We've been keeping an eye on Samsung to see when their Black Friday deals would hit, and it looks like today's the day. As of right now, all of the latest Galaxy phones are on sale, with the biggest discount going to the Galaxy S22 Ultra. At $300 off the list price, Samsung's most premium (non-folding) Galaxy phone is down to $900. We saw the S22 Ultra drop to this price for a few days earlier this month as a sort of Black Friday preview, but then it jumped back to its usual price. For anyone who missed that window, you can once again grab our current favorite Android phone while it's this low. 

We gave the S22 Ultra an 89 in our review, calling it "the best premium Android flagship you can buy." It's got a lot in common with Samsung's discontinued-for-now Note series, especially with its inclusion of the on-board S Pen and the return to a more rectangular shape, but the S22 Ultra is not just a Galaxy Note rehash. It's got a "sumptuous" screen that keeps things looking smooth with a 120Hz refresh rate and bright 6.8-inch Super AMOLED panel. The cameras are also updated, with a 108-megapixel main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a pair of 10MP telephoto lenses in back. There's a 40MP camera in front, along with new customized video calling software for using Google's Duo (now called Google Meet). 

The S22 Ultra uses Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processors, which handled fairly intensive multitasking in our tests without getting bogged down or even heating up significantly. While the battery didn't last as long as we were hoping, it gave 17 hours and 16 minutes in our video rundown test. 

If you don't need the S Pen, or quite so many cameras, you might try the Galaxy S22+. It's also on sale for Black Friday, with $250 off the MSRP bringing it down to $800. We gave it an 87 in our review, particularly impressed by the extra bright display and ability to take rich low-light photos. 

The base model Galaxy S22 also earned an 87 from us. Even at the list price of $800, we said the S22 gives you more "phone for the money than anything you can buy from Apple or Google." Now that it's down to $700, that statement is truer than ever.

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Amazon's Black Friday deals have started going live, and its Echo Show displays, Fire tablets and Fire TV devices are already being sold at a discount. Also on sale? Its Kindle e-readers, some of which are now listed for the lowest prices we've seen for them on the website. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, for instance, is currently priced at $130 or 32 percent off retail, which is an all-time low for what we once called "the best e-reader" in a review. It has a bigger and more responsive screen (6.8 inches) compared to the previous generation, similar to the base fifth-gen Paperwhite. But the Signature edition also comes with 32GB of storage instead of 8GB. That's four times the space for your ebook collection. 

The Signature edition has no ads and comes with a wireless charging capability on top of USB-C charging, as well. It can also automatically adjust the screen's brightness and has warm lighting options to choose from. And now, it costs just as much as a regular-priced base Kindle Paperwhite. Meanwhile, the base Kindle Paperwhite model will set you back $95, which is also 32 percent less than retail and an all-time low for the device. If you don't find wireless charging and auto-adjusting backlights important, don't think you can use up 32GB of storage and don't mind seeing ads on the lock screen, then this may be the better choice. 

But if you've been waiting for a deal on Amazon's most expensive e-reader, the Kindle Oasis, then this is a great time to get one. It's also on sale for $255 — that's $95 less than retail and is also an all-time low for the device. The 7-inch e-reader has 32GB of storage and adjustable warm light. Unlike any of the other models in the Kindle lineup, though, it has page turn buttons and free cellular connectivity, so you can download books even without WiFi. If you have a non-US shipping address, it's also worth noting that the international, no-ads version of the Kindle e-readers are on sale, as well.

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If you're looking for an iPad for a loved one this holiday season and don't want to break your budget, it might be worth considering the 2021 version of the tablet. That was already the most affordable iPad on the market and now you can snap it up for a steal ahead of Black Friday. The 10.2-inch tablet usually starts at $329, but you can pick it up from Amazon for $269 — a discount of 18 percent.

This price is for the WiFi-only model with 64GB of storage. Naturally, this iPad isn't quite as tricked out as Apple's higher-end models, but it's still a very capable device. It has an A13 Bionic chipset, instead of an Apple Silicon chip or the A14 one the company slotted into the 2022 iPad. The tablet has a 12MP ultra-wide selfie camera with support for Center Stage (a feature designed to keep you in the middle of the frame as you move around) and an 8MP wide-lens camera on the back. The device has Touch ID, stereo speakers and first-gen Apple Pencil support too. Apple claims that you'll be able to use this iPad for up to 10 hours on a single charge.

We gave the 2021 iPad a score of 86 in our review, crediting it for improved performance from the 2020 model, larger base storage capacity, a better front-facing camera and solid battery life. The screen doesn't quite match up to the ones found in other iPads, though, and the design feels a bit outdated. If you can live with those downsides, however, you'll be getting a great tablet at a hard-to-beat price.

As for the 2022 iPad, that's on sale too. Along with the A14 chip, landscape-oriented front-facing camera and USB-C charging port, the more recent model boasts an iPad Air-esque redesign (the Home button is no more, for one thing). We gave it a score of 85, citing drawbacks like having to use a dongle to charge the first-gen Apple Pencil. Until November 20th, you can pick up the WiFi-only 2022 iPad with 64GB of storage for $399 at B&H. That's $50 off the regular price.

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If you’ve been on the fence about Apple’s latest 11-inch iPad Pro, now is a good time to consider taking the plunge. Amazon currently has the entry-level 128GB model with WiFi for $729. Although that’s still a steep price, this model was only released a few weeks ago. Also, keep in mind the deal only applies to the Silver model.

This new iPad Pro is a minor update over its 2021 predecessor. Powering it is Apple’s updated M2 chip — the same silicon inside the latest MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The new chip makes the tablet a bit zippier than the last model, powering through heavy multitasking, media editing and the most demanding games.

The 2022 iPad Pro also adds a new hover feature that lets you hold the second-gen Apple Pencil over the screen to preview inputs and effects. Although that alone isn’t reason enough to upgrade, it’s a fun detail that could become integral as software developers tailor their apps for it. The high-end tablet also supports WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 networking.

If you own the 2021 iPad Pro, this probably isn’t the generation to upgrade. The M2 chip and hover feature are welcome additions, but everything else is unchanged from last year’s model. That includes the screen, chassis, cameras and battery — it’s a minor update to a tablet that was already overkill for most people’s iPad workflows.

Still, this model is the company’s best 11-inch model and an impressive hybrid device when you add the Magic Keyboard. In addition, the M2 chip runs smoothly with Stage Manager, Apple’s answer to persistent criticisms about iPadOS software not keeping up with cutting-edge iPad hardware. Stage Manager lets you keep up to four apps open in a single group with resizable, overlapping windows. Although the multitasking feature still feels like a work in progress, we expect Apple to keep tweaking and refining it in future software updates.

If you consider upgrading to this model from an older iPad Pro, this will also be your introduction to Center Stage. The feature uses machine learning to track your (and others’) faces during a video call in apps like FaceTime and Zoom. The frame follows you if you move to the side or go from sitting to standing. And if someone else enters the frame, it also pans out to bring them into the shot.

Should you prefer a bigger screen, Amazon also has the 12.9-inch model for $1,069, which is $30 off what you’d pay at Apple. Although that’s less of a price cut, that model’s screen is bigger and more vibrant with mini-LED tech.

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True, Black Friday isn't for another week, but as we expected, Amazon is launching some of its best deals early. Right now, we're seeing steep price cuts on Fire tablets, with discounts between 33 and 50 percent. That puts the new-for-2022 Fire HD 8 Plus tablet down to just $65 from its list price of $120, and Amazon's largest tablet, the Fire HD 10, at $75, instead of its usual $150. 

This year, Amazon revamped all of their 8-inch tablets, giving them a thinner profile and faster processors. The Black Friday sale marks the first time Fire 8 tablets have gone on sale since their release in September.  

While you'll usually see moderate, 20 percent discounts on brand new devices, Amazon is going all in with up to 47 percent off the new Fire 8s. The biggest discount goes to the kids tablets, putting them at $80 each. The Fire HD 8 Kids tablet is geared towards kids aged three to seven and has a more robust case and web browsing that includes a selection of safe sites. The Fire HD 8 Kids Pro is also $80, but this one is for kids aged six to twelve. It has a slimmer protective case and an open but filtered web browser. Both come with a year of Amazon Kids+, a service granting access to age-appropriate e-books, games, and audiobooks. 

A handful of Amazon's other tablets are seeing up to 50 percent discounts, with half price deals on the 2021 Fire HD 10 tablet. The 10 series are the only full HD tablets Amazon offers, featuring screens with 1080p resolution, and the only model Amazon makes a keyboard for. If you're looking for a tablet to help with productivity, go for the the Fire 10 or even the Fire 10 Plus, which is 42 percent off and offers wireless charging and an extra gigabyte of RAM. 

There's also a half-price deal on the 2022 Fire 7 Kids tablet. Like the Fire 8 Kids tablet, the Fire 7 Kids tablet is made for younger kids, aged three to seven, but with a one-inch smaller screen, which might be easier for little hands to use. 

Amazon tablets are already among the most affordable slabs out there, and these markdowns could be enough to put them in stocking-stuffer territory. For less than $100 you can get a casual-use tablet to give as a gift or keep for yourself for laidback couch surfing.

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The wait is over. One of the best mobile gamepads you can buy is finally available to use with Android phones. Starting today, you can order the Backbone One for Android from the company’s website and select retailers. At $100, it’s in the same price range as options like the Razer Kishi, but the Backbone One has a few things going for it over some more affordable controllers.

To start, it features an intelligent design that incorporates a USB-C passthrough for charging and a 3.5mm audio connection. If you’ve used an Xbox controller in the past, you’ll feel at home with the Backbone One thanks to its asymmetrical stick layout and standard A, B, X and Y button layout. A PlayStation version of the controller for Android phones isn’t listed yet, but back when Backbone announced it was partnering with Sony, the company told Engadget it was working on a USB-C variant. The new Android variant still comes with the company’s excellent companion app. The software makes capturing and sharing screenshots and footage from your games easy. It also simplifies finding games that are compatible with the controller.

The Backbone One is compatible with “most” Android handsets. As with the iPhone version, you will probably need to remove your phone from its case to ensure a snug fit. If you pre-ordered the Backbone One for Android before November 1st, the company says it will fulfill your order before the end of the month. All purchases come with a one-month trial to Google Play Pass.

If you're itching for a new pair of AirPods but have strict holiday-shopping budget to stick to, you're in luck. You can pick up the second-generation AirPods for only $90 right now at Amazon, which is 43 percent off their normal price. While we did see them $10 cheaper during Amazon's October Prime Day, this remains a great sale price that doesn't come around very often.

These buds are a bit old at this point, but any AirPods are hard to beat if you live within the Apple ecosystem. The second-gen buds pair almost instantly with your iPhone during setup, and then they'll switch seamlessly between other Apple devices as you use them. That means you can go from taking a call on your iPhone to listening to music from your MacBook without any hiccups. Apple's H1 chip inside the AirPods also enables hands-free Siri access, allowing you to call upon the virtual assistant to answer questions, send messages and do other tasks without touching your AirPods at all.

Unlike the AirPods Pro, the standard AirPods have a fit that's akin to Apple's old-school EarPods, so if you always liked those that used to come with new iPhones, you'll probably like the fit of these buds, too. Sound quality is decent and wireless connectivity has been improved since the original versions of the buds. As far as battery life goes, you'll get five hours of listening time on a single charge, and a total of 24 hours of use when you employ the charging case that comes with the buds. Just keep in mind that these AirPods do not come with a wireless charging case, so you'll have to power them up with a Lightning cable.

The most compelling reason to pick up the second-gen AirPods is their sale price. They're the cheapest Apple earbuds you can get right now — but if you're willing to spend a bit more, you'll get a lot more in return. Apple's third-gen AirPods are currently on sale for $160, and they provide much better audio quality, Adaptive EQ, spatial audio, six hours of battery life on a single charge and up to 30 hours of use overall. And if you want active noise cancellation, a more custom fit and a wireless charging case, you'll have to spring for the AirPods Pro, which are currently on sale for $230.

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Little more than two after hitting store shelves, Apple’s 10th-generation iPad is on sale with a discount that makes it much easier to recommend the tablet. B&H has discounted the base 64GB model with WiFi to $399. The catch is that the deal only applies to the blue colorway. If you don’t mind the choice of color, you’ll want to act fast as the promotion ends tomorrow evening – or, more likely, when supplies quickly run out.

The 10th-generation iPad features several upgrades over its predecessor, but a more expensive price tag and odd design decisions make it less of a straightforward purchase. Engadget Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham gave the tablet a score of 85, praising Apple’s decision to include a landscape-oriented front-facing camera and USB-C charging. The iPad’s fast A14 Bionic processor was also a highlight, as was the more than 10 hours of battery life he found he could get out of the device. However, the fact the new model is $120 more expensive and only compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil means it lands in an awkward place among Apple’s other tablets. At $399, those flaws are easier to overlook.

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Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack is exactly what it says on the tin: a portable battery that snaps to the back of an iPhone through Apple's MagSafe magnetic charging tech and charges the handset wirelessly. The battery is a tougher sell at full price, but today it's available for $71, which marks the lowest price we've seen to date. For reference, Apple typically sells the device for $99, though its average price online has sat closer to $90 in recent months.

The MagSafe Battery Pack works with any iPhone 12, 13, or 14 model, and using it is as simple as slapping it on the back of one of those devices and letting it do its thing. You don't have to press any additional buttons to start the charge, unlike many third-party competitors. Design wise, it's a slim, matte plastic rectangle that's designed to match the dimensions of an iPhone 12 or 13 mini, so it'll fit entirely within the back of a larger device like the iPhone 14 Pro Max. 

Because this is an Apple-made product, it's also able to integrate with an iPhone in ways competing MagSafe batteries can not. You can see the pack's charge level through iOS's Control Center and Batteries widget, for instance, and you can reverse-charge the battery itself from your iPhone when the latter is plugged in. By default, the pack will only charge your phone to around 90 percent to better preserve its efficiency, though you can turn that off if you wish.

If you have a 20W or higher charger and a USB-C to Lightning cable, you can also turn the MagSafe Battery Pack into a 15W wireless charging puck, which gives it a bit of utility when you aren't out of the house. Unfortunately, and perhaps expectedly, Apple doesn't include a cable or power brick in the box, but that's less of a problem if you already own both of those for your iPhone. (If you don't, our guide to the best fast chargers may be of interest.) 

When it comes to actually charging your iPhone, the MagSafe Battery Pack is a bit more compromised. Part of that is just due to the nature of wireless charging; the tech has improved over the years, but if you want the fastest charge possible, a cable with a traditional battery pack will usually be quicker to top things off. But the capacity of the MagSafe Battery Pack itself is fairly small at 1,460mAh (or 11.13Wh), so it can only charge a standard iPhone 14 to about 60-65 percent from zero. 

We've recommended Anker's 622 Magnetic Battery as a good alternative to the MagSafe Battery Pack in the past; that one has a larger 5,000mAh (19.25Wh) capacity that can get closer to a 80-85 charge on the same phone. It also costs less than Apple's pack even with the latter on sale, has a built-in kickstand, and comes in a wider variety of colors. (The MagSafe Battery Pack is only available in white.) It's not designed as neatly for iPhones and lacks the extras noted above, but it's a better value if you just want more power from a compact MagSafe pack. Anker's 633 Magnetic Battery, meanwhile, has an even greater capacity, albeit in a thicker frame.

Still, since their charging abilities limited, MagSafe packs like these are best thought of as battery extenders, things can use to fill up your phone in a pinch, more than full-on battery packs. For that, the MagSafe Battery Pack is fine, particularly since Apple released a firmware update earlier this year that boosted the pack's charging rate from 5W to 7.5W, which is still slower than using a cable but matches the Anker models above. If you can live with the lesser capacity and know you'll value some of its more iPhone-friendly features, it should be easier to justify at this deal price.

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You don't have wait for Apple to see what a foldable iPhone would look like in practice. China-based The Aesthetics of Science and Technology (AST) claims to have built a folding iPhone through heavy modifications. The engineers say they created the one-off with spare Motorola RAZR parts, their own 3D-printed elements and an iPhone X screen made more flexible by replacing the not-at-all-foldable glass and touch layers. An iOS jailbreak lets Apple's software run on the handset and introduces suitable features like a split-screen mode.

The result is largely what you'd expect — it looks like the love child of an iPhone and a Galaxy Z Flip, with all the compromises that come with an unofficial design. While the folding iPhone appears to work as advertised, there's a cavernous gap when it's folded. There's a smaller battery, no wireless charging and just one speaker. As you'd guess, the design also loses water resistance and any kind of real-world durability. The modded iOS also clearly isn't as optimized for flexible displays as Samsung's software for the Galaxy Z series.

This effort might also warrant some skepticism. Gizmodo notes that the team glosses over some important steps, including the need to rearrange key internals. While there aren't obvious signs that something's amiss, the initiative isn't definitive proof that a do-it-yourself folding iPhone is possible. It's certainly a greater challenge than adding a USB-C port.

Rumors have suggested that Apple may introduce an honest-to-goodness folding iPhone as soon as 2023, making this hacked-together handset more of a (very rough) preview than a desirable item in itself. Just wait long enough and you may get a far better product. The mod illustrates Apple's challenges, at least. A proper foldable iPhone would require major engineering changes and software tweaks to meet users' expectations. There are also problems that even brands like Motorola and Samsung have yet to overcome, such as displays that crease and (in some cases) crack.