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These are the gadgets and gizmos that have had the biggest impact on my life this year. More

I want to introduce my kid to AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Sora, but without turning it into a shortcut or replacing her imagination. More

When is Black Friday 2025? Black Friday takes place on Nov. 28 this year. During the sale, retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target cut prices on thousands of products (and many products from brands Amazon owns, like Kindle, Alexa, Ring, and more). Unlike Prime Days, which mainly discounts Amazon products, Black Friday is the universal deals day. Since more retailers participate, there’s more competition (and sometimes better deals). Are Apple Watches really cheaper on Black Friday? I’ve been following deals during events like Black Friday, Cyber Week, and Amazon Prime Day for several years. During these events, there are steeper deals on all sorts of merchandise, whether that’s a fitness tracker or a household good. (I do lots of my cleaning supply shopping during these events.) Retailers know Black Friday commences the holiday shopping season, so they will cut prices on all sorts of goods, whether that’s household necessities or brand-new gadgets. Of course, the best deals on gadgets will be the ones that are a year or two older than the newest model. For example, we’ll see a steeper deal on Apple’s Series 10 Apple Watch that debuted last year, and maybe $10 or $30 off Apple’s latest Series 11. Also: Buying an Apple Watch? Don’t check out until you’ve considered thisHow did we choose these Black Friday deals?ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.  More

Black Friday is just three days away, and if you want to get a jump on your holiday shopping list, you can already find excellent markdowns on both premium and entry-level TVs from brands like Samsung, Hisense, Sony, and more — some of which are likely already at the lowest prices of the year.Also: The top TVs ZDNET readers bought this year so far (including a surprise pick)Retailers like Amazon More

Marshall Heston 60 <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Marshall’s Heston 60 compact soundbar is available for $700 in Black and Cream. Despite its small frame, its sound performance is impressive, and its wired and wireless streaming options are seemingly infinite. However, for $700, you can buy a convertible soundbar and subwoofer package from Samsung. more buying […] More

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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

enot-poloskun/iStock/Getty Images Plus Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source<!–> on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Your online footprint can reveal information about you. Viewing your footprint can be an eye-opener. theHarvester tool is a powerful – and free – way to scan that footprint. Your digital footprint is the trail of data you leave […] More