Thanks to all the fantastic Black Friday deals on some of the best wireless earbuds, over-ears, and workout headphones, now is a great time to upgrade your portable listening experience. We’ve slogged through the massive pile of live Black Friday deals to find our favorites, from sweat-beating open earbuds that allow you to hear the world around you while you’re getting in the miles to hefty over-ear headphones that can tackle even the loudest HVAC systems and jet engines.
Want to learn more about what headphones might be best for you? Check out our guides to the Best Wireless Earbuds, Best Noise-Canceling headphones, Best Cheap Headphones, and Best Workout Headphones.
Featured Black Friday deals
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
Earbud Deals
We’ve been testing wireless earbuds since the first pair launched. These are the best models on sale for Black Friday.
AirPods Pro (Gen 2)
Photograph: Christopher Null
What, you were expecting somebody else? There’s a reason the AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) dominate these sales events. Well, several reasons, really: They offer clear and detailed sound, good noise canceling, tons of Apple-friendly convenience features, and innovations like transparency mode with automatic noise suppression to help keep your ears safe. That kind of ingenuity keeps these buds at the forefront even years after launch, and Apple’s not done yet. The Pro’s high-end computing is fertile ground for Apple engineers, including the most recent feature that makes the buds into OTC hearing aids. A comfy and slick design completes the package to make them the best earbuds for iPhone owners, now at their best price ever.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Maybe you didn’t know, but Technics makes startlingly good wireless earbuds. The EAH-AZ80 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are among the best there is for their comfortable fit, decent noise canceling, good feature set and even better sound. The flashy endcaps hint at their slick, clear, deeply textural sound that can bring instruments to life. Multipoint pairing with three different devices makes these buds uniquely versatile. The AZ80’s noise canceling is good, though it doesn’t match the top models at Bose or Sony. Still, this is a great pair at a good price, particularly for those who prize sound quality and fit above all.
The Beats Fit Pro earbuds (9/10, WIRED Recommends) have soft silicone tips and squishy fins for great stability, not to mention a fit test to make sure they fit properly in your ears. This attention to ergonomics alone makes them a great pair for gym. But the sound is also an enjoyable hi-fi-like experience, with good noise cancellation and reliable microphones. This deal isn’t unheard of — this model is often discounted — but it’s still a great price on some terrific earbuds. —Brenda Stolyar
The Studio Buds support spatial audio, and offer both active noise cancellation and transparency mode, as well as 36 hours of battery life. Physical buttons on the exterior of each earbud make the Studio Buds easy to use, and they’re both comfortable and stylish — available in ivory, silver, black, and transparent. If you already have the original Studio Buds, these offer better noise cancellation, extended battery life and an upgraded microphone. —Brenda Stolyar
These cheap earbuds from Nothing (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are probably my favorite cheap headphones right now. They come in a well-designed case and feature cool yellow accents, and they offer basically every feature you can expect from high-end buds in 2024. You get noise canceling, comfortable eartips, and good sound quality overall. These are easily as good as standard AirPods.
Soundcore Space A40
Photograph: Anker
Soundcore’s Space A40 earbuds (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are great pair of buds at hilariously cheap pricing. These earbuds offer solid noise canceling and transparency modes, vibrant sound with impressive stereo separation, and a sleek design that makes them appear far more expensive than they actually are. The fit is comfortable enough for extended listening sessions, and they deliver many features typically found in high-end models, all at a budget-friendly price. The main drawback is the lack of auto-pause sensors, and the touch controls could be more responsive. Despite these minor issues, these earbuds are a great choice, offering excellent value for money. –Ryan Waniata
Sony WF-1000XM5
Photograph: Sony
Sony’s WF-1000XM5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) are a high-end pair of earbuds that stand among the best noise-canceling headphones you’ll find in such a small form factor. They’re not my favorite for sound quality or noise-canceling, but they strike a good balance of each option while adding tons of features. You’ll get Sony specials like Speak to Chat and auto-pause sensors and multipoint connection. 8 hours of battery life per charge (with noise canceling on) means they’ll last a full work day. –Ryan Waniata
Best Ultra Open Earbuds
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Even on sale, they’re pricey for such a limited use case, but damn if the Bose Ultra Open Buds (7/10, WIRED Recommeds) haven’t become my favorite open buds on the market. Their barrel design takes some getting used to, but they roll onto your ears with impressive tenacity, staying put without pinching tight. The sound beams from their snake-like acoustic housings offer the most well-rounded performance I’ve heard in the genre. The sound is always blended with the world around you, but it’s a fantastic trick for working out or hearing folks around you. –Ryan Waniata
JBL Reflect Aero
Photograph: JBL
The fully tweakable noise canceling inside these awesome workout earbuds makes them great for folks who like to be aware of their surroundings. The easy-to-use touch controls let you effortlessly adjust the amount of outside noise you want to hear at any given time, and they deliver excellent sound and call quality.
Soundcore AeroFit Pro
Photograph: Adrienne So
Anker’s Soundcore series has consistently provided excellent value, and the Aerofit Pro open headphones are no exception. These workout headphones feature a charging case and a secure wrap-around design to keep them in place during exercise. With 14 hours of battery life and an additional 40 hours from the case, they can go for weeks without needing a recharge.
Anker recently released the updated AeroFit 2, which I have been testing. The new generation is just better: The fit is updated to be more comfortable so you don’t need a wire around the back of the neck, the colors are better, and the sound is better. —Adrienne So
That said, the original generation of Aerofit is an even lower price, now that the AeroFit 2 is out.
Shokz OpenRun Pro
Photograph: Amazon
These bone-conduction headphones are the option you’re probably most likely to see in the wild. They use your jaw bones to route sound to your ears, which means you can hear everything around. Many folks prefer them to standard open buds because they claim they can hear more of the world around them. There is also a mini version on sale.
JLab Go Air Pop
Photograph: Amazon
Need a cheap pair of earbuds to not think too much about? Look no further than the Go Air Pop, which are utterly usable earbuds that cost less than $20 this prime day. I like keeping a pair in my car or gym bag, for when I forget to bring nicer buds with me and still want music.
Not eager to spend more than $100 on a pair of headphones whose main purpose is to stick to your head and get sweaty? The WIRED Gear team’s favorite headphones for going running are now on sale, at a kinda…. epic … price. The battery on these things will last much longer than we could even fathom during testing. The eartips fit securely, a must for any spirited run. — Matthew Korfhage
Jabra Elite 4 Active
Photograph: Jabra
Jabra’s Elite 4 Active (9/10, WIRED Recommends) were impressively good when they were released a couple of years ago, and they remain a fantastic option today—especially when on sale. As part of Jabra’s sporty overhaul, they blend serious durability with a comfy fit, smooth and balanced sound, and plenty of ways to personalize the experience in the Jabra app. They even provide a slab of noise canceling, though it’s more of an aid to their noise-isolating fit. They’re dust and water-resistant, meaning you can dunk them or rinse them after a sweaty workout with no ill effects. –Ryan Waniata
Jabra may be getting out of the earbud game, but the Elite 5 are still solid earbuds that will last for many years in the field. They’re IP55 rated for dust and water resistance, and the hybrid noise cancellation makes them work well on flights or calls. Sound quality is excellent, with bold bass and enough midrange that you can hear every detail in vocals, acoustic guitar, and piano.
Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2
Photograph: Best Buy
The Elite 10 gen 2 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) are Jabra’s swan song. You’ll get full and balanced sound, upper-crest noise canceling and transparency mode, good battery life, and loads of extras. You can even use the case as a lag-free transmitter from sources like amplifiers or airplane entertainment centers. These are durable earbuds with IP67 dust and waterproofing, and their ergonomic fit makes them comfy enough for long-term wear. –Ryan Waniata
Soundpeats Air4 Pro
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Soundpeats makes affordable earbuds with exceptionally good sound. We recently gave their latest pair that uses solid state xMems drivers, the Soundcapsule 3+, a perfect 10/10. The Air4 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) don’t sound perfect, but they offer up clear and balanced sound along with solid noise canceling for a very low asking price. For well below $100, they’re a worthy option. –Ryan Waniata
JBL Endurance Peak 3
Photograph: JBL
JBL’s Endurance Peak 3 earbuds are completely waterproof, so you can wear them through everything from a rainy jog to a late-night hot tub soak without any concerns. With full dust protection and a rugged design, they’re among the most durable earbuds available. While the controls could be improved and they don’t offer noise canceling, they do include a transparency mode, which is essential for staying aware of your surroundings during workouts. 10 hours of battery life is great, too.–Ryan Waniata
Denon PerL
Photograph: Denon
Denon’s PerL earbuds (7/10, WIRED Review) don’t fit or feel quite like traditional earbuds, but their sound is seriously impressive thanks to the most advanced personalization system I’ve tested in the genre. These earbuds adjust to your hearing profile, resulting in a richer, fuller, and more immersive sound experience across my music library. It may take a little time for the profile to fully calibrate, but once it’s set, the audio performance is impressive. While I was initially skeptical about the $200 price tag, at half the cost, they offer incredible value for serious listeners. –Ryan Waniata
Over-Ear Deals
Looking for something a bit more private? Check out these awesome deals on over-ear headphones.
Photograph: Courtesy of Apple
Apple’s flagship headphones are pricey but beloved by many. The lightning version is on sale for below $400. Yes, it’s annoying to have to use that proprietary cable, but also gets you a few more years of use out of them since Apple made you buy them all those years!.
Bose Quietcomfort Ultra
Photograph: Joseph Shin
Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra headphones (9/10, WIRED Recommends) are the best noise-canceling headphones on the market. With their plush, ergonomic design, these headphones are incredibly comfortable to wear, and their top tier noise cancellation makes them the ideal choice for frequent travelers or anyone seeking absolute peace in their home or office. The sound is a pleasant surprise—it’s less aggressive than past Bose flagships, yet still offering superb instrumental separation and a well-balanced mix. The battery life delivers a solid 30 hours per charge, and they include cutting-edge features like 3D audio virtualization with head-tracking, creating a more immersive, speaker-like experience. At over $400, these are a significant splurge, but at this price, they feel like a true bargain. –Ryan Waniata
Sony WH-1000XM4
Photograph: Sony
It’s hard to think of a more stalwart consumer electronics product over the last decade than Sony’s WH-1000XM4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends). Even four years after their release, these headphones remain a benchmark for both new competitors and premium models from top brands. While their noise cancellation isn’t the absolute best, it’s still impressive, and a range of features—like a multi-band EQ and a touch control that temporarily activates transparency mode for announcements or quick chats—keeps them feeling advanced, even as they age gracefully. The sound is warm and bass-heavy, yet refined, and the durable plastic design is complemented by plush padding for hours of comfort. –Ryan Waniata
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) take nearly everything we loved about the previous model a step further, offering a mix of fabulous features and excellent noise canceling, comfort, and sound quality. These headphones have it all, including multipoint pairing, auto-pause sensors, intuitive touch controls, and Amazon Alexa support. They’re ideal for travel but just as convenient for everyday use at home. While they’re slightly less compact than the previous XM4 model, that’s really the only drawback in an otherwise flawless design. –Ryan Waniata
Soundcore Life Q30
Photograph: Amazon
I took these on a six hour flight and was perfectly pleased with the noise canceling they provide at a fraction of what you’ll pay for the best noise cancelers. While they may not deliver the same level of tranquility as top-tier models like Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra, they still do a solid job. The sound is warm and detailed, with plenty of customization options through the app. With 40 hours of battery life per charge, you’ll have no worries about needing a power outlet. Build quality is close to premium tier, though the plastic shells are a bit prone to scratches. Fortunately, an included case helps protect them—and at this price, you won’t mind treating them a bit roughly. –Ryan Waniata
Beats Studio Pro
Photograph: Beats
The Beats Studio Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) were solid headphones at full price, but after dropping a full $100 to around $250 on average, they’ve become a lot more appealing. These headphones have become an even better deal, moving closer to the “must-have” category with their engaging sound and impressive ease of use. Features include effective noise canceling, excellent transparency mode, Apple-specific perks like “Hey, Siri” voice commands, and one-touch pairing for both iPhone and Android devices. While their build isn’t as luxurious as premium models from Sony or Bose, they offer outstanding value at a fraction of the price, making them the smarter choice for those on a budget. –Ryan Waniata
Koss Porta Pro
Photograph: Koss
These timeless wired headphones have remained stylish since their debut decades ago. Featuring a sleek metal headband paired with molded plastic earcups and vintage-style foam padding, they’re the perfect headphones to complement your CD or cassette player, and they’re cheap enough you don’t have to worry too much about them when you’re out looking cool.
Photograph: Simon Lucas; Getty Images
I’m a big fan of Stax electrostatic headphones. These Bluetooth headphones aren’t the vintage article, but they retain some of the brand’s legendary heritage, have solid sound, and offer all the audiophile specs you could want from a modern pair. (8/10, WIRED Recommends.) —Martin Cizmar
PuroQuiet Kids Headphones
Photograph: Puro Sound Labs
ids are especially vulnerable to hearing loss, which is why WIRED staffers who are parents appreciate kids’ headphones like these that limit sound output to the OSHA-recommended 85 decibels. The noise canceling is superb, helping to block out louder sounds from flights or HVAC systems. Plus, they come in pink or blue, so you can choose the color your child loves.
The holidays are close. That means it’s time to settle in for some serious winter gaming. These Black Friday gaming deals can help. Seriously, this is one of the best times of the year to make those hardware upgrades you’ve been mulling over, whether that’s a nicer keyboard, a new monitor, some upgrades to your gaming desktop, or heck, even a new PS5. We’ve even got a couple of video game deals in here if you’ve been patiently waiting for a sale. Be sure to check out our live Black Friday deals tracker for more.
WIRED Featured Deals
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
Console Deals
PS5 consoles
Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
We’ve spotted a few deals on the PlayStation 5 Slim with a variety of different games and bundles. I think the most widely appealing will probably be the Amazon bundle, which includes the Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle, a kit of in-game accessories for the various Fortnite-adjacent games, plus 1000 V-Bucks. If that doesn’t appeal, and you don’t have a friend who plays that might want the goodies, Best Buy is offering NBA 2K25 along with the console for the same price. What’s the difference between the PS5 Slim and the normal PS5? We have a guide that explains it all.
The PlayStation 5 Slim is a slimmed-down version of the PlayStation 5 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) that’s around 30 percent slimmer. It runs the same list of great PS5 games but takes up less space beneath the TV. We have a breakdown of the different PlayStation 5 models if you want to dive deeper, but the difference between this deal and the one above is that this console has an optical drive for physical games. If you like owning your games in their physical form, this is the one to buy. —Simon Hill
The PlayStation VR2 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of the best VR headsets, featuring a comfortable, adjustable headband, excellent eye-tracking that allows you to select menu items or track objects by looking at them, and it comes with two controllers. There hasn’t been much development for it but if you crave immersion, you’ll find it here. The headset requires a PS5 and this is a tasty discount, but we recommend going for the PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of The Mountain Bundle ($349) since it is the same price and includes one of the best PS VR2 games in Horizon Call of the Mountain. —Simon Hill
Photograph: Amazon
It’s rare to see a Nintendo console, let alone a bundle, drop this much in price. The only caveat is this deal is only on the original Nintendo Switch. There is a discount on the OLED variant, which has a much nicer and larger screen, for $275 ($75 off). Mario Kart 8 also happens to be one of the best games for the Switch, and the one I still play the most. Want more game recommendations? Read our Best Switch Games guide.
Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
It isn’t as deep as the discounts on the other consoles, but you can still save $50 on the Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X. These are both the disc-less versions of the console, but with 512 GB in the Series S and 1 terabyte in the Series X, you should have plenty of storage for your digital games. You can also add more storage later on. Check out our Best Xbox Games guide for more.
This easy-to-build home arcade cabinet features a 17-inch color LCD screen, a light-up marquee, authentic arcade controls, and runs 14 Namco games, including every version of Pac-Man and a few extras like Galaga and Dig Dug. Whether you grew up in the arcades or not, these games still have a powerful addictive hook, and this Pac-Man arcade machine brought me closer to my teen kids. This is a decent discount that drops it to the lowest price we’ve seen. —Simon Hill
Monitor and Chair Deals
This 34-inch OLED monitor from Alienware (9/10, WIRED Recommends) leverages Quantum Dot technology for perfect black levels and sharp colors across two different HDR levels, 400 and 1000. With a 3,440 X 1,440 resolution, you’ll be glad to have FreeSync keeping your frames smooth, even if your PC can reach the 165-Hz max refresh rate. The Alienware is still an impressive monitor for everyday computing, and in particular, watching movies and TV shows. If this is mainly for work and productivity, you might have a little issue with text clarity, as well as visibility in brightly lit rooms like offices, but I don’t expect that will be a deal-breaker. The only difference between this and the model we reviewed is FreeSync support instead of G-Sync.
The Alienware AW3225QF is in the center.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
This is the latest version from Alienware, the AW3225QF. It’s a smidge smaller at 32 inches but that excellent QD-OLED display now sports a 4K resolution, with crisp colors and deep blacks. I was stunned when I first booted up Helldivers 2 and landed on some of the more colorful and moody maps. It looked even more cinematic. I’ve been working off of this monitor for a few weeks now and I wish switched to OLED even sooner. It’s simply stunning. Did I mention the 240-Hz refresh rate? —Julian Chokkattu
LG Ultragear 34GS95QE
Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
Speaking of awesome ultrawide monitors, the LG Ultragear 34GS95QE (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has a deep, enticing curve that’s excellent for immersive gaming. Like the Alienware above, it has a 240-Hz panel, so it’s quick enough for even the snappiest shooters, and the OLED panel means every moment is even more cinematic.
The Razer Iskur (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is our favorite gaming chair. It’s comfortable and it looks slick without being too gaudy. There are lots of different adjustment points plus excellent lumbar support. It still has its quirks—it doesn’t dissipate heat well and the included headrest can get annoying. But we still like its locking arms and its wide backrest. You can read more in our guide to all the chairs. —Louryn Strampe
This chair earned an honorable mention in our buying guide. It’s breathable and easy to adjust the armrests and seat angle, and the locking wheel casters will keep you firmly in place even when you’re getting tilted in League of Legends. It’s a little clunky to put together, and if you’re short, you might have issues (though you can contact customer service for a shorter cylinder, which helps). We see it go on sale during most major shopping holidays, but this is still a good deal on a popular brand. —Louryn Strampe
Gaming Headset Deals
Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless (10/10, WIRED Recommends) has to be one of the most impressive pairs of gaming headsets we’ve ever reviewed. The battery life makes these noteworthy, with a claimed 300+ hours on a single charge. No, that’s not a typo, and our testing backed it up, with these headphones running for 325 hours while playing music before they finally gave up.
If you don’t need such insane battery life, the Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is our current favorite gaming headset. It sports Logitech’s Lightspeed Wireless connectivity via a 2.4-GHz dongle, which promises much lower latency while gaming than standard Bluetooth headphones. Even when you aren’t at your gaming PC, you can take advantage of Bluetooth and 3.5-mm connectivity for all your devices.
Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
The Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed is the successor to the model above and it’s an excellent pair of headphones for any gamer. Whether you need to hear the squeal of tires or the footsteps of your enemies, these have 7.1 surround sound for truly immersive gameplay. They sport a dedicated wireless connection that reduces latency when playing on your computer, plus Bluetooth and 3.5 mm for connecting to everything else you own. With a premium build quality, comfortable fit, and impressive mic, these very well could be your new favorite headphones.
Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
SteelSeries has a few headsets discounted, including my daily driver, the Arctis Nova Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends). I’m a big fan of the included DAC, which makes adjusting volume or settings super convenient, and the hot-swappable battery feature has saved me mid-dungeon more than once. Luxury doesn’t come cheap, but it does occasionally go on sale, and only once for lower than this price, so grab these while you can. WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu has also used these as his daily headphones (for more than two years) and said one of his ear cushions ripped after the two-year mark, but he easily replaced it via Wicked Cushions.
Our favorite gaming headset for multi-platform gamers, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X supports almost every modern system under the sun, including the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and anything else with a USB-C port or Bluetooth. It’s also super comfortable for long gaming sessions, with plush ear cups and the classic SteelSeries support band.
Keyboard and Controller Deals
Photograph: Henri Robbins
The Q1 HE (9/10, WIRED Recommends) was a keyboard I loved at its original price when it was released in mid-2024. With an all-aluminum case, gasket mounting, Bluetooth connectivity, and Keychron’s highly customizable Nebula Double-Rail Hall effect switch, it’s a great keyboard for work and gaming that feels fantastic. Every aspect of this keyboard can be customized and fine-tuned to your preferences. While it could sound a bit better, it’s such a great all-around package that these complaints are negligible—especially since all of these nitpicks are down to personal taste, and won’t be issues for quite a few buyers. It’s usually sold at a markup on Amazon and Best Buy, but those are now discounted, though the best deal is directly from Keychron. —Henri Robbins
I have no clue how this keyboard is so cheap, but it is. Lemokey is Keychron’s newly-founded gaming brand, meant to be a companion to its more office-oriented line of keyboards. However, the great thing about the Lemokey is that, underneath the gamer styling, it runs on the same firmware and has the same great specs as Keychron boards. For the X4, this is no different—this keyboard features QMK programmability, gasket-mounting, Gateron-made switches, and a 75% layout for under $30 from a reputable brand. However, features like wireless connectivity and hot-swappable switches are not unavailable. The X4 is the most versatile of the lineup with its 75% layout, which finds the sweet spot between functionality and desk space. —Henri Robbins
The Keychron V1 Max is the middle-of-the-road pick from Keychron’s middle-of-the-road lineup. It has a 75% layout, a knob, gasket mounting, and wireless connectivity while being far less expensive than the Q Max lineup (which is the same keyboard with a metal case). These keyboards feel great to type on, are light and portable, and have all the bells and whistles you’ll need for daily use. I would realistically recommend any model in the V Max lineup since the only difference is the layout, but I’ve found 75% to be the most space-efficient option for regular use. —Henri Robbins
Photograph: Razer
While I’m firmly a big board fan, it’s not hard to see the appeal in a compact option like the Razer Huntsman Mini. By sacrificing a few keys you may not use that much, you get more desk space and a more ergonomic position for games where you have one hand on the mouse. Apart from the size, the Huntsman Mini is just as well equipped as its larger sibling with full RGB support, access to Razer’s software for customization, and keycap compatibility with the other Razer sets.
With a million mechanical keyboards on the market, it can be tough to stand out, but the Corsair K100 does just that with its built-in control wheel. This programmable knob can adjust keyboard lighting or other built-in keyboard functions, but more fun is the option to set it to control media playback on your system. You’ll also get RGB backlighting, a volume control wheel, and a set of macro keys along the left side, all features we’d expect from a mechanical keyboard at this price.
Not many mechanical keyboards also have a built-in screen, which helps the SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL stand out. A tiny OLED smart display in the upper right corner can show alerts, pass information from apps like Discord and Spotify, and even offer status effects in some video games. It’s also a solid gaming keyboard, with per-key RGB illumination, access to SteelSeries software for advanced functionality, and a heavy, low-profile aluminum base for that premium experience.
Photograph: Logitech
Need a mouse too? Logitech’s G203 is a great, no-frills at a very appealing price. It has six programmable buttons, a quick DPI switch, and RGB lighting, and the only real downside is a relatively low max DPI. That shouldn’t be an issue for most users, and for under $40, it makes a nice upgrade from a non-gaming mouse or a backup option for LAN parties. Read our Best Gaming Mouse guide for more recommendations.
The Backbone One (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of the few products I’ve tried for work that I still reach for frequently, despite first reviewing it in 2020. I like this little mobile gaming controller so much that when I misplaced the tester unit, I purchased my own. It’s compatible with iPhone and Android phones—just make sure to pick the right adapter when checking out. Plug it into your phone, stretch the controller over the back of your device, and prepare to be immersed. The buttons are tactile and have a superfast response time, and there’s a companion app that makes it easy to find new controller-supported mobile games, record your highlights, stream, and more. It also has pass-through charging and a headphone jack. My only gripe is that it’s a little awkward to tote around. —Louryn Strampe
Photograph: SCUF
Controller players can also take enjoy the savings with the Scuf Instinct Pro Controller, which supports Xbox Series S/X and PC, as well as macOS, iOS, and Android. This controller has a high-quality build and finish, but the best part is on the back, where four customizable paddles help you reach those tricky buttons without moving your thumbs off the sticks. That alone is worth the price of admission and is a feature you’ll find on very few other controllers. Check out our Best Game Controllers guide for more.
This is one of the best game controllers for PC gamers, with five central buttons on the front, a pair of rear paddles, and plenty of customization options. 8BitDo’s software lets you remap buttons, tweak the stick and trigger sensitivity, assign macros, and tune the vibration intensity. It’s compact with a grippy texture on the handles, satisfyingly clicky triggers, and a decent D-pad. There’s a 2.4-GHz dongle in the handy charging dock for PC gaming, and battery life is around 20 hours. It also has Bluetooth support for Nintendo Switch players, making this a solid alternative to the Switch Pro controller. —Simon Hill
With phones increasing in power and game streaming services on the rise, it’s easier than ever to play all sorts of games on your phone where a touchscreen just won’t cut it. The GameSir G8 can fill that role for Android gamers, as well as iPhone 15/16 series users with USB-C. With extra wide grips, hall effect joysticks, and support for phones up to 7.28 inches in length, this controller turns your phone into a mobile battle station ready to take on the world, or at least your next long flight.
Flight Controller Deals
Photograph: Logitech
It may not be the fanciest joystick on the market, but you’re likely to spend two or three times as much to get this feature set anywhere else. That makes the Logitech G Extreme Pro 3D and its Totally Radical name a great pick for the occasional jet flyer or space trucker.
Photograph: Turtle Beach
But what if you want the ultimate flight sim experience? The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight puts a complete cockpit on your desktop, with multiple throttles and trim adjustment knobs, and a true-to-life yoke with a real-time flight info screen. There’s even a light panel that shows the current status of your favorite PC games without looking up.
Deals on PC Components
Photograph: Amazon
I firmly believe in only using high-quality power supplies from trusted manufacturers, and the Corsair RM1000x fits that bill. With enough juice to power all but the most demanding GPUs, 80 PLUS Gold efficiency, and fully modular ports, this one is easy for me to recommend, and the price on Amazon comes within $10 of the previous best.
Living right near the top of AMD’s offerings, the Ryzen 9 7950X is one of the fastest and most powerful CPUs before you have to move to the larger Threadripper platform. It’s well-equipped for modeling and production work, and is probably even more than most gamers need, although maybe not more than they want.
If you’re building a new computer, you could do a lot worse than the Asus ROG Strix B550-F for your motherboard. This Ryzen-supporting motherboard is well-priced for its feature set, which is basic but sufficient. It only has PCIe 4.0 and DDR4 RAM, which means parts will be a bit cheaper and easier to come by, and 2.5 Gbps ethernet and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports mean you still have modern connectivity. It’s not the biggest discount in the world, but every dollar counts when you’re building a new PC.
Other Gaming Accessories
Photograph: Simon Hill
Do you have a house full of phones, streaming devices, and computers? The Asus RT-AX860U Pro is our upgraded router pick for anyone who needs consistent, fast, wireless internet and is willing to pay for it. The RT-AX86U Pro has a wide range of features for both convenience and security, and you can even expand your network footprint with other Asus AiMesh routers. A slew of USB and Ethernet ports on the back means this powerful router can be the center of your wireless empire.
The Asus ROG Rapture is a Wi-Fi 6 router that serves up ultra-fast Internet across your home, but the best part is the software. Asus has packed this router with features gamers will love, like easy port forwarding, device prioritization, and a 2.5 Gbps LAN port. Plus, with Asus Instant Guard, you can use your home router as a VPN while out and about on your mobile phone, a nice touch for the security-minded. It’s not hard to see why it’s our favorite gaming router, but it also has everything you need for daily use, including parental controls, guest networks, and band splitting.
With a whopping 1 TB of storage, this nifty SSD drive from SK Hynix is a super-handy drive that’s not much bigger than most of the other best USB flash drives. It is a bit chunkier since it has an M.2 drive inside, but it can hit impressive speeds (around 1,000 MB/s read, 900 MB/s write) with the right gear (USB 3.2 Gen 2 port). I use it to watch 4K movies on my LG TV and it can slot into an Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 4 or 5 for extra game storage. Finished in smooth black plastic, with a cover that pops off to reveal a USB-A jack, SK Hynix offers a three-year warranty. —Simon Hill
Video Game Deals
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.Courtesy of Nintendo
if you’ve been eyeing a pricey MacBook recently, now is the time to hit that buy button. Apple Black Friday deals are already here and several WIRED-approved gadgets are on sale—from iPads and MacBooks to Apple Watches and AirPods. All of these deals are from third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy; Apple doesn’t have sales of its own, and the only promotion you’ll find on its website is the ability to get up to a $200 gift card if you buy an eligible product.
WIRED Featured Deals
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
MacBook and Desktop Deals
This is our favorite MacBook for most people (7/10, WIRED Recommends). It has a solid 13.6-inch LCD screen, a 1080p webcam, and an M3 chip that delivers a noticeable boost in performance compared to the older M1 chip. It handles everyday tasks with ease but it can also hold its own with some photo and video editing.
If you want a MacBook more powerful than the M3 in the MacBook Air, this is the next step up. Unlike its predecessor, it has three USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 in addition to an HDMI port, SD card slot, headphone jack, and MagSafe charging port. Apple also increased memory on the base model to 16 GB (up from 8 GB). This sale applies to the model with the base M4 chip, which is a decent upgrade over the MacBook Air above. But you can also configure it with an M4 Pro or M4 Max for more power—both are on sale.
The 15-inch MacBook Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is still my daily driver, even though I have an M4-powered Pro at my disposal. I suggest going for the 16 GB of unified memory to get smoother performance, but this M3-powered machine works great for all my tasks, including streaming content, video calls with an 1080p webcam, word processing and web browsing. Its a great option for those who’d like a larger screen without all the bells and whistles that come with a MacBook Pro. —Brenda Stolyar.
For ultimate power, there’s the 16-inch MacBook Pro (7/10, WIRED Review). Along with a Mini-LED screen, 120-Hz refresh rate, 1080p webcam, and six-speaker sound system, it also comes with new USB ports that support Thunderbolt 5 (120 Gbps/sec) for speedier data transfers. You’ll have the choice between an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip. We tested the M4 Pro which was only slightly faster than last year’s M3 Max chip. But it’s a great choice if you want a MacBook Pro that can handle anything and everything you throw at it.
Apple recently launched the M4-powered versions of the MacBook Pro, but the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) remains a great option. It has a bright display with mini-LED and a 1080p webcam built in. You’ll also get a 120-Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling. As usual, it packs plenty of ports, including two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, an HDMI, a MagSafe charging port, an SD card slot, and a high-impedance headphone jack. We recommend it if you don’t want to spend over $2,000 on a MacBook Pro.
The brand-new iMac with M4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) isn’t all that different than the M3-powered version, but it does come with a few upgrades. There’s a 12-megapixel webcam with support for Center Stage, a nano-texture display that makes for a better viewing experience, and all peripherals now have USB-C ports (finally). Thanks to the new M4 chip, it also delivers great performance. It’s the top pick in our Best All-in-One Computers guide. On Amazon, if you clip the coupon button, you’ll also save an additional $50, dropping the price to $1,149.
I’ve been using my Studio Display (9/10, WIRED Recommends) alongside the M4-powered MacBook Pro daily. The large 27-inch screen is great for getting work done. It lacks HDR, which means colors look a bit more saturated than the neutral tones you’ll find on Apple’s Pro Display XDR. But the 5K resolution is stunning and sharp. It’s expensive, yes, but it’s also a great monitor that comes complete with a 12-megapixel camera, plus built-in speakers and mics. —Brenda Stolyar
iPad Deals
If you’ve been waiting for Apple’s new iPad Mini (8/10, WIRED Recommends) to go on sale, wait no longer. The changes to the latest model are largely internal. It comes equipped with an A17 Pro chip (the same inside the iPhone 15 Pro), which can handle both graphically demanding games and support for Apple Intelligence (the company’s suite of artificial intelligence features with iOS 18.1). It’s also compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro, so you don’t have to get an iPad Pro to enjoy the improved stylus. Its tiny stature also makes it great to travel with, whether you’re using it for reading ebooks or gaming.
The iPad (10th-gen) (7/10, WIRED Review) is our favorite iPad to recommend to most people. It has an A14 Bionic chip (which you’ll also find in the iPhone 12) that never felt sluggish while testing it. It also has a modern design, with slim bezels around a large 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display (IPS LCD), Touch ID integrated into the power button, a USB-C port for charging, and a 12-megapixel front-facing camera that’s located in the center of the iPad.
If you don’t want the basic 10th-gen iPad, this is the next step up (8/10, WIRED Recommends). Between the 11-inch or 13-inch screen. the larger size is brighter—not to mention the extra real estate makes for a great secondary screen to use for work or TV watching. Same as with the M4 iPad Pro, Apple moved the front-facing camera to landscape orientation, which is much less awkward during video calls.The device’s M2 processor delivers smooth performance. Walmart also has the devices on a slight discount, if Amazon’s deals sell out (which it looks like they might).
Apple’s latest iPad Pro tablet (6/10, WIRED Review) has several new features. It packs a bigger and brighter display, an upgraded OLED screen, and the front-facing camera has landscape mode. Under the hood is the latest M4 chip, which delivers snappy performance. It’s also compatible with various new accessories including Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil Pro, and Smart Folio case. However, we still recommend the 2022 M2-powered iPad Pro. So, it’s a great alternative if you want to save even more cash.
AirPods Deals
These are our favorite AirPods (8/10, WIRED Recommends). They come with a bunch of great features including Adaptive Transparency mode (which combines noise cancellation and transparency to adjust audio), support for Find My in case you lose them, Conversation Awareness (which lowers the music and background noise when having a conversation), and an IP54 sweat- and dust-resistance rating. Sound quality, meanwhile, is above average with crisp highs, authoritative bass, and excellent noise cancellation. You’ll also gain access to Apple’s new hearing aid features, designed for people with low to moderate hearing loss.
This past September, Apple finally updated the AirPods Max (8/10, WIRED Recommends) to include USB-C. Aside from the new port, the rest of the features remain the same as on the Lightning version (those are on sale as well). You do, however, have the choice between a few new colors including orange, purple, blue, starlight, and midnight. These over-the-ear headphones come equipped with a massive soundstage, rich bass, and great noise cancellation. It also has great build quality, with a mesh headband and fabric (replaceable) earcups.
Not into AirPods? The Beats Studio Buds+ are our favorite alternative for Apple users. They come with all the essential features including active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and spatial audio. They’re comfortable to wear and easy to use, complete with physical buttons on the outside of each bud. They feature great battery life—36 hours when combined with the charging case. You can also pick from various colors including silver, ivory, black, and transparent.
Apple Watch Deals
The Series 10 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the newest Apple Watch to join the lineup. It has a bigger screen than any other Apple Watch that came before, yet it’s also thinner, lighter, and supports fast charging. The smartwatch runs the latest WatchOS 11 operating system, so you’ll have features like Training Load, which displays how your workouts impact your fitness over time, and Vitals, to check your baseline each morning. It’s important to note, however, that it doesn’t come with a blood oxygen sensor.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is our go-to smartwatch recommendation for anyone who mainly participates in outdoor sports. It delivers fast performance thanks to the S9 chip and an ultrawideband chip for enhanced precision finding. It also comes equipped with dual-frequence GPS, a Backtrack functionality for creating virtual breadcrumb trails on the Compass app (via the Action button), and access to offline maps (that you’ll have to download to your iPhone). Oh, and you won’t have to charge it every day.
This is our favorite budget-friendly Apple Watch. It doesn’t have a cutting-edge suite of health tracking features, but it’s still perfectly capable of logging things like steps, workouts, sleep, and heart rate. It also works with Family Setup so it’s a nice option to pick up if you don’t want to drop $500 on your 9-year-old’s first wearable. Small wrist havers can rejoice in the 40-mm case option, though it also goes up to 44 for a bit more cash.
Apple Accessory Deals
Photograph: Apple
The second-gen Apple Pencil features pressure sensitivity, handwriting support, tilt sensitivity, and double tap (which lets you switch quickly between tools by tapping the stylus twice). It has support for wireless pairing and wireless charging too, so you can magnetically connect it to the top edge of the iPad and start charging. It works with the iPad Mini (6th gen), iPad Air (4th gen and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen and later), and the 12.9-inch (3rd gen and later). It’s not compatible with the new iPad Air (M2) or iPad Pro (M4) though.
The first-generation Apple Pencil has been around for years and it’s still very good, provided you have a compatible iPad. It sports features like pressure sensitivity (the lines get thicker as you press harder on the display), tilt sensitivity (for shading), and handwriting support within apps and search fields. As for supported iPads, it works with the base model iPad (6th gen and later), iPad Mini (5th gen), iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd gen), and iPad Pro 10.5-inch. It reaches this price often, but it’s still a good deal. With the current lineup, that means only the 10th-gen iPad is compatible.
Photograph: Amazon
The latest Apple Pencil comes with a “squeeze” capability that triggers the tool palette (though you can also use a double-tap). The pencil also offers a haptic engine that delivers feedback when you squeeze the stylus. The built-in gyroscope sensor also allows you to change the orientation of each tool as you twist it, giving you finer control. It’s only compatible with the iPad Air (M2), iPad Pro (M4), and iPad Mini (A17 Pro).
Now that the turkey is gone, it’s time to get back to the outdoor deals. REI’s Cyber Week Sale has started and runs through December 9 with many items up 50 percent off. REI members can save an additional 25 percent off a single REI Outlet item. Now is a great time to save money on tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, fitness trackers, and running shoes.
Be sure to check out our many outdoor gear guides, including our Best Tents, Best Sleeping Bags, Best Sleeping Pads, Best Camp Stoves, and Best Rain Jackets for more well-tested picks. Are you working on your holiday shopping? Don’t forget our guide to the Best Gifts for Hikers and Outdoorsy People. Shopping for someone else? We’ve put together some gift ideas for hikers, backpackers, and outdoorsy people.
Updated November 30: We’ve added deals ranging from action cameras to merino wool apparel.
WIRED Featured Deals
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
The Best Deals on Tents
Camping is intense! Yup, I’m just going to keep putting that joke in any time I write about tents, because it never gets old. But your tent will. If you need a new one, there are some good ones on sale. We’ve spent years testing tents, and many of our favorites are on sale now.
Photograph: REI
REI’s Half Dome tent series is probably the most popular backpacking tent around. I can’t tell you how many of these I’ve seen on the trail. It’s reasonably priced (especially on sale), rugged, simple to set up, and offers generous living space for two with gear. The tent body is made of 40-denier ripstop nylon for durability at the base and on the floor, with 20-denier nylon mesh (both fabrics are Bluesign-approved). It also comes with a footprint, which is a rarity these days. The tent poles are aluminum and interchangeable, which makes them easy to set up and take down. The Copper Spur below is lighter, but with a packed weight of just under 4 pounds, the 2-person Half Dome isn’t too heavy when split between two people.
Our favorite lightweight family backpacking tent, the MSR Elixir 4 tent isn’t quite as pricey as options like the Big Agnes Copper Spur, but it’s not much heavier. I’ve spent quite a few nights in here with three kids, and there was plenty of interior space. That said, three adults will be more comfortable than four. The mesh at the top provides great ventilation on warm summer nights and the crossover pole helps it stand up well in the wind. The 3-person size is also on sale for $208.
Do you go all out when you go out? No one at our group campsite could believe the size of our Bridger 6, especially since it packs down to around the same size as our four-person MSR Habitude. Even though the assembly is pretty simple and fast. The tent floor is a whopping 90 square feet, big enough to fit two huge air mattresses. The enormous vestibule is another 90 square feet, which is big enough to fit multiple mountain bikes. The full-coverage fly kept us pretty warm while camping with 40-degree nights, but there are also two saloon doors. On lazy days, there’s plenty of room to roll up the doors, admire the lake, and take a nap. —Adrienne So
Photograph: Big Agnes
The Big Agnes Copper Spur series is the king of ultralight tents and this is the absolute lowest price we’ve seen (which probably means a new model next year). I’ve used the two-person and four-person models (on sale for $560) over the years, and Big Agnes has continually refined the design to the point that these are pretty near perfect. This is a high-quality, well-designed tent. It’s lightweight, easy to set up, and stable even in strong winds. The steep sidewalls give you more livable space than most tents and the “awning” design (with trekking poles or sticks) is great. The only complaint I have is the price, but on sale, it’s a little easier to handle.
If I had to pick just one tent to own, this is it. The Dagger Osmo 2P (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a stout, low-to-the-ground (peak height is 42 inches), incredibly sturdy tent—it holds up well even in high winds (45 mph when I was testing). Pair the sturdiness with large, spacious vestibules and a roomy interior, with excellent stargazing potential thanks to the mesh roof, and you have a great backcountry tent. If you want something roomier, the three-person version is also on sale for $420 ($180 off).
Bikepacking (backpacking on a bike) is (if it isn’t already) the next big thing. Brands like Big Agnes are even designing tents with shorter pole lengths, enabling them to fit between drop handlebars, or in panniers. The Copper Spur UL3 Bikepacking tent is our favorite of the bunch we’ve tested. It weighs just 3 pounds, 11 ounces (1.6 kilos), and has enough space for two (a squeeze for three). It’s also available in lighter, smaller, one- and two-person options, all with twin vestibules and doors, hidden helmet storage, and external webbing for hanging out wet clothes. Grab yourself one of the hammock-style Gear Lofts ($13), which create a huge stash space without cluttering the tent floor.
If you like to camp in the fall or spring, then you need a tent that’s a little more robust to keep out the wind, the cold, and the elements. That typically means your tent is heavier and bulkier, but Sea and Summit’s new “3-plus season” tent is capable enough in almost any weather while staying crazy light—just 3 pounds and 12 ounces for this three-person model. I used it on a 5-day trip to Loon Lake in northern California in early October, a true “shoulder season” trip with daytime highs in the 80s, nighttime lows in the 40s, and overnight winds of up to 60 mph. My favorite design detail is that the pole bag is kept rigid by an insert of opaque white plastic. Clip it to the tent’s ceiling, pop in your headlamp, and illuminate your abode. —Michael Calore
The Alto TR1 is our top pick for lightweight 1-person tents. I’m currently testing the Hilleberg Akto, which I like a little better as an all-around and colder weather solo tent, but the Sea to Summit TR1 is still a great choice if you’re primarily in warmer climates. The TR1 did outstanding in our testing on the abrasive volcanic rock and high winds of the north shore of Hawaii, and at this price, you really can’t go wrong. All of Sea to Summit’s tents are 50 percent off right now.
Backpack Deals
We’ve been testing day packs for years, and a few of our favorites are on sale now.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson; Getty Images
Mystery Ranch’s Coulee 30 pack (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is everything you need in a good hiking day pack. This deal is for the slightly larger 40L version, which is the same, just, um, bigger (there are a limited number of the 30L on sale at Public Lands for $113 ($75 off)). The suspension is cushy and provides a comfortable carry even with heavy loads. Mystery Ranch’s Signature Y-shaped zippers offer easy access to all your gear, and there are five externally accessible pockets for things you want close to your hand. The smaller Coulee 20L is also on sale for $135 ($40 off), though I have not tested that model.
The Goruck GR1 (7/10, WIRED Review) is my favorite backpack for everything but hiking. (That’s when I turn to the Mystery Ranch above, thanks to its nice hip belt.) I’ve had mine for several years and it looks pretty much like the day I got it. The 1000D cordura resists wear like no other fabric I’ve used. I fully expect this thing to outlive me. The GR1 has a lot more storage space than it looks like it would, with lots of useful pockets, including a protective laptop compartment. My one gripe is the back packet zipper, which I find difficult to unzip when the pack is full. Otherwise, this is as close to perfect as a pack is likely to get.
I have just started testing the GR2, which is similar to the GR1, but with some larger options (I have the 34L), and additional pockets that make it good for travel. Like the original, the GR2 is massively overbuilt with 1000D cordura on the back and sides. Like the GR1, this has 210D cordura on the back panel and underside of the shoulder straps, which is a bit softer and easier on those merino T-shirts we love. The GR2 also has two compartments, each with 3 pockets, including a built-in field pocket, all of which adds up to plenty of ways to organize your gear even before you start putting stuff on all that MOLLE webbing.
Photograph: Mountainsmith
Our favorite lumbar pack, the Tour is loaded with pockets, which gives you far more stash spaces than would seem possible in a pack this size. We’ve had no trouble fitting a change of clothes and a couple of meals in here, in addition to the gear you’ll need for a full day on the trail or a bike. The 13L version is also on sale for $75 ($25 off).
I own a slightly older version of this Deuter day pack, and the suspension system is so comfortable that I regularly load it with way more than the recommended weight and have had no problems. I found the same to be true of this updated version when I tested it. It’s a comfortable, capable day pack, and Deuter’s ventilation system is the best I’ve used. The biggest discount here is only for the yellow pack, but it’s a great deal.
Every high school kid has a JanSport. Except for those who just want a JanSport, which was me in high school. I wrote that once and JanSport reached out and ended up sending me the InBound to try. It was as good as it seemed back when in high school. You get a spacious main compartment, side bottle pockets, and an interior padded 15-inch laptop sleeve (that was not a thing when I was in high school). There’s also a nice zippered vertical front pocket. This deal is only on the blue color, the others are less of a deal at $72.
Photograph: Backcountry
My kid started his hiking career in this pack, which carried him from the mountains of Colorado to the hot barren mesas of Chaco Canyon. It’s not cheap (though this deal takes some of the pain away), but it’s well-made, and, most important, stable and comfortable. It’s also the easiest kid-hiking-pack to get on and off, which you will inevitably do, a lot.
This internal frame kids served all my children well from the ages of about eight on up to 12. That will of course vary depending on your kid’s size and growth rate, but we had two, and one made it through two different kids, so they’re pretty durable (my kids typically only spend about a week a year on the trail). There’s plenty of storage space and a couple of extra pockets to help organize. We’ve also used it as a carry-on on several trips.
The times I want a duffel bag are rare, but they’re nice when you’re flying a bunch of gear and don’t want to pack so much as have a bag swallow your stuff. We’ll sort it out at the destination is my motto. In those cases, I like this Peak Design duffel, and its larger cousin, the 80-liter model. They’re very well made, with heavy zippers that have never snagged in my testing. You can wear it as a backpack, or use the shoulder strap.
Photograph: REI
REI’s Big Haul Duffel is perfect for getting your gear to where you need it, whether that’s a flight to Nepal or a drive to Florida. This bag swallows an impressive amount of stuff and remains comfortable. It’s got plenty of straps and handles to help you get everything secured and carry in comfort. This is the smallest bag in the line, but it’s still a pretty good size, enough to haul climbing gear for one.
Sleeping Bag and Sleeping Pad Deals
For more on our favorite sleeping bags, be sure to check out our guides to the best sleeping bags and best sleeping pads,
Photograph: Amazon
If you’re looking for a solid three-season quilt and don’t want to pay custom quilt prices, this is our top pick. The top-of-the-line Vesper has everything you could ask for in a lightweight quilt. It weighs less than a pound, and ratcheting down the included comprehension sack will get it to roughly the size of a Nalgene bottle. The 900-fill down insulation (more on fill power here) was more than toasty enough for nights in the low 40s in the Canadian Rockies. The down is hydrophobic, which means condensation on tent walls shouldn’t be an issue.
Our top pick for side sleepers, we love Nemo’s Disco 15. This down mummy bag was designed with a “spoon shape” for side sleepers and has a little extra room in the elbows and knees so you can roll over onto your side without feeling like you’re slipping into a straight jacket. It’s built for temps down to 15 degrees and has zippered gills you can open to avoid overheating in the 40s, though I kept them all closed in the mid-30s and wasn’t overly warm.
The Bishop Pass is our favorite backcountry sleeping bag, this is the Gore-Tex version, which is the same thing, with a Gore-Tex shell. Normally we’d say you don’t need it, but at this price, why not? What we love about the Bishop Pass is that strikes the best compromise for most backpackers, being warm enough for the shoulder seasons and light enough (2 pounds, 5.4 ounces) that you won’t mind it even when you barely need it in the summer. The lighter, 30-degree model can be had for $146 ($119 off).
Nemo’s Forte 20 is a 35-degree synthetic-fill sleeping bag, making it a good choice for summer. I tested the slightly warmer 15F version, which is our favorite synthetic bag, but aside from fill, the two are the same. What I like most about this bag, and nearly all of Nemo’s sleeping bags, is the wider cut through the torso area down to the knees. Like the Therm-a-Rest Questar above, this bag is almost a hybrid of a mummy bag and your father’s good old 1970s square sleeping bag. Which is to say, this bag is roomy.
Photograph: Sea To Summit
If you want just one pad that’s plush enough for car camping yet reasonably lightweight (2 pounds, 2 ounces for the regular size linked here) and small enough for backpacking, this is the pad to get. That’s why it’s our favorite sleeping pad. There are lighter pads, there are comfier pads, but the Comfort Plus sets itself apart by being able to gracefully slip between those worlds.
Deals on Ebikes and Scooters
Photograph: Rad Power Bikes
Rad Power Bikes is one of the first direct-to-consumer ebike companies, and as such has been the subject of some painful lawsuits as the market has grown. However, it’s still a very popular bike, very affordable, and very fun and easy to ride. All of their bikes are on sale but most people seem to ride the basic RadRunner, which is insanely powerful for the price, if a little unwieldy for smaller riders.
We’ve tried several Aventon models and appreciate the high level of quality for a relatively low price point (the accessories are better than Lectric’s, too). This fat-tire ebike (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is affordable, versatile, and has built-in commuter essentials. We also like the Soltera.2 and the Abound, both of which are on sale.
Photograph: Ride1Up
Ride1Up positions the Cafe Cruiser as its light, affordable daily cruiser (7/10, WIRED Recommends) but with a 750W motor and a 65-pound frame, it’s pretty big and powerful for an entry-level bike. Still, at this price (and for these specs!) it’s a pretty amazing value.
We’ve tested several GoTrax’s escooters but we like the company’s folding, step-through ebike as well. It has the usual pitfalls of a cheap folding ebike (heavy, awkward) but it has a decent 20-mile range and all the commuter essentials for well under $1,000.
This is the affordable, DTC version of the now-defunct VanMoof (8/10, WIRED Recommends). You get a stylish, attractive bike for not a lot of money. All of Wing’s bikes are currently on sale.
Camping Deals
Photograph: Coleman
My favorite of Coleman’s current lineup, the Cascade 3-in-1 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) features heavy-duty cast iron, comes with a cast-iron griddle and grill, and can fit a 12-inch pan and a 10-inch pan side by side. It’s all-around sturdier and more robust than other Coleman stoves, well worth the extra money if you’re serious about camp cooking.
NRS straps are a must-have for anyone strapping … well, anything to anything. Whether you’re a river guide cinching gear to your boat or, like me just want to make sure the paddleboards stay on the Jeep roof, these are the best straps I’ve ever used. I have NRS straps that are over 30 years old and still going strong. These are rarely on sale too. I find the 1″ straps the most useful. You can grab a 2-pack of 6-footers for $13 or a 2-pack of 12-footers for $14.
This chair is the coziest way to hang out around camp. It is somewhat huge, heavy, and awkward to fold up and carry, but it’s all worth it once you cram everyone you love on it in front of a fire. The even bigger and more awkward three-person version is also on sale for $108 ($71 off).
Photograph: REI
Our favorite headlamp, I’ve been using a Tikka for backpacking since 2012, and it’s still going strong, which beats every other headlamp or flashlight I’ve tried in that time. To be fair, the headband gave out long ago, and I replaced it with some shock cord, but the headlamp itself is a testament to Petzl’s durability. The Tikka is not the brightest light. The models linked here top out at 350 lumens, but it’s plenty of light to cook by in the backcountry or trace the source of that transmission fluid dripping off the oil pan. Don’t forget to grab some AAA batteries (we recommend Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable batteries).
I’m still testing the Sawyer micro squeeze filter, but so far I like it. It’s tiny and weighs just 2.5 ounces. It works with a straw or the included pouch, and there’s an adapter to fill your hydration reservoir directly (provided it uses the semi-standard 28-mm threads). At this size, you’re going to have to back-flush it fairly frequently, but it’s great for short trips. For longer hauls, I’d go with the regular size, which is also on sale for $35 ($11 off).
The Leatherman Wave+ is our top pick multi-tool. The tools flip out and retract with just the right mix of smoothness and tension, and the mix of tools here is very useful—two stainless steel knives, one with a straight edge and the other serrated, along with 16 other tools, including a wood-and-metal file, a diamond-coated file, a saw, Phillips screwdriver bits, scissors, an 8-inch ruler, and a wire stripper, as well as a bottle and can opener.
Photograph: Amazon
If you hike, camp, or have a disaster kit at the ready, a LifeStraw is a good thing to include. It filters contaminated water without batteries or other accessories. Grab a BPA-free bottle to filter into and you’ll get out 99.99 percent of waterborne bacteria for up to 1,000 gallons of water. By then you’ll have either made it to the survivors’ camp in Vermont or the zombies will have won.
Deals on Apparel and Rain Jackets
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
We’re hard at work testing puffer jackets for an upcoming guide, but this REI Magma 850 is an early standout. With an 850-fill-power goose down and a recycled ripstop nylon shell, this is one of the warmer contenders I’ve used. I like the zippered chest pocket (there are also two zippered hand pockets, one of which the jacket stuffs into), and at 12.5 ounces this jacket is surprisingly light for how warm it is. The front zip has a wind flap, and there’s even a draft collar, something you hardly ever find in a puffer at this price. Even better the hood uses an elastic cord in the back that allows you to cinch it down and keep cold air from blowing in the sides. I’ve worn this in some pretty icy winds coming off Lake Superior I haven’t been anything but warm.
Our favorite bargain puffer jacket, the REI 650 Down Jacket isn’t as warm as the Magma above, but it’s hard to argue with this price. If you need a cheap, packable jacket for those cold summits or star gazing on chilly nights, this is the jacket to get. The stiched-through baffles mean this one isn’t as warm and is more susceptible to wind, but at this price, it’s worth buying.
If you want to go even lighter, the 650 Down Vest is the same as the jacket above, minus the arms. Provided you have a good base layer on your arms, a vest is the way to go for more active pursuits. I use a vest for all but the coldest weather since my arms rarely get cold and I prefer to have an increased range of motion.
This is another very nice down jacket, well, technically a hybrid fill jacket. Fjallraven uses 700-fill-power down for most of the jacket but adds synthetic recycled polyester insulation over the shoulders to help resist moisture. This is a mid-layer jacket where I live, but it does have a nylon shell that resists wind and water if you’re wearing it as an outer layer. The hood does a good job of keeping you warm while staying out of your way thanks to two drawcord tabs at the front, and an elastic drawcord at the back.
Photograph: Darn Tough; Getty Images
Darn Tough makes our favorite Merino wool socks. Just about all varieties are on sale, but if you don’t know where to start I like these Midweight Hiking Socks for $22 ($7 off) for cooler adventures in fall and spring.
Prana is having a bonkers sale right now, offering 40 percent off certain styles. Reviewer Nena Farrell and I are both fans and have recommended Prana leggings in our Gifts for Mom guide. The fabric is ridiculously soft and thin, especially if you like hot yoga. The Halle Pants are also my go-to climbing and hiking pants. —Adrienne So
The Branwyn bra is in our essential guide to merino wool, but I like it enough that I wrote a whole separate rave about it. Merino wool is a miracle fiber—it’s renewable, odor-resistant, regulates your temperature and doesn’t leave you with a terminal case of swamp booty should you choose to jump in a river with your hiking clothes on. What’s not to like? Everything at Branwyn is 25 percent off through Cyber Monday. —Adrienne So
Photograph: Smartwool
Base layers are the perfect place for merino wool, and this is our top-pick merino base layer. The softness of this Smartwool shirt is hard to beat, and the 100 percent merino means you get all of the temperature-regulating, odor-resisting goodness of wool without any synthetic fibers to drag it down.
I am a waxed canvas convert. It’s not breathable, and it can be heavy so it’s not necessarily the best when you’re heading into the backcountry, but if you want to say dry, it beats everything else I’ve tried. It also looks a lot better. This waxed canvas jacket from Huckberry is far and away the most stylish thing on this page and the wool lining means you’ll stay warm and dry. I have the flannel-lined version and wish I had the wool. Don’t be me, get the wool version.
It’s winter, and it’s getting colder. That means you’re probably heading to the climbing gym. These are some of the most comfortable and cheapest climbing shoes around, so they’re great for all-day wear, or beginners whose feet haven’t entirely converted into calloused toe claws.
Photograph: Hoka
The Hoka Speedgoats are our favorite trail running shoes, which makes sense since the company started off making trail running shoes. It’s roomy in the toes for long runs and has a durable Vibram outsole, and it’s noticeably lighter than previous Speedgoat models. —Adrienne So
This is my favorite running shoe. Altra’s shoes have a roomy toe box and are zero drop, which means that they’re flat—the heels are not higher than the toes. which improves your posture and strengthens your lower leg. The Outroads are designed for both trails and roads. This is a very good all-in-one shoe over a variety of terrain. —Adrienne So
I bought these running socks earlier this year to replenish my stock, and I’m now going to buy more because this is an unbelievable deal. These are great for winter running—synthetic quick-dry fibers are good for the rain, and the crew height keeps wet mud and dirt from sliding in next to my skin. —Adrienne So
Rab’s Glaceon Pro is an early front-runner in our hoodie testing (guide coming soon). It’s the warmest of the bunch of tried, especially for how small it packs down. The ripstop nylon shell is reasonably tough (my puppy has failed to rip it) and windproof. It’ll hold off a drizzle pretty well, but anything more than that and you’ll want to pull out a shell. I like the adjustability of the hood and the two-way front zipper for accessing a climbing harness when you’re wearing one.
I tested this jacket all summer and into the fall (admittedly, one of the driest ever where I live), and it’s performed incredibly well. I’ve twice had it in significant downpours and not had it wet through and the size zippers give you great ventilation options. The entire jacket is seam-taped, adding to the waterproofing, and the stretchiness of the shell fabric is great for a large range of motion when you’re hiking with a pack on. The only downside is that it weighs 15.3 ounces, which is on the heavy side.
Deals on Cameras and Drones
When you’re getting after it outdoors, these cameras and drones will help save the memories.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
GoPro’s new Hero 13 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a fantastic action camera. The Hero 13 features a new interchangeable lens system, with Macro, Ultra Wide, and Anamorphic lenses, plus a set of four neutral density filters (all sold separately). The Hero 13 Black even autodetects which lens is attached and changes settings accordingly. It’s a slick, if expensive, system, but this deal at least saves you some cash on the base camera, which you can put toward an extra lens. Except the Anamorphic, which won’t be available until 2025.
This deal has been running since the new Hero 13 Black launched earlier this year, and if you have the extra $40 to spare, I highly recommend the Hero 13 over the 12. But if you’re on a tight budget, or don’t have any interest in the interchangeable lenses, the Hero 12 uses the same sensor and makes a great action cam.
The DJI Air 3 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) remains one of our favorite drones, despite the brand new Air 3S. The new Air 3S brings larger sensors, which do improve the video a bit, but the Air 3 is still a fantastic dual-camera drone and, at this price, a better value than the new Air 3S.
Photograph: DJI
The Osmo Action 4 has been surpassed by the new Osmo Action 5, but the Action 4 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is still a fantastic action camera, especially at this price. The magnetic mounting system is great, the menu system makes switching between modes a snap, and the resulting photos and video are excellent.
Insta360’s Ace Pro was just replaced by the new Ace Pro 2, but this is a good deal on what is still a great camera. Capable of recording up to 8K 24 fps, with solid stabilization, good color handling, and a Leica lens to boot, there’s a lot to love here, especially for only $300. That said unless you think you’re going to use the 8K (which is only usable in still shots, not action footage), the Osmo Action 4 deal above is a better value.
Our favorite 360 camera, Insta360’s X4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends), features a 1/2-inch sensor capable of 8K video, which is as high-resolution as you can get in a 360-degree camera. The 8K resolution means you can reframe your footage to fit rectangular video formats and still have high-quality clips sharp enough to mix with other sources. It doesn’t reframe to 4K (you’ll have to wait for 12K footage before that’s possible), but it’s good enough for anything you’d put on social media.
Other Great Outdoor Deals
Photograph: Firebox
I love my Firebox stove. There are fewer and fewer places you can use these thanks to backcountry burn bans, but when you can, there’s nothing like cooking real food over an open flame after a long day’s hike. The Firebox is a stainless steel box you can fold up to be flat for easy packing. Most of the company’s stoves are on sale right now, but the G2 is the best for most people. If you regularly cook for larger groups, the best option is the Freestyle Everything Kit for $120 ($74 off).
The Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 is our top pick for backyard fire pits. At 19.5 inches wide and 15 inches tall, it’s small enough to toss in the trunk and lug to the beach or a tailgate but big enough to gather a group of a half-dozen friends around without feeling like you’re sitting around a Sterno can. Made from stainless steel, it weighs about 25 pounds. This deal is on the bundle, which gets you the firepit, lid, stand, and handy carrying bag. If you want something bigger, the Yukon is also on sale for $580 ($70 off).
Our pick for the best hibachi grill and fire pit, Biolite’s FirePit+ is a sleek, portable, mesh box with removable legs, a hibachi-style grill, and an ash bin. It has a rechargeable 10,400 mAh battery that can power 51 air jets for up to 26 hours. This allows you to precisely control the flame, and to some extent, the heat of the fire. It’s Bluetooth-compatible so you can tweak the airflow—and how high the flames go—on your phone. The FirePit+ can burn charcoal or wood and, thanks to the fans, you don’t need a charcoal chimney and you’ll never struggle to get a fire burning.
Photograph: Kieran Alger
Garmin’s InReach Mini is the satellite communicator in the ultralight and backpacking worlds. It’s tiny, weighs a mere 3.5 ounces, and uses the super-fast Iridium satellite network, so you can send a rapid SOS from pretty much anywhere, even the middle of the Indian Ocean. It can also do more mundane things like allow friends and family to track daily progress via a real-time map. As you would expect, it plays nicely with compatible Garmin watches.
The Garmin Forerunner 255 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is aimed at runners and triathletes, with plenty of mileage and stats available for running and swimming. There are also pretty solid sleep-tracking features and the battery life is great. The Forerunner generally knew what I was doing, logging pushups, walking, running, and resting without issue. It’s particularly well-suited to interval training thanks to the automatic detection.
The Fitbit Charge 6 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) tops our guide to the best fitness trackers thanks to the perfect balance of attractiveness, affordability, accessibility, and ease of use. Google’s takeover has led to several smart integrations with Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music Premium. This tracker can keep tabs on your skin temperature, 24/7 heart rate, activities, and sleep schedule. You can also expect week-long battery life, but the best features still require the $10/month Fitbit Premium subscription. —Simon Hill
Photograph: Garmin
This is still the watch I would wear if I didn’t have to test other fitness trackers—and I’m not the only one, because Garmin’s Instinct line is one of the company’s most popular. It has all the backcountry capabilities of the higher-end Fenix and Epix lines, but it’s more affordable because it ditches the fancy screen. The Instinct 2 Solar’s battery life lasted almost three weeks when I tested it in Hawaii, where I used it to keep track of everything from trail runs to keeping me oriented toward the beach when snorkeling. —Adrienne So
WIRED reviewer Adrienne So reviewed the 2-watt version of these bulletproof walkie-talkies (8/10, WIRED Review), and Gear Team director Martin Cizmar, has been testing this version, which has more than twice the power and promises a half-mile of carry-in even the least advantageous of environments (and up to 35 miles when circumstances are right). They’ve got USB-C charging and IP56 water resistance and the signal has been clear and strong in our testing. This is the first time the 5-watt version of the Rocky Talkie radio has ever been on sale.
The Isle Switch 3 is by far my favorite inflatable that I have tested. Do you want to paddle out in glassy, still water and lie on your belly with your dog and watch fish? Then it’s a big, solid, stable paddleboard with a grippy, soft surface perfect for puppy paws. Is there a bit of a breeze and you want to put the full force of your paddling muscles in play? Slip the hooks into the eyes and tighten the straps to put on a big, comfy seat and foot brace. (I used mine as a seat for the kids behind me.) Even the paddle converts from an SUP paddle to a kayak paddle. I can’t believe I’ve never tried one of these before. This deal includes a free electric pump.—Adrienne So
Photograph: Bote
The Breeze Aero (7/10, WIRED Recommends) inflatable paddleboard is well-built and durable, and it packs up reasonably small. It’s also one of the stablest paddleboards I’ve tried, making it a good choice for beginners. It’s easy to unpack and easy to use. Inflating is something of a chore with the hand pump, but once it’s deflated, it’s not hard to stow it away again. This deal is on the 11’6″ model (which supports up to 355 pounds).
It’s been a while since we tested an Oru, but every time we have we’ve loved them. These clever kayaks fold up like origami, packing down to the size of a small suitcase. Most weigh around 25 pounds and they’re all on sale. The Beach LT is in the middle of the lineup, both in terms of size and price. It’s a bit wider than some models, making it more stable and giving you a spacious cockpit that’s more beginner-friendly. —Adrienne So
Goal Zero’s Yeti 1000X is a good choice for off-grid camping. It’s got enough power to recharge all your devices for a week or more, as well as power smaller appliances like a portable fridge. It offers a 60-watt USB-C power delivery port, two USB-A ports, a 12-volt port, and two 120-volt AC ports (1,500 watts, 3,000 watts surge). You can pair it with some solar panels if you’re going to be off-grid for longer periods of time.
I recently stopped putting my phone on my handlebars when I ride, but when I did this was by far the best mount I ever used. It uses Peak Design’s SlimLink magnetic mounting system, which is super strong and easy to take on and off, just press the button, and your phone releases. It’ll fit a large range of handlebars and can go out front as the name implies, but also below or behind if you want to position it differently. The only catch is you need to use Peak Design’s phone case for this to work.
Walmart’s Black Friday deals have arrived, and we’ve found a handful of discounts that rival last year’s Black Friday prices. If any of these products are on your shopping list, now is a good time to buy them, especially if you can pair them with a Walmart coupon. Make sure you check out our live Black Friday deals tracker here.
Featured Deals
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
Tech Deals
Photograph: Adrienne So; Getty Images
The recently released Apple Watch Series 10 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the Best Apple Watch money can buy. Thanks to this deal, it’s a bit less money than usual. The discount may not seem stellar but this is the lowest price we’ve seen so far and it’s unlikely to drop much further, if at all, during Black Friday. It unfortunately doesn’t have blood oxygen sensing like previous models did, but it does have a bunch of fitness tracking features, and it can help gather data on other health stats like breathing disturbances, workout efficiency, and more.
If you just want an Apple Watch and you’re on a tight budget, this is the best Apple Watch for the money. This little entry-level smartwatch doesn’t have all the latest bells and whistles or cutting-edge health metric tracking, but it can track the things that people care about, including heart rate, steps, sleep, and workouts as well as the requisite things like notifications and alarms. There’s automatic fall detection and support for Family Setup as well. It’s a totally fine device for anybody that wants a wearable without spending a wrist and a leg.
This MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) with M1 is the cheapest MacBook you can buy. Although the M1 came out in 2020, it’s still a speedy and capable chip for simple tasks and basic activities (like web browsing, sending emails, and word processing) along with light video editing. It also has solid battery life and will easily last an entire day. It’s a good option if you’re looking for a reliable MacBook without breaking the bank, and this is the lowest price we’ve ever seen. —Brenda Stolyar
Roku Black Friday deals are nothing new, but this is a good deal for the best Roku device and our favorite streaming stick overall. I recently swapped from Amazon’s streaming ecosystem to a Roku device and I think it’s a much better experience. There are lots of free channels to watch (including all of How It’s Made, an American version of the Great British Baking Show, and tons of good Antiques Roadshow episodes). The interface is user-friendly and customizable, the remote is fast, and the plug-and-play setup couldn’t be simpler.
Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
This headset earned a rare 10/10 review from our tester, who claimed it was made with some sort of magic. That’s because it has a whopping 300 hours of battery life—and sometimes even more in our testing. That’s about 10 times the average. Of course, the sound quality is great and so is the comfort and fit. But perhaps most enticingly, you’ll hardly ever need to charge it. Learn more and get additional recommendations in our Gaming Headset Buying Guide.
This deal was slightly cheaper earlier in the week, but we still think it’s a solid discount, and most of the seven available colors are on sale for this price or a bit lower right now. This punchy little speaker is the slightly older version of one of our favorites. It’s water- and dust-resistant, and the built-in carabiner makes it easy to clip onto a backpack or stroller. The small size also makes it perfect for kids. The battery lasts for around 10 hours per charge, and the sound quality is surprisingly full despite the speaker’s miniature footprint.
The unfortunately named Sony WH-1000XM5 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) remain our very favorite wireless headphones out of the hundreds we’ve tested. At $298 this deal matches the best deal we’ve seen on them, and last year’s Black Friday sales only dropped them to $328. They have excellent sound quality, a whopping 30 hours of battery life, great noise canceling, and a swanky design. The comfortable fit and intuitive onboard controls round out the listening experience.
Photograph: Samsung
This beats last year’s Black Friday discount by $500. The QN900C (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is undeniably expensive, but this is one of the best deals we’ve tracked. It’s gorgeous and has exquisitely detailed, clear video quality, with deep blacks, vivid colors, and some of the smoothest motion processing you’ll see. It can handle up to 8K resolution, too.
This Panasonic 4K Blu-Ray player supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which makes it fully optimized for getting the most out of your discs. I like how simple and easy these players are, although they have software that feels like it was coded 20 years ago. Discs look way better than streaming content in most cases, so a solid deal on this player is a must if you’re looking to see your favorite content in the best possible quality. —Parker Hall
Sony’s Bravia 9 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best-performing backlit TV. It blends next-gen brightness with Sony’s proprietary dimming and picture processing to provide stunningly balanced performance across the board. The TV’s brightness pushes toward the psychedelic when called upon but with measured dispersal to keep from blowing your eyeballs out. On the other end, you’ll experience OLED-like black levels and contrast, and 4K detail that pops off the screen. Sony only offers two HDMI 2.1 ports, meaning you’re losing two slots for gaming consoles over competitors, and the TV’s off-axis viewing is good, not great. That’s the price you’ll pay for brilliance that outdoes even the most fiery OLED displays. If you’ve been looking for a good sale on the best LED TV, your search is over. —Ryan Waniata
Photograph: JBL
This is the Bar 1300X (8/10, WIRED Recommends) deal I’ve been waiting for. If you’ve been after transformative Atmos immersion in a large-and-in-charge soundbar system, your time is now. The 1300X’s standout feature is its removable, battery-powered surrounds that can detach from the main bar as surround speakers when needed, or reattach, charge, and play as part of the larger bar. They’ll even work as standalone Bluetooth speakers. It’s a cool feature, but the 1300X’s Dolby Atmos performance is even cooler. You’ll feel like you’re there when the up-firing speakers get rolling, putting you in a dome of sound. Music also sounds great, and the included subwoofer provides power and poise for everything you play. The app is a little lackluster for sound adjustments, but otherwise, I’ve got nothing but kudos for this uniquely versatile setup. —Ryan Waniata
This is the best gaming headset for most people. The wireless headset is ultra-fast with low latency, but you can also choose to rock it wired with a 3.5-mm connection. Expect high-quality sound, clear mic communications, and a comfortable fit. We already like the affordable pricing, but thanks to Black Friday, this headset is even more attainable.
This compact little camera is one of the best indoor security cameras on the market. You can place it on a shelf or mount it to the wall, and there’s a built-in privacy shutter for added peace of mind. The detailed 1080p footage is stored in the cloud, so long as you shell out $8 per month for the Arlo Secure subscription. Other features include a built-in siren, motion detection alerts, and two-way communication.
Photograph: Amazon
A couple of colors are on sale for this price. The Fitbit Inspire 3 is our favorite budget fitness tracker. If you’re looking for a simple, stylish model that has basic capabilities, this is a good and cheap option. It’ll track steps, sleep, and SpO2 levels, and it’ll let you know when someone is calling. It’s a good time to pick one up if you’ve got some health-related goals looming this January.
The newest Pixel Watch 3 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes in two sizes, and I very much recommend you snag the larger 45-mm variant. It doesn’t look that big on small wrists, but you get much better battery life (just a smidge over a full 24 hours). Google’s health and fitness tracking capabilities are excellent, and there’s even a unique Loss of Pulse feature on the way in the US (it’s available in select countries), which could help contact emergency services in the event of cardiac arrest. —Julian Chokkattu
This easy-to-build home arcade cabinet features a 17-inch color LCD screen, a light-up marquee, authentic arcade controls, and runs 14 Namco games, including every version of Pac-Man and a few extras like Galaga and Dig Dug. Whether you grew up in the arcades or not, these games still have a powerful addictive hook, and this Pac-Man arcade machine brought me closer to my teen kids. This is a decent discount that drops it to the lowest price we’ve seen. —Simon Hill
Photograph: Apple
The AirPods Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are so popular, and this is actually a decent deal unlike some of the paltry savings we’ve seen in the past. They boast great noise cancellation and crisp, balanced sound. There are also some nice features like Find My support (in case you misplace them, which you absolutely will) and Adaptive Transparency mode while will adjust itself to your environment. Check out our AirPods Buying Guide for additional information.
The Segway E2 Plus is a great little budget scooter for scootin’ around the neighborhood or down to the corner store. It can handle small slopes and reaches about 15 miles per hour, and the battery is good for around 10 miles. It also has turn signal lights which are a great feature that you don’t usually find on machines this cheap. You can fold it down and carry it by the handle, but it’s a tad heavy at 41 pounds.
It’s rare that a discount gets us so excited, but this is a staggering price drop on one of our favorite soundbars. This expansive setup is our favorite for Dolby Atmos. It’s got a thumping subwoofer that won’t muddy sound, plus a generally immersive soundstage that’s balanced and tight across the board. The sound will calibrate itself intelligently, so all you have to do after setting it up is sit back, relax, and know your life has vastly improved.
Home Deals
Photograph: Ninja Kitchen; Getty Images
Beating Black Friday prices by $20, this is a solid deal on the Ninja Creami (6/10, WIRED Review), as seen in our gift guide of the Best Viral TikTok Gadgets. If you’re interested in making sorbet, gelato, and sundaes at home, this little countertop appliance will get the job done. A few recipes are included though you can find oodles more online (or in the company’s $17 cookbook, which we firmly believe should be included for free). The Ninja Creami takes some trial and error, but once you get the hang of it, you can whip up your own creations to have a freezer full of goodness all the time. Just be prepared to relinquish some counter space.
I have tested the sold-out Green Day special edition of this Keurig, which I was sent as part of the promotion of the band’s Punk Bunny coffee line that includes bagged beans as well as K-cups. While I’m not going to replace my Chemex with it, there’s a lot to be said for the convenience. Fill the water reservoir once every few days, load up a cup, and press one button. What separates this device from others in the Keurig line is the ability to make iced-ish coffee, which comes out significantly cooler than the regular brew and will make a passable iced coffee when poured over ice and sweetened. This blue version is on a steep discount and would make a great gift for someone who doesn’t want to fuss over their coffee and wants lots of options in flavor—I mostly use mine to make hot cocoa for my daughter now. —Martin Cizmar
This is a match of the discount we saw last Black Friday. This tilt-head model isn’t the most powerful KitchenAid mixer, but it’ll still make baking holiday cookies a breeze and has plenty enough strength to knead dough, whip your egg whites, and make a perfectly silky buttercream. It’s on sale in a lot of different fun colors.
Photograph: Dyson
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is our favorite Dyson vacuum for small spaces. This is one of the best prices we’ve seen for this svelte dust-sucker, which is lightweight, easy to maneuver, and overall user-friendly. There’s a single power button and an array of attachments are included for specific tasks like stairs or crevices. This vacuum also has the neat neon-green laser that shines a spotlight on any dust you might have otherwise missed while cleaning.
I’ve used many items from The Pioneer Woman’s cookware line and I’ve always found the products to be beautiful, durable, and well made. This would make an excellent gift for a young adult just getting settled into their first place. The set includes four each of dinner plates, salad plates, and bowls. Everything is dishwasher- and microwave-safe.
Out of all the portable power stations we’ve tested, this is the most portable. It weighs only 17 pounds and has a handy…handle for toting it around. There are plenty of ports for camping trips including a selection of USB-A, USB-C, and AC outlets, and the optional X-Boost surge mode can power small appliances (though reviewer Simon Hill says he wouldn’t be ideal for something like a hair dryer). It takes just over an hour to charge this portable power station back up. It’s backed by a five year warranty.
Deals on Everything Else
Photograph: Hairitage
We recommend this hair dryer as a solid budget pick. We like the affordable price tag, plus its pretty, compact, and lightweight design. It comes with a concentrator nozzle, though you can separately purchase a diffuser attachment for cheap. If you just need a reliable hair dryer, this is a great option, especially for this price.
This is the best curling iron for fine hair. It doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, but the clampless design gave our long-haired reviewer nice curls in about 30 seconds per piece. The tool’s lightweight design helps cut back on bicep fatigue, too.
Photograph: Alanna Kilkeary
This is the best curling iron for long hair. It’s suitable for all hair types and has a tourmaline ceramic-coated barrel that’ll help your hair stay silky and frizz-free. The curling iron heats up quickly, and the long barrel means you have plenty of room to work so you won’t have to contort around trying to perfect your styling technique. This model also has dual voltage, so it’ll work on international trips.
This excellent curling iron earned a spot in our buying guide because it gave reviewer Alanna Kilkeary such long-lasting curls. The elongated barrel has a nice clamp that’ll hold your hair in place while styling. It’s got a slightly different design than some hair tools you might be used to since it has a temperature dial and a color-coding system rather than a display of the exact temperature. But it can heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and it should give your curls some great longevity.
This made our list of the best travel strollers as the top budget pick. It’s a little on the short side, but it’s lightweight, TSA-approved, and even comes with a cupholder. It doesn’t have any car seat adapters, but for the price, it’s hard to find a more well-rounded travel stroller with this many features. We like the padded seat and the fact that the belly bar doubles as a handle.
Photograph: Simon Hill
A firm WIRED favorite and one of the best family board games, Ticket to Ride features steam engine styling and rules that are easy to grasp. All you must do is claim railway routes across the US and Canada using your colorful plastic rail cars. Spend cards to claim routes, rack up bonus points for connecting specific destinations, and the person with the highest score at the end wins. All aboard, choo, choo! —Simon Hill
This series is Booktok-approved, and not to be that person but I first read it way back in 2017 before TikTok was even a thing in the United States. I think it’s a little bit overhyped, but this is still an excellent way to get into the world of romantasy. It’s easy enough to read that you won’t get overwhelmed, but not so easy that you’ll get bored, and the magical world is full of fun, intriguing characters. A book like this is perfect to curl up with during colder winter months, and this price is a great way to figure out whether or not you want to commit to the entire series (which is currently five books long). It’s one of my favorite affordable gifts, especially for this price.
This offer is available for new, expired, monthly, and trial Walmart+ members. Walmart+ usually costs $98 per year, but right now it’s down to $49 for the first year. It automatically renews, so set a reminder to cancel if you don’t want to pay full price. But Walmart+ members get early access to Black Friday deals and other special sales, free grocery delivery, free shipping online with no order minimum, and more. You can learn more here.
Thanksgiving is the Christmas Eve of TV sale events, and the best Black Friday TV deals are live now. I’m a TV expert and I have tested and reviewed 100+ TVs over the years and have spotlighted the best discounts on televisions someone from our team has tested below. Or check out the absolute best Black Friday deals.
Featured Deals
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
TV Deals
Photograph: Best Buy
On one hand, I would not watch the Super Bowl on this super inexpensive Hisense TV. On the other hand, a decade ago it would have blown my mind. I just bought this TV for my mom and it’s what we’re using to watch football and play Switch today. The software boots surprisnly smoothly and quickly and because it’s a Hisense it’s quite bright compared to other TVs I’ve seen at this price. —Martin Cizmar
Photograph: Best Buy
If affordability and convenience top your TV checklist, this balanced baseline model from Roku is an enticing choice. Roku’s simplified interface runs the show, making it easy for even the less technically inclined among us to navigate between inputs, broadcast TV, and your choice of hundreds of streaming services. The TV’s picture quality isn’t top tier, and its 60-Hz refresh rateView Live may not appeal to avid gamers, but you do get good brightness, vibrant colors, local dimming for solid black levels without blotchy light patches, and smart support for Apple Homekit, Alexa, and Google Assistant.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
If you’re after something more budget-friendly, Hisense’s U7N QLED TV (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is our pick as the best TV for most people right now, thanks to its mix of killer brightness, vivid quantum dot colors, and excellent contrast. We saw some uniformity issues in testing (aka the dirty screen effect) but it’s not noticeable in most situations, and the TV’s mini LED backlighting system is a step above regular LED TVs, with loads of dimming zones for minimal “blooming” or light wash around bright images. An intuitive Google TV interface and high-end gaming features complete the package for a TV that punches well above its price.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Looking to bust the brightness barrier? Hisense’s 65-inch U8N TV (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is among the brightest we’ve ever tested, outshining the vast majority of LED rivals with its searing highlights and voluminous quantum dot colors. You might think all that power would make it a poor performer in the dark, but the U8N’s advanced mini LED backlighting allows for inky black levels with very little light bloom. You’ll also get top-end gaming features and a Google TV interface. The TV’s off-axis image quality and motion handling are just OK, but otherwise you’re getting a lot of the goodies found in premium TVs for far less money. Add in a good sale, and it’s hard to say no.
Photograph: Amazon
Not to be outdone, Samsung’s second-tier OLED (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is another of my favorite TVs of the year. The 65-inch model’s QD-OLED panel (the 42-, 48-, and 83-inch models use a more traditional WOLED panel) provides fabulously rich colors and a slight brightness boost over its C4 counterpart, alongside the perfect black levels and excellent picture quality from any angle that makes OLED TVs top performers. Like the C4, you’ll get HDMI 2.1 support across all four inputs and Samsung’s Game Hub lets you stream games from an impressive list of services, including Xbox. Like all Samsung TVs, the S90D doesn’t support Dolby Vision, the most common dynamic HDR format, opting for HDR10+ instead. Otherwise, it’s hard to find a flaw.
This is our favorite 8K TV right now, despite it being last year’s model, because literally nobody needs an 8K TV right now. There is basically no content in 8k that isn’t self-shot at this point, but if you’re the type of person who spends big once a decade for a new screen and that decade is up, you may as well snag this model. It’s gorgeous, bright, and if they ever actually get around to making or delivering 8K content, you’ll be set. —Parker Hall
Photograph: Amazon
If I’d known the Bravia 7 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) would drop this low, I honestly would have given it a higher score. It seemed a bit too high at its $2,300 MSRP, but now that it’s $1,000 lower, and $400 off its original sale price, it feels like Sony’s giving these things away. My main gripe about the Bravia 7 was its notably poor performance from the side. If you’re mainly watching from straight-on, though, this is a killer performer for the money. The TV’s mini LED backlight is brilliantly bright, with dazzling colors, excellent contrast, and stunning clarity across content. Like most TVs in its class, it tacks on top gaming features (though only across two of its four HDMI inputs), and its Google TV interface adds intuitive control. At this price, this is among the best options for anyone after a bright-yet-refined TV experience.
Photograph: Amazon; Getty Images
LG’s C4 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is perennially named one of the best TVs you can buy, for good reason. You’ll get the stunning contrast and perfect black levels of a top OLED display, rich and naturalistic colors, sparkling clear picture processing, and solid brightness with support for Dolby Vision HDR. LG’s smart interface is quirky but lightning-fast, and the Magic Remote works like a Nintendo Wii remote for versatile control. Extras like four fully-loaded HDMI 2.1 inputs to serve up the top gaming features make the C4 feel like a flagship TV at second-tier pricing. (Note: We’ve seen this price fluctuate in the past few w, dropping as low as $1,400, so you may want to keep the buy tab open and your finger ready.)
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
TCL’s QM7 (6/10, WIRED Reviewed) is one of the best TVs I’ve reviewed at its price point, with one exception: The HDR picture mode in my review model was oddly connected to SDR settings, which greatly limited its brightness in HDR. TCL was able to fix the issue for me, but said it won’t issue a broad update until December. It doesn’t seem to be a widespread issue, and this screen otherwise offers great contrast, rich and showy colors, and impressive screen uniformity that outdoes the similarly priced U7N. It’s that last trait that makes the QM7 a prime candidate for a large-scale display. A 98-inch screen is insane, as is the fact that you can now purchase one for well under $3,000. If you trust TCL’s willingness to stand behind its products, this TV could be the grand-scale showpiece you’ve been waiting for.
Photograph: Amazon
This is big savings on a trophy TV with a lightening fast refresh rate, blinding brightness, and surprisingly rich sound from side speakers. I’ve been testing this TV in my house for the last two months and have been delighted by the performance—so much so that I’m a convert to the Hisense brand and it’s all I’ll buy now. —Martin Cizmar
Photograph: Amazon; Getty Images
Sony’s A95L (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best 4K TV I’ve ever seen. It’s so good that Sony decided not to update it for 2023. The company instead turned its focus to backlit LED TVs like the searingly beautiful Bravia 9 (9/10, WIRED Recommends), but the A95L is still arguably the company’s best. You’ll get perfect black levels for incredible contrast, sweet and accurate colors, and impressive brightness for an OLED display. Unlike LED TVs, including the Bravia 9, it looks almost perfect from any angle. The frosting on this cake is Sony’s XR processing which provides crystalline detail for a remarkably immersive image. The TV adds solid features, including a Google TV interface and next-gen gaming support (though only across two of its four HDMI ports, helping to keep the TV from a perfect 10). It’s a pricey display that’s a little easier to stomach in a 55-inch size and especially tempting on a great sale.
Sony Bravia 9
Photograph: Ryan Waniata; Getty Images
Another brightness champion, the Bravia 9 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) matches its next-gen LED potency with brilliant balance to create one of the most stirring performances of any TV I’ve tested. You’ll almost feel the heat of the sun or lasers cascading across the screen, while Sony’s proprietary backlighting and processing systems provide incredible contrast and clarity. You’ll get Sony’s Google TV smart interface for simple navigation, and high-end gaming features, including in-house PlayStation exclusives. The TV’s off-angle viewing is good, not great, and I wish Sony would offer HDMI 2.1 gaming support across more than just two of its four inputs, but if you’re after the best LED TV on the market at its lowest price yet, you’re welcome.
You may not realize it, but your TV is sad. It’s sad because it wants to offer great sound to accompany its awesome picture, but it is woefully ill-equipped to do so. You could shop for a multi-component home theater system or a pair of bookshelves to remedy things, but if that sounds like too much hassle, a good soundbar is a great alternative. Luckily, now is the exact right time to grab one. Below we’ve rounded up the best Black Friday soundbar deals to turn your TV’s frown upside down. Be sure to check our live Black Friday deals tracker too.
WIRED Featured Deals
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
Soundbar Deals
Klipsch Flexus Core 200
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
If you’re just after a simple and affordable audio upgrade, Yamaha’s SR-C20A is a go-to option, now at an exceedingly reasonable price. It doesn’t offer conveniences like network streaming or multiroom connection, but its 100-watt power plant easily exceeds the pale performance your TV is likely to muster. The 2.1-channel configuration includes dual full-range drivers and a built-in woofer for some heft in the low frequencies. You’ll get a simplified TV connection over HDMI, standard Bluetooth streaming, and even a 3.5-mm analog input so you can connect a turntable with a pre-amp and some cable finagling.
The Bar 1300X (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a sweet audio system that’s even sweeter with this deal. This multi-piece setup provides realistic Atmos immersion with a unique twist. The battery-powered, fully wireless surround speakers can connect to the main bar to play and charge, or disconnect to sit behind you for versatile configurations–you can even take them outside as stand-alone Bluetooth speakers. It’s a futuristic feature, but my favorite trait of this bar is just how good it sounds, offering an expansive dome of sound with 3D audio, and great musicality for streaming your tunes. I wish the app was a bit more precise for settings adjustments, but the 1300X’s performance makes up for it, bringing cinematic punch to everything you play.
Sonos Beam
Photograph: Sonos
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 provides expansive sound from a pint-size package. It’s not big on bass, but it serves up detailed dialog, an expansive soundstage, and solid music streaming skills from a frame that virtually disappears beneath your TV screen. It provides good Dolby Atmos virtualization, though it’s more limited than bars with dedicated upfiring drivers (see the Bose Smart Soundbar). The Beam’s best trick is its advanced networking skills that let it connect with other Sonos speakers in a surround configuration or whole-home audio system via the Sonos app. Said app has been maligned of late, but it now seems to be mostly back on track. You can also stream music from the app directly from multiple services, or via AirPlay and Spotify Connect. The Beam has long been among the most popular compact bars, and it’s still a top option.
It’s not the latest and greatest soundbar we have tested, but the Signa S4 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a slim bar with a relatively large wireless subwoofer that makes it great for action fans. I wish it had Wi-Fi for music streaming, but as long as you connect it to your TV, you can use the apps on there for that. —Parker Hall
Bose Smart Soundbar
Photograph: Ryan Waniata; Getty Images
Bose’s Smart Soundbar (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is my favorite new compact soundbar thanks to its excellent sound and innovative new tricks. It all starts with true upfiring speakers, which help provide spacey immersion for Dolby Atmos TV shows and movies. The bar’s new AI dialog mode is just as impressive, providing fantastic clarity in dialog and center-channel effects. Maybe most intriguing, you can now connect Bose’s Open Earbuds to use in concert with the bar as personal surround speakers. The app is easy to use for making basic adjustments or streaming music, and the versatile design lets you connect other Bose speakers like a Bass Module subwoofer, so you can expand the system to suit your needs.
Every TV deserves better sound, and this cheap soundbar and wireless subwoofer from Yamaha is a great way to get a more cinematic experience than you can get with a standalone bar. It’s super easy to set up with a simple HDMI eARC connection, and it brings a shocking amount of depth to content you probably watched through tinny TV speakers. Its little brother, the SR-C20A, has been our best soundbar for most of the year, and this brings more bass at a now-discounted price. —Parker Hall
Sonos Arc
Photograph: Adrienne So
Sonos’ popular Arc (9/10, WIRED Recommends) has gotten an upgrade in the Arc Ultra, which provides revamped sound and some cool new features. But at $1,000, it makes the regular Arc feel like a real bargain, especially on sale. The baseline Arc is still a heckuva bar, offering smooth and detailed sound, great dialog, and expansive Dolby Atmos immersion thanks to multiple speakers and acoustic waveguides that bounce sound around your room. It’s got some fun features, like the ability to connect the Ace headphones (8/10, WIRED Recommends) with its clever TV Swap feature, or link Sonos speakers in a surround or multiroom audio setup with the Sonos app. The app has made headlines lately for all the wrong reasons, but it seems to be mostly back on its feet, and the Arc remains one of the best stand-alone bars you can buy.
Klipsch’s Flexus Core 200 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the most potent and musical stand-alone soundbar I’ve heard at its price point. Built more like a traditional speaker system than most plastic bars, it uses MDF construction and Onkyo internals for impressive sound and responsive performance. Upfiring drivers provide swirling Dolby Atmos performance, and hefty woofers punch deep into the mid-bass region for cinematic punch. What you won’t get here is a Wi-Fi connection, limiting streaming to Bluetooth, but as the bar’s name implies, you can still add surround speakers or a massive sub from the Flexus system. On its own, the Core 200 won’t give you the full boom of bars with a separate subwoofer included, but if you value sound quality above all, this is a great choice.
The Ray (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a quirky little Sonos offering, but the smallest bar on the list is a great choice for the right buyer. This is the cheapest soundbar I’ve seen with this kind of network skills, letting you connect over Wi-Fi and enjoy all the spoils of Sonos, including linking up with other Sonos speakers in a whole-home audio system. The trade-off is that, unlike nearly all soundbars we test, the Ray connects to your TV via an optical connection instead of HDMI. That means it may not automatically work with your TV remote (though most remotes can be programmed), and it doesn’t even come with its own remote, leaving only the Sonos app as an alternative. If you don’t mind those limitations, the Ray is the spunkiest bar of its size, offering powerful, clear, and musical sound in a profile that barely registers.
Vizio M Series Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Photograph: Vizio
If you’re after a crazy affordable way to enjoy the thrills of surround sound, Dolby Atmos, and even its rival DTS:X, you won’t find a better deal than Vizio’s 5.1.2 soundbar (9/10, WIRED Recommends). Offering a multicomponent setup with true surround speakers, upfiring drivers, and a hefty subwoofer to bring the boom, this system will instantly raise your sound game to cinematic heights. To get this affordable, the bar cuts some corners; it requires a wired connection for the surround speakers instead of a wireless connection like many competitors, and it doesn’t offer a Wi-Fi connection for high-quality music streaming. You will get Bluetooth streaming, though, as well as intuitive control via a backlit remote. This may be the best Atmos deal around, and on sale, it’s a guilt-free pickup.
The ZVox AccuVoice has digital processing technology that makes voices sound clearer, making it a great option for folks that have hearing loss. There are twelve levels of voice boosting to choose from. This is the best price we’ve seen for it all year. —Louryn Strampe
Photograph: Samsung
This is a truly bonkers deal on our favorite Dolby Atmos soundbar. It’s normally quite expensive, but you can save nearly 50 percent which is an eye-popping discount that comes close to the historic low we’ve seen just once before. It comes with everything you need for the best immersion you can get with a system like this, including a subwoofer with great bass response and intelligently calibrated room-filling sound. —Louryn Strampe
The JBL Bar 1300x (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has detachable wireless surround speakers. The speakers usually sit on either side of the soundbar, but you can pop them out and move them around for more immersion. The sound will calibrate itself according to your setup. The speakers do require recharging, so you can’t just leave them out on their own forever, but re-docking them between watch parties will top them off. This is a great option for people with limited outlets or just a deep, innate hatred for wires.—Louryn Strampe
This is the most bass-heavy soundbar system we’ve tried. It comes with two huge subwoofers that’ll make explosions sound more explode-y than ever. There are side and rear speakers for added immersion that make playing video games extra fun, and there’s support for formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Just keep in mind that this system runs large, so it’s not ideal for tight spaces. (You’d probably rattle your head off in a small room.)—Louryn Strampe
Black Friday is a perfect moment to update your coffee game with the best new gear and accessories at discount prices. We’ve sorted through a storm of Cyber Monday and Black Friday deals on espresso machines, grinders, French presses, and cold brew to find the absolute best buys on our highest-rated coffee gear.
For other coffee recommendations, check out our Best Espresso Machines, Best Automated Espresso and Cappuccino Machines, Grinders and Kettles, and Pour-Over guides.
Updated November 30: We’ve added some coffee subscription deals and corrected prices.
WIRED Featured Deals
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
Coffee Machine Deals
Photograph: Pete Cottell
The Fellow Aiden drip coffee machine is probably the most talked-about device this year among coffee heads, in a year full of hype. The Aiden looks fancy, and it kinda is fancy. But the Aiden is less about hype than simple ease. “A coffee machine’s ability to brew delicious coffee with as little friction as possible should be the primary yardstick of greatness,” wrote WIRED contributor Pete Cottell in his rave review of the Aiden (8/10, WIRED Recommends). Its real strength is that it makes beautiful, café-quality drip or pour-over without being any harder to figure out than a grimy old Mr. Coffee from the 1970s. Pair it with the WIRED Gear team’s favorite bean grinder, the Opus, and you’ve got a powerhouse brewing setup at a steep Black Friday discount. (You can also just spring for the Opus, a terrific grinder, and get the same 20 percent discount.)
Technivorm’s Moccamaster drip coffee maker has been handmade in the Netherlands since 1968. It’s a big, sturdy, and technically precise drip machine that will maintain water at optimal brewing temperature during the entire brewing process. Note: to get this Black Friday deal, you may have to compromise on color. Some colors are sold out at the sale price already, so click around among the different color options to see if you find one you like at a discount. But choose wisely: chances are it’ll stick around for decades.
Photograph: Oxo
When this terrific, SCA-certified drip brewer came out only a few years ago, WIRED reviewer Joe Ray had to reassure readers that high-quality home drip coffeemakers were indeed possible, and real—and that the Oxo 8-Cup was resounding proof (9/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s still a great coffeemaker. And that insert allowing you to make just a single cup of coffee, rather than a whole pot? Still also a great idea.
Espresso Machine Deals
Photograph: Breville
The Breville Barista Express is the WIRED Gear team’s favorite premium all-in-one espresso maker that’s priced within reach for mere mortals—and this weekend it’s significantly below list price, with potential rebates that could push the price down still further. What do we like about the Barista? It’s a sturdily constructed, mostly metal machine that’s easy to use and easy to froth your milk with. It’ll grind your beans for you, and it’ll produce consistent water pressure you can watch on its included pressure gauge. It’s also durable: It’s lived happily on WIRED reviewer Julian Chokkattu’s shelf for more than five years.
The Terra Kaffe is a pricey hunk of coffee machinery and has its bugs, but it’s one of few on earth to offer not just quality espresso and macchiato, but also true drip coffee that’s not Americano in disguise. This all arrives in a nifty, easy-to-clean package with a smart screen and all the trimmings. Using a phone app, you can begin warming the machine up from your bed, just like a remote starter on your car. Anyway, it’s a whopping $500 off till December 15, with an extra hundo off the top if you sign on for a coffee subscription. —Matthew Korfhage
Every espresso lover with a spouse or a roommate knows the score: The grinder on your espresso machine might as well be an alarm clock for the whole house. What a delight, then, to hear the gentle spin of this KitchenAid machine (8/10, WIRED Recommends), whose burr grinder is like a susurration of the leaves. We can’t promise a light sleeper won’t stir, but it is the quietest such device our Gear team has tested. The KitchenAid is full of such considerate touches, whether it’s an astonishingly compact profile, wheels that let you tuck it away when not in use, and its intuitive operation. Note, however, that our reviewer lamented it took a few more tries than expected to dial in the device to get a great cup.
Photograph: Mr. Coffee
The WIRED Gear team has long loved Mr. Coffee’s automated latte and cappuccino devices, and the Cafe Barista is already our budget pick in the category, often clocking in with deals below $200. The device’s low price comes with a trade-off: It’s a bit plasticky and lightweight. But for that, it makes rich single or double espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes with no fuss and a single button push. Milk comes out quite foamy, which is a plus or a minus depending on what you like.
Portable Coffee Maker Deals
Photograph: Wacaco
Wacaco’s Picopresso is the best portable espresso maker the WIRED Gear team has tested: compact, lightweight, and solid, with excellent extraction. It’s a tiny device with delicious results, offering little bitterness and a nice crema. Caveats are that you’ll need to use fine grinds, and you’ll have to be able to apply quite a bit of manual pressure to get good extraction, making this a difficult device for those with joint pain or repetitive stress injury. We also had good results, though not quite as good, with the previous (and less expensive) Nanopresso.
OK, I know: A classic AeroPress is already pretty portable. But the Go is even more travel-friendly. It’s the WIRED Gear team’s favorite portable coffeemaker of them all. It’s lightweight, just a little bigger than a coffee mug, and utterly self-contained. Another plus for people on the go is that an AeroPress is by its nature quite forgiving. Throw in some grounds, stir it up, and plunge away: Chances are it’ll be a pretty good cup of joe. Anyway, Aeropress is discounting 25 percent off most Aeropress models for Black Friday, so pick your pleasure.
Coffee Grinder Deals
Photograph: OXO
In the price range under $100, no automatic grinder beat Oxo’s Brew in our testing. The Brew offers a balance of features, the solid precision of a conical burr grinder, and a surprisingly large range for a bean grinder with a price in the double digits. Just note: Its slim profile means it’s not a space hog. But it’s tall, about 16 inches, which pretty much matches the standard clearance for cabinets—and it loads from the top, meaning you might have to find counter space with an open sky.
Photograph: KitchenAid
Sometimes it’s the simple things that make you love a product. And what first won over our Gear team testers about KitchenAid’s burr grinder was its ease of cleaning — the sort of thing you come to appreciate after weeks or months of daily use. But it’s also a good grinder, if not quite up to the excellent grind execution of our slightly pricier top picks. We also liked the precise control of dosing and the helpful guidelines on grind settings. This is the lowest price we’ve monitored on this model.
If you don’t buy it as part of Fellow’s Aiden Grinder kit, the Opus is well worth buying all on its own. It’s the WIRED Gear team’s favorite overall grinder (9/10, WIRED Recommends), a quiet device with a consistent grind even at the finest espresso settings. At less than $200, it also manages to compete with grinders that cost much, much more.
French Press and Cold Brew Deals
Photograph: OXO
This is a solid deal on a terrific cold brew maker. The Oxo Compact is my favorite device to make classic cold brew—the sort that brews for most of a day atop your counter. Why? It’s easy to use and elegant in shape, and its combination of mesh and (optional) paper filter makes for clean-tasting and fine-free coffee. The Compact evinces a firm respect for scarce counter and fridge space. And most importantly, the coffee it makes tastes delicious. The coffee I’ve made with the Oxo is the closest I can get to the best packaged or café cold brew.
The French press is an essential and portable tool in any coffee lover’s kitchen, a low-tech default for countertops or camping. The Secura’s biggest sell versus many other French presses is that it’s sturdy, stainless steel, and insulated. Which is to say, the hot stuff stays hot and the cool stuff stays cool. Is this the right time to mention it’s the WIRED Gear team’s favorite French press to make cold brew?
Coffee Accessories Deals
Photograph: Pete Cottell
File this into the “you didn’t know you needed one till you got one” folder—a sweet spot that makes this smart warmer a nice stocking stuffer for the caffeinated people in your life. This mug warmer isn’t “smart” because you need an app to use it, or because it records your conversations. It’s smart because it’s smart. The device registers when there’s a flat-bottomed mug on top of it, and responds by keeping it warm at about 130 degrees Fahrenheit—thus saving you the endless dance of either chugging down your coffee or topping it off to keep it hot. Remove the mug, and the device turns off. Easy is underrated.
Vacuum bean storage makes coffee taste better and longer. If you’re using fresh, premium beans from a local roaster, a vacuum storage container will better preserve the investment you’re regularly making in your beans. Drop your bag into this container, then turn Atmos’ twist-action pump. The device will remove all air and thus all oxygen, freezing the sad oxidation process that would turn your once delicately aromatic coffee into acrid cardboard. This is the lowest price we’ve seen on the Atmos this year, and it’s a great gift for the coffee-obsessed.
Photograph: Amazon
Sure, the Tally (9/10, WIRED Recommends) will weigh your coffee, if that’s all you need. But it’ll also start a timer to track the progress of a pour-over, and calculate the weight of water you’ll need to add to it. Consider it a third-wave coffee pour-over aficionado’s true companion. Like most Fellow coffee gear, the Tally is 20 percent off right now.
For the Aeropress lover in your life, even if it’s you: Swap out the cap on your Aeropress for a thicker Prismo, and you’ll drastically increase the pressure you exert on the resulting brew. During testing, the WIRED team found this offered a cleaner cup, a bit of aeration, and an even more satisfying cold brew. Science! Though this Black Friday deal isn’t a whopper, it still matches the best discount we’ve seen this year.
Coffee Subscriptions
The best way to upgrade your coffee is to make sure you’re using fresh beans, and a coffee subscription service is the most reliable way to get a fresh bag at your doorstep. Read our Best Coffee Subscriptions guide for our various recommendations. If you are not a subscriber, a few of our favorites have some enticing offers.
This is the best time of the year to buy a new laptop. You’ll rarely get a better chance to nab a computer, so we’ve rounded up the best Black Friday laptop deals we’ve seen on all the models our reviewers recommend. Whether you want a portable productivity powerhouse, a glorious gaming PC, or just something to curl up in bed with Netflix, these machines from companies like Apple, Dell, Asus, and Lenovo will do the job. You’ll also find some other laptop accessories and peripherals below, including mechanical keyboards.
WIRED Featured Deals
Updated Saturday, November 30, 2024: We’ve added new deals on the iPad Mini, Logitech Combo Touch keyboard, and several hard drives from Samsung, Crucial, and Western Digital. We also fixed prices and links throughout.
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
Laptop Deals
Photograph: Lenovo
Do you think of a laptop as metal framing around a web browser? Consider a Chromebook. Google rolled out a big upgrade called Chromebook Plus in 2023. The “Plus” stands for better performance—faster processors, more memory, more storage, and better video cameras. Our favorite of the models we’ve tried is Lenovo’s Flex 5i Chromebook Plus (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s among the fastest Chromebooks we’ve tested for the money. It features a 3.75-GHz Intel Core i3-1315U CPU, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of flash storage.
Dell’s two larger XPS laptops (7/10, WIRED Recommends) are aimed at Windows users with Macbook jealousy. The design, specs, and sizes align perfectly with Apple’s offerings. The XPS 14 has a gorgeous, sleek design (though it’s thicker than a MacBook), a wonderfully bright and sharp OLED screen (with 120-Hz screen refresh rates), and is plenty speedy for everyday tasks. Unfortunately, heavy-duty tasks like video editing, well, the MacBook’s benchmarks run circles around the XPS 14. Still, with this deal, this is a serious piece of hardware for not a lot of money.
Dell recently updated its XPS 13 line with Qualcomm Snapdragon chips to make it that sweet, sweet Copilot+ PC. This deal features the Snapdragon X Elite, which is the fastest of the two options. I’ve been testing this one for a couple of months and have been very impressed with how smoothly Windows works on a new architecture. It’s been plenty speedy, and the battery life is outstanding—about 14 hours in my testing—though not quite as impressive as some other Snapdragon-equipped machines we’ve tested. If you want an Intel XPS 13, those are on sale as well. You can get a Core Ultra 7 chip, 32 GB RAM, and a 1 TB SSD for $1,499 ($500 off).
Photograph: Christopher Null
The first Intel-based Copilot+ PC is a winner on all fronts (7/10, WIRED Review), boasting outstanding AI and graphics performance and some of the best battery life we’ve ever seen on Intel hardware. With its slightly oddball 15.3-inch screen, it hits its high points and is hard to argue with at this price, though the fan is loud and the system may weigh you down more than you’d like.
There’s much to love about Samsung’s Galaxy Book4 Ultra (7/10, WIRED Review), but let’s be honest, that sticker price is insane. This deal brings it down somewhat, though it’s still pricey. You get impressive hardware—the new Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, the current top-of-the-line processor in Intel’s Core Ultra CPU lineup, along with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. The 16-inch AMOLED 2,880 X 1,800-pixel touchscreen is magnificent to work on and performance blew everything else we’ve tested out of the water at this price.
The Swift Go offers outstanding performance for the price (7/10, WIRED Review). It also boasts an impressive 15-hour battery life. The downside is the speakers, which aren’t great, and overall the body feels a little plasticky. But this is the least expensive Intel Core Ultra laptop we’ve tested by a few dollars, so if your budget is tight, the Swift Go is worth considering.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best-looking Chromebook you can buy. The beautiful white design stands out in a sea of gray slabs. The Core i5 CPU offers plenty of performance and can easily handle multiple tabs and app juggling. The webcam is nice too, much crisper than you’d expect for a sub-$500 laptop. The downside is there’s no backlit keyboard.
The 13-inch Surface Laptop (7th Edition) (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor. Performance was good in our testing. It did not bog down no matter how many windows, tabs, and apps we threw at it. That said, this is not a machine for graphics-intensive tasks, like video editing or gaming (which is a shame because the vivid sharp screen with a 120-Hz screen refresh rate would be great for gaming).
System76’s Lemur Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is our favorite Linux laptop. It’s thin and lightweight and it’s a great alternative for those who aren’t into Windows 11. It’s powered by an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor and packs 8 gigabytes of RAM along with a 500-gigabyte SSD. You can also configure it with a Core Ultra 7 if you want a boost in power (with up to 8 terabytes of storage and 56 GB of RAM). It packs plenty of ports too, including one USB 3.2 Type-C port, two USB-A ports, 1 Thunderbolt 4 port, HDMI 2.0, a 3.5-mm headphone jack, and a microSD card reader.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best 2-in-1 laptop you can buy. It’s also a great choice if you want a laptop that you can also use as a tablet. It’s powerful too—under the hood is Intel’s Core Ultra CPU which comes complete with AI capabilities. The highlight, however, is the audio-visual experience, In addition to a super vivid and bright screen, it packs a Bowers & Wilkins rotating soundbar coupled with two two-watt woofers. The webcam has also been upgraded to 5 megapixels and includes an IR sensor for presence detection.
MacBook Deals
Be sure to read through all our Black Friday Apple deals, and for more background on which Macs we love, see our Best Macbooks guide.
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
The new 13-inch MacBook Air (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best MacBook for most people. It pairs a powerful M3 chip with a nice, bright, sharp 13.6-inch LCD screen, a 1080p webcam, two USB 4/Thunderbolt ports, and a 3.5-mm headphone jack. The M3 chip gives the Air quite the performance boost over the older M1 version. In our testing, it was able to handle everyday tasks, like web browsing, checking email, and watching videos with ease, and even handles slightly more intensive tasks like photo or video editing without breaking a sweat. If you’re looking for a mobile video editing workstation, you’re better off with the MacBook Pro below.
If you want a MacBook that can handle even more workloads, this is the deal for you. This model also has more ports. There are three USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, an HDMI port, an SD card slot (bless you Apple, may every PC copy this move), a fancy high-impedance headphone jack, and a MagSafe charging port. The base model has 16 gigabytes of memory and the base M4 chip can handle most general tasks but video editors and anyone using more CPU- and GPU-demanding apps will want to look at the M4 Pro for $2,099 ($300 off) or the M4 Max for $2,899 ($300 off).
This Chromebook (8/10, WIRED Recommends) received an honorable mention in our guide to Best Laptops. It comes with a 15.6-inch (non-touch) display and a 12th-generation 3.85-GHz Intel Core i3-1215U processor that delivers an impressive boost in performance over its predecessor. In terms of storage, the entry-level model also comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash storage. You’ll also get two USB-C ports (with support for DisplayPort), one USB-A port, and an HDMI 1.4 output jack. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for a solid, affordable laptop that just packs the basics.
Tablet Deals
Photograph: Apple
The iPad (10th-gen) (7/10, WIRED Review) is our favorite iPad to recommend to most people. It has an A14 Bionic chip (which you’ll also find in the iPhone 12) that never felt sluggish while testing it. It also has a modern design, with slim bezels around a large 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display (IPS LCD), Touch ID integrated into the power button, a USB-C port for charging, and a 12-megapixel front-facing camera that’s located in the center of the iPad.
The OnePlus Pad 2 is a mouthful of a name, but it’s our favorite Android tablet. It’s a good value, especially at this price. The screen is quite nice if a somewhat unusual, 12.1-inch size. It’s great for watching videos or getting work done. The highlight here is the OnePlus customization of Android, which makes it possible to multi-task three apps side by side simultaneously, or two apps side by side and a third at the bottom. To be more productive, we suggest picking up the keyboard case.
If you want a tablet that’s similar to the iPad Pro but outside Apple’s ecosystem, this is the closest you’ll get. The S10+ has a 12.4-inch AMOLED screen that looks stunning, while the included S Pen is great for taking notes or doodling. It comes with 7 years of software updates too. There’s also the S10 Ultra which is on sale as well for $1,000 ($200 off). It has a larger, 14.6-inch screen but we think it’s too unwieldy to hold so you’ll want to purchase a kickstand case to use with it.
The Combo Touch is a great way to get work done on an iPad; it’s the best keyboard case for your iPad. The back has a nice kickstand that can prop up your iPad at just about any angle and does a good job of protecting the back from scratches. The keyboard, while not a nice as a “real” keyboard is pretty dang good. I can type just as fast on this as I can on my laptop. Combo Touch cases connect using Apple’s Smart Connector so you don’t have to worry about draining the battery by having Bluetooth on all the time. There are models available for the base iPad (7th, 8th, and 9th Gen) along with the iPad Air (5th Gen and M2) and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st Gen and newer), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th and 6th Gen), as well as the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pros.
Apple’s latest iPad Mini (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isn’t going to replace your laptop, but it’s a nice extra device for reading on the couch or watching films on a flight (though the screen is on the small side). The A17 Pro chip is enough to run both graphically demanding games and Apple Intelligence without bogging down. It also has support for Apple Pencil Pro, which is on sale for $94 ($35 off).
Chargers and Accessories
Photograph: Satechi
This handy charger has enough power to juice up two MacBook Pro models simultaneously. But it’s also great if you have a lot of devices around your desk that constantly need to be charged. It has a little stand to prop it up, a short cord that goes out to an outlet, and four USB-C ports that output 100 watts each. This is the lowest price we’ve tracked.
A 25,000-mAh battery pack that’s surprisingly compact is a rarity, and this one also packs two USB-C ports, one USB-A, and the ability to draw 145 watts while charging. That means one USB-C port can dish out 100 watts, enough to fast charge a laptop, while the other puts out 45 watts.
This charger packs two USB-C ports, one of which can output 65 watts when used alone. If you plug two devices in, the top will deliver 45 watts and the bottom can do 20 watts. It also folds up and looks super sleek.
Photograph: Twelve South
We’ve used this hub with iPads, but it’s also great for MacBooks. Plug it in via the USB-C port on your laptop and you’ll have access to another USB-C port for passthrough charging, a USB-A port, an HDMI output, and a headphone jack. It’s also fairly compact and thin so it won’t add too much bulk to your laptop. It dipped to $40 in August but this is still a good deal.
For incremental backups, which we recommend, speed isn’t a huge factor, what you need is space and lots of it. This Western Digital drive has been our top pick for ages when speed isn’t a huge concern. I have been using a variation of the Elements desktop hard drive to make incremental backups of my data for more than a decade now. These drives are big and require external power, but they’re some of the cheapest, most reliable drives I’ve used.
Seagate’s portable spinning drives are another good value for incremental backups. They’re fast enough that it won’t take too long to back up your data and they don’t require external power. They’re also small enough to be portable. It never hurts to have more backups, and it’s best to use drives from different brands, since it will reduce the chance that both fail simultaneously.
Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
These Crucial drives are my favorite general-purpose external storage drives. They’re reasonably priced (for a portable SSD) and speedy enough for most uses. The X6 is lightweight and tiny, making it a good choice for working at the coffee shop. The downside is that this isn’t a blinding-fast hard disk. In fact, under the hood, the X6 uses an older drive interface (Serial AT Attachment, or SATA), which was more common with spinning hard drives. So while it’s small and light, its speed is limited by that older interface technology. In my testing on Windows and macOS, that works out to about 550 Mbps read speed and 208 Mbps write speed.
Samsung’s rugged, padding T7 drive has an IP65 rating, which means it’s fine in the rain and is protected from dust and sand. The T7 line is notable for its built-in security features like hardware-based encryption, but unlike the Touch model, the Shield does not have a fingerprint reader. Still, this is a good SSD if your portable drives lead a rough life in an everyday bag.
This tiny little drive used to be a top pick in our hard drive buying guide, but at full price there are better drives. This deal makes it more tempting though, especially if you take our advice to make backups on a variety of drives from a variety of manufacturers (to minimize the chances that two backups fail simultaneously). The T7 isn’t as fast as the Shield version above, which I’d recommend over this, but if you’re on a tight budget, this drive will get the job done.
Keychron Q1 Pro
Photograph: Amazon
This was WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu’s daily keyboard for almost a year. You can use it wired or wirelessly via Bluetooth and it comes in several colors and switches to pick from (it’s also RGB-backlit). The red switches aren’t very loud but are still clicky, and there’s a great knob for volume control. It’s hot-swappable too, so you can change the switches whenever you’d like.
The Das Keyboard MacTigr (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is expensive, but it’s great for those in the Apple ecosystem with a dedicated Mac layout. It also has cherry MX Red switches (that don’t get too loud), a two-port USB-C hub, and a high-quality all-metal build.
Photograph: Amazon; Getty Images
Logitech has a long history of great keyboards, and the MX Mechanical Mini is no exception. This wireless keyboard packs backlit keys, wired or wireless connectivity, and low-profile mechanical switches in your choice of tactile quiet, clicky, or linear. If you’ve got tons of devices, you should know the MX Mini also has wide support for operating systems and devices, including iOS. That makes this one of our favorite upgraded keyboards for tablet power users who want to unfold for a bit into a proper workstation. —Brad Bourque
Even at its original price of $170, the Lofree Flow84 is one of the best low-profile mechanical keyboards I’ve tested. It’s crisp, satisfying, and incredibly solid thanks to a full metal construction and a gasket mount system. Combine this with great styling, wireless connectivity, and hot-swappable switches (although this keyboard only takes other Kailh V2 low-profile switches), and the Flow84 is an incredible deal for a solid low-profile keyboard. —Henri Robbins
This is our favorite laptop stand for bed. It’s one height, but you can angle the base, and the legs fold up for storing. The smaller surface on the right stays flat, so you can put your drink there if you don’t move around too much. There’s even a small drawer.
Logitech’s Casa Pop-Up Desk (9/10, WIRED Review) is a great option if you work on the go but prefer using an external keyboard and mouse instead of working directly off your laptop. Rather than packing your own accessories, this one comes with a keyboard and trackpad that fit neatly into a small case that doubles as a laptop stand. It’s pricey, but worth it if you’re always on the move.
I made a joke earlier this week in my family group chat that everybody was getting $2 and a macaroni picture frame for Christmas. But seriously, have you seen those grocery store prices? I’m shopping for 20 people, and my bank account is already wincing. Luckily, with these Cyber Monday and Black Friday deals under $50, holiday shopping doesn’t have to be pricey. We’ve rounded up deals on affordable tested-and-approved gear so you can get your shopping done without crying afterward.
Updated November 30: We’ve added more deals, cut expired ones, and corrected prices.
WIRED Featured Deals
WIRED’s Black Friday 2024 Coverage
Tech and Gaming Deals
Photograph: Simon Hill
For under $20, this Arlo camera streams crisp 1080p video straight to your smartphone and even includes motion detection alerts and two-way communication to check in on pets. Whether mounted on a wall or tucked on a shelf, it’s also stealthy security spy. With an $8/month subscription, you’ll also get extra features like cloud storage. It’s peace of mind (and one of our favorite indoor security cameras) on a budget. —Boutayna Chokrane
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a small upgrade with a game-changing payoff. An intuitive interface, customizable home screen, and access to a variety of free channels—what more could you ask for? No wonder it is our favorite Roku device and overall streaming device. —Boutayna Chokrane
Photograph: Logitech
Logitech’s G203 Corded Gaming Mouse has six programmable buttons, a quick DPI switch, and RGB lighting. Contributor Brad Bourque says that the only downside is a relatively low max DPI, though, that shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for most users. and for under $40, it makes a nice upgrade from a non-gaming mouse or a backup option for LAN parties. —Boutayna Chokrane
The 8BitDo Ultimate controller is one of the best game controllers for gamers on PC and Nintendo Switch. With five buttons on the front, a pair of rear paddles, and Bluetooth support, it’s a versatile alternative to the Switch Pro. Reviewer Simon Hill also notes that its software allows users to customize the buttons, sensitivity, macros, and vibration intensity. It also comes with a charging dock and a 2.4-GHz dongle for lag-free play. —Boutayna Chokrane
Photograph: Nena Farrell
The Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) is truly tiny yet powerful. It’s the Alexa smart speaker I always have set up somewhere in my house, even if I’m testing other voice assistants. This smart speaker might only be a few inches tall, but its audio quality can almost rival the larger Echos. The small footprint makes it easy to add almost anywhere in your home. —Nena Farrell
The Echo Pop (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the cheapest Amazon Echo speaker on a normal day, and it’s the only one you’ll find for under $20 this Black Friday. It’s downright adorable, with a half-moon shape and a couple of fun colors you won’t find in other Amazon speakers. It’s not the most impressive speaker—no surprise with the smaller form factor it has—but it’s not bad for the price, you’ll get all the usual features of a smart speaker. If for some reason you want two of them, some Amazon customers can get an additional $5 off with the code POP2PACK. —Nena Farrell
If you watch mainly Amazon Prime content, the Fire TV Stick is the streaming device you need. You can stream from any service, of course, but it’s heavily geared toward the company’s own content. This 4K Max is faster, with 16 gigabytes of storage versus eight, but if you want to spend less and stay in the Amazon ecosystem, the 4K Stick is on sale for $22 ($27 off).
Photograph: Amazon
The Echo Show 5 is typically overpriced at $90, but the deal price of $40 matches the best we have tracked. Just keep in mind that it goes on sale quite frequently. We prefer the Echo Show 10 for its larger size, but the smaller footprint of the Echo Show 5 is good for a nightstand or tiny kitchen.
This owl- or dragon-patterned, Alexa-powered smart speaker is our favorite speaker for kids, and it opens up a world of music, audiobooks, and kid-friendly content. You get a year of Amazon Kids+ (usually $3 per month), it’s easy to configure via the parent dashboard, and it can serve as a regular Bluetooth speaker. Just bear in mind that it is internet-connected and has a microphone.
Photograph: Nomad
This little USB-C to USB-C cable goes on your keychain, and if you’re ever in a situation where you need power, well, now you always have a cable on you! Just hope there’s a USB-C power source somewhere nearby. The two zinc cable ends magnetically stick together and can carry up to 60 watts, which can even slowly juice up a MacBook Pro. The Lightning to USB-C version is also on sale if you have an older iPhone. Read our Nomad Black Friday Sale roundup for more Nomad goodies.
This might be the best sale of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s a heck of a deal on a metal and glass wireless charger, and it supports Qi2—it’ll work perfectly with iPhones and upcoming Android phones with the Qi2 magnetic charging system. (You can also use it if you have a MagSafe case on your Android phone.
Need a cheap pair of earbuds to not think too much about? Look no further than the Go Air Pop, which are utterly usable earbuds that cost less than $20 this Black Friday. I like keeping a pair in my car or gym bag for when I forget to bring nicer buds with me and still want music. —Parker Hall
Photograph: TriBit
The WIRED Gear team battles over who gets to review each generation of this adorable Bluetooth speaker because it’s just so handy. A tiny little rubber strap lets you attach it to everything from handlebars to backpacks. It sounds shockingly good for its size, too, and a rugged IP67 rating means you don’t need to worry if it takes a spill. —Parker Hall
I was initially skeptical of Disney Dreamlight Valley, but now it’s one of my favorite cozy games. It’s fantastic on the Nintendo Switch as well as other consoles. You’ll run around doing the typical life-sim video game activities: mining gemstones, fishing, growing crops, and changing your outfit. The game features a whole host of characters from Disney and Pixar media, but the storyline is surprisingly grown-up and touching. It’s a great game for playing during these colder months. This version comes with bonus cosmetics.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Apple’s latest version of its wireless charger now has a much longer cable (more than 6 feet!) so you can keep wirelessly charging your iPhone a decent distance from the wall. It’s not going to charge as fast as plugging into the device, but then again, you also don’t have to plug anything into the device. —Julian Chokkattu
I swear there’s some sort of law of the universe that makes it impossible to find a wall adapter when I need one. I have about 38 cables for every wall adapter. This tiny Anker Nano takes up exactly one slot—it’s not oversized and it doesn’t get in the way when using a multi-outlet wall port or power strip. The 30-watt adapter also has a folding plug for even easier storage. And it comes in pretty colors! We also like this 45-watt charger, and it’s just $3 more.
This is our top portable charger recommendation, It has a 10,000-mAh capacity so it can juice up your phone almost twice, it’s compact, and the built-in lanyard is a nice touch. —Julian Chokkattu
Accessory Deals
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Did you know you can use your iPhone as a webcam? But you need a handy place to put the iPhone. This is a great little accessory to have around. Attach the mount to your iPhone and you’ll have a kickstand or phone grip, and you can pop out a section that lets you mount the iPhone to your MacBook. Combine the feature with Continuity Camera (instructions for setup can be found here) and you’ll be able to drastically improve the quality of your video compared to your laptop’s built-in webcam.
This is one of our favorite iPad accessories, but it’s also nice for things like the Nintendo Switch or an e-reader as well as your phone. Clamp the gooseneck base onto a nightstand, table, or headboard, and you can mount your tablet or other device any way you please. I used to use a mount like this for filming overhead-style calligraphy videos, but it’d also be nice to have around for long binge-watch sessions of Arcane. Reviewer Brenda Stolyar likes to use hers to follow recipes on her iPad while she’s cooking.
The Loop Experience 2 earplugs are some of our favorite gifts for new parents since they can help cut back on overstimulation. I wish I had had them in class when people wouldn’t stop clicking their pens and the words on my test would blur together. The earplugs slightly reduce noise while letting you hear what’s around you. If you need a bit of a break from your environment but still want to hear what’s going on, these can help smooth the edges and round the corners of reality.
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
These earplugs are one of my festival essentials, and they’re always in my purse just in case my Apple Watch yells at me for being in a loud environment. Unlike typical earplugs, these filter out damaging frequencies without muffling the sound. You’ll still be able to hear the music or the IMAX movie, but it won’t damage your delicate little eardrums. The outer silicone shell is soft and comfortable, with pull tabs for easy removal and adjustment. I also like the metal keychain case, which helps me keep track of these tiny, magical accessories.
The Plum Paper A5 Planner is a gorgeous, customizable planner that lets you add themed pages to complement your life. Whether you want pages for meal planning, fitness tracking, or journaling your baby’s growth, Plum Paper has it all. Those baby-related add-ons are why it’s my paper planner pick for parents. (It will cost around $5 to $10 extra.) Plum Paper also has a ton of gorgeous sticker packs to order, from seasonal to fitness or baby themes. You can get custom stickers, too, which is fun. It’s a great planner if you want something specific to your life—my copy has a section just for my son!—and you can get your own for 30 percent off right now. —Nena Farrell
Dbrand’s Grip case has topped a few of our case guides, and you can customize it further with a skin (there are dozens to choose from). There’s even a sick new glow-in-the-dark skin (the company just sent it to me but I haven’t had a chance to install it). The company’s Black Friday sale encompasses skins for all kinds of products, so check it out. You’ll find lots of things for under $50. —Julian Chokkattu
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
It makes no sense to spend hundreds of dollars on a new iPhone, just to let it out in the world totally exposed. We suggest putting a Smartish screen protector on it. Reviews editor Julian Chokkattu also likes the tidy cable wrangler.—Adrienne So
It’s hard to pick just one thing from Moft’s sitewide sale because we like pretty much all of the company’s origami-inspired accessories. However, reviews editor Julian Chokkattu loves the Notepad Case, and I use the little folding wallet stand every day to read or FaceTime people on my phone while I’m eating breakfast. Use code BF10 to take $10 off $50 purchases.—Adrienne So
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Sure, you can use Apple Wallet to pay for everything, but it’s a good idea to still have a card on you (not to mention your ID). This is one of our favorite MagSafe wallets, which will magnetically stick to the back of any iPhone 12 and newer (except the iPhone SE). The cards are easy to push out and it can hold around three cards comfortably. —Julian Chokkattu
Home and Outdoor Deals
Photograph: OXO
The Oxo Compact Cold Brew Maker is reviewer Matthew Korfhage’s favorite cold brew maker. The mesh filter ensures a grit-free pour every time, and it brews rich coffee. Korfhage says the Oxo is the closest he gets to the best packaged or café cold brew. —Boutayna Chokrane
WIRED staffers love the Secura French Press Coffee Maker for two main reasons. For one, it’s stainless steel and insulated, meaning it’s built to last and will keep drinks at optimal temperatures for hours. And two, no power cords required, so it’s outdoor-friendly. —Boutayna Chokrane
Bestinnkits’ Smart Coffee Warmer keeps your beverage toasty at about 130 degrees without any fancy apps. Simply set a flat-bottomed mug on it, and it’ll warm automatically; lift it off and it shuts down. This is perfect for slow sippers who hate lukewarm coffee, and for $20, it’s a brilliant holiday gift for your caffeinated loved ones. —Boutayna Chokrane
Photograph: Amazon
This egg cooker fluctuates in price, but this is an especially good deal. It was featured in our “Buy It for Life” guide, where WIRED reviewer Julian Chokkattu says his wife loves this little countertop appliance. Their unit has been going strong for four years. It can make eggs in basically every way except fried. Poaching? Soft-boiling? Hard-boiling? It can handle those and even make omelets. Plus it looks cute on the counter, which helps justify any space it might take up. —Louryn Strampe
We think ThermoWorks’ Thermapen One is the best instant-read thermometer but the ThermoPop is a great budget option. It’s not as fast as the Thermapen One, but it’s still quick and the large, back-lit, auto-rotating screen is easy to read. It’s waterproof, and accurate to plus or minus one degree. —Scott Gilbertson
We like this budget-friendly food dehydrator and think it offers the best bang for your buck out of all the models we tested. The stackable BPA-free plastic rings are a little bulky and awkward to fit in the dishwasher, but everything we dehydrated dried evenly. If you don’t want to spend a ton of money on a food dehydrator but want one that works efficiently, this is a model worth checking out.
Photograph: Jordan Michelman
This is a solid discount on our favorite wine opener. WIRED contributor Jordan Michelman says the opener feels good in your hand, it has a sharp knife, and it’s easy to pack away and store. The opener is usually pretty affordable, but why not save some money if you can? —Louryn Strampe
Whenever I have unexpected company, I break out the Chom Chom. It’s a necessity in my household due to the sheer fluffiness of my cat. Seriously, I don’t know how one tiny creature can have so much fur, nor how they can so consistently transfer it to all of my upholstered surfaces. But it’s fine because all I have to do is roll this gadget back and forth across my couch a few times to thoroughly de-fluff it. It’s fast, it’s efficient, and it’s easy to clean out once it’s full. —Louryn Strampe
This LifeStraw was a staple in our outdoorsy gift guide for years. While we replaced it this year, the product is still a great way to filter out bacteria, microplastics, and other contaminants. You can even screw it onto a water bottle instead of using it to slurp out of a stream. Any preppers would likely love to get this gift for the holidays, but for $19, it’s a solid addition to your go-bag if you (like me) are scared of the zombie apocalypse but doing nothing to prepare for one. —Louryn Strampe
The Travelrest Nest Ultimate Travel Pillow (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is about as good as it gets. The high, firm sides will keep your neck supported, and the flat back helps keep your spine aligned. We also like the soft, machine-washable microfiber cover. —Louryn Strampe
Photograph: Home Depot
This inexpensive kit is full of our favorite drill bits. The black oxide coating both reduces friction and resists rust, and the drill bits can handle wood, metal, plastics, wallboard, and fiberglass. These go on sale frequently, but this is still a good Black Friday get, especially if you’re picking up the discounted DeWalt drill that we also recommend. —Louryn Strampe
Smart plugs are pretty darn cool. Anything becomes a smart device with their help—just plug in and bam—you can remotely control it. The Kasa Smart Plug Mini is one of our favorite smart plugs since it’s nice and small, making it easy to use without blocking a neighboring outlet. Use the app to make routines and scenes like you would smart lights, so that your house comes to life for you, or to act like you’re home when you aren’t. Buy one on sale, or score an entire four-pack on sale and deck out the house. —Nena Farrell
This is a great little lamp that can transform the vibe of a room. All you have to do is plug it in and aim it toward the wall. It produces a halo-like effect with rainbow colors that make the space feel nice and cozy. (For a sunrise, check out our Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks guide.) It comes with a short cord though, so you’ll have to plug it into a power strip if you want it in a specific spot. I’d also make sure not to place it anywhere that someone can accidentally knock it over. —Brenda Stolyar
Photograph: Pete Cottell
Coffee can be hot or cold, but it should never be tepid. Brother, eugh. This little hockey puck will heat up any flat-bottomed mug that’s placed on top of it. Set down your coffee and the gadget will heat up to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. That means you can use it to warm up your beverage or for less caffeinated tasks such as warming candles. It’ll automatically shut off once the object is removed. It makes a great gift for coffee enthusiasts.
Stasher makes fantastic reusable products, and this is a nice way to dip your toes in before buying a full set (though starter kits are on sale as well). The bags are dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and most importantly, they’re not made of single-use plastic. They’re still resealable and convenient, but they don’t create more garbage every time you use them.
Health and Beauty Deals
Photograph: Wyze
This is one of the few smart scales we recommend. It supports up to eight individual profiles, and there are modes for babies, luggage, and pets to track weight without messing up your stats. The scale can also track metrics like muscle mass, visceral fat, and basic metabolic rate measurements if you install the companion app on your smartphone. —Louryn Strampe
Note that the $12 price is if you choose “Subscribe & Save”, which you can modify or cancel after the first product ships; otherwise, you’ll pay $1 more. If a washcloth and a makeup remover wipe had a softer, faster-drying baby, that would be the MakeUp Eraser. The microfiber cloth is one of our favorite reusable products. Wet it with water, run it over your face, and be amazed at how your mascara, smoky eyeshadow, and eyebrows disappear in one fell swoop. (Sorry to call you out like that.) Afterward, you’ll want to cleanse again, but the Makeup Eraser is one of the fastest and easiest ways to start your skincare routine. Even on nights that I forget to take care of my skin, at least I’m not sleeping in my makeup anymore. Most of the time. —Louryn Strampe
The Comin’ In Hot dryer is one of our favorite blow dryers, mainly because it doesn’t sacrifice its performance for affordability. It also comes with a concentrator nozzle, and additional attachments are sold separately. —Boutayna Chokrane
I know it’s a dollar over $50, but this deal is worth bending the rules. It’s the most versatile Theragun alternative we’ve tried, and it’s usually really difficult to get a powerful percussive massager for this darn cheap. It comes with a whopping eight attachments to focus on your problem areas, plus a carrying case to keep them all corralled.
Toy Deals
Photograph: Amazon
Magna-Tiles may be expensive (a little less expensive now), but the return on investment is just staggering. We bought our daughter’s first set when she was 2 or 3 and enjoyed making little 2D ice cream cones or hats. Now she’s 9 and can make full villages for stuffed animals in the course of an afternoon. There are also a ton of different themed sets (also on sale) if you need more specialized pieces for race courses or jungles. —Adrienne So
A firm WIRED favorite and one of the best family board games, Ticket to Ride features steam engine styling and rules that are easy to grasp. All you must do is claim railway routes across the US and Canada using your colorful plastic rail cars. Spend cards to claim routes, rack up bonus points for connecting specific destinations, and the person with the highest score at the end wins. All aboard, choo, choo! —Simon Hill
Inspired by the Royal Palace of Evora in Portugal, with its Moorish blue-and-white ceramic tiles, this board game challenges you to make mosaics by matching tiles with different patterns and colors to amass the maximum possible score. One of the best family board games for all tastes, Azul is easy to grasp but supports many tactical approaches and has surprising depth. The beautiful tiles and other components are high quality, and filling your board is deeply satisfying. Play moves quickly, and you can complete a game in less than an hour, but you will probably want to play again immediately. —Simon Hill
Photograph: Amazon
Start with a randomly generated map of hexagonal tiles in this addictive family board game, and gather and trade resources to develop your civilization and win. Amassing enough victory points requires a smart strategy and some dice-rolling luck. Catan is easy to get the hang of and only takes around an hour to finish. Players can trade freely, but the robber mechanic can cause arguments, so set some ground rules. The modular randomization makes for excellent replay value, and there are expansions and spin-offs to further complicate the gameplay. This game is for three or four players aged 10 years and up. —Simon Hill
This cat-themed card game is easy to pick up and perfect for a quick game. The aim is to avoid exploding kitten cards by wielding a comical cast of cats with special powers. Timing and strategy are essential to get the best of your opponents. This fun card game appears in our Best Family Board Games guide. The countless expansion packs are worth trying if it’s a hit with your family. —Simon Hill
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