TL;DR: Watch Czechia vs. Spain in the Nations League for free on RTVE. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is back this week with a number of interesting fixtures, including Czechia vs. Spain. The World Cup winners are continuing their domination in this competition, winning every game. They'll expect to win this one too, but the hosts have the talent to produce a shock result.

If you're interested in watching Czechia vs. Spain in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Czechia vs. Spain?

Czechia vs. Spain in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Nov. 12. This fixture takes place at the Letná Stadium.

How to watch Czechia vs. Spain for free

Czechia vs. Spain in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on RTVE.

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can live stream Czechia vs. Spain for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Czechia vs. Spain for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain

4. Visit RTVE

5. Watch Czechia vs. Spain for free 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 streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Czechia vs. Spain without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Spain

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Czechia vs. Spain for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Italy vs. France in the Nations League for free on TF1. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is showcasing a number of interesting fixtures this week, but Italy vs. France is probably the pick of the bunch. There are only three points between these teams in the standings, and Italy could leapfrog France with a win at the San Siro.

If you're interested in watching Italy vs. France in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Italy vs. France?

Italy vs. France in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Nov. 12. This fixture takes place at the San Siro.

How to watch Italy vs. France for free

Italy vs. France in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on TF1.

TF1 is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can live stream Italy vs. France for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Italy vs. France for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in France

4. Visit TF1

5. Watch Italy vs. France for free 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 streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Italy vs. France without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for TF1?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including France

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Italy vs. France for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch England vs. Croatia in the Nations League for free on ITVX. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is back this week. England could be forgiven for focusing on their upcoming clash with Spain, but first and foremost, there's the small matter of facing Croatia at Wembley Stadium. Last time these sides battled it out, England won 7-0 in a wild fixture. Surely Croatia will come out and show a little more fight this time.

If you're interested in watching England vs. Croatia in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is England vs. Croatia?

England vs. Croatia in the Nations League kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET on Nov. 12. This fixture takes place at Wembley Stadium.

How to watch England vs. Croatia for free

England vs. Croatia in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can live stream England vs. Croatia for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream England vs. Croatia for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch England vs. Croatia for free 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 streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch England vs. Croatia without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream England vs. Croatia for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

School writing.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

CHALK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Copy.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ROGER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Dance.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

BEBOP

Hurdle Word 4 hint

12.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

DOZEN

Final Hurdle hint

Purple flower.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

LILAC

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

Good heavens meaning

An expression used to express disbelief.

Great Scott meaning

An expression used to express amazement.

Holy smokes meaning

An expression used to express amazement.

Jiminy Cricket meaning

An iconic Disney character from Pinocchio.

Gladiator sandals meaning

A type of shoe inspired by the ancient Roman era.

Marty McFly meaning

The main character in Back to the Future.

Moonlight Sonata meaning

Beethoven's most popular song.

Rocky road meaning

A chocolate dessert.

Arctic char meaning

A northern species of salmon and trout.

Comedy roast meaning

A barrage of jokes making fun of someone.

Doc Brown meaning

A scientist in Back to the Future.

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.

You're toast meaning

A popular saying meaning you've messed up.

Change purse meaning

A small purse used for carrying spare change.

Flux capacitor meaning

A part of the time machine in Back to the Future.

Shift dress meaning

A popular dress from the 1950s.

Swing set meaning

An outdoor play structure with multiple swings.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a film buff.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Wow!

• Green: Transformation

• Blue: Chef it up

• Purple: Great films

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.

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: "Gadzooks!"

• Green: Starting with variations

• Blue: Ending in ways to cook things

• Purple: Starting with Best Picture Oscar winners

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1250 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• "Gadzooks!": GOOD HEAVENS, GREAT SCOTT, HOLY SMOKES, JIMINY CRICKET

• Starting with variations: CHANGE PURSE, FLUX CAPACITOR, SHIFT DRESS, SWING SET

• Ending in ways to cook things: ARCTIC CHAR, COMEDY ROAST, DOC BROWN, YOU'RE TOAST

• Starting with Best Picture Oscar winners: GLADIATOR SANDALS, MARTY MCFLY, MOONLIGHT SONATA, ROCKY ROAD

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you attend a lot of events.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Facing the music

The words are related to watching something.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words involve attending an event.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Audience.

NYT Strands word list for November 12

• Concertgoer

• Spectator

• Listener

• Viewer

• Patron

• Audience

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love jewels.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Are you also playing NYT Connections? See hints and answers for today's Connections.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Gold measurement.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter A appears twice.

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.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter K.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

KARAT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang came under scrutiny this week after he admitted to an affair that The New York Times linked to a suspected Chinese intelligence asset. It now appears that this may not have been his only affair, a second strike which may see him ousted from his position leading the multibillion-dollar chipmaker.

The New York Times reports that Huang had an extramarital romantic relationship with his coworker Kimberly Powell, who currently serves as Nvidia's vice president of healthcare. While it's unclear whether this affair is still ongoing, multiple sources speaking to the Times stated that Huang and Powell were seen being affectionate with each other as recently as this March. Huang has been married to his wife since 1985, while Powell is reportedly married as well.

Meanwhile, Nvidia’s board is allegedly looking to oust Huang. The company had previously stated that Huang would stay on as CEO during the investigation into his affair with Megaspeed executive Alice Huang (no relation). However, the revelation of his relationship with Powell may have changed that plan. The Wall Street Journal reports that the board now intends to remove Huang. Reuters reported that the board was meeting late Wednesday to decide his future.

Nvidia's code of conduct does not explicitly prohibit workers from cheating on their spouses, or from dating their coworkers. However, it does warn employees to avoid conflicts of interest, which may include "personal relationships," and further states that managers "serve as role models."

"We ask ourselves what the impact would be if our conduct or action became public or came to the attention of respected colleagues," reads the code.

"We conduct ourselves and our business with the highest ethical standards by never taking undue advantage of a business relationship and never sacrificing a long-term relationship for a short-term gain."

In a letter preceding the code, Huang stated that it is the company's "responsibility to maintain high ethical standards," and urged employees to "ensure that each of us upholds the principles that are essential for preserving NVIDIA's reputation as a distinguished and exceptional company."

On Nov. 8, Huang acknowledged the affair in an email to employees that Nvidia later published, The New York Times having named his affair partner as Ms. Huang. Though U.S. spy agencies have reportedly identified Ms. Huang as a Chinese intelligence asset, China has refuted such allegations as "groundless smears and slanders" against the country.

Nvidia's stock was already down after the recent U.S. midterm elections, and fell around 10 percent through Tuesday's close after Huang's affair with Ms. Huang became public. Now the company’s stock has fallen even further following reports of his second affair and potential ousting, shaving more than 8 percent off its value in Wednesday's after-hours trading.

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TL;DR: The Yu-Gi-Oh! The Magnificent Monsters Box Set is on sale for $35.33 on Amazon, down from its standard $39.95 list price.

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Credit: Konami

Yu-Gi-Oh! Magnificent Monsters Box Set

$35.33 at Amazon
$39.95 Save $4.62

 

Get Deal at Amazon

There's a fresh Amazon bargain for Yu-Gi-Oh! fans who prefer their trading cards centered on monsters from the hit anime series. Konami's Magnificent Monsters expansion, which only launched in September, has now hit its lowest-ever price on the retailer — a more than welcome early Black Friday deal. 

As of Nov. 11, the Yu-Gi-Oh! Magnificent Monsters Box Set has dropped to just $35.33 at Amazon, trimming $4.62 off its usual $39.95 price with a 12% discount. This offer may come from third-party seller serious_gaming, but orders are still fulfilled by Amazon with free delivery available for Prime members and non-members alike.

Only $5.16 above its estimated $30.17 market price on TCGplayer, this is indeed the lowest price this box has been on Amazon since it first dropped at $48.99 (confirmed with the price tracker camelcamelcamel).

Inside each box are three five-card booster packs containing 15 Ultra Rares altogether, accompanied by three additional Secret Rares that have a chance of being upgraded to Starlight Rares. The expansion's biggest attractions include 18 reimagined cards inspired by the first six Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series, six new boss monsters, and extremely scarce, serial-numbered Grand Master Rares that collectors can potentially pull.

For early fans of the first three classic anime series, the go-to monsters include Yugi Moto’s Dark Magician (now Dark Magician, the Pharaoh’s Servant), Jaden/Judai Yuki’s Elemental Hero Flame Wingman (Favorite Hero Flame Wingman), and Yusei Fudo’s Stardust Dragon (Stardust Dragon — Victim Sanctuary).  

If you're after any particular cards, you can also buy Yu-Gi-Oh! Magnificent Monsters singles right now on TCGplayer.

TL;DR: Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 is a full diagramming app for Windows, and a lifetime license is on sale for $43.99 (reg. $579.99) with code DEAL20.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Visio Professional 2024: Lifetime License for Windows

$43.99
$579.99 Save $536

 

Get Deal

Flowcharts, org charts, and network maps take a long time to build by hand in a slide deck. If you want a dedicated diagramming app you only pay for once, get a Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 lifetime license for Windows. Code DEAL20 brings the price down to $43.99 (reg. $579.99).

Stop paying monthly fees for design tools

Visio comes with ready-made templates for flowcharts, process maps, floor plans, network diagrams, and org charts, so you can start most projects with a layout rather than a blank page. You’ll also get access to a library with more than 250,000 shapes, enough for a simple approval flow or a detailed engineering drawing.

You can link a diagram to data in Excel or SQL Server. When those numbers change, Visio updates the diagram automatically, so nobody has to redraw the chart before a meeting.

Formatting tools let you adjust shapes, text, and themes until a diagram matches the look you want. Newer visual styles and layouts also make dense diagrams easier to read, whether you’re drawing an IT network or a floor plan.

Finished diagrams go straight into PowerPoint, Word, or a Teams chat, and you can store them in OneDrive or SharePoint to share with your team. Several people can edit the same diagram at once, with changes tracked as they happen. Away from your desk, the Visio web app lets you view and edit diagrams from a phone or tablet. Visio 2024 also has refreshed shapes and styles, a new search bar, and a design that matches the rest of Office.

You don’t need to be a professional designer to make professional-looking designs.

Use code DEAL20 to get a Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 lifetime license on sale for $43.99. Offer ends Nov. 15.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 11, the Bambu Lab P1S is on sale for $349 at Amazon. That's a 13% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Bambu

Bambu Lab P1S

$349 at Amazon
$399 Save $50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

If you've been eyeing up a 3D printer for custom creations or personalized gifts, you might not have to wait until Black Friday to find a decent deal. Early discounts are already appearing, including this latest deal on the Bambu Lab P1S, a ready-to-use FDM 3D printer designed to make creating your own objects from digital designs more straightforward.

This 3D printer is designed to make creating detailed, multi-color models quicker and easier, with printing speeds of up to 500 mm/s and an acceleration of 20,000 mm/s². It supports up to 16-color printing when connected to a compatible Bambu Lab AMS system, giving you more flexibility when working on different designs.

Its fully enclosed body makes it suitable for printing with a range of advanced filaments, and the automatic bed leveling simplifies setup, making it much easier to achieve consistent prints.

And you don't need loads of prep time either; in fact, you can get started in around 15 minutes. According to the product listing, compatible filaments include PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PET, and ABS, as well as ASA, PA, and PC, and carbon- and glass-fiber-reinforced polymers aren't recommended.

Get this deal from Amazon now.

It's been 13 years since Rockstar dropped a new mainline Grand Theft Auto, so there was always going to be a fairly large crowd for the next one. A week before launch, we're getting a sense of just how big that crowd is.

Eight days before its Nov. 19 release, GTA 6 has already topped $1 billion in preorders, according to an estimate from market research firm Sensor Tower. The firm also estimates that players worldwide have preordered more than 10 million digital copies for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. (About three out of every four orders were for PS5, The Washington Post reported on Nov. 11.) The previous game, GTA V, hit that same $1 billion milestone three days after it went on sale in 2013, according to publisher Take-Two Interactive.

Take-Two has yet to share its own preorder tally for the sequel, though CEO Strauss Zelnick wrote in a release on Monday that orders were reaching "unprecedented levels." Both Sony and Microsoft also said it's already the most preordered game in the history of their respective digital stores.

Rockstar opened preloads on Nov. 10, so players can get the download out of the way before launch day.

The hype for GTA 6 has been building for nearly three years, ever since Rockstar released its first trailer in December 2023. It drew more than 90 million YouTube views in 24 hours, setting a Guinness World Record, and has 302 million views as of Nov. 11, 2026.

Rockstar gave fans more than trailers to watch while they waited. In August, it premiered Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, a 27-minute preview made entirely from in-game footage, on Netflix before putting it on YouTube later that day. The rollout spilled into music, too. The official album drops alongside the game on Nov. 19, and two days later, Rockstar and PlayStation will host a music festival in Miami with performances from Cardi B, Travis Scott, and Justice, who composed the game’s score.

Streamers have made their own entertainment out of the countdown. IShowSpeed reacted to the launch trailer on YouTube, amassing 1.7 million views, while Twitch streamer Kai Cenat has gone back through the series, spending more than 130 hours playing five older GTA games.

The anticipation has reached a level where Hollywood's ears have perked up. When Screen Engine and The Wrap asked people which upcoming movie, show, or game they were most excited about, GTA 6 came out on top for the sixth week in a row, drawing 8.3 percent of mentions in the latest survey, ahead of Avengers: Doomsday at 6.7 percent.

That's unfortunate data to see as an entertainment exec, especially considering The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens the next day, when new seasons of Yellowjackets and Percy Jackson and the Olympians also premiere. All three are arriving on a weekend when some fans have already taken time off to spend in Vice City. "Hollywood should look at the hours as closely as the dollars," The Game Awards founder Geoff Keighley told The Hollywood Reporter.

When I say time off, by the way, I mean literally. Some fans have already blocked off those hours on their work calendars. As Mashable's Amanda Yeo noted in September, a Thursday release means two vacation days can buy a four-day weekend playing the game, though some were already talking about taking a week or more. HR software company BambooHR found that employees requested Nov. 19 off at a rate 13 percent higher than for comparable days in 2024 and 2025. In a separate survey, 18 percent of salaried workers said they planned to take launch day off to play.

As for workplaces, the company Logitech is giving employees a day off to play a game of their choice, and its gaming division will stream from its San Jose headquarters on launch day. Even an Army unit at Fort Stewart in Georgia allegedly offered eligible soldiers a four-day pass timed to the release if they reenlisted by Nov. 14.

By the time Avengers: Doomsday opens in December, those launch-day vacation days will be long gone. The question for Hollywood is how many people will still want to spend their precious free time in Vice City versus watching TV or going to the movies. If preorders are any indication, quite a few.

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Going to a Disney park is supposed to transport you somewhere magical, but for many, the experience requires a very rote part of modern life: staring at your phone.

Disney has separate apps for its resorts in California and Florida, as well as those in France, Japan, and China. Booking Lightning Lane appointments (an extra charge that lets guests jump long lines for rides), nabbing meal reservations, and ordering mobile food items all require checking times on the app. It’s something that Disney guests have to do often if they don’t want to wait hours for Space Mountain or a meal at the Blue Bayou restaurant.

Disney brass even acknowledged that its tech-forward approach has lessened the park experience, with Walt Disney Imagineering President Bruce Vaughn saying last year that reliance on the various apps "breaks the spell" of visiting a Disney resort.

Disney’s first experiment to reduce phone use at its parks was revealed this week. The company just launched the Disney Imagineering Labs app (yes, a new app to reduce smartphone use). The first offering of the app is now available to select Magic Key participants (annual passholders) — Secrets of the Spire in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Described by the Disney Tourist blog as an interactive game within the parks' Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge section, the app offers minigames and challenges. It’s not very clear how this reduces phone usage while at the park, though.

The more promising part of the Imagineering Labs app is the Disneyland Enchanted Guide, which does not yet have a release date but is likely to drop early next year, according to Disney Tourist Blog and the Micky Visit blog.

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The AI-powered app allows text-based and voice-based questions, e.g., "How long is the line at Pirates of the Caribbean?" "Where should we eat at around noon near Tomorrowland?" The most promising aspect of the Enchanted Guide is the ability to set alerts for when a ride or restaurant's wait time drops below a certain time. Rather than constantly checking the app, you can go about your day until you hear that ding from your phone. 

As part of the early app rollout, Disney is soliciting feedback from users in-app. Acknowledging that the Imagineering Labs app isn’t a finished product, Disney is asking park power users to weigh in on what aspects of the app truly improve the park experience.

Time will tell if the new app really reduces phone usage at the park. There has been no word on the Disney blogs that the Imagineering Labs app will replace the various Disney park apps, which means you could get an alert on Lightning Lane availability via the Enchanted Guide app and then have to open the Disneyland app to actually book your Lightning Lane appointment. Hopefully, if successful, the apps will be integrated. 

Adding to the mixed messages is the partnership between the Enchanted Guide app and Meta for the latter's Ray-Ban smart glasses. Users will be able to pair the glasses with the app, where they can ask the AI about things they see in the park. Again, more offerings can be good, but this doesn’t seem to align with the goal of making visiting a Disney park more of an offline, in-the-moment experience.

Trends among teenagers are an ever-changing hellscape, and finding the best gifts for teen girls (that they'll actually use for longer than a month) is a coveted skill. Even millennials — people who are not that old, thank you very much — can have trouble keeping up with the world predominantly ruled by TikTok and content creators.

An important reminder: Don't just wing it. Gen Z girls are clearly loyal to a defined handful of brands and have very specific aesthetic goals. Goals that could be torched by the honest mistake of grabbing generic white earbuds instead of the best AirPods or not realizing that Owala has eclipsed Stanley in the hierarchy of trendy water bottles.

But you know who does know what teenage girls want this year? Other teenage girls. I'm regularly tracking viral TikTok products and compiling the most popular stuff with items that the high schoolers in my own life have mentioned. So even if you don't know what terms like whimsymaxxing mean, you're definitely in the right place to find a gift that a teenager thinks is cool. Whether it's for a birthday, holiday, high school graduation, or just because, here are 35+ unique gifts for teenage girls in 2026.

Going home for the holidays? Or simply traveling for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's?

Firefox and its built-in VPN has your privacy covered — at not cost to you.

Mozilla, the organization behind the Firefox web browser, has announced that it will be providing free unlimited data for its built-in VPN to all of its users from Nov. 10, 2026 through Jan. 31, 2027. That's now up until the end of January.

Firefox advertises its VPN first and foremost as a privacy feature. A VPN hides a user's real IP address, thus masking exactly what location that user is browsing from. 

For example, Firefox says its VPN will help hide the sites you visit from shared WiFi networks in public spaces or at a relative's home.

However, Firefox knows that many VPN users also utilize the feature to change their location in order to access region-locked websites and platforms. And, according to its announcement, Firefox is cool with that too.

How to try the Firefox VPN

Firefox's free built-in VPN is available for Firefox on both desktop and Android. Mozilla says the feature is coming to iOS devices soon too.

In order to take advantage of Firefox's offer of unlimited data use via their VPN, simply sign up for a Mozilla account. Then, in the Firefox web browser, select the VPN icon in the toolbar on desktop. On Android, tap on the three-dot menu and select Settings followed by VPN. From there, follow the setup process and turn the VPN on.

Mozilla explicitly reminded users in its announcement that VPNs do not make users anonymous or hide on-device browsing history. As Mozilla points out, websites can still identify users through cookies or when signed into an account.

In addition, Firefox's built-in VPN only works with browsing within Firefox. Users cannot utilize the VPN when surfing the internet via another web browser or using a mobile app. Mozilla has a separate paid subscription-based product, called Mozilla VPN, for users looking for a VPN that works across apps.

Mozilla has been heavily investing in Firefox, promoting its privacy features and AI controls for users who aren't fans of AI taking over every facet of other web browsers. The company recently launched an ad campaign for Firefox that went viral, uniting some of the web's earliest internet-famous stars.

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The biggest story out of VisionQuest's finale wasn't the long-awaited reunion between twins Tommy and Billy Maximoff (Ruaridh Mollica and Joe Locke). Nor was it Vision (Paul Bettany) and Ultron's (James Spader) touching heart-to-heart about grief. Instead, it was the resurrection of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) at the hands of Dr. Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), which occurs during the second of VisionQuest's two mid-credits scenes.

In theory, the return of Scarlet Witch is an exciting one, as she's one of the most powerful heroes in the MCU. Now that she's apparently under Dr. Doom's thrall, that will spell major trouble for the Avengers in Avengers: Doomsday. Powers aside, Wanda is also one of the MCU's most compelling characters, with Olsen's grief-stricken turn in WandaVision earning her an Emmy nomination.

Yet the reality of Wanda's return is that it, like much of the MCU post-Avengers: Endgame, is downright exhausting.

Wanda's return is proof that the MCU has no stakes anymore.

Wanda is the latest MCU mainstay to return from the dead. In addition to the return of everyone who got blipped by Thanos, characters like Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) both stuck around after their deaths in Avengers: Infinity War thanks to some timeline meddling. Vision's complicated return also resulted in three MCU spin-off shows.

For Doomsday, Marvel is also bringing back characters and performers who received fitting send-offs in Avengers: Endgame. Chris Evans is returning as Steve Rogers, again likely due to timeline meddling, while Robert Downey Jr. is back, this time as Dr. Doom.

While I'm often excited to see these characters, Wanda included, the trend of constantly bringing everyone back is a tiring one. It's proof that the MCU has lost all sense of stakes: No one can be killed. Anyone can come back to be smashed together in a massive crossover event like Doomsday.

These constant returns also retroactively cheapen the most impressive feat in the MCU: Tony Stark's (Downey Jr.) mass resurrection of everyone who's been blipped. When half the universe, including some of Marvel's most beloved heroes, turned to ash at the end of Infinity War, it marked Marvel's heaviest moment to date. To reverse it would require a similarly heavy sacrifice, leading to Tony's death. Now, though, Marvel is bringing everyone back with the ease of a Dr. Doom spell, or some timey-wimey hand-waving. Next thing you know, Tony will be back. At this point, why not?

Bringing Scarlet Witch back in a credits scene highlights Marvel's homework problem.

Keeping up with all the intricacies of the MCU has always been a daunting task, but it truly became a chore after Endgame. Now, instead of just watching Marvel's films, viewers also had to keep up with each TV show in order to understand what the hell was going on.

VisionQuest was already a fairly egregious example of this, as audiences had to have a solid understanding of WandaVision and Agatha All Along prior to watching, not to mention 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron. It exacerbates the problem with its mid-credits scene, which treats Wanda's resurrection — one of the biggest MCU moments in recent years — as a simple teaser, instead of a pivotal story beat that deserves more fleshing out. Will Doomsday dive deeper into Dr. Doom's journey to resurrect Wanda, or will it just skip over it entirely and carry on with her being alive as if nothing's happened?

If so, that will be extra confusing for the casual Doomsday viewer who might not be aware of Wanda's return. Then again, they might have forgotten about her death, because there have been 10 other movies to keep track of in the four years between Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Doomsday.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness certainly did Wanda dirty with her villain arc and choice to sacrifice herself, so a part of me is ready to embrace what could be a new, more fulfilling arc for her. Yet a larger part of me is simply ambivalent, as I have been for much of Marvel's Phase Four and beyond. If you can't trust your own dramatic choices to stick, how can you expect me to care?

VisionQuest is now streaming on Disney+. Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters Dec. 18.

SAVE $200: As of Nov. 11, get the Segway Navimow i215 Robot Lawn Mower for $1,399 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,599. That's a discount of 13%.

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Credit: Amazon

Segway Navimow i215 Robot Lawn Mower

$1,399 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $200

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Mowing the lawn is a somewhat thankless task that no one really wants to tackle. Luckily, in 2026, you don't have to spend time pushing around a lawnmower when a robot is more than happy to handle that for you. As part of the wave of early Black Friday deals on offer, we found a great deal on a robot lawn mower that can help you achieve a perfectly-manicured lawn in the blink of an eye.

As of Nov. 11, get the Segway Navimow i215 Robot Lawn Mower for $1,399 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,599. That's $200 off and a discount of 13%.

This model is simple to start up straight out of the box, so it can hit the lawn running, so to speak. It doesn't require antennas or boundary wires, and it uses one-tap auto mapping to help figure out where any potential obstacles are as well as the size and shape of your yard. That way you can turn it on and let it get to work without complicated setup.

The robot lawn mower relies on solid state LiDAR and onboard vision sensors to navigate from there, which can work in both day and night so it can handle yard work without the need for you supervising it in the sun. It can detect over 200 obstacle types, and you can further adjust its mowing area in its accompanying app with up to 20 mowing zones on an interactive map.

All this, powered by a 100W mower with a 6-blade disc to help it get up close and personal with out-of-control grass. If you're tired of manually mowing the lawn and want to outsource this responsibility, don't hesitate with this early Black Friday deal.

GET A KINDLE PAPERWHITE FOR $89.99: Woot has refurbished Kindle Paperwhites (11th Gen, 16GB) on sale for $89.99. You can also get a larger 32GB model for $109.99.

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Credit: Amazon

Refurbished Kindle Paperwhite (11th Gen, 16GB)

$89.99 at Woot

 

Get Deal at Woot

We're all aware that everything is too expensive these days. From tech to food to airplane tickets, prices are shocking. Earlier this year, Amazon hiked prices on Kindles, and if you're not into that move, Woot has a great solution.

As of Nov. 11, a refurbished 11th Gen 16GB Kindle Paperwhite is on sale at Woot for $89.99. If you download the Woot app, you can stack an extra 20% off that price today only. The latest Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB storage sells at Amazon for $199.99.

I'm a frugal shopper, and I also love reading. Those combined lead me to score a used Kindle on Woot last year. I bought the 11th Gen Kindle Paperwhite refurbished from Woot. I wasn't totally sure what condition a refurbished Kindle would come in, but I can safely say I had no idea it was used.

My refurbished Kindle has zero signs of wear. Of course, I can't guarantee yours will come in the same condition, but it's reassuring to know that you might get a pristine model and save a ton of money while doing so compared to buying new.

Early Black Friday sales are already live at Amazon and we have a handful of Kindle deals, but none come anywhere close to this offer for $89.99. Keep in mind since the 11th Gen Kindle is from 2021, it will not be compatible with the new Kindle Click remote (sad).

Please keep in mind Woot deals vanish quickly. If you're considering hopping on this deal, I recommend you add to your Woot cart and check out right away. Be sure to head to the Woot app to score that extra 20% off.

Sure, the 11th Gen is an older model, but the 2021 Kindle Paperwhite is still a fantastic e-reader, especially given today's sale price. In addition to grabbing one for yourself, consider if anyone on your list would love a Kindle Paperwhite as a Christmas gift.

TL;DR: Instacart is giving away up to 50,000 free turkeys this Thanksgiving from Nov. 18 through Nov. 22 when you spend a minimum of $50 on your Thanksgiving basket. A fresh batch of 10,000 turkeys drops every day at 12 p.m. ET.

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Credit: Instacart

Instacart: claim your free turkey (Nov. 18 - 22)

(up to $40 off)

Get Deal

Grocery shopping the week ahead of Thanksgiving is a nightmare. And then there's the blow to your bank account on top of it.

Instacart is helping on both fronts this season. The grocery delivery app is giving away up to 50,000 free turkeys this Thanksgiving, with up to 10,000 dropping each day between Nov. 18 and Nov. 22. So, you won't have to step foot in the grocery store and a good chunk of your Thanksgiving dinner will be paid for. Win-win.

Here's how it works. From Wednesday, Nov. 18 through Sunday, Nov. 22, customers can score up to $40 off an eligible whole turkey, fresh or frozen, from select retailers on Instacart. That's enough to cover an entire bird in most cases. Just head to the Instacart Thanksgiving landing page and fill up your basket, including your turkey, to reach at least $50 (alcohol is excluded from the minimum spend requirement). Then click to redeem the promo on the Thanksgiving landing page. You're limited to one redemption per person while supplies last. A fresh batch of up to 10,000 turkeys drops every day at 12 p.m. ET, with up to 50,000 total. If you miss out on one day, be sure to return the next day at noon to redeem yours.

If you forget something essential, Instacart is also offering $0 delivery on Thanksgiving grocery orders of $10 or more between Nov. 23 and Nov. 25. The day before Thanksgiving is widely known as the busiest day of the year for grocery stores. Let Instacart battle the crowds for you while you prep your home for guests. Just note that service and other fees may apply.

Before your start shopping Black Friday deals, make sure your Thanksgiving dinner is taken care of.

Grand Theft Auto VI is tantalizingly close, so for many people, it's probably too late to submit a PTO request for its Nov. 19 release date. Not for Logitech employees, though.

The PC accessory maker announced that its employees would be given the option to take time off for new video game releases, according to IGN.

Logitech's announcement was almost certainly timed for the release of GTA 6 (there are basically no other major upcoming releases this year, for obvious reasons). However, the new "Logi Game Day" perk will seemingly apply to more games than just Rockstar's latest open-world crime adventure.

Logitech cited an internal study which found that 81 percent of video game enjoyers "believe that gaming builds real-world confidence, reduces anxiety, and correlates with stronger day-to-day work performance." Whether or not that's actually true, Logitech is buying into the idea, enabling its employees to play hooky for gaming purposes.

"It’s time to retire the stereotype that gaming is a waste of time," Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber said, according to IGN. "As a company designing products for work and play, we see every day how engagement in one sphere supports performance in the other."

There are probably lots of folks out there reading this who wish they worked for Logitech right now.

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The best early Walmart Black Friday deals:

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Best Apple Deal

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$199.00 (save $50)

Get Deal

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Best Home Deal

Roborock Qrevo S5V Robot Vacuum and Mop

$499.99 (save $400)

Get Deal

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Best TV Deal

LG 65-inch C6 Series 4K UHD OLED AI Smart webOS 26 TV

$1,399.99 (save $1,300)

Get Deal

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Best Lego Deal

Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball

$159.95 (save $40.04)

Get Deal

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Best Kitchen Deal

Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series Espresso Machine and Drip Coffee Maker

$489.00 (save $60)

Get Deal

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Best Speaker Deal

JBL Flip 6

$79.95 (Save $50)

Get Deal

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Best Laptop Deal

Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 15.3" Touchscreen 2-in-1 Laptop, (Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB Ram, 512GB SSD)

$729 (Save $470.99)

Get Deal

---

Best Home Security Deal

Wyze Wireless Video Doorbell

$49.98 (Save $15.99)

Get Deal

Walmart's Black Friday sale is arriving in three waves this year, with the first big deals drop kicking off this week on Nov. 12 and running until Nov. 15. If you're eager to see what the retailer will have in store during this time, you don't even have to wait for the sale to start: a couple of the retailer's ad scans are already live, offering shoppers a little sneak peek at what's to come during its early Black Friday sale.

Credit: Walmart

This three-day-long event is just the start, though. The retailer also has a main Black Friday sale planned for Nov. 23-29, plus a Cyber Monday sale running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. Walmart+ members can even get early access to the sale (plus exclusive online-only deals during the first 24 hours). If that's piqued your interest, check out our guide to signing up for Walmart+ to learn more.

There are quite a few early deals up that are worth a look before the sales kick off. As of the time of this writing, we've spotted discounts on AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4, a 65-inch LG C6 TV, and even the Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball, which has hit an all-time low price. These are just a few highlights.

Check out more of our favorite finds below, or for a deeper dive into what's available, our rundown of early Black Friday deals at Walmart can help you out.

Best Apple deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$199 at Walmart
$249 Save $50

 

Get Deal at Walmart

Why we like it

AirPods Pro 3 are our favorite pair of buds for Apple users, so it's always exciting when we spot a discount. Ahead of Black Friday sales, they're currently marked down to $199 at Walmart, saving you $50 off the regular price.

There's a good chance they'll drop a bit lower during the main sale (the lowest price they've dipped to is $169, according to price tracker camelmart), but this is still a pretty good deal if you're itching to pick them up now. They're certainly worth the investment, with Active Noise Cancellation, high-quality audio, built-in heart rate sensing, and up to eight hours of battery life with ANC.

More Apple deals

• Apple AirTag 4 Pack (2nd Generation) — $69.99 $99 (save $29.01)

• Apple AirPods 4 — $89 $129.99 (save $40.99)

• Apple 16" MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, 18-core CPU/20 core GPU, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,816.99 $2,999 (save $183)

Best home deal

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Credit: Roborock

Roborock Qrevo S5V Robot Vacuum and Mop

$499.99 at Walmart
$899.99 Save $400

 

Get Deal at Walmart

Why we like it

It's not even Black Friday yet, and this Roborock Qrevo S5V is already down to its lowest price at Walmart. It's currently on sale for $499.99, which is $400 off its list price of $899.99. That's a huge discount, and this combo cleaner is certainly worth the pick-up if you need a little extra assistance with your floors.

It features 12,000Pa suction for lifting dirt, debris, hair, and more, plus dual spinning mops that can hit 200 RPM to scrub out stains. Its Obstacle Avoidance System is very helpful, steering clear of any objects that might be in its way as it cleans around, and PreciSense LiDAR Navigation helps it map out your home for an efficient clean.

More home deals

• Bissell Little Green Portable Deep Cleaner — $74.62 $101.97 (save $27.35)

• Shark Steam & Scrub Scrubbing Steam Mop — $98.74 $149 (save $50.26)

• Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum Cleaner — $118 $168 (save $50)

• KitchenAid Deluxe Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer — $279 $449.99 (save $170.99)

• Roborock Q10 X5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200)

Best TV deal

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Credit: LG

LG 65-inch C6 Series 4K UHD OLED AI TV

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

 

Get Deal at Walmart

Why we like it

Black Friday is a great time to upgrade your TV, and this 65-inch LG C6 TV offers an impressive 4K OLED display, support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and a 165Hz Refresh Rate for gamers. Walmart has slashed $1,300 off ahead of its early Black Friday sale, bringing its price down from $2,699.99 to $1,399.99. That's a massive drop, and not too far off from its lowest-ever point of $1,339.99.

More TV deals

• Samsung 65-inch Class U8000H Series Crystal UHD 4K TV — $298 $378 (save $80)

• Samsung 65-inch Class M70HB Series Mini LED 4K UHD Smart TV — $378 $478 (save $100)

• TCL 75-inch Class QM6K Series QD-Mini LED QLED 4K UHD HDR Smart TV — $798 $999.99 (save $201.99)

Best Lego deal

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Credit: Lego

Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball

$159.95 at Walmart
$199.99 Save $40.04

 

Get Deal at Walmart

Why we like it

The 2,050-piece Lego Pikachu and Poké Ball set is an absolute delight for Pokémon fans, and it's recently received a surprise price drop ahead of Black Friday. Walmart currently has it on sale for $159.95. That's $40.04 off its original price, marking the lowest price we've seen since its launch. If it's been on your radar, this is a great time to act.

More Lego deals

• Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box — $21.42 $34.99 (save $13.57)

• Lego Pokémon Eevee — $47.96 $59.99 (save $12.03)

• Lego KPop Demon Hunters Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird — $55.95 $69.99 (save $14.04)

• Lego Star Wars Grogu with Hover Pram — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Lego Harry Potter Diagon Alley Wizarding Shops — $159.99 $199.99 (save $40)

Best kitchen deal

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Credit: Ninja

Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series Espresso Machine and Drip Coffee Maker

$489 at Walmart
$549 Save $60

 

Get Deal at Walmart

Why we like it

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier is an espresso/coffee maker we have a lot of love for, with Mashable's Samantha Mangino writing that it "strikes the perfect balance of user-friendly design with high-end settings." If you've had your eyes on it, Walmart's knocked it down to a new low price ahead of Black Friday. This has brought its price down from $549 to $489, making now an excellent time to add it to your shopping cart.

More kitchen deals

• Crock-Pot Manual 7-Quart Slow Cooker — $34.96 $79.99 (save $45.03)

• Nespresso Vertuo Pop Coffee and Espresso Maker — $84.97 $119 (save $34.03)

• Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker — $149 $169 (save $20)

• Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series Espresso Machine and Drip Coffee Maker — $489 $549 (save $60)

Best speaker deal

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Credit: Walmart

JBL Flip 6

$79.95 at Walmart
$129.95 Save $50.00

 

Get Deal at Walmart

Why we like it

Whether you plan on sharing holiday tunes or your favorite podcast wherever you go this season, a portable speaker can make everything better. This one has a powerful woofer with a separate tweeter and dual passive bass radiators for room-filling sound. It’s rated IP67 against water and dust, and a full charge lasts up to 12 hours so the party doesn't have to stop until you're ready. Plus, you can link it up with other compatible JBL speakers for stereo or bigger sound.

More speaker deals

• Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker — $29.99 $45.99 (save $16)

• JLab JBuds Party Portable Speaker — $47.99 $59.99 (save $12)

Best laptop deal

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Credit: Walmart

Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 15.3" Touchscreen 2-in-1 Laptop, (Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB Ram, 512GB SSD)

$729 at Walmart
$1,199.99 Save $470.99

 

Get Deal at Walmart

Why we like it

If you're in the market for a new daily driver laptop, this is a great option. The 15.3-inch touchscreen has a 1920 x 1200 display, with a 360-degree hinge that means it can transform from laptop to folding tablet or stand modes for sketching or streaming on the couch. It boasts an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor 322 with 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 512GB SSD, and support for Wi-Fi 7 so you stay connected even in larger homes.

More laptop deals

• HP 14-inch HD Windows 11 Laptop (Intel N150, 4GB RAM, 128GB Storage) — $199 $259 (save $60)

Best home security deal

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Credit: Walmart

Wyze Wireless Video Doorbell

$49.98 at Walmart
$65.97 Save $15.99

 

Get Deal at Walmart

Why we like it

If you want to keep an eye out for who darkens your doorstep, this video doorbell is a boon for your home security setup. It has a 150-degree view and motion detection as well as two-way audio so you can communicate with anyone on your porch. You can mount it using battery alone or wire it into existing doorbell leads for constant power. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant and includes a one-month Cam Plus trial, which adds cloud recording and smarter person and package alerts.

More home security deals

• TP-Link Tapo TCW34 Dual-Camera Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera — $49 $58 (save $9)

PREORDER AT AMAZON: Monopoly Heated Rivalry Edition Board Game launches on June 1, 2027. Preorder are live at Amazon for $29.99.

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Credit: Hasbro

Monopoly Heated Rivalry Edition Board Game

$29.99 at Amazon

 

Get Deal at Amazon

We've gone to the cottage in our living rooms, at the movie theater, and now we'll be able to visit via a board game.

Hasbro launches Monopoly Heated Rivalry edition on June 1, 2027. Preorders are already live at Amazon for $29.99 which comes with free delivery on June 2.

With references to Season 1 and nods to Season 2, the Heated Rivalry edition of the classic board game is sure to please any fan. You'll be able to buy iconic locations from the show like hotels and the cottage while moving one of six game tokens. Those include a tuna melt, a banana, a smoothie cup, hockey skates, and even a stupid Canadian wolf bird.

Hasbro recommends the special edition Monopoly for players ages 17 and up. Since we're in holiday gift mode, consider this to be a fun surprise for that person in your life who simply will not shut up about the show (hi, that's me).

If all the emails flooding your inbox weren't enough of an indication, we're closing in on the biggest shopping holiday of the year. Black Friday technically doesn't happen until the dishes from Thanksgiving are scrubbed and put away. But retailers have gotten antsy over the years, kicking off their sales days or weeks in advance. Heck, the whole month of November is basically Black Friday at this point.

If you're hoping to do some discount shopping this holiday season, knowing precisely when to shop each major retailer's official Black Friday sale is key. To help you best strategize this season, we've rounded up the essential dates and times below.

When is Black Friday 2026?

Black Friday always lands on the day after Thanksgiving and the fourth Friday in November. In 2026, that happens to be on Friday, Nov. 27.

As you've probably noticed, however, most major retailers began rolling out early Black Friday deals as soon as the calendar switched to November. Likewise, some will draw things out even longer with Black Friday discounts that last far past the official shopping holiday. Black Friday is no longer a single 24-hour extravaganza; it's a full season.

Cyber Monday, the more online-centric shopping holiday, falls on the Monday after Black Friday. In 2026, that's on Monday, Nov. 30. Most retailers shift into Cyber Monday mode by the Saturday after Black Friday. It's silly, really, but the lines between the two deal-shopping holidays have been blurred beyond recognition.

When do Black Friday sales actually start at each retailer?

Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target tend to have the biggest Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) sales each year, so we've broken down all the nitty gritty details you need to know about each retailer's specific schedule in 2026. Plenty of deals are already live, but if you want to shop the official sales, here's the scoop.

Black Friday at Best Buy

For the second year in a row, Best Buy kicked off its holiday schedule scary early, with its first round of "doorBOOsters" dropping the day before Halloween. The electronics retailer will release new doorbusters on select tech every Friday leading up to the big day.

Best Buy's official Black Friday sale, aka the main event, will run in stores and online from Thursday, Nov. 19 through Saturday, Nov. 28. The calendar then flips to Cyber Monday on Sunday, Nov. 29 and runs through Monday, Nov. 30.

Best Buy Black Friday hours

Best Buy's brick-and-mortar stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time on Black Friday. Want an old-school Black Friday experience? You can camp out at stores if you want to score high-demand items, but Best Buy will employ a ticketing system for customer and employee safety.

All Best Buy stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Black Friday at Walmart

Walmart announced plans for three major Black Friday calendar events for 2026. The first is an Early Black Friday Sale, which will take place from Nov. 12 through Nov. 15. The main event, aka the official Black Friday deals event will kick off Monday, Nov. 23 and last through Sunday, Nov. 29.

Deals will be live online only from Nov. 23 through Nov. 26, so in-store shoppers will have to wait until Black Friday proper. Walmart's Cyber Monday sale will take place from Monday, Nov. 30 through Wednesday, Dec. 2 online only.

During both the early and official Black Friday events, select online-only deals will be reserved for Walmart+ members exclusively for the first 24 hours, while supplies last. If you're not a Walmart+ member and want early access to these doorbusters, you can sign up for $12.95/month or $98/year. Trial members are not eligible for early access.

Walmart Black Friday hours

Walmart stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time on Black Friday. They'll be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Black Friday at Target

Target launched its first holiday savings event on Nov. 5, with early deals on holiday decor, kitchen appliances, and toys. Its Deal of the Day program also kicked off on Nov. 1 and will run through Dec. 24. Shoppers can score a new featured deal every day of the week until Dec. 24. So far, we've seen 50% off Stanley tumblers and $30 off Apple AirTags.

The official Black Friday shopping event, however, has not properly been announced. If Target follows a similar schedule as last year, we speculate that it'll kick off on Sunday, Nov. 22, and run through Saturday, Nov. 28. The best deals will likely drop exclusively from Nov. 26 through 28 for Black Friday proper. We'll update this with the latest information once it's revealed.

Target Circle 360 members will likely get early access to select deals, as in years past. The savings season will wrap up with Target's Cyber Monday Event from Nov. 29 through Nov. 30 (most likely), featuring online-only deals.

In 2025, Target made the in-store shopping experience worth it by offering the first 100 guests in line a free limited-edition iridescent tote bag, some with gifts inside valued up to $350. We'll be on the lookout for an in-store shopping incentive this year — stay tuned.

Target Black Friday hours

Target stores will open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Closing times vary by location (check your local store). They'll be closed on Thanksgiving, as is company policy.

Black Friday at Amazon

As in years past, Amazon is hosting a "Black Friday Week" savings event that will kick off on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 3:01 a.m. ET and run through Cyber Monday on Nov. 30. Banners will probably change over from Black Friday to Cyber Monday on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Daily themed deals will drop throughout the event, with "double drops" on Black Friday and Cyber Monday proper at 3 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET.

You don't need to be a Prime member to shop Amazon's Black Friday sale, but it certainly doesn't hurt. There will likely be Prime-exclusive discounts sprinkled here and there throughout the event.

Amazon will also air its fourth annual Black Friday NFL game on Nov. 27 via Prime Video. (The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Denver Broncos, with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. ET) New discounts on toys, electronics, and apparel will be up for grabs during the game. Fans can shop simultaneously as they watch with an enhanced "Shop the Game" experience. There will also be an NBA on Prime doubleheader to follow (Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs).

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Credit: De'Longhi

De'Longhi Magnifica Duo Automatic Espresso Machine

$699.95 at Amazon
$999.95 Save $300

 

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The chaos of the holiday season is here. Early Black Friday deals are coming in hot, the neighbors have the Christmas lights up, and it's time to plan the Thanksgiving menu. If you're feeling like you could use a hand in getting it all done, rest assured we have coffee. If you're feeling like your kitchen could use a coffee machine upgrade, check out this deal.

As of Nov. 11, the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo automatic espresso machine is on sale at Amazon for $699.95, down from the list price of $999.95. That's a 30% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

With a single touch, the Magnifica Duo can make 20 barista-style recipes like an iced latte, cappuccino, and cold brew. The built-in conical burr grinder means you'll be able to use freshly-ground coffee for each drink.

While plenty of espresso machines come with milk frothers, De'Longhi made this model especially convenient since the spout delivers milk into the cup without any help from you.

The automations on the machine mean you won't have to put in extra work to have a treat during the busy holiday season. It's also convenient if you'll be hosting guests. Instead of teaching them all how to use your coffee maker, they'll be able to follow the machine's prompts on the display to figure it out without any help.

Since this is the lowest price we've seen at Amazon on the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo, it might be worth shopping today instead of waiting for Black Friday. Plus, shopping this week means you'll have the machine ready to go well before Thanksgiving.

GIGABYTE’s boosted AI gaming laptop lineup is here — and gamers, creators, and power users alike should buckle up. Launched at COMPUTEX 2026 this past summer, the machines ship with the latest evolution of GIGABYTE’s on-device AI assistant, GiMATE, under the hood. 

Unlike an external AI agent or chatbot, GiMATE is a unified control hub powered by the company’s exclusive, fine-tuned LLM that's built into the system for seamless, hands-on hardware control. The upshot: GiMATE helps you get more from your laptop across gaming, creation, coding, entertainment, and everyday productivity.

While GIGABYTE's AI gaming laptops are all configurable, portable powerhouses, they do have their differences, and GiMATE features vary by model and configuration. Here’s a roundup of GIGABYTE AI gaming laptops to help you score the perfect one.

For power users and top-end gaming: AORUS MASTER 16 GEN 2

Credit: GIGABYTE

If extremes are your thing, the AORUS MASTER 16 GEN 2 will melt your face off. The premium AI gaming laptop pairs a blistering AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, dominating the HDR1000 OLED gaming arena, especially if you want high-texture settings, ray tracing, and sky-high refresh rates.

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Credit: GIGABYTE

GIGABYTE AORUS MASTER 16 GEN 2

$4,599.99 at Amazon

 

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All this flagship-class hardware is packed into a surprisingly slim 19mm chassis, with four Dolby Atmos-powered speakers, and topped with a 16-inch, 240Hz OLED display with a 0.2ms response time that doesn’t flinch during gameplay. WINDFORCE INFINITY EX thermals let you go long and strong, while keeping your cool.

In addition to the full suite of updated GiMATE, this laptop also features Customize Mode, which lets you dial in the GPU power and cooling even more, for sessions that feel seriously personal.  It’s also the only model in this lineup with AI Visual Technology, which offers scenario-based display modes: Cinema Mode for richer color, Racing and FPS modes for sharper visuals in fast-paced play, an RPG mode, and E-Paper Mode for more comfortable reading.

For creators and AI productivity on the go: AERO X16; Copilot+ PC

Credit: GIGABYTE

As the first-ever GIGABYTE Microsoft Copilot+ PC, the thin-and-light AERO X16 crushes AI workflows and mid-range gaming. And with over 14 hours of battery life, you can do it all off-plug, without having to hunt for an outlet.

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Credit: GIGABYTE

GIGABYTE AERO X16; Copilot+ PC

$1,768.22 at Amazon
$2,099.99 Save $331.77

 

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For gamers, up to the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 400 Series processor and an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU with 12GB of VRAM easily tear through your fave AAA titles. Thanks to updated GiMATE Creator quantization and that 12GB of VRAM, the machine also runs larger language models (LLMs) more efficiently. GiMATE Creator now supports Qwen-Image for generating visuals from English or Chinese prompts, and on RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs it taps NVIDIA NVFP4 quantization to run generative AI models faster. And as a Copilot+ PC, it’s your launchpad for Microsoft’s suite of AI image-generation, translation, and day-to-day productivity tools. The 16-inch, 2560 x 1440 IPS display is a dazzler, and a 165Hz refresh rate easily passes muster for both work and play.

The cherry on top? This AI-loaded creator-gamer hybrid starts at 16.75 millimeters thick and weighs 4.19 pounds. You’ll barely feel it in your pack.

For GPU power hounds on a budget: GIGABYTE GAMING A16 PRO

Credit: GIGABYTE

This GiMATE-stacked laptop is an excellent pick for AI gamers and creators who want the high-tier graphics of an RTX 5080 Laptop GPU without the flagship price tag.

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Credit: GIGABYTE

GIGABYTE GAMING A16 PRO

$2,199 at Amazon
$2,649.99 Save $450.99

 

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Powered by an Intel Core 7 240H processor and high-performance graphics capabilities, the feisty machine easily handles your library of AAA games at high to ultra settings. For creators, the power-packed GPU accelerates your video editing, 3D rendering, and AI workflows across the board, thanks to its NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and dedicated GDDR7 VRAM. And if you code, GiMATE Coder is a local AI assistant that helps you generate, debug, and refactor code in Python, JavaScript, C++, and more, right inside Visual Studio Code. Need to present your renderings or marketing deck to the team? The 16-inch, 165Hz IPS WQXGA 2560 x 1440 display lays flat on a 180-degree hinge, making sharing a snap.

All of this GPU firepower, GiMATE’s AI toolkit, and over 12 hours of battery life are squeezed into a trim 19.45mm chassis you can easily tote around to offsite meetings and coffee shops.

For newbie AI gamers and light creators: GIGABYTE GAMING A16

Credit: GIGABYTE

Just starting your AI journey? GIGABYTE’s mainstream AI gaming laptop is priced right and plays hard. The stealth GIGABYTE GAMING A16 ships with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and up to an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU with a full 115W TGP, delivering hair-raising performance out of the box. Bonus points for the upgradable memory and storage options that offer growing room as you level up.

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Credit: GIGABYTE

GIGABYTE GAMING A16

$1,899.99 at Amazon

 

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A 16-inch 2560 x 1440 IPS display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a fast, 165Hz refresh rate makes for smooth sword fights and crisp visuals for creative work. Among the bundle of baked-in GiMATE, MUX switching really comes in handy here, letting you flip between dGPU-only mode, which runs everything through the dedicated graphics for max performance, and hybrid mode, which leans on the integrated graphics (iGPU) to stretch battery life up to 12 hours, all with a quick restart instead of a trip into the BIOS.

GIGABYTE has boosted its AI gaming laptops with GiMATE AI assistance, putting them on the shortlist for anyone getting, or gifting, a laptop this year. Nab your perfect GIGABYTE AI machine before the holiday rush hits.

SAVE $12: As of Nov. 11, get the Lego Pokémon Eevee set for $47.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $59.99. That's a discount of 20%.

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Credit: Amazon

Lego Pokémon Eevee

$47.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12

 

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If you're a Lego fan, there are plenty of early Black Friday deals popping up that you can take advantage of. One set in particular is well worth making some space for in your budget if you're a Pokémon lover, as one of the most adorable monsters from the original 151 is up for grabs to immortalize out of the colorful bricks right now for a great discount.

As of Nov. 11, get the Lego Pokémon Eevee set for $47.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $59.99. That's $12 off and a discount of 20%.

This Eevee building set comes with a whopping 587 pieces so you can bring the cute little Normal-type, which can evolve into a variety of elemental 'mons, to life. It has a movable head and set of limbs with ears you can pose, as well as an angled tail, so when you build it, you can make it look like Eevee is wagging at you or tilting its head in an adorable manner.

When finished, you'll also find a special hidden Easter egg as part of Eevee's build that's a nod to all of its possible evolutions like Flareon, Vaporeon, and Glaceon. That makes it a great pick for fans of Pokémon in general or just this sprightly little guy, who's bound to put a smile in your (or a friend's or family member's) day. It's a short and sweet build, but if you love this Pokémon, it's well worth picking up.

SAVE 50%: Through Nov. 17, Prime members can knock 50% off the price of one eligible Amazon Alexa device during the exclusive sale.

Shop the Prime member-exclusive sale on Alexa+ devices:

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Amazon Echo Time

$99.99 (save $100 as a Prime member)

Get Deal

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Amazon Echo Dot

$49.99 (save $50 as a Prime member)

Get Deal

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Amazon Alexa Photo Frame

$99.99 (save $100 as a Prime member)

Get Deal

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Amazon Echo Studio with Home Camera

$124.99 (save $125 as a Prime member)

Get Deal

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Amazon Kids Echo Dot

$54.99 (save $55 as a Prime member)

Get Deal

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Amazon Kids Echo Time

$104.99 (save $105 as a Prime member)

Get Deal

Last week, Amazon dropped a new generation of Alexa devices, just in time for the holidays. This week, it's giving Prime members first dibs on discounts on those devices.

Through Nov. 17, Prime members can take 50% off an eligible Amazon Alexa device with an exclusive coupon (scroll to the bottom of the page to see the eligible devices). Choose your device thoughtfully, as the deal is limited to one device per customer. If multiple eligible devices are added to your cart, the discount applies to the lowest-priced item. Click the "Apply offer" or "Exclusive offer" box on any eligible device listing to activate the discount.

All of the brand-new Alexa devices announced last week are eligible for the 50% discount, except the Echo Show 16, which isn't yet available. That means you can score the adorable Echo Time smart alarm clock for a much more affordable $99.99, compared to its full list price of $199.99. The new Echo Dot price would drop from $99.99 to $49.99, while the Alexa Photo Frame would clock in at just under $100, down from $200. Amazon's new kids Echo devices are also eligible.

New devices aren't the only ones included in the lineup. You can also score older Echo Show devices, including the 5, 8, 11, 15, and 21, as well as the Echo Studio, Dot Max, Pop Kids, Spot, and previous-gen Echo Dot. We've rounded up all the devices you can choose from below, along with their price drops using the Prime-exclusive coupon.

New Amazon Alexa devices included in the sale

• Amazon Echo Dot — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Dot Kids — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Alexa Photo Frame — $99.99 $199.99 (save $100 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Time — $99.99 $199.99 (save $100 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Studio with Home Camera — $124.99 $149.99 (save $125 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Time Kids — $154.99 $209.99 (save $155 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

Older Amazon Alexa devices included in the sale

• Echo Pop Kids — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Dot (2022) — $39.99 $79.99 (save $40 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Dot Kids (2022) — $44.99 $89.99 (save $45 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 5 — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Spot — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Dot Max — $59.99 $119.99 (save $60 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 8 — $99.99 $199.99 (save $100 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Studio — $109.99 $219.99 (save $110 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 11 — $124.99 $249.99 (save $125 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 15 — $174.99 $349.99 (save $175 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 21 — $249.99 $499.99 (save $250 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

Your phone won't let you record a lecture because the storage is full, your laptop keeps surfacing "manage storage" pop-ups you've been ignoring for weeks, and you finally go to download the game you've been waiting for, only to realize you don't have enough space. 

The reflex when a device runs out of room is to assume the device itself is the problem, but the fix is a lot less drastic and a lot less expensive than a replacement. Sandisk has 5 upgrade options, each one designed for a different "I've run out of space" moment. 

Stop deleting old photos to make room for new photos 

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Credit: Sandisk

Phone Drive with USB-C

$89.99 at Sandisk
$112.99 Save $23

 

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The SanDisk Phone Drive with USB-C (starting at $112.99) plugs straight into your USB-C smartphone and can add up to 1TB* of extra space, which is enough to keep you from deleting photos from your camera roll in between classes. It moves files between your phone, tablet, and laptop, and other USB-C compatible devices without a cable or cloud upload, and it comes in four colors, so it can stand out from the clutter at the bottom of your bag. 

A storage fix you can leave plugged in 

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Credit: Sandisk

Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive

$24.99 at Sandisk
$34.99 Save $10.00

 

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The SANDISK Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive (starting at $34.99) uses a "plug-and-stay" design that sits nearly flush with your laptop's USB-C port, so it stays put when you shove the laptop into a backpack and move between classes. With up to 1TB* of extra capacity, there’s plenty of room to offload a semester’s worth of project files and free up space for what you’re working on next. 

Space for What the semester brings 

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Credit: Sandisk

Portable Drive

$89.99 at Sandisk
$112.99 Save $23

 

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The SANDISK Portable Drive (starting at $112.99) is a pocket-sized alternative to the bulky portable hard drives of the past, with transfer speeds up to 4x faster than old-school portable hard drives**. Toss it in your backpack to keep the files you want to hang onto close at hand, whether you’re moving between your dorm, the library, class, or heading home for break. It’s an easy way to add everyday storage to your setup and make more room on the devices you already use. Turn your laptop into a gaming rig 

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Credit: Sandisk

Optimus GX 7100 NVMe SSD

$119.99 at Sandisk
$207.99 Save $88.00

 

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The SANDISK Optimus GX 7100 NVMe SSD (starting at $207.99) is the internal upgrade option that installs inside a compatible laptop and adds fast NVMe storage with a power-efficient architecture so that a game library and a semester’s worth of assignments can coexist on one machine. The appeal is simple — upgrade what you already own instead of replacing it.  

Have game (and storage), will travel

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Credit: Sandisk

Optimus GX 7100M NVMe SSD

$229.99 at Sandisk
$387.99 Save $158

 

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The SANDISK Optimus GX 7100M NVMe SSD (starting at $387.99) is the handheld version of the same idea, adding up to 2TB* of space to compatible gaming handhelds. With AAA titles routinely running 90GB or more, up to 2TB* means your game library travels with you instead of having to decide which ones make the cut. 

Solve your storage problems for good with Sandisk without monthly storage subscription fees. You'll have an easier time getting back into your creative flow, too. 

Disclosures: 

* 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. 1TB=1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage capacity less. 

**  Based on read speed and internal testing against select commercially available 1TB portable HDDs. Performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.  

SANDISK, the SANDISK logo, SANDISK Extreme, SANDISK Extreme Fit and SANDISK Optimus are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sandisk Corporation or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries. The NVMe word mark is a trademark of NVM Express, Inc. USB-C is a registered trademark of USB Implementers Forum. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. 

© 2026 Sandisk Corporation or its affiliates. All rights reserved.  

Product specifications are subject to change without notice. Pictures shown may vary from actual products.

We cover a lot of national holidays in an effort to bring you free food deals from your favorite chains. Some events, like National Sandwich Day, have a handful of participating restaurants. But others, like Veterans Day, get mass participation.

Veterans Day takes place on Nov. 11, and a huge number of popular restaurant chains are saluting veterans with BOGO offers, limited-time discounts, and genuinely free giveaways. We've scanned the market for everything on offer to provide you with a standout selection of promotions.

Check out our favorites Veterans Day deals below:

Veterans Day 2026 food deals

7 Brew

Veterans get 50% off any drink all day on Nov. 11 with valid military ID.

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings

Veterans and active-duty military get 10% off dine-in orders on Nov. 11 with ID.

Applebee’s

Veterans and active military get a free full-size entrée from a select menu when dining in on Nov. 11, plus a $5 Bounce Back Card valid through Nov. 29.

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

Veterans and active personnel get a free All-American Burger with cheese and a side on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (dine-in only with ID).

Baya Bar

Veterans and active-duty military get a free smoothie in-store on Nov. 11 with proof of service.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

Current and former military members dining in on Nov. 11 get a free Chocolate Chunk Pizookie.

Blaze Pizza

Veterans and active-duty military get a free one-topping pizza at participating locations on Nov. 11.

Bubbakoo’s Burritos

Veterans and active personnel get a free chicken or beef burrito or bowl on Nov. 11 when ordering in-store with ID.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Veterans and active military get 10 free boneless wings and fries for dine-in with proof of service, or at B-Dubs GO walk-up counters with a $5 minimum spend.

California Pizza Kitchen

Veterans and active-duty military get a free entrée and drink from a special prix fixe menu on Nov. 11, plus a BOGO pizza, pasta, or salad card redeemable Nov. 12-25.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen

Veterans and active-duty service members get a free appetizer or dessert at dine-in on Nov. 11.

Chili’s

Veterans and active-duty military get a free select entrée for dine-in on Nov. 11.

Condado Tacos

Veterans get a free taco with the purchase of any taco of equal or greater value on Nov. 11 with ID.

Cracker Barrel

Veterans and active-duty military get a free Sunrise Pancake Special on Nov. 11 with ID.

Dave & Buster’s

Veterans and active military get free unlimited non-redemption gameplay, a free dessert with an entrée purchase, and their everyday 15% food/beverage discount on Nov. 11. All guests get 50% off arcade games.

Denny’s

Active, non-active, and retired military get a free Original Grand Slam on Nov. 11 from 5 a.m. to noon (dine-in only with military ID or DD-214).

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

Veterans and active-duty personnel get a free Pulled Pork Sandwich on Nov. 11 for dine-in or carryout with ID.

Dog Haus

Veterans get a free entrée on Nov. 11 for dine-in with proof of service.

Einstein Bros. Bagels

Veterans and active-duty military get a free hot or iced coffee (any size) and a bagel with shmear on Nov. 11 when ordering in-bakery.

Fazoli’s

Veterans and active military get a free Spaghetti with Marinara or Meat Sauce on Nov. 11 with promo code VET26 at the counter (no purchase necessary).

Firehouse Subs

Veterans and active-duty military get a BOGO free sub (any size) in-store on Nov. 11 with ID.

Ford’s Garage

Veterans and active-duty military get a free American Standard Burger or up to $16 off any entrée for dine-in on Nov. 11 with ID.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Veterans and current military visiting on Nov. 11 receive a free meal card for any Freddy’s Combo, redeemable through Nov. 25.

Golden Corral

Active-duty military, retirees, and veterans get a free dinner buffet and drink on Nov. 11 from 4 p.m. to close (no ID required).

Good Times

Active and retired military get a free Deluxe Cheeseburger Combo in-store or at the drive-thru on Nov. 11 with ID.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

Military members get 25% off dine-in orders on Nov. 11 with ID (up from their standard 15% discount).

Grumpy’s Restaurant

Veterans and active-duty military get 25% off their check on Nov. 11 with ID.

Hard Rock Cafe

Active and retired military get a free Classic Smashed Burger on Nov. 11 with ID, which stacks with their regular 15% military discount.

Hawaiian Bros

Veterans and active-duty military get a free Classic Plate Lunch on Nov. 11 with ID.

Honey Dew

Veterans get a free coffee in any size on Nov. 11.

Hooters

Active and retired military get a free meal from a select menu with any beverage purchase on Nov. 11 (dine-in only with ID).

Hot Dog on a Stick

Veterans and active-duty military get a free 16-ounce Original Lemonade on Nov. 11 with ID.

Hurricane Grill & Wings

Veterans and active-duty military get a free select entrée (10 wings, fish and chips, steakburger, or chicken sandwich) for dine-in on Nov. 11 with proof of service.

IHOP

Veterans and active-duty military get a free Red, White, and Blueberry Pancake Combo on Nov. 11 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (dine-in only with proof of service).

In-N-Out

Veterans, active-duty military, Reserves, and National Guard get a free meal (any burger, fries, and drink) on Nov. 11 with proof of service.

Juice It Up!

Veterans and active-duty military get a free medium Classic Smoothie in-store on Nov. 11 with proof of service.

Kona Grill

Veterans, active military, first responders, and Gold Star families get a free entrée with any starter purchase on Nov. 11 (dine-in only).

Krispy Kreme

Veterans and active-duty military get a free small coffee (hot or iced) and any doughnut in-shop or at the drive-thru on Nov. 11.

Little Caesars

Veterans and active-duty military get a free 4-slice Detroit-Style Deep Dish Lunch Combo with a 20-oz Pepsi on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with proof of service.

LongHorn Steakhouse

Veterans and active-duty military get 10% off their meal plus a free appetizer or dessert with any adult entrée purchase on Nov. 11 (dine-in or call-in).

MOD Pizza

Veterans and active-duty military get 50% off any regular-size pizza or salad in-store on Nov. 11 with ID.

Native Grill & Wings

Veterans and active-duty military get a free select meal (wings combo, burger, or chicken sandwich with fries) for dine-in on Nov. 11 with proof of service.

Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub

Veterans and active-duty military get a free lunch entrée from a select menu with the purchase of another entrée on Nov. 11 from open to 4 p.m. (dine-in with ID).

Noodles & Company

Rewards members get 50% off a second ramen bowl through Nov. 14 in the app.

Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom

Veterans and active-duty military get a free meal from a select menu on Nov. 11 for dine-in with proof of service.

Olive Garden

Veterans and active-duty military dining in on Nov. 11 get a free select entrée, including unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks.

Outback Steakhouse

Veterans and active service members get a free Bloomin’ Onion and a Coca-Cola or draft beer on Nov. 10 and 11 (no ID required). Rewards members also score a free future Hero’s Meal voucher redeemable Nov. 16, 2026 – May 2, 2027.

Paris Baguette

All customers get a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase on Nov. 11 (no ID required).

Peter Piper Pizza

Veterans and active-duty service members get a 10% discount with ID.

PJ’s Coffee

Veterans and active-duty military get a free 16-ounce hot coffee or cold brew in-store on Nov. 11.

Playa Bowls

Veterans and military personnel get 50% off any bowl on Nov. 11 with ID.

Raising Canes

Through the Hero Discount Program, active and retired military members, firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and their families get 10% off their entire purchase when they mention the program at the register.

Red Robin

Veterans and active-duty military get a free Red’s Tavern Double Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries on Nov. 11 for dine-in with ID.

Ruby Tuesday

Veterans, active-duty military, Reserves, and National Guard get a free Everyday Fresh Meal on Nov. 11 for dine-in with proof of service.

Shake Shack

Veterans and active-duty military get a free single ShackBurger in-store on Nov. 11 with ID.

Sheetz

Veterans and active-duty military get a free half-turkey sub and regular fountain drink on Nov. 11, plus a free car wash at participating locations.

Smashburger

Veterans and active-duty military get a free All-American Single Smash or Americana Big Dog in-restaurant on Nov. 11 with ID.

Smoothie King

Veterans and active-duty military get a free 20-ounce smoothie on Nov. 11 from noon to 3 p.m. with ID.

Taco John’s

Military rewards members get a free small Beef Crispy or Softshell Taco Combo in the mobile app on Nov. 11.

TCBY

Veterans get their first 6 ounces of froyo free on Nov. 11 with ID.

TGI Fridays

Veterans get a free select meal on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for dine-in with ID.

Twin Peaks

Veterans and active-duty military get a free entrée from a select 5-item menu on Nov. 11 for dine-in.

Wendy’s

Veterans and active-duty military get a free Dave’s Single in-store or at the drive-thru on Nov. 11 with ID (no purchase necessary).

Whataburger

Veterans and active-duty military get a free breakfast Taquito until 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 with ID (dine-in or drive-thru only; excludes app orders).

White Castle

Veterans and active-duty military get a free individual or breakfast combo meal for dine-in on Nov. 11 with ID.

Yard House

Veterans and active-duty military get a free appetizer for dine-in on Nov. 11 with ID.

Some people just have a natural talent for finding gifts on a budget, whether it's Christmas, an anniversary, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or birthdays. Some people nail it every time, getting the "best gift-giver" award among those who are lucky to know them — wife, husband, boyfriend, teens, in-laws, and everyone else.

If you're not one of those people, don't fret. We're here to help no matter the occasion. We've put together a list of the best gift ideas for under $50, from expected-but-useful trinkets to cool items they definitely don't have yet. These unique, budget-friendly gift ideas come from a variety of categories, so you're sure to find something they'll love.

TL;DR: Amazon Prime members can get $20 off each of their first two qualifying Uber Eats restaurant orders through Amazon until Nov. 18 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Each order must total at least $25 before taxes and fees and after any other qualifying discounts.

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Credit: Amazon

Uber Eats: $20 off each of your first two orders

 

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This may just be the frugal part of me talking, but I’ve always thought Uber Eats was one of the more expensive food delivery apps (right up there with Postmates). So when I heard Amazon Prime members could now get $0 delivery fees through Uber Eats, I was pretty excited. I still have questions about some of those clearly inflated restaurant prices, but free delivery is a step in the right direction.

Right now, eligible Prime members can get $20 off each of their first two Uber Eats restaurant orders through Amazon, for up to $40 off across two orders. Each order needs to total at least $25 before taxes and fees, after any other qualifying discounts, and the offer expires Nov. 18 at 11:59 p.m. PST. You also get $0 delivery fees on eligible orders after activating the benefit.

How to get the discount

Go to Amazon’s Uber Eats page while signed in to your Prime account and tap “Allow” to activate the $0 delivery-fee benefit. From there, browse participating restaurants and check that your qualifying $20 discount appears before submitting your order. You don’t need a separate Uber Eats account, but you do need to order through Amazon’s website or shopping app — not the Uber Eats app or website.

The benefit is available to U.S. Prime members, including those with Prime for Young Adults and Prime Access memberships. Restaurant selection depends on your location, so check what’s available near you.

Do you need to join Prime?

You’ll need an eligible Prime membership to use the benefit. Prime normally costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, and eligible customers can start a 30-day free trial. I wouldn’t pay for a year just to get two discounted meals, but the trial is worth considering if you also plan to use Prime for Black Friday shopping.

Already using Prime for holiday shopping? This is an extra worth checking before your next takeout order. Compare the final price instead of letting the $20 discount talk you into adding food you didn’t want just to reach the minimum.

Earlier this year, I reflected in my review of How to Make A Killing that cinema has been riding a wave of eat-the-rich comedies since 2019, when Parasite and Ready or Not made class conflict into ghoulish fun. Since then, we've seen the good (Triangle of Sadness, The Menu, Send Help, I Love Boosters), the bad (How to Make a Killing), and the truly awful (The Running Man reboot).

So, how does How to Rob a Bank, the latest from David Leitch, stack up? Oh, very poorly, and that's actually shocking at first glance.

Let's consider the talent behind How to Rob a Bank. For starters, the production is helmed by David Leitch, who's directed such compelling action movies as Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, and The Fall Guy. The original screenplay comes from Mark Bianculli, a writer who worked on Hunters, an intense drama about a group that hunts down Nazis. The ensemble cast boasts Nicholas Hoult, Anna Sawai, John C. Reilly, Zoë Kravitz, and Pete Davidson.

All this suggests that a bank robbery thriller centered on class warfare might feature explosive action, challenging ideas, and rich emotional moments. However, produced and distributed by billionaire Jeff Bezos' Amazon MGM Studios, this eat-the-rich movie never dares to get that deep. Instead, How to Rob a Bank is a flashy, brainless mockery of the great American bank robbery movie. Who could guess why?

How to Rob a Bank dabbles in class politics.

Nicholas Hoult stars as Ryan and Rhenzy Feliz as Hugo in "How to Rob a Bank," from Amazon MGM Studios. Credit: Megan Schoenbachler / Amazon MGM Studios

This thriller gets off to a kinetic start by pitching the audience into a band of charismatic bank robbers; they wear animal masks and document their crimes in a YouTube web series that encourages others to follow in their footsteps. Through voiceover narration, their dashing leader Ryan (Hoult) delivers some rapid-fire statistics about the American wage gap, arguing that robbing a bank offers a better chance of financial security than banking on the system playing fair.

Exactly which system Ryan is referring to is left vague in Bianculli's screenplay. There will be glancing critiques about the mistreatment of military veterans, healthcare under capitalism, and immigration reform, but the focus here is on banks. These robbers explain that banks bleed lenders dry, steal homes, and essentially kill people who can't afford medical care. These arguments are delivered in bullet-point form, as are the scraps of character development of their central anti-heroes. That makes it hard to feel invested in either.

Instead of delving into the robbers' lives, the movie cuts to the FBI agent (Reilly) who's cajoling a bitter hacker (Kravitz) to give him her Batman-level stalker tech to track them down. She agrees reluctantly between bong hits, which make up about 40% of her character, and they set off on a wonky buddy-cop adventure. While this setup has promise, she eats junk food and cracks meh jokes while he furrows his brow to unmask these robbers. It's far from the sparks and fun of Lethal Weapon or Beverly Hills Cop.

By the time How to Rob a Bank has set up this could-be cat-and-mouse dynamic, the actual exploration of who these thieves are feels like an afterthought. To Hoult's credit, he and his onscreen wife, Emi (Sawai), manage to muster engaging intimacy in some thin scenes. But all of these backstory scenes reek of tropes and stereotypes.

For instance, Hugo (Rhenzy Feliz) lives in a crowded apartment building, where he provides for his Spanish-speaking grandmother, who we learn later is undocumented. Meanwhile, Ryan and his wife live in a decaying house, where pictures of their deceased child provide an unspoken motive. And then there's Pete Davidson's Vince, who lumbers into a treacly scene singing a lullaby to his child, while his wife, Skyler (Tati Gabrielle, who is given nothing to do), looks on smiling.

They aren't characters but figures propped up by cliché and half-hearted politics the movie has no real interest in. It's never really clear what Ryan's big plan is between the robberies and his social media campaign. Is he just seeking revenge? Or is he earnestly pushing for revolution? And if so, what kind? Hoult is given plenty of rabid monologues for the gang's YouTube audience to enjoy. But who Ryan is behind his wolf mask remains ambiguous, and frankly boring.

How to Rob a Bank is a toothless bank robbery movie.

Nicholas Hoult stars as Ryan, Pete Davidson as Vince, and Rhenzy Feliz as Hugo in in "How to Rob a Bank." Credit: Megan Schoenbachler / Amazon MGM Studios

In American cinema, bank robbers have a dubious place of honor alongside gangsters. They are the flip side to the white hat-wearing cowboy, who fights for the good of all by going outside the rules of a polite society. These anti-heroes expose the broken system of American capitalism and its corrupt government, and then suggest that their crimes are a defiant middle finger to it all. To them, they must break the laws to achieve their American dream.

In movies like Dog Day Afternoon, Set It Off, and The Town, audiences are urged to identify with the robbers, who are average folks making extraordinary choices to combat their bad fortune. In each of these films, a great director explores the bank robbers' psyches and their worlds, so that we, the audience, can relate. Their hopes, fears, and pain become our own. So, when they inevitably suffer a deadly loss in their pursuit of this twisted American dream, we hurt too. And then we're left to wonder what it means about our world that we can root for armed thieves to topple some aspect of it.

How to Rob a Bank gestures to this classic arc. To Leitch's credit, the film feels firmly set in Pittsburgh, where long-standing brick buildings, towering yellow bridges, and rolling hills strewn with weathered houses give a distinct look that speaks of America's promise and decline. He also embraces vibrant color, which adds pizzazz to the robbers and their online videos. But when it comes to creating complex characters who can make an onscreen death hit hard, he falls absolutely flat.

Sure, there's that scene where one of the gang will inevitably be slain by stone-faced police. But this time it won't hit, because How to Rob a Bank's characters all feel like gestures to a point of view, be it disillusioned, revolutionary, apathetic, or dedicated to the status quo. They don't feel real enough to move us, because How to Rob a Bank is in such a rush to plop in action set pieces.

And how are those action set pieces? Underwhelming. Sure, there's gunfire, car chases, motorcycle races through untamed woods, and street-level mayhem. None of it is all that memorable. As someone who fell hard for the jaw-dropping stunts and awesome battles of Atomic Blonde, I take no joy in telling you that it feels like Leitch is phoning it in here.

To the ensemble's credit, they do seem committed to making the most out of thin characters, stale jokes, and nattering political rhetoric. But they can't elevate a script that is juvenile in its politics and devastatingly uninterested in challenging its audience.

In the end, How to Rob a Bank adds nothing to the conversation about the wealth gap. Instead, the movie callously steals markers from online political discourse to use as flair, which is haphazardly flung upon a subgenre framework meant to stir up an audience and then haunt them with a film's final moments. This gutless knockoff gives no thought-provoking turns or heart-wrenching reveals. Then it delivers an ending that's senseless and pointless. Simply put, this movie could have been a meme.

How to Rob a Bank opens in theaters Nov. 13.

Hot Ones Versus episodes tend to be more chaotic than regular Hot Ones, and Ali Wong going head-to-head with Nikki Glaser is of course no exception.

In the clip above the two comedians take part in what is essentially a game of truth or dare, where the punishment for refusing to answer a question is a spicy wing.

Highlights include a passionate Taylor Swift discussion (Glaser refused to roast her) and a final challenge in which the pair have to draw one another without laughing.

Want more 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 OVER $7: As of Nov. 11, the 32oz Owala FreeSip water bottles featuring the new Sweet Talk and Punch Line designs are on sale for $32 at Amazon. That's $7.99 off their full price of $39.99.

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Credit: Owala

Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle 32 oz Punch Line

$32 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $7.99

 

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Credit: Owala

Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle 32 oz Sweet Talk

$32 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $7.99

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why wait for Black Friday to grab a new water bottle? Owala's latest pink-striped collection of bottles — called Sweet Talk and Punch Line — is already seeing discounts on Amazon. Both the Sweet Talk and Punch Line colorways are on sale for $32 for a limited time.

This is the lowest price we've seen, saving you $7.99 off their overall cost. These new designs were released at the end of October, so getting an early discount like this is pretty rare.

Mashable's Samantha Mangino says there's "no better emotional support water bottle than Owala's FreeSip" in her hands-on review, writing that it "lives up to its promise of both a sippable and chuggable water bottle."

Its versatile design is its biggest highlight: it offers a built-in straw or spout and has double-wall insulation to help keep your drinks cold. They can stay chilly for up to 24 hours, in fact. Plus, its push-to-open lid helps to keep the spout clean.

If these bright pink designs have caught your attention, act fast to save 20% on the Sweet Talk and Punch Line Owala FreeSip bottles at Amazon.

Where to buy the 'GTA 6' PS5 DualSense controller:

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PlayStation Direct

DualSense PS5 Wireless Controller — GTA 6 Black Limited Edition

$84 at PlayStation Direct

Shop Now

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PlayStation Direct

DualSense PS5 Wireless Controller — GTA 6 White Limited Edition

$84 at PlayStation Direct

Shop Now

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Amazon

DualSense PS5 Wireless Controller — GTA 6 White Limited Edition

$84 at Amazon

Shop Now

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Walmart

DualSense PS5 Wireless Controller — GTA 6 White Limited Edition

$84.88 at Walmart

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Target

DualSense PS5 Wireless Controller — GTA 6 White Limited Edition

$84.99 at Target

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---

GameStop

DualSense PS5 Wireless Controller — GTA 6 White Limited Edition

$84.99 at GameStop

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---

Best Buy

DualSense PS5 Wireless Controller — GTA 6 White Limited Edition

$84.99 at Best Buy

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GTA 6 is finally arriving next week, and the heavily in-demand limited-edition PS5 DualSense controllers have been making a surprising comeback with select restocks before Rockstar’s long-awaited sequel launches. 

Sony’s collaboration with Rockstar Games delivered two distinctive blue-and-purple, neon-infused designs inspired by the streets of Vice City, each available in black and white for $84.99. However, as preorders opened on Sept. 10, stock allocations sold out everywhere — especially the black version, which is sold exclusively via PlayStation Direct. 

With both GTA 6 DualSense controllers scheduled for release on Nov. 19, several major stores still have preorder listings for the white edition, with intermittent restocks expected over the next week.

Be sure to keep this page bookmarked as we’ve checked across go-to retailers, confirmed where you can buy DualSense right now, and provided the full list of links you’ll need to check for the best chance of grabbing GTA 6’s limited edition controllers going forward.

Where to check for GTA 6 DualSense controller stock

Before GTA 6's launch on Nov. 19, these are the main retailers in the U.S. to bookmark and check for preorders:

• PlayStation Direct (Black): Your only official U.S. retailer for the black controller. Sony has imposed a one-per-order limit, so don’t try to grab more than one if you’re lucky to get through.

• PlayStation Direct (White): Also listed through Sony's storefront, the white version isn't exclusive. With that, there are several alternatives if PlayStation Direct runs out.

• Amazon: A live listing for the white DualSense is available to buy now.

• Walmart: The GTA 6 limited-edition PS5 DualSense controller is in stock at the time of writing. Shipping’s estimated to arrive on the game’s Nov. 19 release day.

• Target: The white GTA 6 controller is in stock at the time of writing, though at the standard $84.99 price. The shipping date’s a little later than Walmart.

• GameStop: Currently available to preorder online at $84.99. However, the delivery date is estimated for Nov. 20-25.

• Best Buy: The white edition controller at $84.99 is out of stock online, but is currently marked as “Coming Soon."

Why are the GTA 6 DualSense controllers selling out so quickly?

GTA 6’s massive hype has undoubtedly led shoppers directly to the game’s dedicated PS5 DualSense controllers. It's the natural way of things.

As reported by IGN, 100 million PS5s have now been sold, including 2.1 million in the last quarter. It feels like a lot of recent sales have been driven by GTA 6. PC players need to wait, and the Xbox Series X|S’s install base pales in comparison to PlayStation, making the PS5 the default way to play GTA 6.

Not every one of the 100 million PS5 owners in the world will be playing GTA 6 or would even want the controller, but it does mean that the pool of potential buyers who’d want a dedicated GTA-themed DualSense controller is significant.

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Credit: Rockstar Games

GTA 6 — PlayStation 5 (Code in Box)

$79.99 at Amazon

 

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What's special about the GTA 6 Limited-Edition DualSense controllers?

Both controllers draw inspiration from GTA 6's fictional Vice City setting, though each represents a different side of the game's Florida-inspired location.

The white DualSense adopts a brighter appearance influenced by Vice City's beaches, pastel colors, and a sunny daytime atmosphere. The black alternative draws on the city's neon-lit nightlife, with darker tones surrounding its colorful accents — representing the long nights in Vice City.

Alongside the prominent VI branding on the touchpad, each has textured palm tree detailing across the grips and a shimmering, color-shifting finish that changes appearance as the light catches it. Underneath those cosmetic changes, they're effectively standard PS5 DualSense wireless controllers. That means you're still getting haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, a built-in microphone, motion controls, and the familiar touchpad while you revel in Jason and Lucia's Leonida adventures.

Both controllers can also be used with compatible PCs, Macs, and mobile devices.

How can you improve your chances of finding stock?

If the GTA 6 DualSense is unavailable, there are a few ways to make the search less frustrating:

• Get your retailer accounts ready: Sign in to Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and PlayStation Direct ahead of time, with your payment and delivery information saved. That way, you won't have to scramble through checkout if new stock appears.

• Remember PlayStation Direct’s exclusivity for the black controller: Since it's the only official U.S. retailer carrying this version, there's little benefit in searching elsewhere unless you're considering resale listings.

• Use stock alerts where available: Retailer notifications and independent trackers can help flag when inventory is returning without requiring you to manually check every product page throughout the day.

• Check local stores around launch: Best Buy, Target, and GameStop could be worth contacting starting Nov. 19. In-store inventory isn't guaranteed, but it offers another option if online orders become unavailable entirely.

• Avoid paying collector prices too early: Both controllers have an official $84.99 recommended retail price. Listings substantially above that are not worthwhile while there's still a chance of additional stock reaching major stores.

Will the GTA 6 DualSense controllers be restocked for Black Friday?

It's possible, although Sony hasn't confirmed a dedicated Black Friday restock.

With GTA 6 launching on Nov. 19 and Black Friday 2026 taking place on Nov. 27, there's a relatively short gap between the release date and the biggest shopping event of the year. With that, retailers could receive more inventory around launch or hold additional units for the holiday shopping period. However, neither possibility is guaranteed, especially for the black controller, which remains exclusive to PlayStation Direct in the U.S.

Even if there were more stock in time for Black Friday, it doesn't necessarily mean these special editions will be discounted. Given their limited availability and high demand, retailers have no reason to knock anything off the price just yet. At this stage, selling out at MSRP is already almost a guarantee.

For now, the safest approach is to keep checking the retailer pages above and secure your preferred design if it becomes available at a reasonable price. Waiting until Black Friday might pay off, but there's a slim chance that either controller will still be available to buy after Nov. 19.

Spoiler alert: The above video contains details for the first four episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3, as well as key events from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is well-accustomed to battling Sauron (Charlie Vickers) onscreen. But if the series' stars Vickers, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Daniel Weyman had to face off against the Dark Lord himself, which Middle-earth characters would they want fighting at their side?

Find out as the show's s cast, as well as series co-creator Patrick McKay, stop by Mashable's Say More studio for a game of Choose Your Squad, in which they draft their own personal army to face off against Sauron.

Who will be the first draft pick? Which team would be the most fun hang? And of course, which team stands the best chance of taking down Sauron?

Watch the above video to decide for yourself.

How to watch: The first four episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 are now streaming on Prime Video, with more every Wednesday.

The Moon is now a little further into its Waxing Crescent phase, with a small amount of its surface illuminated by the Sun. It should be slightly easier to spot tonight, although there's still not much to see in the way of lunar features.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Nov. 11, the NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Crescent phase, with 4% of its surface visible.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on November 24.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete one full cycle. As it orbits Earth, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface that we can see changes, creating the different phases. This takes us from the New Moon to the Full Moon and back again, before the cycle begins once more, according to NASA.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it's not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Where to buy 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'

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Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

$69.99 at Nintendo

Shop Now

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Amazon

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

$69 at Amazon

Shop Now

---

Target

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

$69.99 at Target

Shop Now

---

Best Buy

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

$69.99 at Best Buy

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---

Walmart

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

$69 at Walmart

Shop Now

---

GameStop

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

$69.99 at GameStop

Shop Now

If you’ve been following our stock trackers for the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 and the elusive gold-trimmed Pro Controller, you know what true retail chaos looks like.

The good news is picking up The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 is nowhere near that hard.

While the hardware remains locked in a battle with scalpers, the actual game is readily floating around retail ecosystems. You won’t need to set 3 a.m. alarms or camp out in parking lots — you just need a clear map of which storefronts have carts ready for pickup, which ones offer quiet member markdowns, and when it makes total sense to skip the physical box and save ten bucks.

Here’s where you can buy it today.

Where to Buy 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' on Switch 2

Before you start jumping between tabs, here is where physical cartridge stock stands across the primary retailers and the smartest way to check each:

• Nintendo Store — Direct physical orders are active, with first-run physical copies shipping with the collectible textured foil sleeve while supplies last.

• Amazon — Stock is live, but keep an eye on fulfillment windows. Amazon was hit with widespread shipping delays right around launch, pushing many delivery dates out by days or even weeks. If you decide to order here, check the estimated delivery date on the product page before checking out, and verify that the seller is Amazon directly.

• Target — Stocked across physical aisles and online. Local Drive Up and in-store pickup windows refresh early in the morning; paying with a Target Circle Card saves an extra 5%.

• Best Buy — Solid availability online and in stores. Set your filter to "Pick up at store" to grab same-day counter holds before local inventory sells through.

• Walmart — Rolling inventory in physical electronics cases and online. Just make sure online orders explicitly state "Sold and shipped by Walmart" to bypass third-party marketplace scalpers.

• GameStop — Available for standard orders. A solid option for physical walk-ins and trading in older Switch games, with extra savings for Pro members.

The case for going digital (and saving $10)

If you don't need a cartridge on your shelf, the digital version saves you $10 right out of the gate. Nintendo sets digital copies at $59.99 while physical boxed editions sit at $69.99. Skipping the plastic case also makes jumping between games seamless when playing in handheld mode.

Your entire adventure lives directly on the console’s internal storage, so you never have to carry, swap, or misplace tiny plastic cards when jumping between games. You bypass stock shortages, postal waitlists, and store runs, all while benefiting from faster asset streaming and quicker load times running directly off the Switch 2's high-speed flash storage.

How to get the digital version right now:

• Directly on your Switch 2: Open the Nintendo eShop, search for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and purchase it to start the background download immediately.

• Digital code via retailers (Amazon): If you prefer keeping your credit card off your Nintendo console, you can buy a digital game code directly on Amazon. The 16-character download code arrives in your email inbox within minutes and can be typed straight into the eShop’s "Redeem" tab.

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Credit: Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Digital)

$59.99 at Nintendo

 

Shop Now at Nintendo

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Credit: Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Digital)

$59.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

What’s new in 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' on Switch 2?

Built exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, this remake gives the N64 classic a full modern overhaul. You get high-definition visuals, an orchestrated symphonic soundtrack, voiced cutscenes, and modern quality-of-life upgrades like free camera movement and gyro-aiming for the bow and hookshot.

Nintendo also made clever use of the Switch 2 hardware. You can still play the ocarina with standard controller buttons, or you can hum, whistle, or play an instrument directly into the console’s built-in microphone to cast spells and warp.

The game connects to the free Nintendo Switch mobile app via Zelda Notes, adding an interactive collectible tracker, map guides, and trivia quizzes. Tapping existing Zelda amiibo drops helpful in-game supplies, while the new 40th-anniversary figures unlock retro-style cosmetic masks.

Is Ocarina of Time included in the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 bundle?

No. The limited-edition $519.99 console does not include a pack-in game or digital download code. If you scored the special-edition hardware, you'll still need to grab a physical cartridge or digital version on your own.

Can I play this remake on an original Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED, or Switch Lite?

No. This release is built exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware architecture. It uses the new console's enhanced graphical pipeline, modern lighting engine, reworked audio processing, and faster storage speeds, so it will not boot on older first-generation Switch hardware.

Should you wait for Black Friday deals?

In short: no. First-party Nintendo launch games almost never see sticker-price drops during their first Black Friday. The best deals you're likely to find will be indirect perks — like bundled store gift cards or buy-two-get-one promotions on broader software catalogs. If you want to play now, don’t bother waiting — Black Friday won't save you much.

Unlike the consoles and controllers, this is one 40th Anniversary drop that has stayed in stock long enough to buy. Pick your preferred format, grab it at MSRP, and enjoy your return trip through time.

Netflix and Riot have teamed up to capture the attention of League of Legends fans, adding a host of music videos to the platform.

Ahead of Worlds (the League of Legends World Championship) taking over New York's Barclays Center this weekend, the streaming platform is adding a collection of videos from Riot's virtual artists, including K/DA, True Damage, and HEARTSTEEL.

A continued collaboration between Riot and Netflix, the League of Legends hub will go live Nov. 12 and will include music videos animated by Fortiche, the animation studio behind Netflix and Riot's critically lauded, Emmy-winning series Arcane.

You'll find six of K/DA's videos on there, including their Fortiche-made "FIRESTARTER" comeback single released in October, and True Damage's official 2026 Worlds anthem "Know My Name," produced with WIZZ, with animation direction by CRCR. Both will likely be performed at the Worlds opening ceremony on Saturday.

Of course, you can watch all these videos on YouTube, Netflix's longtime rival.

It seems Netflix is leaning into custom content hubs for specific titles and partnerships of late, with short-form videos the focus. The news comes days after Netflix added a KPop Demon Hunters hub to the platform, collating the film, a sing-a-long version, lyric videos for songs including "Golden," HUNTR/X choreography videos, featurettes, and more.

Want more entertainment news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on a qualifying T-Mix plan.

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Credit: Apple

T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free

 

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You know the drill by now: Black Friday deals don't actually drop on Black Friday. Instead, we get waves of early deals throughout November and even earlier. That's good news for anyone who desperately needs a tech upgrade.

We've been blessed by a number of interesting early Black Friday deals on mobiles, but T-Mobile is definitely leading the way right now. We've rounded up all the best Black Friday deals from T-Mobile, but if you're only interested in the latest iPhone, we've got you.

For a limited time, you can get your hands on the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free with T-Mobile. To qualify for this wild deal, you simply need to switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on a qualifying T-Mix plan. Alternatively, you can get the iPhone 18 Pro for free if you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on a T-Mix plan.

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.

Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Score the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free with T-Mobile.

Where to preorder 'GTA 6':

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Amazon

GTA 6

$79.99 at Amazon

Pre-Order Here

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Best Buy

GTA 6

$79.99 at Best Buy

Pre-Order Here

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GameStop

GTA 6

$79.99 at GameStop

Pre-Order Here

---

Target

GTA 6

$79.99 at Target

Pre-Order Here

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Walmart

GTA 6

$79.99 at Walmart

Pre-Order Here

It's the last call for your "we got X before GTA 6" memes. Preorders for Grand Theft Auto 6 are live ahead of its Nov. 19 release. The highly anticipated game is available in two editions for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S: an $80 standard edition and a $100 Ultimate Edition. Both come with a slew of preorder bonuses if you purchase them before launch.

Physical copies of GTA 6 are available for preorder at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart. Digital copies are available through the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Rockstar Games Store.

What does the GTA 6 Ultimate Edition include?

The $100 GTA 6 Ultimate Edition features "an exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action," according to a press release from developer Rockstar Games. It's previewing these extras on its website, which include:

• A ’95 Grotti Cheetah vehicle

• Hawk & Little Morgan Revolvers

• Personalized sidearm variants

• Exclusive outfits and tattoos

• Exclusive hairstyles, makeup, and nail art

• Jason's Safehouse vehicles

• A Vapid Ganado modkit

• Access to two exclusive vehicle mod shops and a clothing store

• A Shitzu Squalo boat

• A '67 Vapid Dominator Buggy vehicle with a garage

• A raid mission for the PTT Youngin$ Illegal Goods Store, a gang compound

• A side mission to find and restore classic cars

The GTA 6 Ultimate Edition is only available for preorder on digital through the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Rockstar Games Store.

GTA 6 Ultimate Edition

$99.99 at PlayStation Store

 

Preorder at PlayStation Store Preorder at Xbox Preorder at Rockstar Games

What are the benefits of preordering GTA 6?

All players who buy GTA 6 before Nov. 20 will get a bonus Vintage Vice City Pack, which Rockstar describes as "a collection of items that flash back to when the neon burned brightest." There's a yellow ’55 Vapid Stanier vehicle with its own garage; special outfits and hairstyles for Jason and Lucia, the game's two protagonists; and a palm tree weapon pattern.

Those who preorder digital copies will also get a free month of GTA+, a membership service that unlocks GTA Online bonuses and a library of older Rockstar titles. It normally costs $7.99 per month.

Here's a look at the exclusive outfits included in "GTA 6's" preorder-exclusive Vintage Vice City Pack. Credit: Rockstar Games

Is it better to buy GTA 6 on digital or physical?

You'll only get the free month of GTA+ if you preorder the digital version of GTA 6. Physical copies of the game just come with a download code in the case instead of an actual disc, so the biggest reason to buy that version instead is if you want to collect the box art.

When will GTA 6 preorders arrive?

Players who preorder a digital copy of GTA 6 will be able to preload the game on their consoles starting Nov. 12. All major retailers plan to ship physical copies, which will also arrive on Nov. 12 and can be preloaded ahead of launch day.

When is GTA 6 coming out?

GTA 6 is set for release on Thursday, Nov. 19. Don't forget to submit your PTO request.

Why was GTA 6 delayed?

The game was announced in December 2023 and was originally supposed to launch in late 2025, but Rockstar delayed it to May 2026 and then again to this fall. Both times, the company said more time was needed in order to deliver "the level of quality" and "polish" that players "expect and deserve." Hey, what's a couple more months after 13 years?

This boat is exclusive to the "GTA 6" Ultimate Edition. Credit: Rockstar Games

Is GTA 6 a multiplayer game?

Rockstar told IGN that GTA 6 will be "a single-player experience," but it seems likely that the game will eventually get a multiplayer mode given the massive success of GTA Online. (That's the multiplayer side of 2013's GTA 5, the most recent installment of the Grand Theft Auto franchise.) It could come in the form of a free update or a separate purchase; Rockstar added GTA Online to GTA 5 two weeks after its release, then made it available as a $20 standalone title in 2022.

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy told Bloomberg in September that he expects Rockstar to add multiplayer to GTA 6 next year, but Rockstar itself has yet to confirm that.

When is GTA 6 coming to PC?

GTA 6 is reportedly launching on PC in early 2027, according to the gaming business site GamesBeat.

TL;DR: Both the digital and disc versions of the PlayStation 5 are in stock at Amazon, making now a perfect time to pick one up ahead of GTA 6 launch day.

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Credit: PlayStation

PlayStation 5 Console (Digital)

$599 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

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Credit: PlayStation

PlayStation 5 Console (Disc)

$649 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

The release date for Grand Theft Auto 6 is Nov. 19, so now is your last chance to upgrade your console ahead of launch. If you're shopping around for readily available stock, we've got good news: both the digital and disc models of the PlayStation 5 are in stock right now at Amazon.

The digital model is priced at $599, while the disc model is available for $649. If you've been eager to grab one, now is a great time to act in case they sell out. Unfortunately, the PS5 Pro is already unavailable at Amazon.

Rockstar wrote in a statement that the game targets "30 frames per second" across both platforms, but PS5 users can enjoy "high-fidelity haptic feedback fully integrated across the game on DualSense controllers and adjustable via accessibility settings, improved spatial audio rendering so all in-game sounds take full advantage of Tempest 3D Audio, and improved load times". What better way to enjoy the wild world of Leonida, right?

If you haven't preordered the game yet, check out our GTA 6 preorder guide for details on where it's available to buy right now ahead of its release and what editions there are to shop.

Don't miss out on this chance to grab the digital or disc PS5 models while they're still in stock on Amazon.

It's been a few days now since Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admitted to having an affair with an alleged Chinese spy, and Daily Show host Desi Lydic is here to unpack the entire debacle.

"All right, look, I don't want to be sexist, but this is why I always say men shouldn't be CEOs. I'm sorry but they get all hormonal and horny when it's that time of the month — usually the first through the 30th," says Lydic in the monologue above. The host then recaps the many photos of the pair together at social functions, adding, "You guys were really flaunting it. Even the Coldplay couple ducked from the camera."

Lastly, Lydic shows a clip of Donald Trump defending Huang, with the president saying the CEO is "definitely suffering."

"He had an affair, not a terminal illness," says Lydic. "Why is this the one thing you can muster up empathy for?"

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) and Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon) are available to buy now at Walmart.

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Credit: The Pokemon Company

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon)

$394.95 at Walmart

 

Shop Now at Walmart

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon)

$409.99 at Walmart

 

Shop Now at Walmart

Last week was pretty huge for Pokémon TCG collectors. The Day and Night Ultra-Premium Collections launched alongside the Delta Reign expansion, leaving shoppers scrambling for the best deals.

Nothing has really changed this week. We're all still desperately seeking deals for anywhere close to market price.

Amazon's stock for the Ultra-Premium Collections has been coming and going, and mostly at above-market prices. Right now, Walmart is the best place to pick up the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) and Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon).

Both boxes are available at Walmart for close to the market price. TCGplayer's market price for the Day Box is currently $360.60, compared to Walmart's $394.95. The market price for the Night Box is $384.30, compared with Walmart's $409.99.

With Amazon struggling for stock, we expect these boxes to sell quickly.

The Ultra-Premium Collection comes with 29 30th Celebration booster packs, one Classic Collection booster pack, custom metal coins, deck boxes, card sleeves, and damage-counter dice. The Day collection includes the exclusive Espeon ex promo card with a Daytime Pikachu ex promo card and an Espeon playmat. The Night box features the exclusive Umbreon ex promo card with a Futuristic-rarity Pikachu ex promo card and an Umbreon playmat.

Shop the Day and Night Ultra-Premium Collections at Walmart.

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 17 and Apple iPhone 18 Pro are free right now with T-Mobile.

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Credit: Apple

T-Mobile: Best deals on Apple iPhones

 

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The 2026 Apple Event feels like it took place a long time ago, but the dust is still settling. Apple announced a wave of new hardware and software, headlined by its first foldable iPhone. We're still digging deep into all the new features and stylistic touches, but we know what you really want — deals.

We know that's the priority after new models launch. With this in mind, we've lined up the best deals this week so you can get your hands on the iPhone 18 Pro (or the iPhone 17) for the lowest possible rate.

These are the best iPhone deals from T-Mobile this week:

• iPhone 17e — free when you switch to almost any T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required.

• iPhone 17 — free when you trade in an eligible phone in good condition on a qualifying T-Mix plan.

• iPhone 17 Pro — free when you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on a qualifying T-Mix plan.

• iPhone 18 Pro — free when you switch and bring your number on a qualifying T-Mix plan.

• iPhone 18 Pro Max — save $1,200 when you switch and bring your number, or trade in an eligible device in any condition, on a qualifying T-Mix plan.

• iPhone Duo — save $1,200 when you switch and bring your number, or trade in an eligible device in any condition, on a qualifying T-Mix plan.

T-Mobile will charge taxes on these deals, as well as a $35 device connection fee.

If you’re still rocking an iPhone 12 or 13, you’re missing out on some genuinely game-changing features. 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."

Of course, the iPhone 18 Pro takes things to another level. The iPhone 18 Pro features a new A20 Pro chip to better support AI features and Siri AI. This latest model also has major camera upgrades, including a physical variable aperture, smart focus tracking, cinematic video effects, and improved low-light photography.

Get the best deals on Apple iPhones this week with T-Mobile.

SAVE $500.01: As of Nov. 11, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is on sale for $898.99 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Bluetti

Bluetti Elite 200 V2

$898.99 at Amazon
$1,399 Save $500.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

With Black Friday on the horizon, now could be a good time to invest in a portable power station for your home or next outdoor adventure.

There are discounts available across a range of models, but as of Nov. 11, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is available on Amazon for $898.99. That's a $500 saving, and according to camelcamelcamel, the best-ever price for this unit.

Designed for home backup, camping, and road trips, the Elite 200 V2 delivers 2,600W of continuous AC power and a 3,900W power-lifting mode for compatible high-demand appliances. It can run everything from refrigerators to coffee makers, while powering up to nine devices simultaneously.

There are several charging options, too. Turbo mode can take the battery from empty to 80% in one hour using 1,800W AC input, and dual AC and DC charging can achieve the same level in just 50 minutes. You can also choose between Turbo, Standard, and Silent charging modes through the Bluetti app. Plus, its LiFePO4 battery is rated for more than 6,000 charge cycles, with Bluetti saying that averages a lifespan of up to 17 years of everyday use.

Find this Bluetti deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $28: As of Nov. 11, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for $21.99 at Amazon. That's a 56% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire Stick 4K Select

$21.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $28.00

 

Get Deal at Amazon

With Black Friday just around the corner, Amazon is already rolling out discounts on some of its most popular tech, like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select. This model has dropped from $49.99 to $21.99. That's a $28 saving on the latest 2026 model, and more than half off the normal list price.

The updated device offers 4K Ultra HD playback with HDR10+, a redesigned look, and Alexa+ recommendations. It's also straightforward to get started: simply plug it into your TV's HDMI port, connect to WiFi, and you're ready to go. It also comes with an Alexa remote that can operate your TV's power and volume.

One of the main reasons to buy a Fire TV Stick is that it gives you access to all the major streaming apps, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and YouTube. There's also support for Xbox Cloud Gaming, meaning you can play compatible Xbox Game Pass titles on your TV without needing a console (although a Game Pass subscription is required).

This Amazon Fire TV Stick deal is available at Amazon right now.

SAVE $83.69: As of Nov. 11, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box is on sale for $126.01 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Marvel

Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box

$126.01 at Amazon
$209.70 Save $83.69

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Marvel fans and Magic: The Gathering collectors have another reason to check Amazon's early Black Friday deals: the Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box has dropped in price again, now costing just $126.01. That's a considerable reduction from its usual list price of $209.70, saving you $83.69.

The collection brings characters from across the Marvel Universe into the world of Magic, letting you put together teams of heroes and villains, equip them with familiar gear, and use their abilities in the game. Whether you're a dedicated collector or enjoy playing with friends, there's plenty to discover in the box, which comes with 30 individual Play Boosters.

Each pack contains 14 trading cards, including at least one Traditional Foil card and between one and four cards of Rare rarity or higher. You might also discover special borderless alternate-art designs. Play Boosters are designed for both collecting and gameplay, making them suitable for building decks or trading cards with fellow fans.

You'll find this latest deal available at Amazon right now, so don't miss out.

Wicker watchers keen for a little more steam in the woods, consider your hot basketry autumn sustained.

Announced Tuesday, star Alexander Skarsgård has narrated spicy audio fan-fiction that channels the raunchy fantasy film, newly launched on audio erotica app Quinn.

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Written by Emma Parkinson, Felled is an erotic romance tale inspired by Ursula Wills Jones' short story "The Wicker Husband," upon which the film is based. It was chosen as the winner of Quinn's fan-fiction contest, launched ahead of Wicker's October release, which called for original erotic stories from the world of Wicker.

A fellow tale of sentient wood-based desire, Felled follows a seemingly hot willow tree that bonds with a farmer's daughter over the seasons. When tragedy (an axe) strikes, their connection seems severed forever — until thick stands of osier later, they reunite.

Felled is now part of the company's celeb-thirst catalogue Quinn Originals launched in 2022, which has already seen the likes of Andrew Scott, Heated Rivalry's Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, Manny Jacinto, Victoria Pedretti, Matt Smith, Lili Reinhart, Jesse Williams, Jamie Campbell Bower, and more read original audio erotica tales.

In a statement, Skarsgård praised Quinn's fan-fiction initiative, saying, "It was quite refreshing to have something sensual and erotic that wasn't androcentric for a change!"

At the time of the fan-fiction contest's launch, Quinn did not share the winning tale would be narrated by Wicker star Skarsgård, a surprise for both listeners and the author.

"Wicker fans have been so passionate about the film since day one, so partnering was a no-brainer," said Quinn founder CEO Caroline Spiegel in a statement. "There were hundreds of incredible, creative stories about mermen, porcelain men, witches and more. Felled stood out and we knew our users had to hear Alexander narrate it."

Between Felled and Wicker 4DX (and its extended run), it seems "The Wicker Husband" has fans woven in.

You can listen to Felled on Quinn now.

TL;DR: Starting Nov. 10, the Pokémon Happy Meal returns to participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide with 15 collectible toys and 15 collectible trading cards.

We cover a lot of collabs, because there's something special in seeing two of your favorite brands come together to create something fun. And you clearly feel the same, because fans go wild for the limited-edition merch that drops.

Of course, there are levels to this game. The Burger King x Hello Kitty collab was popular. The Starbucks x Winnie the Pooh collab went down well. But when we talk about McDonald's x Pokemon, you know it's going to be absolute chaos.

McDonald’s and Pokémon are reuniting this November. Starting Nov. 10, the Pokémon Happy Meal is returning to participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide with 15 toys and 15 trading cards to collect. Fans and trainers can also scan the QR code on their Happy Meal box to access a digital game where they can look for the 15 Pokémon Happy Meal toys hidden around a virtual classroom and playground.

This 2026 rollout will mark the first time since 2018 that customers get a genuine 3D collectible toy with playable cards. The mini-boxes are designed to resemble iconic McDonald's cartons shaped around fan-favorite Pokémon. Here's the roster of 15 collectible character boxes:

• Bulbasaur

• Charmander

• Chikorita

• Eevee

• Espeon

• Espurr

• Minccino

• Munchlax

• Pikachu

• Piplup

• Rowlett

• Sobble

• Squirtle

• Sprigatito

• Weedle

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Inside each meal, you will also find two randomized cards drawn from a specialized 15-card McDonald's reprint set, including seven foil cards.

These new Pokémon Happy Meals are available for a limited time, while supplies last, at participating McDonald’s. Check out the full release schedule below:

• November 2026: Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Spain, and USA

• December 2026: Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, and Vietnam

• January 2027: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Uruguay, and Venezuela

• February 2027: Ireland and UK

It's been less than a year since Amazon's Melania documentary came out, and we're already getting another one, with Prime Video set to release a two-part series this November.

"Melania is about to become the first First Lady with her own TV show while in office. Amazon, which as you know produced Melania's $75 million bribe-umentary, is using the leftovers from that to make a new two-part docu-series called Melania: The Series," explains Jimmy Kimmel in the clip above. "Wouldn't it be great if she spent a month living with Nathan Fielder?"

Kimmel goes on to unveil a parody trailer, which makes the motivations for said documentary abundantly clear. This isn't the first parody of the upcoming doc, either — The Daily Show released its own back in September.

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

TL;DR: HoverAir launched the Versa, a 2-in-1 hybrid camera that converts from a 163g 3-axis handheld gimbal into a 230g autonomous flying camera in seconds. It is available to order now.

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Credit: HoverAir

HoverAir Versa

 

Shop Now at HoverAir

Packing for a hike or weekend trip usually means deciding which piece of gear you can fit into your bag. If you want buttery walking footage or close-up selfies, you reach for a handheld gimbal; if you want third-person follow shots and sweeping views from above, you end up hauling a separate drone, a dedicated flight controller, and extra batteries.

The HoverAir Versa combines both setups into a single pocket-sized rig that transforms between handheld and aerial modes in seconds.

In your hand, the device weighs 163 grams and relies on a 3-axis mechanical gimbal to keep first-person trail footage and vlogs smooth without cropping your video frame. Built around a 1/1.3-inch sensor, it captures up to 17.5 stops of dynamic range, 4K video at 60 fps, 4K HDR at 30 fps, and native 4K vertical clips for social feeds.

Advanced low-light image processing and 10-bit H-Log profiles help keep high-contrast scenes — from mid-day mountain glare to neon-lit city streets — from blowing out highlights or losing subtle shadow details.

When you want an overhead view, you snap on the 67-gram flight kit. With two clicks, it becomes a 230-gram autonomous flying camera that launches and lands on your palm. It tracks and films you at speeds up to 36 km/h (about 22 mph), with no piloting experience required, freeing you to focus on the trail or the conversation.

Credit: HoverAir

If you want more creative angles, the device packs over 10 smart shooting modes, including Dolly Zoom, Orbit, Inception Mode, and a 3D Worlds feature that flies a 360-degree loop to map and reconstruct surroundings in three dimensions.

Piloting remains flexible whether you prefer to go hands-free or fly manually. You can tweak compositions mid-air using simple hand gesture controls, use the optional 35-gram MiCo Mini Controller for quick one-handed adjustments, or pair the device with Beacon and JoySticks for traditional stick control.

The HoverAir Versa is available in black and white starting on HoverAir's web store, Amazon, and select retail partners.

An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal based on our independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for our readers, we wrote the content.

25% OFF: Nomad eSIM is offering 25% off select plans with code MASH25. This discount is only available until Dec. 31.

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Credit: Nomad

Nomad eSim: 25% off with code MASH25

 

Get Deal at Nomad

As someone who travels fairly frequently to visit family in another country, I make it a point to check off international data on my to-do list before I leave. For the past few trips, I've used a Nomad eSIM plan, and it's been a game-changer, giving me data while I'm away and helping me avoid hefty roaming charges.

If you've been looking for something like that ahead of holiday travel, Nomad's dropping a deal on select eSIM plans for Mashable readers.

For a limited time — until Dec. 31 — Mashable readers can save 25% on select Nomad eSIM plans with the help of code MASH25 at checkout. However, there are a few things to keep in mind with this deal: the code can't be applied to plans that are already on sale, the Thailand 50GB plan, or any Unlimited plans. It can also only be used once per user.

Nomad has over 200 locations worldwide to choose from when finding an eSIM plan, so no matter where your travels take you this year, you'll stay connected. Plus, unlike a physical SIM card that you have to swap out, an eSIM is digital. This makes setup just a little bit easier. Nomad even offers instructions to help you install the eSIM on your device, plus instructions on how to activate it when you land.

Another bonus to having a Nomad eSIM is that you can track how much data you have left in the app. That way, you don't need to worry about going overboard. And if you do run out, it's easy to add on extra data from the app.

This offer is only available until Dec. 31, so now is the time to use code MASH25 to save 25% on a Nomad eSIM plan.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $59.99 at Amazon. That's way under TCGplayer's $110 market price.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box

$59.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

After weeks of growing excitement and preorder wars, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is out in the wild. And Amazon is celebrating by bringing back its stunning $59.99 deal.

As of Nov. 11, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is on sale for just $59.99 on Amazon. Everything is handled directly by Amazon, but Amazon is still routing orders through its "request invite" system. We can see these are selling fast, so it's clearly a system that's working for many shoppers. Don't be discouraged by the invitation process.

Amazon’s deal is way under TCGplayer’s $110 market price. We rarely see deals this far below market price, so we understand the hype.

The 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box contains nine 30th Celebration booster packs, an exclusive full-art foil Nidorina promo card, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 custom card sleeves, damage-counter dice, a condition marker, card dividers, a collector’s player guide, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Shop the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration ETB for $59.99 at Amazon, while supplies last.

Adobe held its annual Adobe Max event in Miami Beach, Florida, on Tuesday. See all the highlights and new features coming to Adobe's Creative Cloud for video editing, photo editing and generative AI for video. 

Read more about AI tools, industry scandals, and tech policy: Adobe software dupe maker takes on Microsoft Office, releasing free versions of Word, Powerpoint, and Excel
Jensen Huang Nvidia affair scandal: What we know, what we don’t
Will the AI industry face a reckoning after Election Day?

Timecode chapters
0:00 Intro
0:13 Adobe Model Context Protocol
2:09 Premiere Pro generative AI features
8:20 Premiere Pro new color mode updates
12:03 New Adobe Photoshop generative AI features
14:26 Firefly generative AI updates and demos
16:34 Firefly generative AI transitions

Video credits
Producer: Stephen Beacham
Thumbnail designer: Stephen Beacham

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock:

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Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Nintendo

Shop Now

---

Amazon

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Amazon

Shop Now

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Walmart

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Walmart

Shop Now

---

Target

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Target

Shop Now

---

Best Buy

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Best Buy

Shop Now

---

GameStop

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at GameStop

Shop Now

If your current morning ritual involves violently hitting refresh on a dozen retail tabs, you already know the vibe: finding the Nintendo Switch 2: The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition is turning into an Olympic sport.

Between automated bot armies scooping digital drops, surprise order cancellations at Walmart, and inventory vanishing in seconds on Amazon, this custom black-and-gold console feels like a myth. But while digital storefronts look completely barren, stock is actively circulating behind the scenes.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock right now

Before getting into the restock details, bookmark these retailer pages to check for surprise drops:

• Nintendo Store — Out of stock right now, but you can add it to your wishlist to get pinged the second a restock hits.

• Amazon — Dropping tiny batches of consoles randomly throughout the day.

• Walmart — Stock exists but only for third-party listings selling at way over market price, so make sure your in-stock email alerts are turned on.

• Target — Sold out online, but periodic drops have taken place in-store.

• Best Buy — Sold out online, but select stores ran midnight openings on Nov. 5 with walk-in stock.

• GameStop — Online orders are off; you will have to walk into a store to find one.

Why is the console selling out so fast?

The feeding frenzy is being supercharged by Nintendo’s staggered release calendar. While the custom Zelda 40th Anniversary hardware dropped first on Oct. 29, the flagship game driving demand — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 — arrived on Thursday, Nov. 5.

The remake rebuilds the 1998 classic from the ground up with modernized controls, a fully orchestrated soundtrack, reworked dungeon puzzles, and expanded Hyrule environments. Since the $520 console doesn’t include the game, everyone is rushing to lock down a system before launch day.

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Credit: Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2

$59.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

What comes with the Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2?

The package includes the special-edition Switch 2 system sporting a custom black-and-gold finish, themed Joy-Con 2 controllers, and a matching dock decorated with the gold Triforce emblem. It retains the platform's signature flexibility, letting you switch between TV, Tabletop, and Handheld modes whenever you want.

Inside the themed chassis, you get 256GB of built-in storage (expandable with microSD Express cards), a vivid display in handheld mode, faster load times, and support for up to 4K resolution on compatible TVs when the console sits in the dock.

The magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers add mouse-style tracking in supported games, while the new GameChat hub lets you voice chat and share your screen directly as you play. It also plays your older Switch games and supports standard multiplayer options.

How can you improve your chances of finding stock?

Landing limited-edition Nintendo hardware takes a little prep work, but these battle-tested habits will give you a real edge over the bots:

• Save your checkout details everywhere — Log in to Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and the Nintendo Store to save your shipping address and default card. Stopping to type a card number or billing zip code during a live drop is how you lose an order.

• Hands off the refresh button in Best Buy's queue — When an online drop goes live, Best Buy puts shoppers into a randomized waiting line to filter out scrapers. Touching the reload button resets your spot and boots you straight to the back.

• Watch for Walmart+ early-access paywalls — Walmart frequently locks headline console drops behind paid Walmart+ subscriptions for the first 30 to 60 minutes. If you have a membership, keep that tab signed in; if not, wait for the general public window to unlock.

• Dodge third-party sellers — Double-check the seller before buying. Marketplace scalpers frequently list units for jacked-up prices; make sure it says "Sold and shipped by [Retailer]" at the standard price.

• Skip the web wars and head to physical stores — Online checkout bots grab website stock in under 15 seconds. Showing up in person is easily your most reliable path to securing one without paying scalper markups.

Will the Zelda Switch 2 be restocked on Black Friday?

Most likely, yes.

Stores like Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy often hold onto popular gaming hardware to use as headline deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday week.

With that said, Black Friday restocks are usually the hardest ones to catch. You will be fighting website crashes, gift shoppers, and automated bots all at once. If you can grab a console whenever stock appears, take it. Think of Black Friday as a backup plan, not your main bet.

Console hunting sucks right now, period. But between the surprise micro-drops and physical store restocks, you still have real shots at retail price — just be ready to move the second that stock goes live.

TL;DR: Juiced Bikes kicked off seasonal sales across its Scrambler e-bikes, dishing out up to $345 in free bundled gear through Nov. 22 and an extra $100 price cut for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

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Credit: Juiced Bikes

Juiced Bikes Scrambler Full-Suspension

$1,899 at Juiced Bikes
$2,244 Save $345

 

Get Deal at Juiced Bikes

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Credit: Juiced Bikes

Juiced Bikes Scrambler Hardtail

$1,699 at Juiced Bikes
$2,044 Save $345

 

Get Deal at Juiced Bikes

Juiced Bikes just rolled out its Black Friday sale for the Scrambler lineup, giving away hundreds in free gear and knocking down prices through the end of the year.

If you have been looking at moto-inspired e-bikes, the Scrambler platform is built around that classic vintage moped stance without sacrificing modern power. Both bikes pack serious punch: a 750W motor delivering up to 1,764W of peak power, 90 Nm of torque, and a 28 mph top speed, backed by a 52V battery that delivers up to 60 miles of range.

They are also UL-certified for fire and battery safety, stop with four-piston hydraulic brakes, and feature built-in turn signals plus a PIN-protected speed limiter for younger riders.

You have two different setups to choose from: the Scrambler Hardtail and the Scrambler Full-Suspension. The Hardtail runs an inverted KKE front fork with a rigid rear frame. Skipping the rear shock means zero bounce eating up your pedal or motor stroke, delivering sharp street handling and a 300-pound payload capacity for heavy hauling.

The Full-Suspension version takes everything on the Hardtail and bolts on an adjustable KKE rear shock. That extra travel lowers payload capacity to 225 pounds, but it pairs with wider 20x4.5-inch knobby CST tires and switchable torque or cadence sensors to keep both wheels planted over potholes, gravel, and dirt.

The Black Friday deal timeline

Juiced Bikes is rolling out the savings across three separate sales windows between now and the end of the year:

• Beat the Sellout Pre-Sale (Nov. 2-22): Buy either model at regular retail and get $345 in free bundled gear automatically at checkout. The free package includes front and rear fenders, a rear utility rack, a bar bag, a bar pad, a front headplate, a personalized nameplate, and a sticker pack.

• Black Friday and Cyber Monday (Nov. 23 to Dec. 2): The biggest cash discount of the season. Both bikes get an instant $100 price drop ($1,599 for the Hardtail, $1,799 for the Full-Suspension), plus $315 in free accessories, for a total of $415 in savings.

Grab your gear bundle now, or hold out until Thanksgiving week if you want the extra hundred bucks in your pocket.

When I tell folks in my life that I review headphones and earbuds for a living, I'm usually asked which I like the best. There's only one pair people have specifically asked me my opinion on by name: the Bose Ultra Open earbuds.

I get why — they are the earbuds, after all, that gave open earbuds their moment and kicked off a wave of releases from other brands. And to answer the question I've been asked many times: they're great, and one of the best options if you're looking for the best possible sound on open earbuds, combined with an excellent (and comfortable) design.

All this to say, I was intrigued to try the second-gen open earbuds for myself after their announcement in September. After a few weeks of wearing them regularly, I can confirm: Bose has done it again.

Bose Ultra Open earbuds (2nd gen) at a glance

The sky pink colorway — I have no notes. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The second-generation Bose Ultra Open earbuds retail for $299, the same as the first-gen Ultra Opens (at least they were spared from any price increases). On the spec side, they come with:

• Battery: Nine hours per charge, plus 19.5 hours in the case

• Equalizer: Yes, three-band

• Immersive audio: Yes

• Connection: Bluetooth 5.4, SBC and AAC codecs, Google Fast Pair

• Multipoint: Up to two devices

• IP rating: IPX4

• Colors: Black, white smoke, limited-edition cherry chocolate, olive green, sky pink

Where the Bose Ultra Open earbuds shine

Excellent sound quality

Admittedly, open earbuds aren't exactly an audiophile's dream — in most cases, they struggle to achieve the full quality found on traditional earbuds or over-ear headphones. That said, the second-gen Bose open earbuds get about as close as you could hope.

I used them back-to-back with the first-gen open buds, and the difference was immediately noticeable. The thumping bass on Nelly Furtado's "Maneater" was resonant and punchy, whereas on the first-gen buds it fell crunchy and flat. It makes sense — Bose packed a new driver in these earbuds targeted to improve bass performance. It wasn't just the lows that came through well. The discordant electric guitar that rounds out Lucy Dacus' "Night Shift" came through with more clarity, detail, and power. This out-of-the-box sound makes up for the limited three-band equalizer (which feels less egregious on open earbuds, because again, audiophile earbuds they are not).

These buds pack a punch. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

On the note of power, it's worth knowing these earbuds also get loud. As in, probably too loud to use at full volume in a quiet room without incurring some kind of ear damage. That said, the feature can come in handy if you're in a noisier space while listening — the amount of sound open earbuds let in sometimes requires a higher volume than you would typically use. It's an edge over the somewhat quiet Sony LinkBuds Clip, which are likely Bose's biggest competitor.

Less of a standout, but still worth noting, is the addition of Immersive Audio, which opens up the soundscape. I've never been a huge fan of Bose's offering here, but I found it nicely complemented the open-ear design, especially with live performances.

Improved battery life

It's not the hugest change, but the first-gen Bose buds were starting to lag in the battery life department compared to the rest of the open earbud field. The jump from seven to nine hours per charge is a welcome one, putting these Ultras on par with the Sony earbuds (though Sony gets the edge in 37 hours with case compared to Bose's 19.5).

The best clip-on design on the market

Bose didn't make any major changes here, and that's for the best. The cylindrical backing on these buds is large enough to provide a secure fit, while small enough to retain a comfortable fit. Plus, it's the perfect anchor for the on-ear button control situated on the top of the cylinder. The button relies on a firm enough press (and a responsive click) that it's basically impossible to trigger accidentally but still incredibly easy to access, making it the best on-earbud controls I've encountered on an open model.

Two more standout colorways from the new Ultra Open line: olive green. Credit: Bose

Two more standout colorways from the new Ultra Open line: cherry chocolate. Credit: Bose

As for the rest of the clip-on bud, it's frictionless to change the position and resecure the buds to get the best possible listening experience. And boy, are these buds lightweight. I forgot to resume my audio after chatting with my roommate for a bit — it wasn't until hours later when I went to adjust my earring that I remembered I was wearing the buds at all.

The more noticeable (albeit small) design upgrade was in the charging case. Bose opted for a more rectangular shape with a flat silicone bottom that allows the case to stand up on its own. Adjusting accordingly, the pairing button is moved to the left side of the case (instead of the lower part of the back of the case), while the USB-C charging port is moved to the right (instead of on the bottom).

Behold: the new (but mostly the same) Ultra Open case. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

My one hang-up with the Bose Ultra Open earbuds

At $299, these earbuds cost $50 more than the Apple AirPods Pro 3, Apple's premium noise-cancelling earbuds. While I value the excellent sound quality that these open buds are capable of, outdoing Apple in the price category warrants a moment of reflection in my humble opinion.

Even if these earbuds matched Apple's $249 price point, they'd match the price of Shokz premium open earbuds, and be within spitting distance of the $229 Sony LinkBuds Clip earbuds. In other words, these earbuds would be much more of a slam dunk to recommend if they cost just a bit less.

Are the Bose Ultra Open (2nd gen) earbuds worth it?

At the end of the day, if you want the best of the best sound quality on open earbuds, you have to shell out for it — likely more than you would for standard noise-cancelling earbuds. For some, though, the investment will be well worth it. The upgrades in sound quality and design also help the Boses stand out (or, in the case of the battery life, close the gap), putting some more justification behind their price point.

Me personally? I'd wait until Black Friday to see if Bose is feeling generous with their discounts on newer products.

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Credit: Bose

Bose Ultra Open earbuds (2nd generation)

$299.04 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

When you go to a store looking to buy a current-gen PlayStation 5 console, you're faced with two possibilities: the base PS5, or the PS5 Pro. At least, in theory. The PS5 Pro has been very hard to find in stock lately, unless you turn to the resale market.

Besides the promise of more horsepower, it can be hard to suss out exactly what makes the PS5 Pro so different, especially with its hugely inflated price tag. With the promise of an enhanced Grand Theft Auto VI experience, though, many are wondering if they should bite the bullet and pick up Sony's most powerful console. Let's dive into the key differences between the base model console and its professional counterpart.

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Credit: Sony

Sony PlayStation 5 (digital edition)

$599 at Amazon

 

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Credit: Sony

Sony PlayStation 5 Pro

$899 at Amazon

 

Learn More at Amazon

PS5 vs. PS5 Pro: Price

The first and most important thing we need to discuss regarding Sony's two PS5 consoles is the price. Neither of them is cheap, but one of them is clearly a better value at this point in time.

That would be the base PS5, which starts at $599. It will play all of the same games as a PS5 Pro, including nearly every game released for PS4, and the controller is no different, either. We'll delve into some of the other differences in a bit, but you definitely shouldn't think of this as a last-gen console.

Now for the tough part: The PS5 Pro starts at a staggering $899, and that's just the MSRP. Because of the ongoing PS5 Pro shortages, you will likely have to pay even more on the secondary market.

PS5 vs. PS5 Pro: Storage

Credit: Dustin Drankoski / Mashable

Now we're going to move on to the areas where the PS5 Pro has an unambiguous advantage over the base model. After all, they aren't charging you $899 for no reason.

One of the biggest reasons to get a PS5 Pro? It comes with 2TB of built-in storage, compared to just 1TB on any base PS5 model. Considering some games like GTA 6 can take up more than 200GB of storage space by themselves, a 2TB starting limit is a huge benefit for the PS5 Pro. You might think 1TB is a lot, and it's certainly adequate if you're really careful about deleting games you're done playing, but that base PS5 drive can fill up quickly.

To be clear, there is always the option to buy a base PS5 and expand the storage yourself, but that requires buying another SSD. I don't know if you've seen how much memory costs these days, but that could be a boondoggle in and of itself.

PS5 vs. PS5 Pro: Visual features

While expanded storage is nice, the real selling point of the PS5 Pro is that it's a more powerful console than the PS5. Again, it's not a full generational leap, and both consoles play the exact same games, but the PS5 Pro has access to more horsepower than the base model PS5, and there are some real benefits to that.

For starters, the PS5 Pro has access to PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, or PSSR. This is an AI upscaling feature that can make supported games look substantially sharper than they would on a base PS5. There are also a bunch of games that have enhanced performance on PS5 Pro, and in some cases, you even get access to new graphics modes that enable perks such as 60 frames per second and ray tracing (which can also be improved on PS5 Pro) at the same time. Ghost of Yotei comes to mind as a recent example of that.

However, the onus is on developers to specifically add support for these special PS5 Pro features, meaning that the list of PS5 Pro-enhanced games is in the dozens, not the hundreds. In the rare instances when Sony decides to actually release first-party exclusives, you can usually count on those to have some kind of PS5 Pro benefits, but otherwise, most games are going to be roughly the same across both consoles.

PS5 vs. PS5 Pro: Physical media support

Last but definitely not least, the PS5 Pro does not come with a disc drive at all. Neither does the $599 base model console, for that matter. If you want a PS5 with a built-in disc drive, you need to spend $649 for a base model with one. Given Sony's recent disdain for physical discs, the inconvenience here might be by design.

That doesn't mean starting-price PS5 or Pro owners have no options, though. You can always buy the official disc drive attachment...for an additional $80. Aside from costing more, it also juts out from the console in a somewhat unpleasant-looking way. None of this is ideal, frankly, but that's what you need to do if you want to keep buying physical games or Blu-ray discs as a PS5 owner.

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. 

It's been a tough year for e-readers (and all tech) with prices on the rise, so we finally needed some good news. On Oct. 1, Amazon released a redesigned collection of Kindles that we simply couldn't wait to try out. The first to be released is the flagship Kindle. It's the entry point into Amazon's e-readers and the most affordable.

The Kindle (2026) now features a flush-front design with either a plastic or an aluminum backing, and in this new batch of Kindles, Amazon is embracing color with the e-reader available in ube, graphite, alpine sky, and seaglass green. So I got my hands on the newest Kindle to experience the design changes and put it to the test.

Update Nov. 11, 5:00 a.m. ET: Since first publishing this review, we've encountered an issue with the back panel of the Kindle coming apart when removing it from a case. This is part of the overall redesign to make the back panel easily removable so you can replace the battery. We have changed our scoring of the device, lowering its user-friendliness score to a 4 and overall score to a 4.3.

What's changed between the Kindle 2024 and 2026 models

The 2026 Kindle (right) has some notable design changes from the 2024 Kindle (left). Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

There weren't many changes between the 2022 and 2024 Kindles, but this launch brings much bigger changes that you can actually see.

The 2026 Kindle now has a flush front compared to the 2024 model's raised border around the screen. This provides a uniform look across all Kindles from the basic model all the way up to the Scribe.

In addition to a flush front, the design team behind the Kindle moved its power button. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

A smaller change, but one that I'm more than thrilled to see, is that the design team moved the power button on the Kindle to the side of the device. While it's just a small detail, my colleague Stan Schroeder pointed it out in his Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2021) review, and I did the same in my 2024 Kindle review.

Otherwise, many of the e-reader's specs are the same between generations. The device still has a six-inch screen with 300 ppi resolution and a built-in front light. It has up to six weeks of battery life, but it is not waterproof, nor does it have an adjustable warm light.

It's unbelievably lightweight

The first thing I noticed about the new Kindle is just how featherlight it is — I almost thought the box was empty. Luckily, it was not. Amazon dropped the weight of the basic Kindle by 18 grams (.66 ounces). While it doesn't seem like much, it's a noticeable difference when holding the device.

The 2026 Kindle is lightweight and easy to tote around in any bag, Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

This lighter weight makes all the difference, especially when traveling. My first weekend with the Kindle, I packed it in my carry-on bag, and it barely added any weight. It tucks nicely into small pockets, too. While it isn't quite palm-sized like a trendy Boox Palma or Xteink X4, it's Amazon's smallest e-reader and still extremely portable. Plus, you can hold it for hours at a time without your arm aching.

Kindles keep getting faster and faster

You can't beat the clear, crisp screen on the 2026 Kindle. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Every time Amazon releases a new batch of Kindles, it claims the new e-readers are faster than the previous generation. The 2026 Kindle is supposedly 30 percent faster than the 2024. While I can't verify that exact amount, I can confirm that these are speedy devices. Books open quickly, and pages turn swiftly. Since I spent so little time waiting for things to load on the Kindle, I had more time to read, which was smooth and easy on the eyes.

The front light on the Kindle is clear and bright (though I do wish it had adjustable warmth like the Paperwhite), and the display responds quickly. When I changed the font size, it took less than a second to adjust. The screen is responsive and definitely seems to open faster than previous models, especially when tapping through the options along the bottom of the screen to adjust your progress status.

What it's missing

I still wish the Kindle had a warm light display and a waterproof rating. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The new Kindle is a really seamless reading experience. While I don't have many complaints, two things could make it a perfect e-reader. Since this is the entry-level Kindle, Amazon keeps affordability top of mind, which does mean there are sacrifices. There's no warm light on the basic Kindle, which would reduce blue-light strain on the eyes. Plus, I wish it were waterproof. I'm a beach reader, so the basic Kindle certainly won't be a summer companion for me, as I wouldn't want to put it near a splash zone.

However, adjustable warm light and waterproofing are both features on the Paperwhite, so we really can't fault the base model for not having them. If those are non-negotiables for you, upgrade to the Kindle Paperwhite.

The issue of the back panel

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Testing is always ongoing here at Mashable, as we never want our reviews to be based only on first impressions. After using the Kindle for several weeks, I went to remove it from its case when the frame pulled apart. The back panel on the new Kindle is designed to be removable so users can replace the battery.

While I love the intention behind the design choice, in execution, the back panel comes apart whenever I remove it from the case, which exposes the innards of the device. This isn't an isolated case, as I've found instances of Kindle users on Reddit and TikTok who have experienced the same thing with the 2026 Kindle.

An Amazon spokesperson commented on the issue of the back panel saying, "Your Kindle is designed to open along the edge of the display in order to replace the battery. If the back panel shifts when you remove a case or cover, press it firmly back into place on all four corners and along the edges, and keep reading."

Luckily, the back panel coming apart only occurs when removing it from a case, so as long as you're not frequently taking it on and off, this shouldn't be a persistent issue. And even if it does come apart, it doesn't affect the performance of the device. However, we do think this impacts the overall structural integrity of the device and hinders the user experience, which is why we lowered the user-friendliness score on the device from a 5 to a 4.

Is the 2026 Kindle worth it?

While the 2026 Kindle isn't an essential upgrade, it's an improvement over previous generations. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Amazon's latest Kindle is an exceptional e-reader. It's lightweight and compact, quick and responsive. Sure, it has a couple of misses, like no warm light, no waterproof rating, and the precarious back panel, but those are for the sake of affordability, according to Amazon. At $149.99, it's Amazon's cheapest e-reader. It's also the same price as the 2024 model, so if you're deciding between the two, go for the new 2026 Kindle.

However, if you're looking to upgrade from another Kindle model, I don't think you necessarily need to run out to grab it, especially if you have a 2022 or 2024 model. However, if you want to use the Kindle Click, you will need to upgrade to a 2026 (or 2024) Kindle.

Amazon Kindle (2026)

$149.99 at Amazon

 

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An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal based on our independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for our readers, we wrote the content.

TL;DR: For a limited time, sign up for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet from $30 per month with a voice line and AutoPay and get a month on them plus up to $200 back via a virtual prepaid Mastercard.

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Credit: T-Mobile

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet

Get a month on T-Mobile plus up to $200 back via a virtual prepaid Mastercard.

Get Deal

T-Mobile has dropped an offer on its 5G Home Internet that's much needed ahead of the upcoming holiday season. For a limited time, you can sign up for a plan starting at $30 per month (with a voice line and AutoPay bundled) and get up to $200 back as a virtual prepaid Mastercard. That's not all, either. They're also offering a month on them when you take advantage of this offer.

In total, three T-Mobile 5G Home Internet plans are available with this offer: Rely, Amplified, and All-In. With the former, you can enjoy download speeds up to 354 Mbps, while both Amplified and All-In get you up to 498 Mbps. All three offer upload speeds up to 55 Mbps. The latter plan also includes additional perks, such as Advanced Cyber Security and a gateway upgrade after three years.

If you're curious which plan is the best fit for you and your online activity, it's worth checking out T-Mobile's plan page to learn more.

As for the money-back part of this deal, you may get up to $200 credited to your virtual prepaid Mastercard when you sign up.

This offer is only available for a limited time. If you've been hoping to sign up for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet, now is the time to do it.

Legal disclaimers:

• Rate Plans: plus taxes and fees

• Month on Us: via bill credit; plus tax

• Up to $200 Back: Allow 7 weeks from rebate submission

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 Pro Controller stock:

---

Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$99.99 at Nintendo

Shop Now

---

Amazon

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$99.99 at Amazon

Shop Now

---

Target

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$99.99 at Target

Shop Now

---

Best Buy

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$99.99 at Best Buy

Shop Now

---

GameStop

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$99.99 at GameStop

Shop Now

We have been tracking live inventory updates for the new Zelda Switch 2 console, but the matching special-edition Pro Controller gamepad has become just as elusive. Instead of sitting on store shelves, the standalone controller is vanishing within seconds of going live online, turning into one of the most frustrating gear hunts of the entire holiday season.

With preorders completely cleared out and launch day behind us, landing one now means playing the restock waiting game. Digital storefronts might look completely barren, but stock is still quietly trickling through distribution pipelines in surprise, unannounced micro-waves.

If you want to get your hands on it the next time it is in stock, here's what's going on across different major retailers.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 Pro Controller stock right now

Before you start jumping between tabs, bookmark these retailer pages to catch surprise drops:

• Amazon — Sold out from Amazon directly.

• Best Buy — Online drops occur in waves via a digital waiting line, with scattered walk-in stock available at select physical stores.

• GameStop — Web orders are off, so your best bet is to walk in and check directly with your neighborhood store.

• Nintendo Store — Sold out online. You can add it to your wishlist to get notified if Nintendo opens another batch.

• Target — Sold out online, but early-morning in-store pickup options occasionally go live depending on local truck deliveries.

Why Walmart is not on our list

You will notice Walmart is missing from our quick-buy links above. While the controller has a product listing on the site, stock sold directly by Walmart for the official $99.99 list price is completely gone.

Every buy button currently active is run by third-party marketplace resellers charging inflated, price-gouging sums. Do not pay those prices. If you search Walmart on your own, always filter the seller option to "Walmart" so you only see genuine retail inventory.

Why is the Zelda Pro Controller selling out so fast?

The feeding frenzy is directly tied to the arrival of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2. The ground-up remake reworks the 1998 classic with upgraded visuals, modern camera controls, rearranged dungeon puzzles, and a full orchestral score. Long play sessions in sprawling dungeons feel more natural on a traditional, ergonomic gamepad than on standard Joy-Con grips, making this matching controller the first thing players want on their desks.

Supply is also tight across the board. In an interview about launch shortages, Bill van Zyll, Vice President and General Manager of Nintendo Latin America, admitted that the company had underestimated worldwide demand for the Zelda 40th-anniversary collection. While he confirmed that replenishment plans are underway for the hardware, software, and special controller, Nintendo has not committed to specific restock dates or shipment quantities.

Until the production lines catch up, expect store inventory to pop up in quick, random bursts rather than steady, predictable drops.

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Credit: Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2

$69 at Amazon

 

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What comes with the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller?

The special-edition Pro Controller gamepad features decorative illustrations and subtle gold patterns inspired by the wider Zelda universe. It carries every modern upgrade found on the standard generation-two pad. You get built-in motion sensors for precision bow aiming, HD Rumble 2 for detailed vibration feedback, an integrated amiibo scanner, and a capture button for grabbing screenshots on the fly.

Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo also added a dedicated C button to open the Switch 2 GameChat hub, remappable GL and GR shortcut buttons on the back grips, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, and up to 40 hours of battery life on a single charge. Best of all, it works across the entire Switch family, including the original Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED, Switch Lite, and the new Nintendo Switch 2.

How to beat the bots and improve your chances of finding stock

Landing a surprise drop comes down to speed and a little bit of prep:

• Dodge third-party marketplace sellers: Sites like Walmart and Amazon let outside merchants charge whatever they want. Always check the "Sold and shipped by" label to ensure you are buying from the actual retailer at the $99.99 list price.

• Save your checkout information beforehand: Taking the time to type in a security code or shipping address during a drop will cost you your cart. Keep your profiles logged in with default payment methods saved.

• Do not refresh Best Buy's waiting line: When Best Buy runs a drop, it puts shoppers into an automated queue. Hitting refresh resets your spot and sends you to the very back of the line.

• Check physical stores in the morning: Online checkout bots can wipe out digital inventory in seconds. Visiting Target, Best Buy, or GameStop right when doors open often turns up fresh shipment boxes that never made it onto website listings.

Will the Zelda Switch 2 Pro controller get restocked for Black Friday?

Most signs point to yes.

Retailers love using limited-edition hardware and themed accessories as digital bait during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is very likely that stores are sitting on a handful of units reserved specifically for holiday sales events.

The catch is that Black Friday restocks are pure chaos. You are up against overloaded checkout servers, holiday gift shoppers, and scalper scripts all hitting the site at once. If an "Add to Cart" button flickers live on Amazon or Best Buy before the holiday rush officially starts, take the shot immediately so you don't have to fight the crowds later.

Finding one right now is definitely an endurance test, but holding out for that $99.99 list price beats paying double to a reseller every time.

SAVE $20: As of Nov. 11, Amazon has the Lenovo Legion Gaming Laptop Backpack GB800 on sale for $79.99. That's 20% off its $99.99 MSRP and its lowest price ever.

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Credit: Lenovo

Lenovo Legion Gaming Laptop Backpack GB800

$79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20

 

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Planning on hauling your laptop around over the holidays? I bet some new scratches and corner dents aren't on your Christmas wish list. Enter: Lenovo's Legion GB800, a capacious laptop backpack that can fit a hefty 17-inch gaming PC. (In other words, it's plenty roomy enough for a MacBook Pro and some other travel essentials.)

Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon has the Lenovo Legion GB800 on sale for only $79.99, or 20% off its typical retail price of $99.99. Data on the price-tracking site camelcamelcamel shows that it's never been cheaper before.

If it happens to sell out on Amazon, check Lenovo's website: At the time of writing, it was matching this Legion GB800 deal and offering free shipping. (Amazon's stock ships faster, though.)

Some more details about the Legion GB800: It opens a full 180 degrees in the front and back so you can easily reach your belongings. It has a whopping 19 "precision pockets" for your phone, chargers, water bottle, and other accessories. It's water-resistant, and it comes in both black and light gray.

A cursory look at the Legion GB800's Amazon reviews reveals high praise for its sturdy construction and cushy interior. One customer also noted that it "smells good," which isn't something I've ever heard someone say about a backpack before. Intriguing.

TL;DR: Simplify your AI workflow with The Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle, on sale now for just $47.99 (reg. $1,811.99) with code DEAL20 through Nov. 15.

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Credit: The Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle

The Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle

$47.99
$1,811.99 Save $1,764

 

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Not every AI model is equally good at everything. One might be better for research, another better for writing, and yet another helpful for creating images. If you want to improve your AI workflow, the Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle provides five tools to tackle a wide range of projects and access multiple models.

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ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini might be the first AI model that comes to mind, but there are countless options. The Lifetime AI Software Stack Bundle brings many of them to you — providing five lifetime tools ready to help with everything from basic questions to image generation.

First up in this bundle? 1ForAll AI Pro, which helps you tackle text, voice, image, and video generation. This tool uses models from OpenAI, Google, AWS, Azure, and Luma to handle your voice cloning, PDF-to-speech, and unlimited text processing needs.

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: A one-year Costco Gold Star Membership is $65, and new members receive a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card.

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Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership + $45 Digital Costco Shop Card

 

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Groceries, gas, and household basics account for a large share of most family budgets. Buying those staples in bulk may help that money go further each month. If you want to start shopping that way, you can join Costco as a new Gold Star Member for $65 and receive a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card.

Groceries, gas, and more with one membership

A Costco Gold Star Membership lasts one year and works at Costco warehouses worldwide, at Costco Business Centers, and on Costco.com. Costco has more than 500 warehouses across the U.S., and members can shop brand-name products from Kirkland Signature™, Dyson, KitchenAid, LG, and more.

Your membership reaches past the grocery aisles, too. Gold Star Members can fill up at a Costco Gas Station, pick up prescriptions at Costco Pharmacy, and book an eye exam at Costco Optical. Costco Hearing Aid Centers and Costco Travel are also open to members.

Each membership includes one Household Card for an individual who lives at your address. That second card lets one more person in your home shop on the same membership, at the same warehouses and online.

New members receive the $45 Digital Costco Shop Card by email within two weeks of redeeming their membership. If the email doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder. You can use the card at a warehouse or on Costco.com, and you don’t have to spend the full $45 in a single trip. Costco doesn’t accept Digital Costco Shop Cards at the Food Court, and you can’t exchange the card for cash.

This promotion is for new members and for former members whose memberships expired more than 18 months ago. After checkout, you’ll receive a redemption code and instructions by email right away. You need to redeem that code by Jan. 31, 2027, and Costco limits the promotion to one per household. Shoppers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico can purchase it.

Give your grocery budget more room with a year of Costco. Join Costco as a new Gold Star Member for $65 and receive a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card. Promotion ends Dec. 20, 2026.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is being sued after firing an employee shortly after she objected to an alleged mandated suicide pledge. The dismissal also came within weeks of her revealing her cancer diagnosis.

EF is a non-profit that supports the cryptocurrency platform Ethereum. Filed to the District Court of Colorado on Nov. 4, the complaint claims EF fired Protocol Support team lead Kayleen Fulton (also known as Nixo) after she coordinated a collective letter opposing a suicide pledge all employees had been directed to affirm. The "Source Seppuku License" had been included in a document entitled "The Ethereum Foundation Mandate," which was distributed to all employees on Feb. 25:

"By inclusion of this license, the author, maintainer, editor or (re)distributor (the 'actor') of this software SHALL uphold the following pledges:

To always make freely available and publicly accessible a full and accurate copy of the source code and associated documents of this software, including all modifications hereto by the Actor.

To take his or her own life with a sword upon failure to uphold any of the pledges in this license, or upon modification or removal of any part of this license.

May we ritualistically fall on our own swords if we fail to uphold our solemn promise to Ethereum and the Infinite Garden."

Multiple EF employees allegedly objected to the license, one noting that a colleague had just killed themselves in 2025. These criticisms prompted EF's board to revise the mandate. However, rather than remove the Seppuku License, the finalised 38-page mandate issued on March 13 reportedly reformatted it into a Comic Sans-style font, made it less prominent, and illustrated it with cartoon cats and an anime girl pointing a gun at the reader.

Credit: The Ethereum Foundation

EF employees were allegedly given until March 25 to pledge their commitment to the mandate via an online form, with failure to do so considered a resignation. EF co-executive director Bastian Aue reportedly did state that the mandate's reference to ritual suicide was not intended to be literal, however did not remove it from the document.

"Employees were thus asked to accept, on management’s word in a chat thread, that a clause the board had just spent a week redrawing rather than deleting did not mean what it said," read the complaint.

Fulton refused to sign the pledge, and worked with colleague Trent Van Epps to draft a letter to EF's board voicing their objections. Signed by several dozen other workers, it reportedly stated that while they agreed with the mandate's "general direction," they could not agree to it as it stood.

"We will continue to perform the duties with which we are tasked and do not resign," read the letter Fulton emailed to all EF staff on March 25. "Many of us have signed the commitment to the mandate under duress in fear of losing their jobs and livelihoods. We consider their responses on the poll to be coerced and meaningless."

Aue allegedly told staff that he accepted the letter as committing to the mandate while voicing "frustrations with the process and form." However, EF fired both Fulton and Van Epps on April 6, less than two weeks after the email was sent, reportedly with no cause given. While none of the letter's other signatories were immediately dismissed, the complaint states that most had resigned or been fired by September.

The Ethereum Foundation Mandate is currently available on EF's website, including the Source Seppuku License.

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Fulton and Van Epps' termination came within an hour of Aue allegedly issuing a company-wide statement on how to raise concerns, including use of tone. In it, he reportedly stated that if employees' confidence in EF was shaken, "it is likely better for both you, the EF, and Ethereum if you look for a way to contribute to Ethereum from outside the EF."

According to the complaint, EF board member Vitalik Buterin subsequently told Fulton in May that "if you reward making a stink with outcomes, then everyone will know that essentially making that kind of a show both internally and externally is the way to cause outcomes inside of the EF."

"Mr. Buterin’s account… explains [Fulton's] termination as a deterrent: the organizers of the Protocol letter were removed so that the remaining staff would learn that organizing does not 'cause outcomes inside of the EF,'" claimed the complaint. "Defendants acted intentionally, willfully and wantonly, with malice, and with reckless indifference to Ms. Fulton's federally and state protected rights."

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The lawsuit claims Fulton had never been criticised for her work, and that her supervisor had rated her performance at EF as "greatly exceeding expectations" seven months prior to her dismissal. Her termination also occurred amidst her cancer diagnosis, which she was informed of on March 19 and disclosed to EF on March 24. Fulton considers this diagnosis as a parallel motivation for her termination, as Aue allegedly stated during her dismissal that a cancer patient would could not offer the "exclusive and energetic focus" EF required from employees.

"Ms. Fulton has suffered and continues to suffer emotional distress, anxiety, humiliation, and loss of professional standing as a result of being fired in the first weeks after a cancer diagnosis, without explanation, by an organization that had just ordered her to affirm a suicide pledge, while facing the loss of her health insurance during treatment, and then being given three days to sign away her rights or lose even the health stipend she had been offered," read the complaint.

Fulton alleges EF violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, and is seeking backpay and lost benefits, frontpay in lieu of reinstatement, punitive damages, and compensation for emotional distress. Mashable has reached out to EF for comment.

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. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

Mix the teen-girl ferocity of Yellowjackets with the moral panic of The Crucible, dress it up in a blinged-out Juicy Couture tracksuit, and you'll get The Body.

The beguiling new series from Netflix and creator Quinn Shephard (Under the Bridge) whisks viewers into the halls of St. Mark's Catholic School in 2004, where the school's all-girl dance team is about to face a reckoning of Biblical proportions.

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What's The Body about?

Nnamdi Asomugha as Father Franklin and Sofia Wylie as Grace in "The Body." Credit: Netflix

In the lead-up to Regionals, the St. Mark's Lions have recruited a new dancer, devout Grace (Sofia Wylie), to fill in for injured performer Maddie (Shirley Chen). But one good audition doesn't mean she automatically makes the team. Grace has to be initiated first. And what better place to do it than at a Halloween party at an abandoned convent known as Devil's House?

There, Lions captain Anya (Kristina Bogic) and her best friend Elise (Sara Boustany) cook up a perverse communion, where they swap the body of Christ (communion wafers) for the body of Satan (ecstasy pills). Then, they playfully beg the Devil himself to take Grace's soul as a sacrifice for a victory at Regionals.

Of course, it's all in good fun. But by the end of the night, Grace has fallen into a coma, and Anya finds herself relying on outsider Lisbeth (Geena Meszaros) to help cover up the team's tracks. Now, the Lions must close ranks to cover up their dark secret.

As strange visions begin to plague the team members, they have to face a disturbing possibility: Did they actually summon Satan?

The Body spins an irresistible sapphic tale of Satanism and Catholic guilt.

Kristina Bogic as Anya and Sara Boustany as Elise in "The Body." Credit: Netflix

For the most part, The Body keeps the possibility of the Devil's true involvement ambiguous. Anya, who has the most to lose if the truth comes out, is haunted by visions of Grace. But are these apparitions truly Grace speaking from beyond the veil? Or just a manifestation of Anya's guilt? And are her teammates actually seeing Grace too? Or just claiming they've had visions, Crucible-style? (While The Body doesn't invoke Arthur Miller's play by name, Shepard's 2017 feature directorial debut Blame centers on high school rivals reading The Crucible, making The Body feel like a natural extension of her prior work.)

Instead of putting together a full mystery box to provide a definitive answer, The Body prefers to examine the impacts of this stressful situation on the fraught ecosystem that is the Lions dance team. The visions become a kind of social currency. Those who "receive" them feel as if they've been "chosen" by Grace. Those who haven't wonder why Grace hasn't visited them (or fake visions of their own to join the club).

The effect on the viewer is a slippery one, placing us in a constant state of debate. Should we put our faith in Grace and the supernatural? Or should we recognize that Grace is being used as a step on the rung to popularity and assimilation?

Amidst this growing hysteria, a fraught triangle forms between Anya, Elise, and Lisbeth. Anya and Elise's hangouts frequently cross the line between platonic friendship and attraction, but Anya's Catholic guilt prevents her from truly accepting her desires for Elise. Her inability to commit fully to her friend drives a wedge between the two. So when Anya needs help on Halloween, it's not Elise who's there, but Lisbeth.

Coming from an intense religious background — complete with speaking in tongues and snake handling — Lisbeth is on a mission to make new friends and get on the dance team at any cost. If that means sowing further discord between Anya and Elise, so be it.

The Body has high school drama in spades.

The ensemble of "The Body." Credit: Netflix

The tension between the three serves as the delicious dramatic engine that powers The Body. With Blame, Shepard already proved herself adept at dissecting the cruelties teen girls can inflict on one another. She continues that study here, with the help of her three excellent leads. Bogic excels as the increasingly frazzled Anya, melding high school archetypes like "popular princess with a heart of gold" and "mean girl" into a character who feels grounded.

Boustany instantly electrifies the screen as TV's next Cool Girl. Her sardonic affect recalls Sophie Thatcher's memorable performance as Natalie in Yellowjackets in the best possible way.

Meszaros catapults between sympathetic and downright scary. Her Lisbeth is as slippery and unpredictable as the snakes the character once handled. Together, the trio leads a talented ensemble of young performers whose dynamic feels ripped from a high school hallway.

That dynamic elevates The Body, with every Lions practice or locker room debrief bursting with rich interplay between the team. Each insult and loaded glance feels real. And when The Body truly lets its girls loose — be it through underhanded backstabbing or violent rituals — the results are vicious and captivating. Even as The Body spirals towards a series of nebulous, even frustrating loose ends, its core characters keep the ship afloat.

Through it all, The Body walks a mesmerizing tonal tight rope. The series is primarily a psychological thriller, turning high school hallways into claustrophobic nightmares where any slip could be game over for the Lions. The claustrophobia extends to The Body's examination of religion as a controlling force. Anya struggles with internalized homophobia. Lisbeth's mother (Louisa Krause) berates her daughter for straying from God. Thanks to this emphasis on religious guilt, images of Christ on the cross soon begin to feel more like signs of judgmental surveillance than of salvation. Crucifix necklaces feel more like weights on the soul than signs of faith.

The Body balances these headier debates about religion with its dark comedy sensibilities. Look no further than the rude sniping between rival dance groups, each with their own highly suggestive, yet supposedly faith-based dance routine. (The Lions' routine, set to Kylie Minogue's "Confide in Me," breaks up the girls' gyrations with a lift in the shape of a cross.)

The Body's attention to nostalgic, early 2000s details is also one of the show's biggest blessings. AIM chatrooms and killer needle drops abound. Plus, the show's title cards are gloriously bedazzled, Juicy-style.

Between these elements and a throbbing choral soundtrack, there's a transgressive fun to The Body's aesthetic, and to the series as a whole. Atmospheric, unsettling, and amusing in equal parts, The Body is nothing short of a devilishly good time.

The Body is now streaming on Netflix.

If there's one thing The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power loves more than a wizard, it's a wizard with a secret identity.

In Season 1, the series introduced the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), who later became known as everyone's favorite Middle-earth wizard: Gandalf. In Season 2, The Rings of Power also brought in another wizard: the Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds), who rules over the Eastern land of Rhûn. While the show kept his true name shrouded in secrecy throughout Season 2, it wastes no time revealing it in Season 3, and the answer is a fairly deep-cut character from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium.

In a discussion with the Secret Fire (voiced by Allan Corduner), the creative force behind all Middle-earth, Gandalf learns that the Dark Wizard's name is actually Pallando. Like Gandalf, he is an Istar, or "Wise One," who was sent to Middle-earth to help win the fight against Sauron (Charlie Vickers). According to the Secret Fire's handy-dandy exposition dump, Pallando arrived in Middle-earth with a partner. But his ambitions led him to kill his wizard buddy, a move so vile it cursed Rhûn and turned it into a desert wasteland.

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That's a lot of lore to take in. Like a lot of characters and plot in The Rings of Power, not all of Pallando's story is actually canonical to Tolkien's work. However, several bits and pieces of it are, including the character of Pallando himself. Here's what you need to know.

Who is Pallando, the Blue Wizard?

In the history of Middle-earth, the Valar sent five Istari to Middle-earth. The most familiar of them are Gandalf the Grey, Saruman the White, and Radagast the Brown, all of whom appear in varying degrees in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

The two remaining wizards were known as the Blue Wizards, or Ithryn Luin, so named for the blue of the robes they wore when arriving in Middle-earth. The Rings of Power captures that blue in its flashback to their arrival, as well as in the stone of Pallando's staff. According to Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, their names are Pallando and Alatar, although in later works he also called them Morinehtar and Rómestámo.

In a 1958 letter, Tolkien wrote, "I really do not know anything clearly about the other two [Istari]," explaining the gap in details between the Blue Wizards and their Istari compatriots — a gap that The Rings of Power is excited to fill in.

Tolkien did not write that Pallando killed Alatar, nor did he write about Pallando setting up shop in Rhûn. However, he did write in the same 1958 letter that he believes Pallando and Alatar were sent "as emissaries to distant regions, east and south." The pair's involvement in Rhûn does fit within that statement, then.

In that letter, Tolkien also wrote, "I fear that they failed, as Saruman did" in their quest to curb Sauron's rise, and that he suspected they founded "secret cults and 'magic' traditions that outlasted the fall of Sauron." Again, The Rings of Power's take on the Blue Wizards technically fits the bill here. Pallando's corruption and murder of Alatar would mark an abject failure of their quest, and he did end up founding his own cult out in Rhûn.

Where The Rings of Power is truly moving away from Tolkien's work is Gandalf's new quest to remind Pallando of his true purpose in Middle-earth. Will he succeed in bringing the one Blue Wizard left back into the light? Plus, now that both Blue Wizards are accounted for (RIP Alatar, we never knew you), what are the odds The Rings of Power introduces the two remaining Istari in its coming episodes? I don't know about you, but I'm officially on Saruman and Radagast watch.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes Wednesdays.

Somebody call Éowyn, because The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power may have just unveiled the Witch-king of Angmar.

The first four episodes of The Rings of Power Season 3 introduced new key players in the battle between good and evil in Middle-earth. Among them are the Nazgnagôl, or Ring-servants, human men who have received a ring of power from Sauron (Charlie Vickers). The rings will eventually corrupt their spirits, turning them into the undead Nazgûl, or Ringwraiths, from J.R.R. Tolkien's work.

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The most powerful of the Nazgûl is the Witch-king of Angmar, head of the Ringwraiths. Like most of the Black Riders, the Witch-king of Angmar's origins are unknown. His second-in-command, Khamûl the Easterling (Zubin Varla), is the only Nazgûl to be named in Tolkien's legendarium. Tolkien also wrote that three Númenóreans became Ringwraiths, although he leaves any further details out. That means The Rings of Power has a lot of leeway when it comes to crafting backstories for any of the Nazgûl, including the Witch-king himself. In Season 3, episode 2, The Rings of Power appears to put that backstory in motion, heavily hinting that the Witch-king is none other than Southlander Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin).

How could Theo be the Witch-king of Angmar?

Introduced in Season 1, Theo has always had a complicated relationship to the darkness of Middle-earth. Look no further than his discovery of and fascination with the broken orc sword hilt that eventually triggered the eruption of Mount Doom.

Theo's connection to darkness only grows in Season 3, when he and the Middle-earth men of Pelargir, grown sick of Númenórean rule, take Sauron up on his offer to receive a ring of power. Sauron forces the men to fight to the death to decide who will bear the ring, but once he notices the scar from the dark blade on Theo's arm, he steps in to kill his final competitor and gift Theo the ring.

Thanks to the sword mark and some good old-fashioned black magic, Sauron learns that Theo and his long-dead father are the latest in a line of an ancient noble house that once swore to serve Mordor. According to him, that stewardship came with "certain powers" passed from father to son.

Naturally, that revelation is a lot for Theo to take in, as is Sauron's claim that his late mother Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) killed his father upon learning of his ties to Mordor. As Theo struggles to process his family history, Sauron tells him: "You have it in you to be a conqueror. A sorcerer. A king."

The pairing of "sorcerer" and "king" all but screams "Witch-king" to Tolkien fans in the know. That wording can't be a coincidence, especially since, as soon as Theo pops the ring on, he's on track to becoming a Nazgûl. That means Theo is one of eight potential candidates to become the Witch-king of Angmar. (Remember, Khamûl is second-in-command to the Witch-king, taking him off the board.) He seems an especially likely candidate given Sauron's whole speech about Theo's mysterious inheritance, and again, the deliberate use of "sorcerer" and "king" in quick succession.

Of course, there's always a chance that this is just Sauron doing what he does best, which is deceive. Maybe he's just spinning a tale to seduce Theo fully over to the dark side. Yet the wording is too purposeful for this to be a total fake-out. The Rings of Power has also invested so much time in Theo and his ties to Middle-earth's darkness. For the Witch-king to be anyone else at this point would feel far less earned.

Plus, The Rings of Power has pulled a comparable move before when it came to heralding the arrival of a classic Lord of the Rings character. In Season 1, it used a Lord of the Rings film quote to imply that the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) is Gandalf, before revealing it outright in the following season. Chances are, the "sorcerer" and "king" lines are similar examples of not-so-subtle foreshadowing, and if Theo doesn't wind up the Witch-king of Angmar, I'll eat my hat. Or rather, my very pointy, very fashionable Nazgnagôl helmet.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes Wednesdays.

In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3, the villains are running the show.

Sauron (Charlie Vickers) is comfortably in control of most of Middle-earth, and he's got a whole host of allies to help him keep a firm grip on the world. Among these allies are the Nazgnagôl, or Ring-servants: human men who have pledged themselves to the Dark Lord and received a ring of power in exchange.

The title of Nazgnagôl is a show-only invention, but it does come rooted in J.R.R. Tolkien's works. Anyone who's read Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings or watched Peter Jackson's film adaptations knows that the nine men who accept Sauron's rings eventually lose their humanity and become the Nazgûl, Ringwraiths at Sauron's command. Think of The Rings of Power's Nazgnagôl as the first step in that transformation. They've already got the black cloaks down. Next up? Corruption and an eternal life of undead servitude. Fun!

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Over the course of its four-episode premiere, The Rings of Power Season 3 introduces several Nazgnagôl. Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) believes one of them to be the king of the Lossoth, who live in the far north of Middle-earth. Later, young Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) accepts a ring and becomes a Nazgnagôl himself, sparking Witch-king rumors in the process.

But The Rings of Power puts extra emphasis on one Nazgnagôl in particular: Khamûl (Zubin Varla), an Easterling in Rhûn who seeks to buck the Dark Wizard's (Ciarán Hinds) authority. Unlike many Rings of Power characters, or the title of Nazgnagôl itself, Khamûl is canonically part of Tolkien's work. Here's how this mysterious newcomer fits into Tolkien's larger legendarium.

Khamûl is the Witch-king of Angmar's second-in-command.

Khamûl is the only named Nazgûl in Tolkien's work, although he isn't explicitly named in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Instead, Tolkien dives into his background in Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, where he reveals that Khamûl is second-in-command to the Witch-king of Angmar. He's also known as the Shadow of the East and the Black Easterling, each title alluding to his origins in Rhûn.

Unfinished Tales also highlights Khamûl's specific role in the Nazgûl's hunt for Frodo Baggins in The Fellowship of the Ring. He's the Nazgûl who seeks out Frodo in Hobbiton and who almost catches Frodo and his friends at Bucklebury Ferry. Darn that pesky water for getting in the way.

In the Third Age, Sauron also sent Khamûl to hold the fortress of Dol Guldur in Mirkwood, which features in the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings and played a large part in Jackson's Hobbit trilogy.

All of these events are thousands of years away when Khamûl dons his ring in The Rings of Power. As soon as he does, though, his fate is sealed, and he's in for thousands of years of serving Sauron and playing second fiddle to the Witch-king of Angmar — whoever that may be.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes Wednesdays.

The best early Black Friday tech deals:

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Nintendo Switch 2

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

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You've dug out the winter clothes, the neighbors are putting up Christmas lights, and the stores have eggnog back on the shelves. In the world of shopping, that means it's almost time for Black Friday. If you've shopped the holiday sale period before, you know deals drop ahead of the actual Friday after Thanksgiving. That's great news if you have tech gifts on your list this year.

We're still a few weeks away from Black Friday, but we've scanned the ads and compiled a list of the best tech deals we'd buy ourselves before the official sale. Not only will some of these be great for using during the Thanksgiving break, but you'll also be on the team of early shoppers, which can often mean the best selection without shipping delays.

Check out Mashable's full Black Friday coverage as we keep a close eye on fresh deals.

The gaming console of the year at a $30 discount

Somehow, Woot is selling the Nintendo Switch 2 for a $30 discount, while it remains at full price everywhere else. Since Woot deals tend to sell out, hop on this one right now if you're interested. Grabbing the Switch 2 will put you in line for spending the holiday break with the new The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Amazon Prime members get free shipping at Woot.

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Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2

$469 at Woot
$499 Save $30

 

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A comfortable pair of earbuds for holiday travel

It's hard to beat the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) if you're searching for a pair that won't become bothersome after hours of wear. On Mashable's list of the best earbuds, the 2nd Gen QuietComfort Ultra earn their namesake as the most comfortable. The noise cancellation is excellent, and the adaptive ANC is great if you still need to tune into your surroundings. Consider these an early Christmas gift for yourself if you'll be taking off on holiday travel or need some solid earbuds.

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen).

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Credit: Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen, Midnight Violet)

$229 at Amazon
$299 Save $70

 

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A great MacBook for both students and professionals

At $200 off, the M5 MacBook Air is sitting at the same sale price we saw during October Prime Day. The MacBook Air proves itself to be a great machine for everyone, from students and professionals to frequent travelers. It's slim, lightweight, and comes with a stunning display and a powerful M5 chip.

Read our full review of the M5 MacBook Air.

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Credit: Apple

Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$1,099 at Amazon
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A Kindle bundled with the new Kindle Click

Without making a peep, Amazon hiked the prices on all Kindles this year. While that's annoying and so on par for 2026, we do have something new and exciting in the e-reader world — the Kindle Click. The remote page-turner means you can now turn pages with your hands under the covers or while simply relaxing on the couch.

Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon has bundled the new Click with the latest 16GB Kindle and a knit fabric cover. While we do hope to see more Kindles go on sale soon, potentially at deeper discounts, this is a top Kindle deal for the time being.

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Credit: Amazon

Kindle Bundle: 16GB Kindle, Kindle Click, and Knit Fabric Cover

$190.97 at Amazon
$224.97 Save $34

 

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The glass Ninja Crispi air fryer

The Ninja lineup of kitchen appliances and gadgets consistently impresses. Take, for example, the new Ninja EverSear cookware, which rivals top brands but comes at a much better price. But if you or someone on your Christmas shopping list needs an upgraded air fryer, the Ninja Crispi is everything you want. With PFAS-free glass containers, the Ninja air fryer can reach up to 450 degrees for perfect crisping of your favorite meals and snacks. Plus, the glass containers come with lids, and they're dishwasher-safe.

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Credit: Ninja

Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer

$159.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $20

 

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A DJI bundle for vloggers

From pro level to just starting out, DJI continues to prove it's a brand designed for creators. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth's review of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 explained it's the gold standard for vlogging cameras. DJI has now released the Osmo Pocket 4, but you're looking at spending a lot more than the sale price of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 paired with the DJI Mic Mini, which is on sale for $450.

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Credit: DJI

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 bundle with DJI Mic Mini

$450 at Amazon
$532 Save $82

 

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A smart ring for tracking fitness goals in the new year

If you have 2027 health goals and don't love wearing a watch, a smart ring is a great alternative, and the Oura Ring 4 is on sale for $249 before Black Friday. The smart ring tracks sleep, activity, stress levels, heart rate, and plenty more to provide deeper insight into health and wellness. Plus, it gets up to eight days of battery life on a single charge. Keep in mind you'll want to sign up for Oura's subscription plan to get the full benefits, which costs $5.99 per month or $69.99 per year.

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Credit: Oura

Oura Ring 4

$249
$349 Save $100

 

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A budget tablet for upgraded streaming

If you're squinting to watch shows and YouTube videos on a phone, give your eyes a treat with the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet. It's already on sale for 53% off, bringing the 10-inch tablet down to just $72.99. The 32GB storage is great for downloading shows, books, and games for travel or lounging around at home.

It's also a great option for kids if you're looking for something more affordable than iPads.

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Credit: Amazon

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet

$72.99 at Amazon
$154.99 Save $82.00

 

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Hisense 85-inch TV for holiday movies and family gaming sessions

Deck the halls with a massive 85-inch Hisense TV. No one in your house will complain about the ability to watch Christmas movies on the giant display in UHD 4K. Gamers will also appreciate the 144Hz refresh rate, which is ideal for watching sports over the holidays.

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Credit: Hisense

85-inch Hisense E7 Cinema Series QLED 4K TV

$898.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $301

 

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The ultimate backyard upgrade

We have robot vacuums to take care of cleaning the floor inside, but plenty of us still dread hauling out the lawn mower and turning our white sneakers an ombre green shade. Instead of battling the lawn again next spring, make the upgrade to a robot lawn mower while the Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000 is on sale for the best price we've ever seen at Amazon.

The Mammotion is designed to tackle yards with a range of obstacles, such as roots, dips, rocks, and tennis balls the dog left out. It can run for up to 175 minutes on a single charge, covering up to 0.75 acres.

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Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000

$1,999 at Amazon
$3,099 Save $1,100

 

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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Uncertainty.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DOUBT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Hairy.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BUSHY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Rule.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

REIGN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Respond.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

REPLY

Final Hurdle hint

Cunning.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

GUILE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Like many an MCU movie before it, VisionQuest's finale continues Marvel's proud tradition of mid-credits scenes teasing the franchise's future, including one that's set to shake up the game in Avengers: Doomsday.

VisionQuest's first mid-credits scene offers a look at what might be next for one of the the show's leads, should the series get a season 2. Its second mid-credits scene is far buzzier, teasing the return of a beloved MCU figure, just in time for Avengers: Doomsday. Here's what happens.

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What happens to Ultron in VisionQuest's mid-credits scene?

VisionQuest's first returns to the site of the show's final battle: Horton Manor. There, Phineas Horton (Paul Bettany) created the world's first synthetic man, all those decades ago.

In the final battle, Horton's grandson Virgil (James Spader), aka VisionQuest's sinister Client, perished at the hands of Ultron (Spader). Before he died, Virgil shot synthezoid Jocasta (T'Nia Miller), who was based on the consciousness of his former partner Josephine Carrington (also Miller). But Jocasta may not be gone for good.

The mid-credits scene shows Ultron residing at Horton Manor, now in his human form thanks to Josephine's nanobot technology. (He's trimmed the beard, though.) Since his human form mirrors Virgil's, has Ultron assumed Virgil's identity to live among humans? Or is he remaining fully himself?

One thing's for sure: Ultron is still holding onto Jocasta. Literally: He's holding the drive that contains her code.

As he holds it, he takes a contemplative beat. The music swells menacingly. Then he walks off screen. To do what? VisionQuest certainly doesn't tell.

Perhaps he's getting ready to rebuild and reboot Jocasta, so the pair can finish their dream of ruling the world. Whatever his goal, the foreboding music suggests that it may have been a mistake to let Ultron hang around.

Dr. Doom resurrects Wanda Maximoff in VisionQuest's second mid-credits scene.

VisionQuest's second mid-credits scene takes things all the way back to the climax of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, when Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) used her Scarlet Witch powers to bring down Mount Wundagore, sacrificing herself in the process.

After replaying Wundagore's collapse, VisionQuest flashes forward to the present, when a hooded figure lifts the rubble off of Wanda's corpse.

"Scarlet Witch, awaken," he says. "Your power will be mine."

A green glow illuminates Wanda's face, and she wakes with a gasp, officially bringing the Scarlet Witch back into play in the MCU.

The hooded figure is undoubtedly Dr. Doom (Robert Downey Jr.). In the extra scenes shown in Avengers: Encore, he pulls a similar move on Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), telling him he's here to "collect" him before spiriting him away in a mysterious green glow. Is Dr. Doom building an army of the most powerful Avengers? If so, his team is already looking pretty stacked.

In the VisionQuest finale, Tommy Maximoff (Ruaridh Mollica) appeared hopeful at the possibility of getting his mother back, somehow. Surely this is the worst case scenario, right?

Will VisionQuest get a Season 2?

So far, Disney has not renewed VisionQuest for a second season.

Aside from Loki and Daredevil: Born Again, it's rare that Disney renews the MCU's live-action series. Based on that precedent, the chances for more VisionQuest are very slim.

However, that doesn't mean we won't see these characters again. WandaVision spawned two "sequel" series in Agatha All Along and VisionQuest, so the story of Ultron or Billy (Joe Locke) and Tommy could continue in a new series. Obviously, Wanda is being set up to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which means a family reunion could occur sooner rather than later.

Currently, the only live-action MCU series in development is 2028's Zodiac, so it's unlikely we get any further Ultron updates before then.

UPDATE: Nov. 11, 2026, 6:37 a.m. EST This article has been updated to include information about "VisionQuest"s second mid-credits scene, which was not in the screener given to press.

VisionQuest is now streaming on Disney+.

Like the synthezoid at its center, Marvel's VisionQuest contains multitudes. It's a genre-bending adventure, a reflection on flawed father-son dynamics, and an ambitious attempt to tie up the loose ends of the so-called WandaVision trilogy. But seemingly above all else, it's a sequel to no one's favorite Avengers movie, Avengers: Age of Ultron.

VisionQuest brings James Spader's evil Ultron back to the MCU, and at first, I wasn't complaining. Spader's gleefully villainous performance is one of the sole bright spots of Age of Ultron. It holds up just as well in VisionQuest, with Spader chewing the hell out of every withering one-liner.

Then came VisionQuest's finale.

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Ultron tries to destroy humanity again in VisionQuest's finale.

Episode 7 revealed that the show's main villain, the Client, was also played by James Spader, meaning Ultron's human avatar is modeled after him. Turns out, the Client is Virgil Horton, grandson of Phineas Horton (Bettany), creator of the world's first synthetic man.

Virgil was once the partner of Josephine Carrington (T'Nia Miller), whose consciousness was used to create the synthezoid Jocasta (Miller). As the two worked on their revolutionary AI tech, they coded themselves into their work, explaining why Ultron's human avatar looks like Virgil. Now that Virgil has apprehended both Vision and Jocasta, he plans to put his mind in Vision's body so he and Jocasta can live together forever, using their nanobot tech to rule over all of humanity.

Neither Vision nor Jocasta wants this future, so they team up with Tommy Maximoff (Ruaridh Mollica) to defeat Virgil. In the chaos, Virgil shoots Jocasta, who subsequently throws Ultron's drive into the nanobot swarm, unleashing him in his physical form. His first move? Killing Virgil in a feat of Spader-on-Spader violence.

In one fell swoop, Ultron dispatches VisionQuest's Big Bad, leaving a villainous void ready to be filled. That's a role Ultron is all too happy to step into, and so begins VisionQuest's endgame: Ultron's nanobot swarm flying towards London, ready to implant itself in its citizens and kill them from the inside out.

For a series that tried to twist and bend the rules of what a Marvel show could be, this final showdown is frustratingly familiar, right down to Vision and Ultron duking it out in their synthetic forms. Yes, Ultron can dissipate into a cloud of nanobots now, but that doesn't change the fact that this feels too much a rehash of an Avengers film that came out 11 years ago.

Under this sheen of familiarity, even the best parts of VisionQuest's climax feel like a drag. In a callback to WandaVision, Vision tries to use the power of sitcoms to help Ultron process his grief over losing Jocasta. Ultron hijacks the program, resulting in a 500-episode montage that comes with its fair share of clever sight gags, along with a catchy theme song. ("Don't kill the world!")

Yet all the montage really does is remind us of how perfectly WandaVision was able to parody sitcoms. More than that, it reminds us of the power of good episodic television, something every Marvel show has tried to capture, before almost always falling short and feeling like a truncated eight-hour movie instead. With its Age of Ultron-meets-therapy climax, VisionQuest is no exception, even if it has its fair share of highs. (Tommy's awkward running around the table in the finale will live in my head for a while.)

What's next for VisionQuest?

VisionQuest is the last new MCU show on Marvel's docket until 2028's Zodiac, and aside from Loki and Daredevil: Born Again, live-action MCU series don't have the best track record of renewal. Still, that doesn't stop VisionQuest from signalling to a future for its characters. Tommy connects with his long-lost twin Billy (Joe Locke) and heads back to New Jersey with him by the season's end. Could the pair be part of a young Avengers team down the line, or will the MCU leave them by the wayside, along with other potential young Avengers like Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld)?

Tommy also asks Vision if there's any way they could potentially bring the late Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) back, reuniting the entire WandaVision family. Meanwhile, Ultron is still out there, along with Jocasta's hard drive. Both sequences suggest that neither women are truly gone from the MCU — if only VisionQuest gets the opportunity to explore further. In the meantime, though, its final impression is a mixed bag: a combination of some truly inventive world building, marred by the insistence on replaying a decade-old story.

VisionQuest is now streaming on Disney+.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

Folk meaning

The traditional culture and lifestyle of ordinary people.

Herbal meaning

Of, relating to or made from herbs or plants.

Holistic meaning

Dealing with, treating or considering a whole system, structure, or person rather than focusing exclusively on individual, isolated parts.

Traditional meaning

Something handed down, practiced or believed across generations.

Air mattress meaning

A bed that's pumped with air.

Bubble meaning

A small, hollow globule of gas or air trapped inside a liquid.

Tire meaning

A rubber wheel covering that's filled with air.

Whoopie cushion meaning

A prank device that fills with air and makes a farting sound.

Green meaning

A golf course.

Rough meaning

Not smooth, even or exact.

Sand trap meaning

A hollow pit filled with sand that poses a hazard for golfers.

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Tee box meaning

The designated flat starting place for every hole on a golf course.

Afternoon meaning

The period of day between morning and night.

Patoot meaning

A term of endearment.

Rheostats meaning

A resistor used to control the flow of electric current in a circuit by changing its resistance.

Shredder meaning

A device used to shred paper.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like to hit the green.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Healing

• Green: Take a swing

• Blue: Blow it up

• Purple: Same front to back

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Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Kinds of medicine

• Green: Parts of a golf course

• Blue: Things filled with air

• Purple: Ending in palindromes

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1249 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kinds of medicine: FOLK, HERBAL, HOLISTIC, TRADITIONAL

• Parts of a golf course: GREEN, ROUGH, SAND TRAP, TEE BOX

• Things filled with air: AIR MATTRESS, BUBBLE, TIRE, WHOOPIE, CUSHION

• Ending in palindromes: AFTERNOON, PATOOT, RHEOSTATS, SHREDDER

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're a fitness instructor.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Work it out

The words are anatomy-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words involve parts of the body.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Muscle Group.

NYT Strands word list for November 11

• Bicepts

• Obliques

• Muscle Group

• Pecs

• Lats

• Quads

• Hamstrings

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're spiritual.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Are you also playing NYT Connections? See hints and answers for today's Connections.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To anoint.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter S appears twice.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BLESS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Fraggle Rock's 2026 holiday special just got its official trailer, and it's doing its best to spread the holiday spirit.

Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift sees the Fraggles name Wembley (voiced by Jordan Lockhart) as Spirit Captain, responsible for spreading holiday cheer throughout Fraggle Rock. Enthusiastically embracing his new role, Wembley leads Gobo (voiced by John Tartaglia), Mokey (voiced by Donna Kimball), Boober (voiced by Dave Goelz), and Red (voiced by Karen Prell) in sharing the holiday spirit. However, said spirit begins to fade when they mistakenly take Doc's (Lilli Cooper) beloved snow globe from her workshop.

"Wembley must find the courage to return it, learning that kindness, giving and helping someone in need are the true gifts of the holidays," reads Apple TV's official synopsis.

The musical special also features a performance by singer and Tony Award winner Nicole Scherzinger. Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift arrives Dec. 4 on Apple TV.

If you were waiting for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S27 lineup to drop before upgrading your smartphone, we have some bad news, particularly if you were hoping for some premium camera updates.

According to a new leak from Samsung news outlet SammyGuru, Samsung doesn't seem to have any major camera upgrades in store for the upcoming line of devices.

Another recent leak suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S27 line would see a big camera redesign. However, based on the SammyGuru report, there may not be too much new when it comes to the cameras themselves — at least for the S27 and S27 Plus models.

In fact, if you have a Samsung Galaxy S26 and are considering an upgrade to the Galaxy S27 or Galaxy S27 Plus, it looks like there will be no change to the cameras at all. Both the S27 and S27 Plus will reportedly be equipped with a 50MP main camera with a Sony IMX955 or Samsung S5KGNG sensor, SammyGuru reported. The ultrawide lens will reportedly be the same 12MP Sony IMX564, as well as the same 10MP 3x telephoto lens and 12MP selfie camera.

The camera array on the Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / Mashable

The Galaxy S27 Pro and Galaxy S27 Ultra, thankfully, will see some upgrades, according to the new report. However, at this point, it's unclear just how much of an upgrade they'll be.

SammyGuru reported that the S27 Ultra and S27 Pro will both get a new 200MP main camera with a Samsung S5KHP6 sensor. The S27 Ultra's predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, has a Samsung S5KHP2 sensor, so there is a change here between the two device generations.

The S27 Pro and S27 Ultra could also receive a selfie camera upgrade with a 16MP front-facing lens, which is an upgrade from the 12MP resolution of their predecessors. Finally, SammyGuru reported that the S27 Pro will have a 3x optical zoom telephoto camera, and the S27 Ultra will have a 5x optical zoom.

Of course, the report is unconfirmed for now. Typically, Samsung phones leak heavily in the months before they launch. And with the Samsung Galaxy S27 line of smartphones expected to arrive in January or February 2027, we expect a flood of leaks in the near future.

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: Convert and edit PDFs on Mac or Windows with a lifetime license to AcePDF Converter & Editor, now $23.99 (reg. $99.99) with code DEAL20.

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Credit: Acethinker

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AcePDF runs on Windows 8, 10, and 11, plus macOS 12 or later with full Apple Silicon support. One license works on two computers, and updates are included. Conversion does need an internet connection. You’ll have 30 days after purchase to redeem your code.

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Apple Watch Ultra 4 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm)

$699.99 at Amazon
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Credit: Apple

Apple Watch Ultra 4 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm)

$699.99 at Costco
$799 Save $99.01

Not restricted to Costco members.

Get Deal at Costco

The opening days of the holiday season have brought us a $99 discount on Apple's latest premium smartwatch — its biggest markdown since launching in September, and a likely preview of its Black Friday deal.

As of this writing, Amazon and Costco both have the new Apple Watch Ultra 4 on sale for just $699.99, or 12% off its $799 MSRP. It's never been cheaper before, according to the price-tracking site camelcamelcamel. (Costco's deal isn't a member exclusive, FYI.)

Both retailers' deals apply to Ultra 4 models with a Natural titanium case. You can choose from three different band styles: Desert Alpine Loop, Sand Trail Loop, or Translucent Gray Ocean Band.

The Ultra 4 is Apple's fanciest, longest-lasting, and most rugged wearable. While it looks the same as its predecessor, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, it has better optical and electrical sensors that can take more accurate and consistent heart rate readings. It also boasts a faster processor that supports a couple of new features, like a Readiness score and Siri Recap conversation summaries.

In his 4.5/5 review of the Ultra 4, Mashable's Stan Schroeder called it "an essential upgrade" for athletes.

Will the Apple Watch Ultra 4 get cheaper before Black Friday?

We don't expect the Ultra 4 to get any cheaper on or around Black Friday. For the past two years, the latest Apple Watch Ultra model has been on sale for $699 over the holidays.

When it comes to gifting, kids can be particular. The things kids like change not just with age, but also with evolving trends from TV shows and new technology. If parents are lucky enough, their kid will write a long list of the precise items they'd like as a birthday or Christmas or Hannukkah gift and put it up on the fridge with pride. But sometimes, it can be as much of a crapshoot as coming up with a gift idea for someone else's kid. Without further ado, here are the best gifts for kids of all ages — including toy and non-toy gifts alike.

On Tuesday, Rockstar Games gave us some details about how Grand Theft Auto VI will look and run on current-gen consoles. But there was a fascinating buried lede in that blog post.

Specifically, it will actually be possible to play GTA 6 on a last-generation Xbox One console at launch. There is, obviously, a huge catch to that: You'll only be able to play it that way by streaming the game over the cloud. The actual news here is that GTA 6 will be playable through Xbox Cloud Gaming, a feature available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers, starting at 1 a.m. ET on Nov. 19, the day the game comes out.

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Using Xbox Cloud Gaming, you'll be able to stream GTA 6 to an Xbox Series console or an Xbox One. I'm not entirely sure why you'd stream it to one of the newer consoles instead of just running it natively, but the option is there, nonetheless. If you play GTA 6 this way, the stream will use the Xbox Series S version's graphics settings.

Of course, there is one final very relevant detail here: Starting this month, Xbox has imposed strict hourly limits on cloud gaming. You can only stream games for five to 15 hours per month, depending on which version of Game Pass you pay for. There's also the matter of game streaming being subject to the whims of internet quality, so things like buffering, latency, and poor visual quality can be part of the experience.

So, it might still be worth it to just try and find a current-gen console instead.

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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Scrooge.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

GRUMP

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Choppy.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

JERKY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Gripped.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

CLUNG

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Chocolate.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BROWN

Final Hurdle hint

Refuge.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

HAVEN

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Sometimes the most-watched part of a two-hour podcast is the 30 seconds someone else pulled out of it. That's good publicity for the show, but if the clip takes off on another account, who gets paid?

X's new clipping tool lets both the person who posts the clip and the creator who made the original video earn from it, as long as they’re enrolled in the platform's Original Content Rewards program. Every clip also links back to the exact moment in the original video, so anyone who wants to hear what happened next can keep watching.

"Everyone wins when great moments travel. Clipping is one more step toward making X the best place to create, grow and earn," the @XCreators account posted on the platform.

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Using this new feature, making a clip works a lot like reposting. Tap the repost icon, choose "Clip video," and trim the moment you want to share. You can add your own commentary, and anyone who taps the "Clip from" label can pick up the original video right where the clip begins.

The tool is live on iOS and Android, with web access on the way. For now, it works on prerecorded videos at least two minutes long, and clips can run from five to 60 seconds, or up to 30 percent of the original.

What does a good clip actually pay?

People were getting paid to find those 30-second clips before X put a button on it.

Podcasters, streamers, and marketers recruit clippers through Discord servers and marketplaces like Whop, where they pay people to cut up footage and post it on their own accounts. Marketers told Business Insider earlier this year that campaigns typically pay $1 to $4 per 1,000 views. One Whop listing offered $1.75 per 1,000 views for clips of Sofia Franklyn's Nov. 10 appearance on Aspire With Emma Grede. That’s $175 before fees for 100,000 qualifying views (assuming the clip meets the campaign’s terms).

People online are equally as excited as creators.

"this is HUGE for creators and their payouts," said X creator @0xhades. "amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! prayers answeredddddd" said another user. "Whoa this is crazy useful. Nice," wrote a third.

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As X introduces an easier way to clip, YouTube is moving in the opposite direction. As Mashable reported in October, YouTube is changing what it recommends in the Shorts feed to give less reach to reposts that add little to the original. YouTube wants clippers to bring something of their own, whether that's commentary, creative editing, or a story built around the footage in order to "improve the Shorts experience for everyone."

For now, X's clipping rules don’t list a flat rate. And if creators would rather keep their videos from being clipped in the first place, they'll have to wait for the opt-out X says it’s working on.

If X clipping catches on, the next thing to watch is whether podcasters start uploading full episodes to X just to see which moments fans pull out of them.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices. 

Kai Cenat has one more game to beat before he can call his Grand Theft Auto marathon done. The streamer, with 22 million followers on Twitch, cleared GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, and GTA IV in under 100 hours. And on Monday night, Nov. 6, he told fans on X he’d made it to the fifth and final game on his list. "PLAYING GTA 5 NOW GET IN HERE," he posted on X.

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Cenat kicked off the marathon Nov. 5 with a plan to beat all five games on stream. Along the way, the games started spilling into real life. In a video posted to his YouTube channel with over 500,000 views, Cenat dressed as GTA IV protagonist Niko Bellic and took a performer dressed as Big Smoke to a McDonald's drive-thru, where Big Smoke tried to place his famously huge San Andreas order.

Now that Cenat is back in Los Santos, some viewers were hyped. "Let's gooo," said one user, while another viewer joked that he was "warming up like it's a preseason game" ahead of GTA 6, which launches Nov. 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

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For GTA 6, though, Cenat is planning to take his time. As Mashable previously reported, he wants to spend time exploring between story missions and encouraged fans to make time for their own playthroughs, too. As for when he’ll log off, he’s leaving that open. "I ain’t coming off stream until I feel like it’s the right time," he wrote.

GTA 6 launches Nov. 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, bringing the series back to Vice City. Until then, there’s still one stop left on Cenat’s tour. The marathon is streaming on Twitch.

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SAVE $130.99: As of Nov. 10, the all-in-one Shark FlexFusion Air + Ceramic Styling & Drying System is on sale on Amazon for only $299 (normally $429.99). That's an unprecedented 30% savings.

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Credit: Shark

Shark FlexFusion Air + Ceramic Styling & Drying System with Air Straightener

$299 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $130.99

 

Get Deal at Amazon

We adore the Shark FlexStyle here at Mashable (it's our top Dyson Airwrap dupe). But if your budget has a little wiggle room, consider upgrading to Shark's more versatile FlexFusion multi-styler.

Released in 2024, the FlexFusion has the same ingenious twisting base as the FlexStyle, but it utilizes heat styling (not just air styling) and adds attachments for both wet and dry hair. It's basically a prototype of the Shark Glam with a slightly bulkier build, no idling sensor, and — as of now — a much cheaper price.

In the lead-up to its Black Friday Week sale, Amazon has an all-in-one FlexFusion bundle on sale for only $299 — a 30% discount on its usual sticker price of $429.99. That's its lowest price ever, according to data on the price-tracking site camelcamelcamel.

This bundle comes with every attachment made for the FlexFusion, including an Air Straightener, a FrizzFighter finishing tool, a Wet-or-Dry Fusion Brush, two auto-wrap curling barrels, and a styling concentrator.

Amazon has its FlexFusion offer labeled as a "limited time deal," so don't miss out.

A Vanderbilt University professor was in the middle of class on Monday, Nov. 9, when about 40 files labeled "Read Me" popped up on her screen and a spoken message started playing. That would be creepy enough on its own. But the professor's account was one glimpse of an ongoing cyberattack that prompted Vanderbilt to tell students and staff to shut down their school-issued devices and disconnect from campus WiFi.

While Vanderbilt has restored access to some of its systems, an update posted to the university's X account on Tuesday morning stated that "Vanderbilt Information Technology continues to work with government agencies and other partners to manage the situation,” promising further updates.

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Vanderbilt hasn’t said how its IT team first spotted the attack, but there are clues, namely an alleged ransom note on a Vanderbilt computer published by BleepingComputer.

"If you could not tell already, your databases are locked," a ransomware group calling itself BYOD wrote in a post claiming responsibility for the Vanderbilt cyberattack. "We have your entire estate and research data," the group added, claiming it had stolen more than 1 million Social Security numbers along with student and employee records. In a separate ransom note obtained by BleepingComputer, the group threatened to release the data unless Vanderbilt negotiated.

Whether BYOD actually has that data is still an open question. A Vanderbilt spokesperson told The Washington Post that the university hadn't verified the group's claims.

Just two weeks before the Vanderbilt attack, on Oct. 26, employees at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center heard a similar message.

Several UNM Health employees told the Associated Press that a voice played over their work computers, claiming that student, employee, and patient information had been stolen. BYOD also claimed responsibility for that attack. As UNM Health responded, it diverted ambulances to other hospitals and temporarily suspended outpatient surgeries and appointments. (UNM later said its investigation found that the attack affected some staff and student devices but didn't reach its core systems or servers.)

Vanderbilt's WiFi was back by Monday evening, but getting online didn't mean students could get to everything they needed. By Monday night, Vanderbilt's IT team had cleared Brightspace, where students access course materials, and the YES student portal for use, but File storage services OneDrive and Box were still affected. Vanderbilt said classes and student services would follow their usual Tuesday schedule and told students who were having trouble finishing assignments to ask their instructors about extensions.

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The disruption went beyond coursework. One person told the Nashville Scene they'd lost access to research stored on Vanderbilt's systems and were relying on personal backups.

The next question is whether Vanderbilt can determine whose information was exposed, if anyone's.

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Unlike its biggest competitor, OpenAI, Anthropic doesn't appear to be backing away from its IPO.

Anthropic, the AI giant behind the Claude chatbot, is preparing for an IPO roadshow, according to an announcement from the company. An IPO roadshow is basically a series of sales presentations to potential investors in order to gauge interest and set a final share price.

Interestingly, Anthropic is looking to go public at a $1.4 trillion valuation. This is lower than investor expectations, which reportedly reached $2 trillion just two months ago.

Anthropic's decision to go forward with an IPO is in sharp contrast to the approach of its largest competitor, OpenAI, which has largely shied away from doing so anytime in the near future. Anthropic beat OpenAI to an IPO filing earlier this summer when both AI companies were still pursuing a public stock offering. Since then, OpenAI has put its IPO plans on hold, citing concerns around AI safety.

Anthropic's IPO will be a first among the big AI companies, and it comes as investors' faith in the AI boom seems to be waning.

One major issue for investors is that the big players in the AI industry are simply unprofitable. Anthropic's prospectus, which lays out its finances for potential investors, says that the company brought in $4.6 billion in revenue last year and posted a $42 billion loss. On top of that, Anthropic's operating costs are rising year over year, and the company plans to spend $518 billion in "cloud, computing and infrastructure obligations" over the next few years.

As Reuters reports, some of Anthropic's current investors are hoping to sell 825 million shares at $78 per share to raise as much as $64.4 billion. However, according to outlets like CNBC, Anthropic is considering a price range of $70 to $78 per share.

According to those same sources, Anthropic aims to set the share price on Nov. 18 and go public on Nov. 19.

SAVE $1,100: As of Nov. 10, get the Mammotion Luba 3 for $1,999 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $3,099. That's a discount of 35%.

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Credit: Amazon

Mammotion Luba 3

$1,999 at Amazon
$3,099 Save $1,100

 

Get Deal at Amazon

The weather may be getting cooler, but that doesn't mean the grass is suddenly going to stop growing. Taking care of your lawn, at least until the cold does eventually take it, is going to be part of your home routine for the foreseeable future until winter sets in. But you don't have to spend hours on handling landscaping when robot lawn mowers exist, and we've found a great early Black Friday deal on one that you should snatch up while it's still available.

As of Nov. 10, get the Mammotion Luba 3 for $1,999 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $3,099. That's $1,100 off and a discount of 35%.

This robot lawn mower is powered by two 165W motors so it can tackle just about all your lawn care needs. It boasts an all-wheel-drive system with omni-wheels that let it tackle yards with just about any type of terrain. That includes inclines up to 39 degrees. It can use this power to roll over roots, potholes, curbs, and more without forcing you to have to run over and place it back on the grass.

The motors can adjust speed as they go based on how thick your grass is, and runs nearly 200 minutes per charge, so you don't have to stop and recharge it to power through each cutting job. It can even identify hundreds of types of obstacles on its own, so it can spot issues and move forward without your input thanks to its 1-2 punch of camera and LiDAR.

If you're ready to let robots handle beautifying your yard, this is a great deal that won't last long, so snag it while you can.

Amazon has nailed down its holiday plans. Today, the retail giant announced that it will host Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday sales from Nov. 19 to Nov. 30 — that's 12 straight days of deals.

In a company blog post, Amazon said its holiday savings events will feature "millions of deals across popular categories and new daily themed deal drops," including "double drops" on Black Friday and Cyber Monday proper. Here's what you need to know before you start filling your cart.

When does Amazon's Black Friday sale start?

Credit: Amazon

Amazon's Black Friday Week sale will begin at 3:01 a.m. ET (12:01 a.m. PT) on Thursday, Nov. 19, a week before Thanksgiving Day.

This will be the fourth year in a row that Amazon starts its Black Friday sale at least a week early. (The actual holiday falls on Friday, Nov. 27 this year.)

Amazon is hardly the only major retailer that draws out its Black Friday programming. Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are also offering Black Friday deals throughout the month of November — a win for early birds who are worried about popular gifts selling out as the holiday shopping season revs up.

When does Amazon's Cyber Monday sale start?

Amazon hasn't officially said when its 2026 Cyber Monday sale will start, but in the past, it's kicked off the day right after Black Friday. With that in mind, Mashable's Shopping team expects Amazon to make the shift into Cyber Monday mode on Saturday, Nov. 28 this year.

Is Amazon offering early Black Friday deals?

Yes, Amazon has already dropped a bunch of early Black Friday deals. Head to amazon.com/blackfriday and look for the offers with a red "Early Black Friday Deal" label. (If you'd rather not sift through them all yourself, check out our running list of Amazon's top early Black Friday deals so far.)

Now through Nov. 14, Amazon is supplementing these with "early Haul-iday deals" on Amazon Haul, its Shein-rivaling budget storefront. Shoppers will encounter $1 flash deals there all week, plus a selection of 11-cent deals on Nov. 10 and 11.

What to expect during Amazon's Black Friday sale

Credit: Amazon

On each day of its Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday sales, Amazon will run themed daily deal drops called "Today’s Big Deals." They'll involve limited-time discounts of up to 60% on popular products from brands like Balsam Hill, HydroJug, and Theragun, and they'll go live once a day except on Black Friday and Cyber Monday proper. Shoppers will get two batches of Today's Big Deals on those days: once at 3 a.m. ET, then again at 11 a.m ET.

Beyond those drops, here are the kinds of Black Friday deals shoppers can expect to see on Amazon in the coming weeks, it said:

Amazon devices and services

• Save up to 35% on Amazon's latest gadgets, including the new Alexa Photo Frame, Alexa tablets, Echo Show 16, Echo Time, and Fire TV Stick 4K

• Save up to 45% on Amazon's 2024 Kindle Colorsoft, 55-inch Ember Artline TV, and 55-inch Ember Mini LED-Series TV

• Get a $1,500 gift card when you buy or lease a new car through Amazon Autos from Nov. 12 to 30

• Get three months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free (a $38.97 value)

• Get three months of Kindle+ for free (a $35.97 value)

Tech

• Save up to $600 on select Sony and Hisense TVs

• Save up to 50% on select headphones and speakers from Beats, JBL, Marshall, and Sonos

• Save up to 30% on select laptops and gaming PCs from Alienware, Acer, Asus, HP, and Lenvoo

Home and kitchen

• Save up to 40% on select Ninja appliances, including the Creami, Foodi, and Slushi

• Save up to 40% on select iRobot and Bissell floorcare

• Save up to 30% on select Yeti and Solo Stove gear

• Save over $200 on select Breville espresso machines

• Save up to $80 on select Levoit air purifiers

Beauty

• Save up to $90 on select beauty tools from Braun and ghd

Toys

• Save up to 50% on select Crayola and Melissa & Doug crafts

• Save up to 45% on select Magna-Tiles, Mattel, Nerf, and Play-Doh toys

• Save up to 30% on select Barbie and Hot Wheels toys

• Save up to 30% on select Ravensburger games

Books

• Save 80% on Game Changer by Rachel Reid (the first book in the Heated Rivalry series)

• Save 60% on Strangers by Belle Burden

• Save 55% on Kin by Tayari Jones

• Save 50% on Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Holiday decor

• Save up to $500 on select Balsam Hill and Fraser Hill Farm artificial Christmas trees

• Save up to 35% on select Lenox ornaments

• Save up to 30% on select Hallmark cards, gift wrap, and ornaments

These will likely be some of Amazon's most competitive deals of the year. However, know that its prices may not be as low as they've been on Black Fridays past. That's because myriad products have seen price increases in 2026 due to factors like higher fuel costs, tariffs, and the ongoing memory shortage, aka "RAMageddon."

The latter is the reason why Amazon raised the prices of its Kindle e-readers, Fire TV Sticks, and most Echo smart speakers in August.

Do you need to be a Prime member to shop Amazon's Black Friday sale?

Amazon's Black Friday sale won't be exclusive to members of its Prime program. This is one of the main things that separates it from other Amazon events like Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days.

Does Amazon price match?

No, Amazon does not price-match competitors' deals — not on Black Friday, nor any other day of the year. If you find a better price on something you've recently purchased there, you'll have to return it to Amazon and rebuy it where it's cheaper.

What is Amazon's holiday return policy?

Most items purchased on Amazon from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 31, 2026, except for Apple products, which have a return deadline of Jan. 15, 2027.

The best early Black Friday deals:

---

Best Apple Deal

Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$1,349.99 (save $250)

Shop Now

---

Best headphones deal

Bose QuietComfort noise-cancelling headphones

$254.10 (save $104.90)

Shop Now

---

Best TV deal

TCL 75-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV

$1,397.99 (save $1,602)

Shop Now

---

Best Amazon device deal

Amazon Kindle Bundle (16GB Kindle, Knit Case, Kindle Click)

$190.97 (save $34)

Shop Now

---

Best kitchen deal

Ninja Crispi Air Fryer

$159.99 (save $20)

Shop Now

---

Best Lego deal

Lego Pokémon Eevee

$45 (save $14.99)

Shop Now

The moment Halloween wraps, we turn to the holiday season. For most people, that means Hallmark holiday specials, planning Thanksgiving, and Christmas music on the radio. But for Mashable's shopping team, it means only one thing: It's time to prep for Black Friday sales. Yes, we know that Black Friday 2026 doesn't technically start until Nov. 27, but that hasn't stopped retailers.

So, we are officially on the hunt for the best early Black Friday deals. And as of this writing, we've found huge $200 discounts on MacBook Air laptops, 53% discounts on Bose noise-cancelling headphones, and 50% savings on award-winning QLED TVs, not to mention discounts on Pokémon Lego sets and other items on our holiday wishlists.

So, if you don't want to wait for Thanksgiving to get your hands on the best gifts of the year, retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Sephora, and Best Buy already have plenty of early deals to entice you. And in a year of relentless price hikes, it's nice to finally get some relief.

How do we choose the best deals? The Mashable shopping team has an encyclopedic knowledge of the latest tech gadgets, gifts, and trending products. We use price-tracking tools, insider knowledge, and our years of experience covering sales like this to search for the best discounts. We're looking for first-ever price drops on new products, steep markdowns on past-gen products, and record-low prices on must-have items from Apple, Ninja, Shark, Dyson, and Lego.

Best early Black Friday Apple deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Apple

Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$1,349.99 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $249.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

The Apple MacBook Air is a stunner of a laptop, with the blazing-fast M5 chip. If you have a MacBook that's a few generations behind, you'll instantly notice a difference with the speakers and cameras, not to mention Siri AI. In the weeks before Black Friday, this popular laptop is $250 off, bringing it down to its lowest price in almost six months. It's also the best price we've seen since Apple raised prices over the summer.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Air (M5).

More early Black Friday Apple deals

AirPods

• Apple AirPods 4 — $89 $129 (save $30)

• Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation — $119.97 $179 (save $59.04)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $449.99 $549 (save $99.01)

iPads

• Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $399 $449 (save $50)

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) — $569 $599 (save $30)

iPhones

• iPhone 18 Pro (256 GB) — Free with 36 months of billing credits $1,199.99 (save $1,199.99)

• iPhone 16 Plus (128GB, Unlocked) — $799.99 $829.99 (save $30)

• iPhone 15 Plus (128GB, Refurbished) — $549.99 $899 (save $349.01)

MacBooks

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 $1,499 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,799.99 $3,199 (save $399.01)

Best early Black Friday headphones deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Bose

Bose QuietComfort

$254.10 at Amazon
$359 Save $104.90

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

The best Black Friday deals always include savings on noise-canceling headphones. And the Bose QuietComfort are not only among the most comfortable headphones in the world (according to our headphones reviewer) but also among the best mid-range headphones you can buy. And when they're marked down 53%? Nothing else comes close. Pick up these ANC headphones while they're marked down to just $169 and thank us later.

More early Black Friday headphones deals