Team Fearless 9th Annual Women’s Team Championships – December 6

Team Fearless has announced the details of this year’s Annual Women’s Team Championships, held in partnership with Flamme Rouge Racing (FRR).

Now in its ninth year, this race can be called a true Zwift December classic! Over 220 women are already registered, but organizers expect that number to more than double by race day.

Meant to test resilience and endurance with a longer distance than the average Zwift race, the AWTC is one of a kind. First, it’s a team-based competition, but without limits on team size. Even better: each category gets to crown its own champions, so this race is for all ability levels. Read on for details…

Date and Time

The race happens Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 PM UTC/2:30pm ET/11:30am PT).

Race Format and Categories

Riders are grouped into categories based on Zwift Racing Score:

  • Dancer (450+)
  • Blitzen (350–450)
  • Comet (250–350)
  • Donner (175–250)
  • Rudolph (0–175)

This is a team competition, with winning teams determined using a custom points system. Points are scored in two ways:

  • Finish Points: based on your position across the finish line
  • Segment Points: based on your segment time (Fastest Through Segment) on each segment of the race course

Finish and Segment Points start at 100 and drop by 1 point each place down to the 41st position. Then from 46th to 100th position, points drop by 5 every 5 places, with every rider earning at least 1 point for their effort. For example:

  • 46th to 50th places will earn 55 points
  • 51st to 55th places will earn 50 points

Team competitions will be held across all five pens and overall. The Club with the highest average points score will win the day. This way, clubs are not restricted in the number of riders who can enter, and also, there is no minimum number of Club riders.

For more info, see the Rules page >

Route Details

This year’s race will be held on France’s Knights of the Roundabout route, with different route lengths based on rider category.

Animated “Knights of the Roundabout” Route Details (France) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks

Cat D/E will be finishing at 36km at the Ballon Sprint arch, while A/B/C will finish at 44km after descending from the Petit KOM.

Sign Up

This is a team event. Riders can register until the race begins, but the race pace link is private, so registration is required at https://flammerougeracing.com/fearless/.

To compete, you must meet these minimum requirements for accounts and equipment:

  • Riders must be OPTED IN to share their race data with ZwiftPower from their Zwift Profile Connections
  • Riders must have created and connected a ZwiftPower account – full instructions on this can be found here
  • Riders must have an FRR account to allow Team Managers to select them for a Club Team and have registered for the Fearless event, to do this simply follow these instructions:
    • Simply visit the FRR Home page and Login or Register a New account – once in, click on your name to open your Profile options
      • New accounts must first complete their basic Profile Information when they first log in – just select Profile and complete the fields presented not forgetting to SAVE at the end
    • To register for the event click on Event Admin and then select Register from the 3 tabs shown
      • The page details the 3 simple steps to follow to complete event registration
      • Race BIO confirmation is important to us as we look to improve rider responsibility for their virtual profile, since these define how our virtual self competes
  • Riders are advised to have completed at least 3 Zwift race events prior to racing to ensure your ZRS value is reflective of you as a rider

Once registration is completed you will appear on the Registered list of riders and you will receive a welcome email to confirm along with some helpful details about the event.

You can email Team Fearless at teamfearlesszr@gmail.com for support, email FRR race control at rcontrol@flammerougeracing.com, or join the Fearless Discord server.

Watch the Live Stream

The race will be live-streamed on FRR’s YouTube channel, with Nathan Krake commentating.

Final Details

Go to the race homepage and click “Roadbook” for detailed rules and other info.

AMD GPU Managed Memory Support Merged For The GCC 16 Compiler

When it comes to AMD Radeon/Instinct GPU compiler support much of the emphasis is on the LLVM/Clang compiler stack with their official AMDGPU LLVM shader compiler back-end as well as having the AOMP downstream compiler fork and the like. But the GNU Compiler Collection “GCC” does continue allow targeting AMD GPU targeting with its “AMDGCN” back-end and using the likes of the OpenMP API. It’s not too often seeing new AMD GPU activity there for GCC but merged today is now support for managed memory…

Netflix Kills Casting From Phones

An anonymous reader writes: Netflix has removed the ability to cast shows and movies from phones to TVs, unless subscribers are using older casting devices. An updated help page on Netflix’s website, first reported by Android Authority, says that the streaming service “no longer supports casting shows from a mobile device to most TVs and TV-streaming devices,” and instead directs users to navigate Netflix using the remote that came with their TV hardware.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The Core 2 Thermal Sensor Is 20% for Cyber Monday

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. 


Normally $295, the Core 2 Thermal Sensor is currently on sale for $236—a 20% discount for Cyber Monday. And here’s the smart play: buying it now means you’ll be ready to get ahead of the heat when spring training season rolls around.

What the Core 2 does

The Core 2 is a small plastic sensor that attaches to your heart rate monitor chest strap and tracks your body temperature during workouts. It’s designed to help you understand how heat is affecting your performance, and guide you through heat-training protocols so you can adapt faster and more efficiently.

My colleague Beth Skwarecki reviewed the Core 2 and found it a little fussy to set up, but easy to use and understand once you’re up and running. What really impressed her was the big-picture view it provides: tracking how your body adapts to heat over time.

Train hot, race cool

The data from the Core 2 serves two main purposes. First, it can guide your heat acclimation training—helping you adapt to hot conditions more strategically. Second, you can use it during races to monitor your core temperature and avoid overheating when it counts.

As Beth points out, there’s a legitimate debate about whether heat training makes sense for every athlete. You could argue that most runners would benefit more from longer or faster runs rather than adding heat stress to their training. But if you are training in the heat—whether because you live somewhere hot, you’re preparing for a warm-weather race, or you’re intentionally pursuing heat adaptation—the Core 2 seems to be an incredibly useful tool.

Worth it for the right runner

At nearly $300, this isn’t an impulse purchase. But at $236, it’s more accessible for serious athletes who want to take their heat training to the next level. Getting it now during Cyber Monday means you’ll have months to familiarize yourself with the device before temperatures climb in spring and summer. By the time race season heats up, you’ll already know exactly how your body responds to thermal stress—and how to manage it.


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 Cyber Monday Deals Right Now


Sony WH-1000XM5


—
$248.00

(List Price $399.99)


Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus


—
$24.99

(List Price $49.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Bose’s QuietComfort Headphones Are Over Half Off for Cyber Monday

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. 

It’s Cyber Monday, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before the sales are 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. 


Bose’s QuietComfort Headphones are among the best noise-cancelling over-ear headphones you can buy today. They may be a couple of years old at this point, but they’re still competitive, and now there’s a Cyber Monday 2025 deal that’s bringing them to more than half off. That’s a fantastic deal on a really good product, and if you’re in the market for over-ear noise cancelling headphones, you should definitely consider it.

In Amazon’s Cyber Monday 2025 sale, the Bose QuietComfort Headphones are down to $159.99 (54% off) in black. The best thing about these headphones are the color choices it’s available in, and the good news is that multiple color variants are going at $179.99 (50% off). That’s still a decent savings, even if it’s not quite as high as what you’d save on the more boring color.

PCMag’s review gave this product a 4/5, praising it for its controls, sound quality, and noise cancellation. This product misses out on support for newer Bluetooth codecs, unlike the pricier Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($399, 11% off). The older product doesn’t charge as fast as the QC Ultra either, but it will still sound great. The review calls out the price for being a bit too high, but this Cyber Monday Sale rectifies that. You can now get the QuietComfort headphones for $239 less than the QuietComfort Ultra.

I recently tried the QuietComfort headphones in-person, and I was impressed by the build quality and how light they felt on my head. The noise cancellation was also great.

These types of headphones serve a dual purpose in my life. They cut out external noise during long flights, and they also keep my ears warm when I’m in windy places in the winter (looking at you, Scotland!). If you’re not sure which over-ear headphones to get this Cyber Monday, look no further than the Bose QuietComfort ones.


How long do Cyber Monday 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. Expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025. 

What stores have the best sales on Cyber Monday?

Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Cyber Monday 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 that 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 worth it?

In short, yes, Cyber Monday 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 Cyber Monday Deals Right Now


Sony WH-1000XM5


—
$248.00

(List Price $399.99)


Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus


—
$24.99

(List Price $49.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Shopify is down, disrupting Cyber Monday shopping

Here’s hoping the retailers offering tasty Cyber Monday deals that caught your eye aren’t having trouble with Shopify. The ecommerce platform is experiencing some issues. According to a support page, some merchants were having trouble logging into the Shopify platform, which was experiencing outages with the checkout and admin systems. Shopify’s point-of-sale (POS), API and mobile and support systems also saw “degraded performance.”

“We are continuing to investigate and apply mitigations for the issues with accessing Admins and POS systems,” Shopify wrote in an update at 12:39PM ET. “Some merchants may also see an issue with POS checkouts, due to not being able to access POS systems.”

Shopify said in a blog post just last week that it powers 12 percent of ecommerce in the US. Brands including Netflix, Mattel, Supreme, Glossier and Converse are among those that use the platform.

When asked for more details about the outage, Shopify directed Engadget to its status page as well as a tweet posted at 10AM that read, “We’re aware of an issue with Admins impacting selected stores, and are working to resolve it.”

We’re aware of an issue with Admins impacting selected stores, and are working to resolve it. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our status page at https://t.co/TcJj5tJNNW. Thank you for your patience.

— Shopify Support (@ShopifySupport) December 1, 2025

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/shopify-is-down-disrupting-cyber-monday-shopping-180958497.html?src=rss

Apple’s M5 MacBook Pro Is $250 Off for Cyber Monday, and It Just Came Out

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. 

It’s Cyber Monday, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before the sales are 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. 


Apple’s new MacBook Pro with the M5 chip is a stunningly good computer. If I hadn’t bought my M4 Pro MacBook Pro last year, this is what I would probably get right now. The M5 chip is a substantial upgrade over the M4, especially in the AI department. And for Cyber Monday, Amazon is discounting the already fresh M5 MacBook Pro down to $1,349. That’s down from the sticker price of $1,599, a savings of $250.

At that rate, the M5 MacBook Pro becomes attractive for anyone who wants a Mac laptop that is going to last for ages. The M5 MacBook Pro is a sizable upgrade over the MacBook Air, too, thanks to its superior 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (after using this, going back to my 4K monitor is really tough, I’ll tell you that). This XDR display has Mini-LED backlighting, a ProMotion 120Hz display, and 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness.

The M5, meanwhile, is a new 10-core CPU that Apple says is 15% faster than the M4. The real gains are in graphics and AI. The new 10-core GPU comes with a neural accelerator integrated into each core. This boosts on-device AI workflows by up to 3.5 times. It’s a sizable jump if you’re running third-party on-device AI models as well. Graphics are better by up to 30%, too, with Apple’s third-gen ray tracing tech. Gaming on the Mac might finally be a no-compromise affair (although compatibility is still limited depending on the title).

Along with 16GB RAM, there’s a 512GB SSD and a massive 24-hour battery life. The battery on my M4 Pro MacBook Pro isn’t as great as I’d want it to be. The M5 is more efficient, lasts longer and runs cooler as well. You can also use it for intense workflows like photo editing and video editing, and it can handle sustained thermal loads thanks to its built-in fan cooling. There’s also a nice 12MP Center Stage webcam up top, and a six-speaker sound system with Spacial audio. The speakers are genuinely amazing. When my wife and I watch something in bed, we no longer need to connect to Bluetooth speakers (like we do when using my wife’s MacBook Air).

If you’re looking for something cheaper, or lighter, take a look at the M4 MacBook Air, which is deeply discounted to just $738 for Cyber Monday, another staggering deal.


Does Apple do Cyber Monday?

Yes, Apple participates in Cyber Monday, 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 Cyber Monday sale on an Apple product is the M4 MacBook on sale for cheaper than ever.

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, the 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.

How long do Cyber Monday 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. Expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Cyber Monday Deals Right Now


Sony WH-1000XM5


—
$248.00

(List Price $399.99)


Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus


—
$24.99

(List Price $49.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Colleges Are Preparing To Self-Lobotomize

The skills that future graduates will most need in an age of automation — creative thinking, critical analysis, the capacity to learn new things — are precisely those that a growing body of research suggests may be eroded by inserting AI into the educational process, yet universities across the United States are now racing to embed the technology into every dimension of their curricula.

Ohio State University announced this summer that it would integrate AI education into every undergraduate program, and the University of Florida and the University of Michigan are rolling out similar initiatives. An MIT study offers reason for caution: researchers divided subjects into three groups and had them write essays over several months using ChatGPT, Google Search, or no technology at all. The ChatGPT group produced vague, poorly reasoned work, showed the lowest levels of brain activity on EEG, and increasingly relied on cutting and pasting from other sources. The authors concluded that LLM users “consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels” over the four-month period.

Justin Reich, director of MIT’s Teaching Systems Lab, recently wrote in The Chronicle of Higher Education that rushed educational efforts to incorporate new technology have “failed regularly, and sometimes catastrophically.”


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Campagnolo addresses reports of 120 redundancies at Vicenza HQ and confirms mid-range groupsets in development

Following reports that it plans to cut 120 staff from its Vicenza HQ, Campagnolo has issued a clarification of its restructuring plans, stating that it has presented its newly approved industrial plan to unions “with great transparency”, and that formal discussions with workers’ representatives are ongoing.

In the statement sent to the press, the company said the 21 November industrial plan presented to unions is “a highly structured plan, the result of months of work… with possible positive developments.” 

However, the statement concedes that, while Campagnolo believes the plan will secure the company’s future in Vicenza, a “reduction [in staff] is expected at this stage.” 

Responding to unspecified reports that Campagnolo was planning “relocations”, the statement says that “those responsible for managing the Industrial Plan made no reference to relocations of any kind.”

It continues: “On the contrary, it was emphasised that a review of the supply chain is underway, with an increasing focus on short and fast supply chains, ideally within Italy. Made in Italy remains both a priority and a responsibility for the company.”

The statement follows earlier reporting from Il Gazzettino, which stated that Campagnolo warned there was “no alternative” to proposed job cuts unless the company accepted “dramatic consequences for the company and for the city of Vicenza”. 

That report also cited more than €24 million in losses since 2023 and said the company’s shareholder had underwritten €10 million in financing between November 2024 and December 2025.

Unions oppose the proposed redundancies. FIOM Vicenza – the Vicenza branch of the Italian Federation of Metalworkers – said last week that the company “must withdraw this proposal” and argued that layoffs “cannot be the only solution”.

The union added that its analysis suggests the company’s financial situation is “not as disastrous as the company has portrayed in the media” and called for a constructive dialogue involving the regional development agency, Veneto Sviluppo, to explore alternatives. Campagnolo employs around 300 staff in Vicenza.

New mid-tier groupsets coming

Campagnolo has largely abandoned mid-tier groupsets in recent years. Oli Woodman / Our Media

The statement also highlighted that, following positive response to the release of Super Record 13 from the market, progress on new product development aimed at “intermediate product tiers”. 

Campagnolo says it believes these products and expansion into “broader-market segments” will deliver “sustainable growth in the medium to long term”.

“The company has the expertise and technical resources required to complete this journey and will continue to leverage internal professional skills to ensure stability and continuity”, it continues. 

Campagnolo has repositioned itself as a sports luxury brand in recent years, focusing almost exclusively on high-end products. 

Historically, Campagnolo offered products across all price ranges, but largely abandoned the entry-level and mid-range of the market. 

The statement makes clear, after months of hints from the brand and wide speculation, that it intends to re-enter this end of the market.

$300 PSVR 2 Black Friday Sale Runs Until December 19th

PSVR 2’s Black Friday sale is here to stay until December 19th. The headset has dropped to its lowest price yet for the 2025 holiday deal season.

Best PSVR 2 Black Friday 2025 Sale: Amazon – $300

Deal Includes:
Deal Context:

The PSVR 2 Horizon bundle is usually $400, making this deal a 25% discount.

Deal Window

This deal will be available until December 19th.

PSVR 2 Black Friday Game Sales

The official PlayStation Store is running a Black Friday game sale with up to 75% off PSVR 2 games.

Our number one pick from the list is Metro Awakening (2024) which is being sold for just $24 (a 40% discount).

The post $300 PSVR 2 Black Friday Sale Runs Until December 19th appeared first on Road to VR.

[$] Some 6.18 development statistics

Linus Torvalds released
the 6.18 kernel as expected on November 30, closing the last full
development cycle of 2025. It was another busy cycle, featuring a record
number of developers. The time has come for a look at where the code came
from for this kernel release, but also for the year-long long-term-support
cycle which has also reached its conclusion with this release.

Space CEO explains why he believes private space stations are a viable business

It’s a critical time for companies competing to develop a commercial successor to the International Space Station. NASA is working with several companies, including Axiom Space, Voyager Technologies, Blue Origin, and Vast, to develop concepts for private stations where it can lease time for its astronauts.

The space agency awarded Phase One contracts several years ago and is now in the final stages of writing requirements for Phase Two after asking for feedback from industry partners in September. This program is known as Commercial LEO Destinations, or CLDs in industry parlance.

Time is running out for NASA if it wants to establish continuity from the International Space Station, which will reach its end of life in 2030, with a follow-on station ready to go before then.

Read full article

Comments

The AirPods Pro 2 Are Nearly Half Off for Cyber Monday 2025

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. 

It’s Cyber Monday, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before the sales are 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 AirPods Pro 2 are one of the best audio products Apple’s launched. Since their release in 2022, the AirPods Pro 2 have received multiple software updates to add features such as controlling Siri with head movements, reduced latency, improved call quality, and more. Even today, they remain a fantastic pair of earbuds, especially now that the Cyber Monday 2025 sale has dropped the price to a record low.

During Amazon-owned Woot’s Cyber Monday 2025 sale, the AirPods Pro 2 are going for $135, which is 46% off the list price of $250. Sure, some of you are going to want the latest and greatest product in the lineup, the AirPods Pro 3 ($220, 12% off, during Cyber Monday 2025), but for most people, the AirPods Pro 2 are an amazing choice at this price.

Every time I’ve used the AirPods Pro 2, I’ve been impressed by their comfort and noise cancellation features. The ANC cuts out a lot of noise in loud places, including concert venues, and for me, they’ve been a great companion on long flights.

The AirPods Pro 2 work best with Apple products, but they’re also compatible with other Bluetooth devices such as a Windows PC or an Android phone. Having said that, if you want to make the most of the AirPods Pro 2, you should pair them with your Apple devices for the seamless device switching, instant pairing, and host of software features that don’t work with other platforms.

I’ve used the AirPods Pro 2 during workouts at the gym, for cycling, and while running half-marathons. They’ve have never disappointed me through all these situations. I love recommending slightly older products when they’re heavily discounted, and with the AirPods Pro 2 getting such a good deal during Cyber Monday 2025, you’re basically getting a current-gen product at last-gen prices.


Does Apple do Cyber Monday?

Yes, Apple participates in Cyber Monday, 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 Cyber Monday sale on an Apple product is the M4 MacBook on sale for cheaper than ever.

How long do Cyber Monday 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. Expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025. 

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, the 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 Cyber Monday Deals Right Now


Sony WH-1000XM5


—
$248.00

(List Price $399.99)


Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus


—
$24.99

(List Price $49.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

This Quirky Wallet-Sized E-Reader Is Under $50 for Cyber Monday

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

It’s Cyber Monday, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before the sales are 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. 


For two years now, I’ve been obsessed with the Boox Palma for one primary reason: Because it has the form factor of a phone, it’s easy to slip into my pocket and carry it with me wherever I go. This helps me read more and use my phone-shaped phone a lot less, which goes a long way toward justifying the $270 price tag. So of course I’m intrigued to learn that there’s a new, even smaller e-reader on the market, and you can pick one up for around $50—or even less with a Cyber Monday coupon.

Like the Palma, the Xteink X4 is a Chinese-made gadget with an e-ink screen similar to the one you’ll find on the Amazon Kindle. Unlike the Palma, which is loaded up with high-end features like a temperature-adjustable front light, a camera, an Android-based operating system with access to the Google Play store, and a ton of internal storage, the Xteink X4 is about as basic as it gets. There’s no lighting, no touch screen, and the onboard software is so basic, calling it an operating system feels like an overstatement. There’s not even any internal storage—instead, it ships with a 32GB SD card.

I love it.

The Xteink X4 is truly easy to carry with you—more so than even phone-sized e-readers. It even has a magnetic ring on the back that you can use to attach it to the back of your phone, provided your phone is large enough (don’t be fooled by the pictures on the Xteink website that show it clipped to an iPhone; it’s too big for my iPhone 14 and some research confirms it doesn’t really align with the larger “Max” iPhone models either). But even standing alone—even in its tiny magnetic cover (an extra $9)—you’ll barely notice the Xteink X4 is in your pocket, so you’ll have no excuse not to carry it everywhere so you can read instead of doomscroll.

Just the basics

Xteink reader next to a credit card

Credit: Joel Cunningham

I should start off with a big caveat: Unless you’re at least mildly tech-savvy and you enjoy fiddling around with gadgets, the Xteink X4 is not for you. While it’s fairly easy to get up and running, it does come with a learning curve, because it’s designed for basic functionality over a good user experience. I this this is kind of great, but I’m someone who reviews e-ink devices regularly, so I’m not exactly a neophyte. (In any case, the r/xteinkereader Reddit community is already thriving and can help get you started.)

With that out of the way, here are the details on this super simple device:

  • a 4.3-inch e-ink screen (somewhere between the size of a credit card and a standard iPhone)

  • 220 ppi resolution

  • 32GB of storage via a microSD card (expandable up to 512GB)

  • Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz & Bluetooth

  • 650mAh battery with USB-C charging (good for ~14 days on a single charge)

  • 114mm x 69mm, 5.9mm thick

  • Physical power, navigation, and page-turn buttons

  • 74g weight

  • compatible with: TXT, EPUB, JPG, BMP files; BIN fonts

And that’s it. Even as e-readers go, the Xteink X4 is dead simple. Navigating around the bare-bones menus requires using the physical buttons on the right side and lower bezel. It will take you some time to get familiar with which button does what, and to figure out what the different options in the settings and e-book menus actually do, but once you’ve got it figured out, you’ll realize that if all you want is an e-reader that makes it easy to read wherever you are, it does the trick.

Easy, that is, once the books are on the device.

Getting started

xteink ereader with settings menu open

Credit: Joel Cunningham

Actually getting your books onto the Xteink X4 can be slightly tricky, starting with the fact that you need to have a collection of e-books in DRM-free EPUB or TXT format to read anything at all.

Only DRM-free e-books will work

Many e-book retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble, generally only sell ebooks with DRM (which stands for “digital rights management”), anti-piracy software designed to ensure you can only read books purchased legally. Though DRM can be stripped from your files with tools you can find online, it’s technically illegal (stern frowny face emoji) so you’ll need to either purchase books without DRM or download public domain titles from sources like Project Gutenberg.

Loading files is a bit fussy

Once you do have your files ready, you can get them on the device in a couple of different ways. You can remove the SD card, stick it into a card reader, and mount it to your computer (this wasn’t an option for me, however, as my work laptop won’t let me mount external drives). You can also transfer files via wifi by logging the Xteink X4 into your wifi, then setting it up as a hotspot, connecting your computer, and typing a specific URL into a browser window, which will open up some simple file-sharing options that allow you to upload books, fonts, and image files.

The reading experience

Reading outdoors on the Xteink X4

Credit: Joel Cunningham

Once you’ve got your books loaded up, the reading experience is better than you’d expect it to be. At 220ppi, the screen is crisp enough to be easily readable, though as with a paper book, there’s no lighting, so you’ll need to provide your own (I recommend light bulbs, but the sun works well if you’re outdoors during the day).

Your books won’t look great—there are only two pre-installed fonts, and as of this writing, formatting options are extremely limited, so you won’t be able to see any embedded images or use hyperlinks to jump from the table of contents to a specific chapter (there are workarounds for this in the e-book navigation menus, but they are pretty clunky). Also, text styling like paragraph indents, italics, bold, and underlining are currently non-functional, which can make some books tricky to parse, but the developers promise to do their best to continue making the software better via over-the-air updates.

Who the Xteink X4 is for

If you’ve got a huge Kindle library or you’re the type of person who just wants their tech to work without a hassle, get an Amazon e-reader. If you own a lot of books from different sources and want to read them all on the same device, an Android-based reader like the Boox Palma 2 or Boox Go 7 will serve you well.

But if you’re a minimalist, or a techie who likes fiddling around with weird gadgets, I think you’ll find this little guy incredibly endearing. Though there are about 10 different e-readers scattered around my home and I’ve recently been reading everything on the $400 Boox Palma 2 Pro, all weekend I found myself reaching instead for the Xteink X4, and I’m already trying to figure out who I’m going to gift one for the holidays.

How to get the Xteink X4 at a Cyber Monday discount

Currently, the Xteink X4 isn’t sold via Amazon, but you can pick one up in two different ways.

Order from AliExpress

AliExpress is an e-commerce platform that largely sells items direct from China. It might look a little off, but it’s a legit website, and it’s the only third-party retailer where you can currently order the Xteink X4 for shipment to the U.S. Just make sure the product listing you’re looking at is for the right device and at the best price—sometimes you’ll see slightly different prices from different sellers, but if the price is ridiculously low, check the description to make sure you aren’t just buying an accessory.

For Cyber Monday, AliExpress is offering a coupon for $10 off of a $50 order, which means you can currently grab an Xteink X4 for around $41.

Order direct

If you prefer, you can also order direct from Xteink, though you’ll likely pay $15 to $20 more. On the plus side, you can easily add some cheap accessories to your order, including a magnetic cover, a magnetic clip-on reading light, and screen protectors.


Does Amazon have Cyber Monday deals?

Yes, Amazon has Cyber Monday 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 Cyber Monday?

Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Cyber Monday 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 that 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 worth it?

In short, yes, Cyber Monday 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 Cyber Monday Deals Right Now


Sony WH-1000XM5


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$248.00

(List Price $399.99)


Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus


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$24.99

(List Price $49.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team