month long.
Case in point: Early Black Friday sales that are now live on HP, Lenovo, and LG's websites have ushered in deals across their lineups, including a $500 markdown on an excellent Windows convertible our staff has tested. Dell is also in the middle of an Early Holiday Savings event that features discounts as high as $600 on select PCs — most notably, some spiffy XPS series models.
Meanwhile, Best Buy just dropped an initial batch of early Black Friday deals alongside some other holiday doorbusters, one of which is an HP gaming laptop that's dipped well under $500. (It's the only major retailer besides Target that's already kicked off its Black Friday plans, but Walmart isn't far behind.)
SEE ALSO: When do Black Friday sales start? Be on the lookout for early holiday deals.For their part, Apple Macbooks are in an awkward spot right now: Many M2 and M3 models are on sale, but they're sitting well above the previous record-low prices they hit in mid- to late October. Amazon and Best Buy are both running some preliminary discounts on the brand-new M4 models, which may be tempting if you're desperate to upgrade from an M1-or-older clunker. If you're patient, though, I think they'll get even cheaper closer to Black Friday proper. Keep in mind that Best Buy offers a holiday price match guarantee, but Amazon doesn't.
I would hold off on adding most MacBooks to your cart for now, especially since we don't know Amazon's formal Black Friday plans just yet: Last year, it ran a great deal on a MacBook Air x Apple Care+ bundle. The Apple Store itself is probably saving its usual Black Friday gift card offer for the day of on Nov. 29 — a practical option for those enmeshed in the Apple ecosystem.
Below, I'm keeping track of the best Black Friday laptop deals that are currently up for grabs. Bookmark this page and check back often, as I'll be updating the list continuously in the weeks leading up to the year's biggest shopping holiday.
Best early Black Friday MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,549.99 at AmazonRead Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M4).
In our all-new testing, Apple's latest starter MacBook Pro lasted almost 17 hours on a single charge and outperformed the M3 version by 27 percent. Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon was impressed by its power efficiency, its stellar speakers, and its upgraded 12MP webcam, rating it a 4.2/5, but said that "at a starting price of $1,599, it’s an investment that’s not for the faint of heart." (On the plus side, it comes with 16GB of RAM.)
Amazon and Best Buy have both done their best to remedy that during the M4 MacBook series' launch week: Amazon has the base configuration marked down to $1,549.99 (or $49.01 off), while Best Buy has it on sale for a full $50 off — but only for paid My Best Buy members.
More MacBook dealsApple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $699.99 $999 (save $299.01 with on-page coupon)
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,049.99 $1,099 (save $49.01)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,249.99 $1,299 (save $49.01)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,399 $1,699 (save $300)
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,899 $2,399 (save $500)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,949 $1,999 (save $50) with paid My Best Buy membership
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,449 $2,499 (save $50) with paid My Best Buy membership
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,049 $3,199 (save $150) with paid My Best Buy membership
Read Mashable's full review of the HP Spectre x360 14.
This year's Spectre x360 14 has an "addictive keyboard," a "vibrant" OLED touchscreen display, and a solid battery life of over 11 hours per charge, said Gedeon. (It also comes with its own stylus for drawing and note-taking in tablet mode, which is much appreciated.) She gave it a 4.5/5, which nabbed it a Mashable Choice Award.
The upgraded configuration that Gedeon tested features an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of memory, and 2TB of storage. It usually retails for $1,939.99, but it's listed for $1,439.99 during HP's Black Friday Sale — a 26% savings. Note that lesser configurations with an Ultra 5 125H CPU, less RAM, and/or less storage are also on sale at HP (starting at $949.99), with some models price-matched at Best Buy.
More Windows laptop dealsHP Laptop 15z-fc000 (AMD Athlon Silver 7120U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $249.99 $499.99 (save $250)
HP Laptop 17z-cp200 (AMD Athlon Gold 7220U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $279.99 $659.99 (save $380)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 (Intel Core i5-1235U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $399.99 $549.99 (save $150)
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (Intel Core 3 100U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $449.99 $679.99 (save $230)
HP Pavilion Laptop 16z-ag000 (AMD Ryzen 5 8540U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $449.99 $799.99 (save $350)
Dell Inspiron 16 5640 (Intel Core 7 150U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $679.99 $999.99 (save $320)
HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 16t-ab100 (Intel Core Ultra 5 125H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $679.99 $1,099.99 (save $420)
Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 (Intel Core 7 150U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $719.99 $1,004.99 (save $285)
Dell Inspiron 16 7640 2-in-1 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $749.99 $1,149.99 (save $400)
Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 (AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $779.99 $1,114.99 (save $335)
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, 14-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $849.99 $1,349.99 (save $500)
HP Envy x360 15-fe1097nr (Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $899.99 $1,249.99 (save $350)
Dell XPS 15 9530 (Intel Core i7-13620H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999 $1,299 (save $300)
HP OmniBook Ultra 14-fd0013dx (AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $999.99 $1,499.99 (save $500)
Dell XPS 14 9440 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,499.99 (save $300)
LG gram 17 (Intel Core i7-1360P, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,999.99 (save $800)
LG gram Style 16 (Intel Core i7-1360P, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,999.99 (save $800)
Dell XPS 13 9340 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,559 $2,059 (save $500)
Dell XPS 16 9640 (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,149.99 $2,749.99 (save $600)
LG gram Pro 16 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799.99 $2,399.99 (save $600) + free LG 32-inch MyView Smart Monitor
Sub-$500 gaming laptop sightings are to Black Friday season as robins are to spring. This one is an entry-level HP Victus 15 with a 144Hz display and a backlit keyboard. It's equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS CPU, AMD Radeon RX 6550M graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage — nothing special, but perfectly suitable for a younger gamer or someone who sticks with undemanding games like Fortnite or CS2. (Consider putting your savings toward a RAM bump, if anything.)
Best Buy has it on sale for just $429.99 (normally $799.99) as one of its first holiday doorbusters of the season, which works out to a juicy 46% discount.
More gaming laptop dealsHP Victus 15z-fb200 (AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $999.99 (save $300)
Lenovo LOQ (Intel Core i5-13450HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 12GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $774.99 $1,079.99 (save $305)
HP Omen Transcend 16t-u100 (Intel Core i7-14700HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,599.99 (save $400)
Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 9 (AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,319.99 $1,769.99 (save $450)
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9 (Intel Core i7-14650HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,359.99 $1,829.99 (save $470)
Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799.99 $2,359.99 (save $560)
Look, this 15-inch Chromebook isn't an impressive laptop by any means: It has a discontinued Intel Celeron N4500 processor from 2021 with 4GB of memory and 64GB of eMMC storage. But for those who just need a basic machine for everyday tasks like web browsing and email sending, it'll certainly get the job done.
You really can't argue with the price, either. Best Buy has it on sale for $129, which is actually a better deal than it's advertising: The Lenovo website sells the exact same configuration for $279.99. All in all, you're saving just under $151 (or a whopping 56%).
More Chromebook dealsLenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook (MediaTek Kompanio 520, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC) — $169 $319 (save $150)
HP Chromebook Plus 14at-nf000 (Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB RAM, 128GB UFS) — $389.99 $599.99 (save $210)
TL;DR: Gain online privacy with a 3-year Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for $67.19 with the code HOLIDAY20.
Opens in a new window Credit: Surfshark Surfshark VPN Starter Plan: 3-Year Subscription $67.19Tired of geo-blocked websites, ads popping up, and limited access to content? With Surfshark VPN, you can enjoy a world of online content with the freedom to browse as you please.
For just $67.19, this 3-year plan offers military-grade encryption, IP address masking, multi-device protection, and plenty of features to make your browsing experience seamless and secure.
Surfshark is all about letting you enjoy the web on your terms. With over 3,200 servers in 65 countries, you have the freedom to explore any content anywhere. You can catch up on your favorite shows while traveling, unlocking exclusive content, or even securing the best online deals no matter where you are. Plus, Surfshark’s advanced CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, and malicious links before they even load, so you get a cleaner, faster browsing experience that’s easy on the eyes.
With military-grade AES-256 encryption, Surfshark’s security features are as reliable as they come. Surfshark also includes MultiHop, which doubles your VPN connection through two different servers for an extra layer of privacy. And in case your VPN connection drops, Surfshark’s Kill Switch automatically disconnects your internet until the VPN is restored, preventing any unprotected data from being exposed.
Another big plus is that Surfshark’s subscription covers unlimited devices. With its Bypasser feature, you can even let specific apps or sites bypass the VPN, which is useful for services that need to know your actual location (like banking apps). Surfshark even takes care of that with its Cookie Pop-Up Blocker, which allows you to browse uninterrupted.
It’s privacy, speed, and global browsing all in one. Get a 3-year Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for $67.19 with the code HOLIDAY20 through November 17.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Explore how AI can elevate your 9-to-5 — and energize your 5-to-9.
AI has taken the world by storm, but perhaps its best use case right now is in productivity. Where do you get most of your productivity done? Well, it depends on what your job is, but for most of us, our work happens best on our computers — especially if our computers are NPU-equipped, and AI ready. Over the past year or so, companies from Microsoft to Apple have been building AI-powered tools to supercharge productivity, baking these features into their latest and greatest laptops in an effort to help users get more out of their devices.
Not only is AI super useful for productivity, but it can play a role in how you use your laptop to relax too. Here's a look at the best AI laptop features, for both work and play, out there right now.
AI assistants at the push of a buttonMany laptops now feature AI assistants that can be prompted from the keyboard.
Microsoft, for instance, was relatively quick to the AI revolution with Copilot, which is available in full force on Copilot+ PCs, like the Microsoft Surface Laptop. Copilot works kind of like ChatGPT and allows you to chat about basically anything you can imagine, including researching or coming up with outlines for that presentation you haven't put together yet. Copilot+ PCs even have a dedicated Copilot button that you can press to easily bring up the AI assistant whenever you need it.
Improve your writing with the help of built-in AILaptops are the best tools around for writers, and having AI writing assistants built in seems like a no-brainer.
Apple, which may not have been quite as quick as Microsoft to bring AI features to its laptops, is making up for lost time now that macOS 15.1 Sequoia is available. All of Apple's top-of-the-line laptops, like the new M4 MacBook Pro, have access to some Apple intelligence features. Many of these features are slightly more subtle than Microsoft's, being easily accessible when you need them but not quite as in your face. A perfect example of this is Apple Intelligence's new Writing Tools feature. All you have to do is highlight some text, right-click on it, and head to the Writing Tools menu item. From there, you'll be able to have Apple Intelligence proofread text, rewrite it, or completely change the tone of it to be more friendly or more concise. It's pretty handy for day-to-day use, and it's great that it's easily accessible wherever you might type text.
Create AI images quickly and easilyAI-generated images are becoming a familiar part of the online world, but tools built into the latest laptops are making it easier than ever to create them.
Looking for that perfect image to accompany the PowerPoint presentation you're putting together? Or simply want to create something for fun to send to a friend? The Microsoft Photos app can generate AI images for that exact purpose. Using Microsoft Photos, all you have to do is come up with a prompt that describes the image you're looking for, after which Photos will generate it and you can then refine it with additional instructions. It works quite well, and while you may have to spend a bit of time asking Photos to refine its creation, you'll spend a whole lot less time than you would if you were designing the image yourself. Microsoft Photos is available on all Windows computers, however the image creation feature works on Copilot+ PCs like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i.
Access and analyze your documents and filesIf AI software is going to act as your "assistant" it's going to need access to the documents you use to do business. This is part of the full service AI-powered laptop of the future.
Perhaps the most powerful thing about Google's Gemini, for instance, is its ability to integrate with the rest of your Google services. So, you can ask it for information about documents you've written and to summarize those documents directly in the Gemini interface. Gemini even integrates with Gmail, so you can have the assistant summarize emails in a pinch without having to go through them all individually. Gemini features work best on so-called "Chromebook Plus" laptops, like the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714. These laptops come with a free year of Google’s Gemini Advanced subscription.
Avoid digging through settingsWho wants to dig through the settings menu on their computer to find every little setting? Both Copilot and Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence, can change settings for you – all you have to do is ask. Some advanced settings may not quite work just yet, but you can easily ask these assistants to do things like toggle Wi-Fi on and off, manage Bluetooth connections, and more. It works pretty well, and is available on both Apple Intelligence-powered computers, like the MacBook Pro, and even cheaper Copilot+ PCs, like the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus.
TL;DR: Perfect for your bedside, desk, or travel, the Speedy Mag Wireless Charger is on sale for just $34.97 (reg. $119) for a limited time.
Opens in a new window Credit: VistaShops Speedy Mag Wireless Charger for iPhone $34.97If you're tired of dealing with tangled cords and slow charging, the Speedy Mag Wireless Charger might just be your new favorite charging solution.
For just $34.97 (reg. $119), this sleek wireless charger is designed to make your life easier, whether it’s on your nightstand, desk, or in your travel bag.
The Speedy Mag is ideal for bedside use, thanks to its magnetic design that holds your phone securely in place all night. Plus, with built-in safeguards against overcharging and overheating, you can rest easy, knowing your device is in good hands.
And if you need a desk upgrade, this wireless charger eliminates messy cables, giving you a cleaner-looking workspace. It’s designed with fast-charging capabilities, so you can get back to using your phone quickly (within about 30 minutes) and keep the productivity flowing.
And for those on-the-go moments, this compact charger fits easily into any bag, allowing you to charge wirelessly at cafes, hotels, or offices. It also makes a terrific travel companion to charge your phone while flying to your destination.
With MagSafe compatibility and Qi-enabled support for other devices, the Speedy Mag offers rapid, versatile power for iPhone 12 and newer models. It can power up your iPhone 1.5 times on a single charge.
Get yours today or gift it to someone on your list to experience the convenience of wireless charging.
The Speedy Mag Wireless Charger is on sale for just $34.97 (reg. $119) for a limited time.
StackSocial prices subject to change.