After discounting its over-ear QuietComfort 45 headphones earlier this week, Bose has kicked off a similarly notable sale on its QuietComfort Earbuds II. The wireless earbuds are now on sale for $249 at several retailers, matching the all-time low we previously saw around Black Friday. The pair has typically retailed at its MSRP of $299 since launching in September, though it's sold for $279 for most of this month. Either way, Bose's product listing says this deal will run until January 1.
We gave the QuietComfort Earbuds II a review score of 87 at launch, and we currently recommend them as the "best noise cancellation" pick in our guide to the best wireless earbuds. As that title would suggest, Bose's active noise cancellation (ANC) is the main reason you'd buy this pair: It's the single most powerful ANC mode we've tested on a pair of wireless earbuds, almost totally muting low-end rumbles and muffling mid- and high-frequency sounds better than most. The earbuds automatically attune their ANC to the acoustics of your ear canals as soon as you put them on, but you can also raise or lower the intensity of the effect by creating custom listening modes in Bose's companion app.
In terms of audio quality, the QuietComfort Earbuds II have a smooth sound with a slight but noticeable bass boost. It's not world-beating like the ANC, but our review found the low-end to be richer than past Bose earbuds, and there's a graphic EQ tool in Bose's app that lets you tweak the sound more to your liking if needed.
There are a few trade-offs worth noting here. The earbuds themselves are soft and secure in the ear, but they're on the larger side, which may be fatiguing for smaller ears over time. The included charging case is similarly bulky. Beyond that, battery life is just decent at roughly 6-7 hours, there's no wireless charging and call quality is mediocre. You can't connect to multiple devices at once, either. Our guide recommends Sony's WF-1000XM4 as a more well-rounded option for most. Still, if all you want is the most effective ANC possible in a pair of wireless earbuds, the QuietComfort Earbuds II are the way to go, and this deal makes them at least a little more affordable.
If you're still looking to grab a good set of noise-canceling headphones for the holidays, Bose's QuietComfort 45 is one of the better pairs you can buy, and right now it's on sale for $229 at several retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Bose's own online store. Outside of a few discounts limited to Costco members, this is the lowest price we've seen, coming in $100 below Bose's MSRP and about $70 less than the headphones' average street price in recent months. It also matches the price we saw during Cyber Monday last month. According to Bose, though, the deal is only scheduled to run through Monday.
We recommend the QuietComfort 45 as "another solid option" in our guide to the best wireless headphones, and we gave it a review score of 86 last year. Though we don't recommend it over our top pick, the Sony WH-1000XM5 — which is currently on sale for $348 — it's a more-than-acceptable alternative, particularly when it's priced this much lower than Sony's model.
The QuietComfort 45's main strengths are right in its name: Its lightweight design is plain but exceptionally comfortable to wear for hours at a time, and its active noise cancellation (ANC), while not the absolute strongest we've tested, is smooth and powerful. Out of the box, its sound quality is typical Bose: not super rich in detail, but pleasant, with slight bumps to the bass and treble. It's more even-handed than the XM5's bass-forward sound by default, but like Sony's pair, you can now use a graphic EQ tool in the headphones' companion app to tweak the profile more to your liking.
The XM5 is far more feature-rich than the QuietComfort 45, and it has a distinct edge on battery life, lasting more than 30 hours while Bose's pair typically gets between 20 and 25. Call quality is better on the XM5, too, and Sony actually lets you turn the ANC or ambient sound modes off completely, while Bose always makes you choose between one or the other. The QuietComfort 45 can still connect to multiple devices at once, though, and unlike the XM5, its design can fold up for easier storage. It also uses physical control buttons. When it's priced this far below Sony's pair, it remains a good value.
We're in the thick of the holiday season, so we're still seeing good deals on a number of gadgets and tech gear we recommend. Apple's iPad Air, for instance, is down to its second-lowest price to date at $500, while Amazon's Fire HD 8 is down to an all-time low of $55. The Xbox Series S is still $60 off, and a range of Tile Bluetooth trackers and Samsung storage gear are on sale as well. There are plenty more discounts of note beyond that, so here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.
Apple iPad Air
Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Apple's iPad Air is on sale for $500, which is the lowest price we've seen outside of a very brief drop to $479 in August. Typically, the 10.9-inch tablet has retailed closer to $550 in recent months. We gave the iPad Air a review score of 90 earlier this year, and we named it the best iPad for most people in a recent buying guide. It's not cheap, but it represents a noticeable upgrade over the entry-level iPad, providing most of the iPad Pro's best features at a lower price.
If you want a more affordable model, though, the 10.2-inch iPad is down to $280 and still a more complete package than most tablets around that price. The newer 10th-generation iPad is also on sale for $399; that's a decent option with a more conveniently placed webcam, though compared to the Air it lacks second-gen Apple Pencil support, a laminated display and a faster M1 chip.
If you need a spare gamepad for your Xbox or PC, Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S controller is still discounted to $40, extending the deal we saw on Black Friday. While this isn't the lowest price we've ever tracked, it's still roughly $10 lower than its usual street price. Just note that, while comfortable, this controller uses a pair of AA batteries by default, not a rechargeable unit.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopeis one of the higher-profile Nintendo Switch exclusives of the year, a charming and well-reviewed turn-based strategy game starring Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Ubisoft's cutesy Rabbids mascots. The game only released in late October, but Amazon is holding a one-day sale on Friday that brings it all the way down to $32, which is a $28 discount. If stock runs dry there, note that it's also available for $40 at Walmart.
Over on Steam, meanwhile, the seminal puzzle game Portal is down to just $1. And if you're looking for a new tabletop game instead, the classic strategy game Catan is on sale for $25, while the accessible train-themed game Ticket to Ride is available for $24. Neither board game deal is an all-time low, but they both represent the best prices we've seen this year.
Numerous Samsung storage devices are on sale at Amazon, bringing a handful of recommended SSDs and microSD cards down to their lowest prices to date. We recapped this sale earlier this week, but the highlights include the 1TB 980 Pro SSD for $100 and the 128GB Evo Select microSD card for $14.
If you spend $100 on an Apple gift card at Amazon, you can get a $10 store credit to spend on future purchases at no extra cost. This offer applies to both digital and physical gift cards. If you buy the former, use the code APPLEGC at checkout to redeem the offer. If you use the latter, use the code APPLEPGC instead. Best Buy is running a similar promotion, too, if you'd rather shop there. As a reminder, you can use an Apple gift card for App Store credit, subscription services like Apple Music or iCloud, and/or purchases made at a physical Apple store.
Amazon is running a couple of notable bundle deals for its Echo Show smart displays. First, a bundle that includes the 5.5-inch Echo Show 5 and a Blink Mini indoor security camera is on sale for $50, which is about $15 less than what those devices would cost individually. (The display alone is still available for $35.) Second, the 8-inch Echo Show 8 is still discounted to an all-time low of $70, and you can grab a Kids version of the Echo Show 5 alongside it for no extra cost. It's also available with a Blink Mini for $85.
We gave the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5 review scores of 87 and 85, respectively, last year. The former is a better option for most, as it's generally faster and has a superior camera for video calls, though the latter can be useful if you're looking to use the display as a sort of smart alarm clock. Either way, you'll get the most out of an Echo Show if you already own other Amazon gear and use Alexa often.
Amazon's newest Fire HD 8 tablet is back on sale from $55, which matches the all-time low we saw over Black Friday. This is far from a premium device, and you'll have to put up with Amazon promoting its own services all over the OS. Still, it's competent enough at the basics if you merely want a tablet for casual web browsing, e-book reading and video streaming every now and then.
For a step up, consider the Fire HD 10 for $90. That's not an all-time low, but it's still a decent price for a device with a bigger display and smoother performance.
Logitech's G305 Lightspeed is a wireless gaming mouse we've recommended to those on a budget, offering a compact yet comfortable shape, consistent sensor performance and up to 250 hours of battery life through a single AA battery. It's currently on sale for $28.49 at Amazon when you clip an on-page coupon, matching the lowest price we've tracked. Note that the offer only applies to the black model of the mouse, though, not the lilac version pictured above.
If you're willing to pay a bit extra for a lighter and faster gaming mouse, Razer's Viper Ultimate is worth a shout, and it's currently on sale for $60 with an RGB charging dock. This is an ambidextrous mouse with shortcut buttons on either side, though its shape is a bit larger and flatter than the G305. On its own, it normally retails around $70; with the dock, it usually costs closer to $85.
HyperX's Cloud Alpha gaming headset is on sale for $55, which isn't an all-time low but still comes in about $15 lower than its usual street price. Though you can find better sounding headphones for the price, the Cloud Alpha's profile is still decently well-balanced, its included boom mic should yield few complaints and its design is both sturdy and comfortable to wear for hours at a time.
Amazon is running a sale on various Tile Bluetooth trackers. The offers include the Tile Mate for an all-time low of $18 and the diminutive Tile Sticker down within a dollar of its best-ever price at $19.60. The Tile Pro is back at its all-time low of $25, while a dual-pack that includes a Mate and a wallet-friendly Tile Slim is $10 off its usual street price at $40.
To be clear, if you own an iPhone, Apple's AirTags remain a more powerful and precise option for keeping tabs on your wallet, keys or other frequently misplaced items. If you use Android, though, Tile's trackers are generally the best alternative, with the next largest crowd-finding network and a wider range of designs. Just be aware that only the Tile Pro includes a replaceable battery.
Samsung's 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 is down to a new low of $400, beating its average street price over the last few months by roughly $200. The 4K, 60 Hz, VA panel here isn't the most accurate thing you can buy out of the box, but it's solid for this deal price.
The M8's main selling point, though, is that it doubles as a small smart TV (albeit without a tuner). It uses Samsung's Tizen interface, allowing it to stream Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video and similar apps even when it's not hooked up to a computer. It comes with a webcam, remote, microphone and built-in speakers, and it can double as a SmartThings hub for compatible smart home gear. You have to actually use this smart TV functionality for the M8 to be worth it, but if so, it's one of the more versatile monitors on the market.
If you want to use an iPad Air or 11-inch iPad Pro more like a laptop, Apple's Magic Keyboard case provides a relatively comfortable typing experience, a smooth trackpad, good weight distribution and an extra USB-C port for charging your tablet. We gave it a review score of 84 back in 2020. The main downside is that it's wildly expensive, but right now it's a bit more affordable at $210. That's not an all-time low, but it's still about $75 less than its typical street price over the last few months.
If you use a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, meanwhile, the Magic Keyboard for that tablet is on sale for $249 at Walmart, which is within $10 of its all-time low.
We've seen this deal for past few weeks, but Sony's noise-canceling WH-1000XM5 headphones are down to $348, which is a $50 discount and tied for the lowest price we've seen. We gave the XM5 a review score of 95 in May for its comfortable fit, powerful ANC, 30-hour battery life and pleasing (yet customizable) sound. Right now, it's the top pick in our best wireless headphones guide.
The entry-level version of Apple's M2 MacBook Air is back down to $1,049. We've seen this deal a few times in recent months, but it still matches the lowest price we've seen and beats Apple's MSRP by $150. The latest Air is the top pick in our guide to the best laptops, and we gave it a review score of 96 in July. Note that this configuration has slower storage performance than pricier SKUs, but that shouldn't be a major issue on a day-to-day basis unless you're doing more involved work like editing high-res video and photos. If you need more storage, though, a 512GB model is down to a low of $1,300 at Best Buy.
If you want a more affordable entry into macOS, note that the older MacBook Air that runs on Apple's M1 chip is still on sale for $800, matching its all-time low. This model has a more dated design than the M2-based Air, but it remains a fantastic value when it's discounted to this extent.
Apple's MagSafe Charger is on sale for $30, which is within $3 of the best price we've tracked and roughly $7 off its usual street price. There are certainly cheaper wireless chargers, but this one aligns easily with any recent iPhone and can supply up to a 15 W charge, which is a smidge more than non-MagSafe alternatives. You can still use it to charge AirPods and other Qi-compatible devices, too.
The 65-inch version of LG's C2 OLED TV is available for $1,442 at eBay from authorized reseller BuyDig. That's a new low, but you have to use the code JOLLY15 at checkout to see the discount. Typically, this TV has gone between $1,700 and $1,800 in recent months. The C2 can't get as bright as a competitor like Samsung's S95B OLED TV, so it's best suited in darker or moderately-lit rooms, but it still provides the deep black levels, high contrast and wide viewing angles you'd expect from a high-end OLED display.
If you're buying for a non-4K TV, the Xbox Series S is worth highlighting at its current sale price of $240. We saw a few gift card deals on Black Friday that effectively dropped the compact console lower, but this is still $60 off Microsoft's MSRP. We gave the Series S a review score of 85 at launch: It's a clear step behind the Xbox Series X (and PS5) in terms of power, it lacks a disc drive, and its 512GB of built-in storage isn't much, but it's still capable of playing all the same games as its pricier sibling.
The chief Black Friday deal we saw for Meta's Quest 2 VR headset, which pairs a 128GB model with the popular rhythm game Beat Saber and the classic horror game Resident Evil 4 for $349, is still available at multiple retailers. Normally, the Quest 2 alone retails for $399.
It's worth remembering that Meta jacked up the price of the Quest 2 by $100 earlier this year, but this is the best offer we've seen in the time since, and the headset itself remains the best option for most people interested in VR even after the price hike. We gave the device formerly known as the Oculus Quest 2 a review score of 89 back in 2020.
Google's Nest Thermostat is on sale for $90, which is about $25 off its typical street price and within a few dollars of the lowest price we've seen. This is Google's entry-level smart thermostat — it doesn't have the nicer dial control or remote sensor support of the Nest Learning Thermostat, but for smaller homes, it offers similar energy-saving and HVAC monitoring features at a lower cost. It'll also support the new Matter smart home standard, something Google hasn't committed to with the Learning Thermostat.
This is another deal we've seen for much of the holiday season, but you can still get Fitbit's Charge 5 for $100, which is within a dollar of the wearable's all-time low and about $20 less than its usual street price. The Charge 5 is the top recommendation in our guide to the best fitness trackers, and we gave it a review score of 82 last year due to its reliable activity tracking, built-in GPS and full-color OLED display.
A configuration of Lenovo's IdeaPad Flex 5i with an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is on sale for $300. That's $30 more than the all-time low we saw on Black Friday, but still about $70 off this config's typical street price in recent months. This is the top pick in our guide to the best Chromebooks: The specs here are enough to run Chrome OS smoothly, and in general the notebook's backlit keyboard, port variety, bright 1080p touchscreen and eight-hour battery life impress for the price.
My best headphones aren’t always the best headphones for every situation. When I’m settling in to work for a few hours, then yeah, I’ll grab my old Oppo PM-3s or trusty Koss KSC75s to make streaming music more of a pleasure. When I’ve got a long plane or train ride ahead of me, I’ll bring the AirPods Max to block out the world more comfortably. (I own too many headphones, to be clear.) But not every instance calls for something nice – or, in the KSC75’s case, fragile – and I don’t want to run the gear I’ve paid good money for into the ground when I can avoid it.
That’s when I turn to Panasonic's ErgoFit earphones (or, “RP-PCM125 ErgoFit,” to use their proper name.) This is a basic, $15 pair of earphones that’s been around for the better part of a decade but continues to provide an unobtrusive fit, sturdy design and agreeable-enough sound.
Put another way, they’re my preferred set of beater headphones. Even if you don't know that term, you can probably guess what it means. These are the headphones you use when putting on your “good” pair is more trouble than it’s worth. When you need to make a quick run to the store but only have a few minutes left in your podcast, you bring the beaters and finish it up. When you see an amusing video online but you aren’t sure if it’ll be appropriate to blare over your speakers, you use the beaters to be safe. If, like me, you need to listen to something in bed before drifting to sleep, the beaters are the headphones that won’t get in the way but will survive your tossing and turning if you pass out with them still on. And if they don’t, who cares? They’re just your beaters.
There are a million different headphones that could make for good beaters, but when most people talk about them, they think of in-ear headphones that are cheap and durable. You can toss them in a bag or (larger) pocket and know they’re likely to survive. You never have to be delicate or deliberate with them the way you would with a good set of over-ears. You don’t want to accidentally step on them or leave them on the train, but it won’t ruin your day if you do, because buying a new pair won't bite a hole in your paycheck. They don’t sound as nice as your good headphones, but when you can’t sit and listen for a long stretch or truly savor a recording’s details, they’re there, and they work.
Jeff Dunn/Engadget
The ErgoFit earphones fit this description more or less exactly. Everyone takes to in-ear headphones differently, but the ErgoFit’s earpieces are small and noticeably lightweight, with soft silicone ear tips that, for me, don’t grate over time. Panasonic includes three different sizes of tips in the box, and with the right fit they seal a decent if not amazing amount of noise. (Voices are still likely to get through if they’re loud enough, though.) They come in a variety of colors, if that matters to you. And while there’s a bit of cable noise when they rustle against your chest — which can be irritating — I’ve never had to worry about them coming loose, either.
Unlike many earphones in this price range, there’s also an in-line remote and mic for pausing tracks and taking calls. The quality of that mic isn’t anything better than “usable,” but that it’s even there is a plus at this price. (If you don’t need a mic, Panasonic sells a variant without one for $10.)
These are simple wired earphones made at a time when 3.5mm jacks were still common, so you need a dongle to use them with most phones and tablets today. That is annoying, but for “beater” purposes, I’ll take the trade-off of not worrying about battery life (and degradation) or having to take a beat to ensure everything's paired first. When my AirPods died on an eight-hour flight to Europe earlier this year, the ErgoFit slotted right in as backup.
Most importantly, they’ve lasted. I’ve carried these earphones on my person constantly over the past four-ish years and straight up fallen asleep on them more times than I can count, but in that span I’ve only had to outright replace them once due to a frayed wire. The plastic-heavy design looks and feels cheap, but it’s been enough to survive.
These things are still old and $15, so I can’t say they sound fantastic. You won’t hear the sort of detail or treble sparkle that you can get from better-sounding earphones in the $30 to $50 range, and the sound profile might be a bit too boosted in the mid- and upper-bass range for some. This isn’t a Koss KSC75 deal where the ErgoFit outperforms earphones five times their price.
Still, what's here isn't bad. The low-end is emphasized but not overly boomy, and higher-frequency sounds aren’t piercing. The profile misses finer details, but it's usually smooth. With less intricate hip-hop and rock tracks, it’s fine. For $15 beater earphones, it’s good.
Really, any cheap set of headphones you like could work as good set of beaters. The general sound quality of inexpensive earphones has risen over the years, with sub-$40 pairs like the Moondrop Chu and BLON BL-03 earning praise from reviewers as of late. But if you occasionally find yourself not wanting to put your good headphones at risk, the ErgoFit earphones have given me peace of mind as a competent, comfortable, and hard-to-kill backup plan. They're anything but modern, but their utility is timeless.
If you've been looking to pick up a smart display, today looks like a decent time to take the plunge, as Walmart has our favorite option on the market, Google's Nest Hub, down to $39. That's the lowest price we've seen to date for the second-gen model. Notably, the discount includes a basic Philips Wiz smart bulb for no extra cost. For context, the 7-inch smart display technically has an MSRP of $99, though we frequently see it on sale for $50. The deal covers both the "chalk" and "charcoal" versions of the display, but the former looks to be out of stock as of this writing.
We gave the second-gen Nest Hub a review score of 89 when it launched last year, and it's currently a top pick in our guide to the best smart displays. Like Amazon's Echo Show devices, it's mainly there for those who like using a voice assistant to pull up the weather, control smart home gear, stream music and videos, display recipes in the kitchen and so on. Its chief advantage over Amazon's devices is, unsurprisingly, its tighter integration with Google services: If much of your life is organized in Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Photos, or if you use other Google-owned gear like Nest doorbells and thermostats, using the Google Assistant to access those things here will be far more convenient. We've also found the Google Assistant to be a little more capable than Alexa at answering web queries.
As a piece of hardware, the Nest Hub isn't blazingly fast, nor is its 1,024 x 600 resolution display especially sharp. Still, its built-in speakers and microphones do the job, and its soft fabric design should blend naturally into most rooms. Its 7-inch frame is a natural fit on a bedside table or bathroom counter, and while it lacks a built-in camera, that may be a good thing for those who want an added sense of privacy. The device can also provide a modicum of sleep tracking, though we wouldn't call that necessary for most, and Google plans to charge extra for the feature in the coming months. Nevertheless, the Nest Hub provides a strong mix of price and functionality for those who aren't already hitched to Alexa, and this deal only furthers that.
Amazon has rolled out another round of discounts on Samsung storage devices, dropping various microSD cards and SSDs we recommend to their lowest prices to date. Among the highlights, the 1TB version of Samsung's 980 Pro SSD is down to $100, which is about $25 off its average street price over the last few months and beats its Black Friday pricing by $10. (Amazon mistakenly lists this as the standard 980 SSD, but it's the upgraded model.) This deal is also available at B&H.
Samsung launched an updated 990 Pro SSD earlier this year, and in general, not everyone needs the faster speeds of a PCIe 4.0 drive like this. At less than $100, though, the 980 Pro is still a fine value for those looking to build out a more performant PC for gaming. This SSD also meets Sony's requirements for expanding the PlayStation 5's storage, though you'll need to add a heatsink for that to work properly. If you're buying for a PS5 specifically, it's likely worth paying a little bit extra for the model with an integrated heatsink, which, at $112, is also down to its lowest price to date.
If you want to save some cash on a less intense build, meanwhile, the 1TB 970 Evo Plus is worth noting at $90. Outside of a brief drop to $84 in April, that's the lowest price we've seen for that recommended PCIe 3.0 drive.
Beyond those, the 128GB Evo Select microSD card is on sale for $14, which is within 50 cents of its all-time low and a couple bucks lower than what we saw over Black Friday. This price is also available at Samsung's online store. Again, this isn't the absolute fastest choice, but its U3-rated speeds are more than enough if you just want to add space to a device like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck. If you need a little extra speed for shooting 4K video, the 256GB Pro Plus card is a better buy at $25. That also matches the best price we've seen. The T7 Shield, meanwhile, is a portable SSD we recommend to those looking for a more rugged design; at $90 for 1TB, it's $9 above its all-time low but still $10 below its Black Friday price. You can see the full sale at the link below.
Apple’s iPad lineup is both more interesting and more complicated than it’s been in years. After October’s launch of the 10th-generation iPad and the M2-powered iPad Pro, Apple now sells three tablets in the 11-inch range that pack broadly similar designs but have key differences when it comes to internal components and accessory support. Last year’s 10.2-inch iPad remains on sale, but seemingly targets a different market than its “next-generation” successor of the same name. The iPad mini is still doing its thing, too.
If you’re confused about which to buy, you’re not alone. The decision isn’t as cut-and-dry as it has been in the past, so we’re here to break down the pros and cons, detail how they compare to each other and help make your decision a bit easier.
Of the six iPad models currently on sale, the iPad Air is the closest to being universally appealing. We gave it a review score of 90 earlier this year: It has the same elegant and comfortable design language as the iPad Pro while costing less, with a bright, sharp and accurate 10.9-inch display surrounded by thin bezels and flat edges. It comes with a USB-C port, similar to what you’d find on a MacBook and many other non-iPhone devices, and while it’s not a Thunderbolt connection as on theiPad Pro, simply being able to charge the Air with the same cable you use with your other gadgets is a plus.
Apple refreshed the Air earlier this year with its M1 system-on-a-chip, which is the same silicon found in the entry-level MacBook Air. This isn’t Apple’s newest SoC, but it’s still more than powerful enough for virtually any task you can throw at it, and an increasing number of iPadOS features are exclusive to M-series chips.
The iPad Air is also compatible with Apple’s best accessories, including the second-generation Pencil stylus and the (excellent) Magic Keyboard, just like the 11-inch iPad Pro. These add a good bit of cost to the bottom line, but for digital artists or frequent typers, they’re there.
The middle of Apple’s iPad lineup is a bit congested. If you need more than the Air’s default 64GB of storage, you might as well step up to the 11-inch iPad Pro, which starts at 128GB and packs a better 120 Hz display and M2 chip for not much more than a higher-capacity Air. (The display on the 2021 iPad Pro is better, too.) The new 10.9-inch iPad isn’t bad, either, but with its non-laminated display and lacking accessory support, it’s a harder sell unless you see it on deep discount. Still, while it’s not cheap, the iPad Air is Apple’s best blend of price and performance for most.
Best budget: iPad (9th generation)
If you can’t afford the Air, or if you just don’t use your tablet heavily enough to warrant spending that much, it’s perfectly safe to get the 9th-gen iPad instead. Starting at $329 for a 64GB model — and regularly available for less than $300 — it’s by far the most wallet-friendly way into iPadOS. While its hardware is an obvious step down from the models above, it’s still more than capable for the essentials.
We gave the 9th-gen iPad a review score of 86 last year. This is the only “current” iPad to follow Apple’s older design language: It’s just a tiny bit thicker and heavier than the 10th-gen iPad and iPad Air, but its wider bezels mean there’s only enough room for a 10.2-inch display. Like the 10th-gen iPad, that screen isn't laminated and more susceptible to glare, though it’s just as sharp. There’s a Home button located on the bottom bezel that also houses a Touch ID fingerprint scanner, and the device charges via Lightning port rather than USB-C. Its speakers don’t sound as nice, either, but it’s the only iPad to still have a headphone jack, and its 12MP front camera is fine (though, it’s not landscape-oriented as on the 10th-gen iPad).
The 9th-gen iPad runs on Apple’s A13 Bionic, which is the same SoC used in 2019’s iPhone 11 series. It won’t be as fluid or futureproof as the M1, but it’s plenty quick for casual tasks. In terms of first-party accessories, the tablet supports Apple's Smart Keyboard and first-gen Pencil stylus. Those are less convenient than the company’s newer options, but they’re at least there.
In the end, it’s all about the price. The 9th-gen iPad is the most affordable model in Apple’s lineup, and those savings go a long way toward papering over its issues.
Best for one-handed use: iPad mini
The iPad mini is exactly what it sounds like: the small iPad. It’s easily the shortest (7.69x5.3x0.25 inches) and lightest (0.65 pounds for the WiFi model) of every current iPad, with an 8.3-inch display that’s more comfortable to operate with one hand.
We gave the iPad mini a review score of 89 last year. Its design follows closely after that of the iPad Air: squared-off edges, thin bezels, no Home button, a Touch ID sensor in the power button, stereo speakers, solid cameras and a USB-C port. Its display is technically sharper, but otherwise gives you the same max brightness, lamination, anti-reflective coating and wide color gamut. It doesn’t have a “Smart Connector” to hook up Apple-made keyboards, but it does support the second-gen Apple Pencil.
The mini runs on Apple’s A15 Bionic SoC, the same as the one in 2021’s iPhone 13 phones. This is technically faster than the chip inside the 10th-gen iPad and, again, more than powerful enough for most tasks, though it’s a step behind the laptop-grade M1 or M2.
The mini has an MSRP of $499 for the 64GB model and $649 for the 256GB model. That’s a lot, though in recent months we’ve seen both SKUs available online for up to $100 less. If you specifically want a smaller tablet — whether it’s to easily stuff in a bag, use with one hand or treat like a high-end e-reader — this is the only option Apple sells, and the best tablet in its size range, period.
Best for power users: iPad Pro 12.9-inch
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro exists in something of its own realm within Apple’s tablet lineup. It starts at $1,099 for 128GB of storage, which is $100 more than the M1 MacBook Air. That’s well beyond what anyone needs to pay to do the vast majority of iPad things, and quite a chunk of change for a platform that still has issues with laptop-style productivity. But the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the best pure piece of tablet hardware that Apple makes.
We gave the latest iPad Pro a review score of 87 in November. The display here can get brighter than the Air’s, and it has a 120 Hz refresh rate (the Air is limited to 60 Hz). The 12.9-inch Pro’s display is more of an upgrade than the 11-inch model, though, as it’s the only iPad to use mini-LED backlighting, which can deliver higher peak brightness, improved contrast and a generally more realistic image. Beyond that, the Pro runs on Apple’s new M2 SoC, which isn’t a huge upgrade over the M1 in real-world use but offers more performance overhead going forward. The iPad Pro has the same 12MP rear camera as the Air, but adds a 10MP ultrawide lens and an LED flash (plus a LIDAR scanner for AR apps). The 12MP front cameras, meanwhile, can take shots in portrait mode.
Beyond that, the Pro has a faster Thunderbolt USB-C port, more robust speakers and Face ID support. With its latest refresh, it can now recognize when an Apple Pencil is hovering above the display and preview would-be inputs. There are more storage options, going all the way up to 2TB, with the 1TB and 2TB models doubling the RAM from 8GB to 16GB (at a super high cost). And it works with all of Apple’s best accessories.
It’s a powerhouse, and if you do want to use an iPad more heavily for work, the roomier display on the 12.9-inch Pro should make it the most amenable option for all-day, laptop-style use. You’ll want to add a keyboard to get the most out of that, but if you’re spending this much on an iPad to begin with, that may not be as big of a deal.
Like the iPad mini, this is very much a niche device. It’s prohibitively expensive, and its hulking size makes it less portable than other iPads. Certain creatives have made it work as a laptop replacement, but for most, iPadOS still makes multitasking and other computer-y tasks more convoluted than they’d be on a similarly priced MacBook. It’s only a minor upgrade over last year’s model, too. Still, as a tablet, the 12.9-inch Pro is deeply powerful.
Cyber Monday has come and gone, but if you're still looking to pick up a new smart display or two ahead of the holidays, a newer deal on Amazon's Echo Shows may be of interest: The retailer is currently offering a bundle that pairs its Echo Show 8 with the Kids edition of its Echo Show 5 for $70.
We've seen the Echo Show 8 alone go for $70 for much of the last two months, but that still equals the lowest price we've tracked. Normally, it retails closer to $100. With this deal, you're effectively getting an Echo Show 5 Kids thrown in at no extra cost. That device is currently available on its own for $40, but its average street price over the last few months has sat closer to $60.
Most people don't need a smart display, but for those who like using a voice assistant to pull up the weather, control smart lights and doorbells, stream podcasts and so on, it can provide more context than a screenless smart speaker. Amazon and Google are really your only options in this market, but if you're already partial to Alexa, the Echo Show 8 is your best bet.
We gave the 8-inch display a review score of 87 last year and currently recommend it in our guide to the best smart displays: It can't double as a smart home hub like the bigger Echo Show 10, but its display is big and sharp (1,280 x 800) enough to comfortably stream video or display photos around the house, its speakers are powerful enough to fill a room, its processor can keep up with most tasks and its 13-megapixel camera is suitable for video calls. And while no Alexa or Google Assistant device is ideal for the privacy-conscious, there's at least a physical camera shutter and mic mute button built in.
The Echo Show 5 isn't as quick, spacious or loud, and its 2-megapixel camera is a noticeable downgrade. Still, it can do just about everything the larger models can do, and its 5.5-inch screen makes it a better fit for bathrooms or bedside tables. We gave it a score of 85 last year. The Kids version has the same hardware as the normal model, but it comes with a two-year warranty, a year of Amazon's Kids+ content service and a more child-friendly interface. Whether you're okay putting an Amazon mic and camera in your kid's room is up to you, but there is a camera cover and various parental controls for limiting and monitoring how the device is used.
If you're not beholden to Alexa, we'll note that Google's Nest Hub, our top pick among Google displays, is still on sale for $50. We generally find the Google Assistant to be a little smarter than Alexa, particularly for web queries, and it naturally plays nicer with widely-used Google services like Gmail, Google Calendar, YouTube and the like. The Nest Hub also lacks a camera, which may be a positive if you don't care about video calling. That said, if you already own a bunch of Alexa-enabled devices and want a couple new displays for around the house, this is a good deal, regardless of Alexa's broader struggles.
If you've already been looking to buy Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5, today looks like a good time to take the plunge. The Android smartwatch is now on sale from $230 at several retailers, and at Amazon you can get a 35W two-port wall charger included at no extra cost. That's about $40 below the usual price of a 40mm model. The sale applies to multiple finishes and configurations — a 40mm model with LTE is down to $260 with the wall charger, for instance, while the larger 44mm model is available for the same price.
The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, a larger titanium variant with a more durable screen and bigger battery, is also on sale from $399, though that one includes a 15W wireless charger instead. All of these match the all-time lows we saw on Black Friday, but for Cyber Monday the chargers are available as a bonus. Amazon says this sale will run for today only.
The Galaxy Watch 5 is our pick for the best smartwatch for Android users, and we gave it a review score of 85 back in August. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, meanwhile, got an 86. The former isn't a major upgrade over its predecessor, and its battery life can take a hit if you set the display to always-on, but it still gets you a clean, water-resistant design, reliable activity monitoring and useful sleep tracking. If you don't use an iPhone and want a do-everything wearable, it's the way to go. The Galaxy 5 Pro puts the same perks in a more durable package, but you'll need to be sure your wrist can handle something bulkier.
It's Cyber Monday, which means it's still a good time to be in the market for new gaming gear, if you know where to look. That last part is where we can help: We've picked through the barrage of so-called gaming deals at Amazon, Walmart, GameStop and other retailers to find the ones that are actually worth your time. Below are some of the highlights, which include genuine deals on the Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, several high-profile games, a range of recommended gaming peripherals and more.
Nintendo Switch + Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Switch Online
Nintendo's chief holiday deal bundles the standard Switch console with a digital copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a three-month subscription to the company's Switch Online service at no extra cost. Nintendo has offered this exact same promotion for the past few years, and given that the newer Switch OLED is a pretty firm upgrade over the base model, it's hard to call this a great deal. Still, if you're gifting someone their first Switch and you don't think they'll need the Switch OLED's bigger and more vibrant display, there's some value here. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still a great time and normally retails around $50, while three months of Switch Online typically cost another $8.
The Xbox Series S is down to $240 at Amazon, and if you use the code XBOX at checkout, the retailer will throw in another $40 in digital credit. That's effectively a $100 discount. At Target, meanwhile, the diminutive console is available for $250 and includes a $50 store gift card. Woot has the device available for $220 outright — albeit for an international model — and several other retailers have it for $240. Normally, the Series S retails for $300.
Either way, this is a good value for PlayStation or Switch users who want a cheaper way into the Xbox ecosystem. We gave the Series S a review score of 85 at launch: It isn't powerful enough for 4K gaming, lacks a disc drive and only has 512GB of built-in storage, but it can still play all the same games as the pricier Xbox Series X.
If you need a spare gamepad for your Xbox or PC, Microsoft's wireless Xbox Series X/S controller is available for $35 at Lenovo when you use the code GAMERSAVER at checkout. That's a rare discount and about $15 below the controller's usual going rate. If stock runs dry at Lenovo, it's also down to $40 at several other retailers. Those sales apply to multiple finishes, though some colors are priced at $45. Just note that these pads still rely on AA batteries by default; if you want one rechargeable battery, that'll cost you another $25.
Sony's DualSense controllers for the PlayStation 5, meanwhile, are down to $49 in several finishes. That matches the lowest price we've seen, and depending on what color you choose, comes in either $20 or $25 below the pad's usual price. In general, the DualSense is heavier and harder to hook up with a PC than its Xbox counterpart, but its D-pad isn't as clicky, it doesn't rely on AA batteries and its haptic feedback system is much more nuanced.
One of the most acclaimed and popular games of 2022, Elden Ringis a mammoth, haunting and challenging open-world game from the developers behind the Souls series of action-RPGs. It's currently on sale for $35 at Walmart, which is the lowest price we've tracked and $15 below the usual going rate for a physical copy. Like its spiritual predecessors, Elden Ring can sometimes feel punishing, overwhelming and overly cryptic, but its dark-fantasy world is refreshingly honest, letting you discover — or completely miss — its many secrets at your own pace.
If you're need something new to play on your Switch, a handful of well-regarded first-party Nintendo games are still on sale for lower-than-usual prices (though the selection isn't quite as strong as it was on Black Friday):
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, another recently released hack-and-slasher, is priced a bit higher than it was on Black Friday but is still $25 off.
The engrossing action-RPG Monster Hunter Riseis available for a new low of $20.
Note that, on Amazon, some of these deals aren't visible until checkout. Nintendo also has several other titles discounted as part of a Cyber Week sale at its online eShop.
Horizon Forbidden West and other PS5 exclusive games
If you're looking to build out your PS5 library, meanwhile, several exclusives for Sony's console are also at or near their lowest prices to date:
One of our favorite sequels of the year, the robot-battling open-world game Horizon Forbidden West, is down to a new low of $35. You can also pay $29 for a PS4 copy, which includes a free upgrade to the PS5 version.
If you primarily game on the PC, Steam's annual Autumn Sale is still kicking as well, bringing the usual truckload of discounts until November 29. Some highlights here include the biting RPG Disco Elysiumand the supernatural shooter Controlfor $10 apiece, the impressive VR game Half-Life: Alyxand the cyberpunk cat game Strayfor $24 each and a 22-pack of classic Valve games for just $7. There are hundreds more games from across eras beyond that, but remember that a fair chunk of these prices are likely to be replicated on PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox's respective storefronts as well.
PlayStation Plus
If you need to top up your PlayStation Plus subscription, Sony has dropped the price of 12-month memberships to that service by 25 percent. The deal applies to all three PS Plus tiers, so the basic "Essential" tier is down to $45, the "Extra" tier is down to $75, and the "Premium" tier is down to $90.
As a refresher, the Essential tier should be enough for most: It gets you broad access to online multiplayer, an allotment of cloud storage for backing up game saves and a handful of free game downloads each month. The Extra tier adds an on-demand library with a few hundred games, while the Premium tier provides cloud game streaming and an additional selection of "classic" PlayStation games on top of that.
Meta's Quest 2 headset is a couple years old at this point, but its wire-free design, competent performance and (relative) comfort have kept it the best option for most people looking to give virtual reality a try. For Cyber Monday, Meta is still selling a bundle that pairs the 128GB Quest 2 with two of its better games, the classic horror-shooter Resident Evil 4and the energetic rhythm game Beat Saber, for $350. That's a roughly $50 discount. If you need more storage, a bundle with the 256GB variant is on sale for $429.
Now, we're using the term "discount" loosely here, since the Quest 2 used to start at $299 until Meta jacked the price up by another $100 earlier this year. Still, this is the best deal we've seen since that price hike — and if nothing else, this is a much better value than the Meta Quest Pro. We gave the device formerly known as the Oculus Quest 2 a review score of 89 when it launched back in 2020.
The Backbone One is a clever and well-built mobile game controller that we've recommend in previous buying guides. The iPhone version of the device is currently down to a new low of $75 in both its standard and PlayStation-branded finishes. This isn't as good as the deal we saw on Black Friday, when Amazon had the device as low as $64, but it's still a good $25 off the controller's normal going rate.
Regardless of which style you pick, the One should make playing gamepad-compatible iOS games — or cloud-streamed console and PC games — feel much more natural than a touchscreen. The main complaints are that its face buttons are on the clicky side and that you'll need an adapter to get it to work with certain iPhones.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha is down to $50 at HyperX's online store when you use the code HOLIDAY at checkout. That's about $20 below the headset's usual going rate and one of the best prices we've tracked. If stock runs out there, the device is also available for $55 at various other retailers. In any event, this is a sturdy, no-frills gaming headset that's comfortable to wear for hours at a time. A good set of non-gaming headphones will sound better for the price, but the profile here is still relatively well-balanced, and the included mic is perfectly fine for everyday party chats.
If you'd prefer a wireless headset, SteelSeries' Arctis 7+ is worth a look at $99, which is a new low and roughly $50 off its usual price. That one isn't as universally comfortable, but it has a decent, hyped-up sound and some 60 hours of battery life per charge.
Logitech G Pro X Superlight, plus more gaming accessories
Logitech's G Pro X Superlight is a high-performing gaming mouse we like for both work and play, and right now it's down to a new low of $100, or about $35 off its usual street price. You should see the full discount at checkout. That's still not cheap, but the G Pro X Superlight stands out for being exceptionally light (at about 63 grams), quick to glide, and consistently responsive in faster-paced games. Just note that you only get a couple of customizable shortcut buttons, and that the whole thing connects over a USB dongle, not Bluetooth.
This is just one of a plethora of low or near-low prices on gaming accessories we like, though:
Razer has since replaced the Viper Ultimate, but at $57 it's still worth considering as an ultralight alternative to the G Pro X Superlight. It's a more ambidextrous mouse than the Logitech model, with a pair of shortcut buttons on either side, though its shape is a bit flatter.
If you don't mind going wired, Razer's Viper 8KHz is another responsive option for FPS games. It's a great value at its current deal price of $40, which is an all-time low.
We've previously recommended Razer's Huntsman Mini for those who want a fast gaming keyboard in an ultracompact form factor. It's currently within $5 of its all-time low at $70.
Corsair's Scimitar RGB Elite is an soft-feeling, comfortable-sized and full-featured mouse for MMO gaming, and it's within a dollar of its Black Friday price at $50. Razer's Naga Trinity is a solid alternative that has swappable side plates; that one is within $2 of its all-time low at $57.
Logitech's G29 is technically an older-generation model now, but it remains a fine value for those looking to get their first racing wheel at $200.
Logitech's G915 TKL is a comfortable wireless keyboard for those who prefer a low-profile feel. It's down to $160, which is $10 more than its all-time low but $25 off its usual price.
The latest version of Asus' ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop is down to $1,300 for a model with a Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, a 14-inch 120 Hz display and a Radeon RX 6700S GPU. That's $350 off MSRP and one of the better prices we've seen. The Zephyrus G14 is the top pick in our guide to the best gaming laptops: Its chassis is impressively light at 3.64 pounds, but this configuration still packs enough power to play just about any modern game at a 1440p resolution relatively smoothly.
If you want to save some cash, you can get a previous-gen Zephyrus G14 with a Ryzen 7 5800HS processor, a 512GB SSD, a 144Hz 1080p display and an RTX 3060 GPU for $900. That's still a decent value despite the drop in power, but be aware that this older model doesn't include a built-in webcam.
A configuration of Razer's Blade 14 with an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX chip, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and an RTX 3070 Ti GPU is currently down to $2,000 at Amazon. That's about $350 off its average street price and tied for the best price we've tracked. A variant with a slightly slower Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU and a slightly more powerful RTX 3080 GPU is also on sale for $100 more.
We gave the Blade 14 a review score of 84 last year, and we've recommended the similar Blade 15 in recent buying guides and gift guides. It can run hot, and you can still get similarly powerful gaming laptops for less cash, but the Blade still packs enough power to play demanding games at higher settings in a slim and slick-feeling design that weighs less than four pounds.
