Amazon's Fire tablets make great portable, secondary devices, or primary devices for the kids in your life. They're already pretty affordable — that's one of the best things about them — but Black Friday has knocked their prices down even more. Most Fire tablets are on sale right now, including the primary three in the lineup: the Fire 7 is down to $35, while the Fire HD 8 and HD 10 are on sale for $45 and $75, respectively. These deals are all the same or better than those we saw during Prime Day back in June — but now you don't have to be a Prime subscriber to get the discounts.
Out of the three, the Fire HD 8 will suit most people well. We gave it a score of 81 due in part to its refined design, long battery life and new USB-C charging port. It runs on a quad-core 2.0GHz processor and has up to 64GB of onboard storage, but you can expand it to up to 1TB with a microSD card. It's a handy device to use on the couch or on the go when you want a larger screen to online shop, check email and even video chat with friends and family. It also may be a better option than a Kindle if you read a lot of graphic novels and manga since it has a full-color 1,280 x 800 display.
If you're willing to spend a bit more, the Fire HD 10 gives you a number of extra perks. Key among them are a larger, 1,920 x 1,200 display, an octa-core 2.0GHz processor, an extra gigabyte of RAM and an improved rear camera. Those planning on primarily streaming TV shows and movies with the tablet should opt for the bigger HD 10, along with those who don't want to sacrifice speed and performance even when getting an affordable slab.
Fire tablets make good kids devices since they have a bunch of parental controls and they cost significantly less than that expensive slab you may have just bought for yourself. You could opt to simply buy one of the above devices for your child, or you can get one of Amazon's Kids Edition bundles which pair the tablets with a kid-friendly case, a two-year warranty and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+. All of the Kids devices are on sale right now, too: the Fire 7 Kids Pro is down to $60 while the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro has been discounted to $70 and the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is on sale for $120.
Amazon Kids+ is one of the key benefits to these bundles. The service gives your child access to over 20,000 apps, games, books, audiobooks and more that are age appropriate directly on the tablet. It's essentially a whole ton of content that parents don't have to screen beforehand to know if it's kid-friendly. Just make sure to keep an eye on your subscription because it will renew for the full $3-per-month price after one year. Also, the Kids Pro tablets come with a special digital store in which kids can request apps to download with parental approval. Overall, they're good, affordable options if your child has been bugging you for a tablet and you'd rather get one that you have a bit of extra control over.
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Black Friday for Echo and Fire TV devices has already started — Amazon knocked down the prices of many of its Echo gadgets today. Most of the sale prices are the same as we saw during Amazon Prime Day in June, or even better. Discounts of note are the Echo for $60 and the second-generation Echo Show 5 for $45. While the latest Echo Show 8 isn't on sale yet, the first-gen device bundled with a Blink Mini security camera is $80 off as well, bringing it down to $65.
You probably already know the deal with Echo devices, but we'll recap here. The Echo and the Echo Dot are the big and little versions of Amazon's smart speaker. The Echo is actually one of our favorites thanks to its solid sound quality, even better sound with in stereo mode and attractive design.
Those who have less space to play with should consider the Echo Show 5, especially now that it's nearly half off. The latest version of the tiny smart display has a slightly better camera for video calls, but otherwise it's the same as last year's model. The five-inch screen is just the right size for a bedside smart alarm clock, and we liked its surprisingly good sound quality, physical camera shutter and sunrise alarm feature. The Echo Show 8 is a good alternative if you want a slightly larger display, which will make it better in a kitchen, living room or entryway setting. The bundle currently on sale that includes a Blink Mini camera is a solid deal, especially since you can ask Alexa to show you the camera's video feed directly on the Show 8's screen.
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A couple of other Echo devices are on sale, including the Echo Buds and the Echo Frames. The former earned a score of 80 from us for their improved sound quality, good ANC and smaller size. Wireless charging is optional, but thankfully both models have been discounted and both come in at less than $100. The Echo Frames are Amazon's version of smart glasses, and we gave them a score of 76 for their lightweight design, hands-free Alexa access and compatibility with prescription lenses.
On top of all the Echo discounts, most Fire TV devices are cheaper than usual, too. Many of these went on sale starting last weekend, but they're worth another mention. The new Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which supports WiFi 6 and picture-in-picture live view, is down to $35, while the Fire TV Stick Lite and the Fire TV Stick are on sale for $18 and $20, respectively.
Amazon's most powerful streaming device has also been discounted — the Fire TV Cube is down to a record low of $80, and it's the device to get if you want to stream 4K, Dolby Vision and HDR content, and want hands-free TV controls with Alexa. And if you're on the market for an over-the-air DVR, the Fire TV Recast is $100 off right now, bringing it down to $130.
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The early Black Friday sales we saw on Google smart home devices are back just about a week before we get to Black Friday proper. And there are a few other devices included this time around — like Google's new Pixel 6 smartphone, which is $100 off at Best Buy if you buy and activate today, or $50 off if you activate later. Regardless of which you choose, those are the best sales we've seen on the handset since it debuted last month.
We gave the Pixel 6 a score of 89 in our review — it can hold its own against flagship competitors from Apple and Samsung, and it has arguably a more fun design than the competition and remarkable cameras. The horizontal camera bar on its back is controversial, but striking nonetheless. It has a 6.4-inch 1080p OLED touchscreen that can reach up to 90Hz refresh rates, and it has an under-screen fingerprint sensor too (although we found this a bit too finicky). Google's new Tensor chip provides sold performance, and we liked the new Assistant and Android 12 perks such as the voice keyboard that will be popular with those who hate typing on smartphones.
As far as cameras go, you're getting a 50-megapixel main shooter along with a 12MP wide-angle lens and an 8MP selfie cam, all of which produce sharp, clean and bright photos. We also praised the Pixel 6's battery, which lasted about 20.5 hours during our testing. The Pixel 6 was already a competitively priced flagship smartphone, but this early Black Friday sale makes it even more tempting for Android users in need of an upgrade.
Along with that, a bunch of other Google gadgets have been discounted before the Black Friday frenzy begins. We've seen some of these deals before, like the Nest Hub for $50 and the Nest Audio for $60 at Best Buy and B&H Photo. But a new one is the Chromecast with Google TV in white for $10 off, bringing it down to $39. This is a pretty rare discount on the already affordable streaming device that we gave a score of 86 for its solid new remote control, excellent Google Assistant integration and 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support.
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August's WiFi smart lock is on sale again ahead of Black Friday. Wellbots has the smart home gadget for a record low of $180 when you use the code ENGADLOCKBF at checkout. We've seen the smart lock go on sale a few times in the past couple of months, but now's another opportunity to get it before Black Friday proper at its best price yet.
If you're unfamiliar, August's 4th-generation WiFi smart lock builds upon the solid foundation of the previous model. It's noticeably smaller and also doesn't require a bridge like the previous one did since it connects to WiFi. August's mobile app will walk you through the setup process, and during that you'll be forced to turn on two-factor authentication. We appreciate that this is an unskippable step as it adds another layer of security to the device. You're also getting Bluetooth encryption plus AES 128-bit and TLS encryption with this smart lock, too.
The setup process is pretty straightforward, and once installed, you'll be able to use your smartphone to remotely lock or unlock your door. If and when you want to let a friend or family member inside your home when you're not there, you can do the unlocking yourself or send them secure virtual keys that will let them get inside. The app also shows you an activity feed, so you can see who opened your door and when. We also like the Auto-Lock and DoorSense features for peace of mind: the former automatically secures the lock when you shut the door and the latter tells you if your door is securely closed, so you don't have to rush back home if you don't remember shutting it.
And just because you've made the move to a smart lock doesn't mean your old-school keys are worthless. You can still use your keys to get inside, which will come in handy on the rare occasions when the smart lock's dual CR123 batteries need replacing. Just remember to check August's support page before you buy to make sure your deadbolt is compatible with the device.
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Apple expanded its HomePod mini lineup with three new colors back in October, and now we're seeing the first discount on the entire family. B&H Photo has all of the HomePod mini colors, including the new orange, blue and yellow configurations, for $95 each. That's $5 off their normal price and, while a modest discount, it's one of the best we've seen on the tiny smart speaker.
The HomePod mini is Apple's main smart speaker now that it discontinued the original HomePod (although the company still supports that speaker with software updates). It's also the most compact of the $100 smart speakers, its competition being the Amazon Echo and the Google Nest Audio. It's a capable device and, like other Apple accessories, arguably best for those who have many Apple products and use services like Apple Music. In addition to its cute design, we liked it for its easy setup and Siri's prowess with music controls. The voice assistant promptly plays Apple Music albums, playlists and tracks when you ask it too, and you can AirPlay audio from almost any other app (like Spotify and Prime Music) to the HomePod mini. So while the speaker is most convenient for Apple Music subscribers, anyone can use it pretty easily.
Despite being the smallest of the $100 smart speakers, the HomePod mini holds its own against the Nest Audio when it comes to sound quality. Mids and highs are clear and the speaker's passive radiators help deliver forceful bass. Its "computational audio" feature helps out by adjusting sound accordingly based on what type of music you're playing. You can also pair two HomePod minis together for stereo sound, and they sound even better this way.
However, if you're looking for the best sounding device at $100, we recommend going for Amazon's Echo instead. Siri also lags a bit behind Amazon's Alexa and the Google Assistant when it comes to smart home control — it's harder to find HomeKit-supported gadgets than it is to find devices that support either Amazon's or Google's voice assistants. But those are relatively small cons if you're looking for a solid, compact smart speaker, particularly one that shines with Apple Music and works well with Apple devices. And if you've been holding out for one of the latest colors, we expect B&H's sale to be one of the better options this holiday shopping season.
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If you're looking for a useful tech stocking stuffer for a loved one, Samsung's T7 series of portable SSDs is a good option. We've been fans of these palm-sized drives for a while thanks to their compact designs and fast speeds, but they do come at a premium price. But now you can get the 1TB Samsung T7 drive for $130, which is $40 off and the best price we've seen. And for those that need as much extra storage as possible, the 2TB version is also on sale for $250, or $80 off its normal price.
The T7 and its fingerprint reader-toting counterpart, the T7 Touch, are essentially the same drive aside from the latter's added security feature. Both have compact, shock-resistant bodies that are small enough to fit into nearly any bag or backpack, and they're strong enough to withstand drops from up to six feet. The T7 also uses ePCM technology and Dynamic Thermal Guard to control heat levels, so even when you're pushing it to its limits, it should not overheat. As far as performance goes, the T7 supports reads speeds up to 1,050 MB/s and write speeds up to 1,000 MB/s.
And just because the T7 doesn't have a fingerprint reader doesn't mean you can't protect your files from prying eyes. It has optional password protection, so only those who know the password can even check out the files saved on the device. And since it comes with both USB-C to C and USB-C to A cables, you can use it with most devices you'll have around your home, including tablets and some game consoles.
Samsung's T7 only goes up to 2TB, but you're in luck if you want even more storage in a similar package. SanDisk's Extreme portable SSD in 4TB is on sale right now, too, for $500 — that's $200 off and the best price we've seen. This drive has similar read and write speeds as the Samsung T7, and it has a water and dust-resistant design, optional password protection and 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.
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We saw the 512GB Mac Mini M1 go on sale earlier this month and now it's the base 256GB model's turn to be discounted. The small desktop is $50 off on Amazon and it has an extra, automatically applied $50 coupon that will bring the final cost down to $600. That's the best price we've seen and a great deal on the most affordable M1 machine available. If you're willing to pay a bit more for the extra storage, the 512GB model remains on sale for $750 thanks to another automatically applied coupon that knocks an additional $30 the sale price.
With the MacBook Air M1 starting at $999, the Mac Mini M1 is the most budget-friendly way to upgrade to a machine with one of Apple's latest chips. You can expect the Mac Mini to perform similarly to the MacBook Air — speedily and smoothly. We were impressed by the M1 chipset's performance — it made the MacBook Air feel lightning fast and native apps performed better than we've ever seen them. The Mac Mini M1 has eight-core CPU, an eight-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine that handles machine learning tasks. You'll also get 8GB of RAM in this machine along with 256GB of storage. If you plan on storing a lot of photos, documents and other things on the desktop, you may want to spring for the 512GB model — or simply invest in a solid portable SSD that you can connect to the Mac Mini.
While the rumor was that we would see an updated Mac Mini this year, that didn't end up happening. That means the machine looks much the same as it has for the past few years. It's a small silver box housing a variety of ports including two Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A connectors, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Thanks to its size, good array of ports and upgraded power with the M1 chip, the Mac Mini is a solid option for those who want a compact machine that doesn't compromise performance.
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We've long been fans of Jabra's true wireless earbuds and the Elite 75t earned a spot on our favorites list despite not being the newest model from the company. Ever since the Elite 85t came out, we've seen the 75t oscillate in price — but Best Buy has them for only $80 right now, which is the best price we've seen. It's one of the retailer's deals of the day, so you'll have to grab them today to get the discount before the price goes up tomorrow.
The Elite 75t have always been a good option if you didn't want to pay the premium that comes with devices like Apple's AirPods Pro or even competitors from Bose and Sony. The 75t are small and comfortable, and they're IP55-rated design means you can wear them while exercising without worrying. Each bud has one button for onboard controls, but they do a lot including adjust volume, turn on HearThrough transparency mode, skip tracks, mute mics when you're on a call and more. The buds have solid audio that packs a punch and, after the Elite 85t came out, Jabra updated the 75t with active noise cancelling through a firmware update. That was one of the biggest features previously missing on the 75t, and the addition of it makes these buds even more like the 85ts than they were before.
You'll get roughly 6.5 hours on a single charge of the Elite 75t, plus the extra juice its charging case holds. One thing that's exclusive to the 85t earbuds is wireless charging, so you'll have to opt for the more expensive model if you must have that feature. Luckily, the 85t are on sale right now as well for $150 — that's their lowest price ever, but still almost double the cost of the 75t right now. If you're able to snag them today, Jabra's Elite 75t are a steal for anyone in need of a new pair of wireless ANC buds.
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Bose's latest QuietComfort 45 headphones only just became available and they're already on sale at Amazon. You can grab the cans for $279 right now, or $50 off their normal price. That's the best price we've seen in the short time these headphones have been available, so now's a good time to get them if you've had your eye on a new pair of headphones or if someone on your gift list could use them.
Bose's QuietComfort lineup is beloved for many reasons and the company didn't try to reinvent the wheel here. The QC45 look very similar to the QC35 that came before it. We recommend the Bose 700 if you're looking for a striking pair of headphones, but the QC45, while not the slickest, are super comfortable to wear for hours on end. The physical buttons for onboard controls let you play/pause, take calls, skip tracks and adjust the volume, plus switch between active noise cancellation and ambient sound mode. Notably, Bose nixed the micro-USB charging port and opted for a more modern USB-C port on these cans.
Sound quality and ANC are as good as you'd expect on a pair of Bose headphones. Audio is clear and balanced and ANC is even better than it was before. QuietComfort devices have been some of the best you can get if you want to block out the world, and Bose managed to improve upon it even more in the QC45 with the help of multiple microphones that work with a "proprietary digital chip" to detect and silence more mid-range frequencies. That means it'll quell the roar of the commuter train you may be riding along with the voices of colleagues on Zoom calls right next to you.
Bose promises up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge and we got around 22.5 hours in our testing. That means you'll be able to keep these cans on all day long if you want and still have some juice leftover at the end of a work day. As solid as these headphones are, they do have a few flaws. We mentioned their somewhat boring design, but that's easy to overlook thanks to the QC45's comfort level. You can't adjust EQ yourself, but the cans have volume-optimized Active EQ feature that adjusts highs and lows automatically. They also have a feature that lets you connect them to your phone and laptop at the same time, but they don't automatically reconnect to your second device after taking a call from your phone. It's a small issue, but one that's amplified when you consider other headphones in this price range do this automatically. However, if you're looking for the best that Bose has to offer — especially in the ANC department — this deal on the QC45 is one to consider.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Early Black Friday sales are in full swing and some of our favorite gadgets remain discounted — with a few at record-low prices. Our current favorite wireless earbuds, Sony's WF-1000XM4, are 11 percent off and down to an all-time low, while Apple's AirPods with the MagSafe case are $60 off their normal price. Through November 14, you can grab one month of Disney+ for just $2, plus Solo Stove's fit pits are up to $200 off. Also, be sure to check out Best Buy's latest sale, which discounts smart TVs, soundbars and smart home devices — including many Google gadgets. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.
Sony WF-1000XM4
Billy Steele/Engadget
Sony's excellent WF-1000XM4 earbuds are down to $248 during this sale. We gave them a score of 86 for their great sound quality, powerful ANC and improved battery life.
The updated AirPods Pro with the MagSafe charging case are down to $190 right now, or $60 off their normal price. These remain Apple's best sounding wireless earbuds and we gave them a score of 87 for their better fit, IPX4 water resistance and hands-free Siri controls.
Disney+ Day is November 12th and to get people excited about the streaming service, Disney is offering one month of Disney+ for only $2. The promotion is available for new and returning subscribers, and you'll be charged the standard $8-per-month rate after the first month is up.
Solo Stove's early Black Friday sale knocks up to $200 off its fire pits. The midrange Bonfire is on sale for $225, which is $125 off its normal price. These stainless steel fire pits have made it into some of our outdoor-focused guides, and we like them for their attractive designs and their ability to create a cozy fire that doesn't emit tons of smoke.
Apple's 512GB Mac Mini M1 is on sale for $750 thanks to an automatically applied coupon. This is the desktop to get if you want a relatively compact device, plus one with the power of Apple's M1 chipset.
The second-generation Apple Pencil is on sale for $100 right now, which is an all-time-low price. It works with all iPads except for the latest 10.2-inch entry-level model, which still supports the first-gen stylus. It's a must-have if you plan on taking notes or creating artwork with your iPad.
The Galaxy Buds 2 are on sale for $100 right now at Woot. We gave them a score of 84 for their small and comfortable design, improved sound and wireless charging capabilities.
Google's Pixelbook Go is on sale for $749 right now, which is a record low. That price gets you a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage — but you can opt for the model with 16GB of RAM if you think you'll need a bit more and you'll save $150 as its down to $849. We gave the Pixelbook Go a score of 84 for its excellent keyboard, good performance and strong yet lightweight build.
The Nest Learning Thermostat is on sale for $179 right now when you use the code THERMOENGADGET at checkout. While not an all-time low, it's the best price we've seen on the gadget in months. This model has an attractive metal design, a hi-res display and it monitors your home while suggesting ways to save energy.
iRobot's latest robot vacuum, the Roomba j7+, is on sale for $699, or $150 off its normal price. The robo-vac without the clean base is also on sale for $499. In addition to the company's standard vacuuming technology, these models have AI-driven computer vision technology that lets them detect obstacles — including pet poop — and move around them as they clean.
The THX Onyx DAC is on sale for $150, or $50 off its normal price. It supports master-quality audio content and it has LEDs that indicate which format you’re listening to. Barely larger than a thumb drive, the Onyx has a THX AAA-78 amplifier chip inside, which is the highest-powered mobile THX Achromatic Audio Amplifier configuration.
Fitbit's Charge 5 has dropped to $130, which is $50 off and a new record-low. This is Fitbit's most capable fitness band and we gave it a score of 82 for its full-color display, built-in GPS and EDA sensors, comfortable design and multi-day battery life. The sleeker Fitbit Luxe is on sale for $100 right now, too.
Amazon's new Omni TVs have been discounted to record-low prices — now you can get the 50- and 55-inch models for $360 and $410, respectively. Both run on the company's Fire TV OS and support HDR10, HLG and Dolby Digital Plus, and you'll be able to see and speak to your visitors directly from the TV if you have a Ring doorbell cam.
Roku's new Streaming Stick 4K+ is on sale for $60 right now, or $10 off its normal price. This is one of the company's latest devices and it supports 4K, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and long-range WiFi. It also comes with the Voice Remote Pro, which includes a headphone jack for private listening, a personal shortcut button and lost remote finder.
A few configurations of the SanDisk Extreme portable SSD are up to $230 off ahead of Black Friday. The 2TB version is half off and down to $230 while the massive 4TB model is on sale for $500. This palm-sized drive supports read speeds up to 1,050 MB/s and write speeds up to 1,000 MB/s, and it has an IP55-rated design that can withstand water, dust, drops and more.
Dyson's Outsize Absolute+ cordless stick vacuum is $150 off, bringing it down to $750. It's one of the newer models available and has a laser that illuminates particles on hard floors so you don't miss any, a full-sized bin, an anti-tangle conical brush bar and a 120-minute run time.
Wellbots has a sale going on right now on Garmin smartwatches where you can get hundreds off the Fenix 6 and Forerunner collections. The Fenix 6S and 6X wearables are $200 off, while Forerunning devices including the 245 and the 745 are $100 off. The Fenix series is one of Garmin's most capable, with advanced features like blood oxygen monitoring, ClimbPro and Expedition Mode. Runners will gravitate to the Forerunner series for perks like running dynamics, built-in GPS, daily suggested workouts and more.
Moft's early Black Friday sale knocks up to $35 off depending on how much you spend. Use the code BF10 to get $10 off $50 or more, the code BF20 to get $20 off $100 or more and the code BF35 to get $35 off orders of $150 or more. The company makes a bunch of slick mobile accessories, including a magnetic stand and wallet for the latest iPhones.
NordVPN has a promotion going on right now that gets you two years of the service for $89. That's 68 percent off its normal price. We like NordVPN for its speed, its no-logs policy, the thousands of servers it has to choose from and that one account supports up to six connected devices.
