Information Technology

Cozy Earth/ZDNETIf you’re looking to treat yourself or a loved one to an extremely cozy blanket or set of bedding, consider this deal from Cozy Earth More

Tracking your daily activity, sleep, and stress has never been easier, thanks to the strides made in wearable health tech. Smartwatches simplify step counting, and some even go beyond activity tracking to achieve condition detection, whether that’s sleep apnea or hypertension. Also: Our favorite Black Friday smartwatch and fitness tracker dealsAt ZDNET, we thoroughly review every major new smartwatch on the market, including Apple Watches, Android watches, and more niche blood pressure watches. From older Apple Watch models to affordable fitness trackers, I rounded up our readers’ most-purchased smartwatches this year, based on items bought through links in ZDNET reviews, buying guides, and other content (a note: your privacy is protected; we only have access to aggregate data from our user base, and there is no way for us to identify individual people’s purchases). Several of these smartwatches are on sale right now for Black Friday.
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When is Black Friday? Black Friday is Friday, Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving. While it’s typically associated with general retail sales, we’re seeing a lot more online deals, as well. Cyber Monday, the traditional online shopping sale day, is Monday, Dec. 1. Both of these days will have some great deals, and there will be some overlap.  Are phones really cheaper during Black Friday? Yes, phones, including recent iPhone models, are often cheaper on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, matching (if not beating) the level of discount you’d find during any other major shopping event. This is partly because Cyber Week occurs months after most manufacturers, such as Samsung, OnePlus, Google, and Apple, have launched new devices. With the passage of time, you’ll often see the more recent phones discounted by a significant amount at this time.iPhones are cheaper during this time because carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T offer competitive trade-in and sign-on promotions. As long as you read the fine print about the qualifications, most of these deals will cover the retail cost of the new iPhone. You’ll just have to agree to a long-term installment plan that ranges between 24 months to 36 months.How did we choose these early Black Friday deals?ZDNET chooses Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals based on the percentage of discount compared to the original price ($5 off a $20 item is just as good as $250 off a $1,000 item), how significant the discount is compared to pricing history, and whether our experts have tested and recommended the product.We also examine deals from a broader perspective, considering alternative options, unique use cases, stock availability, and existing customer reviews on websites such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Reddit. The best deals will save you a meaningful amount of money while providing a truly worthwhile product.What are the best Black Friday deals?ZDNET’s experts have been searching through early Black Friday sales to find the best discounts. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, by retailer:And the best Black Friday deals by product category or price point: More

Apple’s M4 Max Mac Studio is a compact desktop that delivers a performance befitting a larger computer. Measuring 7.7 x 7.7 x 3.7 inches, it keeps clutter to a minimum, requiring only a few cables for operation. Inside, it houses the highly capable M4 Max chipset. I tested the Mac Studio earlier this year, and it handled dozens of browser tabs, multiple creative programs, several 4K livestreams, and the video game Hades 2 without breaking a sweat.Review: M4 Max Mac StudioThe Mac Studio shines best when paired with first-party accessories, such as Apple’s Studio Display and Magic Keyboard. With these accessories, you’ll enjoy a streamlined desktop setup that few other machines can rival. It’s a powerful little box, and it made me, a longtime Windows user, seriously consider switching sides. More

Asus ExpertBook P3 <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Asus ExpertBook P3 is currently on sale at the company’s website for $1,230. It’s a great laptop, boasting a compact design, a long-lasting battery, and powerful speakers. However, the dull display and weak webcam keep it from being a perfect all-rounder. –> Follow ZDNET: Add us as a […] More