Technology

The best Black Friday deals you can still get today

Published

1 year ago

November 30, 2024

The best Black Friday deals you can still get today

Black Friday, the actual day on the calendar, may have come and gone, but since the deals started days and weeks in advance, you may find it unsurprising that most of them are still with us today. Sure, the shift of Black Friday from a singular day of discounts to a general vibe of seasonal savings makes the event stand out less than it did years ago, but at least we get more time to make our purchasing decisions.

And boy are there decisions to be made, as the majority of deals we covered on smart home accessories, TVs, laptops, headphones, and wearables are still around. Many of the leftover deals have reached or matched their all-time low, so if you’re in the market for something, now might be the time to spring for it. It also remains a great time to get most of your holiday shopping done, especially if you want your dollar to go as far as possible.

If you don’t even know where to begin with your holiday gift-giving, be sure to check out our gift guides for a little inspiration. Many of the items found in our guides are on sale right now, and you’ll likely find some in the mix below. What you’ll also find below is a myriad of tech and gadget deals that span the scope of The Verge’s coverage — from robot vacuums to video games. As usual, we’ve organized it by category to make better sense of it. We’ll keep updating our various roundups throughout the sales-laden weekend, so feel free to let us know in the comments what you’re still shopping for and if you have any recommendations yourself. Happy deals-ing!

Featured deals

Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro photographed on a reflective black surface.

The second-gen AirPods Pro improve upon Apple’s original pair with much better noise cancellation, sound quality, and onboard volume controls. The latest refresh also ships with a USB-C charging case, as opposed to Lightning. Read our review.

The word hulu against a black background with light green circles radiating out.

Until December 2nd at 11:59PM PT, you can get a year of ad-supported Hulu for 99 cents a month or $11.88 for the year. You can also get a Hulu with Disney Plus bundle for $2.99 a month for the next year.

Sony’s new standard PlayStation 5 includes a removable disc drive, dual front-facing USB-C ports, 1TB of storage, and a slightly smaller and lighter design.

Amazon’s latest Kindle Paperwhite features a larger seven-inch display and noticeably faster performance. It also boasts longer battery life than the previous model, retains IPX8 waterproofing, and includes a USB-C port.

Screenshot from Tears of the Kingdom featuring Link, a blond-haired slight build man, falling through the sky as Hyrule unfolds below him.

Tears of the Kingdom is the latest installment in the Zelda franchise. The storyline and gameplay are similar to Breath of the Wild’s, but enough has changed to make Link’s return to Hyrule plenty special. Read our review.

Developed by both Ray-Ban and Meta, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses can perform a range of tasks, including playing music and capturing photos and videos. Read our review.

The Keychron V1 is the best entry-level wired mechanical keyboard. It has hot-swappable switches, full remappability with VIA, great build quality, RGB backlighting, and double-shot PBT keycaps for under $100.

A 10th-gen iPad in an Apple Magic Keyboard Folio.

Apple’s 10th-gen iPad is the successor to the older ninth-gen model. In exchange for its revised design, landscape-oriented webcam, USB-C port, larger 10.9-inch screen, and faster processor, it ditched the headphone jack and home button. Read our review.

Hoto’s electric screwdriver is perfect for making small- to medium-sized repairs around the house. In addition to a USB-C port, the screwdriver comes with a magnetic case and 25 steel bits.

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller sitting flat on a two-colored backdrop.

The Switch Pro released alongside the Switch console in 2017, and it’s a tough controller to beat. It offers an unmatched set of features (HD rumble, motion controls, NFC), and it’s one of the most comfortable Switch controllers out there.

With top-notch vacuuming performance, an easy-to-use app, and built-in voice control, the S8 MaxV Ultra is a superb vacuum and good mop. It features Roborock’s best obstacle avoidance, innovative features like dirt detection, and a hands-free dock that makes it an expensive but excellent choice.

A man in a dark bedroom wears a neck lamp that illuminates just his face and the book he’s holding while sitting upright in bed.

Glocuscent’s book light hangs around your neck to illuminate whatever you’re reading, while offering adjustable brightness and warmth settings.

Rear view of the Anker 8-in-1 orb showing three AC outlets, two USB-A, and two USB-C ports.

Anker’s MagGo Magnetic Charging Station 8-in-1 is a wireless charging stand capable of delivering Qi2 speeds (15W) of power to newer iPhone models. The magnetic, orb-shaped gadget also features a three-outlet power strip and multiple USB-C and USB-A ports.

LifeStraw’s basic filter removes unwanted viruses, bacteria, and microplastics as you drink, giving you a safe way to hydrate no matter where you are.

Max is home to Game of Thrones and its spinoff, House of the Dragon, as well as shows and movies like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dune: Prophecy, The Last of Us, The Penguin, and more. As a part of its Black Friday / Cyber Monday promotion, Max is letting new and returning subscribers sign up for its monthly, ad-supported tier for just $2.99 for the first six months.

The Twelve South AirFly Pro Bluetooth transmitter and receiver features an integrated 3.5mm cord and long-lasting battery life. It can also connect up to two sets of headphones, making it a great choice for listening to in-flight entertainment.

An AirTag wedged into some planks of wood.

Apple’s AirTags are unobtrusive, waterproof, and tap into the massive Find My network for out-of-range locating. Read our review.

Woman holding a purse while modeling the Stripes watchface on the Apple Watch SE (2022)

The latest SE borrows a few features from the Series 8, including the same chipset and Crash Detection feature, but it’s an otherwise subtle upgrade from the last-gen SE. Read our review.

The Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger, wide-angle OLED display with up to 30 percent more screen area. It’s also thinner and lighter than its predecessors. Read our review.

You can buy the last-gen iPad with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage for its all-time low of $199.99 ($129 off) at Best Buy and Target. The 2021 tablet features a smaller 10.2-inch screen than the newer model, a slower A13 Bionic chip, and a Lightning charging port. However, it’s still snappy enough for streaming, browsing the web, sending emails, and performing other typical tablet tasks, making it great for kids or anybody looking for an affordable tablet. It even features a 3.5mm headphone jack — a welcome rarity.
If you want the latest and greatest, the new iPad Mini is available at Amazon or at Best Buy for $469 ($30 off). Apple’s 8.3-inch tablet is pretty similar to the outgoing model from 2021, only it features faster Wi-Fi speeds and support for the newer Apple Pencil Pro. It also leverages the new Apple A17 Pro chip, which allows for various AI-based Apple Intelligence features. Read our review.
The latest 11-inch iPad Pro with M4 processor, 256GB of storage, and that lovely OLED display is $849 ($150 off) at Amazon when you click the on-page coupon. And if you prefer the larger model, the 12.9-inch M4 iPad Pro is $1,099 ($200 off) at Amazon. The latest round of iPad Pros are incredibly thin and sleek, making them easier to hold during note-taking, drawing, or if you’re using one as a laptop replacement with added accessories. Of course, they don’t do much more than previous generations, but they certainly look great doing it. Read our review.
Verizon is offering up to $1,000 off an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max and up to $830 off an iPhone 16 when you trade in any phone in any condition, provided you’re signed on to a “select Unlimited plan.” AT&T is also offering $1,000 off the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max or $830 off an iPhone 16 with trade-in. You can get the same Verizon and AT&T deals through Best Buy, in which case you’ll get a $100 Best Buy gift card with your purchase.

The M2 MacBook Air is opened, facing the camera. Its display is on, showcasing a psychedelic purple and black wallpaper created by The Verge’s art and illustration team.

The 2022 MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight device powered by Apple’s M2 chip. The M2 model touts an improved 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor, while retaining features like long battery life and MagSafe charging. Read our review.

An open and powered on laptop against a blue background sitting on top of a bright yellow mat.

The MacBook Air M3 is a jack-of-all-trades, with a balanced combination of performance and power efficiency. It also now supports dual displays with the lid closed, and the storage speed is noticeably faster. You don’t need to think about if this laptop will meet your needs — it just will. Read our review.

If you want a larger laptop from Apple, the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air with base 256GB storage and 16GB of RAM is going for $1,044 ($255 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. That’s matching the lowest price we’ve seen for Apple’s larger Air, which sports an excellent display and a couple of extra speakers over the 13-inch model that sound great.
The M4-powered iMac is on sale starting at $1,149 ($150 off) at Amazon with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU M4 chip, 16GB of memory, and 256GB of storage when you clip the onpage coupon. It’s a shame the base model only comes with four ports, but otherwise, the iMac is a good desktop computer that offers minor upgrades over its predecessor, including faster performance and a better 12MP webcam with support for Apple’s Center Stage feature. And of course, the 24-inch display continues to come in a number of fun colors. Read our review.
You can buy Apple’s official iPhone 16 Clear Case with MagSafe from Amazon starting at $37 ($12 off), which is its best price yet. Apple designed the polycarbonate case so that it works well with the iPhone 16’s new Camera Control button. The company also added a “glossy scratch-resistant coating,” likely after many complained about how last year’s FineWoven cases scratched easily.
If you prefer to buy first-party, now through December 2nd, Apple is hosting its own rare sales event. You can get up to $200 on select MacBook Airs, while certain iPads will net you $100 in credit. Apple will also give you anywhere between $25–$75 in credit when you purchase select iPhones, AirPods, styli, streaming devices, and more.

The best wireless earbuds and headphone deals

A photo of the Beats Solo 4 wireless headphones.

With lossless USB-C audio, 50-hour battery life, Find My, spatial audio, and more comfy ear cups, the Beats Solo 4 gained significant quality-of-life improvements over their eight-year-old predecessors. They still deliver that bass-rich Beats sound, too. Read our review.

The Beats Fit Pro earbuds have integrated wing tips that help keep them secure during runs and workouts. They also have excellent noise cancellation, and their sound has just the right amount of bass and kick to keep you motivated. Read our review.

With dynamic, rich sound and the best noise cancellation available in true wireless earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a terrific pick if you want to listen to your music in peace. Read our review.

Bose’s latest flagship headphones are a replacement for the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 that offer a more travel-friendly design, spatial audio, better call quality, excellent comfort, and some of the best noise cancellation around. Read our review.

Jabra may have stopped selling consumer earbuds, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t discounts available on the existing models. Right now, for instance, you can purchase the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 for an all-time low of $199.99 ($80 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. In addition to noise cancellation, the semi-open Elite 10 come with an LE Audio charging case, which lets you wirelessly transmit audio from an external device. They also feature physical buttons and support other essentials, including multipoint Bluetooth connectivity.
You can also pick up Jabra’s Elite 8 Active Gen 2 for $169.99 ($60 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is one of the better prices we’ve seen. The fitness-focused earbuds offer a robust IP68 water resistance rating that can withstand sweaty workouts, along with a secure fit and adaptive ANC. They also support multipoint pairing and wireless charging, and like the Elite 10, come with an LE Audio charging case.

Jabra’s Elite 4 Active remain great fitness-focused earbuds if you’re on a budget. They’re smaller than Jabra’s Elite 3 and offer active noise cancellation along with IP57 water resistance, though they lack multipoint and wireless charging.

A hands-on photo of the Sonos Ace headphones at an event in New York City.

The Sonos Ace are the company’s first wireless headphones. They feature a premium comfortable build and active noise cancellation, along with compatibility with Sonos Arc and other Sonos soundbars. Read our review.

A hands-on photo of Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds.

Significantly smaller and lighter than their predecessors, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 also offer stronger noise cancellation, a crystal-clear transparency mode, and lengthy battery life. Read our review.

A hands-on photo of Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earbuds.

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are Samsung’s best-sounding wireless earbuds yet. They have a stemmed design similar to the AirPods Pro, but even if their design is a little bland, the Buds 3 Pro make up for it with great call quality, useful voice commands, and more. Read our review.

The Nothing Ear (a) are on sale for $69 ($30 off) directly from Nothing and at Amazon, if you’re a Prime member. The noise-canceling earbuds are our favorite pair for under $100, with surprisingly good sound for the price. They also offer an impressive feature set that includes multipoint Bluetooth pairing, a decent IP54 dust and water resistance rating, and even a low-latency mode for gaming. Read our hands-on impressions.

Shokz’s flagship bone conduction headphones are designed for sports and outdoor use, allowing you to keep abreast of your surroundings. The open-ear headphones weigh just 29 grams and are IP55-rated for water and sweat resistance.

With improved comfort, refined sound, and even better active noise cancellation, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 offer a compelling mix of features for the price.

The WH-1000XM4, Sony’s last-gen flagship headphones, are on sale starting at $198 ($152 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. That’s not the shockingly low $130 they dropped to earlier this year, but it’s still a great price for a pair of cans that offer some of the best sound quality and noise cancellation performance around. They offer 30 hours of battery life, a foldable design, and flexible ambient audio modes, including a speak-to-chat feature that reduces volume while you’re talking. Read our review.

A photo of Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless headphones on a table.

With marathon 60-hour battery life and sublime comfort, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless also make good on the company’s reputation for detailed, rich sound quality. Read our review.

Sony’s wireless headphones offer noise cancellation and up to 35 hours of battery life on a single charge. They also come in blue, white, and black.

Amazon’s second-gen Echo Buds offer a comfortable design, good ANC, and a natural ambient sound mode. They support hands-free Alexa commands as well. Read our review.

You can also buy Amazon’s newer Echo Buds for just $24.99 ($25 off) at Amazon. The wireless earbuds lack noise cancellation, but they support multipoint pairing and integrate well with Amazon Alexa for hands-free control. They also feature a semi-open design that makes it easier to hear your surroundings.

The JLab Go Air Pop is an affordable pair of wireless earbuds with eight hours of battery life (or 32 hours with the included charging case). The case also houses a built-in USB-A charging plug, so you’re never without a charging cable.

The best speaker and smart display deals

Ultimate Ear’s latest disc-shaped Bluetooth speaker is small and affordable, with a built-in strap for attaching it to your belongings. It also charges via USB-C and features an IP67 rating against dust and water, along with up to 12 hours of battery life.

A photo of a Sonos Era 100 beside a turntable.

Sonos’ Era 100 smart speaker is a replacement for the older Sonos One, utilizing two tweeters (left and right) and one larger woofer. In addition to Wi-Fi, the Era 100 supports Bluetooth audio and line-in playback via an optional adapter. Read our review.

The Sonos Roam 2 is available for $139 ($40 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos. The compact smart speaker is far easier to set up than the prior model, thanks to a dedicated Bluetooth button, meaning you can start listening to tunes without first setting it up in the Sonos app. It also lasts 10 hours per charge and features support for both AirPlay 2 and Amazon Alexa, not to mention an IP67 rating for dust and water protection. You can even sync it with other Sonos speakers like most other Sonos products.
If you want a portable Sonos speaker with bigger sound and substantially longer battery life, the Sonos Move 2 is on sale for $359 ($90 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos’ online storefront. It packs multiple speakers for stereo sound, and it supports USB-C line-in in addition to the usual wireless streaming options. It’s not exactly small or light (it’s chunky at 6.61 pounds), but the Move 2 can be ideal if you want a single Sonos device to enjoy outdoors or move from room to room in your home Read our review.

The latest Emberton speaker is an IP67-rated Bluetooth speaker with great sound, long-lasting battery life, and a timeless design that takes a cue from Marshall’s classic guitar amps.

The latest version of Tribit’s StormBox Micro is a small Bluetooth speaker that offers great sound for its size and attaches to a variety of objects with its built-in strap. The Micro 2 has improved battery life over its predecessor and can be used as a portable power bank to charge your phone.

The fifth-gen Echo Dot touts a temperature sensor, better sound, and faster response time than the prior model. It can also act as an extender for your Eero Wi-Fi system. Read our review.

A purple Echo Pop smart speaker on a table surrounded by Ring Pop candy.

Amazon’s colorful Echo Pop offers a unique semisphere form factor and can function as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender. Read our review.

If you want a smart alarm clock with a great display and zero mics / cameras, the latest Echo Spot is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $44.99 ($60 off), matching its lowest price to date. The 2.83-inch touchscreen can’t display videos or double as a digital photo frame, but it can tell you the weather when you wake up and allows you to control various smart home devices via Alexa. Read our review.

Samsung’s Music Frame speaker sitting on a brown cabinet beside a pair of cameras and some plants.

Samsung’s Music Frame is a 12.9 x 12.9-inch picture frame with a physical print at the front that you can customize with art or a photo. Along with support for Dolby Atmos, it’s compatible with Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby.

A photo of the 2024 Beats Pill portable Bluetooth speaker.

The 2024 Beats Pill offers improved sound, USB-C, and native support for Find My and voice assistants on both iOS and Android. It also bests the previous model with double the battery life (24 hours) and IP67 water resistance. Read our review.

The Echo Show 8 (third-gen), the latest version of Amazon’s midsize smart display, is down to $79.99 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. You can also buy it with an Amazon Basics Smart Color Bulb for the same price at Amazon in black and white. The eight-inch device looks a lot like previous models, but it’s got widget support for added versatility, a more responsive touchscreen, and nice-sounding speakers. Just don’t expect to take any Zoom meetings on it, as only Alexa video calls are currently supported. Read our review.

The third-gen Echo Show 5 turned on while on a desk in front of the window during a rainy day.

The latest Echo Show 5 is just as small as its predecessor but features updated mics and a speaker system that delivers double the bass and clearer sound quality.

The best tablet deals

A Pixel Tablet mounted on its speaker dock showing a Weather Frog screensaver.

Google’s 11-inch Pixel Tablet uses the same Tensor G2 chip found in the Pixel 7 lineup. It’s also compatible with a magnetic charging dock, which you can use as a de facto smart display. Read our review.

The OnePlus Pad 2 attached to its smart keyboard and stylus.

OnePlus’ latest Android tablet sports a crisp 12.1-inch display with fast 144Hz refresh and loud speakers. The optional stylus and smart keyboard case for making it a bit more laptop-like cost a total of around $250. Read our review.

If you’re looking for a basic tablet for under $100, Amazon is also discounting many of the cheaper models. The latest Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy with ads and 32GB of storage starting at $54.99 ($45 off), an all-time low. The 8-inch Fire HD 8 is a decent entertainment device for playing games, streaming, and other basic tasks, even if it’s not anywhere near as capable as the higher-end alternatives from Apple and Google.
The latest Fire HD 10 is down to its all-time low of $74.99 ($65 off) with ads and 32GB of storage at Amazon and Best Buy. The Fire HD 10 offers a sharper 1080p display than the Fire HD 8, along with support for both the Made for Amazon Stylus Pen and Amazon’s handwriting recognition technology.

An Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet in its keyboard case on a wooden table.

Amazon’s highest-end tablet features an 11-inch LCD display with 2000 x 1200 resolution as well as options for an add-on keyboard and stylus. Read our review.

The best e-reader deals

The Boox Palma is a 6.1-inch smartphone-sized e-reader that’s highly portable. It also runs on Android and comes with the Google Play Store built in, allowing you to download apps for other digital bookstores, newspapers, note-taking apps, and more.

The ad-free Kobo Libra Colour is a color e-reader with physical page-turning buttons and a 7-inch E Ink display. It also boasts IPX8 waterproofing and compatibility with the Kobo Stylus 2. Read our review.

You can get Amazon’s newest Kindle with lockscreen ads for $84.99 ($25 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, or without lockscreen ads at Amazon for $104.99 ($25 off). The 2024 ebook reader is more of an iterative update compared to previous models, with a backlight that’s 25 percent brighter. It’s also a touch lighter, a bit faster, and lasts a bit longer (up to eight weeks).

The Kobo Elipsa 2E is an ad-free, 10.3-inch e-reader you can write on with the included stylus. It offers a whole host of useful features, like the ability to convert handwriting to typed text and a great selection of pen types.

The best laptop and desktop deals

A photo of Microsoft’s 2024 Surface Pro.

The new Surface Pro maintains its winning form factor, which sets it apart from traditional laptops. It now houses the battery-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipset, however, and the detachable keyboard has been improved with bolder, brighter keys and a Copilot button. Read our review.

The 15-inch Surface Laptop offers more connectivity options than the smaller 13.8-inch model. It gains a second Thunderbolt 4 port and a USB-A port but touts the same AI-ready Snapdragon X Elite chipset, a Copilot key, and design tweaks to minimize display bezels. Read our review.

Microsoft’s base version of its 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 is on sale for $899.99 ($300 off) at Best Buy with a Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The Arm-based laptop offers excellent MacBook Air-like battery life that easily lasts through a day of work. It performs well, though Windows on Arm does have some compatibility issues with some games and software — so be sure what you need to work is supported.
The Dell XPS 13 is down to its all-time low of $999.99 ($500 off) at Best Buy with a Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. This particular model is especially worth it since it’s the configuration with a lovely 13.4-inch OLED touchscreen — and 2560 x 1600 resolution — in a very portable package that offers great battery life and value.

MSI’s Cyborg 14 is a portable, modestly specced gaming laptop. It’s got a 1920 x 1200 display with 144Hz refresh, an Intel Core i7 13620H processor, RTX 4060 discrete graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD — all in a fairly slim and affordable package, complete with see-through chassis.

The Asus ROG Strix Scar X3D on a green background decorated with yellow Post-it notes.

The ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is one of the fastest gaming laptops you can get, thanks to its AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D processor and Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU. With 32GB of RAM, 1TB storage, and a 240Hz 1440p screen, it’s the high-end laptop to beat.

The much cheaper 2024 Asus ROG Strix G16 laptop is down to $1,099.99 ($300 off) at Amazon. The more modest Strix is configured with a slightly older Intel Core i7 13650HX processor, RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD. Its 16-inch display is only 1920 x 1200 resolution, but it supports a fairly speedy 165Hz refresh. And it just wouldn’t be a Strix without a whole load of RGB lighting.

An open and powered on laptop sitting on top of a dark wood table.

This 14-inch ROG Zephyrus is an astonishingly balanced gaming laptop for its performance and price. Its AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU can push high frame rates and smooth graphics in games with its OLED display.

The MSI Stealth A16 AI Plus is on sale at Best Buy with a new Ryzen AI 9 chip, an RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for $1,699.99 ($300 off), matching its best price to date. The mid-tier Stealth is one of MSI’s best-selling gaming laptops, as it balances a whole lot of gaming performance without the eye-watering prices of higher-end models. The 16-inch laptop isn’t exactly small, but it’s thin enough to take places, and its QHD panel supports up to a speedy 240Hz refresh rate.
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus — which features a lovely 15.6-inch OLED display, an Intel Core 3 Series 1 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage — is down to $599.99 ($100 off) at Best Buy. The latest version of Samsung’s higher-end Chromebook is one of the first with Google’s new Quick Insert button, which repurposes the Caps Lock key to double as a shortcut for Gemini AI help or other non-AI productivity tasks.

LG’s 27GR95QE-B is a 27-inch gaming monitor with a high-quality 2560 x 1440 OLED panel that supports up to 240Hz refresh for fast performance in competitive games. It has HDMI 2.1 ports with built-in downscaling for making 4K content look good on its 1440p display. Read our review.

The best robot vacuum / mop deals

The Combo j9 Plus is our favorite Roomba robot vacuum. The first Roomba that can refill its own mop tank and empty its own bin, its redesigned dock that doubles as a table. Neat! It has increased suction power and a new SmartScrub feature that moves back and forth to mop more effectively.

At over 50 percent off, the Roomba j7 Plus is a great deal for our former top Roomba pick. It features obstacle avoidance that allows it to navigate around furniture and smaller objects that it deems hazardous. In addition to cleaning on a set schedule, the j7 can jump to work via voice commands or the Roomba app. Read our review.

The Roomba Combo 10 Max is matching its all-time low of around $999 ($400 off) directly from Amazon, iRobot, and Best Buy. The new flagship model from iRobot has all the same features as the j9 Combo, plus a new dock that can clean and dry the robot’s mop, refill its water tank, and empty its bin.
The iRobot Roomba Combo j7 Plus is on sale for around $699 ($300 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is one of its better prices to date. The j7 Plus is similar to the Roomba Combo j9 Plus, as it offers AI obstacle avoidance and a mop that automatically lifts to keep your carpets dry. The main difference is that the Combo j9 Plus offers longer batter life and can refill its own mop tank; it also features a new dirt detection feature. Read our review.
Amazon and Narwal are selling Narwal Freo X Ultra for $799.99 ($600 off), which is the best price we’ve seen on the terrific mopping bot to date. The vac’s anti-tangle brush and 8,200Pa suction do a nice job on most carpets, but where it excels is on hard floors. In fact, the X Ultra is smart enough that it will go back and re-mop areas it deems as dirty. It touts relatively quiet operation, too, thanks in part to an onboard compression bin that only needs to be emptied every 60 days or so.

With a big 770ml bin and 5,500Pa of suction power, the Q5 Pro is a great budget option. It has a removable mopping pad with a small built-in water tank, dual rubber brushes, lidar mapping, and keep-out zones, making it an excellent cleaning machine. It uses Roborock’s very good app and can pair with an auto-empty dock for extra convenience.

The Roborock Q5 Pro Plus — that’s with the auto-empty dock — is on sale at Walmart for $329.99 (down from $699.99), an all-time low. If emptying the robot’s bin is a chore you want to avoid as much as possible, the extra $190 will buy you that convenience.

With a handy ability to remove and reattach its mop pads, the Dreame X40 solves the problem of vacuuming carpets while also mopping hard floors. Its mops can also swing out and under low furniture, getting where most bots can’t reach. An extendable side brush helps get dirt out of corners and a whopping 12,000Pa of suction makes this a great vac.

Our pick for the best budget robot vacuum and mop, the Dreame D10 Plus, is on sale at Amazon and Dreame’s online storefront for $259.99 ($140 off), an all-time low. It’s a solid vacuum that can also mop and self-empty. The lidar-equipped bot can also map your home and lets you add keep-out zones, which is a rare feature at this price point.
If you’re hoping to pick up a solid midrange robot vacuum, Eufy’s X10 Pro Omni is matching its all-time low of $549.99 ($250 off) at Amazon and Eufy’s online storefront (with promo code WS24T2351). While not quite as proficient at picking up dirt and debris as some of our top robovac picks, it boasts a pair of powerful oscillating mops, great AI-powered obstacle avoidance, and a compact dock that’s far less obtrusive than most.
If you really want to save money, the budget-friendly Roomba Combo Essential vacuum and mop is on sale for $157 ($117 off) at Amazon and for $3 more directly from iRobot. The robovac / mop hybrid is the successor to the Roomba 694, with iRobot claiming it offers 20 times more suction power and longer battery life. Unlike pricier robovac / mop hybrids, however, there’s no option for an auto-empty dock.
The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1, a previous pick for best mid-range auto empty vacuum and mop, is selling for $350 off at Best Buy and Amazon — down to $349.99. But if you head over to SharkNinja’s website, you get that price and a free Shark Wandvac, a cordless handheld vacuum worth $130. The Matrix mops very well, doing a swingy, scrubbing movement with its rear end, and it can auto empty, but it only self-empties in vacuum mode — you have to manually fill and attach the mop reservoir and empty the bin when it mops.

The best smart home deals

Philips Hue’s starter kit is a great option for those looking to get started with smart lighting, one that comes with two color-changing A19 bulbs and a Philips Hue Bridge.

These smart lights have beautiful colors, a nice selection of festive scenes, and an easy-to-use app. They are super reliable when paired with a Hue Bridge and also work over Bluetooth. They come in two lengths, work with all the major smart home platforms, and are Matter-compatible.

The latest version of Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat offers a new, sleeker design, support for Matter, and a Soli radar sensor to detect a person approaching it. It also includes one remote Temperature Sensor (second-gen) for monitoring the temp in a room of your choosing. Read our hands-on impressions.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly thermostat, the Amazon Smart Thermostat offers a lot for the price. It’s currently down to $51.99 ($28 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is its second-best price to date. The thermostat integrates well with Amazon Alexa and is capable of adapting to your habits and preferences over time, much like pricier models. However, bear in mind you can’t control it using voice assistants other than Alexa, and it lacks native temperature sensors. Read our review.

Designed to mimic an actual skylight, Nanoleaf’s smart ceiling lights offer tunable LEDs as well as hundreds of lighting scenes — including AI-generated dynamic effects.

The lovely Aqara Ceiling Light T1M light fixture is $40 off at Amazon, down to $109.99 from $149.99 when you apply the on-page coupon. You can add ambiance and function to a room with this dual, addressable LED ceiling light. For easier control, pick up this Aqara smart switch for $28.79 ($7 off) at Amazon. An Aqara Zigbee hub is also required. Read our review.
Govee’s Christmas String Lights 2 are on sale in a 66-foot configuration for $63.99 ($36 off) at Amazon, which is their best price yet. The smart string lights offer more than 130 preset lighting effects, though you can also create your own custom displays. The IP65-rated lights also work with Matter, so you can connect them to any major smart home platform.

Nanoleaf’s modular lights can showcase over 16 million colors and are compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant.

Twinkly’s colorful smart lights are shaped like stars, hearts, candles, and pearls. The USB-C string lights arrive in your choice of 100 or 200 LEDs, each of which can be customized individually to create various visual effects. They also sync with music and come with all kinds of scenes.

Nanoleaf’s hexagonal panels represent a unique spin on smart lighting, with a wooden look that’s designed to be an attractive accent in your home even when they’re not illuminated. The LED panels can be arranged in a layout of your choosing, too.

Eero’s Pro 6E mesh router is available for an all-time low of $159.99 ($90 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, or as part of a two-pack for $259.99 (Amazon, Best Buy) or a three-pack for $349.99 (Amazon, Best Buy). It doesn’t support Wi-Fi 7 like the newer Eero Max, but it does support the 6GHz Wi-Fi band with speeds of up to 1.3Gbps. It also can cover up to 2,000 square feet per unit and conveniently features a pair of ethernet ports. Read our review.

White Google Nest Wifi Pro router on a white table in front of a window.

The Nest Wifi Pro is an upgraded version of the standard model, and it’s equipped with Matter and Thread support in addition to Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. Read our review.

If you’ve ever wished you had a robot that could push a button for you, that’s precisely what Switchbot’s Smart Switch does. It’s simple, smart, and works on anything with a button; stick it on the device you want to turn on or off, and you’re set.

Mill is offering $200 off its high-tech smart bin, which grinds and dehydrates kitchen scraps overnight into a compost-like material. You can buy the bin outright for $799, down from $999, at Mill’s website. It’s a great way to keep stinky odors out of your kitchen, reduce food waste, and cut down on how much trash you generate. Read our review.

White plug plugged into electrical socket.

Kasa’s smart plugs let you add voice controls and scheduling to any outlet. They can also help you monitor your energy usage and work with Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.

Amazon’s apt-titled Smart Plug doesn’t require a hub and lets you add Alexa functionality to any outlet, allowing you to control a range of devices with just your voice.

The best smart security deals

A black wireless camera mounted on a wall.

The 1080p Blink Outdoor 4 security camera offers support for motion detection, night vision, and two-way audio. There’s the option of local recording with the bundled Sync Module 2 (the newer Sync Module XR is out, but we haven’t tested it yet), and unlike the third-gen model, it supports person detection and has a wider field of view.

The black Blink Video Doorbell hung up on a brick wall outside of a house.

Blink’s buzzer is the best if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option with motion-activated recording and alerts, night vision, two-way audio, and up to two years of battery life.

Arlo’s new Wired Floodlight Camera is seeing its first sale at $99.99 ($50 off) at The Home Depot. Arlo’s battery-powered Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Cam is one of our top picks for a floodlight camera, and the wired version means no more worrying about recharging it. However, Arlo’s monthly subscription plan for recorded video is expensive, starting at $8 a month.

Our top pick for a smart lock supports Apple Home and will auto-unlock as you approach your door. For an extra $80, an onboard Wi-Fi module adds out-of-home control and more smart home support. There are also versions with a fingerprint reader and Apple Home Key, but not both. Read our review.

The svelte retrofit August Wi-Fi (4th-gen) smart lock is just $110.04 right now at Amazon, down from $229.99. This is a great price for this excellent retrofit lock that works with all the major smart home platforms and doesn’t require a separate bridge or hub to connect to Wi-Fi. Pro tip: pick up a value pack of these CR123A batteries that are on sale for $32 at Amazon, as it eats through batteries, and they’re expensive. Read our review.

Aqara’s budget door lock, the U50, is a basic but great lock. It has a touchscreen keypad for key-free access and works with Apple Home Key as well as a regular key. It needs an Aqara Hub or Apple Home Hub for out-of-home control, and it’s Matter compatible, so it works with all the major smart home platforms. Read our review.

Ring’s Stick Up Cam Battery is on sale for an all-time low of $49.99 ($50 off) at Wellbots or $54.99 ($45 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The battery-powered 1080p camera offers weatherproofing, so you can mount and use it outside and inside, but you’ll have to pay for a Ring Protect plan to record video. Thankfully, basics like two-way audio, night video, and motion alerts are available for free.
The second-gen Ring Indoor Cam is available at Amazon and Best Buy for $29.99 ($30 off), which matches its best price to date. Unlike its predecessor, the indoor security camera features color night vision and a physical privacy cover, allowing you to turn off video and audio recording. The wired camera is similar to its predecessor otherwise and features sharp 1080p HD resolution, a built-in siren, and two-way audio.

A Google Nest Cam attached to two bright, adjustable floodlights, this camera has free video recording, powerful lights, and on-device processing of smart alerts for people, vehicles, and animals. There’s no siren, but there is 24/7 recording and facial recognition. Read our review.

You can buy Google’s wired Nest Cam for $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which matches its all-time low. The indoor 1080p camera offers snappy performance and free smart alerts for people and pets. It also comes with 24/7 recording and other useful features, including a Familiar Faces tool that lets you know who is in a room. However, you’ll have to pay for Google’s Nest Aware plan to enable those features. Read our review.
Our favorite video doorbell, the wired Nest Doorbell, is around $98 ($81 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store, which is by far the lowest price we’ve seen. It may not offer 1080p resolution like other video doorbells in its range (it’s limited to 960 x 1280), but it still produces a clear picture and is one of the few options that can manage 24/7 recording. It also supports facial recognition with smart alerts. Read our review.

White device labeled Meross with black and red wires coming out

Meross makes a handy add-on that can transform a variety of garage door models into smart doors that you can open remotely. It works with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.

A large silver door lock on a door above a lever handle

Expensive but with a premium feel, this smart lock is reliable, feels good in your hand, and doesn’t require switching out your entire deadbolt. You can keep your existing key, and it will auto-unlock as you arrive home. But beware of the poor battery life and prepare to stockpile those CR123 batteries. Read our guide to the best smart locks.

The best fitness tracker and smartwatch deals

Google’s new Pixel Watch 3 is bigger and brighter than its predecessor. It also features more advanced running capabilities, offline Google Maps functionality, and deeper integration with other Google devices. Read our review.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is available from Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store for $69.95 ($30 off), matching its all-time low. The minimalist band lacks built-in GPS and doesn’t offer as many health and fitness features as the Charge 6, but it packs a bright OLED display and does a good job with the basics. It supports both irregular heart rate notifications and advanced sleep tracking, along with several stress management features. Read our hands-on impressions.
The Fitbit Ace LTE is now at a fresh all-time low of $160.95 ($60 off) at Amazon, or you can get it for $179.95 ($50 off) at Best Buy and Google’s online storefront. Designed for kids, its bubbly design is a bit more playful than most Fitbits. You can play games on it and even take care of a Tamagotchi-like pet, and the tracker periodically pauses the fun until your child has gotten more steps in. Parents can also use it to exchange messages with their children and monitor their real-time location, assuming they opt for the $9.99-a-month Ace Pass data plan.

Fitbit Charge 6 showing exercise app on screen.

The Fitbit Charge 6 features a haptic side button, an improved heart rate algorithm, turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps, and the ability to broadcast your heart rate on certain Bluetooth gym equipment. Read our review.

If you’re looking for a terrific Fitbit alternative, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 is a great pick that’s $149.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Garmin’s online storefront. It’s a shame it lacks built-in GPS, but it does offer a lot of health features not found on rivals like the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4, including hydration tracking and access to Garmin Coach, which provides marathon training plans. These features aren’t locked behind a paywall, either, making the wearable an even better deal. Read our review.

The OnePlus Watch 2 has Wear OS 4, multiday battery life, dual-frequency GPS, and helps fill the void left by Fossil exiting the Android smartwatch space. Read our review.

The Oura Ring Gen 3 sitting in a jewelry tray with other rings.

The Oura Ring Gen 3 is a discreet sleep and recovery tracker that tracks heart rate, body temperature, and activity. It comes with a six-month free trial, with a $5.99 monthly subscription after that. Read our review.

The Amazfit Band 7 is an unassuming, basic fitness tracker with a bright OLED display, long battery life, and an incredible feature set for the price. Read our review.

The Garmin Fenix 7S Pro, one of the best fitness trackers you can buy, is on sale exclusively for Verge readers. Now through Cyber Monday, you can get the multi-sport fitness watch for just $529.99 ($270 off) at Wellbots with promo code VERGEBF270. In addition to a smorgasbord of health sensors and workout tracking, it has reliable multiband GPS, solar charging, military-grade durability, and weekslong battery life. Read our review.

The Withings Scanwatch Light is a hybrid analog smartwatch that tracks the basics like steps and activities, while delivering up to 30 days of battery life. Read our review.

The best TV, streaming device, and soundbar deals

An image of the Google Chromecast, the best streaming stick of 2021 for most people, resting on a soundbar.

The Chromecast with Google TV (4K) features a dedicated remote and intuitive software that pulls together recommendations from all of your streaming services. It also supports 4K HDR content with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10 Plus. Read our review.

Amazon’s highest-end streaming stick is faster than its predecessor with Wi-Fi 6E and double the storage. It also now displays widgets and artwork when idle while continuing to offer a terrific selection of streaming apps and Alexa integration.

LG’s G4 OLED TV is on sale in the 55-inch configuration starting at $1,796.99 (about $803 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is its best price yet. The 4K TV sports many of the C4’s standout features — including a 144Hz refresh rate — but it offers brighter picture quality and more accurate colors.
The LG B4 OLED is another solid gaming TV, and you can get a 48-inch model for $599.99 ($200 off) at Best Buy or a 55-inch model for $999.99 ($400 off). It has an older processor and a dimmer screen than the costlier “Evo” models, but it’s a fine option if you’re looking for a relatively affordable way to experience 4K 120Hz gaming on an OLED panel.

The LG C4 is similar to its predecessor, with support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync variable refresh rate tech. However, it now sports a max 144Hz refresh rate, a brighter panel, and overall better picture quality.

If size matters most to you when it comes to TVs, then check out the Hisense 100-inch U8 Mini LED 100U8K TV selling for $2,599.99 ($2,398 off) at Amazon. Yes, that’s 100 diagonal inches of 4K content, complete with 144Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 support. Amazon only has a handful of these left in stock, possibly because boxed 100-inch TVs take up a lot of spce.
You can get the 65-inch Samsung S90D OLED starting at $1,397.99 ($800 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung, which is the lowest price we’ve seen on the 4K TV. It’s just a small step down from the S95D OLED, as it doesn’t have a glare-reduction panel, but you still get sharp picture quality and a slew of gaming features, including a 120Hz variable refresh rate. Unfortunately, Samsung TVs still exclude Dolby Vision, so you’ll have to look elsewhere if that’s important to you.

Samsung’s art-inspired 4K TV uses an anti-glare matte QLED display, which provides artwork and photos with qualities that resemble an actual canvas.

The budget-friendly Hisense U6 Series supports Dolby Vision HDR and full-array local dimming, allowing it to deliver punchy colors and good contrast. It also comes with Google’s TV software built-in, along with Dolby Atmos support for more immersive sound.

The Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro is a portable smart projector and Bluetooth speaker that delivers surprisingly good picture and sound quality for its size. Read our review.

Whether you’re outfitting a bathroom or need some sensory stimulation for a newborn’s nursery, there’s still a bit of room in the world for 32-inch, 720p TVs like the Insignia F20 —which is on sale for only $69.99 ($60 off) at Best Buy. You won’t get many tricks, but it has HDMI Arc and it’s a Fire TV, meaning you have the convenience of voice-activated content discovery across hundreds of apps via the included Alexa Voice Remote.

Amazon’s own Fire TV Soundbar is a 2.0-channel speaker that stretches 24 inches long. It’s got support for Dolby Audio, DTS, and Bluetooth and connects to a compatible TV via an HDMI port with eARC or ARC. Read our hands-on impressions.

The Sonos Ray is available for just $169 ($110 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and the Sonos storefront. The compact soundbar isn’t as powerful as other models in the brand’s lineup, but it should easily best your TV’s built-in speakers. It’s not our first choice for a soundbar — it lacks HDMI (and thus doesn’t support the helpful eARC tech) — but it’s an affordable way to add a Sonos piece to your home theater setup if you don’t mind using optical. Read our review.

A photo of a man leaning over on a couch and using LG’s StanbyME Go briefcase TV.

LG’s StanbyME Go is a fun 27-inch panel nestled within a briefcase. The basic 1080p display doesn’t offer high-end specs, though it does come with a selection of preloaded games, versatile viewing options, and a wide selection of streaming apps. Read our review.

The latest Sonos Beam fits into the middle of Sonos’ soundbar lineup. It supports Dolby Atmos through virtualized surround sound and offers eARC compatibility with newer TVs. Read our review.

An image of the front of the Sonos Arc soundbar with a TV in the background.

The Sonos Arc is a powerful Dolby Atmos speaker that also integrates with the company’s multiroom audio platform. With extra capabilities like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s AirPlay 2, it’s a feature-rich soundbar that sounds just as good when playing music. Read our review.

Paramount Plus and Showtime grant you ad-free access to live sports as well as movies and shows from both platforms, including Star Trek, Top Gun: Maverick, and Yellowjackets. New and returning subscribers can sign up for the ad-free Paramount Plus with Showtime plan for $2.99 a month for two months until December 4th.

Now until 3AM ET on December 2nd, you can get an entire year of ad-supported Peacock Premium for $19.99 or six months for $1.99 a month. The streaming service is great for sports fans, featuring live broadcasts for NFL Sunday Night Football games, college basketball, Premier League soccer, WWE premium live events, golf, and more. It features scores of other programming, too, including on-demand movies and original shows.

Until December 2nd at 11:59PM PT, you can get a Hulu with Disney Plus bundle for $2.99 a month for the next year. Disney Plus provides access to a wealth of shows and movies, including X-Men ‘97 and The Acolyte.

Now until December 2nd, Amazon Prime members can get 75 percent off a two-month subscription to select Amazon Prime Video channels, including Paramount Plus, Showtime, MGM Plus, Starz, AMC Plus, BritBox, Cinemax, and more.

YouTube TV offers access to more than 100 major channels covering live sports, news, entertainment, and more. It also includes unlimited recording for up to six accounts.

The best smartphone and mobile accessory deals

The 2024 Razr Plus is Motorola’s best foldable yet, with an improved cover screen UI and one of the biggest front displays on any modern flip phone. Read our review.

Google Pixel 9 on a pink and green background.

Google’s new Pixel 9 has a slightly larger 6.3-inch OLED display than its predecessor, along with a new Tensor G4 processor, a bigger battery, 12GB of RAM, and a dual rear camera setup with a new 48-megapixel sensor for its ultrawide. Read our review.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold features a 6.3-inch outer screen and an eight-inch inner screen once it’s unfolded — both of which are larger than the original Pixel Fold. The new foldable also lays flat when opened, sports IPX8 weather resistance, and offers a thinner design than the last-gen model. Read our review.

The Google Pixel 8A is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store starting at $399 ($100 off), which is $20 more than its lowest price to date. You’ll get a pure Android experience that’s guaranteed to receive updates over the next seven years, and the device should last you well into that timeline thanks to its IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. It also has wireless charging, a speedy Tensor G3 chip, a 120Hz OLED display, and a dual-camera array that works pretty well. Read our review.

The S24 “Fan Edition” is the least expensive of Samsung’s S-series and has two major selling points: a dedicated 3x telephoto camera and a big 6.7-inch display. Read our review.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra showing a blue and yellow homescreen, on a blue and yellow background with green translucent rectangles.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is just loaded with goodies including a big, beautiful display, an integrated stylus, and two telephoto cameras. Read our review.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is matching its all-time low of $299.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung’s online storefront. It comes with a robust IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it should survive a brief swim in a puddle or… you know. Coupled with a strong software support policy with five years of promised security updates, it’s a great deal in the under-$500 class.
The OnePlus Open is going for $1,199.99, down from $1,699.99, which is an excellent price for a great folding phone. It’s a year old at this point, but it should still receive another four years of security updates. You can get an extra $100 off with a trade-in if you go through OnePlus directly, but the discounted price is also available from Amazon and Best Buy.

OnePlus 12R on a green background with blue translucent squares.

The OnePlus 12R comes with an excellent screen and a top-notch processor, making it feel much more expensive than its $500 price tag. Read our review.

Photo of DJI Osmo Mobile 6 and smartphone on table

The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is a compact smartphone gimbal that allows you to easily stabilize your videos. The latest version is similar to previous models, only it touts a small OLED display to manage various shooting modes and a more portable, foldable design.

Photo of an iPhone mounted onto the top of a laptop using Belkin’s mount. The video from the iPhone’s camera is shown on the screen.

Belkin’s laptop-friendly Continuity Camera mount offers great build quality, a built-in kickstand, and — most importantly — an easy way to use your MagSafe-equipped iPhone as a webcam.

Now through November 30th, Moft is taking up to $60 off a variety of cases, stands, and other accessories. The ongoing promo includes Moft’s Invisible Phone Stand and Wallet, which is capable of holding up to three cards and was our favorite adhesive phone grip in 2022. To get the $60 discount, you’ll have to order over $200 and apply the code BF60. However, you can also spend much less and still save, with Moft offering $10 off if you spend over $50 (with code BF10); $20 off if you spend more than $100 (using code BF20); and $37 off if you spend over $150 (with code BF37).

The best charger deals

A compact, flexible Qi2 charger for vent and dash mounting. Read our review.

The latest version of Anker’s magnetic MagGo charging pads supports 15W Qi2 and has a five-foot USB-C cable.

Anker’s three-port portable charger features a digital display and 140W output, making it perfectly suitable for charging smartphones, laptops, and headphones simultaneously.

If you’re not ready to pony up for a Qi2 charger, Ugreen’s Magnetic Wireless Charging Station has fallen to an all-time low of $23.99 ($16 off) at Amazon. Unlike the newer Qi2 offerings that provide 15W charging speeds, Ugreen’s charger can only supply 7.5W of power to MagSafe-compatible devices, or 5W to a pair of wireless earbuds or any Qi-ready device if you’re using the integrated charging stand located on the bottom.
If transparent electronics are your thing, you can pick up the Shargeek 170 Power Bank at Amazon for $134.90 ($64 off) or directly from Sharge for $129.90 ($69 off). The handsome prism-shaped charger features a 24,000-mAh capacity and a maximum output of 170 watts, allowing you to fast-charge most everything you own. It even offers a color display so you can see the remaining battery life, output, and other helpful info at a glance.
Belkin’s BoostCharge Dual Wall Charger 42W has dropped to a new low of $19.99 ($10 off) at Amazon. It has one USB-C and one USB-A port for simultaneous charging and folding prongs that make it easier to slip into a bag or pocket while traveling. Its USB-C Power Delivery port meets the fast charging speeds of most smartphones, but you can also use it to charge tablets and laptops at a respectable rate.

The latest version of Belkin’s 3-in-1 BoostCharge Pro stand uses Qi2 for 15W wireless charging and a refined design allowing the attached phone to tilt. It also comes with a compact 36W USB-C power adapter.

An iPhone and Apple Watch wirelessly charging on a Nomad Stand One Max three-in-one charger. The iPhone is horizontal in StandBy mode and a person is tapping on the Apple Watch screen.

Nomad’s updated 3-in-1 Stand One Max adds Qi2 support for charging compatible iPhones at 15W. It can simultaneously charge AirPods and fast-charge an Apple Watch.

Anker cube power strip on table in between a person with a phone and a computer

This all-in-one 20W power cube boasts three AC outlets, two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port.

The Xbox Series X is Microsoft’s flagship console, serving as its most powerful (and biggest) option focused on fast, 4K gameplay. Read our review.

With an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, a 1TB SSD, and 24GB of RAM, the ROG Ally X is one of the most powerful PC gaming handhelds available. It also features a 7-inch 1080p variable refresh rate display and longer battery life than the original Ally. Read our review.

The Xbox Series S is down to around $249 ($50 off) at Best Buy and Target. It’s the most affordable option in Microsoft’s latest console generation, namely because it features less processing power and caps gaming at 1440p resolution. It also lacks a disc drive and only has 512GB of storage instead of 1TB. However, it’s still capable of playing all the same games as the Series X. Read our review.
One of Best Buy’s doorbusters is the Asus ROG Ally, which is matching its all-time low of $499.99 ($150 off) with a Z1 Extreme processor and 512GB of storage (My Best Buy Plus and Total members can save another $50). The handheld lets you play PC games on the go, thanks to its seven-inch 1080p display, and while there are faster alternatives, it’s still serviceable for esports shooters, indie gems, and other lightweight titles. Read our review.
The Hori Split Pad Pro, our favorite Nintendo Switch controller for handheld mode, is on sale for $38.99 ($11 off) at Walmart and Target. The comfortable Joy-Con alternative is outfitted with large triggers, analog sticks, and a set of easy-to-reach buttons, along with more than enough grip that it shouldn’t pose any problems over long gaming sessions.
If you have a wireless mouse that supports it, Logitech’s G PowerPlay Wireless Charging System is on sale at Amazon for an all-time low of $86.62, down from $119.99. Mice like the G502 X Lightspeed support the wireless charging pad, as does the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2, both of which will grant you infinite playtime without a single second of tethering.

The Backbone One can connect to Android phones and iPhones as far back as the 6S, depending on the model. It’s a fully featured controller complete with dual analog sticks, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and its own software for capturing screenshots and connecting to game streaming services.

The controller designed for the PS5, featuring adaptive triggers, a built-in microphone, and haptic feedback technologies. Read our review.

Microsoft’s official Xbox Wireless Controller is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target in a variety of colors starting at $39.99 ($20 off). You can save on the special edition models, including the translucent ghost cipher and blue cipher models, which are starting at $45 (about $25 off) at Amazon, Target and Best Buy. All of them are compatible with the Xbox One and Series X / S, too, or with Windows PCs and mobile devices using Bluetooth or USB-C.
Amazon’s Luna wireless controller has reached an all-time low of $39.99 ($30) at Amazon. The gamepad is designed for the retailer’s cloud gaming service, exclusively enabling features like server-side low-latency control and automatic screen switching on Amazon Fire TVs and devices. That said, you can use the controller with other games and platforms, including Windows, macOS, and mobile devices via Bluetooth and USB-C.

The Fusion Pro 3 is the latest version of PowerA’s affordable alternative to premium controllers like the Xbox Elite Series 2. It comes with swappable sticks, friction rings, a compact zip-up case, and features four programmable buttons built into its rear.

The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller propped up against an Xbox Series X.

The PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller is a good budget-friendly alternative to the Switch Pro Controller. It features remappable back buttons as well as Bluetooth connectivity and comes in a variety of designs and colorways.

A photo of The Verge’s Alex Heath wearing a Quest 3S.

$299

If you don’t already own a VR headset, the 3S is a great entry point. It plays all the same games and offers the same mixed reality features as the Quest 3, only it’s slightly larger and uses lower-resolution displays. It also lacks the Quest 3’s depth sensor and uses a narrower field of view.

If you enjoyed HBO’s fantastic adaptation of The Last of Us, The Last of Us Part I is on sale for the PlayStation 5 at Best Buy, Target, and GameStop starting at $29.99 ($40 off), an all-time low. It’s a remarkable remake of the classic title from 2013, with faster load times, better visuals, and other welcome tweaks. Read our review.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is on sale for the PS5 at Amazon and Best Buy for $39.99 ($30 off), an all-time low. The sophomore game in Square Enix’s reboot trilogy is arguably better than the original, with added gameplay tweaks, improved visuals, and welcome character development that deftly expands upon the classic PS1 RPG. It’s all killer, no filler.
Nintendo’s neon blue and red Joy-Con controllers are receiving a rare discount at Walmart and Best Buy, which drops them to around $59 ($21 off) for a limited time. The detachable controllers are still a great option if you play in handheld mode or while your Nintendo Switch is docket, even if they’re not the most comfortable over long gaming sessions.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard is seeing its first notable discount, with the physical PlayStation 5 version selling for $54 (about $16 off) at Amazon. It’s been nearly 10 years since the last major BioWare RPG in the world of Dragon Age, and The Veilguard is a worthwhile follow-up that looks great and continues the signature storytelling and relationship building the series is known for. Read our review.

Star Wars Outlaws is an original open-world adventure set in the vast universe of the iconic film series. It stars Kay Vess, a protagonist looking to steal from criminal overlords to gain her freedom. A new expansion featuring Lando Calrissian just launched, alongside an update that improves stealth and some of the game’s most glaring issues. Read our review.

Screenshot from Astro Bot featuring Astro riding a DualSense controller over a gorgeous ocean

Astro Bot is the kind of game you buy a PlayStation 5 for. The refreshing title features gorgeous environments and wildly inventive mechanics, many of which turn tried-and-true platforming mechanics on their head. It doesn’t hurt that Sony’s titular robot is as adorable as ever. Read our review.

A screenshot from Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition includes the base game as well as CDPR’s excellent Phantom Liberty expansion, which improves the game significantly. The spy thriller DLC introduces players to a new area of Night City, along with a host of new quests and items.

Screenshot pf a character fighting a beast from the Elden Ring game.

Elden Ring, the latest FromSoftware title, takes the Dark Souls formula to a vast open world. Read our review.

Insomniac’s Wolverine could be years away; however, if you have yet to play the studio’s other superhero title, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has fallen to a new low of $39.99 ($30 off) at GameStop and Target. It’s a terrific sequel to the 2018 open-world title, with new mechanics, more baddies, and the ability to play as two — count ‘em, two — spider-men. Read our review.
It might not be Mario’s latest romp for the Nintendo Switch, but Super Mario Odyssey is on sale for $29.99 ($30 off) at Target and GameStop, which remains one of its best prices to date. The excellent 3D platformer offers plenty of twists and charm on the classic Mario formula, mostly due to a new mechanic (read: a hat) that lets Nintendo’s iconic mascot possess a variety of objects and characters. Read our review.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest from the creators of the Persona series, which is easy to tell based on its cell-shaded art style. The heavy-hitting story is less noticeable, though, and there’s a lot to unpack as you play through the medieval-era, turn-based RPG.

Alan Wake 2 is the culmination of everything Remedy Entertainment has been building toward. The inventive third-person survival game is both horrifying and strange, with dual campaigns that are more than a little meta.

Screenshot from Final Fantasy XVI featuring Cid, Torgal the wolf, Clive, and Jill

The latest mainline Final Fantasy game is a bombastic rollercoaster of an RPG infused with a dose of Game of Thrones medieval intrigue and gritty violence. It’s also quite the cinematic spectacle of the PS5’s graphical prowess. Read our review.

The PS5 version of Gran Turismo 7 has dropped to $29.99 ($40 off) at Best Buy and Target, nearly matching its best price to date. The sim racer has elegance and reverential regard for racing culture. It features hundreds of cars that you can deeply customize with fully tunable vehicles and unique liveries. You can also race in virtual reality with a PlayStation VR2 headset. Read our review.
Sony’s InZone Buds for PC and PlayStation have dropped to a new low of around $168 ($32 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The gaming-centric wireless earbuds come with a USB-C dongle and deliver great sound, namely because they use the same drivers and offer the same noise cancellation capabilities as Sony’s WF-1000XM5 — our pick for the best wireless earbuds; they also offer robust customization via Sony’s InZone Hub software.

Sony sells a bundle consisting of its PSVR 2, controllers, and a physical copy of Horizon Call of the Mountain for the PS5.

A Seagate 1TB Expansion Card plugged into the back of an Xbox Series X console.

Proprietary SSD expansion for the Xbox Series X / S consoles. The plug-and-play drives are designed to be as fast as the Xbox internal SSD and are sold in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations.

The 2TB WD_Black SN850P SSD is on sale with a PS5-ready heatsink for $159.99 ($100 off) at Best Buy and SanDisk’s online store. While it misses the all-time low mark by $30, it’s still a good price for a package that makes it easy to add storage to your PS5. With traditional external SSDs and hard drives, you’d still need to transfer games to the PS5’s internal storage. You can also slot it into an available M.2 slot in your gaming PC.
Need some affordable but sizable storage for your Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck? The SanDisk 512GB Extreme microSD card is just $35.99 (around $7 off) at Amazon. It’s been slightly cheaper before, but remains one of the most affordable ways to fit many more digital games onto a handheld.

Sony’s PlayStation Pulse Elite is an over-ear headset with a retractable boom mic. It’s designed to filter out background noise, deliver low latency and lossless audio, and work with the PlayStation Portal or the PlayStation 5, PC, and Mac via the PlayStation Link USB adapter.

The Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset supports active noise cancellation, swappable batteries, Bluetooth support, and compatibility with PC and most consoles — including Xbox and PlayStation. This model includes a base station that makes it easy to toggle crucial sound settings. Read our review.

The best location tracker deals

The Pebblebee Clip supports Apple’s Find My network but also has a 500-foot Bluetooth range, LEDs that flash to help you locate it, and a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 12 months on a single charge.

The latest Tile Pro is the company’s most capable Bluetooth tracker and has an even wider range than its predecessor at 500 feet along with a user-replaceable battery, unlike other Tiles. Like the 2024 Tile Mate, however, it’s platform-agnostic and can also send SOS alerts if you pay for the $14.99 monthly Life360 Gold subscription.

The 2024 Tile Mate is available for an all-time low from Amazon and Tile, where you can grab it starting at $19.98 ($5 off). The platform-agnostic Bluetooth tracker helps you keep track of your personal belongings from up to 350 feet away, which is 100 feet wider than its predecessor’s range. It also now can send SOS alerts to your loved ones and even emergency services if you pay for the $14.99-a-month Life360 Gold subscription.
Eufy’s new SmartTrack Card E30 is on sale for $23.99 ($11 off) at Amazon and directly from Eufy (with promo code WS24T87B1). Unlike its predecessor, the Eufy Security SmartTrack Card, Eufy’s latest tracker is rechargeable and should last you up to a year before you need to charge it again. It also sports a slim design — which makes it ideal for a wallet — and compatibility with Apple’s vast Find My network.
If you’re really tight on cash, the last-gen Eufy Security SmartTrack Card is also on sale for $16.88 ($14 off) at Amazon, which is nearly its best price to date. Just bear in mind it doesn’t have a replaceable battery, though the one it does should last for up to three years.

The best Black Friday deals on Verge favorites

Lego’s 327-piece Plum Blossom set is a unique way to add faux flora to your home environment. The “plant” emanates from a blue-and-gold flowerpot that’s sitting on a depicted wooden stand when fully assembled.

The Ember Mug 2 is a temperature-controlled smart mug that keeps beverages hot. The accompanying iOS and Android apps allow you to dial in a specific temperature, from 120 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ChomChom is a reusable cat and dog hair remover that works great for furniture.

Logitech’s Litra Glow is currently on sale at Amazon for $47.49 (about $13 off), matching its second-best price to date. The compact LED light has controllable brightness and a simple foot for mounting atop a laptop or monitor, making it a solid option for Twitch streamers, YouTubers, and other content creators.
A number of other Ember smart mugs are also on sale right now — including the 12-ounce Travel Mug 2 Plus, which you can buy from Ember for $149.96 ($50 off) through December 1st when you apply promo code BLACKFRIDAY24. Unlike the Mug 2, the Travel Mug 2 Plus supports Apple’s Find My network, so you can keep tabs on it using an iPhone or Mac. It also comes with onboard controls and LED status lights.
The Solo Stove Bonfire + Stand 2.0 is selling for $195.99 ($149 off) at Amazon. The Bonfire 2.0 makes a great backyard addition for outdoor gatherings, and it also travels well if you want to light up some marshmallows at the beach.

A hand holding up the white Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 against a green slide.

Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 12 is the best instant camera for most people. While it lacks more advanced features, the simple instant camera takes good-quality shots quickly and easily and offers a built-in selfie mode. It’s sold in a variety of fun colors that’ll especially appeal to kids and tweens.

The MK. 2 version of the standard Stream Deck comes with 15 programmable buttons, a swappable faceplate, and a detachable stand.

Elgato Stream Deck Plus pictured against colorful background

The Elgato Stream Deck Plus sacrifices some of the PC control pad’s programmable LCD buttons to make room for a set of dials and an LCD strip to visualize your volume and light adjustments. Read our review.

You can buy the Hatch Restore 2 directly from Hatch for an all-time low of $139.99 ($30 off) when you use promo code BFCM30 (you can also buy it for $5 more at Amazon and Best Buy). The TikTok-famous smart clock, which also functions as a sunrise lamp and sound machine, is one of our favorite sleep gadgets. It offers a simulated sunrise, peaceful alarms, guided meditation exercises, and a selection of white noise so you gently wake up and fall asleep more easily. Read our review.
The Te-Rich Weighted Jump Rope is on sale for an all-time low of $13.48 (about $4 off) at Amazon for Prime subscribers. The adjustable smart rope isn’t particularly fancy, but it does offer a built-in LCD display with a reliable jump counter and timer.

This walking pad can connect over Bluetooth with Mobvoi and other Android smartwatches.

Headspace offers hundreds of guided meditations that are destined to relieve stress, improve productivity, and help you exercise. Right now, you can subscribe to an annual plan for $34.99, which is a 50 percent discount.

The AeroPress has made a name among enthusiasts for its great brewing ability. Its simplistic hands-on operation can make your morning coffee rituals more fun and engaging than a traditional drip-style maker.

The Epomaker TH80 Pro is a well-equipped wireless mechanical keyboard. It’s customizable and feels good to type on while also being relatively affordable.

A close-up image of Mattel’s Xbox 360 replica on a white background.

Mattel’s Mega Xbox 360 Collector Building Set comes with more than 1,300 pieces you can use to assemble an interactive replica of the original Xbox 360, a controller, and a “copy” of Halo 3.

As part of its early Black Friday promo, Oaky is taking up to 25 percent off several desks, chargers, docks, and other wooden accessories. Right now, for instance, you can buy its attractive Laptop Stand for $120 ($30 off) or an 80 x 19-inch Floating Shelf for $195.50 ($35 off), both of which are available with either oak or walnut construction.
The EcoFlow Wave 2 is a heat pump that is uniquely powered by both a battery and solar power, one that’s available for $749 ($250 off) at Wellbots or for $799 ($200 off) at Ecoflow’s website and Amazon (with a coupon). The highly portable device combines an air conditioner and heater, and while it struggles with more extreme climates, it does a particularly good job of cooling and heating small spaces in temperate ones. Read our review.
The Withings Body Smart scale offers a unique approach to weigh-ins, allowing you to focus less on the number and more on how you’re trending with gentle emoji. It’s now available in either black or white at Amazon for $79.95 ($20 off), its second-best price to date. Read our review.

DJI’s last-gen Mini 3 remains a great drone for beginners. The lightweight quadcopter offers a 4K sensor, excellent image stabilization, and 38 minutes of flight time on a standard battery. It’s also light enough that it doesn’t require a permit — a boon for first-time flyers.

Breville’s Barista Express certainly isn’t the cheapest option out there, but it’s elegant, straightforward, and relatively easy to maintain.

A chomping plant built out of lego bricks, complete with green warp pipe underneath

Lego’s 540-piece Piranha Plant set remains one of the more affordable Lego Mario kits you can buy. It’s got a massive mouth, posable leaves, and comes with two coins inspired by the classic franchise.

Grovemade makes some truly excellent desk accessories, many of which use metal, wood, and felt for a more premium touch. They’re definitely pricey, but thankfully, Grovemade is running a holiday sale until December 4th, allowing you to save on shelving, succulent planters, and other gear. Some of us at The Verge personally use the Wood Laptop Stand (now $160), which can elevate the look of any workstation.
If you’re looking for a more “innovative” way to eat cereal, the CrunchCup is on sale at Amazon for an all-time low of $17.56 (about $6 off). The absurd, two-cup contraption takes some getting used to, but once you get it down, it’s a handy way to consume breakfast on the go. Just pick your cereal wisely — not everything Kellogg’s makes is spout-friendly.

The Victrola Stream Onyx may be a cheaper alternative to the higher-end Stream Carbon, but it still features a metal platter and the ability to stream records straight to a Sonos system.

Hand holding green safety cutter over a wrapped brown tube.

The slice is a petite cutting tool with a ceramic blade that’s quick, easy, and safe.

A Nuphy Air75 V2 keyboard with black, gray, red and yellow keys on a desktop.

Nuphy’s latest version of its Air mechanical keyboard is outstanding. This one omits a numpad but still includes arrow keys and a full row of function keys that double as media keys. It comes in black, gray, and white, with a few different switch options, and it’s both wired and wireless. It also supports both Windows and macOS.

Azul, a four-player puzzle game that challenges you to tile mosaics in a palace, is down to $19.99 (50 percent off) at Amazon and Target, which isn’t far off from the all-time low. It’s easy to learn and suitable for ages eight and older, but it has just the right amount of depth and competitiveness to keep family and friends coming back for more.
Ticket to Ride is another classic board game down that’s starting at $25 (about $30 off) at Amazon and Target. That’s one of the better prices lately on a cutthroat card game, which challenges you to build the longest locomotive route across classic America before your other tycoon opponents.

A strategy card game in which players compete to build Renaissance Europe’s most lucrative and prestigious jewelry business.

In the iconic board game classic Catan, players strategically compete and trade for resources.

Travel adaptor on power strip connected to phones and laptop.

Epicka’s universal travel adapter is an all-in-one adapter that includes four different plugs that cover over 150 countries.

Wildfire season might be behind us (for now), but you can still pick up the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty from Amazon and Coway for around $141 ($99 off), which matches its second-best price to date. The compact HEPA air purifier features a four-stage filtration system, and though we don’t do a ton of dedicated air purifier testing here at The Verge, we can personally attest to the effectiveness of this midrange model for smaller rooms.
You can currently grab a gorgeous illustrated edition of The Hobbit for $27.50 (about $48 off) at Amazon thanks to an on-page coupon. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen on the 432-page hardcover edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1937 classic, which brings together more than 50 of the author’s original sketches, drawings, paintings, and maps.

Hand holding Thermapen One thermometer into a grilled steak.

An instant-read thermometer that promises speed and accuracy.

Fellow’s handsome electric kettle allows you to easily choose your desired water temperature and time tea or coffee extraction thanks to a colored LCD display and built-in stopwatch.

Garmin’s palm-size inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator provides off-the-grid contact with subscription plans starting at $14.95 a month.

Update, November 30th: Updated to reflect current pricing/availability and several new deals, including one for Anker’s beefy 737 Power Bank.

Technology

US arrests soldier who allegedly made $400k on Maduro Polymarket bets

Published

5 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Press Room

US arrests soldier who allegedly made 0k on Maduro Polymarket bets

On or about January 6, 2026, for example, VAN DYKE asked Polymarket to delete his Polymarket account, falsely claiming that he had lost access to the email address to which the account had been associated. That same day, VAN DYKE changed the email registered to his cryptocurrency exchange account to an email address that was not subscribed to in his name, which email address was created on or about December 14., 2025.

Technology

How Florida retiree lost $200K in fake PayPal refund scam

Published

5 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Press Room

How Florida retiree lost 0K in fake PayPal refund scam

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Brian Oliver is retired, sharp and financially savvy enough to have a stock-and-bond portfolio worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. He is not the type of person you picture getting scammed. That is exactly why scammers picked him.

What happened to Oliver, 85, is the kind of story that makes your jaw drop, and your stomach turn at the same time. It started with a routine-looking email and ended with a box of gold coins rolling away in the back of a black Mustang. In between, Oliver lost $200,000 and nearly half of his retirement savings.

He told his story on my Beyond Connected podcast at getbeyondconnected.com, along with Detective Justin Torres of the Gainesville Police Department in Florida. What they shared together is equal parts chilling and clarifying.

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BEWARE FAKE CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT RESTRICTION SCAMS

Brian Oliver shares how a routine-looking email pulled him into a sophisticated refund scam that cost him $200,000. (Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance)

It all started with a PayPal refund scam email

Brian got an email that said PayPal owed him money. It was not a wild claim. He had dealt with PayPal before and figured, “Maybe they found some money for me.” So he responded. The email included a phone number, and that number connected him to a man who called himself Andrew Johnson.

“Yeah, we have $450 for you. Type in the number 100 on your computer and we’ll get it started.”

Brian typed 100. Andrew immediately said he had made a mistake: “Oh no, you put in 10,000.”

Brian pushed back. He said he did not type 10,000. Andrew told him to check his Bank of America account. Brian opened it, and there it was: $10,000 sitting in his checking account.

Except it was not real. The scammers had somehow mirrored his bank’s website. What Brian saw looked exactly like his actual Bank of America page, complete with a new balance and a phone number embedded in the “Contact Us” section. That number was fake, too.

Brian called it. A man named Josh answered, identifying himself as a Bank of America representative. He told Brian that the only way to return the money without triggering a $3,500 tax penalty was to withdraw $10,000 in cash and feed it into a crypto ATM.

How the PayPal refund scam tricked Brian

Oliver had never heard of a crypto ATM before that day. Josh helpfully told him exactly where to find one. It was in a sketchy part of town, and Oliver walked in carrying $10,000 in his pocket.

“I’m on my knees, on a cement floor, and I’m 85,” Oliver said.

He fed one hundred $100 bills into the machine, bill by bill, watching over his shoulder the entire time. Some bills got kicked back out. He fed them in again. When the machine finally accepted all of them, he photographed the receipt and sent it to Andrew Johnson, just as he had been instructed.

Then Oliver went home and told Andrew it was done. Andrew told him they still had to take care of his refund. He told Oliver to type in the number 200.

FAKE PAYPAL EMAIL LET HACKERS ACCESS COMPUTER AND BANK ACCOUNT

Oliver typed it. Andrew’s response came fast: “Oh my God, my boss is going to kill me. It’s $200,000 we’ve transferred to your account.”

This type of scam is becoming more common, and it often involves criminals impersonating trusted platforms like PayPal.

“PayPal does not tolerate fraudulent activity, and we work hard to protect our customers from evolving phishing scams,” a spokesperson for PayPal told CyberGuy. “We always encourage consumers to learn how to spot the warning signs of common fraud, including our tips on the PayPal Newsroom for identifying phishing emails that attempt to impersonate trusted brands. We further recommend contacting Customer Support for assistance through official channels such as the PayPal app and our Contact Us webpage, and never responding to suspicious, unexpected emails.”

How the scam escalated to $200,000 in gold

Oliver opened his bank account again. The fake mirrored site showed $200,000 sitting there. Josh Wilson was back on the phone with a new plan. This time, the crypto ATM would not work because the amount was too large. Oliver needed to liquidate $200,000 from his stock and bond portfolio, convert it to cash and use it to buy gold coins.

Oliver protested. He told them to just reverse the transfer. They said it was impossible.

“This is my retirement money. 50% of my retirement money,” he said.

The scammers told him not to breathe a word to anyone. Josh specifically warned him that telling his broker the truth could trigger tax problems. So Oliver called his broker and said he had his eye on a piece of real estate he wanted to flip. The broker processed the sale without question.

YOUTUBE JOB SCAM TEXT: HOW TO SPOT IT FAST

Oliver went to a gold coin store, wrote a check for $198,560 and waited two to three days for it to clear. Andrew Johnson stayed in regular contact the entire time.

When the gold was ready, Johnson gave Oliver one final instruction. A courier would come to his door to pick up the box. Before handing it over, Oliver should ask the courier for a password. The password was “blue.”

The courier arrived. He was driving a black Mustang. He said the word blue. Oliver handed over the box.

“He told me the password,” Oliver said. “I handed the box, and off went my $200,000.”

The moment Brian Oliver realized it was all a scam

The day after the courier left, Andrew Johnson called back with urgency. He told Brian Oliver another $200,000 had landed in his account, and they needed to do the whole thing over again. That was the moment it broke.

“That’s when I came out from under the ether of this scam,” Oliver said. “And I said, this cannot be right.”

He immediately called the Gainesville Police Department.

The high-stakes sting that brought down a scam courier

Detective Justin Torres of the Gainesville Police Department took the call and started working the case immediately. The scammers had asked Oliver for photos of the gold and the purchase receipt, which gave law enforcement about a day and a half to set up an operation before the courier was scheduled to return.

Detective Torres pulled in four officers from the department’s Gun Violence Initiative unit, a team of intermediate detectives trained for exactly this kind of boots-on-ground work. They set up covert and marked vehicles around Oliver’s residence at a careful distance.

“It was pretty high intensity because I’m listening to Mr. Oliver’s conversation with Andrew,” Torres said. “And I’m also trying to be a good distance away to listen to my radio and be able to broadcast what I need to to the other officers on the outside.”

The scammers were suspicious. They kept pushing Oliver to be more compliant. Oliver pushed back. The goal was to keep them on the line long enough for the courier to show up. The courier, a man named Seth Wayne, drove in from Tampa. The officers waited. When he arrived, they arrested him. The case went to trial. Seth Wayne received an 18-year prison sentence.

A federal jury has since convicted a second courier in the same scheme. Atharva Shailesh Sathawane, 22, an undocumented immigrant from India, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, with Brian Oliver among his victims.

Sathawane was arrested after the Gainesville Police Department set up a second sting operation at Brian’s home. Court documents showed Sathawane was involved in more than 30 transactions across multiple states, contributing to nearly $8 million stolen from elderly victims. He faces up to 20 years on each count, with sentencing scheduled for Dec. 16 in Gainesville, though he is appealing his conviction.

How refund scams are hitting multiple victims

The scam began with a convincing message and quickly escalated as criminals guided Brian Oliver step by step through fake account activity. (Halfpoint/iStock/Getty Images)

Ten other victims testified at Seth Wayne’s trial. They had come from all over the state of Florida, and their stories made Oliver furious.

Some had received fake arrest warrants, official-looking documents claiming their identities had been tied to gun running. They were told the only way to clear their names was to pull their savings and buy gold, which would be placed in a special locker in Washington, D.C., until their names were cleared.

One victim lost $1.8 million. Another lost $4.9 million. A third woman lost over $1 million across two separate pickups by the same courier. Her husband was in hospice care in Florida while all of this was happening. She drained her entire life savings, sold her condo and had to move in with her daughter and son-in-law in Alabama, leaving her dying husband behind.

Where the money from refund scams actually goes

Once the gold or cash leaves a victim’s hands, recovery is nearly impossible. Most of Seth Wayne’s deliveries went to parking lots at McDonald’s or shopping centers, where he handed the money directly to a controller. One pickup went to a jewelry store, where an employee came outside to collect it. That connection is still under active investigation by the IRS and FBI.

The call centers running these operations are overseas. Higher-level couriers in the United States are still being investigated. The full network is, as Detective Torres put it, “very intricate” and “very complicated.”

Seth Wayne himself was a mid-to-upper-level courier. He was also paying other couriers and compensating his handler. When investigators downloaded his cell phone after a judge-approved search warrant, they found evidence that he had researched exactly what he was doing before deciding the money was worth the risk.

SCAMS THAT AREN’T ILLEGAL (BUT SHOULD BE)

The defense of “willful blindness,” the idea that a courier can claim ignorance and escape responsibility, no longer holds up in Florida courts. Seth Wayne found that out the hard way.

For a deeper look at what Oliver went through, you can hear the full story on my Beyond Connected podcast at getbeyondconeccted.com.

How to stay safe from refund scams

Detective Torres laid out the most important red flags clearly, and Oliver added a few from painful personal experience. Here is what both of them want you to know.

1) Hang up on urgency

Scammers manufacture pressure because it works. If someone on the phone is telling you that you must act right now, that is not a real emergency. That is a tactic. Torres put it directly: “They want to make you believe that you have to do all this right now.”

2) Never call the number they give you

If someone calls claiming to be from PayPal, your bank or a law enforcement agency, hang up and find the real number yourself. The number embedded in Oliver’s fake bank website looked completely legitimate. It was not.

3) Pause for ten seconds

Literally ten seconds. Detective Torres confirmed what many security experts say: “If you pause these scams for just 10 seconds, many of them will just fall apart.” A scammer who is pushed back even slightly will often overreact, and that reaction will feel wrong.

4) Isolation is the biggest red flag

The moment someone on the phone tells you not to tell a family member, friend or neighbor what is happening, stop. That instruction exists for one reason: to prevent you from getting help before they get your money. “Once you start hearing that isolation conversation, that is the biggest red flag,” Torres said. “You need to hang up the phone.”

5) Gold is always a scam signal

Oliver made this one simple: “If you’re told to go buy gold, the only reason they tell you to buy gold is because it can never be traced. It’s a scam.” No legitimate company, government agency or financial institution will ever ask you to buy gold coins and hand them to a stranger.

6) The courier at your door means stop

If you have already bought gold and someone is coming to your home to pick it up in a box, Oliver’s advice is direct: “Stop right there. It’s a scam.”

7) Never move money to fix a ‘mistake’

If someone claims they accidentally sent you money and asks you to return it, stop right there. Real companies fix errors on their own systems. They will not ask you to withdraw cash, buy crypto or purchase gold to correct a transaction.

8) Verify your account on your own device

If you need to check your bank account, use your official banking app or type the website yourself. Do not trust links, screens or phone numbers provided during a call. In many cases, scammers create fake sites that look identical to the real thing.

9) Be wary of step-by-step instructions

Scammers often stay on the phone and guide you through every move. That level of control should raise concern. Legitimate companies do not walk you through withdrawing cash, using crypto ATMs or buying gold to solve a problem.

10) Bring in a second person

Before moving a large amount of money, pause and call someone you trust. A quick conversation with a family member or friend can shift your perspective. In many cases, that outside voice is enough to stop a scam in progress.

11) Limit how much of your information is online

Scammers build convincing stories using real details they find online. This can include your phone number, home address or financial history. To reduce that risk, consider removing your information from data broker and people-search sites. While you can do this manually, it often takes time, which is why some people use a data removal service such as Incogni to help automate the process and keep their information from resurfacing.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

Scammers often operate behind the scenes, using technology and social engineering to manipulate victims into handing over cash or valuables. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Brian Oliver lost $200,000, leaving him with only half of his retirement savings. Today, he says he is slowly sinking toward bankruptcy, and the odds of getting that money back are slim. Even so, he chose to go public so others could hear his story before it happens to them. What makes this case different is that it led to real consequences. Detective Torres and his team moved quickly and set up a sting operation. As a result, they arrested a courier who later received an 18-year prison sentence. Meanwhile, the IRS and FBI are still investigating the larger network. However, this kind of outcome is rare. In most cases, victims lose everything and never see justice. These scams are complex, often run from overseas, and are designed to move money fast. Because of that, law enforcement usually focuses on the people closest to the victim and works backward. In the end, Oliver’s turning point came during a second demand for money. At that moment, something felt off, so he paused. Then he said, “This cannot be right.” That instinct matters. In many cases, that brief pause is enough to break the scam.

If you were in Oliver’s position, at what exact moment do you think you would have stopped, and what would it have taken for you to make that call? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

BEWARE SOFTWARE BRAIN

Published

17 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Press Room

Today on Decoder, I want to lay out an idea that’s been banging around my head for weeks now as we’ve been reporting on AI and having conversations here on this show. I’ve been calling it software brain, and it’s a particular way of seeing the world that fits everything into algorithms, databases and loops — software.

Software brain is powerful stuff. It’s a way of thinking that basically created our modern world. Marc Andreessen, the literal embodiment of software brain, called it in 2011 when he wrote the piece “Why software is eating the world” as an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal. But software thinking has been turbocharged by AI in a way that I think helps explain the enormous gap between how excited the tech industry is about the technology and how regular people are growing to dislike it more and more over time.

In fact, the polling on this is so strong, I think it’s fair to say that a lot of people hate AI. And Gen Z in particular seems to hate AI more and more as they encounter it. There’s that NBC News poll showing AI with worse favorability than ICE and only a little bit above the war in Iran and the Democrats generally. That’s with nearly two thirds of respondents saying they used ChatGPT or Copilot in the last month. Quinnipiac just found that over half of Americans think AI will do more harm than good, while more than 80 percent of people were either very concerned or somewhat concerned about the technology. Only 35 percent of people were excited about it.

Poll after poll shows that Gen Z uses AI the most and has the most negative feelings about it. A recent Gallup poll found that only 18 percent of Gen Z was hopeful about AI, down from an already-bad 27 percent last year. At the same time, anger is growing: 31 percent of those Gen Z respondents said they feel angry about AI, up from 22 percent last year.

Now, I obviously talk to a lot of tech executives and policy people here on Decoder, and I will tell you, they all know AI isn’t popular, and they can all see how that’s playing out in real life. Here’s Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talking about how the tech industry needs to make the case for the investments it’s making in AI:

Satya Nadella: At the end of the day, I think this industry, to which I belong, needs to earn the social permission to consume energy because we’re doing good in the world.

I think it’s safe to say that the tech industry and AI have not earned any of that social permission yet. Politicians from both sides of the aisle are opposing data center buildouts. Politicians in local communities that support data centers are getting voted out of office. And in the most depressing reminder of how much political violence has become a part of everyday American life, politicians who’ve supported data centers have had their houses shot at. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has had Molotov cocktails thrown at his house.

It’s sad that I’m going to have to say this again on the show, and it’s sad that we’re going to have commenters who disagree, but this violence is unacceptable. If you want to meaningfully oppose AI in a way that lasts, you should speak loudly with your dollars in the market and your attention online, and you should speak loudly with your votes. You should participate in a democratic regulatory and political process. Anything else will get dismissed and perpetuate the cycle. That dismissal is already happening.

I also think it’s incredibly important for our politicians and tech executives to make sure our political process makes people feel empowered, not helpless, which is a specific kind of nihilism they have all greatly contributed to. The violence is a result of that helplessness and nihilism. And the most powerful people in our society ought to reckon with that, especially as they run around saying AI will wipe out all the jobs. I’m not even exaggerating this. Here’s Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei saying he thinks AI will wipe out all the jobs:

Dario Amodei: Entry-level jobs in areas like finance, consulting, tech and many other areas like that —- entry-level white-collar work — I worry that those things are going to be first augmented, but before long replaced by AI systems. We may indeed —- it’s hard to predict the future — but we may indeed have a serious employment crisis on our hands as the pipeline for this early-stage, white-collar work starts to contract and dry up.

What I see when I encounter clips like this is the true gap between the tech industry and regular people when it comes to AI — and also the limit of software brain. Like I said, everyone in tech understands how much regular people dislike AI. What I think they’re missing is why. They think this is a marketing problem. OpenAI just spent $200 million on the TBPN podcast because the company thinks it will help make people like AI more. Sam Altman has said so explicitly:

Sam Altman: Oh, they are genius marketers and I would love to have better marketing. Somebody said to me recently that if AI were a political candidate, it would be the least popular political candidate in history. And given the amazing things AI can do, I think there’s got to be better marketing for AI.

It feels like someone just needs to say this clearly, so I’m just going to do it. AI doesn’t have a marketing problem. People experience these tools every single day. ChatGPT has 900 million weekly users, trending to a billion, and everyone has seen AI Overviews in Google Search and massive amounts of slop on their feeds. You can’t advertise people out of reacting to their own experiences. This is a fundamental disconnect between how tech people with software brains see the world and how regular people are living their lives.

Image: The Verge

So what is software brain? The simplest definition I’ve come up with is that it’s when you see the whole world as a series of databases that can be controlled with structured language and software code. Like I said, this is a powerful way of seeing things. So much of our lives run through databases, and a bunch of important companies have been built around maintaining those databases and providing access to them.

Zillow is a database of houses. Uber is a database of cars and riders. YouTube is a database of videos. The Verge’s website is a database of stories. You can go on and on and on. Once you start seeing the world as a bunch of databases, it’s a small jump to feeling like you can control everything if you can just control the data.

But that doesn’t always work. Here’s an example: Elon Musk and DOGE showed up in the government, and the first thing they did was take control of a bunch of databases. And they ran into the undeniable fact that the databases aren’t reality, and DOGE ended in hilarious failure. It turns out software brain has a limit, and the government isn’t software. People aren’t computers, and they don’t live in automatable loops that can be neatly captured in databases.

Anyone who’s actually ever run a database knows this. At some point, the database stops matching reality. And at that point, we usually end up tweaking the database, not the world. The AI industry has fully lost sight of this. AI thrives on data. It’s just software. And so the ask is for more and more of us to conform our lives to the database, not the other way around.

Let me offer you another example that I think about all the time, especially as AI finds real fit as a business tool. It’s the idea that AI is coming for lawyers and the legal system. The AI industry loves to talk about not needing lawyers anymore, which is already getting all kinds of people into all kinds of trouble. But I get it. I’ve spent a lot of time with lawyers. I used to be a lawyer. My wife is still a lawyer. Some of my best friends are lawyers.

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I also spend all of my time at work talking to tech people. And so over time, I’ve learned that the overlap between software brain and lawyer brain is very, very deep. Alluringly deep. If the heart of software brain is the idea that thinking in the structured language of code can make things happen in the real world, well, the heart of lawyer brain is that thinking in the structured legal language of statutes and citations can also make things happen. Hell, it can give you power over society.

There are other commonalities. Both software development and the law depend heavily on precedent. We have a body of case law in this country, and we use it over and over again to help us resolve disputes. Much like software engineers have libraries of code that they turn to repeatedly to build the foundations of their products. I can go on.

At the end of the day, both lawyers and engineers do their best to use formal, structured language to guide the behavior of complicated systems in predictable and potentially profitable ways. I am far from the first person with this idea. Larry Lessig wrote a book called Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace in 2000. It’s just as relevant today as it was a quarter century ago.

And so you have this intoxicating similarity between law and code, and it trips people up all the time. People are constantly trying to issue commands to society at large like it’s a computer that will obey instructions. There are examples of this big and small. My favorite are those Facebook forwards insisting Mark Zuckerberg does not have the right to publish people’s photos. Honestly, I look at these, and I think it would be great if the law was actually code. Maybe things would be more predictable. Maybe we’d feel more in control.

But law isn’t actually code, and society and courts aren’t computers. I have to remind our fairly technical audience on Decoder and at The Verge all the time that the law is not deterministic. You simply cannot take the facts of a case, the law as written, and predict the outcome of that case with any real certainty, even though the formality of the legal system makes people think it works like a computer, that it’s predictable.

Because at the end of the day, it’s actually ambiguity that’s at the very heart of our legal system. It’s ambiguity that makes lawyers lawyers. Honestly, it’s ambiguity that makes people hate lawyers because it’s always possible to argue the other side, and it’s always possible to find the gray area in the law. That’s why prosecutors end up working as defense attorneys and why our regulators tend to end up working for big corporations.

So you can see the obvious collision between software brain and lawyer brain. This thing that looks like a computer isn’t actually anything at all like a computer. A lot of people even argue that the law should be more like a computer, that the system should be verifiable and consistent, and that merely issuing the right commands at the right times should lead to objectively correct outcomes.

Bridget McCormack, who used to be the chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, was on Decoder a few months ago pitching a fully automated AI arbitration system. Her argument to me was that people perceive the traditional legal system to be so unfair, they will accept a worse outcome from an automated system as more fair as long as they feel heard. And if there’s one thing AI can do, it’s sit there and listen all day and night. I don’t know if any of that is correct or even workable, but I do know software brain, and that is pure software brain. The idea that we can force the real world to act like a computer and then have AI issue that computer instructions.

You can see the same thing happening in every other kind of industry. You don’t hire a big consulting firm to actually come in and study your business and make it more efficient. You hire them to make slide decks that justify layoffs to your board and shareholders. Big consulting firms are great at this, and now they’re just going to generate those decks with AI. They are already doing this and the layoffs have already begun.

Any business process that looks like code talking to a database in a repetitive way is up for grabs. That’s why Anthropic has been so relentlessly focused on enterprise customers, and it’s why OpenAI is now pivoting to business use. There’s real value in introducing AI to business because so much of modern business is already software, collecting data, analyzing it, and taking action on it over and over again in a loop. Businesses also control their data, and they can demand that all their databases work together. In this way, software brain has ruled the business world for a long time. And AI has made it easier than ever for more people to make more software than ever before, for every kind of business to automate big chunks of itself with software. The absolute cutting edge of advertising and marketing is automation with AI. It’s not being in creative.

But not everything is a business, not everything is a loop, and the entire human experience cannot be captured in a database. That’s the limit of software brain. That’s why people hate AI. It flattens them. Regular people don’t see the opportunity to write code as an opportunity at all. The people do not yearn for automation. I’m a full-on smart home sicko; the lights and shades and climate controls of this house are automated in dozens of ways. But huge companies like Apple, Google and Amazon have struggled for over a decade now to make regular people care about smart home automation at all. And they just don’t.

AI isn’t going to fix that. Most people are not collecting data about every single thing that they do. And if they’re collecting any at all, it’s stored across lots of different systems — your email in Gmail, your messages in iMessage, your work schedule in Outlook, your workouts in Peloton. Those systems don’t talk to each other and maybe they never will, because there’s no reason for them to. And asking people to connect them all freaks them out.

Even taking the time to consider how much of your life is captured in databases makes people unhappy. No one wants to be surveilled constantly, and especially not in a way that makes tech companies even more powerful. But getting everything in a database so software can see it is a preoccupation of the AI industry. It’s why all the meeting systems have AI note takers in them now. It’s why Canva, which is design software, now connects to corporate email systems. My friend Ezra Klein just went to Silicon Valley, and he described the people that are actively trying to flatten themselves into a database:

Ezra Klein: You might think that A.I. types in Silicon Valley, flush with cash, are on top of the world right now. I found them notably insecure. They think the A.I. age has arrived and its winners and losers will be determined, in part, by speed of adoption. The argument is simple enough: The advantages of working atop an army of A.I. assistants and coders will compound over time, and to begin that process now is to launch yourself far ahead of your competition later. And so they are racing one another to fully integrate A.I. into their lives and into their companies. But that doesn’t just mean using A.I. It means making themselves legible to the A.I.
You can give it access to everything that’s there: your files, your email, your calendar, your messages. It operates continuously in the background, building a persistent memory of your preferences and patterns so it can better act on your behalf. The cybersecurity risks are glaring, but there’s a reason millions of people are using it: The more of your life you open to A.I., the more valuable the A.I. becomes.
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I’ve reviewed a lot of tech products over the past decade and a half, and all I can tell you is that it is a failure when you ask people to adapt to computers. Computers should adapt to people. And asking people to make themselves more legible to software, to turn themselves into a database, is a doomed idea. It’s an ask so big, I can’t imagine a reward that would make it worth it for anyone, even if the tech industry wasn’t constantly talking about how AI will eliminate all the jobs, require a wholesale rethinking of the social contract and — oops — also the latest models might cause catastrophic cybersecurity problems that might lead to the end of the world.

Does this sound like a good deal to you? Can you market your way out of this? This only makes sense if you have software brain, if your operative framework is to flatten everything into databases that you can control with structured language. The people paying thousands of dollars a month to set up swarms of OpenClaw agents and write thousands of lines of code, they’re people who look at the world and see opportunities for automation, to repeat tasks, to collect data, to build software. AI is great for them. It’s even exciting in ways that I think are important and will probably change our relationship to computers forever.

For everyone else, AI is just a demanding slop monster. It’s a threat. I’m not saying regular people don’t use Excel or Airtable to plan their weddings or have fun throwing PowerPoint parties, or even that AI won’t be useful to regular people over time. I think a lot of people enjoy data and tracking different parts of their lives. There’s my WHOOP band. I’m just saying these things aren’t everything. Not everything about our lives can be measured and automated and optimized. It shouldn’t be.

And so the tech industry is rushing forward to put AI everywhere at enormous cost — energy, emissions, manufacturing capacity, the ability to buy RAM — and locked into the narrow framework of software brain without realizing they are also asking people to be fundamentally less human. They then sit around wondering why everyone hates them. I don’t think a couple haircuts are going to fix it.

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