When we write about e-readers, Kindle is usually the first name that comes to mind. But in the color e-reader market, Kindle has been late to the party. That delay opened the door for other brands to step in with stronger devices. We’ve rounded up the best color e-readers, and here are the ones that stood out.

Color e-reader price increases

This year has not been good for tech prices. Due to the global memory crisis, prices are increasing on tablets, phones, laptops, and even e-readers. Three out of the four color e-readers on this list increased in price this year. The only e-reader to avoid a price hike was the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft.

Temper your color expectations

An e-reader's color won't be quite as vibrant as a tablet's or physical book's. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mangino

Having tested my way through a lot of e-readers — and now color e-readers — I’ve found a universal truth: While the colors are accurate, they often look a bit washed out. No matter which brand you use, that’s going to be the case. The muted tones don’t outweigh the convenience and portability of color e-readers, but it’s worth tempering your expectations.

Don’t expect the vivid, punchy colors of an iPad screen. An iPad has a max of 500 nits (a measure of brightness), while Kobo and Kindle e-readers max out at 100.

New to this guide:

• As of October 2026, we added the new Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition to this list. While the display and resolution haven't improved, its new aluminum casing makes it a sturdier e-reader.

• In February 2026, we added the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft to this guide. After testing Amazon's latest e-reader, we were thoroughly impressed by both its speed and display.

What about ReMarkable tablets?

You might notice that ReMarkable e-ink tablets are not on this list. We've tested both the ReMarkable Paper Pro and ReMarkable Paper Move, and while they're dynamic digital notebooks, they're limited in their e-reader capabilities. Getting e-books on these devices was a bit of a struggle, and we missed the Libby integrations available on Kindles and Kobos. So while we think they're great e-ink tablets, they're inferior e-readers.

If you don't like the look of the Beats 360 headphones, you might as well click out of this review now.

That's not to say these headphones are only as good as their appearance — they do have their strengths — but if the many colorways Beats started teasing back in June via World Cup players wasn't enough of a hint, a big part of the allure of these Beats are how they look.

After spending a couple of weeks with these headphones, and switching out many an ear cushion and head band, I found myself more impressed with some aspects of these headphones, and surprisingly let down in others. While a solid first attempt at this concept, I have some notes — so let's get into it.

Beats 360 at a glance

The pink/blue combo demanded a cute background. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The new flagship headphones from Beats run for $349.99 (the same intro price as the Beats Studio Pro) and come with the following features:

• Battery life: 32 hours per charge

• Active noise cancellation: Yes

• Microphones: Nine, with eight dedicated to ANC

• IP rating: IPX4

• Connection: Bluetooth 5.3, one-touch pairing for Apple and Google Fast Pair for Android users

• Colors: Black, cloud, sky, pink

The design of the Beats 360 can't be beat (so far)

The replaceable components meant allowed me to rock an all pink look. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The Beats 360 aren't the first over-ear headphones to do swappable components: Dyson's OnTrac headphones launched with replaceable ear plates and cushions back in 2024. They did, however, also cost $499.99 and are less suited to using during exercise than the Beats.

The Beats cushion sets are the main draw of their design. The headphones themselves come in four different colors: black, cloud (cream), pink, and sky (light blue). Each headphone will come with its corresponding color in the Performance Knit cushion set, which closely resembles that found on the AirPods Max 2.

You'll also have the option of purchasing an additional Performance Knit set in one of six different colors: black, cloud, pink, sky, navy, and volt (a neon green-yellow). Then there are two shades of the UltraPlush cushion set, which comes in black and cloud. The UltraPlush is the same faux leather material used on the Beats Studio Pro (and found on most over-ear headphones). That is to say, they're plenty comfortable for longer periods of wear and a nice alternative if you want to reserve the Performance Knit cushions for more high-activity use. All additional kits are priced at $49.99, but launch pricing has these marked down 80% for just $9.99.

The de-cushioned Beats surrounded by three cushioning options. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

It's plenty simple to swap out the cushions, which is why I was surprised by the case. These headphones encourage you to swap them out for different uses throughout the day, yet the magnetic closure case didn't consistently shut properly with an additional cushion set — sometimes it closed just fine, and sometimes I found myself needing to place the headphones and the components in the case just so if I didn't want it to hang open.

With the right positioning of the extra cushions, the case closed without issue. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

But sometimes, despite my best efforts, the case refused to close. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Another oversight in the design I didn't love was the lack of a headphone jack and lack of USB-C listening functionality. It's not the end of the world, but it can limit listening options, especially while traveling or for anyone interested in lossless audio — a feature supported by the Beats Studio Pro.

Where the Beats 360 could definitely do better

The out-of-box sound on a pair of headphones could literally sound like thousands of angels singing in my ears, but if I'm paying $349.99, I would like the option to adjust my own sound signature. Maybe I want one less angel singing!

It's a concept Apple seems to understand with the recent iOS 27 update, which finally gave the AirPods Pro 3 a custom equalizer, but these Beats were left out of the software update.

Adjustable audio would've gone a long way for these customizable headphones. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

It's unfortunate, especially because the sound on these headphones not only didn't have the whole angel thing going on — it sounded kind of flat and bland, which feels decidedly un-Beats-like. The brand is known for its pumping bass, but here, the mids and vocals take center stage. Case in point: I was not bopping my head along to Lorde's "Supercut," which is a feat I frankly didn't know was possible. On a different point in the genre spectrum, Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" sounded predictably beautiful because it's a Joni Mitchell song — the balance of sound, however, leaned too heavily on her vocals and shrank the guitar into the background. I found myself itching to adjust the equalizer settings while listening to the track.

The ANC isn't bad

Faring better than the sound is the ANC. Though it won't create the cocoon of silence some of Mashable's favorite noise-cancelling headphones are capable of, they'll definitely dim the sounds of a student-packed cafe playing loud punk music (trust me). That said, mid-range priced headphones are facing some serious competition from budget headphones these days, which are getting better and better at providing ANC that punches above its weight class.

The combo of the UltraPlush cushions and ANC made these headphones great for work. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

There's also the presence of some hissing that's somewhat noticeable without music playing — it's not nearly as loud as some cheaper pairs of headphones, but if you're sensitive to ANC that hisses, it's worth noting.

Are the Beats 360 worth it?

At this point, the Beats 360 don't quite have the 360 appeal that they could with a few small changes. The component customization makes it easy to envision a world where these are the headphones people take to the gym instead of AirPods Max, while still being a great pair of headphones to use for work, school, commuting — true all-arounders.

But middling ANC, OK sound, and zero equalizer for $350 makes it hard to recommend these wholeheartedly to the majority of folks, especially when cheaper headphones can manage all of the above, even if they don't feature the same customization. I anticipate that gym rats will love them — I look forward to the next iteration when the rest of us can, too.

Beats 360

$349 at Amazon

 

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Your phone rings, and without thinking, you answer it. It's your spouse. Or your grandma. Maybe the friend you're always posting TikToks with online. And they're asking for your help. 

They've been in a car accident, and you have to provide some personal information as their emergency contact. They're in jail and need you to bail them out. Or maybe it's even simpler than that: Grandma can't log into her account and needs to send you a code. Can you please read it to her? 

The familiar lilt of their voices catch you off guard — only none of them are real. 

Their voices have been cloned, and malicious actors are donning their audio likenesses to scam you out of your personal information, and sometimes cold, hard cash. That number is growing, making even more people susceptible to the deceptive tech, but there are very simple ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.  

Scroll through TikTok, and you'll come across hundreds of stories detailing tales concocted by scammers to impersonate your loved ones. In one such video with more than 450,000 views, a young woman writes that her mother was nearly scammed by an imposter who imitated her grandmother's voice. The only way they caught it? Grandma is no longer alive. 

Scams are on the rise. In 2025, Americans lost around $148.2 billion to digital crimes, a jump of more than 25 percent from the year before. Recent data from digital security company NordVPN found that a growing number of scammers are pitching voice scam services to bad actors on dark web forums and Telegram channels. Sales pitches for voice cloning services rose sevenfold in the last two years, reported NordVPN.

Why more people are getting fooled by audio scams 

One reason that number keeps ticking up is the proliferation of sophisticated — but more importantly accessible — generative AI tools, explained Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN. 

"Some years ago, a cloned voice had something slightly off about it, and most people could hear it. That is gone now," Briedis said. 

Advanced technology is only one part of the growing scam industry, however. Briedis explained that such tools are being increasingly packaged, priced, and sold directly to the Average Joe. 

Voice cloning tools, previously a standalone novelty tech, are now sold as a single feature in all-encompassing, common criminal toolkits, or "scam kits," experts told Mashable. These kits include access to legitimate generative AI tools via jailbroken accounts, troves of personal data, and other features sold at increasingly affordable prices. 

Credit: Cole Kan / Mashable / Getty

For example, a recent study of dark web marketplaces conducted by NordVPN found that a hacked ElevenLabs Scale account — complete with unlimited voice cloning — sold for just $150. An ElevenLabs API key was going for a mere $8.

Scam networks no longer need technologically savvy hackers or technologists. Just about anyone with a computer can do it. And that means you have to be prepared. 

Step 1: Know the threat and make a plan 

"When anyone can run the attack, volume becomes the strategy," Briedis said. "No single attempt has to be perfect. There just have to be a lot of them."

But asking someone to be on alert all the time is unfair, Briedis said. Up until now, the mantra has been: "Every message, every video, every call. Get it wrong once and that is the one that counts," Briedis explained. "Nobody holds that standard across a lifetime, and most security advice assumes they will."

As an alternative, users can prepare themselves, and their community, to be able to step up when the moment calls. 

Credit: Cole Kan/Mashable/Getty

Prepare your contacts

Eyal Elazar, head of market Intelligence for online merchant security business Riskified, described effective scam preparation as being a "digital ambassador" for your inner circle. 

It begins with a little research. Find and save verified contact information for important callers, such as your bank, insurance company, or family lawyers. You can use this to cross reference callers later.

Then, talk to your circles about what a legitimate phone call would look like. Know who lists you as an emergency contact, and in what contexts. Are you a beneficiary on an account, and, if so, what do you need to know?

Set a code word

Most experts Mashable spoke to recommend creating a code word that you can use with friends and family to confirm who they are. Don't share this anywhere online. "Sounds silly right up until the day it does not," Briedis said.

Filter out the red flags  

There are also common scam requests that are instant red flags, experts told Mashable. Any demand for money over the phone is suspicious. There are more specific tells, too: 

• Requests to read a code, sent via text or email, over the phone

• Requests for passwords or other log-in credentials 

• Demands for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, crypto exchanges, and payment apps

• Suggestions to initiate a wire transfer over a voice note, a phone call, or a voicemail

• Demands of ransom

• Law enforcement dealings conducted via phone call

Step 2: Putting down the phone can stop a scammer.

"AI isn’t inventing new scams, but it's removing the tells we’ve learned to look for in the old ones," said Donnie Hasseltine, chief information security officer at Arkstone Defense. 

It can be hard to discern the small audio tells that make your loved ones' voice truly theirs, especially when an individual is up against social engineering that forces urgency and stirs panic. 

So, the next piece of advice is to hang up on your friends or "friends." 

Yes, this may cause some drama in the group chat. But if you can't always tell when a voice is real or cloned, it's best to cut them off and reset. 

If someone you personally know was supposedly on the other line, call them back on the number you're used to before agreeing to anything. If it's a bank or your workplace, call a listed number on an official website, the back of a credit card, or a piece of mail. Many institutions are already keenly aware of common phone scams that target customers. 

"Stop judging the content and change the channel instead," Breidis urged. 

Step 3: Slow down.

The last, and most simple, piece of advice is to take a breath. Experts told Mashable that urgency is the number one red flag that may indicate you are the target of a scam, e.g., someone claiming to be from the electricity company demanding money immediately in exchange for keeping your power on. That supposed urgency also sets you up to be more susceptible to scammers. 

Andrew Jones, co-founder of Adaptive Security, said that a manufactured sense of urgency as well as a demand for secrecy are the two factors found in nearly every successful scam he has studied. 

"Nothing is so urgent that it can’t wait for you to verify it," Hasseltine agreed. 

So don't give in to the rush. Slow down, hang up the phone, and ask someone else to weigh in. 

And it bears repeating: Never. Send. Cash. 

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Already been scammed? Here's what to do.

If a scammer has already gotten hold of your personal information or money, act fast:

1. Block the scammer so they can't reach out again.

2. Cut off their access to your bank account or payment method, if you provided that information. Call your bank immediately. If you sent a wire transfer or gift card, contact the issuer and tell the company you have been scammed. Change your passwords. Freeze your credit.

3. Report your stolen information. Go to IdentityTheft.gov to create a government-recommended recovery plan. Report the scam to the Social Security Administration’s fraud hotline if you handed over your SSN.

4. Stay calm. The vast majority of Americans have been scammed in one way or another. There is help out there, and you can prepare your defenses for next time.

TL;DR: The iPhone 17 is free when you trade in an eligible phone in good condition on T-Mobile's Experience More or Experience Beyond plans. The iPhone 17 Pro is also free when you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan.

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Apple iPhone 17

Free when you trade in an eligible phone in good condition on T-Mobile's Experience More or Experience Beyond plans.

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Credit: Apple

iPhone 17 Pro

Free when you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan.

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Apple has spent recent months dropping an overwhelming flood of hardware, but if you aren't trying to drop four figures on the latest model, carrier promo season has officially entered its prime window.

For those interested in investing in the Apple iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro, we strongly recommend checking out T-Mobile right now. The popular carrier is offering free iPhone deals this weekend.

The iPhone 17 is totally free when you trade in an eligible phone in good condition on T-Mobile's Experience More or Experience Beyond plans. The iPhone 17 Pro is also free when you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond plan. T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals, as well as a $35 device connection fee.

How can T-Mobile offer a wild deal like this? You're committing to stay with the service for three years, because the full savings are distributed as monthly credits over a 36-month payment plan. If you leave T-Mobile before the end of the contract, you will be charged the remaining balance immediately.

But why would you do that? The Experience More and Experience Beyond plans are designed for power users who want 4K streaming, massive hotspot data, and the best international roaming. These premium plans include bumper perks like Apple TV+ and Netflix.

Score an iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

TL;DR: Stop all your AI subscriptions with this lifetime subscription to AskAnyModel AI Pro Plan for $29.97 (reg. $499), code SAVE10, until Nov. 1.

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AskAnyModel AI Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription

$29.96
$499 Save $469.04

 

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When you’re making an important decision, you probably don’t just ask for one person’s opinion. So why do you settle for one answer when you’re working with AI? Give yourself extra peace of mind with help from AskAnyModel AI. This helpful tool lets you compare answers from more than 50 AI models, all in one convenient window.

Right now, you can score a lifetime subscription to AskAnyModel AI Pro Plan for just $29.97 with code SAVE10 until Nov. 1.

AI is great for saving you time, but it kind of defeats the purpose when you have to tab-hop to get a second opinion. AskAnyModel AI Pro serves up answers from dozens of models in one spot, so you can stop second-guessing and rest easy knowing you picked the best results for your query.

Gone are the days of memorizing each individual AI model’s unique strengths — AskAnyModel AI streamlines your workflow by showing you answers from six AI models of your choice in one spot. Compare them and pick the best response for your request — whether it be help with coding, generating images, or just answering a basic question.

With the AskAnyModel AI Pro Plan, you have unlimited access to non-flagship AI models. You’ll also have 500 premium monthly credits that grant you access to 20 advanced models, like OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, and Perplexity, when you need a more powerful model for your query. You can also swap between different models mid-conversation if needed.

You can use AskAnyModel AI on any device; you just need access to a web browser.

Lock in this lifetime subscription to AskAnyModel AI Pro Plan for $29.97 with code SAVE10 through Nov. 1.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Make complex processes easier to explain with this lifetime license for Microsoft Visio Professional 2024, on sale now for only $49.97 (reg. $579.99) through tonight, Nov. 1, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Microsoft Visio Professional 2024: Lifetime License for Windows

$49.97
$579.99 Save $530.02

 

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Some things are just easier to understand when you can see them visually. Whether it’s mapping out a workflow or breaking down a complicated process, visual guides can help you better understand the details. Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 simplifies this process, helping you build professional diagrams that make data, processes, and workflows easier to understand.

Right now, you can lock in a lifetime license to Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 for just $49.97 until 11:59 p.m. PT tonight.

Spreadsheets are great for some things, but they’re not helpful when you’re working with information that needs to connect. If you’re looking to show a workflow, a process, or even relationships, diagrams make it a little easier to get your point across. Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 lets you share these things much more easily, and this lifetime license gives you permanent access.

Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 translates complicated data into visuals that are easier to work with and explain, helping you get your point across in industries ranging from IT and architecture to engineering and business.

With over 250,000 shapes to choose from, Microsoft Visio makes it easy to create everything from simple flowcharts to complex diagrams. You can also visualize your data in real-time using Excel, SQL Server, or other databases by linking it to diagrams.

If you frequently collaborate with coworkers, it’s easy to work on the same diagram at the same time from different locations. Your changes are tracked in real-time, so you can view and edit diagrams on the go thanks to the Visio web app.

If you’re already working with the Microsoft 365 suite, you’ll also be happy to know you can embed these diagrams into PowerPoints, Word documents, or Teams chats.

Snag this lifetime license for Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 for just $49.97 through tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is free when you switch and bring your number on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan. The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is $1,200 off when you switch and bring your number on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan.

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Apple iPhone 18 Pro

Free when you switch and bring your number on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan.

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Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

$1,200 off when you switch and bring your number on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan.

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The iPhone Duo launched last week, and naturally, there was a lot of fuss made about Apple's first-ever foldable. Not all of the chatter was positive, but the iPhone Duo did dominate the conversation at least. Now that the dust has settled, something truly wonderful has happened for Apple fans.

No, we're not talking about resolutions to any of the issues surrounding the launch. We're talking about the triumphant return of T-Mobile's free iPhone deals. For the last few weeks, T-Mobile pulled back on the free deals for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro. Times were tough, but we made it through.

For a limited time, you can get your hands on the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free with T-Mobile. To qualify for this deal, you simply need to switch to T-Mobile and bring your number to the Experience Beyond plan. Alternatively, you can save $1,200 on the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max by doing the same.

The full savings are distributed as monthly credits over a 36-month payment plan. If you leave T-Mobile before the end of the three-year contract, you will be charged the remaining balance. You also need to pay local sales tax on the phone's full retail value upfront, plus a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout.

You're making a commitment to T-Mobile and getting a flagship phone for free in return. That sounds like a pretty good deal to us.

Get the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

According to reporting from Tom's Hardware, Anthropic's Claude AI has quietly started restricting the kinds of work it will do, including modding, decompiling, or reverse-engineering video game code. And though there has as yet been no official announcement about why, the reason is still pretty obvious.  

The video game community has been in the news a lot lately, first because of the GTA6 leaks that went mega-viral and spurred Take-Two Interactive into getting subpoenas against both Microsoft and Discord in the hopes of finding the responsible parties, and next because the hacking and modding community discovered how much easier AI makes their job.

First, game decompilers went into overdrive, playing around with the source code of multiple different video games to, for example, put Nintendo's Mario inside the dark gothic world of Elden Ring, or import Spider-Man into the Batman: Arkham City game, seamlessly blending the mechanics of one character into the world of another. Next came the ports: World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City made playable in a browser, without the original developers or copyright owners having any say in the matter. 

These initial modifications and ports were already giving gaming companies nightmares, teasing a future without system gatekeeping, but things really got out of hand with the PlayStation 5 jailbreak, which resulted in everything from backward compatibility with older-gen PlayStation games to cross-platform play, with users figuring out how to run Xbox-exclusive titles like Halo 2 and acclaimed Nintendo titles like Zelda: Breath of the Wild on a jailbroken PS5.

Given the potential number of lawsuits these jailbreaks could cause, and the astronomically high nature of the monetary damages, it's no surprise that AI companies are scrambling to shut down or severely restrict these pathways, but it's also deeply ironic. As Tom's Hardware reporter Bruno Ferreira notes, this sudden concern for copyright "highlights the irony of frontier AI companies that copied the world's information and art for their training sets and are now concerned with copyright infringement." 

There's also the ugly truth that, if one company makes a gesture toward respecting copyright law or basic ethics, the bad actors can find another LLM that won't (or hasn't yet) taken the same precautions, creating a kind of AI arms race driven by perverse incentives: the least ethical AI might be poised to become the most popular.

This is a safe space to admit that we've all wished we could steal the Lofi Girl's cozy desk space from her.

Well now, you kind of can. The internet icon who has given many of us company through late study sessions and long workdays is now giving us the chance to capture her impeccable cozy vibes via her iconic headphones. The Lofi Pro headphones, sold by Lofi Merch (the team behind the YouTube channel), are officially available for preorder for $225. Preorders run through Nov. 14, with the Lofi team recommending you order by the final preorder date for arrival by Christmas.

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Credit: Lofi Girl

Lofi Pro headphones

$225 at Lofi Girl

 

Preorder at Lofi Girl

The headphones are basically an exact replica of Lofi Girl's (or Jade's, according to the headphones' product page). They feature the beige, red, and black color scheme, the scallop edges, and even have magnetic googly eyes, so you can decide whether or not you want to match Jade exactly. The synthetic leather ear cushions are also magnetic and can be changed out for velvet ear cushions, which are available for purchase separately on the Lofi Merch website for $24.99.

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Credit: Lofi Girl

Lofi Girl velvet earpads

$24.99 at Lofi Girl

 

Preorder at Lofi Girl

Also excluded from base headphones kit is a carrying case, so if you're looking to take the headphones on the go, it's worth noting that a case will run you an additional $39.99. The headphones themselves, however, do come with a 3.5mm audio jack, active noise cancellation of up to 30 decibels, 48 hours of battery with ANC on (and 65 hours with it off), wear detection, physical on-ear controls, and multipoint pairing.

In a headphones market where more and more brands are releasing mid-range models, the Lofi Pro headphones could be a major contender with an especially unique appeal. At the very least, I'll have to get my hands on them and live out my lofi dreams to know for sure.

The best Kindle e-readers are essential for book lovers, and Amazon just released a new Kindle Colorsoft (and the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition with an aluminum body), along with a new basic Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite/Paperwhite Signature Edition, and the Kindle Click page-turner. Following last year's refresh of the Kindle Scribe lineup, that means Amazon has an all-new Kindle family, just in time for the holidays.

I've been reviewing the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition for Mashable for the past few weeks. Except for the new aluminum body, fig colorway, and higher storage, it's functionally the same as the base Colorsoft model, so we won't be reviewing them separately.

If you've been curious about Amazon's color e-readers, then I'd recommend reading my Kindle Colorsoft review first. Unfortunately, while there's a lot that I do love about this device, it doesn't fix the biggest problem — the color is still very disappointing.

That cover is definitely yellow-ish. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Kindle Colorsoft review: Manage your expectations when it comes to color

Now, I want to be clear about one thing: Amazon uses E Ink technology for its e-readers. This distinctive, paper-like digital display is a product of the E Ink Corporation. And the truth is that E Ink just doesn't do color very well. So, the technology is what it is.

The E Ink color experience on the Kindle Colorsoft is disappointing. That was true with the original model from 2024, and it hasn't changed with the 2026 model. What has changed is that the Colorsoft now offers true edge-to-edge color, so there are no dimming or lighting issues around the edges.

But Amazon promises readers something more: "Paper-like color perfect for comics, graphic novels, and more." And that's not what I'm seeing. In fact, some of Amazon's official photography with the Kindle Colorsoft appears to exaggerate the color saturation, at least to my eye. I've never seen color quite that bright in practice.

I haven't seen colors quite this bright on my review unit, sadly. Credit: Amazon

I put the Kindle side-by-side with illustrated books, comic books, and graphic novels I have on my bookshelf, and the difference is very obvious, even when you crank up the vividness and brightness to the limit. There's just no comparison, really.

Even in comics with more neutral tones and softer colors like the classic Batman comic The Long Halloween, the difference stands out clearly. How important is the color problem? Well, the word "color" is right there in the name — Kindle Colorsoft. Though, I suppose the emphasis should be on "soft."

The color difference is obvious. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

What elder millennial nerd doesn't own a copy of 'Watchmen'? Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I have seen more vibrant and colorful electronic paper technology. Samsung's ePaper does a better job with color, though there are other trade-offs. It takes time for the screen to change to a new image, which isn't an option in an e-reader that demands near-instant page turns.

In my photos of Samsung's ePaper, you'll notice brighter colors, but there's a reason Samsung reserves this tech for commercial use.

Samsung's ePaper commercial display technology on display. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

A closer look at Samsung's ePaper commercial display technology. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

If you want to read comics, magazines, or illustrated books in digital form, a tablet like the new iPad Mini or Amazon Alexa tablets would be a better option. (Mashable is in the process of reviewing both of those devices.)

And you can always go to an actual bookstore.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition: What I liked

To be clear, there is a lot to love about the Kindle Colorsoft, particularly the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition. I love the fig color, which is a close match for the new burgundy iPhone 18 Pro. (Fun fact: An Amazon spokesperson told Mashable the fig color was inspired by the same industry trend report that inspired the burgundy iPhone.)

The new aluminum body available in the Paperwhite SE and Colorsoft SE is worth the upgrade. They have a similar feel to the Apple iPad Air, which I also loved. It's also satisfying to see the cover screen artwork and your book covers in color.

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I also appreciated the ability to zoom in on comic panels and illustrations, which is a great way to appreciate fine details in the artwork.

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

...enhance! Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

You can double-click to read comics panel-by-panel on the Colorsoft, rather than page-by-page. Often, this works really well, but for artists who use complicated panels of varying sizes and styles (like you'll find in The Long Halloween), some of the panels fit very awkwardly on the screen.

The new Kindle Colorsoft also has a lot of the features we loved in other Kindle devices — a waterproof design, a battery that lasts for weeks, auto-adjusting light. Amazon also moved the power button to the side, which is a smart update. Only the Signature Edition supports wireless charging, and it now has magnetic pogo pins on the back. That means if you're used to using Qi wireless charging accessories with your Kindle, they won't work here. For me, this isn't a problem.

To sum up — the Kindle Colorsoft isn't a bad color e-reader. It just suffers from the same problems all color e-readers do.

The Kindle Colorsoft: Who it's for

If you believe some color is better than no color, or if you're a note-taker who loves to highlight their books, then the Kindle Colorsoft would be a smart upgrade from the basic Kindle. (Pro tip: We named the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft a Mashable Choice product, and the ability to write on the screen lets you use color in much better ways.) However, the Kobo Libra Colour is retaining its top spot as our favorite color e-reader.

The Kindle Colorsoft would also be a smart option for kids in the process of graduating from illustrated kids' books to chapter books. The Colorsoft could help make this transition a bit more inviting, and parents can also get a Kindle Colorsoft Kids Edition for $299.99.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition

$319.99 at Amazon

 

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Credit: Amazon

Kindle Colorsoft Kids Edition

$299.99 at Amazon

 

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Choosing a Kindle is just the start. Once you have a Kindle, there's so much you can do to make the most of it. For avid readers, Stuff Your Kindle Day and Libby let you cross every last item off your annual reading list. You can even buy Kindle accessories like remote page-turners and gooseneck stands so you don't have to hold your Kindle while reading. Which, by the way, we love Amazon's new Kindle Click and Page Turn Cover.

So, after extensive testing, reading so many books, and attending BookCon, I created this guide to the best Kindles to buy in 2026.

Meet the new 2026 Kindles

On Oct. 1, Amazon announced a redesign of the entire Kindle collection. Before the launch, Mashable's tech editor, Timothy Beck Werth, went hands-on with the devices, seeing their vivid new colors like ube, as well as the new aluminum casings on some of the e-readers. Here are all the new Kindle e-readers:

• Kindle (16GB) — $149.99 to $169.99

• Kindle, Aluminum (32GB) — $189.99

• Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) — $199.99 to $219.99

• Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) — $249.99

• Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) — $289.99

• Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB) — $319.99

• Kindle Kids (16GB) — $179.99

• Kindle Kids Paperwhite (16GB) — $229.99

• Kindle Kids Colorsoft (16GB) — $299.99

• Kindle Click page turner — $34.99

• Kindle Page Turn Cover — $79.99

2026 Kindle price increases

For years, Kindle prices have stayed stable, but in August 2026, they finally got an increase. Every model except the Kindle Scribe received a price increase. We can thank RAMageddon, as an Amazon spokesperson said that the increased prices are a result of "significant increases in memory and storage component costs." Here's a breakdown of all the new Kindle prices

More 2026 Kindle updates

As of May 20, 2026, Amazon no longer lend software updates or provide web services to devices released in 2012 or earlier, essentially bricking them. Users will still be able to read currently downloaded books on the device, but to add new books, they will need to connect the device to a computer. This is a huge hit, especially to Libby users who need web service access to read borrowed books.

The affected Kindles include:

• Kindle (1st generation)

• Kindle (2nd generation)

• Kindle DX

• Kindle DX Graphite

• Kindle Keyboard

• Kindle 4

• Kindle Touch

• Kindle 5

• Kindle Paperwhite (1st generation)

Owners of these Kindle models are obviously upset, as it means they'll need to purchase a new device to maintain access to all features. While some are considering switching to a different e-reader, like a Kobo, Amazon still makes great e-readers, and it's a testament to the brand that devices that are at least 14 years old are still going strong.

Which Kindle is right for you?

If you're concerned about buying the newest tech, that's not an issue since, as of October 2026, there are nine new models to shop.

Before you choose a Kindle, you need to ask one question first: Do you want it to be waterproof? If you prefer reading near a body of water — whether in the bath, by the pool, or at the beach — that immediately narrows down your options. Since the Kindle Oasis is no longer available, your waterproof options are the Kindle Paperwhite, Paperwhite Signature Edition, Colorsoft Signature Edition, and Paperwhite Kids.

Trying to decide which Kindle is right for you? Above all, you need to decide if you need a waterproof e-reader. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Beyond water resistance, here are a few other features to consider:

• Display size: The basic Kindle has a 6-inch display, while the largest has a 10.2-inch display.

• Storage capacity: Kindles range from 16GB to 32GB of storage capacity.

• Battery life: The new Kindles generally have outstanding batteries. On the low end, they last up to six weeks per charge, while others last up to 12 weeks.

• Writing capability: The Kindle Scribe is the only model that allows you to write with the included stylus. 

The latest Kindles all boast a maximum brightness of 94 nits and a 300 ppi, high-resolution display with zero glare, so you can enjoy sharp text and images at any viewing angle. Kindles are also equipped with WiFi connectivity, allowing you to download all the reading material you could ever want. Plus, you can listen to audiobooks on Audible via the built-in Bluetooth connection.

Not to mention, out of all the e-readers I've tested, Kindles have the best compatibility with Libby. I love the digital platform because I can read for free and support my local library. Some other e-readers require you to download your library e-book to a computer and then upload it to an e-reader, but with Kindles, your e-books are sent straight to your device with a click.

And if you were a die-hard Kindle Oasis fan and are attached to page-turning buttons, your best option is to get the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with the Page Turn Cover.

How to get free e-books on Kindle

With just a click, transfer your Libby e-book to your Kindle device. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Your Libby ebook will automatically populate in your Kindle library. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The best way to read free e-books on a Kindle is with Libby. Libby allows you to borrow e-books through libraries, and all you need is a library card. Through the Libby app, borrow books and then select the "Read with Kindle" option, which allows you to send these e-books to your Kindle library.

Another option for finding free e-books is through Stuff Your Kindle events. These are author-driven events that offer limited-time deals on e-books, often making them heavily discounted or totally free.

How to make the most of your Kindle

Through our testing and daily use, we've spent a lot of time with Kindles, learning how to make the most of them. We've written extensively on all the ways to maximize your Kindle, so be sure to browse through our guides and explainers:

• How to make the most of your Kindle: 8 features you need to use

• The best Kindle accessories for reading in luxury

• What is Stuff Your Kindle Day? The best way to fill your e-reader with free books

• I've read hundreds of free Kindle books with Libby. Here's how.

• What is Kindle Rewards? Earn free credits when shopping the Kindle store

• What is Kindle+? A library of books at your fingertips for just $12 a month.

• Where to get free e-books: Load up your e-reader without spending a dime

• Prime members can get a free e-book every month with Amazon First Reads

• How to download EPUB files on your Kindle

• 8 Kindle features you should be using

• How to delete books from Kindle
  

So, what is the best e-reader for 2026? I'm regularly testing new e-readers (and tablets) and cycling through different models to stay up to date on the best options available. If you're gearing up to read more books this year, I can recommend a model you'll love.

But what's the e-reader? Well, Amazon just released my new favorite e-reader.

Latest e-reader news

• On Oct. 1, Amazon dropped a redesigned collection of Kindles. We've tested the latest e-readers and named the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition the best overall e-reader.

• As of September 2026, we've added the Boox Go 6 to this guide, naming it the best Kindle alternative. We also named the Kindle Paperwhite the best e-reader for the beach (in addition to being the best overall) and named the Durobo Krono the best e-reader for audiobooks.

• In August 2026, Amazon increased the price of Kindles. Now the basic Kindle costs $149.99 ($40 increase) and the Kindle Paperwhite costs $199.99 ($40 increase).

• In July 2026, Boox announced it was releasing a pocket-sized e-reader, the Picco. After IFA 2026, rumors floated that the Boox Picco would be released in November 2026.

• Also in July 2026, Xteink dropped the X4 Pro, a new tiny e-reader with a touchscreen.

• As of April 2026, we have included the Durobo Krono and the Xetink X4 e-reader in this guide.

• In May 2026, Amazon ceased support for e-readers released in 2012 or earlier, which includes the first generation of Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite.

• Also in May 2026, Kobo announced its integration with Storygraph, which syncs your on-device reading progress with the Storygraph app.

Which are the most affordable e-readers?

When picking an e-reader, price is always a consideration. However, almost all e-readers fall into the same price range. Kindle and Kobo e-readers both start around $149.99/$159.99, while the tiny Boox Picco is just $109.99. If you want handwriting capabilities, Kobo and Boox make the most affordable options, as Kindle's Scribes start at $500.

Other e-readers we've tested

From left to right: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook GlowLight 4 Plus, Kindle Scribe Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

• Remarkable PaperPro: Whenever you search for e-readers, Remarkable's tablets will always pop up in the search results, but unfortunately, it's hard to obtain ePUB files on the Remarkable. With Remarkable, you can access files within Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. If you have any locked ePUB files — like from Libby — you won't be able to access them on a Remarkable tablet. So, after testing the Remarkable tablet myself, it proved to be a better document reader or digital journal than an e-reader.

• Onyx Boox Go 7: While we love the Boox Go 6, we didn't love the Go 7. It's the same size as the Kobo Libra or Amazon Kindle, but it really lags on processing speed. Reading ePUB files from Libby required downloading the Adobe Digital Editions app onto the Boox Go 7, and there was significant lag when opening and closing the app. While it was an easier process than getting library books on a Nook, it was still a major pain compared to Kindle or Kobo's integrations. The Boox Go 7 lagged and took ages to load files. I was most looking forward to testing this Boox because of its page-turning buttons, but unfortunately, I found that they didn't work on my device.

• Boox Palma 2: I loved reading on the Boox Palma. It's a really solid palm-sized e-reader with an open Android system, so you can download any reading app from the Google Play store, including Libby, Kindle, and Kobo. Unfortunately, the Palma 2 is being discontinued, and its availability is dwindling, which is why it's not included in this list.

Where's the Nook on this list?

In terms of big-name e-readers, you might notice one omission from this list: the Barnes & Noble Nook. I have tested this e-reader, and it was previously featured on this list. However, after testing more devices, it no longer makes the cut. In comparison to any of the Kindles or the Kobo Libra, the Nook has sloth-like performance, making it frustrating to use.

Plus, getting my library books onto the Nook was a nightmare, as it was a multi-step process that required downloading to a computer before uploading to a Nook. Its only redeeming quality was the buttons on either side of the device, which made page turning a breeze. However, unless you are a loyal buyer of Barnes & Noble books, I recommend steering clear of the Nook.

Where to get e-reader books for free

Once you get an e-reader, it's time to fill it up with books, and that doesn't necessarily mean spending money. In fact, you can load up your e-reader without spending a dime; you just need to be a bit resourceful.

The best way to read nearly any book — a classic or hot new release — is with Libby. I have read hundreds of free books with the Libby app — I wouldn't have been able to test for this guide without it. It connects with your library card, allowing you to borrow from your local library's digital collection. Plus, both Kobo and Kindle have exceptional Libby integrations.

Another way to build your library is through Stuff Your Kindle Day events. These are 24-hour opportunities led by authors that make books discounted or free.

If you're a fan of the classics or looking to discover a treasure lost to time, an online resource like Project Gutenberg has more than 75,000 books in the public domain that you can download and read on an e-reader.

SAVE $1,000: As of Oct. 31, LG OLED evo 55-inch TV is marked down to $999.99. That's a huge $1,000 savings off the regular list price of $1,999.99.

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Credit: LG

LG OLED evo 55-inch TV

$999.99 at LG
$1,999.99 Save $1,000

 

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It might seem like it's too early to start talking Black Friday, but the deals are already popping up on top retailers. And when you're talking Black Friday, you have to talk big savings on big smart TVs. It's just part and parcel of the holiday shopping season.

LG — arguably the top name in high-powered OLED TVs — has dropped a major deal ahead of Black Friday, with a 50% saving on the LG OLED evo 55-inch TV.

As of Oct. 31, the LG OLED evo 55-inch TV is down to just $999.99. This smart TV is usually listed at $1,999.99, which means you save $1,000.

Not only is this TV big and eye-popping — we know TVs go up to 100 inches, but a 55-inch is more than enough for most rooms — it's also stacked with specs. That includes LG's Brightness Booster technology, which enhances picture clarity pixel-by-pixel, and a Filmmaker Mode for a cinema-like movie experience. It's all driven by the immensely powerful Alpha 11 AI Processor Gen3, with support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, plus souped-up gaming features for fully immersive next-gen games.

At this price, it's one of the best value smart TVs you'll find right now. But LG is only guaranteeing this Black Friday price until Nov. 1.

Make sure you don't miss the offer while it's available and save $1,000 on the LG OLED evo 55-inch TV — priced at $999.99 for this weekend only.

Best early Black Friday self-emptying robot vacuum deals:

---

Best budget deal

Roborock Q10 S5+

$329.99 (save $220)

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---

Best self-washing mop deal

Roborock Qrevo S Pro

$499.99 (save $200)

Get Deal

---

Best splurge option

Dreame L60 Pro Ultra

$1,189.99 (save $210)

Get Deal

If you’re buying a robot vacuum, it should be self-emptying. It just wouldn’t make sense not to buy one with that feature, given that the whole point is to make vacuuming as hands-off as possible.

I have two beagles, and I vacuum twice a day. That’s why I have what I like to call my Dreame Team: the Dreame L60 Pro Ultra, the Aero Pro Steam, and the N20 Steam Portable Carpet Cleaner. I also have a lone Shark upright. Clearly, I have enough cleaning to do without emptying a robot’s dustbin, too.

Luckily, almost every robot vacuum on Amazon seems to be on sale already. But when everything is flashing a red discount, figuring out which deals are genuinely good takes a little more work. That’s why we’re covering early Black Friday deals on self-emptying robot vacuums earlier than ever.

I’ll be double-checking MSRPs, looking at price history, and comparing prices across retailers to help you get the best value for your money this holiday season. And no, that doesn’t mean only shopping on Amazon. If another store has a better deal, that’s where I’ll send you.

Every robot vacuum below is on sale and comes with a self-emptying dock. I’ll be updating this list as prices change and more Black Friday deals roll in.

Best budget deal

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Credit: Roborock

Roborock Q10 S5+

$329.99
$549.99 Save $220

 

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Why we like it

The Roborock Q10 S5+ is a Mashable fave. Not only is it an affordable option, but Leah Stodart, our former vacuum expert, found it reliably performed in her cleaning tests, including wiping up a variety of spills and splatters in her kitchen.

It’s also super quiet, even when emptying its dustbin. Stodart liked its accurate mapping and sonic mopping, which actually scrubs rather than just dragging a damp pad across your floors. At $329.99, you’re getting more than a basic robot that picks up crumbs and calls it a day.

The only downside? You'll have to wash the mop pad yourself, and Stodart noted that it gets dirty quickly. It also isn’t the most thorough around edges. But if you want a self-emptying robot vacuum without spending $500 or more, this is a good entry-level pick.

Best self-washing mop deal

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Credit: Roborock

Roborock Qrevo S Pro

$499.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $200

 

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Why we like it

If washing the mop pads yourself is a dealbreaker, the Roborock Qrevo S Pro is on sale for $499.99, down from $699.99. That’s $170 more than the Q10 S5+, but you’re getting a dock that does more than empty the dustbin. It also washes the mop pads with hot water, dries them with warm air, and refills the robot’s water tank. You’ll still have some maintenance to do, but at least you’re not left washing the pads after the robot has finished its part.

We haven’t had a chance to test this 2026 model yet, so we can’t give it the same hands-on endorsement as we did for the Q10 S5+. It currently has a 4.1-star average rating on Amazon, though, and the extra dock features make it worth considering if you want less involvement in the mopping. Personally, if I’m buying a robot to mop my floors, I’d prefer not to be responsible for washing its dirty pads afterward.

Robot vacuum mop combos with self-washing mopping pads

• Roborock Qrevo QV35A — $449.99 $649.99 (save $200)

• Dreame L40 Ultra (Gen 2) — $499.98 $749.99 (save $250.01)

• Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni — $599 $1,099.99 (save $500.99)

• Eufy E25 — $599.98 $999.99 (save $400.01)

• Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller — $799.99 $899.99 (save $100)

Robot vacuum and mop combos

• Shark AV2501S AI Ultra — $279.99 $549.99 (save $270)

• Roborock Q7 M5+ — $299.99 $359.99 (save $60)

• Roborock Q5 S10+ — $329.99 $549.99 (save $220)

TL;DR: Block ads and trackers on up to nine devices with an AdGuard lifetime subscription, just $14.97 (reg. $169.99) through Nov. 1.

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Credit: AdGuard

AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription

$14.97
$169.99 Save $155.02

 

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Pop-ups, video ads, and trackers show up on every screen in a household, from a parent’s laptop to a kid’s tablet. Paying for ad blocking on each of those devices every year works, but it’s expensive. Instead, try AdGuard, an ad blocker that includes privacy tools and parental controls. A Family lifetime subscription is on sale for $14.97 (reg. $169.99).

AdGuard blocks banners, pop-ups, and video ads on every website you visit, so pages load without the clutter. Trackers and activity analyzers are blocked too, which keeps more of your browsing data away from advertisers.

Parental controls are the main reason to pick the Family Plan. Parents can restrict access to adult and inappropriate content on a child’s device, and AdGuard may also help protect everyone in the house from phishing sites and malware. Device count is the other big difference. AdGuard’s Personal Plan works on three devices, while the Family Plan works on up to nine, enough for several phones, tablets, and computers.

This deal is for new AdGuard users only, so existing customers can’t apply it to an account they already have. You’ll also need to redeem your code within 30 days of purchase. After that, you can use the internet freely without worrying that one random misclick will lead you to some sketchy page.

Stop paying every year to block ads on every device in your house.

Through Nov. 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get an AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription on sale for $14.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Mitch McConnell's hospital jeans were real. But the image of a crying Nekima Levy Armstrong, an ICE protestor held up as a symbol of "far-left agitators" by the Trump administration, was faked. 

President Trump's recent outing with Mike Tyson was legitimate. The viral photo of an adulterous Georgia city mayor was not. 

In the grand scheme of things, it has never been easy to detect AI-generated content. But it used to have its tells: a few extra fingers, or a strange texture, or an uncanny gaze. 

Now, "those tells are mostly gone, and whatever replaces them will be gone in a year too," said Marijus Briedis, chief technology officer at online security company NordVPN. "Any guide built on visual artifacts has a short shelf life."

The risk of spreading misinformation is not the only reason for questioning what you see and hear online. Digital scams, including deepfakes, led to losses of over $148 billion in 2025, an increase of more than 25 percent from the year before.

So if the visual Turing Test isn't the failsafe against fraud, scams, and manipulation we once thought it was, what do we do? We focus on the human things we can vet: Our emotions, our brains, and the digital tools available to us.

Deepfake or real? Check the source, not the content.

Instead of trying to spot AI mistakes, users are now encouraged by cybersecurity experts to verify sources rather than content. 

When it comes to video, don't hunt for glitches, which are being patched out of generative models fast, explains Roei Sherman, senior director of research at cloud security firm Mitiga. "Every detection tip we publish eventually becomes a line in someone's prompt."

Instead, try to find the larger context from which it originates. If you see a clip of a political candidate making rounds, look for the full speech or interview. Find broader news coverage of the event, from multiple outlets.

"Short clips cut out of context are where most of the manipulation lives," Sherman said.

Sourcing images may be trickier without robust authentication systems in place. While a reverse image search on Google can still prove helpful, the search engine's new AI features may churn out their own misinformation or reaffirm the original hoax, explained Sofia Rubinson, senior editor at misinformation watchdog NewsGuard.

"Fact-checkers used to depend on traditional search platforms like Google to help research the origins of photos and videos," she told Mashable, "but at NewsGuard we’ve found that the AI-powered Google Search often misattributes imagery as depicting what misinformers claim."

And now there's a chance that the source you trace an image or video to looks completely legit, even if it's not. 

When evaluating the source itself, Briedis recommends asking questions such as:

• Has this account existed for more than a month? 

• Does this information appear anywhere else, from anyone with a familiar, credible name attached? 

• Is this person asking me to act right now, and, if so, why?

"None of that requires you to analyze a pixel or a waveform," he explained. "That is exactly why it still works."

Is it an AI hoax? Think logically. 

Go with your gut, experts told Mashable. 

Always consider plausibility. How likely is it that this could happen? If it's an account that appears to be owned by a public figure, would this person likely say such a thing on a public platform? 

Rubinson emphasizes the importance of seeing multiple angles of an event or crisis before deciding it's legitimate. "Keep an eye out for corroborating information," she urges. 

And the logic test doesn't just apply to fantastically novel events, like those bunnies hopping on a trampoline. A lot of social media is fake, said Rubinson, and incendiary comments from politicians or controversial actions from celebrities deserve to be double-checked — even if a lot of them turn out to be true. 

Am I being ragebaited? Monitor your reaction.

It's also essential that you remain aware of how the image or video makes you feel, Sherman says.

If you have a visceral response to a post — maybe it enrages you or stirs a sense of desperation to engage — it may be doing that on purpose. 

"If you see one wild video appearing repeatedly in your feed that seems designed to evoke an emotional response, there’s reason to be suspicious," Rubinson said.

Can I use detection tools? Yes, but with caution.

So you've taken a good look at the post itself, checked its sources, and still aren't sure? Turn to the professionals.  

Keep up with organizations tracking viral deepfakes. Newsguard, for example, publishes an AI monitor and a newsletter on trending deepfakes and misinformation. Cybersecurity company McAfee flags popular AI-powered scams on its AI news blog. Deepfake detector company AI or Not maintains a searchable database of known deepfakes and manipulated images. 

As federal oversight lags, state-level regulation and industry-wide content provenance measures are also aiding the battle against deepfakes. And cybersecurity experts are building increasingly robust countermeasures to combat deepfakes, including advancements to AI deepfake detectors. 

But no detection tool is reliable enough to issue a definitive verdict on whether or not something is AI. If you're still not certain an image is real, don't share it, experts urged.

"What [detection tools] are good for is the moment something feels off," Briedis said. "The tool agrees with you, and now you go and verify it properly."

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

SAVE ALMOST $30: As of Oct. 31, the Apple AirTag 4-pack (2nd Gen) is on sale for $69.99 at Amazon. That's a 29% discount on the list price of $99.

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Credit: Apple

Apple AirTag 4-pack (2nd Gen)

$69.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $29.01

 

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We all know the annoyance of misplacing your valuables, whether it's your wallet, keys, purse, or luggage. Losing your stuff is one of life's greatest annoyances. There is a solution these days: the Bluetooth tracker. Better still is the Apple AirTag, which is the premium version of the tracker. As always with Apple, it comes at a price, which is why we always recommend jumping on a deal on these handy devices. Thankfully, there's a deal available right now.

As of Oct. 31, the Apple AirTag 4-pack (2nd Gen) is down to $69.99 at Amazon. They're usually priced at $99, so you're getting a very generous $29.01 discount.

If you've never used an Apple AirTag, it's super simple. Just attach an AirTag to the item you want to track, and you use your iPhone or iPad to find it.

You can do this through the Find My app, which provides step-by-step directions to your lost item's location. Or simply set it to play a sound via a built-in speaker, so you can follow the sound. It works using both Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth.

There's also an option to share an AirTag's location with trusted contacts or even airlines, which is helpful in lost-luggage situations.

Don't miss your chance to grab the Apple AirTag 4-pack (2nd Gen) at $69.99 and save over $29.

TL;DR: Preorders for the physical version of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake are available with $10 off at Amazon. Preorder your copy now for $59.88, and you'll also get a preorder price guarantee.

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Credit: Nintendo

'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' (Digital)

$59.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

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Credit: Nintendo

'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' (Physical)

$59.88 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $10.11

 

Get Deal at Amazon

The Nintendo Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is less than a week away, with the highly anticipated game scheduled to officially drop on Nov. 5. That means there's limited time to take advantage of Amazon's deal on physical copy preorders.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was initially priced at $69.99, but the preorder price has since dropped to $59.88 (roughly the same price as the digital version). If you're undecided, check out the gameplay preview footage that's had Zelda fans pumped for almost two months. Trust us, this is one of the key releases for the Switch 2.

Nintendo is also releasing special packaging with textured foil cover art as part of the first print run on the physical edition — another reason this is a must-own game for collectors and Zelda diehards.

The other bonus of the Amazon price drop is that the retailer is also offering a price guarantee on these preorders. If the price changes between now and when you receive your copy on or around Nov. 5 — when your card will actually be charged — you'll only pay the lowest price point from that period (if it drops to $57 before you receive the game, for instance, that's the price you'll pay).

Don't miss your chance to get $10 off The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time before the official release on Nov.5.

Save $50: The DJI Mini 3 drone is down to $369 at Amazon. It's usually priced at $419, giving you a saving of $50.

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Credit: DJI

DJI Mini 3

$369 at Amazon
$419 Save $50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

We can't help but get excited for deals at this time of year. Black Friday is just around the corner, and retailers jump on the excitement by dropping prices earlier and earlier every holiday shopping season. If you're specifically in the market for a deal on a drone, we've spotted an excellent price drop on one of the most popular drones around, the DJI Mini 3.

We can understand why you might be looking for a discount on a DJI drone. Following changes in U.S. law last year, there's a ban on future imports of the Chinese-made DJI drones. We fully expect prices to skyrocket as the existing U.S. stocks of these drones become increasingly scarce.

As of Oct. 31, the DJI Mini 3 drone is down to $369 on Amazon, saving you $50 off the regular list price of $419.

The DJI Mini 3 is lots of fun to fly, which is the bare minimum you want from a drone. It takes off from the palm of your hand and boasts a GPS-enabled auto-return function.

But we also recommend it for content creators and aerial photographers. It shoots 4K footage and boasts a selection of creative QuickShots features, including True Vertical, Helix, and Boomerang shots. It also offers one-tap editing, letting you edit your footage right there and then.

Don't miss your chance to save $50 on the DJI Mini 3 drone at Amazon.

TL;DR: Keep your files safer and pay less over time with this 2TB lifetime subscription to Scramble Cloud Storage, on sale now for just $59.95 (reg. $172).

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Credit: Scramble Cloud

Scramble Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (2TB)

$59.95
$172 Save $112.05

 

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Lock in this 2TB lifetime subscription to Scramble Cloud Storage for just $59.95 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson, a Democrat, was the target of an outrageous video apparently fabricated by Russian operatives, according to the data analysis service NewsGuard.

In the video, which appears as a legitimate news report from Maine TV station WABI, an anchor alleges that Jackson threatened to kill "any insubordinate staffer" with an axe. Jackson is a fifth-generation logger challenging the Republican incumbent Susan Collins.

Several polls put Jackson ahead of Collins, and Republicans see her seat as crucial to maintaining control of the U.S. Senate.

Kim Petry, vice president of WABI, confirmed to NewsGuard that the video was fabricated and appears to use a synthetic voice. "It was not produced, aired, or authorized by WABI," Petry told NewsGuard.

The firm said Jackson's campaign didn't respond to two emails seeking comment on the video. Mashable also contacted Jackson's campaign via email but did not receive a reply as of publication.

NewsGuard said the video used dubbed audio combined with real footage that originally appeared on WABI's website in July 2026. In the original segment, Jackson was accused of having "angry outbursts" while serving as Maine Senate President between 2018 and 2024.

In July, CNN and the Washington Post reported that Jackson threw a water bottle during a 2021 meeting. One lawmaker said Jackson threw the bottle in her direction after she refused to vote for a bill he supported.

Jackson's campaign said he threw the bottle but wasn't targeting anyone. Though Jackson's temper was well-known in Maine political circles, he did not threaten to attack staffers with an axe.

Based on its format and how it spread on X, NewsGuard said the manipulated video appears to be the product of a Russian influence operation known as Storm-1516. The group "routinely fabricates articles and videos that impersonate legitimate media outlets," according to NewsGuard.

The firm said Storm-1516 is also apparently behind similar videos targeting James Talarico and Sherrod Brown, Democratic Senate candidates from Texas and Ohio, respectively. Both men were accused of sexual assault in the AI-altered videos and vehemently denied the allegations.

Google's latest earnings call has caused quite a kerfuffle on the stock market.

It turns out that Google's AI Mode, the AI summaries that help answer user search queries right on the search page instead of directing them to the most authoritative links, is eating into the company's ad revenue — an extremely predictable problem. There's even a term for the phenomenon — zero-click searches.

This is an obvious problem for Google Ads, a pay-per-click advertising service that generates billions of dollars in revenue each quarter. Google isn't going to backtrack on AI; the company has too much invested into the technology now. So, what's Google's fix?

More ads.

As Ars Technica points out, in Google's financial disclosure, the company shared plans to bring even more search ads into AI Mode.

Google currently shows contextual ads within AI Mode alongside the AI-generated responses to user queries. However, Google is planning to include even more ads by swapping out sponsored links throughout a user's session as they interact with the AI Mode chatbot. In addition, Google will soon be rolling out AI Mode ads in international markets as well.

The search giant did warn investors that this won't be a quick fix. Google currently earns less via AI Mode ads than from traditional search ads as there are fewer advertisers running ads in AI Mode. In addition, it will take some time, Google says, for advertisers to understand the benefits of running ads in AI Mode too.

Regardless, Google will go forward with its AI plans, even at the expense of a major revenue driver, Google Search ads. In the meantime, users will be seeing more ads.

Tech stocks are taking a big hit on the stock market today, and they really only have themselves to blame.

Just look at Google and Reddit's plummeting stocks. On Thursday, Google stock experienced its largest single-day drop ever, and Reddit is on track to have its worst-ever day on Friday. Other tech stocks are also down Friday. As of this writing, Intel is down 30 percent. NVIDIA is down almost 5 percent.

So, what's going on? The answer to this shouldn't surprise anyone: It's AI.

On a Q3 earnings call earlier this week, Google reported strong revenue growth, although weaker than expectations. However, in an earnings filing on Thursday, Google revealed that the company has substantially more exposure to AI risk than some investors realized, according to a Bloomberg report. For one, Google has now disclosed that in addition to its $1 trillion in future purchase commitments, it faces an additional $98 billion in possible future purchase commitments.

These commitments consist mainly of AI data centers and related computing power and hardware, Bloomberg reports. Basically, the company has a lot riding on the AI boom not going bust.

That's not the only concern either. Google's AI features are hurting one of the company's biggest moneymakers, Google Search advertising revenue.

According to Google's chief business officer Philipp Schindler, fewer users are clicking on Google ads in search because of features like AI mode. In fact, even though Google is currently experiencing more search queries than it has in the past five years, Google Search revenue growth is slowing due to these AI tools.

As click-through rates for websites appearing in Google Search decline, the effects are felt further down the line by websites that rely on Google Search traffic, as many websites do (including Mashable). And this is why Reddit's stock is dropping as well.

Last year, Reddit shared that a whopping 50 percent of its traffic comes from Google. As many Google users have noticed over the years, Reddit threads have been ranking quite highly on Google Search results pages for a variety of queries.

However, when Reddit released its Q3 earnings on Thursday, the company was singing a different tune about Google referral traffic.

"Our search referral traffic was down meaningfully in Q3, with the decline accelerating later in the quarter," Reddit said in a letter to shareholders, revealing that search traffic has been dropping by more than 1 million referrals per week.

In an interview with CNBC, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman outright blamed Google's AI Overviews for the drop in traffic.

“I think fundamentally that relationship between Google and the rest of the internet is evolving, and so for us, this means a continued focus on our core users that come to Reddit directly,” Huffman said

In addition to Reddit's woes with Google's AI features, the company announced it would soon require users to create accounts and log in to view content. This change is meant to combat AI scrapers, according to the company. However, this is undoubtedly going to result in further drops in traffic, as Elon Musk discovered when he briefly rolled out a similar login requirement on X, then known as Twitter, back in June 2023.

The tech industry continues to push AI into every facet of its multitude of products and services. It turns out that has had significant negative impacts on their successful existing businesses.

It took about 20 minutes for hackers to move billions of dollars out of Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. Now, investigators are pointing to a group linked to another record-breaking crypto theft.

Blockchain analysis firm TRM Labs has attributed the $6.3 billion attack to TraderTraitor, a North Korean hacking unit blamed for last year's $1.5 billion Bybit heist, with "high confidence. Chainalysis and Elliptic also linked the theft to North Korea, though Binance has not yet confirmed who was responsible.

Not only is this potentially the biggest hack of all time, it may also be the biggest heist of any kind, ever.

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The attack forced Binance to suspend withdrawals. The company says it will cover all losses and has worked with partners to freeze roughly $3 billion in affected assets, as Mashable previously reported. In total, Reuters reports that Binance has set aside approximately $6.34 billion in company funds to cover losses.

According to TRM, most of the stolen cryptocurrency was moved from Binance's wallets across 10 blockchain networks in about 20 minutes. The firm said the attack shared characteristics with previous North Korea-linked thefts, including the Bybit heist.

Crypto compliance software company Elliptic said some stolen funds reached an address that had also received proceeds from a suspected North Korean attack on crypto exchange Bitget. North Korea has previously denied hacking allegations.

Binance initially said a compromised engineer's laptop may have allowed an attacker to submit unauthorized withdrawals. Its subsequent investigation uncovered additional points of breach, and the company has promised a full report once the facts are verified.

Meanwhile, deposits have resumed, and the exchange said early Friday that withdrawals were expected to return within 48 hours.

Google rolled out a small visual change to Gemini on non-Pixel devices, while improving the app's file management.

As spotted by 9to5Google, the Gemini app on Android received a couple of upgrades this week. For starters, the Gemini overlay that pops up when you activate Google's AI assistant on Android devices now stands out a little more visually. The pill-shaped search bar now has blurred edges, along with swirls of color.

These elements help the overlay stand out a little bit more against the app icons on your home screen. Google introduced this change on Pixel 11 devices, but according to 9to5Google's report, it's now available on every supported Android device.

That's not all, though. According to a Google blog post, users can now "generate, preview, and edit" files within the Gemini chat window. While chatting with Gemini, you can open a file in full screen and edit it as you see fit, or highlight text to ask Gemini questions about it. Google is also touting the ability to create and edit slide decks for presentations on the fly in Gemini.

Maybe these aren't the most seismic updates in the world, but they are a sign that Gemini is continuing to become more dynamic and useful in some situations.

Target's Black Friday 2026 sale is coming in hot, folks. Things kick off extra early this year, with the first official shopping event of the season on Nov. 5. In other words, you might want to get your lists ready ASAP.

While most holiday shopping is done online these days, Target still offers that classic Black Friday in-store shopping experience for those who want to soak it all in. The deals will really start to heat up as we get closer to Black Friday proper, but you can start checking off your lists as soon as today.

With every retailer holding major Black Friday events, it's easy to get your wires crossed. To help you keep all the details straight and get ready to shop at Target on Black Friday 2026, here's everything you need to know, including store hours, what will be on sale, and how to get early access to the best deals.

When is Target's Black Friday sale?

Black Friday proper falls on Nov. 27 in 2026, but most retailers start dropping deals well before that. Target's first early Black Friday sale kicks off on Nov. 5 and runs through Nov. 7, followed by new limited-time deal drops every weekend throughout the holiday season. The official Cyber Week schedule has yet to be unveiled, but Target has announced that its Deal of the Day program will return on Nov. 1. Shoppers can score a new featured deal each day until Dec. 24, with a one-day preview of the offers.

Here's a breakdown of Target's Black Friday schedule so far:

• Nov. 1: Target Deal of the Day offers kick off

• Nov. 5-7: Target's first early Black Friday sale

• Every weekend after: New limited-time holiday deal offers

What time do Target stores open on Black Friday?

You can shop Target's Black Friday sale both online and in stores. Most Target stores will open their doors at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday, Nov. 27. There may be exceptions to those hours, so double-check the exact opening hours for your local store. Target stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Last year, Target made waking up early on Black Friday worth it, as the first 100 guests in line received limited-edition iridescent tote bags. Among those 100, 10 lucky shoppers got a surprise gift inside, ranging in value from $99 to $350. Those gifts included Target Circle 360 memberships, gift cards, a Ninja Slushie machine, and more. Target stores with Starbucks Cafés inside also offered samples of their Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate.

Target Circle 360 Black Friday early access

In 2025, Target gave its Target Circle 360 members early access to select deals during their Black Friday sales. It's highly likely that members will get early access this year as well.

Target Circle 360 is the retailer's paid membership program (separate from its free Circle membership). It costs $99 annually or $10.99 per month and offers perks like same-day delivery, free shipping, monthly freebies, early access to sales, and an extra 30 days for returns.

What will be on sale at Target for Black Friday?

Target has a wide assortment of Black Friday deals, ranging from toys to tech. We expect to see some steep discounts on toys and will definitely be keeping an eye on Lego sets and Pokémon 30th Anniversary products. In years past, we've also seen great deals on small appliances, TVs, headphones, floor care, and gift cards. Standout deals from 2025 included $69 AirPods, $600 off TCL's The Frame TV dupe, 20% off gift cards, and a $49 air fryer.

Best early Black Friday deals at Target

While Target's first early Black Friday sale doesn't kick off until Nov. 5, there are definitely already deals floating around. We've found a few worth shopping ahead of time. Here's a glimpse at some of our favorite early Black Friday deals at Target.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement 10345

$62.04 at Target
$72.99 Save $10.95

 

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Credit: Apple

Apple AirTag (2nd gen)

$23.99 at Target
$29.99 Save $6

 

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Credit: Fitbit

Fitbit Inspire 3

$69.95 at Target
$99.95 Save $30

 

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Credit: JBL

JBL Charge 6 Bluetooth speaker

$149.99 at Target
$199.99 Save $50

 

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Credit: HP

HP DeskJet 2955 wireless all-in-one printer

$49.99 at Target
$89.99 Save $40.00

 

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Credit: Canon

Canon IVY2

$99.99 at Target
$119.99 Save $20

 

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One of the best things about Reddit is going away, and you have Google to thank for it.

In its third-quarter earnings report released on Thursday, Reddit revealed plans to eventually force all users to log in to a Reddit account in order to fully view the site, per CNBC. That would be a dramatic change, as "the front page of the internet" has been available to browse without an account for a long, long time. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman explained to CNBC that this change was the result of shrinking search referral traffic from Google as a result of the tech giant's introduction of AI Overviews, which have led to devastating traffic drops for many websites.

“I think fundamentally that relationship between Google and the rest of the internet is evolving, and so for us, this means a continued focus on our core users that come to Reddit directly,” Huffman told CNBC.

And in a letter to shareholders, Reddit leaders wrote:

Our search referral traffic was down meaningfully in Q3, with the decline accelerating later in the quarter. The biggest impact was on logged-out and web traffic, but some of the impact flows through to logged-in and App traffic, since search referral is a common source of reengagement for users...These declines have continued into the early part of Q4. During October, we have seen that search traffic has dropped by more than 1 million referrals on average per week.

SEE ALSO: Reddit homepage introduces a TikTok-style "For You" feed

In other words, Reddit can no longer trust that Google will bring an influx of traffic from curious users who just need to figure out how to fix their sink or something. In accordance, Reddit wants to focus instead on people who actively choose to visit the site every day, aka direct traffic. Reddit did not say when this change will be made, though CNBC reported that testing will begin outside the United States in the fourth quarter of this year.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

The time has come to start looking for Black Friday deals, and as an e-reader enthusiast, I'm most eager to see what the shopping event has in store for Kindle prices. Since Amazon just dropped a whole new collection of redesigned Kindles, we're hoping that the 2026 models will be marked down.

And the good news is that you can actually save on the new Kindles. But yes, there is a catch.

If you want to save on a Kindle, the only way is with a bundle. Amazon even threw in the brand-new Kindle Click remote to some of the bundles. Plus, our favorite bundle includes the stellar Page Turn Cover.

So if you want a new Kindle stat, these are the best early Black Friday Kindle deals to shop.

Best early Black Friday Kindle deal

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Page Turn Cover, Sling Bag Bundle

$365.97 at Amazon
$429.97 Save $64

 

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Why we like it

Of all the new Kindles to be released, the best one is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition. The new aluminum casing is beautiful, but best of all is its compatibility with the new Page Turn Cover. Luckily, you can save on both when you bundle it all together. Get the 2026 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition that comes with the Page Turn Cover and Sling Bag all bundled together. All three are $429.97, but right now you can get them for 15% off. That brings it down to $365.97, saving you $64.

Luckily, there are plenty of bundles to shop on Amazon across all models and generations — both 2024 and 2026.

More early Black Friday Kindle deals

2026 Kindle Deals

• Amazon Kindle (16GB), Cover, and Kindle Click Bundle — $190.97 $224.97 (save $34)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Cover, and Power Adapter Bundle — $229.97 $269.97 (save $40)

• Amazon Kindle (32GB), Cover, and Kindle Click Bundle — $233.97 $274.97 (save $41)

2024 Kindle Deals

• Kindle (16GB, 2024 model), Cover, and Power Adapter Bundle — $186.97 $201.97 (save $15)

• Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2024 model), Cover, and Wireless Charging Dock Bundle — $372.97 $407.97 (save $35)

TL;DR: Wendy’s is launching an impressive turn-based RPG on Steam: Play WendyQuest: Legend of the Four Corner Stones for free from Nov. 4.

Over the years, we've covered a lot of wild marketing stunts. At this point, you'd think that we would be prepared for anything. But every now and then, something launches that truly shocks us.

Wendy’s is genuinely delivering a turn-based indie RPG on Steam. Yes, really.

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Titled WendyQuest: Legend of the Four Corner Stones, the PC title puts players in control of the braided red-headed mascot to "battle Mech Corp’s mechs, solve puzzles, and embark on an epic quest to unite four magical stones to save Savoria." Listed as "Coming Soon" with an active storefront page on Steam, the game's reception seems to have shifted from bewildered eye-rolls to genuine fascination.

The project is developed by independent Canadian studio 81monkeys, the creators behind World of Anterra, and is slated to launch on PC as a free-to-play title on Nov. 4.

Notably, the developers stamped the official Steam listing with a direct point of pride: the game is "100% fresh and 100% human made," with zero generative AI assets used in production.

When you think of Black Friday, there's a good chance your mind goes to waiting in long lines to grab doorbuster deals at your local Walmart store. While the shopping event has drastically transformed over the last decade, one thing still rings true in 2026: Walmart has one of the most anticipated Black Friday sales of the season.

Walmart is still where you go if you want to shop Black Friday deals in person and avoid shipping altogether. But the retailer also hosts a pretty epic online savings event each year. You'll find deals and discounts across practically every department in the lead-up to the holidays, with things coming to a head on Black Friday proper.

To help you get the details straight and gear up to shop at Walmart on Black Friday 2026, here's everything you need to know, including when stores open, what will be on sale, and how to get early access.

When exactly is Walmart's Black Friday sale?

Black Friday officially takes place on Friday, Nov. 27 in 2026. However, most retailers will kick off their Black Friday sales before that. Walmart has announced plans for three major holiday shopping events on its Black Friday 2026 calendar.

• Walmart Early Black Friday Sale: Nov. 12 to Nov. 15

• Walmart Black Friday Sale: Nov. 23 to Nov. 29 (online only Nov. 23 to Nov. 26)

• Walmart Cyber Monday Sale: Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 (online only)

Credit: Walmart

Walmart Black Friday early access

Last year, Walmart+ members got five hours of early access to both Walmart's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales before the events kicked off for the public. This year, during both Black Friday events, select online-only deals will be reserved exclusively for Walmart+ members for the first 24 hours of the sale while supplies last.

A Walmart+ membership costs $98 per year or $12.95 per month for its base plan. You can also bundle it with Sam's Club Plus for $120 per year. A membership comes with tons of free perks, including free delivery, free next-day shipping, free access to either Paramount+ or Peacock, pharmacy delivery, gas savings, and more. You can kick off a 30-day trial for just $1.

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Credit: Walmart

Walmart+ Membership

30-day trial for $1

Get Deal at Walmart

What time do Walmart stores open on Black Friday?

Since Walmart's Black Friday sale takes place both in-store and online, its stores will be open as well. Walmart stores open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday, Nov. 27. There may be exceptions to those hours, so it's best to check Walmart's store locator for the exact opening hours at your local store. Walmart stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day.

What will be on sale at Walmart for Black Friday?

In short: practically everything. Walmart is best known for its doorbuster deals on budget TVs, popular toys, gaming consoles, and small appliances. We expect those categories to be its strong suits once again, but there will be plenty of other categories worth shopping as well.

Last year, we saw pretty wild deals on the Oura Ring 4 and PS5 Disc Console, as well as $69 AirPods, an older generation MacBook Air for only $549, and a 75-inch Hisense QLED TV for only $378. Follow along with Mashable's Black Friday coverage for all the best deal drops from Walmart (and beyond).

We also saw Walmart+ memberships for 50% off during last Black Friday season, a deal we're hoping the retailer revives for 2026.

Best early Black Friday deals at Walmart

While Walmart isn't officially labeling anything as an early Black Friday deal yet, we've found a few noteworthy discounts well ahead of the sale. Here's a glimpse at a few of our favorite early deals so far.

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Credit: LG

LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV

$1,399.99 at Walmart
$2,699.99 Save $1,300.00

 

Get Deal at Walmart

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Credit: onn.

onn. 32-inch 720p HD TV

$68 at Walmart
$88 Save $20

 

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Credit: Dyson

Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum

$649.99 at Walmart
$849.99 Save $200

 

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Credit: Dreame

Dreame C30 Plus robot vacuum and mop combo

$239.98 at Walmart
$329.99 Save $90.01

 

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G55C Curved Gaming Monitor

$179
$249 Save $70

 

Get Deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods 4

$99 at Walmart
$129.99 Save $30.99

 

Get Deal at Walmart

The new Apple hardware lineup on Amazon:

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Apple iPad mini (OLED, A20 Pro)

Starts at $699

Pre-Order Here

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Apple 24-inch iMac (M6)

Starts at $1,499

Pre-Order Here

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Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M6)

Starts at $1,999

Pre-Order Here

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Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max with PROLED Touchscreen Display)

Starts at $2,899

Pre-Order Here

---

Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max with PROLED Touchscreen Display)

Starts at $3,399

Pre-Order Here

It’s been a chaotic, hardware-heavy week in Cupertino. Following a surprise wave of drops, Apple capped off its private "Pro and Tell" event in Los Angeles by finally giving fans the holy grail: a touchscreen MacBook Pro equipped with a tandem OLED "PROLED" display.

If you followed our breakdown of everything Apple announced, you already know this wasn't just a one-laptop show. We also got a massively upgraded OLED iPad mini packed with an A20 Pro chip, along with M6 processor leaps for both the 24-inch iMac and the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro.

Preorders went live on Apple's site right after the event, and now the new batch has surfaced on Amazon. You can lock in your order with Prime delivery perks ahead of the official Nov. 6 ship date.

From a fingerprint-friendly MacBook Pro to a waterproof OLED iPad mini, here is every new Apple device you can add to your cart right now.

Apple iPad mini

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Credit: Apple

Apple iPad mini (OLED, A20 Pro)

Starts at $699

Preorder at Amazon

The iPad mini has always been the tablet you actually toss in a backpack, but this refresh turns it into a pocket powerhouse. The main upgrade is the screen. Apple squeezed in a larger 8.5-inch OLED display by trimming the borders by 24%, so you get more screen space in the same compact build. It hits 1,200 nits of peak brightness with deep black levels that make movies, games, and comics look incredible.

If you work outside, the 256GB and 512GB models even offer a matte nano-texture glass option to kill glare.

It runs on the new A20 Pro processor, so heavy apps and on-device Siri AI features fly without stuttering. You also get an IP67 rating for real water and dust resistance, so a spilled drink or a rain shower won't ruin your day. Apple also finally shifted the 12MP front camera to the landscape edge, so you will no longer look off-center on video calls.

Apple 24-inch iMac (M6)

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Credit: Apple

Apple 24-inch iMac (M6)

Starts at $1,499

Preorder at Amazon

The iMac is basically the antidote to ugly desk clutter. One power cord, three minutes of setup, and you have a sharp 24-inch 4.5K screen that looks great in any room, especially in colors like Green or Pink. The big change is inside: Apple skipped an entire generation and jumped straight to the M6 chip.

So apps open instantly, photo editing is buttery smooth, and graphics run twice as fast as the old M4. You also get WiFi 7, way faster storage speeds, and the ability to hook up two 6K external monitors if you need a multi-screen setup.

The base model starts at $1,499, but pay the $1,699 for the 12-core version if you can swing it. The extra $200 gets you four ports instead of two, a 2.5Gb Ethernet jack for fast wired internet, and a Touch ID keyboard so you never have to type your password again. Plus, if you work by a sunny window, this is the only tier that lets you add the matte nano-texture glass.

Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M6)

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Credit: Apple

Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M6)

Starts at $1,999

Preorder at Amazon

Not everyone wants a touchscreen laptop or wants to spend nearly three grand to get one. If you want a traditional, bulletproof pro machine, the entry 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M6 chip is where the money goes. Apple packed in a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, giving it a huge boost for photo editing, code compiling, and local Siri AI workflows.

More importantly, Apple finally bumped the base storage to a generous 1TB, so you don't have to carry an external drive just to hold your basic files. Battery life also reaches an absurd 24 hours — the longest ever in a Mac — and it doesn't throttle power when unplugged. You get a super-bright 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR screen, three Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port, an SD card slot, and WiFi 7.

Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (PROLED XDR Display)

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Credit: Apple

Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro/Max with PROLED Touchscreen Display)

Starts at $2,899

Preorder at Amazon

After over a decade of Apple insisting touchscreens belong exclusively on iPads, it finally caved. The new 14-inch MacBook Pro brings touch directly to macOS, letting you tap, pinch, zoom, and scrub timelines right on the glass.

The screen itself is the real showstopper. Apple used tandem OLED tech (dubbed PROLED) that cranks out 2,000 nits of peak brightness for both HDR and SDR content, backed by a wild 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Color coverage hits both P3 and Adobe RGB, making it a dream for photo and video work. Apple also ported the iPhone’s Dynamic Island over to house Spotlight search, timers, and Live Activities at the top of your screen.

It runs on Apple's heavy-duty M5 Pro or M5 Max chips, paired with 24GB of memory and a 1TB SSD out of the gate. Even with the touch layer, it dropped by half a pound to an even 3 pounds, while maintaining up to 22 hours of battery life and three Thunderbolt 5 ports.

Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (PROLED XDR Display)

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Credit: Apple

Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (PROLED XDR Display)

Starts at $3,399

Preorder at Amazon

If the 14-inch model is built for portability, the 16.3-inch version is basically a studio-grade monitor you can fold shut. You get the same double-stacked OLED panel and responsive touch glass, but with a massive canvas for editing timelines, grading color, and zooming into high-res photos.

It also runs on Apple's heavy-duty M5 Pro or M5 Max silicon, giving power users more than enough muscle to handle brutal creative workloads and heavy multitasking without breaking a sweat. Apple also shaved 0.7 pounds off the chassis — dropping it down to an even 4 pounds — and gave it upgraded speakers with noticeably punchier bass. You get up to 24 hours of battery life alongside three fast Thunderbolt 5 ports.

If your current tech is feeling a little dusty, head over to Amazon to grab the new releases right now.

Binance may have been hacked. The popular crypto exchange announced a "potential security issue" on Thursday, freezing withdrawals after an apparent hacker drained hot wallets of several billion dollars in cryptocurrency. As of 10:25 p.m ET / 7:25 p.m. PT, Binance states that the breach has impacted approximately $6.3 billion in funds.

The official Binance X account first acknowledged the issue at 5:15 p.m. ET / 2:15 p.m. PT. This came within minutes of reports that digital finance companies Tether and Circle Group had frozen significant amounts of their respective stablecoins in response to a potential hack — specifically about $971 million in Tether and $823 million in USD Coin.

Binance subsequently stated that a total of $2.54 billion had been frozen, warning that this number would potentially grow as assets were traced. By 8:52 p.m. ET / 5:52 p.m. PT, Binance approximately $3 billion had been verified as frozen.

"Our teams are aware of reports of a potential security issue and are actively investigating," Binance wrote. "Our security teams are reviewing all relevant information with urgency, and we will provide updates through official Binance channels as soon as we have verified information."

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Few details about the hack were initially available. However, the ostensible hacker's wallet held $1.77 billion in Tether, $1.44 billion in Bitcoin, and $1.01 billion in Ethereum, as well as over a billion more spread across other currencies such as USD Coin, Tron, and Solana. 

These assets were reportedly drained from hot wallets: cryptocurrency wallets that are connected to the internet. Compared to offline cold wallets, they are significantly more practical for conducting transactions on exchanges such as Binance. However, they are also less secure.

Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao has stated that it "does look like a hack," but maintained a positive outlook on the situation.

"I don't manage Binance (.com) anymore, but as a shareholder, I expect all user funds will be fully covered," Zhao wrote on X.

In an update at 6:33 p.m. ET / 3:33 p.m. PT., Binance stated that its team was conducting security checks, and attempted to reassure anxious users.

"Withdrawals will resume as soon as the security issue is fully resolved," it wrote. "User funds remain safe."

Binance later announced at 7:06 p.m. ET / 4:06 p.m. PT that it had suspended Binance Alpha trading, which would "resume once the security issue is resolved." Binance Alpha is a platform dedicated to highlighting early-stage crypto projects, which are not yet listed on the Binance exchange.

This freeze was extended to all transactions on Binance a little over an hour later, the exchange stating that it would "cover all losses."

"As a precaution, all deposits and withdrawals are temporarily suspended while our team conducts security checks, freezes funds, and works with law enforcement," Binance posted at 8:13 p.m. ET / 5:13 p.m. PT. "This is an industry-wide effort, and we are grateful to partners across the ecosystem who have moved quickly to help freeze affected assets."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Over five hours after Binance first acknowledged the incident, the exchange stated it may have found the source of the breach: a compromised laptop.

"Binance's initial investigation suggests that the security incident may involve a compromised DevOps engineer’s laptop, which allowed an attacker to gain access to a service container and submit unauthorized withdrawal transactions," Binance posted at 10:25 p.m ET / 7:25 p.m. PT. "We have found no evidence of any wallet private key leak."

It further stated that it had revoked the authorisation of the potential hacker's crypto address, and elaborated on its commitment to cover any losses.

"Binance will cover all losses from the SAFU fund and the company’s funds. User funds are safe," Binance wrote in a blog post. "We will also publish an updated Proof of Reserves once the remediation is complete."

The SAFU (aka Secure Asset Fund for Users) is Binance's emergency reserve fund specifically for compensating impacted individuals in the event of severe breaches such as this. Held entirely in Bitcoin, SAFU's assets were valued at $1 billion earlier this month — a sixth of the amount impacted by Thursday's hack. Binance previously stated that it would replenish SAFU if it dropped below $800 million, "helping maintain the fund at a level intended to cover potential extreme-case scenarios."

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Binance's operations continued to be disrupted through the night. On Friday, 12:36 a.m ET / Thursday, 9:36 p.m. PT, the exchange announced that users could now make deposits, but withdrawals remained paused while it conducted a "security revamp" of the service. Withdrawals are expected to resume within 48 hours of this update.

"The incident stems from multiple factors," wrote Binance, offering further information on the breach's origin. "Our security team is tracing the full attack path through the compromised computer which may be the entry point of the incident. A comprehensive report with the root cause will follow."

UPDATE: Oct. 30, 2026, 2:48 p.m. AEDT This article had been updated to add further developments.

UPDATE: Oct. 30, 2026, 4:08 p.m. AEDT This article had been updated to add further developments.

The first question that comes to mind after hearing that Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, was hacked to the tune of $6.2 billion is: How the heck can this even happen?

The hack, which lasted several hours, saw the attacker drain Binance's wallets, with hundreds of millions of dollars in BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT, and other cryptocurrencies.

UPDATE: Oct. 30, 2026, 2:01 p.m. CET Crypto analysis firm TRM claims with "high confidence" that the hack has been done by North Korea's "elite hacking unit" called TraderTraitor. The same group was named responsible by the FBI for the $1.5 billion attack on crypto exchange Bybit back in 2025.

The total tally, according to Binance co-CEO Richard Tang, was $6.3 billion. Crypto sleuth Wazz put it at $6.17 billion by following crypto wallets, and Binance founder Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao didn't share the actual number, but he did confirm the ballpark.

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The first news from Binance about the nature of the hack revealed that the company's wallet private keys had not been leaked. Instead, it was a compromised DevOps engineer's laptop that the hacker used to "gain access to a service container and submit unauthorized withdrawal transactions."

If you're a Binance user, this doesn't sound comforting. If a single compromised laptop can result in billions being stolen, Binance had better rethink its security practices.

Now, however, Tang shared some additional details about the incident. While reiterating that customer funds are "safe," he said that the hack was a bit more involved than what the statement above implies.

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"Our initial investigation suggests this security incident may have started with a compromised DevOps engineer's laptop. That gave an attacker access to a service container, where they submitted unauthorized withdrawal transactions," wrote Tang.

"To be clear: the attacker did not simply use one engineer's permissions, and this was not a single 'one-click' action. It involved a more complex attack process. Our investigation has not attributed responsibility to any individual. So far, we have found no evidence of any wallet private key leak," he wrote, adding that the company will share a "detailed technical post-mortem once the investigation is complete and every fact is verified - and publish an updated Proof of Reserves once remediation is complete."

Furthermore, according to the BBC, Binance has uncovered "additional points of breach," so it may not be just the one laptop that was compromised.

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Fortunately for Binance and its users, a substantial portion of the stolen funds has been frozen by the issuers. In response to Elon Musk's snarky comments about the incident, CZ said that roughly $3 billion in funds has been frozen. The company also has a SAFU fund worth more than $1 billion, and CZ pointed out that the company holds more than $1 billion in SpaceX shares, in an obvious jab at Musk.

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SAVE $90: As of Oct. 30, the Nintendo Switch 2 Choose Your Game bundle is on sale for $459 at Woot. Use the code SAVETOBER at checkout to save.

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Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 Choose Your Game Bundle

$459 at Woot
$549 Save $90

 

Get Deal at Woot

If you've been considering upgrading your gaming setup, there's a new Nintendo deal at Woot that'll save you $90.

The retailer is currently offering the Nintendo Switch 2 Choose Your Game bundle not only at a sale price but also with an extra discount available at checkout. The bundle currently has a list price of $549, already reduced to $519, but entering the code SAVETOBER at checkout brings the total down to just $459. That's a $90 saving on the original price, including a console and your choice of one of three digital games.

The bundle includes the Nintendo Switch 2 console, alongside a digital download of either Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia. Rather than buying your console and first game separately, you can get both together for less.

The Switch 2 has many upgrades over the previous model, including a larger 7.9-inch LCD touchscreen with HDR support and up to 120 fps. The updated dock also supports up to 4K resolution when paired with a compatible TV and game. Plus, it has a whopping 256GB of internal storage, with the option to expand it using a microSD Express card, so there is plenty of space for games and downloads.

Head to Woot to grab this deal before it's too late.

SAVE $300.09: As of Oct. 30, the Samsung SSD 990 PRO 4TB is on sale for $799.90 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung SSD 990 PRO 4TB

$799.90 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $300.09

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Upgrading your PC's storage can make a noticeable difference to how it runs. No more sluggish performance or waiting forever for games, files, or downloads to load. Not to mention, it'll give you plenty of extra room for downloading more.

As of Oct. 30, one great internal storage option is on sale at Amazon: the Samsung SSD 990 PRO 4TB. Normally $1,099.99, it's currently on sale for $799.90. Of course, like pretty much every SSD, the base price for this product has soared in recent months, so this deal is a great way to beat the price hikes and upgrade your storage for a little less.

The 990 PRO is also available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, both of which are reduced at Amazon. The 1TB version is down from $319.99 to $259.99, and the 2TB model has fallen from $639.99 to $406.39.

The 4TB model is designed for seriously fast performance, delivering read speeds up to 7,450 MB/s and write speeds up to 6,900 MB/s. According to Samsung, random performance is improved by over 55% compared to the previous 980 PRO, alongside up to 50% greater performance per watt.

Head to Amazon to grab this deal now.

The best early Black Friday gaming monitor deals:

---

best budget gaming monitor deal

Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 QHD Monitor (G50F)

$169.99 (save $110)

Get Deal

---

best LG gaming monitor deal

LG 27-inch Ultragear OLED monitor (27GS93QE)

$499.99 (save $400)

Get Deal

---

best ASUS gaming monitor deal

ASUS 27-inch ROG Strix 4K Monitor (XG27UCG)

$329 (save $120)

Get Deal

---

best Acer gaming monitor deal

Acer 27-inch Nitro QD-OLED Monitor (VG277U)

$269 (save $80.99)

Get Deal

---

best Samsung gaming monitor deal

Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G6 OLED Monitor (G61SH)

$399.99 (save $200)

Get Deal

Gaming is an expensive hobby (especially in the age of RAMageddon), so any time you can save some money on hardware is a good day. If you're looking to boost your refresh rate or enhance your visual experience, Black Friday is the perfect opportunity to snag gaming monitors at steep discounts.

While we don't expect the absolute best discounts to arrive until closer to Black Friday, there are several live deals worth shouting out early. If you'd rather get some holiday shopping out of the way early or you want to upgrade your gaming setup before the official release of GTA 6, we've gathered the best gaming monitor deals worth adding to your cart.

If you don't quite see what you're looking for yet, stay tuned as we dive deeper into the Black Friday season. We'll be updating this list as things heat up.

Best early Black Friday gaming monitor deal

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Credit: LG

LG 27-inch Ultragear OLED monitor (27GS93QE)

$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

For those looking to switch to an OLED setup, the LG Ultragear 27GS93QE monitor is back at its record-low price at Amazon ahead of Black Friday. With a 27-inch QHD Wide 1440p OLED display that boasts an elevated color spectrum and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400, you'll enjoy stunning on-screen visuals with rich colors and deep contrast. The 240Hz refresh rate, instantaneous 0.03ms response time, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology, and NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility equate to smoother scenes with less lag or ghosting and all-around seamless gameplay.

More early Black Friday gaming monitor deals

Classic gaming monitors

• Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G5 QHD Monitor (G50F) — $169.99 $279.99 (save $110)

• Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 QHD Monitor (G50F) — $209.99 $349.99 (save $140)

• ASUS 27-inch ROG Strix 4K Monitor (XG27UCG) — $329 $449 (save $120)

• LG 27-inch Ultragear evo GM9 5K Hyper Mini LED Monitor (27GM950B) — $888 $1,199.99 (save $311.99)

OLED gaming monitors

• Acer 27-inch Nitro QD-OLED Monitor (VG277U) — $269 $349.99 (save $80.99)

• Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G6 OLED Monitor (G61SH) — $399.99 $599.99 (save $200)

• Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G6 QD-OLED Monitor (G60SF) — $699.99 $999.99 (save $300)

• Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 OLED Curved Monitor (G91SD) — $849.99 $1,299.99 (save $450)

Ultra-wide and curved gaming monitor deals

• Samsung 34-inch Odyssey G5 Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor (G55T) — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)

• Alienware 34-inch QD-OLED Curved Gaming Monitor (AW3425DW) — $699.99 $799.99 (save $100)

Early Black Friday iPad deals:

---

Best budget iPad deal

Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB)

$399 (save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best iPad mini deal

Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB)

$545 (save $54)

Get Deal

---

Best iPad Air deal

Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB)

$699 (save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best iPad Pro deal

Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB)

$1,424.99 (save $74.01)

Get Deal

Black Friday sales are dropping early this year, and shopping now comes with benefits. You're less likely to run into shipping delays, and the selection might be better if you're on board with shopping weeks before turkey dinner.

Since everything feels more expensive these days, shopping sales can help ease the pain. Apple products (including the iPad lineup) saw price increases this summer, in part thanks to RAMageddon, but some deals bring iPads back into a range we're used to seeing.

Comparing these early Black Friday deals to what we saw during October Prime Day helps us decide what's actually worth buying. We have the green light on the standard iPad with the A16 chip, which is sitting at the same sale price we saw during Prime Day. But if you're shopping for the iPad Air or iPad Pro, you might want to hold off.

We saw a $100 discount on the Air and a $200 price cut on the iPad Pro during Prime Day, and neither of those is showing up right now. It's possible waiting a few more weeks will see larger discounts, but nothing is promised with tech in 2026.

We'll keep this page updated if we see better price drops in iPads.

Best budget iPad deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB)

$399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Mashable's favorite iPad for budget shoppers is the iPad with an A16 chip, which is on sale for $399, matching the same discount we saw during October Prime Day. Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "It's great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading." Given its lower price point, it's also a nice option for kids.

Best iPad mini deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB)

$545 at Amazon
$599 Save $54

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Apple just announced the 8th Gen iPad mini with big upgrades, but if you're interested in an older (and less expensive) model, the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip is already on sale. The 7th Gen iPad mini is a great option if you're looking for a versatile tablet that's great for streaming shows and catching up on emails. It's also the best iPad if you're looking for a model that'll double as an e-reader, thanks to its compact size.

It's worth mentioning we saw this model drop to $499 during October Prime Day. But with tech price hikes, it's possible this is the lowest we'll see during the 2026 holidays.

TL;DR: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Oct. 26-30. Get Spooked, hosted by Indie Author Collective, offers thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, and horror books for Kindle and Kobo users.

Stuff Your Kindle Day provides an awesome opportunity for bookworms to add to their TBR list without any guilt.

We're blessed with a pretty busy Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule in 2026, including romance, thriller, and young adult giveaways. Now that it's officially spooky season, Get Spooked has launched with 100s of free thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, and horror books.

Get Spooked, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is aimed at Kindle and Kobo users. Everything you download is yours to keep forever, so you can go wild.

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Get Spooked takes place from Oct. 26-30. This five-day giveaway doesn't carry the same stress as a 24-hour event. You can consider your options and take your time. You could dip into the selection today and come back later in the week.

Which books are free?

Get Spooked is offering a huge selection of thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, and horror books. The helpful hub page has filters for price, retailers, e-reader, representations, and genres. Play around with the filters and find exactly what you want to read. Chances are you'll find something for free.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep forever, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time, so what's holding you back?

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal

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Credit: Amazon

Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months)

$149.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go, with weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase for a limited time.

SAVE $400: As of Oct. 30, the Eufy E25 robot vacuum is on sale for $599.98 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

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Credit: eufy

Eufy E25 Robot Vacuum

$599.98 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $400.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Imagine putting your feet up while someone else takes care of the vacuuming and mopping. That's the appeal of a robot vacuum that handles both jobs and even takes care of much of its own maintenance. And that's exactly what you get with the Eufy E25 robot vacuum. This impressive vacuum does it all, and as of Oct. 30, it's on sale at Amazon for 40% off the list price.

It has 20,000 Pa of suction, so the E25 is really designed to tackle everything from everyday dust and dirt to pet hair. Its DuoSpiral brushes help prevent hair from getting tangled, and the CornerRover arm extends its reach along edges and into awkward corners where dust tends to build up. It can also clean across different floor types, so it's a great choice if you have carpets, hard floors, or rugs.

Mopping is handled by Eufy's HydroJet system, which uses self-washing roller mops that clean themselves every two seconds while in use. Then the all-in-one docking station takes care of the rest, automatically emptying dust, washing the mops, refilling the water tank, and drying the rollers with hot air. There's basically nothing for you to do.

If you're sold on the idea, this robot vacuum is currently down from $999.99 to $599.98. Not only is that a $400 savings, but it's the best-ever price for this vacuum. Get this deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $70: As of Oct. 30, Beats Solo 4 are on sale for $129.95 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Beats

Beats Solo 4

$99.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $100.00

 

Get Deal at Amazon

There's no need to hold off until Black Friday to save on a pair of Beats headphones. The Beats Solo 4 are currently reduced to $129.95 at Amazon, saving you $70 on the list price. The deal covers all colorways, so you can choose from black and gold, cloud pink, slate blue, and more.

These headphones have updated drivers and custom acoustic architecture, which are designed to produce fuller, more detailed sound. They also support Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for a more immersive experience.

They're designed to be comfortable. The headphones have a lightweight design, a flex-grip headband, and adjustable, angled ear cups to help give you a secure fit. The UltraPlush ear cushions also give additional padding for longer listening sessions.

Battery life is another strong point. You can get up to 50 hours of playback on a single charge, and the Fast Fuel feature gives you up to five hours of listening time from just 10 minutes of charging.

Normally $199.95, you can buy these Beats headphones for $129.95 for a limited time at Amazon.

Best early Black Friday tablet deals at a glance

---

Best Apple iPad deal

Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB)

$399 (save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best Amazon fire tablet deal

Amazon Fire HD 8

$79.99 (save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best Samsung tablet deal

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11

$899.99 (save $100)

Get Deal

---

Best TCL deal

TCL TAB A1 Plus

$299 (save $50 with on-page coupon)

Get Deal

We all have a phone that we rely on to survive. Most of us also have a laptop, whether we use it for work, school, or booking flights. But a tablet is the perfect middle ground between the two. It's larger than a phone but usually more portable than a laptop. Plus, many can double as a great e-reader.

Well ahead of the official Black Friday date, we're already seeing tablets on sale. They range from budget Amazon models to top-tier Apple iPads.

If you're shopping for a new tablet before the holidays, check out our favorite deals below.

Best Apple iPad deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Apple

Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB)

$399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Mashable's favorite budget iPad is already on sale well before Black Friday. And in even better news, it's down to the same sale price of $399 that we saw during October Prime Day. The 11-inch Apple iPad is powered by the A16 chip and has 12MP cameras on the back and front, which is great news if you'll be using the tablet for FaceTime over the holidays.

Best Amazon tablet deal

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 8

$79.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.00

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Mashable's rating of the best tablets lists the Amazon Fire HD 8 as the top pick for an Amazon Fire tablet. Between the compact display size of eight inches, clear resolution, and incredible sale price, it's hard to go wrong with the Amazon tablet. The $79.99 sale price applies to the model with 64GB storage, which gives you space to download movies, shows, and music for upcoming holiday travel.

Best Samsung tablet deal

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11

$999.99 at Amazon

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

It's not the newest model, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is still well worth considering. The generous 11-inch display size could be awesome for watching movies in bed, and the AMOLED display offers impressive crispness. If you'll be out in the sun with the tablet, rest assured it can reach up to 1,600 nits of brightness. Plus, there's a microSD slot for increasing onboard storage. Samsung also includes the S Pen with the tablet.

Having good taste is expensive. Alas, it has always been thus.

But $200 for a clock is pushing it, even for a snob like me.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Amazon Echo Time smart alarm

$199.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

That's unfortunate, because I love the design of Amazon's new Echo Time smart alarm.

The new Echo Time is really sleek looking. Credit: Amazon

Earlier this week, Amazon launched a bunch of new Echo smart home devices, and Mashable was there for the unveiling. The new Echo devices have less of a Death Star vibe, and the Echo Time stands out to me for its friendly design. It's exactly the kind of product I can imagine installing on my nightstand.

I really do love the design of this smart alarm. It doesn't have quite the same appeal as the new Apple HomeView for me (I'm not a huge fan of the knitted fabric cover on Amazon smart devices), but the round shape and pleasant, customizable clock faces work extremely well together. I even like the optional stand.

You have the option to add a matching stand to your Echo Time. Credit: Amazon

The Echo Time is available in graphite, coral pink, and glacier white. Credit: Amazon

Why does everything have to be so expensive right now? Whether you're booking a hotel, ordering food, buying a phone, or looking for an alarm clock to break your morning phone habits, prices are painful. Amazon's last smart alarm, the Echo Spot, was priced at a much more reasonable $79.99. That is, until Amazon raised prices on the Echo Spot to $109.99 in August. Now, the company is asking us to pay even more.

The Echo Time isn't even the only pricey alarm clock I'm lusting after in 2026. Stylish, Instagram-famous analog alarms like the Nanu Arc Alarm Clock cost even more, at $299.

The $299 Nanu Arc is even worse for my wallet. Credit: Nanu

This is why I play the lottery.

The Echo Time: What you get for the money

The Echo Time does work really hard to justify the price tag. And, for the record, I really wouldn't be mad about getting this as a Christmas gift this year. I just don't know that I can justify the money myself.

Billed as "your Alexa smart clock," the Echo Time has hundreds of clock faces for its 3.2-inch circular touchscreen, and with the AI-powered Alexa+, you can even use it to control smart lights, set the perfect sleep temperature, or open your blinds. The Echo Time also doubles as a noise machine, playing soothing sounds as you fall asleep at night or meditate in the morning. Amazon says its built-in speaker offers lossless high-definition audio for listening to music.

The Echo Time also comes in a kid-friendly version. More importantly, your privacy is also considered with the Echo Time, which is "built with multiple layers of privacy controls, including a microphones enable/disable button."

Customize your clock screen on the Echo Time. Credit: Amazon

I've long since learned that having good taste is expensive, but in 2026, having any kind of taste is expensive. This, despite the fact that President Donald Trump promised to bring down prices at the pump, grocery stores, and beyond, telling crowds, "Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again." Obviously, that's not what happened. Tech companies, in particular, keep raising prices as they pass along the higher costs of the memory squeeze spurred by the AI industry.

So, you'll have to decide if your budget can bear a $199.99 smart alarm.

My verdict: Wait for Black Friday and see how much the Echo Time is going to cost when it inevitably goes on sale.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro is only $9.97 (reg. $199) through Nov. 1 for a lifetime, non-transferable license on one compatible PC.

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro

$9.97
$199 Save $189.03

 

Get Deal

Your PC already has a job. Give it the tools to do more with Microsoft Windows 11 Pro, now $9.97 (reg. $199) through Nov. 1. That’s a one-time purchase for a lifetime license on one compatible PC, with no subscription or recurring fees.

The reason to go Pro comes down to what you actually need from your computer. Beyond the core Windows experience, this version adds tools for business, development, and IT work.

BitLocker provides full-disk encryption to help protect your data. Hyper-V lets you run virtual machines, while Windows Sandbox gives you an isolated environment for testing apps without affecting your main operating system. Azure AD support handles business identity and access management. For professionals who need those capabilities, that’s a practical reason to choose Pro.

The everyday features get their moment, too. Snap layouts help organize your multitasking, so your screen can keep up when your workload gets busy. Biometric login supports facial recognition or fingerprint sign-in, backed by TPM 2.0 hardware security. And when the workday ends, DirectX 12 Ultimate supports gaming graphics.

Before buying, though, give compatibility a proper check using Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. This version is intended for PCs that need a new Windows license and meet Windows 11’s minimum requirements. A Windows 10 PC that cannot receive the free Windows 11 upgrade through Windows Update will not be able to install this version.

The license is non-transferable, and delivery is digital. For a compatible PC that needs a license — and a user who’ll put those Pro features to work — Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 makes this a well-timed purchase through Nov. 1.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Knives Out creator Rian Johnson has launched a photography app, allowing others to copy his preferred look. Available on iOS, Chromagraph Camera was created in partnership with cinematographer Steven Yedlin and programmer Eric Cameron, and applies the same image processing Yedlin used in Johnson's films.

"I honestly just asked Steve (and our genius color science coder friend Eric Cameron) to make it because I take a ton of pics with my phone and wanted to have it for myself, and they figured hey, let's put it out there," Johnson posted to X.

"I've messed with plenty of good 3rd party tools but this is an elegant one-stop-shop, it just takes beautiful shots with Steve's special sauce processing. You can fine tune the image in the app (with color, exposure, grain and halation tools) and export it to your camera roll."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Johnson states that Chromagraph Camera shoots in RAW, meaning it captures unprocessed image data to enable more flexibility when editing. While most filters are typically applied after your device has already processed the image, Chromagraph Camera works directly from the RAW image instead.

As such, rather than applying a filter over the image preview, Chromagraph Camera only shows you its processed picture after you've already snapped it. You can tweak aspects such as colour, tone, and texture, though adjustments are fairly limited, "keeping every image true to the look that's the core of the app."

Chromagraph Camera has a few other restrictions as well. You can't access the completely unprocessed RAW images to edit yourself. It can only do still photography, not videos, though Johnson left the door open to potentially adding this feature on Pro model iPhones.

The app also isn't available on Android. Johnson stated that while Apple's consistent hardware meant they could ensure the app performed as intended across different iPhone models, bringing it to the multiverse of Android devices is a more difficult proposition.

"Android devices are much more varied, and there's no way with our small team we could dial it in for every device," Johnson wrote.

Some iPhone users have already taken the app out for a spin, and many appear impressed by its more filmic look. Compared to photos shot with the iPhone's base camera app, Chromagraph Camera's processing creates images that are noticeably darker, with a warmer hue and less digital sharpening.

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Photography enthusiasts will likely miss the greater customisation and fine-tuning available on dedicated cameras, which offer much more manual control. Dedicated photographers wanting to put their own stamp on an image may be better off shooting in RAW and doing their own edit afterward.

However, if you just want to apply the same colour grading on Johnson's films to your point-and-shoot iPhone pics, the Chromagraph Camera app does that easily.

Chromagraph Camera is available in the App Store for $12.99.

SAVE $30: As of Oct. 29, Mashable's favorite budget headphones, the JLab JBuds Lux ANC (Jélle edition in Royal Caviar), are on sale for $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off their $99.99 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: JLab

JLab JBuds Lux ANC

$69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30

 

Get Deal at Amazon

If you refuse to spend $350 on headphones just to tune out your coworkers, here’s some good news: Amazon just knocked 30% off the JLab JBuds Lux ANC (Jélle collection in Royal Caviar). That brings them down from $99.99 to $69.99, saving you an easy $30 on a pair our team genuinely loves.

We test piles of headphones at Mashable, and these earned the "best value" spot in our guide to the best pairs under $100. Plus, in our massive roundup of the best headphones of 2026, the JBuds Lux ANC snagged the crown for the best budget headphones.

Our guide lays it out plainly: if you’re a pure "value fiend" who doesn't care to drop hundreds on expensive cans, these more than get the job done. Once you tweak the equalizer in the app (the out-of-the-box settings lean a little heavy on the bass), tracks sound surprisingly clean and separated instead of turning into muffled mush.

The active noise cancellation won't create a spooky, absolute void of silence like a $400 pair of Sonys, but it easily dampens office chatter, air conditioners, and subway hum. Even better, you can actually adjust the ANC intensity in the app — a feature some luxury brands don't even give you.

And the battery life is almost comical: you get 70 hours of juice, or 40-plus with ANC running. You can pack them for a cross-country flight, use them all week at your desk, and still forget where you left the charging cable because you rarely need it.

$69.99 is the cheapest way to buy yourself peace, quiet, and 70 hours of battery life — grab a pair of the JLab JBuds Lux ANC before this deal sells out.

Alphabet stock recorded its worst-ever day on Thursday, dropping 12.29 percent by close of day; Alphabet is the owner of Google, among other companies. The drop came despite the very strong revenue growth Google reported in a Q3 earnings call.

It was the largest single-day drop for Google stock, according to Yahoo Finance, and the decline erased almost $500 billion in value in a matter of hours. Per Yahoo, it was also the second-largest one-day loss ever recorded for a company listed in the United States. The sums involved are truly astronomical.

To put $500 billion in perspective: If you stacked $5 billion worth of $100 bills on top of each other, the resulting tower would rise above the atmosphere and about 90 miles beyond the International Space Station. Or, put it like this: If you spent $1 million every day, it would take you 1,369 years to spend $500 billion.

As one of the world's largest companies by market value, the impact extended far beyond Google, affecting other tech stocks; moreover, the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all experienced losses overall on Thursday, per Yahoo.

Why are the markets so spooked?

Google's third-quarter earnings filing revealed that the company faces significantly more risk than it discussed in its Q3 earnings call, according to Bloomberg. In addition to the more than $1 trillion in future purchase commitments Google faces, Bloomberg reported that Google's quarterly filing listed an additional $98.5 billion in possible commitments. The discrepancy showed just how much exposure Google has if the AI spending spree — which you can imagine as a giant, slowly expanding bubble — fails to deliver.

That's not the only red flag scaring investors, either.

Google also reported negative cash flow for the third quarter. The company reported negative cash flow for the first time last quarter.

Not everyone is pessimistic about Google's stock or the AI spending spree, however. Google did report 25 percent revenue growth, thanks in large part to its cloud services. Google's latest frontier AI model, Gemini 4 Carbon, is also at the top of the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index. And the massive capital expenditures on AI could prove profitable in the long term; the tech industry is clearly betting this is the case.

But as today's sell-off shows, if AI investments don't pay off, that bet would have wide-ranging impacts on the economy at large.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Utah officials have brought felony criminal charges against prediction market Kalshi and its two co-founders for allegedly illegally offering gambling to the state's residents.

Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara each face one count of pattern of unlawful activity, a second-degree felony; 12 counts of online gambling promotion, a third-degree felony; and one count of general gambling promotion, a Class A misdemeanor. All gambling is illegal in Utah.

Utah also recently filed a civil lawsuit against Kalshi, seeking to prevent it from offering Utah residents betting opportunities on sports, elections, and other events.

A special agent with the Utah State Bureau of Investigations signed up for an account on Kalshi as a fictional Utah resident and says he was allowed to place bets on several football games.

"Gambling is illegal in Utah, whether you place the bet, run the game, or promote it. Calling it a 'prediction market' doesn’t change what it is, and being federally registered doesn’t put a company above the law,” Utah Attorney General Derek Brown said in a statement. "A federal court has already ruled that Utah’s gambling laws apply to Kalshi. Kalshi kept taking bets from Utahns anyway."

Kalshi officials responded to the criminal charges by calling them "a crazy overreach" and accused state officials of "playing politics."

Kalshi is facing lawsuits from other states, such as New York, but those involve Kalshi allegedly failing to comply with online gambling rules or failing to fulfill tax obligations, Isaac Rose-Berman, a gambling policy fellow at the American Institute for Boys and Men, told Salt Lake City’s ABC affiliate. Utah, on the other hand, bans all gambling and marketing of the practice outright.

Meanwhile, the federal government has joined the fray. The Trump administration is suing Utah for trying to ban Kalshi in the state; it’s the 10th state the administration has sued for regulating prediction markets. In its suit, the federal government argues that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has authority to regulate prediction markets like Kalshi, rather than individual states.

Kalshi bills itself as a prediction market, not a gambling site, and allows people to wager money on everything from "Who will control the Senate?" to who will win the latest season of Dancing with the Stars. And, of course, Kalshi offers wagers on professional sports games, college sports, and even chess matches. Kalshi's website had nearly 20 million visits in September, according to Semrush.

Would you feel comfortable leaving the keys to your car inside your vehicle unattended? Actually, let's rephrase that. Would you feel comfortable leaving the keys to your rare $3.3 million Bugatti inside your vehicle unattended?

Well, that's exactly what Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Bugatti's parent company Rimac Group, did.

And his multimillion-dollar Bugatti Chiron was stolen as a result.

Mate Rimac shared a video on Facebook telling the story of what happened and how he eventually got his car back thanks to the vehicle's tracking system.

Rimac says the car was parked at the company factory in Croatia, where Rimac is based. According to Rimac, the country is so safe that he usually leaves the keys in the car.

However, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, the car went missing. Once Rimac and his employees realized the car had been stolen and wasn't being driven by someone at the company, they checked the car's telemetry data, which includes location, speed, fuel level, and more.

Rimac and the local police quickly found that this would become an international incident as the thief evaded them at a gas station and then drove from Croatia into Slovenia. With help from the police from both countries, the thief was eventually apprehended.

According to Rimac, the thief was a man in his mid-30s who said he discovered the keys inside the Bugatti on his way to visit Rimac Group's factory in hopeso f getting a job. The thief allegedly intended to drive to Germany for unknown reasons.

Rimac now has his Bugatti back, and he says he has learned a valuable lesson: He will no longer leave his keys in his car.

If you're a student looking to purchase the most affordable laptop from Apple, the MacBook Neo, unfortunately things just got a little…less affordable.

The price of the base MacBook Neo model in the Apple Education Store just went up by $50, as first noticed by Macworld. The price of a base model MacBook Neo with education pricing is now $649.

While a $50 increase may or may not sound that significant depending on your financial situation, it's actually the second time Apple slashed the discounted price of the MacBook Neo for students.

The MacBook Neo launched in March with a $599 price tag, making it the most affordable MacBook on the market. However, it was the education pricing that really made the MacBook Neo appealing. As Mashable reported at the time, Apple's student discount slashed the price by $100, bringing the brand-new MacBook Neo down to $499.

The MacBook Neo was a hit for Apple, and the incredible $499 education pricing, which technically anyone could take advantage of, may have played a role.

In May, just months after the MacBook Neo's release, however, Apple closed the loophole that provided the education discount to non-students. Then in June, Apple raised the prices for a slew of its products, bringing the retail price of the MacBook Neo to $699. While the education discount remained $100, the student price was now the same as the old retail price of $599.

With this latest $50 increase, the same base MacBook Neo model is now going for $150 more with education pricing than it did when it first came out almost eight months ago.

With that said, Mashable still thinks the MacBook Neo is worth it, even with the price increases.

TL;DR: Apple announced the new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display. The touchscreen MacBook is available for purchase now, starting at $2,899.

MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display

$2,899 at Amazon

Starting at $2,899 for the base configuration

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Apple.com

During its "Pro and Tell" event on Oct. 28, Apple announced the long-awaited (and long-rumored) touchscreen MacBook Pro. Officially named MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, the new laptop starts at $2,899 for the 14-inch base configuration and $3,399 for the 16-inch base configuration, and is available to preorder now for Nov. 6 shipping. Apple's education pricing drops those starting prices to $2,749 and $3,199, respectively.

The new MacBook is available in 14-inch and 16-inch models and is equipped with Apple's M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. Configurations start at 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and go up to 128GB of RAM and 16TB of storage.

The MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display is available to order directly from Apple.com, Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo Video. It comes with a free $100 gift card if you order from Best Buy. To learn more about the laptop, read our full breakdown of the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display.

Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro is here. Bridget Carey goes hands on to poke at how a touchscreen changes the experience, and gets up close with the vibrant OLED screen.

Read more about Apple's new touchscreen MacBook Pro: Apple video shows new MacBook Pro with 'PROLED' display in action
MacBook Pro OLED brings Dynamic Island to Macs for the first time

Timecode chapters
0:00 First impressions of the touchscreen MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR
0:42 Dynamic Island and OLED display features
2:21 Comparing the M5 and M6 chip models
5:30 Intuitive OS tweaks for touch navigation

Video credits
Host: Bridget Carey
Scripted by: Bridget Carey
Producer: Bridget Carey and Jesse Orrall
Camera: Jesse Orrall
Video editor: Owen Poole
Thumbnail designer: Zooey Liao

I bought a new MacBook this year, and I did something unusual for me: I downgraded.

I've been using MacBook Pro laptops for a decade, but when the time came to replace my 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip, I opted for the 15-inch MacBook Air with the M4 chip.

Realistically, I don't require the kind of power that the Pro offers, at least not in a laptop. But the main reason for going with the Air was the fact that it was just so much lighter than the bulky old Pro. It might not matter at home, but lugging the thing around conference floors, I felt the extra pounds.

I'm not alone. Apple's chips have become so powerful over the past couple of years that several of my friends who work in the IT industry have recently opted for the Air. It's hard to justify the Pro when the Air does most tasks effortlessly while being so much more portable.

The reductions in weight and size are mainly made possible thanks to the new OLED display. Credit: Apple

Now, with the new MacBook Pro with the PROLED touchscreen display and the M5 Pro/Max chip inside, Apple has made a big leap in terms of power and versatility. And yes, I love the glowing Apple logo on the back.

But for me, the key feature is the weight. The new 16-inch MacBook Pro weighs exactly 4 pounds; 0.7 pounds less than the previous 16-inch MacBook Pro. It's also significantly thinner (0.63 vs 0.66 inches), as well as slightly narrower and shorter than before.

Compared: 15-inch MacBook Air, 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip, 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip. Credit: Apple

This reduction in size did not, apparently, come with any drawbacks. The new 16-inch MacBook Pro has the same 24-hour battery life as before, memory goes up to 64GB, storage goes up to 4TB, and the display has actually grown a little, from 16.2 to 16.3 inches. And I'm not even mentioning the obvious: more power, a more versatile display, and even a brand-new speaker system.

The 14-inch model offers similar, albeit slightly smaller benefits in terms of reduced weight and size.

Yes, the 15-inch MacBook Air is still lighter than the 16-inch Pro at 3.3 pounds, but the gap has closed considerably. Given all the added benefits, if I were buying a new MacBook today, I'd opt for the new 16-inch Pro.

I'd cover my eyes when it came to paying, though, as this particular model starts at $3,399 and goes up to over $14k.

TL;DR: Unblock ePorner for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced restrictions for online adult content. After the introduction of these age verification laws, some porn sites blocked users from those locations. The same situation is now taking place in other parts of the world.

So where does that leave frustrated users? Desperately seeking a solution, that's where. Fortunately, you can still access all your favorite porn sites in just a few simple steps. There's a quick and easy hack that can secure access to restricted content from any location or network. You don't need to be a skilled hacker. Anyone can follow this simple solution.

If you want to unblock porn sites like ePorner for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock ePorner for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process tricks porn sites into providing you with access even if there is a block in place over your network.

Unblock ePorner from anywhere in the world by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to ePorner

4. Connect to ePorner from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most leading services do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like ePorner without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it means you can temporarily unblock porn sites like ePorner and then recover your investment.

What is the best VPN for ePorner?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like ePorner, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries and all 50 U.S. states

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock ePorner for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $75: As of Oct. 29, the like-new Kindle Scribe is on sale for $284.99 at Amazon. That's a 21% discount off the list price.

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Credit: Amazon

Kindle Scribe (Like-New)

$284.99 at Amazon
$359.99 Save $75

 

Get Deal at Amazon

A Kindle that doubles as a digital notebook doesn't come cheap, but buying refurbished could make it a little more affordable.

Amazon has knocked $75 off the Kindle Scribe, with the “like-new” refurbished model now priced at $284.99. And if you're wary about the refurbished tag, there's no need to be. Amazon says these devices are tested and certified to look and work like new, and include the same limited warranty as a new device.

The Scribe is designed for bookworms who like to do more than just read. Its 10.2-inch display and upgraded Premium Pen let you annotate books, jot down ideas, or use the built-in notebook for everything from work notes to journaling. Active Canvas also lets you write directly onto book pages, so you can note down your thoughts alongside what you're reading.

When you're finished writing, you can convert handwritten notes into text and email them to yourself or others. There are AI tools to help tidy up your notes, too, including options to change their length or tone.

This Kindle deal is available at Amazon now, but only for a limited time.

TL;DR: Whoop's Black Friday sale officially kicks off Nov. 19, knocking up to $60 off new annual memberships (One, Peak, and Life) and taking 20% off accessories. Existing members also get discounted renewals and a free MG-compatible charger.

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Credit: Whoop

Whoop Black Friday Sale

 

Shop Now at Whoop

If you’ve been eyeing a Whoop band to track your sleep debt, strain, and recovery, you already know the biggest barrier to entry isn't wearing the screen-free tracker on your wrist — it's the subscription cost. Because Whoop packages its hardware directly into annual memberships, discounts on the service are few and far between.

That changes ahead of the holidays. Whoop is rolling out its biggest promotional sale of the year, knocking up to $60 off annual memberships and taking 20% off accessories and apparel. The main Black Friday event kicks off on Nov. 19 at 8 a.m. ET, giving both new and existing members a chance to lock in lower prices.

If you miss the initial wave, a secondary holiday sale runs Dec. 12 through Jan. 7, offering 10% off new Peak and Life memberships along with 20% off Advanced Labs and GRAIL multi-cancer screening tests for existing users. Every tier in the lineup is HSA- and FSA-eligible, boasts 14-plus days of battery life, features haptic wake alarms, integrates with Natural Cycles, and continuously tracks sleep, strain, and recovery.

Here is how each tier breaks down, what hardware you get, and what you’ll actually pay:

Whoop One

Whoop One is the entry-level tier built for anyone who wants essential workout, sleep, and recovery metrics without an overwhelming wall of clinical diagnostics. It comes with the new Whoop 5.0 sensor, a basic wired charger, and a CoreKnit Jet Black band (with five additional color options available).

You get core features like heart rate zones, VO2 Max, recovery scoring, and women’s hormonal insights, but it skips the real-time Stress Monitor, the Health Monitor dashboard, and Healthspan biological age tracking.

• New member Black Friday price — $189 for your first year ($10 off the regular $199 rate)

Whoop Peak

Whoop Peak is designed for fitness enthusiasts who want a deeper look at biological aging, daily stress, and their workouts. It bundles the Whoop 5.0 sensor with an upgraded on-the-go wireless PowerPack and a SuperKnit Obsidian band (with 14 color options).

In addition to everything in One, Peak adds the real-time Stress Monitor, the Health Monitor dashboard with vital-sign alerts, and Healthspan tracking that calculates your Whoop age and pace of aging.

• New member Black Friday price — $199 for your first year ($40 off the regular $239 rate)

• New member December sale price (Dec. 12 to Jan. 7) — $215 for your first year (10% off)

Whoop Life

Whoop Life shifts from daily fitness tracking into clinical cardiovascular screening. Instead of the 5.0, it features a distinct physical sensor called the Whoop MG, paired with the wireless PowerPack and your choice of 10 band colorways. Along with everything in Peak, the MG hardware unlocks medical-grade, on-demand ECG Heart Screener readings, AFib detection alerts, and daily blood pressure insights.

• New member Black Friday price — $299 for your first year ($60 off the regular $359 rate)

• New member December sale price (Dec. 12 to Jan. 7) — $323 for your first year (10% off)

Deals for existing members and accessories

Current members aren’t left out of the Black Friday sale. Starting Nov. 19 at 8 a.m. ET, existing members can also renew or upgrade to Whoop Peak for $199 or Whoop Life for $299, both of which come with a free MG-compatible charger.

If you just need extra gear, Whoop is taking 20% off apparel and accessories sitewide (excluding standalone battery packs and the Meridian line), while select bundled accessory packs get a steeper 25% price cut. Existing members can also grab a health perk later in the season, with 20% off Advanced Labs and GRAIL testing from Dec. 12 through Jan. 7.

Discounts on Whoop subscriptions are practically nonexistent outside Black Friday — grab your membership when these rare discounts go live.

TL;DR: Secure Microsoft Office staples and new favorites permanently with this affordable lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows — on sale now for just $49.97 (reg. $249.99) through Nov. 1.

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows: Lifetime License

$49.97
$249.99 Save $200.02

 

Get Deal

Not every spreadsheet is for work, and not every document is for the office. Whether you’re planning your monthly budget or updating a work presentation, Microsoft Office is packed with apps that can tackle it all. This lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows lets you lock them all in for a one-time low price — just $49.97 before Nov. 1.

Microsoft Office has been around for decades for a reason — it’s filled with tools that can help you from your home office to your college dorm to your workplace. This Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows license gives you an affordable way to use the tools for life with a non-binding key that links to your device rather than your Microsoft account.

Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus includes six apps, each designed for different types of tasks. You’ll have permanent access to classics like Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel, plus new favorites OneNote and Access.

Don’t be deterred by the year of this 2024 edition — it includes upgraded features like advanced data analysis and database management. You’ll also have a dark mode option, enhanced security and compliance capabilities, and built-in protections and features that support security and regulatory requirements.

With this Windows license, you pay once and don’t have to worry about recurring fees. You’ll receive an instant delivery and download so you can get up and running right away.

Get this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows for just $49.97 through Nov. 1.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $450.01: As of Oct. 29, the EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Max is on sale for $1,848.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

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Credit: EF EcoFlow

EF Ecoflow Delta 3 Max

$1,848.99 at Amazon
$2,299 Save $450.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

You don't have to wait until Black Friday to save on a portable power station.

The EcoFlow Delta 3 Max is back on sale at Amazon, with $450 off a bundle that includes two 220W solar panels. As of Oct. 29, the unit is available for $1,848.99, with various discounted bundles to choose from depending on the setup you want.

Whether you're preparing for storms and potential power outages at home, heading on vacation, or keeping your devices charged while camping, the Delta 3 Max is a reliable power source. And its battery technology lets it charge from 0 to 80% in just 43 minutes, so you won't have to wait long before it's ready to go.

Inside, it runs on a LiFePO4 battery that is designed for long-term use, with EcoFlow estimating a lifespan of up to 10 years. You can also manage the power station through the EcoFlow app, where you can monitor energy consumption, adjust charging settings, and schedule power usage.

Get this portable power station deal at Amazon now.

SAVE OVER $50: As of Oct. 29, the Sony WH-CH730N are on sale for $128 at Amazon. That's a 29% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Sony

Sony WH-CH730N

$128 at Amazon
$179 Save $51

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Black Friday sales officially get underway at the end of November, but unofficially, deals start to ramp up at the end of October. In the coming weeks, we can expect to see discounts across everything from home appliances, tech, household essentials, and Christmas gifts. If a new pair of headphones is on your to-buy list for this year's sales, you might not have to wait until the madness kicks off.

Right now at Amazon, there's a deal on the new Sony WH-CH730N headphones, taking the price down from $179 to $128. These were only released in September, so this is a significant price drop, and it's the biggest drop in price so far. They come in five different colors, each one at the same new low price.

Sound quality is great, with impressive noise cancellation that uses Dual Noise Sensor technology to reduce background noise, helping you focus on your music, calls, or work. When you need to hear what's happening around you, Ambient Sound Mode offers 20 adjustable levels, plus Voice Passthrough for more natural conversations.

Battery life lasts up to 50 hours with noise canceling on or 75 hours with it off, and a three-minute quick charge gives you up to an hour of playback. And if you are going to use them for hours at a time, you'll find that they are incredibly comfortable. This is thanks to their soft ear cushions, which are designed to keep you comfortable for long listening sessions.

This deal is available at Amazon right now.

We choose stories alongside the kids, often listen together, and talk about what’s happening.

They’ve proven to be a great tool to soften transitions, help the kids have some quiet time to rest while we prepare meals or clean up, take along during long car rides, and engage their brains without being overly stimulating. 

There is no shortage of options on the market right now specifically aimed at our kids’ age group, so we decided to put some to the test. We spent three months trying out a collection of popular players, both at home and in the car, to come up with this list.

After lots of hands-on testing, the Yoto player came out on top as our favorite screen-free audio player, with the Toniebox as a close second. Read on to learn why and see what else made the list.

Editor's note: We have not yet tested the Eddi, Lunii, or Nex Playground.

TL;DR: A typical content project can involve writing, images, documents, and a recording that still needs transcribing. The 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan puts those tasks into one platform with a single upfront payment. Lifetime access is just $69.97 (MSRP $540) through Nov. 1.

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Credit: 1minAI

1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription

$69.97
$540 Save $470.03

 

Get Deal

You can chat with assistants powered by models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google AI, and others, including Claude and Gemini. Having several options in one place gives you flexibility when a coding question needs a different approach than a marketing draft.

The writing tools cover keyword research, blog generation, rewriting, summaries, grammar checks, and brand voice generation. You can also generate images, remove backgrounds, upscale pictures, and edit unwanted objects.

Document tools let you ask questions about PDFs, summarize their contents, translate files, and generate presentations. Audio and video features extend the workflow with transcription, voice isolation, translation, caption generation, and text-to-video creation.

The plan includes 4 million credits each month, plus opportunities to earn up to 450,000 additional monthly credits at no extra cost. Your output depends on which tools you use: lifetime access does not mean unlimited generation, and the listed monthly output examples aren’t a combined allowance.

For shared work, the plan supports 20 members, with member management, sharing, and collaboration features. Unlimited storage, an unlimited prompt library, and unlimited brand voice are also included.

For freelancers, small businesses, and creative teams, having a broad toolkit available without managing a separate workspace for every task is a big win.

Get 1min.AI Advanced Business lifetime access for $69.97 (reg. $540) through Nov. 1.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get ChatPlayground AI Unlimited lifetime access for a one-time $79 payment (reg. $619) for a limited time.

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Credit: ChatPlayground AI

ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan)

$79
$619 Save $540

 

Get Deal

Using several AI tools doesn’t mean copying the same question into multiple browser tabs. ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Lifetime Subscription brings multiple models and creative tools into one workspace, and it’s only $79 (reg. $619) for a limited time.

Enter your prompt once and compare responses side by side. With access to more than 20 models, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, you can explore different approaches without repeatedly starting over in separate tools.

That’s useful when one answer has the right structure, but another offers a better explanation. Compare coding suggestions, test headline ideas, or review different takes on a research question. Seeing alternatives helps you choose what fits your task, but it doesn’t remove the need to check important facts.

The platform also lets you upload PDFs and images and ask questions about their contents. Instead of manually pulling information into a prompt, you can bring the file into the conversation.

For creative work, AI image generation sits alongside chat and coding tools. Prompt-engineering features help refine your requests, while saved chat history keeps useful exchanges available for ongoing projects.

The Unlimited Plan includes unlimited messages per month, subject to a fair use policy, plus priority customer support and priority access to new features and future models.

Available models are updated regularly and may change. Get ChatPlayground AI Unlimited lifetime access for one $79 payment.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a free iPhone 17e when you sign up for a T-Mobile plan, with no trade-in required. Alternatively, get the iPhone 17 for under $100 from T-Mobile when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

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Credit: Apple

Apple iPhone 17e

 

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Apple is going extremely hard right now. In recent weeks, we've had new iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads. What are you supposed to do with all these new product launches? Check out the best deals on older models, of course.

For those interested in investing in the Apple iPhone 17, we recommend checking out T-Mobile. The popular carrier is offering another "free iPhone" deal this week.

You can switch to almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e with no trade-in required. Alternatively, you can score the iPhone 17 for under $100 when signing up for a 36-month Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals, as well as a $35 device connection fee. That's mildly irritating, but that's how it often goes with this kind of deal.

It's important to note that the Experience More and Experience Beyond plans are designed for power users who want 4K streaming, massive hotspot data, and the best international roaming. It therefore comes with a higher monthly bill than more limited plans. They do include perks like Apple TV+ and Netflix, which help offset some of that cost.

The iPhone 17 is the first base model built specifically to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." That's enough for us to consider upgrading.

Score an iPhone 17e for free this week with T-Mobile.

Anthropic has announced new Claude reporting tools, allowing employers to see exactly how and why their employees are using the AI tool. Smart reports are available now for users on paid Claude Enterprise plans, and can be enabled in an organisation's settings.

Announced on Wednesday, Claude's smart reports feature produces graphs showing how a team has been using the AI tool, what they've produced, and how much they've spent on it. Managers simply specify the team, a date range up to the last 28 days, and Claude products they'd like to be included in the report. 

Credit: Anthropic

The products that can be selected are chat, Claude Code, Claude Cowork, or the "unified chat and Cowork experience." (The recently announced Claude Duet AI agent isn't available on Claude Enterprise.) Smart reports will then pull data from the chosen tools and create an overview of what workers have been doing. This involves reading the team's conversation transcripts, grouping them into workstreams and types of output (such as vibe code or technical documents), and determining how much they've been spending.

"If a spend limit is holding someone back, admins with billing permission can raise it from the report," wrote Anthropic. 

On Monday, the company submitted an IPO filing stating that its existing customers had increased their spending by 900 percent since last year — though it still reported $80 billion loss in the first half of 2026 alone. Organisations can generate up to 10 free smart reports per month, after which they'll have to pay additional fees. 

Credit: Anthropic

Anthropic states that in addition to telling smart reports what to focus on in its analysis, managers can also ask their own custom questions about usage and cost. These questions can be saved to be asked again, so managers don't have to reenter them every time. Smart reports will make recommendations as well, such as suggesting new rules that could be added to a code repository.

Each smart report generates interactive charts, with managers able to click on them to see a breakdown of sessions in a workstream. Sessions can be ranked and filtered by cost, the product used, the date, and the type of output produced.

Smart reports will also not only show obstacles encountered and how often they cropped up, but also what Anthropic calls "inefficiencies." This includes sessions where workers didn't produce usable output, as well as ones classified as being "personal or off-topic."

An Anthropic spokesperson emphasised to Mashable that smart reports do not provide summaries of what workers discussed during off-topic sessions, or identify them by name. It is intended to show patterns and summaries across a team rather than full records of individuals' actions. However, they also suggested that, while it is off by default, smart reports can break down sessions to show what each individual employee worked on. Mashable has asked Anthropic for clarification.

Credit: Anthropic

Claude's new AI reporting tool is likely to leave some workers feeling apprehensive. There have been multiple reports of companies using AI to make layoff decisions, with a recent survey finding that one in four managers in the U.S. use it for this purpose "often or all the time." In July, a group of former Meta employees alleged that it relied on improperly tested AI tools to evaluate workers' productivity and track their AI token use, ranking them for inclusion in a mass layoff. Meta denied the allegations, saying workforce decisions were made by people, not AI.

Anthropic appears aware of such concerns, noting that Claude's smart reports aren't intended to be used in this manner.

"Smart reports help you understand adoption and plan your investment in Claude," Anthropic wrote. "They aren't designed and should not be used for evaluating individual performance or making employment decisions."

Claude's smart reports also have restrictions on the questions it will accept. Users will not be allowed to ask queries on topics such as race, gender identity, religion, political affiliation, immigration status, health, union activity, harassment complaints, or workers' personal lives.

Even so, the AI-powered reports are unlikely to nurture worker affection for the technology, or trust in their managers.

UPDATE: Oct. 30, 2026, 4:16 p.m. This article had been updated with a response from Anthropic.

The Xreal Aura, spatial computing glasses made in partnership with Google for the Android XR platform, are now available to order. We first learned about these XR glasses at Google I/O 2026, and early adopters can finally try them in a matter of weeks.

The futuristic XR device combines elements of augmented reality and virtual reality in a pair of smart glasses. They're the first wired smart glasses to run on the new Android XR operating system from Google. The glasses and accessories are available for preorder at the Xreal website as of today, and they're scheduled to ship in mid-November, according to a press release shared with Mashable. Customers who preorder the glasses can save $180 on the hefty $1,279 price tag.

“Xreal Aura is finally here, and we're so proud to unlock new ways for people to work, watch, play, and build," said Chi Xu, co-founder and CEO of XREAL, in a press release.

The Xreal Aura utilizes dual Sony Micro-OLED displays to create a virtual display with a 70-degree field of view, up to 1,050 nits of brightness, and up to a 120Hz refresh rate.

Credit: Xreal

Credit: Xreal

Xreal is one of the leading augmented reality companies, known for its tethered AR glasses, which project a large virtual display into the user's field of view. The Xreal Aura will provide spatial computing and virtual reality experiences usually associated with headsets in the smart glasses form factor.

The Xreal Aura is part of a new generation of spatial computing smart glasses, along with the Specs AR glasses from Snap and the recently announced Meta VR glasses. The Snap Specs are fully wireless but have a chunky design and a $2,195 price tag. The Meta VR glasses have a $1,299 price tag but won't launch until spring 2027.

What do the Xreal Aura Glasses do?

Credit: Xreal / Mashable Photo Composite

Xreal says the new glasses will support "productivity, immersive entertainment, and next-generation XR experiences."

The Xreal Aura offer the same augmented reality features as other AR smart glasses, but they up the ante with spatial computing experiences powered by the Android XR operating system and Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite Platform. (A press release states that the glasses were made in partnership with Google and Qualcomm.)

Unlike most AR glasses, the Xreal Aura can also be controlled via voice and hand movements, thanks to onboard sensors and cameras. Instead of simply plugging into a user's smartphone, laptop, or gaming device, the Aura glasses come with a puck, which houses the battery and powers most of the compute necessary for spatial computing.

The Apple Vision Pro introduced spatial computing into the public consciousness. The technology turns a user's surroundings into a 360-degree virtual canvas, and users can open apps, games, entertainment, and AI tools directly into their space. However, unlike headsets, which can be extremely limiting, smart glasses don't limit a user's movements or block their peripheral vision.

“This is a defining moment for XR," Xu said in a press release. "We built AURA for people who want the power of spatial computing without being removed from the world around them. With transparent lenses, a category-leading lightweight design, Gemini by your side, and access to the Android ecosystem from day-one, the promise of XR is more approachable than ever."

The Xreal Aura will also offer support for Gemini, letting users ask questions about their environment or complete tasks across apps.

Spatial photos, virtual reality, and more

Credit: Xreal / Android XR

Using Google Photos and Android XR, Aura users will be able to view their photos and videos in new immersive ways. For example, users can convert their existing photos and videos into 3D, while panoramas will become full 360-degree experiences. Via Google Maps, users can explore destinations in immersive 3D, either with an aerial view or via Street View.

Users can also enjoy 360-degree and VR180 video content on YouTube.

New XR experiences

At launch, users will also be able to access a library of more than 150 XR experiences, with more to come in the months ahead. Some of the highlights include:

• NBA App for Android XR

• Fallout: Factions video game

• Project Hail Mary: Journey Among the Stars, a mixed-reality adventure

• NASCAR XR app

• Oh My Galaxy!, a physics-based arcade game

• XR HoloMedicine

• Simply Piano XR

Where to preorder the Xreal Aura

The Xreal Aura are available for preorder now exclusively at the Xreal online store. The glasses have a retail price of $1,279 but are available for $1,099 for a limited time.

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Credit: Xreal

Xreal Aura XR Glasses

$1,099 at Xreal
$1,279 Save $180

 

Preorder at Xreal

Xreal Aura specifications

Credit: Xreal

And for the real AR/XR nerds, here are the key specs for these upcoming smart glasses:

• Displays: Dual Sony Micro-OLED

• Field of view: 70 degrees

• Refresh rate: Up to 120Hz

• Resolution: 1200p resolution (1,920 × 1,200 pixels per eye)

• Peak brightness: 1,050 nits

• Controls: Support for voice, hand, keyboard, trackpad, and game controller input

• Tint: Electrochromic dimming with 5 transparency levels

• Sound: Bose audio

• Microphones: 4 microphones

• Glasses weight: Under 95 grams

• Processor: Xreal X1S Chip

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

TL;DR: Upgrade your listening method with these comfortable new, open-box Sony LinkBuds Open Truly Wireless Earbuds, on sale now for just $89.99 (reg. $229.99).

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Credit: Sony

Sony LinkBuds Open Truly Wireless Earbuds White (Open Box)

$89.99
$229.99 Save $140

 

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Whether you’re on a walk, working at your desk, or just tackling chores around your house, earbuds make it all a little more fun. The Sony LinkBuds Open Truly Wireless Earbuds let you enjoy your tunes and podcasts while staying aware of your surroundings. And right now, they’re on sale for just $89.99.

If you’re in the market for a new pair of earbuds, you don’t have to spend hundreds to enjoy your content comfortably. These Sony LinkBuds Open Truly Wireless Earbuds deliver clear audio, comfort, and peace of mind, so you can stay safe and still hear the world around you.

The Sony LinkBuds Open Truly Wireless Earbuds feature an open-ring design that lets ambient sound through, while adaptive volume control automatically adjusts to your surroundings. This combo makes them an excellent option when you can’t fully tune out the world around you.

The integrated V2 processor delivers a balanced audio experience, while the 11mm ring-shaped driver unit delivers clear sound no matter what you’re listening to.

You can enjoy up to 22 hours of battery life with the charging case, and you can listen that long thanks to the comfortable air-fitting supports that make these excellent for everyday wear. When you run out of battery, the fast power-ups give you 60 minutes of playback with just a 3-minute charge.

You’re saving big on these earbuds thanks to their Open Box status. That means they were likely excess inventory from store shelves, but they have been verified to be in new condition and in clean packaging.

Snag your own pair of Sony LinkBuds Open Truly Wireless Earbuds for just $89.99 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Meta has yet another cute little creature it would like you to get to know.

The company's new app, Waddle World, combines a Tamagotchi-style virtual pet with AI-assisted journaling. Available on iOS and Android only in the Philippines for now, the free app lets adults hatch a 16-bit pixelated pet, feed it, play mini-games, and tell it about their day.

Meta's App Store listing calls it "a daily journal disguised as a pet." Users must be 18 or older.

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How Waddle World works

The setup will feel familiar to anyone who has raised a Tamagotchi. You hatch a digital creature and spend time looking after it, with mini-games such as catching stars, stacking groceries, and solving word puzzles, earning stamps to spend on your pet.

But this creature also wants to hear how your day went. Users can speak or type an update, which the app turns into a journal entry written in the pet's voice, complete with a doodle. That personalized writing and illustration is where AI comes into play, although the listing does not identify the model powering those features.

Over time, Meta says, the pet notices what lifts users' moods or wears them out and brings those details up in later interactions. Daily questions offer prompts for anyone unsure what to share, while weekly email postcards can reference something they previously mentioned.

It's a familiar idea with a different approach to keeping a diary. Finch, for example, already pairs a virtual bird with reflection prompts, daily goals, and breathing exercises. As its slogan goes: "Take care of your pet by taking care of yourself!" Waddle World takes on some of the writing, turning a brief update into something users can revisit.

Meta presents that routine as low-pressure, promising "no pressure, no streaks to protect, no scores to chase." Still, the same description calls Waddle World a "gentle journal habit tracker" and encourages daily check-ins. There may be no leaderboard, but the app gives users plenty of reasons to return.

Meta keeps giving AI a cute face

The little pet arrives shortly after another character joined Meta's lineup. Last month, the company introduced Jolly, the cheerful mascot for its Muse AI agent, alongside a handheld device called Muse Charm.

Meta has not established that Waddle World runs on Muse or connects to Charm. The clearer connection is how these products invite people to interact with technology through a character they can get attached to.

As Mashable previously explored, mascots have long helped tech companies make unfamiliar products feel more welcoming. Microsoft had Clippy, Duolingo has its green owl, and Meta now has Jolly. And don't forget about ChatGPT recently launching an array of adorable Dots. With Waddle World, that familiar design choice could help make sharing personal experiences with AI feel as ordinary as checking in on a pet.

What happens to your personal updates?

The app's App Store privacy disclosure, supplied by Meta, lists audio data and other user content among the information that may be collected and linked to a user’s identity. Both appear under categories for third-party advertising and the developer's own advertising or marketing. (Apple notes that it has not verified the disclosure.)

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That leaves some details unresolved. The listing does not clarify whether journal entries fall within those advertising categories or whether entries are used to train AI models. It also does not explain what controls users have over the information their pet remembers.

For an app that invites conversations about relationships, routines, and difficult days, those are meaningful questions. The pet's ability to remember a personal detail may be part of its appeal; knowing how to delete that detail should probably be part of the experience, too.

A group of select OpenAI employees will spend Nov. 3 in the AI giant's new midterm election "war room," tasked with monitoring ChatGPT's role in the political machine.

The company announced, via Politico, that it would convene its own Election Operations Center ahead of next week's nationwide elections with the express task of spotting potential misuse of its AI models.

"We’ve put considerable effort [into] ensuring we help users get reliable voting information, combat misuse of our tools, and support election defenders. The Elections Operations Center builds on that years long work, bringing our teams together to respond quickly to emerging issues and enforce our policies as people head to the polls," Josh Lawson, head of civic and strategic risk for OpenAI, told Decoded by Politico.

Other tech giants have diverted resources to election integrity in recent years, including Microsoft's voter education and AI literacy initiative and Meta's $30 billion spend to advance its election security initiatives, following allegations its platforms sowed political discord.

In the midst of the 2024 presidential election, a coalition of tech companies pledged to work together to combat generative AI's potential to undermine global elections. The agreement included commitments to mass public education, more transparent AI policies, and robust detection tools to curb the spread of political deepfakes.

Even so, many remain concerned about AI's role in election disinformation campaigns. According to misinformation watchdog NewsGuard, disinformation campaigns directed by foreign governments have increased ahead of election day, primarily amplified on social media platforms like X. More than half of Americans were fooled by such election misinformation, and X's Community Notes failed to identify more than 93 percent of such posts, according to the organization's research.

A report from the Brennan Center for Justice found that guardrails in major AI models, including Gemini and Meta AI, were failing to prevent the generation of fake election images — ChatGPT was the only model that showed some improvement in curbing photorealistic images, according to the center's findings. But NewsGuard's tests of OpenAI's ChatGPT Images 2.5 found the model repeatedly generated lifelike images of political candidates when prompted.

Meanwhile, a growing number of Americans are leaning on chatbots to help them find polling information, research candidates, and even fill out their ballots.

SpaceXSI (formerly xAI) owner Elon Musk has personally contributed more than $366 million to Republican election efforts ahead of the 2026 election, making him one of the most prolific mega donors in recent history.

Wednesday marked the apex of Apple's "Pro and Tell" week of announcements with the unveiling of the new touch-enabled MacBook Pro. It turns out a touchscreen isn't the only thing this new laptop has in common with iPhones.

Tucked away in the lengthy announcement press release for the "PROLED" MacBook Pro is the reveal that this new laptop feautres a Dynamic Island module, just like modern iPhones. This marks the very first Mac product to come with Dynamic Island. Apple's press release only included a paragraph of information about Dynamic Island on the MacBook Pro, but it did reveal that it's the new home for Siri AI, Spotlight, and Live Activities, similar to how it works on an iPhone.

That's handy. Credit: Apple

If Apple's included screenshots are to be believed, you can also use the Dynamic Island pop-up to control incoming AirDrop transfers and music playback. In all, it seems fairly equivalent to what you can use Dynamic Island for on an iPhone, with one exception: This laptop doesn't have Face ID. You'll still have to use Touch ID for biometric login purposes.

Still, it's interesting to see Apple homogenize its user interfaces across devices even more so than usual. Perhaps future MacBooks will have Dynamic Island, too.

TikTok already helps decide which restaurants get people lining up outside. Now, it wants to help users sort through those recommendations and, in some cases, book a table.

The company announced Must Eat on Wednesday, Oct. 28, a restaurant guide launching in the areas around New York City, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Drawing on more than 40 million posts, reviews, and comments, the feature gathers restaurants attracting attention on TikTok into city-specific lists.

How TikTok's Must Eat guide works

Must Eat is part of TikTok GO, the app's offering for discovering and booking experiences. Its restaurant lists are divided into Everyday Eats, covering casual spots and neighborhood favorites, and Elevated Dining, for celebrations and other special occasions. Users can filter by cuisine, price, score, and location, explore restaurant pages with related TikTok content, and save places to their existing collections. Select restaurants also offer reservations through OpenTable.

The guide is accessible through TikTok search, the Local feed, restaurant location pages, and location links on videos featuring listed businesses. TikTok says it checks that businesses are open and operating before publishing a list.

"Independent restaurants and local specialties take priority, and no restaurant can pay to be featured," the company said in its announcement.

Much of that will sound familiar to anyone who already keeps a running list of places to eat. Beli lets users rank restaurants, track places they want to try, see where friends are eating, and receive personalized recommendations. Yelp's annual "Top 100 Places to Eat" similarly turns community feedback into a restaurant guide, using factors including review volume and ratings.

Google offers an especially timely comparison. Earlier this month, it introduced its first Fan-Favorite Dining List, using Maps reviews, ratings, and searches for directions to identify dining spots across 10 cities worldwide, including New York and San Francisco. Maps also has weekly dining lists highlighting trending restaurants, neighborhood gems, and established favorites.

FoodTok's influence reaches beyond the feed

TikTok's pitch brings those familiar planning tools closer to the videos that might have sparked someone's interest in the first place. A creator's review, the comments underneath it, videos from inside, and an available reservation can all become part of deciding where to eat within the same app.

For restaurants, that attention can reach well beyond their usual customers. In TikTok's announcement, Ann Redding, co-owner and chef of New York's Thai Diner, described watching diners introduce the restaurant to a wider audience.

"TikTok has given our guests a way to share those experiences with people far beyond our dining room," Redding said. "It’s pretty amazing to watch."

There is data to support TikTok's strategy, particularly among younger diners. In a recent survey, 38 percent of Gen Z respondents reported discovering new restaurants through TikTok, making it that group's leading discovery channel. Social media's influence also extends beyond dedicated food influencers. A 2025 report, based on a survey of U.S. consumers and hospitality operators, found that 69 percent of Gen Z diners relied on social media for restaurant discovery.

TikTok has its own figures, too. Citing PF Global research in the announcement, the company says 27 million Americans visited an independent restaurant, cafe, or shop for the first time after discovering it on the platform in 2025, generating an estimated $4.7 billion in local spending. That estimate includes retail shops as well as dining businesses.

Of course, going viral can mean a lot more people showing up hungry. For Sam Yoo, chef-owner of Golden Diner and Golden HOF, keeping up with that rush took some adjusting.

"When we went viral about three years ago, our team had to adapt quickly, but our focus stayed the same: making great food and taking care of our guests," Yoo said. "I’m proud of how our team rose to that occasion, and grateful that people are still coming through our doors years later."

TikTok has explored turning food videos into meal orders before. As Mashable reported in 2021, the company announced plans for TikTok Kitchen, a delivery concept built around viral recipes. That project stalled, though Virtual Dining Concepts later rolled out a similar offering called "Creators' Kitchen As Seen On TikTok" in 2024. But Must Eat is "cool" and "pretty convinent," at least according to some X users. Though others are more critical, writing complaints like, "finally an app for discovering new lines to stand in," and "tiktok taking the reservation too, wild."

For food creators, Must Eat could give a restaurant recommendation a longer life beyond the feed. For viewers, it could make that place they’ve been meaning to try easier to find when someone finally asks, "Where should we eat?"

Google announced Gemini 4 Carbon, a new frontier AI model that arrives just two weeks after Gemini 4 Argon reached the Gemini app.

In a blog post published Oct. 28, Koray Kavukcuoglu, SVP at Google DeepMind, the company’s frontier AI lab, called Carbon Google’s strongest model yet. (Kavukcuoglu is leading Google DeepMind now that former CEO Demis Hassabis has stepped aside.) The post points to cybersecurity and long-horizon tasks, meaning complicated jobs that take many steps or run for a long time, as Carbon’s biggest strengths.

Already, Gemini 4 Carbon has the top spot in the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, beating out Claude Opus 5.5.

Credit: Screenshot: Artificial Analysis

The pace at which AI companies are releasing new frontier models has accelerated sharply in recent months, as the frontier AI labs race to have the best model available. Anthropic released Claude Opus 5.5 on Sept. 22, OpenAI shipped GPT-6 Astra earlier that month, and Google announced Argon on Sept. 30 before releasing it to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers on Oct. 13. Each lab has claimed a new lead within weeks of the last.

As with Argon, Google is announcing Carbon well before most people can use it. Carbon is starting with a small group of cybersecurity defenders, and Google hasn’t said when it will reach everyone else. (Last week's PHP2Shell incident shows just how much havoc new AI models could wreak on the internet at large.) Announcing early lets Google claim the top spot on the leaderboards now. It also gives everyone a look at the benchmarks before the next round of releases.

Gemini 4 Carbon: Benchmarks

In Google’s comparison table, Carbon posts the top score on 15 of 17 benchmarks against Argon, GPT-6 Astra, Claude Opus 5.5, and Claude Fable 5.1. All figures in this section are as reported by Google.

Credit: Google

The two benchmarks Carbon doesn’t win are worth noting. GPT-6 Astra still leads on FrontierSWE 2, a software engineering test. Claude Opus 5.5 leads on OSWorld-2.1, which measures how well a model can operate a computer.

A big change from Argon is that Google now reports Terminal-Bench 4.0 scores run by Artificial Analysis, an independent testing firm, rather than its own. For quick context, Terminal-Bench 4.0 measures how well an AI model can complete real technical tasks — like installing software or fixing broken code — by typing commands into a computer’s terminal on its own. It's one of the hardest agentic tests for LLMs.

This is notable because the scores companies reported for each other’s models didn’t always line up with independent testing. On Terminal-Bench 4.0, Carbon jumps about eight points over Argon and moves ahead of Opus 5.5.

Google also says Carbon can work on difficult engineering problems for days at a time. Its web development skills improved enough to climb to fourth place on WebDev Arena, a leaderboard where people vote on AI-built websites.

The Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index

The Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index is one of the most closely watched independent leaderboards for AI models. Artificial Analysis runs a range of tests itself and combines them into a single composite score.

On the newly updated version 5.0, Carbon (high) scores 59, one point ahead of Claude Opus 5.5 (max).

Gemini 4 Carbon's score of 59 is leaps above Argon's 50. Credit: Artificial Analysis

The scores can’t be directly compared to the previous version of the index, where Argon (High) scored 53. A one-point lead is also thin enough that the next release from OpenAI or Anthropic could easily erase it. Carbon and Meta’s Muse Wonder Full are both flagged on the leaderboard as having no publicly available API, so they can’t yet be used outside their companies’ own access programs.

Gemini 4 Carbon: Safety and safeguards

Google says Carbon uses the same safety system as Argon, which includes monitoring the model’s reasoning, and adds more work on alignment, or keeping the model behaving as intended. According to Google’s own testing, Carbon is also better behaved than its predecessor.

Google says Carbon never successfully cheated on Terminal-Bench 4.0, meaning it never found a shortcut that passed a task without actually doing the work, and it tried to cheat only 0.4 percent of the time. During internal coding work, high-severity misalignment alerts, which flag a model acting in ways its developers didn’t intend, dropped by nearly 80 percent. Carbon also makes about half as many unsupported claims as Argon. And on Gray Swan’s prompt injection benchmark, which tests whether hidden instructions can hijack a model, Carbon blocked every attack attempt, improving on Argon’s 0.7 percent attack success rate.

All of these figures come from Google’s own testing.

How to try Gemini 4 Carbon

For now, you can’t use Gemini 4 Carbon unless you’re an approved cyber defender in Google’s Fairwind Program. Starting this week, Carbon is rolling out to a small group of those testers, and Google says it will gradually add more trusted partners. Developers, businesses, and consumers will get access after that, but Google hasn’t given an exact public launch date.

If we use Argon to figure out a timeline, about two weeks passed between its announcement and its arrival in the Gemini app for Pro and Ultra subscribers. Though we won't be able to confirm whether Google will commit to that same schedule for Carbon.

When Carbon does reach the API, Google says it will cost the same as Argon’s introductory price:

• $2 per million input tokens

• $10 per million output tokens

• Cached input tokens at 95 percent off the input price

That keeps Carbon well below its main rivals. Mashable previously reported that Claude Opus 5.5 costs $4 per million input tokens and $20 per million output tokens, while GPT-6 Astra costs $10 per million input tokens and $50 per million output tokens.

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The touchscreen MacBook Pro is finally here – and it's pricey.

On Wednesday, Apple unveiled its first-ever touchscreen laptop, the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display. The starting price for the 14-inch model powered by the M5 Pro chip with 24GB of memory and 1TB of storage is $2,899. While that's quite costly, remember, that's just the base model for the device.

Looking to completely max out all the specs so you have the most premium, top-of-the-line model of the new touchscreen MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display?

That's going to cost $14,549. 

That's right, $14,549.

Just to compare, the latest and most powerful MacBook Pro model without the touchscreen, completely maxed out, comes to a total of $10,149. So, the maxed-out version of the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display seems to be the most expensive Apple MacBook so far.

What does the maxed-out model include? First, upgrading the MacBook Pro from a 14-inch display to a 16-inch one bumps the starting price up to $3,399.

Then upgrading the standard glass display to the nano-texture glass adds an additional $150.

Next, we're going to upgrade the M5 Pro chipset to the M5 Max, which gives us a total cost of $4,949 so far. When you upgrade to the M5 Max chip, Apple also forces buyers to upgrade from 24GB of RAM to 36GB, which adds an additional $300.

For another extra $300, we're upgrading the processing power from an 18‑core CPU and 32‑core GPU to an 18‑core CPU and 40‑core GPU.

Next, we're maxing out the memory too and going from that previously mentioned 36GB of RAM to 128GB of RAM, which, thanks to the AI-boom-related shortages, adds an extra $2,000 to our total.

And you can thank AI once again for driving prices of storage up too. Bumping the MacBook Pro from 2TB of storage to a whopping max of 16TB adds another $7,000 to the final price.

That brings us to our grand total of $14,549. Tax not included.

So, Apple's got new MacBook Pro devices to show us. They're very powerful; they have touchscreen OLED displays for the first time, and they're the MacBooks you'll lust over from now on (until the new ones come along).

That's all fine and dandy, but the coolest thing about these new Macs isn't even listed in the tech specs. The two colors on offer, Space Black and Silver, are standard fare for Apple, and even the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips have been seen before. But these new MacBooks are distinctive in a different way: They have a glowing Apple logo on the back.

Step aside, commoners. I have a special MacBook Pro. Credit: Apple/YouTube

You may remember the glowing logo. It was introduced in ancient times, in 1999, on the third-gen PowerBook G3, and it lasted until the 2015 MacBook Pro. It was a very cool detail that most other laptops didn't have (well, until everyone started copying Apple), but by the end, it did look a little stale. The glowing logo was replaced by a simple, shiny Apple logo, and that was that...

...until now. The 2026 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro devices with PROLED display have a glowing Apple logo on the back once again.

Be careful, though: The glowing logo isn't advertised anywhere, and it's not even prominently visible in Apple's marketing materials (except for the video below). It's not available on all of the new MacBook Pro devices; only the ones with the PROLED display and either an M5 Pro or an M5 Max chip.

And yes, those do not come cheap. The 14-inch model starts at $2,899, while the 16-inch model starts at $3,399. Does the glowing logo justify the price? Don't ask us; we're nerds, and we like shiny stuff.

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John Ternus has been busy since taking over as Apple’s CEO on Sept. 1. Two weeks after the company’s "Welcome Home" smart home launch, Apple held its "Pro and Tell" event in Los Angeles on Wednesday. There, Apple finally unveiled the OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro that many fans have been waiting on for years.

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The new laptop, with a "groundbreaking" display dubbed PROLED, was the last in a series of announcements. Apple surprised the tech world by announcing a bunch of new products before the "Pro and Tell" event, including a new iPad Mini, M6 Mac devices, and updates to Apple Creator Studio, the company's subscription bundle of creative apps.

Now that the long-rumored MacBook PROLED model has finally manifested, here's everything Apple announced around its "Pro and Tell" private event.

MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display

Credit: Apple

• Price: Starts at $2,899 for 14-inch; $3,399 for 16-inch

• Release date: Pre-orders start Oct. 28, shipping Nov. 6

The headliner is the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, the first Mac with a touchscreen. It’s a notable reversal for Apple. Steve Jobs famously dismissed touchscreen laptops at Apple’s "Back to the Mac" event in Oct. 2010, arguing that reaching up to a vertical screen quickly wears out your arm and calling the idea "ergonomically terrible."

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Clunky name aside, it’s Apple’s version of tandem OLED, the display technology it already uses in the iPad Pro. Available in 14- and 16-inch sizes, the screen reaches up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness for both HDR and SDR content. It has a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a refresh rate that scales from 10Hz to 120Hz. Apple says it covers both the P3 and Adobe RGB color spaces, a pitch aimed squarely at photographers and colorists.

Apple says the touch sensor is built into the display panel itself, which cuts latency. Many existing apps work right away because macOS translates taps into clicks. Apps like Adobe Lightroom, DaVinci Resolve, Blender, and Microsoft Office are adding touch-specific features. The Dynamic Island also comes to the Mac as a home for Spotlight, Live Activities, and Siri AI.

The new design is lighter, too. Apple says the 14-inch model now weighs 3 pounds, half a pound less than before, and the 16-inch weighs 4 pounds, down 0.7 pounds. Notably, these machines run M5 Pro and M5 Max, not M6. They support up to 128GB of unified memory, up to 16TB of storage, and up to 24 hours of battery life, according to Apple. Ports include three Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, an SDXC slot, and MagSafe.

This may be partially the fault of RAMageddon, but this device is premium with a capital P. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display starts at $2,899. A fully maxed-out 16-inch model costs $14,569. That configuration includes the nano-texture display, a 40-core GPU, 128GB of RAM, and 16TB of storage. The ongoing memory crisis that's affecting computer components has pushed prices up across the industry. Pre-orders open today, Oct. 28, with availability beginning Friday, Nov. 6.

14-inch MacBook Pro with M6

Credit: Apple

• Price: Starts at $1,999

• Release date: Pre-order starting Oct. 28, ships Nov. 6

Before Apple announced the MacBook Pro with its new PROLED XDR touch display, the headline product of the week was the 14-inch MacBook Pro, which gets M6's 12-core CPU. Apple says M6 features the world’s fastest CPU core. Apple claims the 12-core GPU is up to 30 percent faster for graphics and up to 25 percent faster for AI workloads than the M5, while the Neural Engine is up to 1.9x faster. Owners of an M1 model could see bigger jumps: Apple cites up to 11x faster graphics and up to 13x faster AI performance.

Apple's AI benchmarks are the more telling numbers. It says LLM prompt processing delivers a first token up to 1.3x faster than the M5 model, with similar gains in Blender rendering and Xcode builds.

Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours, which Apple calls the longest ever in a Mac, and fast charging reaches 50 percent in 30 minutes with a 96W adapter. Memory starts at 16GB and tops out at 32GB. Wireless connectivity upgrades to WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and the laptop supports up to two external displays.

Speaking of displays, the MacBook Pro has a Liquid Retina XDR display (with up to 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness and a nano-texture option), a 12MP Center Stage camera, six speakers, and the same ports, including HDMI, MagSafe 3, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, and an SDXC slot.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 starts at $1,999, or $1,899 with education pricing, and comes in space black and silver. Apple Upgrade leases start at $38.99 per month for 36 months. Pre-orders open Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the U.S. and 34 other countries and regions, with availability beginning Friday, Nov. 6.

iMac with M6

Credit: Apple

• Price: Starts at $1,499

• Release date: Pre-order starting Oct. 28, ships Nov. 6

The iMac skips M5 entirely, jumping from M4 straight to M6. Apple says the CPU and GPU each gain two cores, with configurations offering up to 12 cores apiece and delivering up to 2x faster graphics than the M4. Again, Apple’s big claim is that the iMac can run AI locally. The company says the iMac runs on-device AI up to 5x faster than M4, including prompt processing in LM Studio. For anyone still on an Intel iMac, Apple reports an overall performance gain of up to 18x.

Connectivity gets some of the more practical upgrades. WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6 come standard, available 2.5Gb Ethernet is up to 2.5x faster than before, and Apple says SSD speeds have doubled. Up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports support two 6K external displays.

The rest of the iMac is unchanged, including the 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, 12MP Center Stage camera, color-matched accessories, and seven colors: blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver.

The iMac with M6 starts at $1,499 ($1,449 for education) with a 10-core CPU and GPU, and $1,699 ($1,599 for education) with a 12-core CPU and GPU. That base price matches what the M4 iMac currently sells for after a $200 increase in June. Apple Upgrade leases start at $28.99 per month for 36 months. Pre-orders open Wednesday, Oct. 28, with availability beginning Friday, Nov. 6.

Apple Creator Studio

Credit: Apple

• Price: $12.99 per month or $129 per year

• Release date: Apple says it "will be available on the App Store this November"

Apple also gave its new Macs more AI software to run. Apple Creator Studio adds intelligent assistants (in beta) to Logic Pro for Mac and to Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Notably, Apple says those assistants are built on a combination of its own models and OpenAI’s. Keynote, Pages, and Numbers also gain Model Context Protocol (MCP) support, which lets third-party AI agents read documents, make edits, and run automated actions inside the apps.

Elsewhere, Final Cut Pro for Mac now includes MotionVFX's library of effects, transitions, and templates, and Pixelmator Pro adds Generate Fill, which lets you edit selected parts of an image using text prompts. Logic Pro's Stem Splitter can now separate drums.

The Creator Studio updates arrive in November at no additional cost for existing subscribers. The subscription costs $12.99 per month or $129 per year, with education pricing of $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year.

iPad mini with A20 Pro

Credit: Apple

• Price: Starts at $699

• Release date: Pre-order starting Oct. 28, ships Nov. 6

Apple's week of Pro and Tell announcements technically started Monday with the new iPad mini, which Apple calls the tablet's "biggest update ever." The headline change is a larger 8.5-inch OLED display that fits in the same footprint, thanks to 24 percent thinner bezels. Apple says peak brightness reaches 1,200 nits, more than double that of the previous model, and a nano-texture option is available.

The A20 Pro chip follows the same local AI script as the M6. It has Neural Accelerators in each GPU core, and Apple claims up to 4.5x faster AI performance than the previous generation. The tablet is also thinner, at 5.4mm, and adds IP67 water and dust resistance, a 12MP front camera on the landscape edge, and Apple's N1 wireless and C2 cellular chips.

The iPad mini starts at $699 for WiFi and $849 for WiFi + Cellular (education pricing starts at $649), and comes in midnight and starlight. Pre-orders open Wednesday, Oct. 28, with availability beginning Friday, Nov. 6.

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law Wednesday a major safety bill that effectively prohibits artificial intelligence chatbots from offering a range of standard features to users under the age of 18.

Among the blocked behaviors are pretending to be a real person or feel human emotions; offering "people-pleasing" or flattering responses; and asking unprompted emotional questions or referring to a child's private health information from earlier conversations.

The law also addresses features that are particularly dangerous for young users.

Once the bill goes into effect, minors will not be able to converse with chatbots that promote or give advice related to drug or alcohol use, eating disorders, self-harm, or suicide. Chatbots will also be banned from encouraging kids to keep secrets, as well as discussing sexually explicit content or child sexual abuse material with minors.

"No company should be peddling chatbots to kids encouraging self-harm or pretending to be their friend or more," Hochul said in a press release.

Companies subject to the law must verify user age and offer more than one method of doing so, including verification that doesn't solely require government identification.

Among the leading chatbot providers, only Anthropic prohibits minors from creating an account. Google and OpenAI, which operate Gemini and ChatGPT, respectively, both allow children ages 13 and older to use their chatbots. Kids under 13 can even access Gemini apps. OpenAI also offers ChatGPT for Teens, which independent researchers recently said should be turned off until certain safety concerns are resolved.

Violations of the law could result in a civil penalty up to $25,000 for each instance. The bill also establishes a public website where New Yorkers can file complaints against chatbot companies for potential violations.

Hochul has supported several bills related to digital and AI safety, including legislation on AI transparency and AI companions, as well as a law that restricts addictive social media features.

Jim P. Steyer, founder and CEO of the nonprofit advocacy group Common Sense Media, described the legislation signed Wednesday as the "strongest kids' AI safety bill in the country."

The absence of federal AI regulations has prompted policymakers across the country to develop their own laws.

In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law designed to enforce stronger safety requirements for AI companies. The legislation was named for Adam Raine, a young teen who died by suicide after consulting with ChatGPT. Raine's parents filed the first wrongful death lawsuit against an AI company for alleged harmful chatbot behavior.

Adam's Law requires developers of companion chatbots to conduct and publish annual child safety risk assessments and to submit their products to independent audits. Developers must create crisis response processes for chatbots, as well. Many companies already have safety measures in place, but guardrails have consistently failed to fully prevent chatbot behavior harmful to teens.

Matthew and Maria Raine, the parents of Adam Raine, supported the New York legislation.

"The loss of our son did not need to happen," they said in a statement. "He would be here with us today but not for a harmful relationship with an unregulated AI chatbot. This new law is a significant step forward to reduce the risks to the children and teens of New York, so many of which are now communicating with AI chatbots every day."

UPDATE: Oct. 28, 2026, 10:40 a.m. PDT This story has been updated to include comments from Jim P. Steyer and Matthew and Maria Raine.

Additional reporting by Chase DiBenedetto.

The parents of a 31-year-old Seattle woman are suing OpenAI, alleging the company's AI chatbot led to her death, according to a new report from The New York Times.

Per the Times' report, the parents of Bowen Wan allege ChatGPT helped their daughter taper off the medication that controlled her severe epilepsy, and helped her hide the plan from her doctors in the weeks before she died. In February, Wan was found dead in her apartment; her official cause of death was sudden, unexpected death in epilepsy, the NYT reported. Her parents, Qun Wan and Meiqin Xu, filed the lawsuit the same day.

According to the Times, Wan had come to lean heavily on ChatGPT. Wan worked as a software engineer for Amazon; however, her worsening epilepsy symptoms forced her to take disability leave. After learning she would be laid off from Amazon, she grew worried that her medication was slowing her speech. She feared it would hurt her in the job interviews she needed to pass to stay in the U.S. Wan averaged more than 1,500 messages a week in 2025 while calling her parents less often.

The Times reports that ChatGPT drafted schedules that would take her off lamotrigine — a medication that treats epilepsy and bipolar disorder — entirely within weeks. It also endorsed cutting her pills without telling her doctor, and cast physicians’ caution as mere risk aversion. When she described symptoms resembling seizures, the chatbot repeatedly reassured her. The Times’ analysis found she raised concerns about the taper at least 158 times. Her neurologist told the Times he would never have considered tapering a patient with her history.

The lawsuit claims ChatGPT practiced medicine without a license and portrayed her doctors as obstacles. It also alleges the chatbot may have been less likely to refuse her requests for medical advice because she was chatting in Chinese.

An OpenAI spokesperson told the Times that the case was heartbreaking and that it involved an earlier version of ChatGPT that is no longer available. Wan used GPT-4o, which OpenAI pulled from the consumer app on Feb. 13, 2026, the day after the medical examiner believes she died. The spokesperson told the Times that newer models are better at recognizing when a situation needs urgent attention.

GPT-4o has a long record of complaints about sycophancy. In April 2025, OpenAI rolled back an update to the model after CEO Sam Altman admitted it had become "too sycophant-y and annoying," as Mashable reported. At the time, users warned that a chatbot that agrees with everything could validate delusions and deepen mental health crises.

The Wan case joins a growing list of wrongful death lawsuits against OpenAI. The family of 16-year-old Adam Raine sued in August 2025, alleging ChatGPT validated his suicidal thinking. In a court filing, OpenAI denied responsibility and pointed to his mental health history and his violations of its usage policies, Mashable reported. That November, seven more lawsuits alleged ChatGPT contributed to wrongful deaths and assisted suicides.

If you’re feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems. The New York Times has also sued OpenAI.

Apple just debuted a swanky and seriously expensive new MacBook Pro, its first-ever Mac with a touchscreen or OLED display, and you can see it in video form right now.

In a new promo video posted to YouTube on Wednesday afternoon, Apple debuted the new touchscreen-equipped MacBook Pro, with what Apple is calling a "PROLED" display. In the video, Apple refers to the device as a "portable reference" monitor because its display is so good and color-accurate. Apple also boasted about the laptop's speaker quality, selection of ports, and horsepower, even though it uses an older M5 Pro or M5 Max chip.

You can get all of that for a starting price of $2,899.

In a video posted to X, new Apple CEO John Ternus revealed one more surprise: the new MacBook Pro features a glowing Apple logo on the top/back of the device, a feature we haven't seen in years.

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GET $50 OFF: As of Oct. 28, you can get the Beats Pill for $99.95, down from $149.95, at Amazon. That's a 33% discount, or $50 in savings.

Beats Pill

$99.95 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $50.00

 

Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy

Summer might be in the rearview, but now it's spooky szn. To me, that means roasting marshmallows, swapping scary stories, and blasting some good tunes by the bonfire. (Can you tell I grew up in the boondocks?) If you haven't found a portable speaker that can handle your funk (or survive being dragged out into the yard), we just found a Beats deal that's definitely worth a look.

Right now, you can get the Beats Pill for $99.95, down from $149.95, at Amazon. That's a 33% discount, or $50 in savings. It's not the lowest price we've ever seen, but it's within 10 bucks of it (it hit $88.99 last September).

You'll get 24 hours of battery life (more than enough to keep you partying through the night) and a built-in racetrack woofer that displaces 90 percent more air than the previous generation. It's also IP67-rated for dust and water resistance, so you can take it just about anywhere.

In a sharp reversal of a long-held company ethos, Apple announced a thinner, lighter MacBook Pro with a tandem OLED touchscreen today at its "Pro and Tell" event in Los Angeles. The new "MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display" runs on the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, has a glowing Apple logo on its lid, and comes in 14- and 16-inch sizes starting at $2,899. It's set for release on Friday, Nov. 6, and preorders are now live.

The new MacBook Pro marks the biggest redesign to Apple's premium laptop since 2021. The company is positioning it as a device for creative professionals with "the most demanding workflows," according to a press release.

Credit: Apple

"The new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display is a monumental step forward for the Mac," said Johny Srouji, Apple’s chief hardware officer. "PROLED XDR is the world’s best laptop display. ... And with the magic of Touch coming to MacBook Pro, combined with the game-changing performance of M5 Pro and M5 Max, we’ve created a whole new way for pros to interact with their content, taking their workflows to a completely new level."

Srouji added: "The new MacBook Pro is the result of the deep integration between Apple silicon, hardware, and software, and there’s simply nothing else like it."

The announcement isn't a total surprise. Apple insiders have been circulating rumors of an OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro since early 2023. But it's certainly a twist, given that prominent Apple executives have spent over a decade and a half dismissing the idea of a touch-enabled MacBook (including now-CEO John Ternus).

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It's not clear what inspired Apple's change of heart, though the logical explanation is that it's simply meeting the competition. Many premium Windows laptops have had OLED touchscreens for years.

The touchscreen MacBook Pro caps off a busy few days of Apple announcements. Earlier this week, the company unveiled an OLED iPad Mini, a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip, an M6-powered iMac, and updates to the Apple Creator Studio suite.

MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display: Specs and features

Credit: Apple

The new MacBook Pro's PROLED XDR display has a 10 to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness, and a 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio for ultra-deep blacks. Apple said its touch sensor is located inside the display panel, not on top of it, to reduce lag. It also has a stronger hinge so it doesn't wobble when you tap it.

Compared to Apple's standard MacBook Pro, which has a non-touch "Liquid Retina XDR" mini-LED display, the new PROLED XDR model has a brighter, sharper picture. It also supports the Adobe RGB color space, not just P3, and has slightly smaller bezels for more usable screen space. Users can still upgrade it with an etched nano-texture (matte) coating for $150 extra.

The new MacBook Pro has a 12MP Center Stage webcam that lives in a hole-punch cutout within the Dynamic Island, an interactive pill-shaped notification area at the top of its screen. (It borrowed this feature from modern iPhones.) Yes, the notch is gone.

Credit: Apple

The new MacBook Pro is powered by the high-end M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, which Apple rolled out in an updated non-touch MacBook Pro this spring. (It's not available with the newer M6 chip.) It's configurable with the same amount of memory — 24GB to 128GB RAM — but its storage maxes out at 16TB SSD, up from 8TB. The beefiest configuration costs a whopping $14,549.

Both sizes of the new MacBook Pro have slimmed down by up to about a millimeter, and they weigh up to 0.7 pounds less than their non-touch counterparts. (The 14-incher is only three pounds.) Apple said it reworked their thermal system so they still run cool despite being so much lighter. They still come in the same two finishes: space black and silver.

Credit: Apple

On the speaker front, the new MacBook Pro has new woofers and tweeters for better bass and clearer sound, respectively. Connectivity-wise, you still get three Thunderbolt 5 ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, WiFi 7, and Bluetooth 6.0.

The new 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,899 with an M5 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. The 16-inch version starts at $3,399 with the same specs.

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Credit: Apple

Apple MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$2,899 at the Apple Store

 

Preorder at the Apple Store

Opens in a new window

Credit: Apple

Apple MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$3,399 at the Apple Store

 

Preorder at the Apple Store

TL;DR: The new 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro goes live on Oct. 28 at Apple. Apple's latest MacBook is set to launch on Nov. 6 with prices starting at $1,999.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Apple

M6 MacBook Pro

$1,999 at Apple

 

Preorder at Apple

The kids are excited about costumes and candy this week, but if you're an Apple fan, we have something that's equally special for you. There's a new MacBook Pro launching early next month, and it's equipped with the M6 Chip.

Preorders for the new 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro go live at Apple on Oct. 28. Prices start at $1,999 for the M6 MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and a standard display. Going with more RAM or storage, or upgrading to the nano-texture display, are all options during preorder. Apple has the launch date set for Nov. 6.

For creatives who need top performance and portability, the new MacBook Pro with the M6 chip could be awesome. In Mashable's lineup of the best MacBooks, the previous M5 MacBook Pro won the award as being the best model for artists, content creators, and casual gamers.

The upgrade to the M6 chip in the 2026 model means this machine is even more powerful. And as a bonus, the new M6 MacBook Pro didn't see a price hike compared to the M5 MacBook Pro. Both start at $1,999.

Great news: Apple says the M6 MacBook Pro can get up to 24 hours of battery life. While we haven't tested it, a true all-day battery life would be a major benefit for creators, students, or busy people.

The base model of the M6 MacBook Pro comes with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, but you can upgrade to 24GB or 32GB of RAM and up to a 4TB SSD. An additional $150 gets you the nano-texture display, which Apple says helps reduce glare and might be ideal for those who work outdoors often.

Get ready to preorder the powerful new M6 MacBook Pro from Oct. 28. The new MacBook officially launches on Nov. 6.

TL;DR: Preorder the new Apple iMac with M6 starting on Oct. 28 so it arrives on its Nov. 6 release day. Prices start at $1,499.

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Credit: Apple

Apple iMac (M6)

 

Preorder

If you've been looking for the right time to upgrade your desktop computer, Apple just dropped a new iMac for the first time since 2024. The company has launched the new desktop, MacBook Pro, and iPad mini as part of the "Pro and Tell" event.

The new iMac skips the M5 chip altogether and opts for the outrageously fast M6 chip. "Everything feels extra snappy and responsive for families managing busy calendars, students putting the finishing touches on a project, and small business owners running their companies," Apple writes in a press release.

As for how speedy it actually is, here's the breakdown:

• Up to 2.5 times faster performance in apps like Microsoft Excel compared to M1 iMac, up to 1.5 times faster than M4 iMac

• Up to 3.3 times faster graphics performance compared to M1 iMac, up to 2 times faster than M4 iMac

• Up to 12 times faster AI performance compared to M1 iMac, up to 5 times faster than M4 iMac

• Up to 2 times higher gaming performance compared to M4 iMac

Aside from the addition of the M6 chip, the new iMac also has the Apple N1 wireless networking chip, alongside Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 on the base model. Otherwise, it's not all that different from the previous M4 iMac from 2024. It still features a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, a 12MP Center Stage camera, up to four USB-C ports, and support for connecting up to two 6K external displays.

The M6 iMacs start at $1,499 for the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU configuration, while the 12-core CPU and GPU model starts at $1,699. In the age of RAMageddon, these prices come as no surprise. The M6 iMac comes in the same shades of green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and standard silver as the M4 iMac.

Where to buy the Apple M6 iMac

The new Apple M6 iMac is available for preorder from Apple starting at 1:10 p.m. ET on Oct. 28. Other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy will likely join the fray shortly after. The desktop computer will be fully available in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers on Friday, Nov. 6.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Apple

Apple iMac (M6)

starting at $1,499

Preorder

TL;DR: The new Apple iPad mini is available to preorder starting Oct. 28. Prices start at $699, and Apple has set the launch date for Nov. 6.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Apple

Apple iPad mini

$699 at Apple

 

Preorder at Apple

Apple has a slew of new products to keep us happy as we head into the finale of 2026. We have the foldable iPhone Duo, a new Apple smart speaker, and now we get to look forward to a new iPad mini. If you loved the old iPad mini or you're looking for a tablet that isn't gigantic, here's how to get your hands on the new iPad mini.

The new Apple iPad mini launches on Nov. 6, and preorders go live at Apple on Oct. 28. Prices start at $699 for the 128GB version with standard glass. You can also go with more storage and get the 256GB model or max out at 512GB. Apple is also offering the iPad mini with nano-texture glass, which starts at $899 for the 256GB model, the smallest offering with the upgraded glass.

The iPad mini is the perfect tablet for anyone who wants a model that's easy to hold and travel-friendly. The 8.5-inch display is larger than the previous model, but the tablet itself is the same size. Apple simply thinned the bezel to make this possible.

In Mashable's review of the previous model, the iPad mini 7th Gen, Senior Tech Editor Stan Schroeder wasn't impressed with Apple's decision to use the A17 Pro chip instead of the A18 Pro. But that's no longer a concern with the new model, because the 2026 iPad mini has the A20 Pro chip.

The OLED display on the new iPad mini 8th Gen has over twice the peak brightness of the 7th Gen, reaching up to 1,200 nits. Additionally, the 12MP center camera will be great for video calls this holiday season. Plus, it's water- and dust-resistant.

In Mashable's review of the best iPads, the 7th-gen iPad mini earned the top spot for reading.

Now's your chance to preorder the 8th-gen iPad mini. Given its small size and portability, it'll be the perfect companion for upcoming holiday travel.

Reddit is following in the footsteps of TikTok (and virtually every other social media app), even if it's a few years later than the rest.

In a company blog post, Reddit announced the rollout of a new "For You" feed for users, which appears on the Reddit homepage.

Reddit says this will start popping up on users' feeds globally in the coming weeks, and it's already live for many users in the United States.

With this change, the Reddit homepage experience will now be divided into two tabs: Following and For You, similar to how other apps like X and TikTok work. The Following tab will strictly show you posts from communities you follow, while For You will blend those with posts from communities you might be interested in.

Often abbreviated to FYP, these "For You" feeds are common across many social media apps.

Credit: Screenshot: Reddit

"At Reddit, good recommendations should help people follow an interest into a community, and from there, into a conversation," the blog post said. "Across thousands of communities, discovery can help people find others who get them, encounter perspectives that broaden their own, and take part in something bigger while sharing their own experiences."

The new feed seems fairly self-explanatory if you've ever used X, Instagram, or Threads, and Reddit's blog post didn't expand much beyond what we've revealed here. As with those other apps, you can freely choose to ignore it if you don't like it, and the app will default to the last one you looked at when you open it next time.

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It appears that Discord has some users spooked.

On Tuesday, Mashable reported on Discord's upcoming changes to its platform, which will see tens of thousands of public servers get indexed on Google Search, along with some of the messages in the servers' channels. That means some Discord conversations may soon appear in Google Search results, similar to how Reddit threads and comments can surface in Google.

The reason for the change is to make Discord's public Discoverable Servers, well, more discoverable, helping those communities grow. However, some Discord users who value the privacy aspects of the platform are concerned about this change. Until Discord made this change, the only way to see messages in a server, regardless of whether it was public or private, was to sign up for Discord and join the specific server.

Looking to delete your Discord message history so that it's not included in Google Search? You don't have to do that. Discord is providing users with a simple way to opt out of their messages being searchable.

Also, if you did want to delete all your Discord messages, you'd have to go through the servers and delete each and every one of your messages individually. Even deleting your Discord account won't remove your past messages.

How to remove your Discord messages from Google 

Discord users can go to their User Settings > Data and Privacy and change their Channel Messages settings. This will ensure that your Discord messages cannot be seen on publicly accessible Server Web Pages that are indexed by search engines. 

Discord may still use the content of users' messages for Channel Summaries on Server Web Pages. However, those summaries will not be connected to specific users, and usernames and avatars won't be shown next to messages on these public Server Web Pages.

How to remove your public Discord server from Google 

If you're a server admin, you can also opt your server out of Google Search indexing. Admins can go to Server Settings > Web Presence on their public server and choose which channels to make searchable. Admins can change these settings to opt out of every one of their server's channels. 

If an admin does not opt out, though, all public channels will be added to the Server Web Page when it goes live next month. Admins can also choose to turn off channel summaries on their Server Web Page. In order to ensure a Server Web Page isn't created for their server, admins must make these changes by Nov. 16, 2026. 

If you're worried about your private server or private messages, there's no need to be. These changes do not affect those servers and messages. They remain completely private and excluded from search engines. Private servers also continue to require an invite to join.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

When it comes to streaming video games, a $500 microphone won't get you 500 viewers. Most new game streamers are lucky to have 100 people watching in their first few months.

It helps to know what makes a difference on day one, whether you're buying gear for yourself or someone on your gift list.

Not even the best gear will make you a good streamer -- personality, practice, and becoming comfortable talking to an audience from an empty room will do that. Start with what you have, and upgrade to better equipment when your audience gives you a reason.

You can watch me walk through the essential streaming gear, along with other holiday shopping advice for the gamers on your list, in a new CNET Group video franchise called Holiday Office Hours From the Labs.

Here’s the short list of what you need to start streaming video games.

Your PC

If your computer already runs your games well, it can probably stream them too. If you’re shopping for a new one, look for three things: At least 16GB of RAM, an SSD instead of a hard drive, and a modern graphics card.

These are important because your PC needs to handle both streaming and gaming. With an SSD, your games can load faster, and a decent-quality graphics card can do the bulk of the work. We recommend the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060.

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Credit: GIGABYTE / NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 5060

$459.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $40

 

Shop Now at Amazon

All the current graphics cards from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel have a built-in hardware encoder, which turns your gameplay into a video stream without slowing down the game. NVIDIA’s encoder is the most widely supported and best-regarded option in free streaming software like OBS. That makes the RTX 5060 the easiest card to set up and forget.

A word of warning: demand from the AI boom has pushed up the prices of RAM and graphics cards, so compare prices before you buy. A prebuilt PC that costs about $1,000 should cover everything above. Used and refurbished listings are worth a look too. I bought my own prebuilt on Facebook Marketplace for $800, and it came with an RTX 5080 Founders Edition card. Deals like that are out there.

Credit: Mashable/Cole Kan

Capture card

If you’re gaming and streaming on the same PC, you can skip a capture card. Free software like OBS captures your gameplay directly. You’ll need one only if you’re streaming from a console or if you use a second PC just for streaming.

If that’s you, our pick is the Elgato 4K S, at about $160.

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Credit: Elgato

Elgato 4K S

$159.67 at Best Buy

 

Shop Now at Best Buy

Microphones

This is the one place we’d tell most new streamers to spend a little extra effort. Your webcam is a small box in the corner of the screen, but your voice carries the whole stream. Viewers will forgive a grainy picture long before they forgive bad audio.

Our pick is a Logitech Creators Blue Yeti, a plug-and-play USB mic that sounds good without extra equipment.

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Credit: Logitech

Logitech Creators Blue Yeti USB Microphone

$99.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $40.00

 

Shop Now at Amazon

But you don’t need a dedicated mic right away. The headset you already own can sound surprisingly good with some basic noise removal and EQ, and there are plenty of free tutorials that show you how. I don’t own a standalone mic myself. When I need to record, I use my Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.

Webcam and lighting

For a webcam, a 1080p model is plenty. The Logitech C920x, at about $70, is our pick.

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Credit: Logitech

Logitech C920x

$69.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Lighting is what makes a cheap camera look expensive. Our pick is the Philips Hue starter kit, at about $140, at the time of this writing. It includes two smart bulbs and the Hue Bridge, the hub that connects them to your Wi-Fi so you can control them from your phone. Govee makes good options for less.

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Credit: Phillips

Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit

$139.86 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $60.13

 

Get Deal at Amazon

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Credit: Govee

Govee Smart Light Bulbs

$39.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

You can also skip smart lighting entirely. Pointing an inexpensive desk lamp at your face, so your monitor isn’t your only light source, goes a long way.

Stream deck

The Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 is a grid of programmable buttons for switching scenes, muting your mic, playing sound effects, and more. It’s great, and it’s our pick when you’re ready for one. But it’s built for people who stream regularly, so you don’t need it on day one.

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Credit: Elgato

Elgato Stream Deck MK.2

$119.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $30.00

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Best early Black Friday unlocked phone deals at a glance

---

Best Google Pixel deal

Google Pixel 10 Pro

$749 (save $250)

Get Deal

---

Best Samsung deal

Samsung Galaxy S26

$789 (save $210.99)

Get Deal

As much as we try to ignore it, having a phone has become a necessity. You can Brick it to stay off doomscrolling apps, but you'll need a phone to accomplish life's most basic tasks these days.

But having a phone isn't all bad. We can use them to take photos, keep in touch with friends, and watch endless hours of Christmas movies. But if your phone can barely hold a charge, has cracks across every angle of the screen, or takes lame photos, it's time for an upgrade.

As an early Black Friday treat, we're seeing nice discounts on models from Samsung, Google, Motorola, and more. Here are the best deals to shop if you're in need of a new phone.

Best Google Pixel deal

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Credit: Google

Google Pixel 10 Pro (128GB)

$749 at Amazon
$999 Save $250

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

The Google Pixel 11 is Mashable's top pick for the best Android phone, but we can't ignore the previous generation. The older but still great Google Pixel 10 Pro is on sale for a major 25% off before Black Friday. The Pixel 10 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, a battery that can last for over 24 hours, and an impressive camera that's great even in low-light.

Best Samsung Galaxy deal

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26

$789 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $210.99

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Unlocked and with 256GB of storage for all your photos and videos, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is already on sale ahead of Black Friday shopping chaos. The Samsung uses the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor for speedy operations across the board.

More unlocked phone deals

• TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro (128GB) — $279.98 $329.99 (save $50.01)

• Motorola Razr (2025, 256GB) — $549.99 $699.99 (save $150)

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB) — $1,349.99 $1,599.99 (save $250)

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 — $1,699.99 $1,899.99 (save $200)

You might need to take a break from salivating over every Grand Theft Auto VI trailer to clear some space on your PS5 or Xbox hard drive.

An X account called PlayStation Game Size allegedly caught wind of the install size for GTA 6 and posted it on Tuesday. Ladies and gentlemen, wait for the reveal...it's apparently 210GB. That's pretty huge (though still not as big as Call of Duty), which should be a surprise to no one. However, given that a base PS5 has a little less than 1TB of usable storage space, you might need to do some virtual inventory management if you also keep other big games installed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

A 210GB file size for a purely single-player (for now) game is massive. Just to compare it to a couple of other major open-world games from this console generation, Elden Ring is only about 65GB, Assassin's Creed Shadows was just north of 100GB, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 asked for 98GB of space on your hard drive. That doesn't necessarily mean GTA 6 is twice as big as those games, as a lot of different variables can factor into file size, but it does mean that it's probably pretty huge regardless of how it compares to anything else.

Only a few more weeks now until it's finally in our hands. Remember: GTA 6 officially launched Nov. 19.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

SAVE $50: The brand-new Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are on sale at Woot for $99, down from $149. That scores you a $50 discount (34% off) on Apple's latest open-ear noise-cancelling buds.

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Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods 4

$99 at Walmart
$149 Save $50

 

Get Deal at Walmart

Apple’s brand-new AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation just took a massive price cut at Woot, dropping down to $99 from their standard $149 retail price. That is a straight $50 discount for a pair of earbuds that just hit the market. Apple managed to bring legitimate active noise cancellation to an open-ear design, ditching the silicone tips that many people find uncomfortable on the AirPods Pro.

Mashable’s Kimberly Gedeon awarded them a 4.6/5 score and a Mashable Choice Award. When she took them on an eight-hour flight across 3,319 miles, the earbuds handled the high-pitched drone of airplane engines and airport chaos with ease, while outlasting Apple’s battery ratings by clocking 5 hours and 12 minutes on a single charge with ANC turned on.

The AirPods 4 run on the upgraded H2 chip, which powers handy perks like Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness to lower your volume automatically when you start speaking to someone. Voice Isolation cleans up loud street noise during calls, while Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking gives music and movies an expansive, theater-like vibe.

The hardware received a subtle shape overhaul for a more stable one-size-fits-most fit, complete with an IP54 dust, sweat, and water resistance rating on both the buds and the case. That redesigned charging case is the smallest in the industry with wireless charging support, powering up via USB-C, standard Qi pads, or even an Apple Watch charger puck, with an integrated speaker for Find My tracking.

Get this no-brainer AirPods 4 deal while it lasts.

TL;DR: The Amazon Echo Show 16 is available for preorder for $399.99 (normally $499.99) at Amazon when you click the on-screen coupon. That's a $100 discount on a smart display that doesn't even release until Dec. 16.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Echo Show 16

$399.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $100

 

Preorder at Amazon

Amazon just launched a new lineup of smart home tech, including an Alexa Photo Frame, an upgraded Echo Dot, and the Echo Show 16 — Amazon's "most advanced" Echo Show yet.

Right now, you can preorder the Amazon Echo Show 16 for $399.99 at Amazon. Its sticker price is $499.99, so if you want to get it on sale before the holidays, now's your chance. This $100 discount is a limited-time introductory offer (via an on-screen coupon), and we don't expect it to last much longer after its official launch on Dec. 16.

The Echo Show 16 features a 16-inch display (10 percent larger than the Echo Show 15), Alexa voice remote, and built-in Fire TV. You can access thousands of apps, including your fave streaming platforms, manage your calendar, and order groceries, all with the touch of a button or Alexa+.

It also acts as a smart home hub, featuring a new Alexa Home Map that lets you scan your house with an iPhone to create a virtual layout of your devices. (I mean, IDK if that's a great idea, but if you're fully invested in the ecosystem, it makes controlling your lights and cameras pretty seamless.) It even comes with a wall mount right in the box, though you'll have to buy a stand separately if you prefer keeping it on the counter.

The best early Black Friday deals under $25:

---

best Amazon device deal

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

$19.99 (save $40 with Prime-exclusive on-page coupon)

Get Deal

---

best apple deal

Apple AirTag (2nd gen)

$23 (save $6)

Get Deal

---

best toy deal

Play-Doh Blooms Rosy Petite Flower Bouquet

$18.74 (save $6.25)

Get Deal

---

best home deal

Blink Mini 2K+

$16.99 (save $33)

Get Deal

Working with a smaller budget this holiday season? You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to pick up a great gift for White Elephant or treat yourself to something awesome. Believe it or not, you can grab plenty of deals for less than $25 during Black Friday sales.

Technically, Black Friday is still a few weeks away, but there are already lots of inexpensive items available. To point you in the right direction, we've rounded up some of our favorite deals we've spotted so far.

As with every major sale, we'll be keeping an eye on all the best deals leading up to and during Black Friday 2026. We'll update this list with any new budget friendly steals that pop up. For now, here are the best early Black Friday deals under $25.

Best early Black Friday deal under $25

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2026)

$19.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $40

with Prime-exclusive on-page coupon

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Every Fire TV Stick was hit with a price increase this year, but we're still seeing drastic discounts ahead of Black Friday. For instance: the brand-new Fire TV Stick 4K (just released last month) is on sale for just under $20 for Prime members, thanks to an on-page coupon. This recent release effectively replaces the 4K Select, though it just came out last year. Amazon heard the cries of customers over the 4K Select's limited app store and added over 2,000 more apps (including Spotify, Xbox, VLC, and a range of VPNs). It also comes with the Vega 2.0 OS, 8GB of storage, a quad-core 1.7GHz processor, support for WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, HDR10+, HLG, Alexa+, and a redesigned remote.

More early Black Friday deals under $25

• Anker USB-C to USB-C Cable (2-pack) — $9.99 $12.99 (save $3)

• Play-Doh Blooming Flower Garden Playset — $14 $23.99 (save $9.99)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select — $14.99 $49.99 (save $35 with on-page code SELECT4K)

• Blink Mini 2K+ — $16.99 $39.99 (save $33)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick HD — $17.99 $39.99 (save $22 with on-page code HDFTV)

• Play-Doh Blooms Rosy Petite Flower Bouquet — $18.74 $24.99 (save $6.25)

• Play-Doh PD Blooms Wildflower Petite Bouquet — $18.74 $24.99 (save $6.25)

• Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10)

• Yeti Rambler Travel Bottle (22-ounce) — $21 $28 (save $7)

• Apple AirTag (2nd gen) — $23 $29 (save $6)

• Blink Wired Doorbell 2K+ — $23.99 $49.99 (save $26)

• Anker Nano Power Bank — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)

• Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go — $23.99 $34.99 (save $11)

• Yeti Rambler Ceramic Lined Mug (10-ounce) — $24 $30 (save $6)

• Bluey Cruise Ship Playset — $25 $59.99 (save $34.99)

SAVE 75%: Proton VPN's Black Friday sale drops its two-year VPN Plus subscription down to $2.49 per month (billed as $59.76 for 24 months) — save 75% off the standard monthly rate.

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Credit: Proton VPN

Proton VPN (2-Year Plan)

 

Get Deal at Proton VPN

If you have been putting off getting a VPN because you didn’t want to add another expensive monthly bill to your plate, this is the time to pounce. Proton VPN has rolled out its biggest sale of the year for Black Friday, slashing 75% off its two-year VPN Plus plan. That brings the price down from the regular $9.99 per month to just $2.49 per month (billed all at once as $59.76 for the first 24 months).

The biggest hesitation most people have with VPNs is simple: can you actually trust the company with your private browsing?

With Proton, the answer is built into the foundation. Unlike many providers that keep your data behind closed doors, Proton’s software is completely open-source, so independent security experts can inspect the code at any time. It runs on a strict no-logs policy, so whatever you search, stream, or click never gets tracked, stored, or sold off to advertisers.

Of course, solid privacy doesn't mean much if your connection grinds to a halt every time you try to stream a show. Proton solves that by giving you unlimited bandwidth with zero speed throttling across a massive network of over 20,000 high-speed servers in more than 140 countries. Thanks to its VPN Accelerator, which boosts speeds up to 400%, you can stream movies while traveling without annoying lag or buffering.

Plus, a single subscription covers up to 10 devices at once, keeping your phone, laptop, tablet, and smart TV protected under one login. Besides keeping prying eyes off your traffic, it actively cleans up your daily web experience. The built-in NetShield feature acts as an automatic bodyguard, wiping out annoying pop-up ads, trackers, and malicious phishing sites before they even have a chance to load.

If you're still on the fence, you may as well take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee to see how it handles your daily browsing. Just keep in mind that once those initial 24 months wrap up, it rolls into a yearly renewal at $83.88 unless you turn off auto-renew.

Grab the two-year plan for $2.49 a month while the lowest price of the year is still live.

At the first signs of fall, I'm getting cozy. As the leaves turn and temperatures drop, you'll find me under a pile of blankets with a warm beverage in hand. I relish getting into bed every night and getting under the covers with a good book, but there's nothing worse than cold hands. That's the appeal of a page-turning remote so you can turn the pages on your e-reader with your hands under the covers.

The market for e-reader remotes is incredibly popular. There are plenty of cheap ones being sold on Amazon, which inspired Kobo and Boox to make remotes to pair natively with their e-readers. Amazon has finally caught up with the release of its Kindle Click. I was more excited about the first Kindle remote than I was about the new Kindles, and I'm pleased to report it doesn't disappoint.

What to know about the Kindle Click

The Kindle Click lets you turn the page and adjust the brightness on your Kindle. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Kindle Click is a page-turning remote that connects to Kindle devices. It comes with two buttons that turn the page forward or back, and you can customize which does what in your Kindle settings. It also has two buttons on the side to adjust the screen brightness on your Kindle.

It connects to your device via Bluetooth. Pair it with your device by holding down any button until the light flashes blue, then find the device in your Kindle's Bluetooth settings. The remote stays connected, but you will need to wake it by pressing any button.

It's USB-C rechargeable and connects to all Kindles released in 2024 and onward. It costs $34.99 and is available to purchase on Amazon.

It's a breeze to use, with no screen obstruction

Plenty of people have gotten creative with page-turning remotes being sold on Amazon. The off-brand models usually have two components: one to tap the screen and another that operates as the remote. Having tested these, they work perfectly fine, except that they can't turn the page backward, and the screen clip obstructs the screen.

The Kindle Click is a much more sophisticated option as it connects via Bluetooth. It's just one remote, no screen-tapping clip required, aka no screen obstruction. It's also lightweight and easy to navigate by touch. The buttons have a nice tactile feel, so you can tell where the buttons are without looking. An optional wrist lanyard comes with the device, which I do find helpful as someone who has both a tendency to doze off while reading and a proclivity for losing remotes in blankets.

If I had any complaints about the Kindle Click, I do wish it had a slight curve, like the Kobo remote, to make it more ergonomic.

The brightness buttons are genius

Adjust the brightness on your Kindle with the Kindle Click and your hands stay cozy under the covers. Credit: Samanta Mangino / Mashable

I would have been totally pleased if the Kindle Click came as is with its two page-turning buttons, but what absolutely blew me away was the inclusion of buttons to adjust the screen brightness. When you have your hands tucked under the covers, you don't want to reach for anything, but the other setting I most commonly adjust is screen brightness.

Every time I use the remote, I find myself needing to adjust the brightness, and those buttons are such a nice touch. It's not something I'd think to ask for, but I'm so glad it's there.

I wish it worked with more Kindles

Amazon is known to phase out Kindles, but plenty of models are still supported. That's why it's such a bummer that the Kindle Click only works with 2024 and 2026 Kindles. Since the 10th generation of the Kindle Paperwhite was released in 2018, the devices have included Bluetooth, allowing you to connect headphones to listen to audiobooks. Since the Kindle Click connects via Bluetooth, I'd think any Kindle with Bluetooth could pair with it. That is not the case, excluding many Kindle users.

So if you want to use a Kindle Click, you'll need to own or upgrade to a 2024 or 2026 Kindle.

Is the Kindle Click worth it?

While you technically don't *need* the Kindle Click, it's nice to have. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

If you own a 2024 or 2026 Kindle, you should absolutely scoop up a Kindle Click. It's only $34.99, which is $5 more than Kobo's remote and slightly more expensive than the cheaper remotes you can find elsewhere, but it can do more. You can customize which buttons turn the page and adjust the screen brightness on the remote. It's well-designed and lightweight in your hand, with tactile buttons that make it easy to navigate by touch.

Sure, you don't need the Kindle Click, but it will level up your cozy evenings spent reading.

Kindle Click

$34.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

I'm the first to say you don't always need the newest product, but these new Kindles make it hard to resist. When Amazon revealed the new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, it popped with its new colorful aluminum finish, but with most of its changes on the outside, I had to see just how much impact it would have on the e-reader's overall performance and value.

But the upgrades aren't just superficial. After Amazon raised prices across its devices, there's added pressure to make sure the tech measures up to its higher price. After a few weeks with the new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, Amazon did a phenomenal job on its new e-reader, making it worthy of the increased price.

What's new in the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition?

The new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition has an aluminum case and compatibility with all of Amazon's new accessories. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The changes between the 2024 and 2026 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Editions are visible. With a new aluminum casing, it feels more like an iPad Mini than it does the previous Kindle. But it still has the same matte paper-like display with adjustable brightness and warmth. The power button on the e-reader was moved from the bottom to the side of the device, a welcome change.

A big draw on the new Paperwhite Signature Edition is the compatible accessories. Amazon also released the Kindle Click, its first page-turning remote. While the Click is compatible with all 2024 and 2026 Kindle e-readers, Amazon's new Page Turn Cover is exclusively compatible with the 2026 Paperwhite Signature Edition and Colorsoft Signature Edition.

What's the difference between the Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition?

In the past, the Paperwhite has been Amazon's flagship e-reader, with the Paperwhite Signature Edition being the more luxe option. However, with the 2026 redesign, it seems like the script has been flipped, with Amazon pushing the Signature Edition while the standard Paperwhite takes a back seat.

Plenty remains the same between the devices. They have the same 7-inch screen with 300 ppi resolution and adjustable warmth and brightness. Both are waterproof with IPX8 ratings and 12-week battery life. The new devices also have easy-to-open back panels to make replacing the battery that much easier.

The Paperwhite is the cheaper option at $199.99, but it comes with only 16GB of storage (which, to be fair, is still plenty) and is available in graphite with a plastic casing. The Signature Edition is more expensive at $249.99, but comes with 32GB of storage and is available in the aluminum finish in seaglass green and graphite. Beyond its nicer finish, it also has an ad-free lockscreen, automatic front-light adjustment, a rotating screen, and wireless charging. The real perk of the Paperwhite Signature Edition is its compatibility with the Page Turn Cover, which adds page-turning buttons to your Kindle.

It feels as expensive as it is

The aluminum casing makes the Paperwhite Signature Edition feel like a tablet rather than an e-reader. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The aluminum case on the Paperwhite Signature Edition is nearly enough to justify its $250 price tag. The Paperwhite Signature Edition is about the same size as the previous generation, but it's about one millimeter thinner and 10 grams lighter. Compared to the previous generation, it has squared edges and an aluminum case, making it feel more like a tablet or smartphone.

The pogo pins on the back of the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition connect to Amazon's Page Turn Cover. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Plus, it comes in a neutral graphite, but the seaglass green is a vibrant alternative that's really dazzling. It now feels like more sophisticated tech, which is enough for me to justify its price tag.

Its performance is great, but is it really better?

One thing I feel certain about Kindles is that they're fast — easily the quickest e-readers we've tested. Every time a new Kindle is released, Amazon touts that they're some percentage faster than a previous generation; that's the case with this year's base Kindle, which Amazon says is 30 percent faster. However, that claim is missing on the Paperwhite Signature Edition.

This year's Paperwhite Signature Edition still has quick processing time, but it doesn't seem faster than the previous generation. Before trying the 2026 model, I read with the 2024 Paperwhite Signature Edition daily, and I didn't notice any changes in processing speed between the two e-readers. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as it was already a zippy e-reader.

With a rotating screen, the page-turn cover is a must

Screen rotation lets you use the Page Turn Cover buttons on the right... Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

...or left side of the device. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Since Amazon discontinued the Kindle Oasis, Kindle users have been shouting from the rooftops that they want a Kindle with page-turning buttons. As reported by The Verge, Amazon has said it won't be making Kindles with buttons, but it's offering something in between. The new Kindle Page Turn Cover now magnetically attaches to Signature Edition Kindles and lets you turn the page by pressing the buttons on the case.

The case works seamlessly, and Amazon added a key feature to the Paperwhite Signature Edition — a rotating screen. The rotating screen is key when using page-turning buttons. That way, when you're reading in bed and want to roll over and switch sides, you can rotate the device to use your preferred hand, and the screen rotates too. The only downside is that you have to buy the cover separately for $79.99.

The Kindle pulldown menu on the Paperwhite Signature Edition now includes a screen rotation lock. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

We initially had a problem with the screen rotation, as the unit we were testing didn't support it. This appeared to be a glitch, and Amazon replaced the model. On the Paperwhite Signature Edition, the screen rotation worked seamlessly. In the pull-down menu, there's an option to lock the rotation too, if you don't want your screen to rotate while in use.

Is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition worth its price?

With an upgraded aluminum case, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition feels expensive and earns its price tag. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Yes, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is worth its $249.99 price tag. In fact, I think it's the first Signature Edition to really be worth the upgrade. It has the same perks as before, like 32GB of storage and automatic brightness adjustment, but what puts it a step above is its finer casing materials. It feels like a more advanced piece of tech, so while it's still the same reliable Kindle platform, it has a more sophisticated build.

Not to mention, its rotating screen and compatibility with the Kindle Page Turn Cover make it the most versatile and functional Kindle yet.

If you're ready to upgrade your e-reader, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is the absolute best one you can buy. If you want something more budget-friendly but equally colorful, go for the standard Kindle. But if you're wondering if the Paperwhite Signature Edition is worth its price, without a doubt, it is.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

$249.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

When I heard that new Kindles were coming, there was one thing I wanted above all else — page-turning buttons. Few e-readers have them, which is why I love the Kobo Libra Colour so much. Unfortunately, Amazon isn't reviving the Kindle Oasis, but it did introduce the next best thing: the Kindle Page Turn Cover.

The new accessory is compatible with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and Colorsoft Signature Edition e-readers, and, in addition to protecting your Kindle, it adds buttons to it. While testing the newest Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, I tried the new cover, and it's the perfect e-reader companion.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Amazon Kindle Page Turn Cover

$79.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

How does the Kindle Page Turn Cover work?

The case connects to the device through pogo pins. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Kindle Page Turn Cover has no battery and doesn't need to be charged. To set up the cover, all you need to do is place your Kindle (Signature Edition models only) into the case, and it's ready to use. The cover connects via pogo pins that press into the port on the back of the Kindle.

You can customize the buttons of the cover in the settings of your Kindle. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The case has two buttons that you can customize to go back or forward in your Kindle's settings. Plus, when you rotate your Kindle to use the opposite hand, it preserves which button turns the page forward or back. The cover snaps shut magnetically. It wakes the screen or puts it to sleep, and you can fold it over while in use so it stays flat.

It couldn't be easier to use

In addition to page-turn buttons, this case also has an automatic wake/sleep cover. Credit: Samatha Mangino / Mashable

The appeal of accessories like AirPods for iPhone users is their seamless connectivity. Kindle has essentially done its own version of that with the Kindle Page Turn Cover. It works perfectly with the Kindle Signature Edition models, and I was so pleased at how quickly I could start using it. Once it's in, the buttons work immediately.

Adjusting the settings is a breeze too. There's now an accessories tab in the Kindle settings where you can adjust which button turns the page forward or back. Once I had mine set up, I tucked in for a cozy night of reading.

The Kindle Page Turn Cover works no matter what hand you read with. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The best part is that when I was lying in bed reading, if I rolled over to swap hands, I rotated the device and the screen followed suit. Plus, the button orientation stays the same when rotated.

It's so unbelievably easy to use that anyone, no matter how tech-savvy, can use it. With no battery in the case, you never have to worry about charging it either.

It's perfectly designed — with extremely limited compatibility

From the outside, the Kindle Page Turn Cover isn't normally what I'd go for in a case. It's a little plain, and I usually like a MagSafe case over a sleep cover case. But I can't deny how perfectly it's designed. It's slim and sturdy without adding any bulk to the device.

The Amazon Kindle Page Turn Cover adds a seven-millimeter edge to your e-reader. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The case adds a seven-millimeter edge to the screen, with two well-placed buttons you can easily tap. Since it's so thin, I thought the edge wouldn't provide enough grip, but it ended up being totally comfortable for hours of reading.

What really impresses me is how well the cover folds flat. With the magnetic closure, it snaps tightly to the back of the cover and stays totally out of the way, so you're not dealing with a cover flapping around while you're trying to binge-read the latest Sarah J. Maas.

When folded, the Page Turn Cover is still exceptionally thin. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

But here's the bummer of the cover. It only works with two Kindles: the Paperwhite Signature Edition and the Colorsoft Signature Edition, meaning the basic Kindle and Paperwhite don't work with it.

Take it to the pool or beach because it's waterproof, too

The Kindles that are compatible with the Page Turn Cover are both waterproof, and luckily, so is this case. It's made from plant-based leather (primarily composed of corn and viscose fiber) and has a plush microfiber interior screen. The case has an IPX8 rating, which covers splashes and rain, and is the same IP rating as Kindle Signature Edition e-readers.

I don't love its price

My least favorite thing about the Kindle Page Turn Cover is its price. At $79.99, that's an incredibly expensive case, since you can find plenty on Amazon for under $15. Yes, this case does a lot more than a typical protective case, but $80 is still a lot, especially when you factor in the cost of the e-reader.

This case only works with the 2026 Paperwhite and Colorsoft Signature Editions, meaning if you're buying this case, you're also buying a new e-reader. The Paperwhite Signature Edition costs $249.99, while the Colorsoft Signature Edition is $319.99. That means for both a new Kindle and e-reader you're paying over $300 and in the case of the Colorsoft, nearly $400.

Is the Kindle Page Turn Cover worth it?

If you're buying the new Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, the Page Turn Cover is an essential accessory. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

As much as I don't like the price of the Kindle Page Turn Cover, I think it's an exceptional accessory. If you miss the buttons on Amazon's now-discontinued Kindle Oasis, this cover fills the void. There's practically no setup, and it works seamlessly. The design is a marvel, too, as it's fully waterproof and comfortable for your next reading marathon.

For me? It's definitely coming along with me as I dive into A Court of Splintered Harmony.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Kindle Page Turn Cover

$79.99

 

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Amazon has made several new product announcements this year — including the exciting new Kindle lineup. The retail giant is back with another round of updates; this time in the smart home space. Amazon unveiled the new Echo Dot, Echo Studio with Home Camera, Echo Time, Echo Show 16, and Alexa Photo Frame.

All but the Echo Show 16 are available beginning Oct. 28 — the Echo Show 16 is available for preorder today, shipping later this year.

I got an early first look at the devices, so let's dig into what's new:

Echo Dot

The new Echo Dot comes in graphite, glacier white, agave green, and coral pink. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The new Echo Dot's focus is two-fold: Better music listening and more advanced smart capabilities. It features a full-range driver for more back volume, delivering clear vocals and 50 percent more bass than the previous generation.

The smart speaker is powered by Amazon's AZ3 custom silicon, which enables advanced on-device processing for faster, more natural conversations through Alexa+. It's equipped with four microphones, up from the previous gen's three, which helps Alexa better hear you as you move around the room and determine who's speaking to personalize the experience.

Echo Dot users likely have other smart devices, and the new Echo Dot serves as a smart home hub with built-in support for Zigbee, Matter, and Thread, enabling them to control thousands of devices straight out of the box.

Arguably the coolest feature of the new Echo Dot is its ability to act as an eero WiFi extender, which adds up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to an existing eero network. The Echo Dot retails for $99.99 and is available in graphite, glacier white, agave green, and coral pink colorways.

Amazon Echo Dot (2026)

$99.99 at Amazon

 

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Echo Studio with Home Camera

Amazon's best-sounding speaker now comes with even more smart capabilities. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Remaining Amazon's best-sounding speaker, the Echo Studio with Home Camera got updated with, you guessed it, an onboard camera. It features Dolby Atmos sound that fills the room with spatial audio — the new Advanced Room Adaptation senses your space and automatically adapts the room's acoustics.

The camera expands Alexa+'s capabilities. It can tell who's who, meaning each household member can ask Alexa to play music, and it'll pull from their individual playlists. You can also drop into a room in the Alexa app if you need to check in on a pet or make sure you've turned off the lights before leaving home. And you can hold up items in front of the camera, and Alexa will help you with myriad questions or tasks. Alexa can tell you the rules to a board game you hold up or help visually impaired people determine what's in their hands.

If you have a Fire TV (or Fire TV Stick), you can pair the Echo Studio with the Home Camera to make video calls on the big screen.

In terms of privacy, the camera doesn't record; it just streams live. And there are indicators when the camera is active. Like all Echo devices, there's a dedicated button to turn the microphones and cameras on/off.

The Echo Studio with Home Camera retails for $249.99 and is available in graphite.

Amazon Echo Studio with Home Camera

$249.99 at Amazon

 

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Echo Time

The Echo Time is super customizable. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The Echo Time builds on what Amazon did with the Echo Spot and has even more reasons to earn a place on your nightstand. Amazon's team designed it to be a clock first — they didn't want it to feel like an on-your-face digital asset. It doesn't have a camera, and the clock face screen is the main feature. You can personalize the clock face and choose different widgets, such as date and time or weather, to display on it.

With Echo Time, you can customize your wind-down or wake-up routines. The device has sensors that monitor your breathing and detect when you're in lighter sleep. It wakes you at your optimal sleep stage within 10 to 60 minutes of your set alarm, helping you wake up feeling less groggy. It's not like the Hatch Sleep Clock, which fully tracks your sleep stages, but there are some similarities.

The display adapts throughout the day to mimic natural sunlight, dimming and reducing blue light at night. If you have smart lights, you can pair the two to wake you up together with a sunrise and gentle sounds.

There's also a kids' version of the Echo Time, which has more fun designs and engaging clock faces. The Amazon Kids Echo Time features support for Amazon Kids+ and Sleep Studio. The latter turns the device into a complete bedtime system, with curated sleep content from Headspace, Calm, and Moshi.

While the standard Echo Time is geared more toward waking up, the kids' version is designed to aid bedtime and help kids sleep better.

Amazon Echo Time

$199.99 at Amazon

 

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Echo Show 16

The Echo Show 16 is a comprehensive smart home hub. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The Echo Show 16 is Amazon's most powerful Echo Show yet. It features three new Screen Styles, so your home screen can act either as a smart home hub, family organizer, or digital photo frame. It also comes loaded with the full Fire TV experience, so you can watch your favorite shows and movies while you cook (or wherever you place your device).

The new Echo Show has 10 percent more viewing area than the Echo Show 15, is 40 percent thinner with a sleek aluminum frame, and can be wall-mounted or placed on a stand. It's equipped with eight custom micro woofers and two tweeters for full sound no matter where it's placed.

Amazon heavily considered what the UI of AI should feel and look like. So, they've redesigned Alexa conversations. Rather than just a list of transcripts, your conversations now appear as cards grouped by category or ask. You can tap into the cards, and a rich conversation unfolds. In addition to your back-and-forth with Alexa, you'll see suggested next steps, related videos, and more.

So, for example, let's say you've asked Alexa about planning a trip to hike and see fall foliage in New York. Alexa will create a card, and once you tap in, you might find suggested hikes from AllTrails, YouTube videos of peak foliage times, and suggestions of other excursions to do while you're there.

Left: Your conversations appear as cards. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Right: Tap into one and you'll get a comprehensive conversation with Alexa. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Within the smart home hub on the Echo Show 16, you'll be able to access the new Alexa Home Map, which lets you virtually map your home to control all of your smart devices room by room. To set it up, enter your address, then walk through your home, scanning each room with a compatible iPhone. Once the map is created, you can place your devices where they sit in your home. The map is interactive, so if you turn on a smart light in real life, you'll see it glow on the map as well. It also integrates with Ring cameras, so you can get a comprehensive view of what's happening in and around your house.

The Echo Show 16 is available for preorder today, but won't ship until closer to the holidays. It retails for $499.99 for a standard display, or $569.99 with a Nanomatte display. However, if you preorder the device, you'll get an introductory price that's $100 off MSRP.

Amazon Echo Show 16

$499.99 at Amazon

 

Preorder at Amazon

Alexa Photo Frame

The Alexa Photo Frame blends in with your home decor with black, birch, and walnut finishes. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Digital photo frames are not new technology, but Amazon is bringing Alexa to a digital frame, making it one of the smartest options in the category. The Alexa Photo Frame has a 10-inch anti-glare touchscreen display. It syncs with the Amazon Photos app, which provides unlimited storage with a Prime membership. Again, the team didn't want this product to scream "digital asset," and, having seen it in person, it blends in incredibly well with printed, framed photos.

It does more than just cycle through your camera roll. Alexa intelligently groups images based on people, places, and activities. And to avoid black bars on the sides of portrait-mode images, Alexa will place two vertical photos side by side, grouped by context. So, you might find two photos from your trip to Japan side by side, or an image of your kid at 6 years old next to a photo of them graduating from college (Alexa's gunning for the waterworks). You can also ask Alexa to show you specific images, like "Show me all the photos of our trip to Japan," and Alexa will cycle through that specific photo set.

Within the Alexa Photos app, you can also attach voice notes to individual photos. This adds a touch of sentimental value and acts as the writing on the back of a printed photo, explaining when and where it was taken.

The Alexa Photo Frame would be an awesome holiday gift, especially for parents. I know my mom would absolutely love one. And Amazon knows that, too. These are actually set up to be extremely giftable. You can buy a frame for somebody else, and you'll get a link to collaborate and fill their Photo Frame with images from your library. And you can add a special touch with voice notes.

The Alexa Photo Frame starts at $199.99 in the black finish, and costs $229 for the real birch or walnut wood frames.

Amazon Alexa Photo Frame

$199.99 at Amazon

 

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TL;DR: De’Longhi just launched its redesigned All-in-One Combination Coffee and Espresso Machine for $349.95, with a 20% smaller footprint, quick cold brew, six drip-brew sizes, and a dedicated cold-foam frother.

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Credit: De'Longhi

De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee and Espresso Machine

$349.95 at Best Buy

 

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Finding one coffee maker that can please everyone in a home is rarely simple. Some mornings call for a classic pot of drip coffee, while afternoons and evenings demand a double espresso, an iced latte, or a matcha topped with protein cold foam. De’Longhi has spent the last decade building a reputation around hybrid brewing, and the brand has given its flagship All-in-One Combination Coffee & Espresso Machine a complete, modern redesign to keep up with how much daily drink routines have shifted.

The redesign trims the machine’s overall counter space by 20% while expanding its brewing capacity. On the drip side, you can choose from six sizes, ranging from a quick 8-ounce cup or a 20-ounce travel tumbler to a half carafe or a full 12-cup glass carafe. Beyond standard Classic and Bold strengths, there is an Over Ice setting and a rapid Cold Brew mode that extracts a smooth, chilled cup in a few minutes, skipping the typical overnight steep.

The espresso system relies on a 15-bar Italian pump with single- and double-shot presets, paired with a fast-heating Thermoblock system and electronic temperature control to keep extraction flavors balanced. The milk frothing setup is split into two specialized tools. An adjustable two-setting steam wand handles dairy and plant-based alternatives like oat or almond milk, creating everything from silky steamed milk to dense microfoam for latte art. For cold drinks, there's a built-in, retractable cold frother engineered specifically to whip milk into velvety cold foam for chilled favorites.

Operating the machine is handled through a front-facing digital touchscreen that replaces mechanical switches with programmable controls. De'Longhi also included an adjustable dual-shelf system, featuring a fold-away cup platform that fits everything from small demitasse cups to tall latte glasses and travel mugs. A generous removable water reservoir sits in the back for easy refilling, and the machine is designed to cover the full spectrum of a coffee shop menu on a single countertop.

The redesigned All-in-One is now available for $349.95 on De'Longhi's website and at major retailers nationwide. Getting this all-in-one coffee machine feels like a fair trade to keep a classic drip lover and an iced-latte fan satisfied from the same counter.

TL;DR: T-Mobile is overhauling its unlimited plans with T-Mix — starting at $55 a month with AutoPay — trading traditional bundled perks for customizable "Picks" and slightly lower single-line pricing.

T-Mobile is shuffling its lineup once again. After nudging rates upward over the past couple of years, the carrier is introducing T-Mix, a trio of plans built around an à la carte menu of digital freebies.

Instead of baking the same streaming bundle into everyone's account, T-Mobile gives you a monthly allotment of Picks that you can redeem for entertainment apps, food delivery perks, airline miles, or connectivity upgrades.

The lineup lands in November and comes in three tiers (all assuming AutoPay with a debit card, bank account, or T-Mobile Visa, with taxes and government fees billed separately):

• T-Mix Standard ($55/month for one line) — Comes with 50GB of premium data, 480p standard-definition streaming, zero high-speed mobile hotspot (you're throttled to basic 3G speeds), and 1 Pick.

• T-Mix More ($75/month for one line) — Bumps you to unlimited premium data, 4K streaming, 60GB of high-speed mobile hotspot, solid international roaming (15GB in Canada/Mexico, 5GB abroad), and 2 Picks.

• T-Mix Loaded ($95/month for one line) — Delivers unlimited premium data, 4K streaming, a massive 250GB mobile hotspot allowance, hefty roaming data (30GB in Canada/Mexico, 15GB abroad), and 3 Picks.

Adding extra lines also grows your pool of Picks. Lines two and three add the same allotment as your base plan, while a fourth line adds one extra Pick on Standard and More, and two on Loaded. Discounted versions will also be available for seniors (55+), military and veterans, first responders, and college students.

How the Picks actually work

T-Mobile gives you a set monthly allowance of credits to spend on a menu of add-ons. Basic services cost one Pick, while pricier ad-free plans and gaming passes cost more:

• 1-Pick freebies — Ad-supported Netflix, ad-supported Hulu, Apple TV (for a limited promotional window), Paramount+ Essential, DoorDash DashPass, Google AI Plus, Pandora Plus, SiriusXM app access, YouTube Premium Lite, 500 Delta SkyMiles each month, or T-Satellite roaming (via Starlink).

• 2-Pick freebies — Ad-free YouTube Premium, Apple Music Individual, Google AI Pro, Pandora Premium, or Xbox Game Pass Premium.

• 3- to 4-Pick freebies — Higher-tier upgrades like Netflix Standard (ad-free) or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for 3 Picks, and ESPN Unlimited or Netflix Premium for 4 Picks.

You are not stuck with your choices forever, either. You can swap your partner perks four times a year — during three dedicated change windows plus an “Annual Remix” window — while network-level add-ons like T-Satellite can be toggled whenever you want.

All tiers still include standard weekly discount drops through T-Mobile Tuesdays. You can also bank one to three Picks per line to unlock discounted pricing or trade-in deals when upgrading your phone.

Will T-Mix actually save you money?

It depends on how many lines you need and how willing you are to strategize over subscription vouchers. If you only need one or two lines, T-Mix More and Loaded can actually come in lower than previous Experience and Go5G equivalents. If you already pay cash out of pocket for perks like DashPass or YouTube Premium, the bundled value adds up quickly.

Families, however, have good reason to pause. Because older setups frequently leaned on third-line-free promotions, accounts with three or four lines could easily pay more under T-Mix than on legacy plans.

Don't forget about extra fees, either. Unlike classic Magenta and Go5G setups that rolled regulatory surcharges and taxes straight into the advertised rate, T-Mix bills them on top, so your final credit card charge will inevitably run several dollars higher than the sticker price.

T-Mobile says existing subscribers will not be forced off their current plans right away, but the carrier is pulling older options from its website and moving them to in-store-only sales.

If you are happy with what you are paying and already use the freebies tied to your account, the smartest move right now is to do absolutely nothing.

SAVE $400: The 55-inch LG C6 OLED 4K TV is down to $999.99 at Amazon, saving you $400 off its regular $1,399.99 price.

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Credit: LG

LG 55-inch C6 evo AI OLED 4K TV

$999.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $400

 

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Finding a current-year flagship OLED from LG for under four digits usually requires waiting for holiday doorbusters, but Amazon is jumping ahead of the calendar.

The 2026 55-inch LG OLED evo AI C6 4K Smart TV is down to $999.99, shaving a clean $400 off its usual $1,399.99 sticker price. The C6 packs over 8.3 million self-lit pixels, delivering the pure, ink-black contrast and vibrant colors OLED is famous for, backed by LG’s Brightness Booster to keep highlights punchy.

Running the entire show behind the panel is the new a11 AI Processor Gen 3. Compared to the older A9 chip, this silicon jump brings 5.6 times the AI neural processing power, 50% faster overall performance, and a 70% graphics boost. In simpler words: menus fly, upscaling looks remarkably clean, and AI Director Processing ensures films look balanced rather than artificially blown out.

The TV comes fully equipped with Dolby Vision for dynamic HDR rendering and Dolby Atmos for spacious room-filling sound. You also get Filmmaker Mode paired with Ambient Light Technology, which smartly reads the lighting in your living room and fine-tunes brightness and color temperature so you see movies exactly as directors intended — whether you are watching in a sunlit afternoon room or a pitch-black den.

If you plan on hooking up a console or a PC rig, the C6 pulls double duty as an elite gaming monitor. It serves up an ultra-quick 0.1ms response time and pushes refresh rates up to 165Hz, backed by NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) to completely eliminate screen tearing and input lag. For everyday streaming, LG’s webOS platform has you covered with Google Gemini intelligence built right in, plus instant access to more than 400 free LG Channels.

Grab this top-rated OLED at Amazon before the price jumps back over four digits.

SAVE ALMOST $300: As of Oct. 28, the DJI Power 1000 V2 is on sale for $399.98 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount off the list price.

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Credit: DJI

DJI Power 1000 V2

$399.98 at Amazon
$699 Save $299.02

 

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With winter storms bringing the risk of power cuts, having a backup power source at home could come in handy.

The DJI Power 1000 V2 is a high-capacity portable power station designed to keep essential devices and larger appliances running when you need them. And as of Oct. 28, it's on sale on Amazon. Normally, this unit goes for $699, but right now it's priced at just $399.98. According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is also the best-ever price for this portable power station.

The unit has a 1,024Wh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and can power 99% of appliances. DJI says it can recharge to 80% in just 37 minutes when connected to mains power, which is useful when you need to top it up quickly before heading out or if a storm is coming in.

And for storms, when you get unexpected power cuts, this unit also features an uninterruptible power supply function with a 10ms switchover time, helping keep connected devices running when the mains supply is interrupted. It also operates at noise levels as low as 26dB, making it a quieter option for overnight use in an RV or camper van.

Get this DJI deal at Amazon now.

SAVE OVER $100: As of Oct. 28, the Dyson Airstrait is on sale for $427.74 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Dyson

Dyson Airstrait

$427.74 at Amazon
$554.99 Save $127.25

 

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If you prefer straight hair to curl or a bouncy blowout, don't worry, Dyson still has a styling tool for you.

The Airstrait takes a different approach to styling than the brand's popular Airwrap: it combines drying and straightening in one step to give you sleek, straight hair. And as of Oct. 28, it's on sale at Amazon for more than $100 off the list price.

Usually $554.99, you can take it home now for $427.74. This deal also includes a bottle of Dyson's Omega Oil, which helps nourish your hair and banish frizz. It also helps to lock in the shine you'll get from your straightening routine.

So, how does this tool work? Rather than relying on hot plates to straighten hair, the Airstrait uses controlled airflow to dry and smooth strands simultaneously. The wet-to-dry design means you can go from damp hair to a straightened style without drying it first.

It directs air at a 45-degree angle to create the tension needed to straighten hair, helping to reduce the time spent drying and styling.

You can find this Dyson deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: Bring the party wherever you go with this JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker, on sale now for just $319.99 (reg. $399.95).

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Credit: JBL

JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker (Open Box)

$319.99
$399.95 Save $79.96

 

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Looking for a speaker that brings stellar sound, can survive the outdoors, and even keeps your phone powered up? It may sound like a unicorn, but that describes the JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker. It combines powerful audio with IP68 protection, ambient lighting, and a built-in power bank so the party never has to stop.

Right now, you can secure your own JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker for just $319.99.

Whether you’re planning holiday parties or already looking forward to beach days next summer, you need the right speaker for your perfectly curated playlists. The JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker is an excellent option — with deep bass, IP68 protection, and even an option to charge your phone.

A dedicated subwoofer and dual tweeters, all tuned by JBL’s AI sound processing, make sure you hear your favorite songs loud and clear with deep bass and sharp highs. A Smart EQ mode analyzes what you’re playing and adjusts the EQ in real time, whether you’re listening to rock, R&B, or a podcast.

A shoulder strap with floating hooks lets you roll up to the party totally hands-free. It’s also super durable, IP68 waterproof, dustproof, and drop-proof, so it can tag along to any kind of event.

The JBL Xtreme 5 gives you an impressive 28 hours of playtime per charge, so you can party the night away. Need more battery? You can get two more hours of playback with just a 10-minute charge. A built-in power bank lets you charge your phone right from the speaker’s USB-C port, too.

You’re saving big on this model thanks to its Open Box status. That means it was likely excess inventory from store shelves, but is verified to be in new condition, repackaged in clean packaging, and comes with a one-year warranty.

Get your own JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker for just $319.99 while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.