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Apple's AirPods Pro fall to $200, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

While it's a bit late for most tech gifts to ship in time for Christmas, there are still many deals going on for those looking to buy something nice for themselves. Apple's AirPods Pro, for one, are down to an all-time low of $200, while Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds are still at a low of $178. Several recommended gamepads from 8BitDo are on sale, as are various well-regarded OLED TVs from LG. And if you're a PC gamer, both Steam and the Epic Games Store have kicked off sweeping holiday sales on their respective storefronts. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.

Apple AirPods Pro

Billy Steele/Engadget

Apple's AirPods Pro have dropped back to $200 at multiple retailers, which matches the lowest price we've tracked and comes in about $30 below the pair's usual going rate over the last few months. We gave the AirPods Pro a review score of 88 earlier this year and currently recommend them as the "best for iOS" pick in our guide to the best wireless earbuds. The sound quality and active noise cancellation (ANC) here are among the better options on the market, as is the included transparency mode. Plus, like all AirPods, they offer a host of features that make them particularly convenient to use with other Apple devices. Their call quality and six-ish hours of battery life are just average, however.

Buy AirPods Pro (2nd gen) at Amazon - $200

Sony WF-1000XM4

Billy Steele/Engadget

If you don't own an iPhone, the top overall pick in our best wireless earbuds guide is Sony's WF-1000XM4, which is also on sale for $178, matching the lowest price we've seen. We gave this pair a review score of 86 last year, praising its upper-tier ANC, solid yet customizable sound quality, 8- to 10-hour battery life and array of useful bonus features. The earpieces here are on the bulkier side, so they might not fit all ear shapes comfortably, but they do isolate an impressive amount of noise even without the ANC turned on. If you're on a tighter budget, meanwhile, Anker's Soundcore Space A40 is another noise-canceling set we like that's on sale for a new low of $60 at Target. 

Buy Sony WF-1000XM4 at Amazon - $178

8BitDo game controllers

Kris Naudus / Engadget

8BitDo's Pro 2 gamepad is down to $40, which is a $10 discount and tied for the best price we've tracked. This is a comfortable and extensively customizable wireless controller we've recommended in past gift guides. It doesn't work with PlayStation and Xbox consoles, but if you need a spare gamepad for Switch, PC or mobile devices, it's arguably a better value than Nintendo's Switch Pro Controller. Just note that it can't wake the Switch up from sleep mode, if you plan on using it with that console.

If you're willing to pay more for a controller with Hall effect joysticks, which are traditionally more resistant to drift over time, or if you prefer an Xbox-style layout, 8BitDo's Ultimate Controller is also on sale for $63. While that's only $7 off its typical price, this is the first discount we've seen for the recently-launched device. For those who play lots of retro-style games, meanwhile, the company's Sn30 Pro is like a more modern version of an old Super Nintendo pad, and it's currently $10 off at $35.

Buy 8BitDo Pro 2 at Amazon - $40Buy 8BitDo Ultimate Controller at Amazon - $63Buy 8BitDo Sn30 Pro at Amazon - $35

PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller

If you need a spare gamepad for your PlayStation 5, Sony's DualSense controller is still available for an all-time low of $49 at various retailers, including Amazon, GameStop, Walmart, Adorama, Target and Best Buy. The sale applies to several color finishes and comes out to a $20 or $25 discount depending on which model you choose. The DualSense itself isn't as convenient on PCs as the 8BitDo pads above or Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S controller (which is down to $40), but it still provides a comfortable shape and impressive haptic feedback for newer PlayStation games.

Buy PS5 DualSense Controller at Amazon - $49Buy PS5 DualSense Controller at GameStop - $49

Apple MacBook Air

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Apple's latest MacBook Air is still on sale for $999 at B&H, matching the lowest price we've seen. Normally, Apple sells this version, which includes 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, for $1,199, though we've seen it fall to $1,049 a number of times in recent months. Either way, the M2-powered Air is the top pick in our guide to the best laptops, and we gave it a glowing review score of 96 earlier this year. As an everyday notebook, it gives little to complain about, but note that this entry-level configuration has slower storage performance than Apple's higher-priced SKUs. Still, if you aren't planning to do more involved work like editing high-resolution videos, this shouldn't be a major hindrance on a day-to-day basis. Just be aware that B&H says this deal is set to end later Friday afternoon.

Buy MacBook Air M2 at B&H - $999

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Sam Rutherford/Engadget

A configuration of Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go 2 with a Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD is on sale for a new low of $600. That's about $100 off this model's typical street price as of late. We gave the 12.4-inch notebook a review score of 86 back in June and currently recommend it in our guide to the best affordable Windows laptops. The main appeal here is in the design, as the Surface Laptop Go 2's slim and lightweight chassis, comfortable keyboard and bright display lend it a classier feel than most options in this price range. Its performance is quick enough for casual work, too, but don't expect a powerhouse, and the keyboard is unfortunately devoid of backlighting.

Buy Surface Laptop Go 2 at Amazon - $600

Steam Winter Sale

Engadget

It's a good time to be a PC gamer (or Steam Deck owner), as Steam and the Epic Games Store have kicked off their annual holiday sales. Both promotions are scheduled to run until January 5. There are simply too many deals for us to run down everything, but some highlights on Steam include the acclaimed action-RPG Elden Ring down to $42, the cutesy cat adventure Stray for $24, the sharply written Disco Elysium for $10, the VR shooter Half-Life: Alyx for $24 and a bundle that includes a bunch of Valve-made games for $7. Several other picks from our best PC games guide are also on sale.

Epic's sale doesn't cover as many games, but it does include a recurring coupon that takes 25 percent off any purchase you make over $15. This can save you a few bucks if you aren't beholden to Steam: The PC port of 2018's God of War, for instance, is down to $23 at Epic with the coupon, but only down to $30 at Steam. For console owners, note that PlayStation and Xbox are running holiday sales as well, though the deals there are generally ones we've seen several times throughout the year.

Shop Winter Sale at SteamShop Holiday Sale at Epic Games Store

LG OLED TVs

LG

If you're looking to upgrade your TV, a handful of LG's well-regarded OLED sets are down to all-time lows. The 42-inch model of LG's C2 TV, for instance, is down to $797 at Amazon, which is about $200 off its usual going rate. (If you'd rather not shop through Amazon, BuyDig is throwing in a $40 gift card on top of the discount.) This model can't get as bright as the QD-OLED panel on Samsung's S95B OLED TV, so it's best suited in dark 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 need something larger, the 65-inch LG B2 is down to $1,099 at Walmart (via authorized dealer Beach Camera), which is again roughly $200 off the price we've seen for most of the last couple of months. The B2 is a step down from the C2 with lesser HDR performance and a slower processor, but at this price it still offers excellent picture quality. Beyond that, the 48-inch LG A2 is back down to a low of $570 at Best Buy. This is the cheapest route into an LG OLED panel, but note that it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and lacks HDMI 2.1 ports, reducing its appeal for gaming.

Buy LG C2 42-inch at Amazon - $797Buy LG B2 65-inch at Walmart - $1,099Buy LG A2 48-inch at Best Buy - $570

Apple Magic Keyboard

Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

Apple's Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air and 11-inch iPad Pro is still on sale for $210, which isn't an all-time low but still $65 off the peripheral's average street price in recent months. We gave the Magic Keyboard a review score of 84 back in 2020, and it still offers a comfortable typing experience, smooth trackpad and extra USB-C port to those who'd like to use their iPad more like a laptop. The main hangup is that it's wildly expensive, but this deal lessens the burden at least somewhat.

Buy Apple Magic Keyboard 11-inch at Amazon - $210

Audible Premium Plus 

Amazon is running a promotion that lets new subscribers get four months of Amazon's Audible Premium Plus audiobook service for $5.95 per month. Normally, you'd have to pay $14.95 a month after a 30-day free trial. This offer has been available for the past several weeks, but we're noting it here because it's set to end on December 31. 

As a reminder, Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier: In addition to granting you access to the full Audible library, it lets you keep one title from a curated selection of audiobooks each month. It's not an essential upgrade for most, but if you've been thinking of giving Audible a try, this is a decent way to see if the plan works for you. Just note that your membership will be set to auto-renew by default. 

Buy Audible Premium Plus 4-month at Amazon - $5.95/month

Samsung Smart Monitor M8

Samsung

Samsung's Smart Monitor M8 is still available for $400, which is an all-time low and roughly $180 below the 32-inch monitor's average street price in recent months. This is a decent VA panel with a 4K resolution, but its big selling point is that it can double as a sort of tuner-less smart TV. Since it runs Samsung's Tizen interface, it's able to stream apps like Netflix, HBO Max and the like even when it's not hooked up to a PC. It comes with a remote, webcam, mic and built-in speakers, and it can serve as a SmartThings hub. If you know you'll actually use that smart TV functionality, the M8 is among the most versatile monitors you can buy, even if it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and lacks local dimming.

Buy Samsung Smart Monitor M8 at Amazon - $400Buy Samsung Smart Monitor M8 at Samsung - $400

Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Earlier this year, we gave Google's Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro review scores of 90 and 92, respectively, calling them the "best bargain in flagship phones" in the process. Both handsets are back on sale this week, with the 128GB Pixel 7 available from $499 and the Pixel 7 Pro down to $749 for the same amount of storage. We've seen these deals before, and neither marks an all-time low, but they're still about $65 and $95 off the devices' respective street prices over the last few months. 

Between the two, the 6.3-inch Pixel 7 gets a bit more battery life, while the 6.7-inch Pixel 7 Pro has a faster 120Hz refresh rate. Both phones, though, get you top-notch cameras, vibrant OLED displays, and a clean take on Android that'll receive version updates through late 2025. They aren't quite as powerful as something like Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra, but at these prices they carry strong value.

Buy Pixel 7 at Amazon - $499Buy Pixel 7 Pro at Amazon - $749

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Apple's 11-inch iPad Pro M2 drops to a new all-time low of $699

The new 11-inch iPad Pro has hit its lowest price ever at Amazon, which means you can grab the base version of Apple's premium tablet for just $699. That's $100 off the list price and $40 less than it was before Black Friday. It won't arrive in time for Christmas, but if you've had your eye on the Pro, this will likely be the lowest price you'll see this year. The steepest discount goes to the 128GB model with WiFi and the applies to the Silver colorway. If you want a bit more storage, both the 256 GB WiFi model and the 512GB WiFi models are also on sale, with both models seeing a $60 discount. We should note that the WiFi plus cellular configurations and the giant, TB size models aren't discounted right now.  

The iPad Pro was released at the end of October, and the biggest update came with the addition of Apple's latest processor, the M2 chip. That made an already powerful tablet even more so. We gave the slab an 87 in our review, praising both the "ludicrously" fast speeds and best-in-class screen. The iPad Pro handily makes use of Apple's new Stage Manager, which allows for multitasking with overlapping and resizable windows. The feature finally gives the Pro the opportunity to properly harness all the speed it's been given.  

Paired up the Magic Keyboard, the tablet is an extremely capable hybrid device, though with that accessory's $300 price tag, you've essentially entered laptop price range. That said, the iPad Pro is still an impressive tablet with plenty of power and a great screen. The changes to this model probably aren't enough to warrant an upgrade if you've got 2021's model. But if you've been thinking about grabbing a Pro, this $100 discount is a great time to snap it up. 

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PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers are back on sale for $49

If you've been meaning to grab a spare gamepad for your PlayStation 5, today is a good day to do so, as Sony's DualSense Wireless Controller is back on sale for $49. This the same deal we saw around Black Friday and ties the lowest price we've tracked. Normally, the controller retails around $70. The discount is available at several retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, GameStop, Target, Best Buy and Sony's own PlayStation Direct store. It also applies to multiple color options, though stock of those appears to differ by retailer, and some models may not arrive before Christmas. According to the controller's PlayStation Direct listing, this offer is scheduled to run through December 23.

The market for third-party PS5 controllers is mostly limited to more expensive "pro" models, so the DualSense remains the only real option for people who want something more reasonably priced. That said, it's still a good controller, with the familiar PlayStation layout, well-sized grips, responsive triggers and impressively detailed haptics (which can also be turned off in most games). Its battery doesn't last nearly as long as something like a Switch Pro Controller, but it's an improvement over the PS4's pad, and it's rechargeable through a USB-C port. And while there's always a risk of durability issues with gamepads you use all the time — yours truly has had two models break in two years — Sony appears to have improved the DualSense's internal hardware since the device launched in late 2020.

The DualSense is still on the heavier side, and though it does have Steam support, using it with a gaming PC is generally a bit more complicated than the process would be with Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S controller (which itself is still on sale for $40). If you want more "pro" features like customizable back buttons, trigger stops and multiple settings profiles, meanwhile, note that Sony's higher-end DualSense Edge controller will release next month, albeit at a pricey $200. All that said, if you just need a PS5 pad for the basics, this is a good deal.

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Apple's AirPods Pro are back on sale for $200

If you haven't finished your Christmas shopping yet, look to Amazon. The retailer has discounted Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro. Right now, you can buy the earbuds for $200, down from $249. Not only is that the best price Engadget has seen for the AirPods Pro since they went on sale for Black Friday, but Amazon says it also will deliver the headphones before Christmas for customers who order today. So act fast if you have a friend or family member who you think will appreciate them as a gift.       

Buy Apple AirPods Pro at Amazon - $200

The 2022 AirPods Pro may not look different than their 2019 predecessor, but they're a big upgrade.
Engadget Senior Editor Billy Steele awarded the second-generation earbuds a score of 88 when he had a chance to review them earlier this year. They offer improved audio quality, an even better transparency mode and the addition of touch volume controls. Apple also redesigned the accompanying charging case to make it sweat- and water-resistant and add a built-in speaker to make finding the case easier to find if you ever misplace it. About the only area where the 2022 AirPods Pro disappoint is battery life. You can expect about six hours of use from the earbuds on a single charge. That's more than you could get out of the first-generation model, but less than some competing options offer. Still, the AirPods Pro are among the best earbuds you can pair with an iPhone, and a $50 discount makes them even more compelling. 

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Logitech’s StreamCam is only $100 at Amazon and Best Buy

If you’re looking for a last-minute Christmas gift for a friend or family member who wants to build a streaming channel in 2023, Amazon has your back. The retailer has a great deal on the Logitech StreamCam. After a 41 percent discount, the $170 webcam is currently $100. That’s the best price Engadget has seen for the StreamCam. Moreover, Amazon has discounted both the Graphite and White models. You can also find the webcam on sale for the same price at Best Buy.

Buy Logitech StreamCam at Amazon - $100Buy Logitech StreamCam at Best Buy - $100

The Logitech StreamCam is one of Engadget’s favorite web cameras. With support for 1080p video capture at 60 frames per second and a pair of built-in omnidirectional mics, it will make anyone look and sound great on your Zoom calls and Twitch streams. The StreamCam is also versatile. You can use it in landscape and portrait orientations, making it ideal for Instagram and TikTok videos. Add to that fuss-free autofocus and comprehensive software support for OBS, XSplit and Streamlabs, and you have one of the best all-purpose webcams. The only downside of the StreamCam is its expensive price tag, something this deal helps address.

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Apple's 2022 MacBook Air is down to $999, plus the rest of this week's best tech deals

The cut-off dates for holiday shopping have mostly passed, but that doesn't mean the deals have disappeared. We're seeing prices that match Black Friday, like the Beats Fit Pro for just $160 and Bose's QuietComfort Earbuds II for $249. Some items have even dipped below their Cyber Week prices, like GoPro's Hero 11 Black Mini, the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro and Eufy's RoboVac X8 Hybrid. While these items may not ship out in time to wrap them up as gifts, this is still a great opportunity to grab devices and tech you've had your eye on, and save a little in the process. Here are the best deals from the week that you can still get today. 

Apple MacBook Air M2

Amazon and B&H Photo are both selling the base MacBook Air M2 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage at an all-time low of $999. The 512GB model is discounted at B&H, too with $180 savings. We think Apple's latest ultra-thin portable is the definition of a well-rounded laptop. It's fast for day-to-day productivity or even more intensive work on like media editing. The screen feels more expansive than its 13.6-inch size might suggest and the speakers are surprisingly strong. There's no SD card slot or a 120Hz screen, and the Air probably isn't what you want for intensive gaming or heavy video and audio editing, but it's a well rounded daily drive. For more intense use, you'll likely want to go for the 2021 MacBook Pro models. Right now the 16-inch MacBook Pro is $450 off at B&H, bringing it down to $3,049.

Buy MacBook Air at Amazon - $999Buy MacBook Air at B&H Photo - $999

Apple Pencil 

The second generation Apple Pencil is the best stylus you can get for your iPad Pro or Air and one of the our top-recommended accessories. At $130, the Pencil isn't cheap and doesn't often go on sale, but right now it's down to $89 at Amazon. That's a 31 percent discount and matches its all-time low price. It's great for drawing and sketching using a wide range of drawing apps, and with the Scribble setting enabled, you can convert your handwriting into typed text in virtually any text field. 

The second-generation improves upon the prior iteration with the addition of on-board tap controls and wireless charging while magnetically snapped to the edge of your iPad Pro or iPad Air. The second-generation stylus is compatible with the latest iPad Pro, Mini and Air models, but not with the 2022 standard iPad. To go with that tablet, you'll want the first-generation Apple Pencil, currently $95 at Amazon. 

Buy Apple Pencil (2nd gen) at Amazon - $89

Google Pixel 

If you missed the Black Friday deals on Google's Pixel devices, here's a second chance at grabbing one at a discount. Right now a Pixel 6a smartphone is up to 33 percent off while Pixel 7 smartphones are up to 17 percent off. That brings an unlocked 5G Pixel 6a down to just $299 and an unlocked 5G Google Pixel 7 down to $499. If you want a Pixel 7 Pro, that's seeing a $150 discount, bringing it to $749. We called the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro "the best bargain in flagship phones" in our review back in October, praising their smarter software and upgraded cameras.  

The sale also extends to the Pixel Watch which is $50 off during the sale. That brings Google's new smartwatch down to $300, which is its lowest price yet. We admired the gorgeous design and the integration of Fitbit health and fitness features in our review.  

Google's Pixel Buds A-Series are also on sale, down to just $69 after a 30 percent discount. The A-Series are the more affordable of Google's two earbud offerings, and we were impressed by the sound quality, seamless integration of the Google Assistant and large number of features they offer for the price. Which is even more impressive after this latest discount.  

Shop the Google Pixel sale at Amazon

Google Nest smart home devices

Google

The same sale that's discounting the Pixel products above also extends to devices from Google's smart home brand, Nest. Right now the Nest Thermostat, Nest Security Cam and Nest Doorbell have dropped to some of the lowest prices we've seen. The Nest Thermostat helps you program an energy efficient schedule and lets you control your temp from anywhere via the Google Home app. During the sale, its down just just $90, which is $40 off the usual price. 

Also compatible with the Google Home app, Nest Security cameras are 30 percent off, making it a good time to act if you wanted an extra set of "eyes" keeping tabs on your home. The smart cameras can tell the difference between people, pets and vehicles and sends you relevant alerts so you can check in with your phone at any time. The Google Nest Doorbell packs many of the same features as the security cams, but this version keeps an eye on your front door. The wireless, battery-powered version of the doorbell is 33 percent off during the sale, bringing the price down from $180 to just $120.

Shop Google Nest smart home sale at Amazon

Apple Beats Fit Pro 

As part of a larger sale on Beats earbuds, Amazon is offering the Beats Fit Pro for just $160, which is $40 off the list price and the same as it was for Black Friday. All four colorways are discounted, including white, black, purple and green. You can also snag the Beats Studio Buds for just $90 in black, red, white, blue or gray — that's a steep 40 percent discount off the usual price.   

In our review of the Beats Fit Pro, we admired the balanced sound quality and comfortable fit. We also liked how the buds come with nearly all of the features you'll get with the AirPods Pro, like Siri's assistance and spacial audio support. They're also workout-ready with an IPX4 sweat-resistant rating and have a decent six-hour battery life. There's no wireless charging though, a drawback you may be able to overlook when the buds are $40 cheaper than usual. 

Buy Beat Fit Pro at Amazon - $160

Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones

If you want your personal audio delivered in an over-the-ear package, you may be pleased to hear that Bose's QuietComfort 45 is on sale for $229 at Amazon, B&H Photo, and Bose. This is close to the lowest price so far for these headphones which is $100 below Bose's list price, and the same price they went for on Cyber Monday. According to Bose, the deal is only scheduled to run through Monday.

In our guide to the best wireless headphones, we called the headphones a solid option and gave them a score of 86 in our review. The cans are lightweight and extremely comfortable, like the name suggests. The noise cancellation is smooth and capable and the sound quality is balanced and pleasant. To get and even more precise sound, you can use the graphic equalizer settings in Bose's companion app. 

The sale is part of a larger Bose sale, many of which are gathered here on Amazon's sale page, so if you're looking for Bose speakers or earbuds too, now's a good time to grab them. 

Buy Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones at Amazon - $229

GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini 

The newest GoPro is the Hero 11 Black Mini, a smaller version of GoPro's top-end action camera. Right now you can get it for 42 percent off at GoPro's website when you bundle it with a GoPro subscription. The camera is usually $400, but when you add a year of the GoPro subscription for $50, GoPro will knock $150 off the price. Then, after you add the camera to your cart, you'll get an additional 15 percent discount as part of GoPro's holiday sale. If that sounds like a lot of numbers, the bottom line is you can get the Mini for just $262.50, and it includes a year of a GoPro subscription. That's a good discount considering the Hero 11 Mini by itself is $400 right now at Amazon.

In our hands-on test of the Mini we noted a few drawbacks like a status-only display instead of a touchscreen and no photo mode. That means you'll need to control the camera with the companion app and pull stills your video. But as a helmet- or body-mounted camera, we think this device excels. It has horizon lock and Hyperview mode like the larger Hero 11, plus it offers a second pair of mounting fingers to get the camera oriented exactly the direction you want.  

Buy Hero 11 Black Mini at GoPro - $262.50

Apple MacBook Pro M2 

Devindra Hardawar / Engadget

The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro is on sale at B&H Photo right now for just $1,099. That's the lowest price the laptop has seen since its release back in June and is even below what it went for during Black Friday sales. The 13-inch model is the only one of Apple's Pro laptops that got an update this year, receiving Apple's latest M2 processor chip. When we reviewed the laptop after its debut, we praised it's faster speeds (thanks to that new chip), excellent build and long battery life. While we prefer the older model 14-inch MacBook Pro and called the M2-enabled MacBook Air "near perfect," this is still a good time to buy if you've had your eye on a Pro Apple laptop with their latest processor. 

Buy 13-inch MacBook Pro M2 at B&H Photo - $1,099

Bose QuietComfort II

In addition to the sale on Bose's QuietComfort 45 headphones above, you can also save on their QuietComfort Earbuds II. The wireless earbuds are now on sale for $249 at Amazon, Bose and B&H Photo, matching the all-time low we saw for Black Friday. These usually go for $299 and Bose saysthe deal will run through the end of the year. 

We gave the earbuds a score of 87 in our review, they're our favorite earbuds for active noise cancellation (ANC) in our wireless earbuds guide as they're impressively good at muting both low- and high-frequency sounds so you can focus on whatever you're listening to. if you do want to keep tabs on what's going on, the Aware Mode is an improved transparency option over the last model (but still doesn't beat the AirPods Pro). The audio quality is smooth with a richer high-end than the previous QC earbud from Bose. Note that these are on the larger size for in-ear buds, which may start to feel heavy after a while. You'll get around six to seven hours of battery life, but keep in mind there's no wireless charging, but the case holds three additional charges. 

Buy Bose QuietComfort earbuds at Amazon - $249

Apple Watch Ultra

Cherlynn Low / Engadget

The new Apple Watch Ultra is quickly becoming a strong option for divers, explorers and athletes, but it's not cheap. The rugged wearable usually goes for $800, but we're seeing a $60 discount right now at Adorama. The deal only applies to the green strap option, but if you plan to swap out the band anyway, that's probably not an issue. 

We gave it an 85 in our review, admiring the bright screen and durability of the build, calling it a "monster truck of a watch." The battery is great, giving around three days of usage on a charge, and the hiking capabilities like GPS, Backtrack and waypoint kept our team safely on track on the New Jersey’s South Mountain reservation. 

Buy Apple Watch Ultra at Adorama - $739

Eufy RoboVac X8

Robot vacuums are a true time saver, but they're not cheap. Right now Amazon is discounting many models of Eufy vacs, with savings of up to 51 percent. That puts many vacs below the discounts we saw for Black Friday. The RoboVac X8 Hybrid made the cut as one of our recommended robot vacuums in our guide. Right now it's going for $280 instead of its usual $550, which is a 49 percent discount and $40 cheaper than it was for Cyber Week. If you don't need the mopping function, you can grab the RoboVac X8 for $260. 

We also recommend the Eufy RoboVac 11S for its thin profile and good suction. We named it the best "bang for your buck option" in our budget smart vac guide and right now it's just $200. For a little more suction power, you might go for the RoboVac 11S Max. It's down to $150 for Prime members. If you're not a member, it's $250. The RoboVac G30 Edge and RoboVac G30 Hybrid are also on sale, priced at $160 and $180, respectively. There's a total of six vacs on sale, so you've been thinking about getting a little help with the floors, there's sure to be a model that'll fit your needs. 

Shop the Eufy robot vacuum sale at Amazon

Xbox Series S

Aaron Souppouris / Engadget

Microsoft's Xbox Series S is down to $230 at Verizon, which is $70 less than the compact game console's MSRP. While this discount isn't as steep as some of the offers we saw around Black Friday, it's still $10 below the typical sale price that's been available in the time since. 

We gave the Series S a review score of 85 when it launched in late 2020: It's not powerful enough to play games in 4K like the brawnier Xbox Series X, but it's a much more affordable entry point into the exact same library. It's a fine choice for a secondary console hooked up to a monitor or bedroom TV. Do note, though, that it's a digital-only affair, with no disc drive and only 512GB of built-in storage. 

Buy Xbox Series S at Verizon - $230

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Anker's Eufy robot vacuums are up to 51 percent off at Amazon right now

If you'd like help keeping your floors clean, a robot vacuum is a great way to go — but they're usually pretty pricy. Right now Amazon is discounting many models of Eufy vacs, with deals up to 51 percent off, putting many of them below the discounts we saw for Black Friday. The biggest call out from the sale is the Eufy RoboVac X8. Both the vacuum-only model and the mop-plus-vac hybrid are on sale. The RoboVac X8 Hybrid is going for $280 instead of its usual $550. That's a 49 percent discount and $40 cheaper than it was for Cyber Week. If you don't need the mopping powers of the hybrid model, the RoboVac X8 is down to $260. That's a $240 discount which is also $40 less than it was for post-Thanksgiving sales.

If you're not familiar with the brand, Eufy vacs tends to be more affordable alternatives to Shark and iRobot offerings, but they performed admirably in our tests. We particularly liked the Eufy RoboVac 11S for its thin profile (that can reach more places), good suction and remarkable collision avoidance. We even named the 11S the best "bang for your buck option" in our budget smart vac guide. One thing to note is that it doesn't have WiFi, you'll rely on the remote to handle most vacuuming chores, including scheduling. That said, it is one of the cheaper robo-vacs to begin with, and the sale brings the price down to $200. For a little more suction power, you might go for the RoboVac 11S Max. It's down to $150, but only for Prime members, otherwise it's $250.  

The RoboVac G30 Edge is a model we recommend if you want something a little newer than the S11, prefer having WiFi capabilities and are willing to spend a little extra. It usually retails for $290 but is $160, or 45 percent off, during the sale. And finally, the biggest discount of the sale goes to the RoboVac G30 Hybrid, which adds mopping duty to its list of capabilities. The Hybrid has the same suction power at the G30 Edge and the same 100 minute runtime, but you'll usually pay an $80 premium over the Edge for the mop technology. Thanks to the sale, the two-in-one vac is down to just $180, which is a healthy 51 percent discount. 

All the vacuums in the sale are sold either by Woot (an Amazon company) or by Eufy, which is owned by Anker (a long-time Amazon partner). Amazon will be shipping all of the units, and while it's too late to get most of these by Christmas, they're a great deal if you're looking to keep your floors clean in the new year without adding anything to your to-do list. 

Shop the Eufy robot vacuum sale at Amazon

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Bose's QuietComfort 45 drop back to its Cyber Monday price of $229

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.

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Apple's Beats Fit Pro earbuds are back on sale for $160

Now's a good time to buy if you're still hoping to gift true wireless earbuds this holiday. As part of a larger sale on Beats earbuds, Amazon is offering the Beats Fit Pro for just $160, or $40 off. That's as good as the Black Friday price, and the buds will arrive before Christmas if you order quickly. You'll find a comparable discount for bundles with AppleCare+ or an $25 Amazon gift card.

The wider sale also sees black, red and white variants of the Beats Studio Buds drop to $90, or a whopping $60 below the usual price. You can expect at least some savings for other Studio Buds colors, the PowerBeats Pro and the Beats Fit Pro's Kim Kardashian variants.

In some ways, the Beats Fit Pro remain the best kept secret of Apple's earbud lineup. They offer a comfortable fit, balanced-yet-strong bass, workout-ready water resistance and active noise cancellation at a lower price than some AirPods models. Throw in a healthy six-hour battery life and a choice of colors and these may be the best balance between capability and price.

There are a few catches worth noting. While the Beats Fit Pro are more Android-friendly than AirPods, they're still optimized for Apple devices. There's no wireless charging, and some users might accidentally push buttons on occasion. You'll want the second-generation AirPods Pro for the best in-ear audio Apple has to offer. At $160, though, the Beats represent better value for money.

Buy Beats Studio Buds at Amazon - $90

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Google's Pixel and Nest smart home devices are back at Black Friday prices

If you have any regrets about pass on Google Pixel smartphone deals during this year's Black Friday sales, worry not. Nearly all of the same devices discounted last month are back on sale at the same prices, with up to 33 percent off the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel Watch and Pixel Buds A-Series, along with home products like the Nest Thermostat, Nest Security Cam and Nest Doorbell.

Shop Google Pixel and Nest products on Amazon

For smartphone shoppers on a budget, Google's Pixel 6a is on sale for just $299 (33 percent off the regular $449 price), matching the Black Friday deal. It has top-notch performance, while giving you the purest Android experience possible. At the same time, you get excellent camera quality, thanks to the two 12-megapixel rear cameras and 8-MP front sensor delivering bright, colorful pictures and video. It also comes with a distinctive design, sharp 6.1-inch OLED screen covered with Gorilla Glass 3, long-lasting battery, IP67 water/dust protection and more.

Google's latest phones are also on sale. The Google Pixel 7 128GB (5G, unlocked) is available for just $499 instead of $599 (17 percent off), while the top-end Pixel 7 Pro (5G, unlocked) is priced at $749, or $150 off the regular $899 price. Both models have the new Tensor G2 chip, excellent cameras and new software and features like Direct My Call and Photo Unblur — helping them both achieve high scores in our Engadget review. The main differences between the two are in the display, with the Pixel 7 Pro being better for mobile gaming thanks to the 120Hz display, compared to 90Hz on the Pixel 7.

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Though it only recently came out, Google's sleek Pixel Watch is on sale for $300, or $50 (14 percent) off the regular price. It's easily one of the prettiest Wear OS watches out there, offers excellent health and fitness tracking and useful new faces. Meanwhile, Google's Pixel Buds A-Series are discounted by 30 percent, bringing the regular $99 price down to $69. We called them "Google's best earbuds yet," thanks to the solid ANC performance, punchy bass and reliable touch controls.

Finally, multiple Google Nest products are available at some of the lowest prices we've seen. You can grab the Google Nest Thermostat for $90, a savings of $40 (31 percent) off the regular price. The Google Nest Security Cam (wired) has been reduced by 30 percent to $70, and if it's a Google Nest Doorbell you're after, that item is on sale for $120, for a savings of $60 (33 percent). All of these will make great Christmas gifts, but it's best to act soon before the sale ends.

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