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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I like to joke that my sainted father was the second-worst carpenter in New Jersey, and he raised me to be the worst. That’s a slight exaggeration, but it’s true that the old advice to measure twice and cut once doesn’t work for me. I measure twice, and somehow I am often still wrong when I go to make the cut.
This has led to a certain level of paranoia when it comes to my home DIY projects, which has led to the purchase of many tape measures in my life as I try to convince myself that it’s the tool’s fault, not mine, that everything comes out wonky. As a result, I’ve used a lot of tape measures, both mechanical and digital. Both have their advantages—a mechanical tape measure can take a beating and still be used, while a digital tape measure can give you measurements a physical tape can’t easily provide.
For a while, I had both, and used them as needed. And then I found this: The Fanttik A10, which is 42% off for Black Friday.
The A10’s physical tape isn’t very long—just under 10 feet. But that’s long enough for any close-up detail work where a digital tape might have problems due to space limitations, and it’s good enough for most DIY project work—plus it lets my muscle memory kick in, because I’m so used to snapping out a physical tape.
But for longer distances that can be difficult to measure with a physical tape because of sagging and twisting (and those moments when the hook fails and the whole thing snaps back), the A10 is an accurate laser measure that can measure up to 165 feet. I don’t know about your house, but I will never need to measure anything longer than 165 feet in my life. Having both kinds of measuring tools in one is incredibly convenient.
The A10 is a thoughtfully designed tool. It has multiple measuring modes, including area and volume (I’ve never needed to measure the volume of a room, but it’s nice to know it’s there if I need it). It can also be used as a level, and although I still grab my trusty spirit level for most jobs, the A10 has been reliable as a level in the few tests I’ve done.
You can buy a stand for the A10 if you want, which could be useful if you don’t have a convenient spot to place the laser level—any stand that works with a 1/4” threaded mount should work. It charges via a standard USB C port, and the battery life is great.
All in all, the A10 is a terrific tool. The main reason I love it, though, is definitely the combination of mechanical and digital measuring in one pocket-sized tool. For someone who has always been detail-challenged, this has been a tremendous help, especially because I can switch back and forth and double-check myself any time I need to without needing to grab another tool. Anyone who does work around the house will find this to be incredibly useful.
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.
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.
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.
Nvidia pushed back against investor concerns about Google’s competitive positioning in AI on Tuesday after the chipmaker’s shares tumbled 4.4% and erased nearly $200 billion in market cap on fears that Alphabet’s tensor processing units were gaining ground against its dominance in AI computing. The company said it was “delighted by Google’s success” but asserted that it continues to supply chips to Google.
Nvidia said it remains “a generation ahead of the industry” as the only platform that runs every AI model and operates everywhere computing is done. The statement came after investors reacted to the release of Google’s Gemini 3 large language model last week. The model was trained using TPUs rather than Nvidia chips. A report in The Information on Monday said Google was pitching potential clients including Meta on using TPUs in their data centers rather than Nvidia’s chips.
Nvidia said its platform offers “greater performance, versatility, and fungibility than ASICs,” referring to application-specific integrated circuits like Google’s TPUs that are designed for specific AI frameworks or functions. Google’s TPUs have until now only been available for customers to rent through its cloud computing service. Nvidia has lost more than $800 billion in market value since it peaked above $5 trillion less than a month ago.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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.
Of all the gaming controllers I’ve used, I like Sony’s DualSense controller the most. I like its heft, ergonomics, and the fact that I don’t have to keep replacing AA batteries to use it. And while the DualSense works best with the PS5, it’s also a great controller for your PC, iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. If you’ve been eyeing one, then Black Friday 2025 is a great time to buy the PS5’s DualSense controller.
During the Black Friday 2025 sale on Amazon, the PS5’s DualSense controller is going for $54 to $59 (25% to 32% off), depending on which color you choose. That’s a great price for a fuss-free controller that works with multiple devices. I’ve used my DualSense controller with my PS5, my PC, and my iPhone, and enjoyed it on all devices. I have a tendency to get sucked into long, story-driven games, and as a result, I used the DualSense for my second 120-hour playthrough of Persona 5 Royal. The controller worked flawlessly, and I never felt tired holding it during these playthroughs.
The DualSense controller has a USB-C port for charging, which is quite convenient to use, but do note that you don’t get a cable with this device. Still, if you have any other device that uses USB-C for charging, then you can reuse the same cable to charge this controller. If you couldn’t tell from the name, the DualSense’s haptic feedback is especially well-done, as it’s a lot more than some mild or intense vibrations. The feedback changes subtly based on what you’re doing in-game—try playing the PS5’s free Astro’s Playroom game to get an idea of the DualSense’s capabilities.
The controller also has an integrated touch pad, accelerometer, and gyroscope, which means that it can also be used for motion controls. Don’t forget that you get a built-in microphone in the DualSense controller, but if you don’t want to accidentally record yourself, you can turn off the mic in your PS5’s settings.
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.
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.
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.
After Valve announced its upcoming Steam Machine living room box earlier this month, some analysts suggested to Ars that Valve could and should aggressively subsidize that hardware with “loss leader” pricing that leads to more revenue from improved Steam software sales. In a new interview with YouTube channel Skill Up, though, Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais ruled out that kind of console-style pricing model, saying that the Steam Machine will be “more in line with what you might expect from the current PC market.”
Griffais said the AMD Zen 4 CPU and RDNA3 GPU in the Steam Machine were designed to outperform the bottom 70 percent of machines that opt-in to Valve’s regular hardware survey. And Steam Machine owners should expect to pay roughly what they would for desktop hardware with similar specs, he added.
“If you build a PC from parts and get to basically the same level of performance, that’s the general price window that we aim to be at,” Griffais said.
Microsoft just released a spate of software updates for ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X handheld consoles. Perhaps the most notable feature is the introduction of default game profiles, which are available in a beta mode starting today.
These are performance profiles tailored to specific games so they run perfectly on the handhelds. Once enabled, the software will automatically balance the frame rate and power consumption to strike the perfect balance. This means that players won’t have to head into the settings to make manual adjustments.
These profiles are currently available for 40 of the more popular games on the platform, including Fortnite, Gears of War: Reloaded and Hollow Knight: Silksong. Microsoft says that using the default game profile while playing Silksong, for instance, will add an hour of battery life. To that end, the profiles are only used when playing on battery. I hope this becomes a regular part of the Ally experience and comes to many more titles.
There’s a new search filter that lists games by how they perform on the device, which is sort of a riff on Valve’s “Steam Deck Verified” badge. Microsoft also boasts that gamepad responsiveness has been improved and that game libraries will now load quicker. The company says this is especially noticeable for “players with large game libraries.”
The cloud gaming page should now load quicker and be more responsive. Finally, there’s the usual array of bug fixes and performance enhancements. This is a nice little batch of upgrades, just in time for the holidays.
For the uninitiated, the ROG Ally and Ally X are handheld gaming consoles that run an Xbox-adjacent version of Windows 11 and can play pretty much any Xbox game. We praised the “top-notch performance” in our official review. These handhelds are the real deal, and consumers agree. Sales have been so robust that ASUS recently began ramping up production.
The success of these consoles should ensure more software updates down the line. Microsoft has already committed to adding game save indicators for crossplay. It also plans on improving sleep and wake reliability and upgrading the formatting options for microSD cards. The more powerful Ally X is getting AI upscaling next year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-just-released-a-bunch-of-software-updates-for-the-rog-xbox-ally-164802697.html?src=rss
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.
With Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and various other pre-holiday sales approaching, it’s a good time to shop for anything—but with the new year on the way, it’s an especially good time to shop for fitness equipment. Is 2026 the year you’ll crush your health and wellness goals?
There is only one way to find out, and you can start off on the right foot by checking out Peloton’s Black Friday sale, which can save you up to $1,500 on fitness equipment from the brand, including the upgraded Cross Training series of Bikes, Treads, and Rows.
What’s included in Peloton’s big sale? Here are your best bets:
The Cross Training Bike+ is $1,995 instead of $2,695, while a Starter Package that includes the Cross Training Bike+, a water bottle, cleats, a mat, and hand weights will run you $2,150 instead of $2,900 (or $2,390 instead of $3,100 if you want a foam roller and three more sets of weights).
A refurbished original Bike+ is $1,595 instead of $1,995.
The Cross Training Tread+ is $5,295 instead of $6,695 (or $5,485 instead of $6,935 or $5,605 instead of $7,105, depending on the Starter Package you want).
The Cross Training Row+ is $3,295 instead of $3,495 (or $3,475 instead of $3,725 or $3,670 instead of $3,970 if you’re getting a Starter Package).
The Cross Training Bike is $1,395 instead of $1,695 (or $1,550 instead of $1,900 or $1,790 instead of $2,190 if you want the bundle).
A refurbished original Bike is just $695 instead of $1,145, which competes directly with the price you’d get if you bought a Bike on Peloton’s resale marketplace, except this one has been factory refurbished, and those haven’t.
A Cross Training Tread is $2,795 instead of $3,295 (or $2,985 instead of $3,535 or $3,105 instead of $3,705, depending on your bundle preference).
Each of the above also comes with a free month of All Access Membership, an additional $50 value. Moreover, accessories like cycling cleats, dumbbells, and mats are also marked down, some as low as 50% off. Finally, these deals are also reflected on the brand’s Amazon storefront, so if you prefer to buy that way, go for it.
In October, Peloton overhauled its fleet, which is why you see “Cross Training” and “+” up in that list. If you’re not sure what those words mean or how the new devices compare to the older versions (which, in the case of the Bike+ and Bike, are also on sale for Black Friday), I wrote a whole guide for you here.
Basically, the new Cross Training series features comfort adjustments, like a better Bike seat, attached phone holders, and swiveling touchscreens so you can move more seamlessly from, say, a treadmill run to a floor stretch or lift. The + series includes all that as well as an AI component, which powers a movement-tracking camera designed to help you with your workouts.
I’ve played around with the new tech and do enjoy it, but I admit it’s usually pretty pricey. These deals are a solid entry point if you’ve been wanting to upgrade or even just buy your first Peloton device. For what it’s worth, even without a Cross Training or + series Bike, I am a daily user and couldn’t imaging a morning without the Peloton app.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sony’s 1000X series has been around since 2016, improving on the previous iteration to eventually land on the Sony WH-1000XM6 in 2025, which are the best over-ear headphones I tested in 2025 (and ever, really). You can get the WH-1000XM6 headphones for $398 (originally $459.99), their lowest price they’ve ever been during the Black Friday sale, according to price-tracking tools.
The XM6 headphones improve on what were already excellent headphones (the XM5s are also at their lowest price right now). Sony upped the count of microphones from eight to 12 when compared to the XM5, which improves more than just how well you sound to someone on a phone call. The microphones are used in almost all of its features, like ANC, Adaptive Sound Control, and the headphones’ Ambient Sound mode. They hear your surroundings to adapt their features accordingly. If you switch from a noisy room to a quiet one, the XM6 can switch from ANC to aware mode (if you have Adaptive Sound Control on).
These headphones have a lot more features that you can nerd out on in their companion app. The audio quality is second to none, with the fully customizable EQ giving you plenty of options to get the sound how you like it. I really like being able to see what codec you’re listening to in the app’s main menu. That way, there’s no guessing if you’re getting the best audio quality or not. They will give you 30 hours of battery life with ANC on and 40 hours of juice with ANC off. There’s an AUX (3.5mm) jack for wired listening, which is a nice touch for audiophiles who still rock iPod Classics (or is that just me?).
The XM6s are not just the best headphones of 2025, but are likely to be the best ones for years to come. For $398, you’ll be securing the best for a record low price we likely won’t see again for a while.
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.
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.
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.
The abstract of a paper on NBER: This paper examines a large-scale randomized evaluation of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program in 531 Peruvian rural primary schools. We use administrative data on academic performance and grade progression over 10 years to estimate the long-run effects of increased computer access on (i) school performance over time and (ii) students’ educational trajectories. Following schools over time, we find no significant effects on academic performance but some evidence of negative effects on grade progression. Following students over time, we find no significant effects on primary and secondary completion, academic performance in secondary school, or university enrollment. Survey data indicate that computer access significantly improved students’ computer skills but not their cognitive skills; treated teachers received some training but did not improve their digital skills and showed limited use of technology in classrooms, suggesting the need for additional pedagogical support.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
IKEA has teamed up with Swedish designer Tekla Evelina Severin on a new line of products dubbed the Teklan collection. The collaboration includes three new standalone Bluetooth speakers and two lamp speakers, each clad in Severin’s distinctive colorful style. The company originally announced this family of products at the start of the year with an expected launch in early 2026, so it seems they will hit shelves ahead of schedule. The ready-to-assemble furniture giant has already released a few speakers since ending its partnership with Sonos earlier this year, but this feels like a more concentrated push to replace those old Sonos products.
A line of round speakers IKEA is calling the Solskydd will be available in three different sizes, each sporting a colorful geometric design. The smallest of the three will be an 8-inch portable speaker with a rechargeable battery, and will retail for $80, while the larger two, measuring 11 and 18 inches, will sell for $100 and $140 respectively and will require a wall outlet.
The smaller of the two can be displayed either hung or on its accompanying base, while the largest version is designed for wall mounting. The Solskydd will also be offered in a plain white version for customers who prefer a more understated aesthetic. The speakers can all connect to one another as well as any other compatible IKEA Bluetooth speaker for multi-speaker mode. Spotify Tap is also supported, letting users pick up right where they left off in their music from within the Spotify app.
The Teklan collection will also include a set of Bluetooth speaker lamps, called the Kulglass. The $130 lamps, whose shades IKEA says were inspired by soft-serve ice cream, come in shades of either green or red and feature a built-in volume knob.
The line also includes a vibrant take on the budget-friendly Vappeby Bluetooth speaker, which is both waterproof and ultra-portable. The Teklan lineup also includes a slew of braided charging cables. Both of these products were released earlier this year. The new products in the Teklan collection will arrive in December, with exact launch dates varying by market.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/ikea-is-releasing-a-new-family-of-bluetooth-speakers-in-partnership-with-swedish-designer-tekla-severin-160800338.html?src=rss
