Over the past two months I have been publishing a number of fresh benchmarks of the Intel Xeon 6980P “Granite Rapids” flagship processor performance under Linux. All of those new Xeon 6900 series benchmarks on Phoronix have been from the Giga Computing R284-A92-AAL1 2U rack server that has proven to be a very robust and reliable server platform.
Category Archives: Unfiltered RSS
Racing Zwift on Inside Ride Rollers
Rollers on Zwift? Why? There are a few older articles here on Zwift Insider, along with some videos on YouTube, but I wanted to chronicle my thoughts and experiences on the subject.
TLDR:
Pros:
- Much more like riding outdoors than a fixed trainer
- Encourages smooth pedaling and higher cadence
- Your “seated sprint” will get worked on
- Very easy to switch bikes
- No coasting or stopping means you burn more kj/hour
Cons:
- Reaching maximum out-of-the-saddle sprint power is almost impossible
- Cost is higher than most smart trainers
- Requires a power meter to avoid rolling resistance losses
- Need to pay attention, typing and handlebar-mounted tablets are not practical
- Takes up more space
Getting Started
I never enjoyed riding fixed trainers. The unnatural feel of a bike that didn’t rock when you stood up annoyed me. Learning to ride rollers was a rite of passage for beginning bike racers back in the 80s, so of course I got a set.
The problem with ordinary rollers is that they have almost no resistance. You pretty much have to be riding a big gear at a high cadence to get much over 300 watts. Which is fine for us mortals to do threshold and sub-threshold training, but not anything beyond.
Fast forward to 2021. I saw an ad for Inside Ride rollers. If you’ve never seen them, these are like regular rollers, except the entire roller assembly is mounted on a carriage, sitting on a couple of small idlers that look like skateboard wheels. The top assembly can move back and forth a few inches/cm, and is mounted with springs so it is self-centering. They also have an electric resistance unit like a regular smart trainer, along with a pair of smaller supplementary rollers to keep you from driving right off if the resistance is too high.
The price was pretty steep, over $1000 USD. But I went for it. And I am so glad I did.
Roller Tips
These rollers are amazing. For starters, they are so much easier to ride than regular rollers. Just hop on and go. You do not have to pedal perfectly smoothly. Standing up is a piece of cake, as is riding no hands, taking off your jacket, any of it. If you can do it outdoors, then you’ll have no problems doing it on these.
Of course, it’s still more stable the faster the wheels are turning. And like all rollers, if you start to wobble, the solution is to pedal faster. That is the one single tip I’d give anyone riding rollers for the first time. The last thing you want to do is slow down or stop pedaling. Once you condition yourself to spin faster, not slower, balancing is no problem. This is where the Trainer Difficulty setting in Zwift is a blessing. Without it, riding these rollers would not be practical on some of the hillier courses. I have mine set at 20% vs the default 50%. This way, even on the steeper courses, I can keep the wheels turning fast enough to keep the bike stable.
Getting on and off can be a challenge because the wheels of your bike are up on the rollers, somewhat above the floor. Most riders put their rollers next to a wall for support, and I’m no exception. I went a step further and recessed mine into a wooden subfloor platform in my basement. But you could get by with a stool, or ideally, an aerobic step platform set next to the rollers.
The Race Experience
So what is it really like to race Zwift on rollers? First, I’ll be honest – it’s the only way I’ve ever ridden Zwift. I have never tried a modern smart trainer at all, let alone one of the newer ones with all the bells and whistles such as a rocker plate and fork elevator. I can see some definite advantages to direct-drive, which I’ll touch on below. But I really hope that racing is never restricted to specific trainer models, as I’m not giving up my rollers.
Rollers inherently have some resistance from the two tires rolling on them. There is also the air resistance of spoked wheels spinning. And the belt that connects the front and rear rollers adds a bit as well. For these reasons, connecting the rollers to Zwift as your power source is going to shortchange you quite a bit compared to someone with a power meter or a direct-drive trainer. The solution is, of course, to use a pedal/crank/spider-based power meter as your power source.
The Inside Ride rollers are nominally rated at 800w maximum. Mine are from 2021, and I believe the resistance unit is made by Elite. Outdoors, I’m still capable of hitting 1000w for a few seconds, and >800w for the duration of a sprint. Contrary to what you might see in the IR promo video, sprinting with the same torque and vigor I might have outside is too sketchy for me to pull off on the rollers at the end of a Zwift race when I’m already in oxygen debt.
Is this a major deal-breaker for Zwift racing? Not for me. In the 50 races I have done on Zwift, I stayed in the saddle and wound up my “sprint” from a little further out than one would do outside on the road.
I’m willing to give up the ability to sprint at over 11w/kg in order to do my training on rollers, as I feel the trade-off is worth it for me. But if you are a powerful pure sprinter who likes to really thrash out of the saddle, these rollers are probably not for you.
Accessories
I am fortunate to have space in my basement for a dedicated riding/exercise studio. I set up three large fans connected to power strips with remote control, so that I can turn them on and off without leaving the saddle. I use a large computer monitor on a desk a few feet in front of me, as a handlebar-mounted tablet would (I suspect) make riding no hands difficult. I have a wireless mouse within reach on a shelf next to me, along with a cheap tablet to run the Companion app and to control my music. I also use Zwift controllers.
These things all make the rollers experience that much better. I do not use a keyboard and don’t chat during Zwift, as on rollers, you do need to pay attention in order to avoid riding off the edge and falling over.
What About You?
I would love to hear about anyone else’s experience with rollers on Zwift, Inside Ride or not. Thanks for reading, Ride On!
I’m Buying This 130W Car Charger This Black Friday
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
-
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
-
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
-
Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.
-
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
I have a confession. In the 10 years I’ve owned my current car, I’ve never used the cigarette lighter port. The car came with a single USB-A port, so I’ve happily just used that to charge my phone instead. About a year ago, though, I got rid of all my USB-A cables, so now I don’t have a way to charge my phone when I’m in my car. That’s why I’ve been looking at finally putting that cigarette lighter port to good use, which is when I came across this excellent Black Friday deal on a Ugreen 130W car charger, which is currently going at 44% off.
I’ve owned and used a multi-port wall adapter by Ugreen for a couple of years, and it’s been working great in my house. The brand has earned my trust, and the car charger listed here also has great reviews on Amazon. It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A, and it supports up to 100W of output on one of those USB-C ports. That’s good enough to charge laptops, iPads, and of course, your phones. In case you’re wondering about the charger’s other two ports, the USB-A port supports 22.5W output and the second USB-C port supports up to 30W.
This charger also gives you the option to let multiple people charge their devices quickly when needed. Ugreen has bundled a 3.3-ft USB-C charging cable in the box, which makes it easy for rear seat passengers to charge their devices, too. When you plug it in, the charger’s blue LED ring lights up, which also makes it easy to locate the ports at night. The charger has cooling vents on the back to help improve heat dissipation, too. It’s a good product at a great price, which is why I’m about to click that buy button.
Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?
Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.
What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?
Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Deals are selected by our commerce team
My Favorite Massage Gun Is $120 Off for Black Friday
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
-
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
-
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
-
Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.
-
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
As someone who takes post-workout recovery seriously, I’ve tested my fair share of massage guns and recovery gadgets over the years. It’s no exaggeration to say these devices have genuinely changed my life as a runner.
TheraBody is probably the most well-known name in massage guns, and right now, the TheraBody TheraGun Prime—normally priced at $319.99—is available for $199.99 on Amazon for Black Friday. If you’ve been thinking about investing in a quality massage gun, this is your moment.
Why the TheraGun Prime stands out
What makes the Prime my go-to recovery tool? First, it’s remarkably quiet. Anyone who’s used a budget massage gun knows they often sound like you’re drilling into drywall. Thanks to TheraGun’s QuietForce Technology, the Prime operates at a low hum, so you can use it while watching TV without drowning out the dialogue or annoying everyone in your household.
The triangular handle design is another favorite feature of mine. It gives you leverage to reach those stubborn knots in your back and shoulders without turning into a contortionist or begging someone for help. After a long run, being able to work out tension independently is invaluable.
Features that actually matter
The battery lasts about two hours per charge, meaning you’re not constantly scrambling for a charging cable. The Prime connects via Bluetooth to the Therabody app, which guides you through targeted routines and shows you exactly how to address specific sore spots—perfect if you’re new to percussion therapy.
With four speed settings ranging from 1,750 to 2,400 percussions per minute, you can customize intensity based on your needs. Use the lower settings for pre-run warmups or crank it up for deep tissue work after a tough training session. It’s accessible enough for beginners while still delivering the power serious athletes need.
If you’ve been on the fence about getting a massage gun, this Black Friday discount makes the TheraGun Prime an easy recommendation. Your muscles will thank you.
How long do Black Friday deals really last?
Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.
Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?
Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Deals are selected by our commerce team
You can now watch a Google DeepMind doc for free
Google is making The Thinking Game, a 2024 Tribeca Festival selection about DeepMind, available for free. The nearly 90-minute documentary offers a glimpse into the AI team’s background and breakthroughs.
The film, from the same team as the 2017 AlphaGo doc (also on YouTube), was shot over five years. It chronicles Nobel winner Demis Hassabis’ beginnings as a chess prodigy and how that shaped his entry into AI. You’ll see DeepMind’s journey from building AI that (slowly) learned Pong to one that accurately predicted how proteins fold.
You can watch The Thinking Game below or on YouTube.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/you-can-now-watch-a-google-deepmind-doc-for-free-184911659.html?src=rss
CISA Warns Spyware Crews Are Breaking Into Signal and WhatsApp Accounts
An anonymous reader shares a report: CISA has warned that state-backed snoops and cyber-mercenaries are actively abusing commercial spyware to break into Signal and WhatsApp accounts, hijack devices, and quietly rummage through the phones of what the agency calls “high-value” users.
In an alert published Monday, the US government’s cyber agency said it’s tracking multiple miscreants that are using a mix of phishing, bogus QR codes, malicious app impersonation, and, in some cases, full-blown zero-click exploits to compromise messaging apps which most people assume are safe.
The agency says the activity it’s seeing suggests an increasing focus on “high-value” individuals — everyone from current and former senior government, military, and political officials to civil society groups across the US, the Middle East, and Europe. In many of the campaigns, attackers delivered spyware first and asked questions later, using the foothold to deploy more payloads and deepen their access.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
China launches an emergency lifeboat to bring three astronauts back to Earth
An unpiloted Chinese spacecraft launched late Monday and linked up with the country’s Tiangong space station a few hours later, providing a lifeboat for three astronauts stuck in orbit without a safe ride home.
A Long March 2F rocket fired its engines and lifted off with the Shenzhou 22 spacecraft, carrying cargo instead of a crew, at 11:11 pm EST Monday (04:11 UTC Tuesday). The spacecraft docked with the Tiangong station nearly 250 miles (400 kilometers) above the Earth about three-and-a-half hours later.
Chinese engineers worked fast to move up the launch of the Shenzhou 22, originally set to fly next year. On November 5, officials discovered one of the two crew ferry ships docked to the Tiangong station had a cracked window, likely from an impact with a small fragment of space junk.
The Paramount+ Black Friday deal gives you two months of access for only $6
Paramount+ has launched its latest streaming offer, giving new subscribers two months of access for $6 total through December 2 for Black Friday. With prices rising across other platforms, this short-term deal offers a chance to explore either the Essential or Premium plan and see which fits your viewing habits best. Yes, you can pick either plan and get the $3-per-month deal — of course, that makes the Premium plan the better option in terms of the greater discount.
Paramount+ continues to expand its catalog with a mix of current CBS shows, exclusive originals, classic TV and live sports. The service is available in two main tiers: Essential, which includes ads, and Premium, which removes most of them and adds a few key extras like 4K streaming, offline downloads and live CBS access. Both tiers include select Showtime programming, giving subscribers a taste of the premium network’s lineup.
The Essential plan provides access to more than 40,000 episodes and movies, along with live coverage of the NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League matches. It supports up to three simultaneous streams, making it a practical choice for households that share accounts. The Premium plan builds on that by offering ad-free on-demand viewing (with exceptions for live broadcasts), higher-quality playback and the option to watch CBS live in participating regions.
Paramount+’s growing library combines new releases with well-known favorites, offering titles from across CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. Sports fans get live coverage of key events, while movie watchers can find recent cinema releases from Paramount Pictures joining the lineup throughout the year. The inclusion of Showtime series in both plans adds another layer of variety, with dramas and documentaries available alongside the core Paramount+ content.
If you’re keeping an eye on subscription costs, an offer like this is a practical way to test the service without paying full price. It also gives you time to see whether the Essential plan’s ad-supported setup or the Premium tier’s extras are worth the difference.
If you’ve been watching your streaming spend as prices go up elsewhere, this deal from Paramount+ offers a well-balanced opportunity to experience both plan levels at a lower cost. Paramount+ is one of the best streaming services thanks to its vast selection of original shows like Star Trek: Discovery, Ink Master and Frasier. If you’re ready to stream big shows and live events without a heavy commitment this Cyber Monday offer is one to keep in mind.
There are plenty of other Black Friday streaming deals to consider as well. Here are some of the best ones:
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Disney+ Hulu bundle — $60 for one year: The Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) bundle is on sale for $5 per month for one year (for a total of $60) through December 1. New and eligible returning subscribers can take advantage of this deal, and considering the bundle typically costs $13 per month, this deal represents more than a 50 percent discount on the standard monthly price.
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Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Black Friday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.
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HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max’s Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.
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Sling TV Orange — day pass for only $1: Sling TV launched Day Passes earlier this year, giving users one-day access to a variety of its packages. This deal cuts $4 off the normal price of a day pass for Sling Orange. With that, you get unlimited access for 24 hours to Orange’s more than 30 channels that includes ESPN, CNN, TBS and others.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-paramount-black-friday-deal-gives-you-two-months-of-access-for-only-6-183036349.html?src=rss
Intel Arrow Lake Refresh Flexes Faster DDR5 Memory, Nova Lake Gets A Big NPU Boost
We reported last week on some leaked details for Intel’s upcoming Arrow Lake Refresh processors. As a refresh, these new chips don’t seem to do much to differentiate themselves from the extant Core Ultra 200S family, but one small upgrade mentioned in that leak was a move to DDR5-7200 memory as standard. Now, we have confirmation on that direct
The Best Black Friday Gifts for Fitness Enthusiasts
We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
-
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
-
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
-
Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.
-
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
Finding the perfect gift for someone who lives and breathes fitness can be tricky. As a runner, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been gifted a handheld water bottle. It’s a nice thought, but there’s only so much space on my shelf. Likewise, I’m sure the lifters out there have more than enough lifting gloves by now.
The thing is, with a little research, you could find a present that genuinely enhances someone’s workouts and recovery. Here’s a thoughtful guide to help you choose something they’ll actually use.
For the home gym builder
Adjustable dumbbells are a game-changer for anyone with limited space. These designs let you switch between weights quickly, replacing an entire rack of traditional dumbbells. While they can be an investment, they’re one that serious fitness enthusiasts truly appreciate. There are plenty of highly rated options as part of Amazon’s Black Friday sale, like this set here for just $142.48 right now. Otherwise, a solid set of adjustable dumbbells could fall outside of most gift exchange budgets. After your gift, your loved one could upgrade to my favorite Nüobells for $795.
Yoga mats with extra cushioning or non-slip surfaces benefit anyone who works out at home or focuses on recovery regularly. A good mat, like my go-to from Amazon Basics, can last for years and make a noticeable difference in comfort during floor work.
A set of resistance bands offers incredible versatility without taking up much space. They’re perfect for travel, warm-ups, or adding difficulty to bodyweight exercises. Look for sets with different resistance levels and door anchors. You could spring for a full suspension trainer system, like the TRX GO on sale for $102.95 right now. Otherwise, a set of resistance bands shouldn’t cost more than $30.
Recovery essentials
The world of recovery gadgets is so much bigger than just massage guns. Foam rollers remain one of the most practical gifts for muscle recovery. Consider textured versions that provide deeper tissue work, or vibrating models that add an extra dimension to self-massage routines. I recommend this 5-in-1 foam roller set for $39.95.
All that said, a good massage gun has become nearly essential for anyone training regularly. They help with muscle soreness, improve circulation, and can be used both pre and post-workout. From my testing, I’ve found many mid-range options now offer professional-level features at reasonable prices. For Black Friday, Theragun massagers are on sale, including this Theragun Mini for $168, down from $219.99. This Theragun Pro is $349.99, down from $529.99. And the premium Theragun Pro Plus is $548.88, down from $649.99.
Wearable tech
Fitness trackers are a must-have for even the most casual gym-goer. Even if someone already has one, newer models often provide significantly better insights that can genuinely improve training effectiveness. Lifehacker’s senior health editor Beth Skwarecki has got you covered when it comes to all the best deals on fitness trackers and watches right now.
While you might not know someone’s preferences between an Apple Watch versus a Garmin versus a Pixel, I recommend introducing a Whoop band into your fitness enthusiast’s life. Whoop is the iconic screenless wristband that tracks your workouts and recovery without looking like a watch. The Whoop Peak with a 5.0 device is an option that makes the most sense for most people, and is currently on sale for $199 (down from $239).
Wireless earbuds designed for workouts make a huge difference. Look for sweat-resistant models with secure fit and good battery life. When it comes to eliminating the racket of the outside world, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra come out on top, and they’re on sale for $199 (a full $100 off their list price).
For running specifically, my absolute favorite headphones—the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2—are currently $124.95, a 31% discount off their list price of $179.95.
Practical additions
I joke about having enough water bottles, but if someone needs an upgrade, a high-quality water bottle still a great budget gift option. Insulated versions keep drinks cold through long training sessions, and many people like having multiple bottles for different purposes. This Owala is on sale for $27.97.
Gym bags with specialized compartments for shoes, wet clothes, and electronics make getting to and from workouts more organized. Look for durable materials and thoughtful design features like ventilated shoe compartments. This Adidas duffel is on sale for $29.14.
The bottom line: Consider what type of training they do most, what might be wearing out in their current setup, and what could take their workouts to the next level.
And as you’re shopping around, don’t forget to add a personal touch. Consider buying someone a sports massage, or maybe customize whatever gear you get. Their name, some motivational text, or their favorite fitness quote on quality athletic wear or accessories adds a personal element they won’t find in stores.
How long do Black Friday deals really last?
Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.
Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?
Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Deals are selected by our commerce team
How a Creative Gift From My Parents Transformed My Career
During the pandemic, I was struggling. After graduating from college in 2019, I had an amazing job offer fall through because of the lockdown. I felt completely rudderless at a time when I thought I had it all figured out. Since we were all stuck inside together for months, there was no hiding my internal distress from my family.
Fortunately, my parents recognized this even more than I did. That year, they gave me a gift that pulled me out of that pit, reignited my passion for creating, and set the journey in motion that led me to my career today as a professional creator and video producer. That gift was the Cricut Explore, and this device literally changed my life.
What is the Cricut Explore?
For those of you who don’t know, Cricut Explore machines let you design and cut tons of materials like vinyl, cardstock, iron-on, and even leather into custom patterns that you can use for shirts, hats, or any other DIY projects that you might have in mind.
Able to work with over 100 materials, the Cricut Explore line allows you to create almost anything you want on demand in a user-friendly, inexpensive way. The cost-effective aspect was huge for me, as I had almost zero money to my name and all the time in the world to learn. Since the Cricut Explore works via Bluetooth or USB, I was able to create custom items on request for people, featuring specialized materials and designs that would normally take weeks or months to complete.
The Cricut took on a pivotal role in my creative process. It led to the creation of XtarBoy Apparel, my custom apparel company, which would eventually support me throughout the entire pandemic. I made custom shirts for yoga studios, limited-run apparel and merch for micro-influencers, and even inked my first sponsorship deal for a motorsport racing team in San Diego.
The Cricut also introduced me to an important business mentor in my life. As I was trying to get XtarBoy off the ground, I had quietly taken on a job at a local auto-tinting place in San Diego, and the owner took a liking to what I was working on. He would request custom shop merch and team gear, and was one of the biggest supporters of my side project when I had almost zero faith in myself. He even set aside a corner of the shop for the Cricut, so I could print things for customers whenever I had one, and let me use the shop as a storefront for all my designs. Later, the gifting came full circle when my mom released her first book series, as I was able to help her with promotion and marketing by making custom merch to pair with the book.
Gifts can have lasting value
Sometimes we take the gifts we receive for granted. There can be an expectation that they should be the newest device, the latest collab, or the most expensive item in order to be considered a “good gift.” But for me, the greatest gift I got wasn’t just the Cricut itself, but the opportunities and experiences it opened up for me to create, take risks, and challenge myself in a new and exciting way. And at the core, that’s what a holiday with heart truly represents.
The Base Amazon Kindle Is Down to $80 for Black Friday
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
-
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
-
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
-
Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.
-
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
The base Amazon Kindle is one of the cheapest ebook readers that you can buy right now. Even better, the 2024 version was updated with a new screen, and a trendy new “matcha” color option.
Currently, you can get the base Kindle 16GB model with Lockscreen Ads for $79.99. That’s a $30 discount off the usual price of $109.99. The model without Lockscreen Ads is also discounted to $99.99 (down from $129.99). This is the lowest price we’ve seen for the base Kindle, ever. That makes this pretty tempting, since because the Kindle is already one of the cheapest e-readers out there, it doesn’t go on sale that often.
The 2024 Kindle comes with a 6-inch e-Ink display with 16GB storage and a screen with 94 nits of brightness (25% brighter than before). The new updated screen with 300 PPI pixel density is also now as bright as the Kindle Paperwhite, which retails for $159.99 (and is currently discounted to $124). There’s also an updated processor that promises faster page turns. It still offers the same 6-week long battery life, too. The Kindle measures 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32 inches (HWD) and weighs 157 grams. The device has a USB-C port for charging and manually transferring books and files. The 16GB storage should be good for thousands of books.
The Amazon Kindle comes with the standard Kindle software, where ebooks bought using Amazon will show up automatically on your device. You can also use Amazon’s Send to Kindle feature to wirelessly transfer your own books to the Kindle. There’s also Goodreads integration and a recommendation engine to help you discover more books to read.
In PCMag’s review, the Amazon Kindle (2024) received a 3.5-star “Good” rating. PCMag noted that “We like its small size and consistent lighting, and even though it isn’t as fast as the Paperwhite, it works perfectly well.”
If you have the extra $70 to spend, you can also consider the Kindle Paperwhite, which comes with a bigger screen, faster page turns, a waterproof body, a longer battery life, and the option for warm backlighting.
Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?
Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.
What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?
Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.
Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?
Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Deals are selected by our commerce team
This Early Black Friday Deal Makes the M5 MacBook Pro a Ridiculously Good Value
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
-
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
-
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
-
Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.
-
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
The MacBook Air is the best laptop for most people, but not for everyone. While most of us will get more machine than we could possibly need out of a modern Air, the Pro offers both extra features and power that you simply can’t get with Apple’s cheaper computer. While I could certainly get by on an M1 MacBook Air, my daily driver is an M3 Pro MacBook Pro. If you’re in the same boat, and you’re in the market for a new pro-level MacBook, this deal on the M5 MacBook Pro is excellent. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better value in a pro laptop, especially one from Apple.
Apple’s M5 MacBook Pro is the company’s latest laptop, and the first Mac with the M5 chip. Right off the bat, this chip offers some modest performance gains over M4, which is the chip you’ll get in Apple’s newest MacBook Airs. But that’s to be expected from one Apple silicon generation to the next. Even if Apple’s MacBook Air also shipped with M5, the Pro would have it beat in sustained performance, thanks to a crucial hardware component: the fan. MacBook Airs are fanless, which keep them particularly thin and light. That’s great for aesthetics and portability, and, in many cases, you won’t really miss the fans. But if you push these machines with demanding tasks—especially concurrent demanding tasks—M5 may heat up, to the point where the machine may need to slow down its processing speeds to keep the temperature in check. A built-in fan can move hot air out, and keep the chip cooler for longer, extending the peak performance of the computer. That’s where the Pro shines.
Aside from the extra power boost, Apple’s modern MacBook Pro line sports some great features for enthusiasts and casual users alike. While the MacBook Air uses an LED display (a high quality one, no doubt), the Pro uses a mini-LED display. The latter offers a much greater contrast than LED, thanks to multiple “dimming zones,” versus LED’s one solid backlight. If you’re watch a dark scene on a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro side-by-side, you’ll notice how the dark areas are really gray on the Air, while on the Pro, they’re inky black. While I’d prefer an OLED display on the Pro, the mini-LED looks great, and is why I use my Pro for most of my streaming needs. Plus, the Pro adds an extra 0.6 inches of screen real estate, at least compared to the Air’s 13.6-inch display.
Apple also reserves the best port selection for the MacBook Pro. While the MacBook Air gets two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a MagSafe connector, the MacBook Pro adds a third USB-C port, an HDMI port, and an SDXC card slot. It’s a great I/O for professionals, but also for anyone who connects their computer to a TV or external monitor.
Most of these perks are not necessary, of course. The display on the Air is great; many of us can live with just two USB-C ports; and M4 is more than enough for most day-to-day tasks. You might even find you like the form factor of the Air better than the Pro: The Pro is considerably chunkier than the Air, and weighs more as well. Anyone looking for a thin and light machine will be content with the dimensions of a MacBook Air. And when you can pick up an M4 Air for as little as $749, the Pro can seem like overkill.
But if you’re someone who wants those extra features, or needs some additional power that the Air can’t quite provide, the current Black Friday deal on the Pro is amazing. $1,599 isn’t a bad price for what you get with the M5, but at $1,399, it’s a fantastic value. You’ll just need to be the judge as to whether all these extra perks are worth the additional $650.
How long do Black Friday deals really last?
Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.
Does Apple do Black Friday?
Yes, Apple participates in Black Friday, though you may want to compare their sales with other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart. Apple is offering an exclusive $250 gift card for eligible purchases, but so far, the best Black Friday sale on an Apple product is the M4 MacBook on sale for cheaper than ever.
Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?
Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Deals are selected by our commerce team
The Best $99 I Ever Spent Was on an Impulse-Buy Photo Printer
At 22, I moved over 9,500 miles from my hometown of Ushuaia, Argentina—the southernmost city in the world—to Sweden to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science. Mid-way through my studies, I learned my mom had cancer and would have to go through treatment. With her birthday coming up, I knew I needed to visit home. What I didn’t know was that a spontaneous purchase during an airport layover would lead to lasting memories.
My itinerary had three connections each way. While on a layover in Rome, I spotted a small, white box in a tech store: an Instax Mini Link printer. My scientist brain screamed “no” at an impulse buy, but my heart, which had already booked a transcontinental flight, made the decision, and I bought it. The idea of capturing a moment and immediately holding it felt like an antidote to the digital distance I’d been feeling. After all, the best camera is the one you have with you, and for most of us, that’s our phone.
An amazing weekend
After 24 hours in the sky, knocking on my parents’ door felt surreal. We all burst into joyful tears, and for the next 48 hours, our agenda was packed: birthday party preparations, driving around town, and signing up for a local 3K race.
The author and his mother at a race.
Credit: Gérman Ceballos
Credit: Gérman Ceballos
That weekend became one of the most emotional of my life. And through it all, that little printer became my partner in crime. Without telling my mom, I just kept taking and printing pictures of every single moment together.
At her birthday party, I gave her the stack of photos. The printer wasn’t just a gadget, it was a tool for connection. In an age where our memories live on servers and are viewed through the cold glow of a screen, those small, tangible photos were a priceless gift. They were physical proof of our time together, something she could hold in her hand, put on her nightstand, or carry in her wallet.
That tiny printer taught me a powerful lesson: The value of a photograph is in its presence. That pocket-sized printer transformed digital moments into lasting, physical artifacts, leaving behind not just files, but living memories. It was some of the best money I’ve ever spent, and if you’re looking for a way to make memories with loved ones, consider packing this printer in your travel bag so you can turn photos you’re already taking on your phone into keepsakes you’ll continue to cherish.
I Gifted My Mom an Apron of Her Art Using Adobe’s AI Tools, and Here’s How I Did It
My mom has been a master Chinese painter for over 40 years. I recently used AI to incorporate her art into physical gifts. If you want to achieve the same quality with a meaningful family photo, here’s how you can utilize Adobe’s new upscaling features to get the best results.
For this process, I used Adobe Firefly and Photoshop. Adobe Firefly is Adobe’s generative AI application, and the company released a phone app this summer to help you create on the go. If you’re a total newbie to Firefly, you can just ask the app for help along the way. Photoshop, which has long been the gold standard for image editing, recently added an AI upscaling feature that can improve scanned photos or images with the click of a button. Here’s how I did it.
How I used Adobe AI features to make gifts
I started by using Adobe Firefly to visualize my mom’s art on various products, including aprons, scarves, and even dresses. Seeing mockup options helped me decide on an apron as the perfect first piece.
Next, I brought an image of an original painting into Photoshop and used the AI upscaling feature. Wearables require a much larger print size, and this step ensures every detail stays crisp and vibrant. I then uploaded the file to Printful, a print-on-demand platform. You can also use Printify or a different print-on-demand provider, as the process is nearly identical.
In just a few clicks, the apron was ready to print and ship directly, and it was such a pleasure to see my mom wear her own artwork. With technology and AI, we’ve been able to take her creations beyond the canvas and share them with people everywhere, making every gift feel personal, meaningful, and timeless. If you want to tinker with AI this holiday season, this is one way to get some practice and make a thoughtful gift for a loved one along the way.
I Bought a Nintendo Switch 2 to Relive Special Holiday Memories
Video games aren’t just a leisurely pastime. For some, they’re a way to connect with loved ones and relive nostalgic memories from childhood. I am one of those people.
I pounced on the Nintendo Switch 2 when it came out earlier this year because I wanted something that felt familiar while living abroad. I’ve been a digital nomad for nearly ten years and currently live in Bangkok, Thailand, nearly 8,500 miles away from my six children and two grandchildren.
The Switch 2 lets me play the latest games with my kids, which I love to do, even when the time change makes schedules wonky. It reminds me of when I bought them a Wii many years ago and the hours of fun we had as a family playing Wii Sports in the living room. It also reminds me of a deeper, older memory – one that’s been on my mind more than ever before.
The gift that changed my life
I’m a first-generation American with a Kenyan mom and a stepfather from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Growing up, the emphasis in our home was on working hard, doing well in school, and not taking for granted the opportunities we had in America.
That meant things like video games were frowned upon. The idea of having a video game system in our home was unthinkable to my immigrant parents. My parents worked hard to afford our lives and support family members back in Africa, so there wasn’t a lot of spare money for gifts. Gifts were rare, even during the holidays; we were lucky to get a single gift.
I was fine with not getting as many gifts or the types of games and tech that my friends got. I understood early that not everyone’s life can be the same. When the PlayStation came out in 1994, however, that was the first time I really wanted a gift.
I begged my mom every day leading up to Christmas, did extra work around the house, and ran errands, all while pleading for my mom to make an exception and let us have a video game system in the house. I established a set of self-governing rules for my brothers and me to follow, ensuring the game wouldn’t interfere with our school work.
The author, right, and one of his brothers in an old family photo.
Credit: Kimanzi Constable
Credit: Kimanzi Constable
That’s why I cried every ounce of liquid out of my body on Christmas morning when there was a PlayStation and some games.
My brother later had cancer, and my mom is battling late-stage cancer now. My mom can’t talk much these days, but I can still talk to her. I often share with her the core memory of that gift and what it meant to me.
The author and his mother.
Credit: Kimanzi Constable
Credit: Kimanzi Constable
Giving a similar gift to my children
I wanted my kids to have the same kind of gaming console memory that I had when I was a kid. So in 2012, I gifted them a Nintendo Wii.
We spent every night playing Wii Sports as a family, creating memories that my kids, now adults, recall often. I had to teach them how to take turns playing the Wii and how to play against each other without it becoming an all-out war when they won or lost a game. There were more than a few incidents when a controller found itself flying across the room.
This author with some of his children and children-in-law.
Credit: Kimanzi Constable
Credit: Kimanzi Constable
Giving a similar gift to… myself
I started living abroad in 2021, and I’m fortunate that my family supports it. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, my wife and I realized we wanted to live a more nomadic life and explore the world further. I had lost many family members to cancer, and I worried I might get cancer too, so I wanted to live life fully, both for myself and in memory of those I’ve lost.
With our kids all out of the home, attending college and living adult lives, it felt like the right time. We sold everything, including our cars and home, and began traveling with no fixed home base. We became full-time digital nomads.
I gave my adult children, who live together, my original Switch before I moved to Thailand, so they could play Switch Sports via Nintendo Online with me while I was in Thailand. I knew the Switch 2 was coming out before I moved, and that I would get one over here in Bangkok once I settled in.
We get to relive the fun every time we log on, and it’s a way to stay connected even though we’re physically 8,500 miles apart. We coordinate our playtime: nighttime for them and morning for me, since Thailand is either 11 or 12 hours ahead of the Central time zone.
Although the Switch 2 console is larger, I’ve still been able to fit it in my travel backpack and play it comfortably. I recently played Switch 2 on a three-hour car ride from Bangkok to Hua Hin, Thailand, and even played it on the beach at a resort in Hua Hin. I’ve used the built-in voice chat, the stable dock with a second USB-C port, and the larger, magnetically attaching Joy-Con 2s. Playing online is more fun with the upgraded Joy-Cons.
The author after purchasing a Switch 2.
Credit: Kimanzi Constable
Credit: Kimanzi Constable
Tech gifts can rekindle old memories and create new ones
I enjoy the Nintendo Switch 2 so much that I’m buying a console for our two grandchildren, ages six and four. I know they’ll have a similar reaction to the one I had when my mom got us a PlayStation, as my granddaughter has been begging me for a Switch 2. I want my grandkids to experience the fun I experience every day.
Gaming consoles give me a way to channel nostalgia and nourish my soul, and what I’ve learned through travel is that I need a full soul to live sustainably as a digital nomad.
As we get ready for another holiday season, it’s okay for you to capture the nostalgia and buy yourself fun gifts, too. You no doubt have core memories of gifts you got as a child—perhaps there’s an equivalent gift you can buy yourself as an adult, or something you can get for your children to build upon your own meaningful memories.
Mumbai Families Suffer As Data Centers Keep the City Hooked on Coal
Two coal plants in Mumbai (in India) that were scheduled to close last year continue operating after the state government of Maharashtra reversed shutdown decisions in late 2023 and extended the life of at least one facility by five years. The largest single factor the Indian conglomerate Tata cited in its petition for an extension was increased energy demand from data centers.
The Guardian reports that Amazon operated 16 data centers in Mumbai last year. The company’s official website lists three “availability zones” for the city. Amazon’s Mumbai colocation data centers consumed 624,518 megawatt hours of electricity in 2023. That amount could power over 400,000 Indian households for a year. Residents of Mahul live a few hundred metres from one coal plant. Earlier this year doctors found three tumours in the brain of a resident’s 54-year-old mother. Studies show people who live near coal plants are much more likely to develop cancer. By 2030 data centers will consume a third of Mumbai’s energy, according to Ankit Saraiya, chief executive of Techno & Electric Engineering. Amazon’s colocation data centers in Mumbai bought 41 diesel generators as backup. A report in August by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy identified diesel generators as a major source of air pollution in the region.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
You Can Get an Xbox Controller for Just $40 This Black Friday
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
-
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
-
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
-
Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.
-
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
Black Friday 2025 is a good time to look for gaming accessories, and I think the best overall deal you can get right now is on the Xbox wireless controller. I started using it in 2021, when I got my Xbox Series X, and I think it’s probably the second-best controller for most people. I personally like the PS5’s DualSense a little more, but that’s not a dig on the Xbox controller at all. Especially when you look at the fact that the Xbox controller is about $15 cheaper than the PS5 alternative, it’s a really smart move to get the cheaper option—you can use both with devices other than their respective consoles.
The Xbox wireless controller works with your Xbox Series X|S, PC, and mobile devices. It uses a pair of AA batteries for power. If you don’t enjoy buying disposable batteries, you still have the option to buy rechargeable AA batteries or even pick long-lasting Lithium batteries. The controller also has a USB-C port and you can use it to connect the device to your console or PC to use it wired. I’ve had to use it as a wired controller a couple of times when the AA batteries ran out in the middle of a long online gaming session, and it worked fine. Do ensure that you use a good USB cable, though, or you risk frequent disconnections.
When you’re buying an Xbox wireless controller off Amazon, you have the option to choose the black color variant with a USB-C cable. The included USB-C cable is convenient, although other colors might not have one. Good cables are quite cheap and ubiquitous these days, so I’d rather get my favorite color rather than worry about which one ships with a cable. Still, it’s worth looking at all your options, since they do differ in price, landing between $40 and $50. The Pulse Red color looks quite tempting to me, but you should pick the color that calls to you.
Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?
Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.
What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?
Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
—
$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Deals are selected by our commerce team
Carbon spokes have quietly gone mainstream – but this is why they’ll never fully replace steel
Carbon spokes are nothing new. First introduced by German manufacturer Lightweight in 1994 with the first fully carbon wheel, carbon spokes claimed their first Tour de France win in 1997. From then until fairly recent times, they remained the reserve of niche carbon exotica.
Fast forward to today, and most major and premium road bike wheel manufacturers offer wheelsets with composite spokes. Even the traditionally conservative DT Swiss has now dipped its toe in the carbon-spoke world with its 1,174g ARC 1100 Spline 38 CS wheelset.
For lightweight wheelsets where every gram counts, the weight-to-stiffness properties of carbon spokes offer clear benefits, where they can shave more than 100g off a wheelset compared to conventional steel spokes.
But their fragility from side impacts, patent-protected production processes and minor aerodynamic deficiencies mean they’re likely to remain a premium alternative to steel, rather than a wholesale replacement – at least for now.
What are carbon spokes?
As their name suggests, carbon fibre spokes replace the standard steel spokes, but there are two different approaches – unbonded and bonded.
The former is similar to a standard wheel, with carbon spokes laced to the hub and rim like steel spokes.
The majority of unbonded carbon spokes feature a carbon shaft that is bonded to a steel or titanium head and threaded tip. This means that the carbon part isn’t actually in contact with the hub or rim body, so only minor alterations have to be made to the hub and rim to use them.
The latter is a one-piece design. Depending on the wheel construction, the rim, hubs and spokes can be separate components bonded together during the manufacturing process, or, as is the case with Syncros’ Capital SL-series wheels, all three components may be moulded as a single piece.
- Read more: New Syncros Capital SL carbon wheelset features one-piece rim, spoke and hub shell design
A significant saving
Wheel manufacturers have adopted carbon fibre spokes primarily because of the weight savings on offer.
“They’re about half the weight of a steel spoke,” says Joel Smith, managing director of Reserve Wheels, explaining that the Vonoa carbon fibre spokes used by Reserve weigh 2.5g compared to Sapim CX-Ray’s 4.75g.
When laced to a 24-spoke rim, this enables Reserve to shave 108g per wheelset without sacrificing any of the rim or hubs’ properties. “We now have a lighter, deeper section wheel, without having to reduce the strength of our rims.”
But the performance benefits don’t end there. “With the same cross section of the spoke, you can build lighter wheels, or with the same weight, you can build much stiffer wheels,” explains Michael Hübner, Lightweight’s head of R&D.
Scope Cycling’s co-founder Nieck Busser adds that you can feel the difference a carbon fibre spoke design makes from a lateral stiffness and ride quality perspective.
“The pivotal moment [for Reserve] has been this year, where Wout [van Aert] basically raced carbon spoke wheels the entire Tour de France,” says Smith.
“He kept saying they just felt way more planted with less movement in hard cornering situations where you’re going into an apex corner, hard on the brakes, and he noticed the snappiness of the wheel out of the corners as well on the rear.”
Easily damaged downsides
However, carbon spokes aren’t without their drawbacks.
From a performance perspective, the current crop of unbonded carbon fibre spokes isn’t as aerodynamically optimised as their steel counterparts. This means there is a marginal increase in drag to pay for the savings on the scales.
“If you want to build just aero wheels, you could have an advantage with a steel spoke because you can build it very thin, which is not possible… with a carbon spoke,” says Hübner.
While it’s possible to create carbon fibre spokes to the same profile and they would have enough lateral strength, he explains.
But the main downsides arise from the practical application of carbon fibre spokes during the cut-and-thrust nature of riding and racing.
“From a pull perspective, it’s a very strong product, and we hardly see any failure,” says Busser. “The difficulty is from a side impact – it’s a pretty sensitive product. Compared to steel spokes, it’s a huge difference.”
For unbonded carbon fibre spokes, this could mean a broken spoke, whereas for bonded models, like those made by Lightweight and Syncros, it could mean a whole new wheel.
“Performance-wise, I would definitely go for the carbon spoke, but take into consideration the complete picture,” says Busser.
“If you’re an amateur racer and you want to race with it, and you are in the bunch, or you do a Spring Classics or a criterium, and you hit a pedal or a derailleur with your spoke, a steel spoke can survive that; [with] a carbon spoke, it’s going to be more difficult.”
Why now?
For a technology that has been around for more than three decades, why is it only now that we’re seeing a swathe of brands coming to market with a carbon fibre spoke wheelset?
The answer lies in the improved consistency in the unbonded carbon fibre spokes themselves, and the lower barriers to entry offered by this approach.
“For the past five years that we’ve been looking into it, there was super inconsistency in the actual spokes until we found the company that everybody is using these days – Vonoa – and we started seeing consistency in spoke pull tests,” says Smith.
This has given manufacturers confidence to start investing R&D time in producing an unbonded carbon fibre spoke wheel without having to rethink the hub and rim design as with a bonded approach.
“We’ve kind of reached the design limitation [of the rim]. If you look at a cross-section, they’re so thin, so there wasn’t really a way for us to get a lighter wheelset without reducing strength. We didn’t want to do that. So [carbon spokes] was an opportunity to [reduce weight],” adds Smith.
There’s consumer demand too, with Busser saying that high-end, performance-focused customers expect carbon fibre spokes – as found on Scope’s Artech series – as standard, while Smith says that Reserve expects the technology to make up 10 to 15 per cent of its aftermarket wheel sales next year.
Bonded vs unbonded
The current trend is being driven by unbonded carbon fibre spokes, but there are pros and cons to each approach.
The unbonded path is a cheaper (albeit still more expensive than steel) approach for brands to invest in.
“We did the [bonded] front and rear for Wout [van Aert] at the Olympics last year, but that’s a long path for us. Those wheels have to be $5,500 to make them, especially consistently. I don’t know if we’re ready to go into those price points now,” says Smith.
But it also comes down to the end-user and how the product is going to be used.
“We don’t see the benefit of making it a one-piece design for durability and maintenance reasons,” says Busser. “We see a huge benefit of being able to replace the product.
“If you have a €4,000 product, and something happens to your rim or your hub, and you’re not under warranty, we can still repair products for a reasonable amount. Whereas for [bonded] wheels like Syncros or Lightweight, if it’s not over the warranty, you literally have to throw out your wheels.”
Of course, cottage artisans, such as Lightwheels Repair Service, offer repairs to one-piece carbon wheels, though whether OEMs would advocate this is unclear.
Regardless, for Syncros and Lightweight, the additional performance benefits of a bonded design are worth the risks and even greater costs.
“We are always looking for the best performance, best quality, and also the best durability,” says Hübner. “It makes sense to bond it because for a fibre composite, you are always looking for a direct connection between the fibres, and if you bond the spokes directly or laminate it inside the rim, you can use the full properties of the material.
“If you use an unbonded one with nipples and a thread, then you will lose some of the properties.”
Hubner also claims that if you bond the spokes or laminate inside the wheel, the performance remans the same for the life of the wheel. “With an unbonded spoke, it loses some of the properties over the years.”
Nicolas Rondeau, head of Syncros’ product division, adds, “Quite simply, this construction delivers the best aerodynamic performance and the best stiffness to weight ratio, bar none. [The Silverton SL and Capital SL] were developed as a complete and unique system with a fully optimised structure, meaning the spokes are optimised to work perfectly with the rim and hubs.
“The unique construction allows a uniform spoke tension, tuned from the spoke prestaining patented construction, ensuring the best performance from the composite material. In addition, it is a design that has maximum reliability in the long term, as there are no components that can fail or loosen over time.”
A ubiquitous alternative? Not for now
Given carbon fibre spokes have been around for more than 30 years and are still eye-wateringly expensive compared to their steel alternatives, the chances of prices falling and accessibility increasing might seem slim.
But a carbon-spoked future might be edging closer for those with moderately deep pockets.
“I think there will be more suppliers in the future for the ‘classic’ [unbonded] carbon spokes, and so the price in these segments will be falling,” says Hübner.
“I do see that carbon spokes are going to become ubiquitous,” agrees Smith, before conceding that because of the patents surrounding the tech, price falls will be modest.
“There are only one or two companies that are going to be able to produce them, because there’s so much intellectual property on the carbon spokes. This is going to be bad because I don’t think we’re going to be able to drive down pricing [because of it].”
However, for bonded wheels like Lightweight, expect price points to remain prohibitively expensive.
“Our engineering and production is based in Friedrichshafen, Germany. There’s no way to make it cheaper if you decide to produce it in Germany, and that’s obviously the reason why we have such a high price point,” concludes Lightweight’s marketing manager, Marco Hinzer.
“There are people out there who appreciate that we’re not going to China for production, so they’re willing to pay the price for it.”
In the immediate future, carbon fibre spokes are likely to remain the preserve of premium, range-topping, performance-focused wheelsets.
If prices do come down, or the aerodynamic and side-impact properties of unbonded spokes are improved to match steel, then they may become a viable and practical alternative for those seeking moderate weight savings without sacrificing durability.
Until then, carbon fibre spokes are likely to remain a niche product, albeit one where consumers with big enough bank balances have a greater choice than ever before.
RealPage agrees to change algorithm so landlords can’t collude on price hikes
RealPage has agreed to settle an antitrust lawsuit raised by the Department of Justice, alleging that landlords used its tools to coordinate efforts to artificially raise rental prices across the US.
In a press release, the DOJ promised the proposed settlement “would help restore free market competition in rental markets for millions of American renters.”
For years since the pandemic started, rental prices outpaced inflation, and the DOJ suspected that RealPage was the dominant force driving a market that never favored renters. Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data covering a 12-month period ending this September showed rents are still rising by 3.5 percent amid an affordability crisis, leaving some US renters in fear of housing instability.