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Photo: Wes Davis / The Verge

The Vision Pro VR headset is such an Apple product — meticulously designed and packed with incredible tech, but designed to be used Apple’s way, whether you like it or not. For many, that means the headset is aggressively uncomfortable to wear due to its weight distribution. For the last several days, though, I’ve been testing a solution Apple now sells that’s so simple, so obvious, that I’m actually miffed at Apple for not including something like it from the very beginning: the Belkin Head Strap.
Belkin’s strap works in tandem with Apple’s Solo Knit Band. The Solo Knit Band wraps around your head with an elastic cushion, clamping the headset to your face but putting a lot of strain on your neck. Belkin’s strap gives you more support by distributing some of the Vision Pro’s weight to the top of your head.

Apple’s Dual Loop Band, which also comes with the Vision Pro, does this, too. But the Dual Loop Band is a lot more of a hassle to use and a lot less comfortable to wear. You have to go back and forth between the two straps to make adjustments, whereas it’s quick work to adjust Belkin’s strap, stop when it feels right, and then quickly cinch the Solo Band by turning its dial.
The Dual Loop Band also lacks the comfy cushioning of the Solo Band, and its thin bands place more pressure where the upper strap meets your head; it makes that spot on my head unpleasantly numb after about 30 minutes. Belkin’s strap gives you the best of both worlds — you get the cushy strap from the Solo Band, with the better weight distribution of the Dual Band.

Belkin’s strap feels well made. It’s soft and flexible, and tightening it is almost as easy as adjusting the Solo Knit Band — it works exactly like the Apple Watch Sport Loop, using a Velcro-like fastener to secure it to the tightness you want. The band is also simple to attach. You disconnect the battery, removing the Solo Knit Band, and slide the clips on either end of the head strap over the tips of the speaker arms.
Using the strap is undeniably better than using the Solo Knit Band alone or the Dual Loop Band when wearing the Vision Pro while sitting down or standing upright, particularly for longer stretches of time. I’m one of the freaks who can wear the headset and be reasonably comfortable for a long time, so I can’t tell you I went from using it for 30 minutes to 10 hours. But I can say my neck feels better, and so does my face since I don’t need to clamp it as tightly to keep the headset in place. It also feels a bit more stable while I’m doing something physical like playing Synth Riders, one of the few good games available for the Vision Pro.
The only part I’m not a fan of is the $49.95 price tag. It’s not just that it’s expensive — and it is! — it’s that it costs that much to buy something that Apple should’ve put in the box from day one. The company even seemed to have one in the works! Remember that one guy from the WWDC presentation who was wearing a top strap (which looks a lot like Spigen’s cheaper alternative) with the Solo Knit Band? What happened to that?

Screenshot: YouTube
Look at this guy. So happy and comfortable.

The cynic in me says Apple didn’t include that top strap because it was just too proud of the Solo Knit Band — in photos, the headset looks undeniably sleeker without a top strap, and the Dual Loop still offers a slimmed-down profile. Whatever the case, now that Belkin’s Head Strap is here, it’s clear how much this was needed all along. Still, if you’ve already tried similar options like those from Spigen or Annapro and found them wanting, Belkin’s strap is well worth a shot.

Photo: Wes Davis / The Verge

The Vision Pro VR headset is such an Apple product — meticulously designed and packed with incredible tech, but designed to be used Apple’s way, whether you like it or not. For many, that means the headset is aggressively uncomfortable to wear due to its weight distribution. For the last several days, though, I’ve been testing a solution Apple now sells that’s so simple, so obvious, that I’m actually miffed at Apple for not including something like it from the very beginning: the Belkin Head Strap.

Belkin’s strap works in tandem with Apple’s Solo Knit Band. The Solo Knit Band wraps around your head with an elastic cushion, clamping the headset to your face but putting a lot of strain on your neck. Belkin’s strap gives you more support by distributing some of the Vision Pro’s weight to the top of your head.

Apple’s Dual Loop Band, which also comes with the Vision Pro, does this, too. But the Dual Loop Band is a lot more of a hassle to use and a lot less comfortable to wear. You have to go back and forth between the two straps to make adjustments, whereas it’s quick work to adjust Belkin’s strap, stop when it feels right, and then quickly cinch the Solo Band by turning its dial.

The Dual Loop Band also lacks the comfy cushioning of the Solo Band, and its thin bands place more pressure where the upper strap meets your head; it makes that spot on my head unpleasantly numb after about 30 minutes. Belkin’s strap gives you the best of both worlds — you get the cushy strap from the Solo Band, with the better weight distribution of the Dual Band.

Belkin’s strap feels well made. It’s soft and flexible, and tightening it is almost as easy as adjusting the Solo Knit Band — it works exactly like the Apple Watch Sport Loop, using a Velcro-like fastener to secure it to the tightness you want. The band is also simple to attach. You disconnect the battery, removing the Solo Knit Band, and slide the clips on either end of the head strap over the tips of the speaker arms.

Using the strap is undeniably better than using the Solo Knit Band alone or the Dual Loop Band when wearing the Vision Pro while sitting down or standing upright, particularly for longer stretches of time. I’m one of the freaks who can wear the headset and be reasonably comfortable for a long time, so I can’t tell you I went from using it for 30 minutes to 10 hours. But I can say my neck feels better, and so does my face since I don’t need to clamp it as tightly to keep the headset in place. It also feels a bit more stable while I’m doing something physical like playing Synth Riders, one of the few good games available for the Vision Pro.

The only part I’m not a fan of is the $49.95 price tag. It’s not just that it’s expensive — and it is! — it’s that it costs that much to buy something that Apple should’ve put in the box from day one. The company even seemed to have one in the works! Remember that one guy from the WWDC presentation who was wearing a top strap (which looks a lot like Spigen’s cheaper alternative) with the Solo Knit Band? What happened to that?

Screenshot: YouTube
Look at this guy. So happy and comfortable.

The cynic in me says Apple didn’t include that top strap because it was just too proud of the Solo Knit Band — in photos, the headset looks undeniably sleeker without a top strap, and the Dual Loop still offers a slimmed-down profile. Whatever the case, now that Belkin’s Head Strap is here, it’s clear how much this was needed all along. Still, if you’ve already tried similar options like those from Spigen or Annapro and found them wanting, Belkin’s strap is well worth a shot.

Read More 

Polestar revealed new pricing and range details for the rear-wheel drive version of its Polestar 3 SUV, which began reaching customers earlier this month.
The single-motor RWD Polestar 3 will be the most affordable and longest range version of the EV, starting at $68,900 (including a $1,400 destination charge) and getting an EPA-rated range of 350 miles. The long-range single motor EV will be built alongside the dual-motor, all-wheel drive version of the Polestar 3 at its factory in South Carolina.
With that starting price, and its North American manufacturing bonafides, the RWD Polestar 3 should qualify for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit — at least as long as it still exists. (President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to kill the tax credit upon taking office.) The credit only applies to SUVs that cost less than $80,000, are made in North America, and include batteries and components that also originate from approved trade partners of the US.
The single-motor RWD Polestar 3 will be the most affordable and longest range version of the EV
The AWD Polestar 3, meanwhile, starts at $74,800 and gets up to 315 miles per charge for the standard model and 279 miles for the Performance model.
Polestar, which was backed by Volvo but is now overseen by Volvo’s Chinese parent company, Geely, first announced the 3 back in October 2022. The company said that all versions of the Polestar 3 will come standard with Pilot Pack, which includes driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automated lane changes, and a heads-up display. (Most automakers charge extra for these features.)
The Polestar 3 is the sportier cousin to the Volvo EX90, which also began customer deliveries earlier this year. Much of the tech in that model, including a lidar sensor and bidirectional charging, is not immediately available to customers.

Polestar revealed new pricing and range details for the rear-wheel drive version of its Polestar 3 SUV, which began reaching customers earlier this month.

The single-motor RWD Polestar 3 will be the most affordable and longest range version of the EV, starting at $68,900 (including a $1,400 destination charge) and getting an EPA-rated range of 350 miles. The long-range single motor EV will be built alongside the dual-motor, all-wheel drive version of the Polestar 3 at its factory in South Carolina.

With that starting price, and its North American manufacturing bonafides, the RWD Polestar 3 should qualify for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit — at least as long as it still exists. (President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to kill the tax credit upon taking office.) The credit only applies to SUVs that cost less than $80,000, are made in North America, and include batteries and components that also originate from approved trade partners of the US.

The AWD Polestar 3, meanwhile, starts at $74,800 and gets up to 315 miles per charge for the standard model and 279 miles for the Performance model.

Polestar, which was backed by Volvo but is now overseen by Volvo’s Chinese parent company, Geely, first announced the 3 back in October 2022. The company said that all versions of the Polestar 3 will come standard with Pilot Pack, which includes driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automated lane changes, and a heads-up display. (Most automakers charge extra for these features.)

The Polestar 3 is the sportier cousin to the Volvo EX90, which also began customer deliveries earlier this year. Much of the tech in that model, including a lidar sensor and bidirectional charging, is not immediately available to customers.

Read More 

Image: Capcom

The Monster Hunter franchise is bringing, well, monster hunting to your smartphone. Capcom has announced that it’s teaming up with TiMi — the studio behind games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Pokémon Unite — for a spinoff called Monster Hunter Outlanders. It’s described as an “open-world survival game” that’s playable either solo or co-op with up to four players. It sounds like Outlanders will feature the core aspects of a MonHun experience (namely, the exploring, hunting, and crafting) but with live service and social elements typical of a mobile game.
MonHun has become a huge global franchise since the launch of Monster Hunter World in 2018, which went on to become Capcom’s bestselling game. Since then, there’s been a live-action movie, the smaller-scale Monster Hunter Rise, and a location-based game made in collaboration with Pokémon Go developer Niantic. Capcom is also prepping for the next major release in the series with Monster Hunter Wilds next year.

That recent success, combined with TiMi’s history and MonHun’s pedigree as a portable experience, are positive signs this could be more than a mobile cash grab. It might be some time before we get to check out the game for ourselves, however, as it doesn’t currently have a release date. Capcom says there will be “several play tests in advance” of the eventual launch.

Image: Capcom

The Monster Hunter franchise is bringing, well, monster hunting to your smartphone. Capcom has announced that it’s teaming up with TiMi — the studio behind games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Pokémon Unite — for a spinoff called Monster Hunter Outlanders. It’s described as an “open-world survival game” that’s playable either solo or co-op with up to four players. It sounds like Outlanders will feature the core aspects of a MonHun experience (namely, the exploring, hunting, and crafting) but with live service and social elements typical of a mobile game.

MonHun has become a huge global franchise since the launch of Monster Hunter World in 2018, which went on to become Capcom’s bestselling game. Since then, there’s been a live-action movie, the smaller-scale Monster Hunter Rise, and a location-based game made in collaboration with Pokémon Go developer Niantic. Capcom is also prepping for the next major release in the series with Monster Hunter Wilds next year.

That recent success, combined with TiMi’s history and MonHun’s pedigree as a portable experience, are positive signs this could be more than a mobile cash grab. It might be some time before we get to check out the game for ourselves, however, as it doesn’t currently have a release date. Capcom says there will be “several play tests in advance” of the eventual launch.

Read More 

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo by STR / NurPhoto, Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead what he calls the Department of Government Efficiency — yes, the acronym is DOGE — to “pave the way” for his administration to “dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.”
The department will somehow operate “outside of Government” and work with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget, according to the statement posted on Truth Social. Musk and Ramaswamy have until July 4th, 2026, to complete their work, the statement says.
Trump had said during his presidential campaign that he would appoint Musk to head up a government efficiency commission if he was elected. Musk has floated cutting at least $2 trillion, which The Washington Post says would be “virtually impossible” unless he touches the defense budget or programs like Social Security. Musk has acknowledged the cuts could have severe short-term financial impacts.
Musk seemed to confirm the news on X, writing, “The merch will be .” Meanwhile, the price of Dogecoin has doubled since the election. Musk supported Trump’s campaign in posts on X and through the America PAC, which reportedly spent around $200 million to get Trump elected.
Here is the full text of Trump’s statement:

I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”). Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies – Essential to the “Save America” Movement. “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!” stated Mr. Musk.
It will become, potentially, “The Manhattan Project” of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of “DOGE” for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.
I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans. Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual $6.5 Trillion Dollars of Government Spending. They will work together to liberate our Economy, and make the U.S. Government accountable to “WE THE PEOPLE.” Their work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026 – A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I am confident they will succeed!

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photo by STR / NurPhoto, Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead what he calls the Department of Government Efficiency — yes, the acronym is DOGE — to “pave the way” for his administration to “dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.”

The department will somehow operate “outside of Government” and work with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget, according to the statement posted on Truth Social. Musk and Ramaswamy have until July 4th, 2026, to complete their work, the statement says.

Trump had said during his presidential campaign that he would appoint Musk to head up a government efficiency commission if he was elected. Musk has floated cutting at least $2 trillion, which The Washington Post says would be “virtually impossible” unless he touches the defense budget or programs like Social Security. Musk has acknowledged the cuts could have severe short-term financial impacts.

Musk seemed to confirm the news on X, writing, “The merch will be .” Meanwhile, the price of Dogecoin has doubled since the election. Musk supported Trump’s campaign in posts on X and through the America PAC, which reportedly spent around $200 million to get Trump elected.

Here is the full text of Trump’s statement:

I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”). Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies – Essential to the “Save America” Movement. “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!” stated Mr. Musk.

It will become, potentially, “The Manhattan Project” of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of “DOGE” for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.

I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans. Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual $6.5 Trillion Dollars of Government Spending. They will work together to liberate our Economy, and make the U.S. Government accountable to “WE THE PEOPLE.” Their work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026 – A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I am confident they will succeed!

Read More 

Image: Freevee

Amazon is going to shut down Freevee, its free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service. The service’s content has already been migrated over to Prime Video and new episodes of Freevee shows will be available to people who don’t pay for Prime, Deadline reports. The brand will be phased out “over the coming weeks,” Deadline says.
Freevee originally launched out of Amazon-owned IMDb in 2019 as IMDb Freedive and was rebranded a few months after launch to IMDb TV and then to Freevee in 2022. The service had some of its own original content, like Bosch: Legacy and Jury Duty, Amazon also added some Prime Video content to the service starting in 2023.

But Adweek reported in February that Amazon was planning to sunset the brand — following the introduction of ads on Prime Video in January, the company’s video streaming offerings had gotten a bit muddy.
“To deliver a simpler viewing experience for customers, we have decided to phase out Freevee branding,” an Amazon spokesperson says in a statement to Deadline. “There will be no change to the content available for Prime members, and a vast offering of free streaming content will still be accessible for non-Prime members, including select Originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed movies and series, and a broad library of FAST Channels — all available on Prime Video.”

Image: Freevee

Amazon is going to shut down Freevee, its free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service. The service’s content has already been migrated over to Prime Video and new episodes of Freevee shows will be available to people who don’t pay for Prime, Deadline reports. The brand will be phased out “over the coming weeks,” Deadline says.

Freevee originally launched out of Amazon-owned IMDb in 2019 as IMDb Freedive and was rebranded a few months after launch to IMDb TV and then to Freevee in 2022. The service had some of its own original content, like Bosch: Legacy and Jury Duty, Amazon also added some Prime Video content to the service starting in 2023.

But Adweek reported in February that Amazon was planning to sunset the brand — following the introduction of ads on Prime Video in January, the company’s video streaming offerings had gotten a bit muddy.

“To deliver a simpler viewing experience for customers, we have decided to phase out Freevee branding,” an Amazon spokesperson says in a statement to Deadline. “There will be no change to the content available for Prime members, and a vast offering of free streaming content will still be accessible for non-Prime members, including select Originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed movies and series, and a broad library of FAST Channels — all available on Prime Video.”

Read More 

Google’s new Pixel Buds Pro 2 have already fallen to $179 ahead of the holiday. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Can’t wait until Black Friday to start your holiday shop or score a killer deal on a gadget you’ve been eyeing? You may not have to. Although Black Friday isn’t until November 29th, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have begun rolling out their holiday discounts, many of which are available elsewhere. Some retailers will even refund you the difference if an item drops further in price later this year, meaning you don’t necessarily have to worry about shopping ahead of time.

New deals are popping up weekly, so we’ve rounded up the cream of the crop below to make sorting through them easier. Current promos include steep discounts on a range of our favorite tech, too, from the Beats Solo Pro headphones and Apple’s AirTags to some of our favorite holiday string lights. We’ll continue updating this roundup as more deals drop, so bookmark this page and keep checking back.

The best Apple deals

The GPS-enabled Apple Watch Series 10 is down to its best price of $349 ($50 off) in the 42mm configuration at Amazon and Walmart. Apple’s latest flagship wearable features the company’s new S10 SiP chip and an added depth and water temperature sensor. It also offers faster charging than the prior model, as well as a larger wide-angle display. Read our review.

You can buy the last-gen iPad with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage for its all-time low of $199.99 ($129 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The 2021 tablet features a smaller 10.2-inch screen than the newer model, a slower A13 Bionic chip, and a Lightning charging port. However, it’s still snappy enough for streaming, browsing the web, sending emails, and performing other typical tablet tasks, making it great for kids or anybody looking for an affordable tablet. It even features a 3.5mm headphone jack — a welcome rarity.

The best speaker and headphone deals

The Google Nest Audio is on sale for $49.99 ($50) at Best Buy and Target, which is one of its better prices to date. If you’re embedded in Google’s ecosystem, the aging smart speaker is still worth picking up. It’s compatible with Google Home and will soon support a number of Gemini-powered capabilities that should make Google Assistant more context-aware. It’s also a decent speaker, one that delivers good audio quality for its size and supports stereo sound when paired with another Nest Audio speaker. Read our review.

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

The best smart home deals

The iRobot Roomba Combo j7 Plus is on sale for around $699 ($300 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which matches its best price to date. The j7 Plus is similar to the Roomba Combo j9 Plus, as it offers AI obstacle avoidance and a mop that automatically lifts to keep your carpets dry. The main difference is that the Combo j9 Plus offers longer batter life and can refill its own mop tank; it also features a new dirt detection feature. Read our review.

You can buy Google’s wired Nest Cam for $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which matches its all-time low. The indoor 1080p camera offers snappy performance and free smart alerts for people and pets. It also comes with 24/7 recording and other useful features, including a Familiar Faces tool that lets you know who is in a room. However, you’ll have to pay for Google’s Nest Aware plan to enable those features. Read our review.

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

The best fitness tracker and smartwatch deals

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Google for $69.95 ($30 off), matching its all-time low. The minimalist band lacks built-in GPS and doesn’t offer as many health and fitness features as the Charge 6, but it packs a bright OLED display and does a good job with the basics. It supports irregular heart rate notifications and advanced sleep tracking, along with several stress management features. Read our hands-on impressions.

Google’s Pixel Watch 2 is matching its all-time low of $179.99 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store. The last-gen smartwatch is still a good investment despite the arrival of the Pixel Watch 3, as it offers similar performance and battery life (around 24 hours per charge). Its display isn’t as big, though, and you can only buy it in the 41mm size. It also lacks AI-generated workout suggestions and offline Google Maps. Read our review.

Other miscellaneous tech deals

LG’s G4 OLED TV is on sale in the 55-inch configuration starting at $1,796.99 (about $803 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is its best price yet. The 4K TV sports many of the C4’s standout features — including a 144Hz refresh rate — but it offers brighter picture quality and more accurate colors.

Now through November 14th, Grid Studio is taking 20 percent off a number of its framed, disassembled gadgets when you apply promo code BF20. That includes the Game Boy Color (on sale for $149, down from $249), the iPhone 4 (on sale for $169, down from $99), and even the NES Controller (on sale for $99, down from $139).

The EcoFlow Wave 2 is a heat pump that is uniquely powered by both a battery and solar power, and it’s currently available for $799 ($200 off) from both Ecoflow and Amazon (for Prime members). The highly portable device combines an air conditioner and heater, and while it struggles with more extreme climates, it does a particularly good job of cooling and heating small spaces in temperate ones. Read our review.

Now through November 29th, Moft is taking up to $60 off a variety of cases, stands, and other accessories. The ongoing promo includes Moft’s Invisible Phone Stand and Wallet, which is capable of holding up to three cards and was our favorite adhesive phone grip in 2022. To get the $60 discount, you’ll have to order over $200 and apply the code BF60. However, you can also spend much less and still save, with Moft offering $10 off if you spend over $50 (with code BF10); $20 of if you spend more than $100 (using code BF20); and $37 off if you spend over $150 (with code BF37).

You can buy the Glocusent book light for $17.99 ($15 off) at Amazon, which is its best price yet. The light hangs around your neck to illuminate whatever you’re reading, while offering adjustable brightness and warmth settings.
As part of its early Black Friday promo, Oaky is taking up to 25 percent off several desks, chargers, docks, and other wooden accessories. Right now, for instance, you can buy its attractive Laptop Stand for $120 ($30 off) or an 80 x 19-inch Floating Shelf for $195.50 ($35 off), both of which are available with either oak or walnut construction.

Google’s new Pixel Buds Pro 2 have already fallen to $179 ahead of the holiday. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Can’t wait until Black Friday to start your holiday shop or score a killer deal on a gadget you’ve been eyeing? You may not have to. Although Black Friday isn’t until November 29th, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have begun rolling out their holiday discounts, many of which are available elsewhere. Some retailers will even refund you the difference if an item drops further in price later this year, meaning you don’t necessarily have to worry about shopping ahead of time.

New deals are popping up weekly, so we’ve rounded up the cream of the crop below to make sorting through them easier. Current promos include steep discounts on a range of our favorite tech, too, from the Beats Solo Pro headphones and Apple’s AirTags to some of our favorite holiday string lights. We’ll continue updating this roundup as more deals drop, so bookmark this page and keep checking back.

The best Apple deals

The GPS-enabled Apple Watch Series 10 is down to its best price of $349 ($50 off) in the 42mm configuration at Amazon and Walmart. Apple’s latest flagship wearable features the company’s new S10 SiP chip and an added depth and water temperature sensor. It also offers faster charging than the prior model, as well as a larger wide-angle display. Read our review.

You can buy the last-gen iPad with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage for its all-time low of $199.99 ($129 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The 2021 tablet features a smaller 10.2-inch screen than the newer model, a slower A13 Bionic chip, and a Lightning charging port. However, it’s still snappy enough for streaming, browsing the web, sending emails, and performing other typical tablet tasks, making it great for kids or anybody looking for an affordable tablet. It even features a 3.5mm headphone jack — a welcome rarity.

The best speaker and headphone deals

The Google Nest Audio is on sale for $49.99 ($50) at Best Buy and Target, which is one of its better prices to date. If you’re embedded in Google’s ecosystem, the aging smart speaker is still worth picking up. It’s compatible with Google Home and will soon support a number of Gemini-powered capabilities that should make Google Assistant more context-aware. It’s also a decent speaker, one that delivers good audio quality for its size and supports stereo sound when paired with another Nest Audio speaker. Read our review.

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

The best smart home deals

The iRobot Roomba Combo j7 Plus is on sale for around $699 ($300 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, which matches its best price to date. The j7 Plus is similar to the Roomba Combo j9 Plus, as it offers AI obstacle avoidance and a mop that automatically lifts to keep your carpets dry. The main difference is that the Combo j9 Plus offers longer batter life and can refill its own mop tank; it also features a new dirt detection feature. Read our review.

You can buy Google’s wired Nest Cam for $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which matches its all-time low. The indoor 1080p camera offers snappy performance and free smart alerts for people and pets. It also comes with 24/7 recording and other useful features, including a Familiar Faces tool that lets you know who is in a room. However, you’ll have to pay for Google’s Nest Aware plan to enable those features. Read our review.

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

The best fitness tracker and smartwatch deals

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Google for $69.95 ($30 off), matching its all-time low. The minimalist band lacks built-in GPS and doesn’t offer as many health and fitness features as the Charge 6, but it packs a bright OLED display and does a good job with the basics. It supports irregular heart rate notifications and advanced sleep tracking, along with several stress management features. Read our hands-on impressions.

Google’s Pixel Watch 2 is matching its all-time low of $179.99 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store. The last-gen smartwatch is still a good investment despite the arrival of the Pixel Watch 3, as it offers similar performance and battery life (around 24 hours per charge). Its display isn’t as big, though, and you can only buy it in the 41mm size. It also lacks AI-generated workout suggestions and offline Google Maps. Read our review.

Other miscellaneous tech deals

LG’s G4 OLED TV is on sale in the 55-inch configuration starting at $1,796.99 (about $803 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is its best price yet. The 4K TV sports many of the C4’s standout features — including a 144Hz refresh rate — but it offers brighter picture quality and more accurate colors.

Now through November 14th, Grid Studio is taking 20 percent off a number of its framed, disassembled gadgets when you apply promo code BF20. That includes the Game Boy Color (on sale for $149, down from $249), the iPhone 4 (on sale for $169, down from $99), and even the NES Controller (on sale for $99, down from $139).

The EcoFlow Wave 2 is a heat pump that is uniquely powered by both a battery and solar power, and it’s currently available for $799 ($200 off) from both Ecoflow and Amazon (for Prime members). The highly portable device combines an air conditioner and heater, and while it struggles with more extreme climates, it does a particularly good job of cooling and heating small spaces in temperate ones. Read our review.

Now through November 29th, Moft is taking up to $60 off a variety of cases, stands, and other accessories. The ongoing promo includes Moft’s Invisible Phone Stand and Wallet, which is capable of holding up to three cards and was our favorite adhesive phone grip in 2022. To get the $60 discount, you’ll have to order over $200 and apply the code BF60. However, you can also spend much less and still save, with Moft offering $10 off if you spend over $50 (with code BF10); $20 of if you spend more than $100 (using code BF20); and $37 off if you spend over $150 (with code BF37).

You can buy the Glocusent book light for $17.99 ($15 off) at Amazon, which is its best price yet. The light hangs around your neck to illuminate whatever you’re reading, while offering adjustable brightness and warmth settings.
As part of its early Black Friday promo, Oaky is taking up to 25 percent off several desks, chargers, docks, and other wooden accessories. Right now, for instance, you can buy its attractive Laptop Stand for $120 ($30 off) or an 80 x 19-inch Floating Shelf for $195.50 ($35 off), both of which are available with either oak or walnut construction.

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Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge

After pleading guilty in March to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act, former Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for posting “hundreds of pages” of classified military documents on Discord.
Some of the leaked information included sensitive details about troop movements in Ukraine and previously unknown information about US intelligence gathering on other countries like China, Russia, and South Korea.
While stationed at an air base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Teixeira was granted a Top-Secret//Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance necessary for “maintaining and troubleshooting” classified workstations in the intelligence wing. According to the DOJ, he “used a secure workstation at the Otis USANG Base to conduct hundreds of searches for classified documents containing NDI that were unrelated to his duties.”
The 22-year-old Teixeira was arrested last year after authorities found that he posted classified information on a private Discord server called “Thug Shaker Central” with about 20 active users, according to Bellingcat.
At first, he shared typed-up versions of the classified documents but later posted actual photographs of the materials — including some labeled “Top Secret” — after other community members didn’t pay enough attention to his posts. The New York Times reported that a trail of digital evidence, including a distinctive pattern on a granite countertop in his childhood home, linked Teixeira to the leaked material.
“Mr. Teixeira is responsible for engaging in one of the most significant leaks of classified documents and information in United States history, which resulted in exceptionally grave and long-lasting damage to the national security of the United States,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts said in a statement.

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge

After pleading guilty in March to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act, former Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for posting “hundreds of pages” of classified military documents on Discord.

Some of the leaked information included sensitive details about troop movements in Ukraine and previously unknown information about US intelligence gathering on other countries like China, Russia, and South Korea.

While stationed at an air base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Teixeira was granted a Top-Secret//Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance necessary for “maintaining and troubleshooting” classified workstations in the intelligence wing. According to the DOJ, he “used a secure workstation at the Otis USANG Base to conduct hundreds of searches for classified documents containing NDI that were unrelated to his duties.”

The 22-year-old Teixeira was arrested last year after authorities found that he posted classified information on a private Discord server called “Thug Shaker Central” with about 20 active users, according to Bellingcat.

At first, he shared typed-up versions of the classified documents but later posted actual photographs of the materials — including some labeled “Top Secret” — after other community members didn’t pay enough attention to his posts. The New York Times reported that a trail of digital evidence, including a distinctive pattern on a granite countertop in his childhood home, linked Teixeira to the leaked material.

“Mr. Teixeira is responsible for engaging in one of the most significant leaks of classified documents and information in United States history, which resulted in exceptionally grave and long-lasting damage to the national security of the United States,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts said in a statement.

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A screen grab of the video titled “How My Video Gear is Changing!” | Image: MKBHD

Marques Brownlee is dealing with another commenter backlash. Fans of Brownlee are furious that his latest video, titled “How My Video Gear is Changing!” on the MKBHD YouTube channel, is a fully sponsored segment for DJI, rather than an editorially independent review. The video also contained a clip of Brownlee driving a sports car way over the speed limit on a suburban road.
Commenters have flooded the video with criticism, calling out Brownlee for running the sponsored segment. “This can’t even be considered a sponsored video anymore. It’s literally just a ten minute advertisement,” reads one comment with more than 12,000 likes.
In response, Brownlee edited the video to remove the clip of him speeding. It had originally shown him exceeding 95 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour zone and speeding past a sign on the road warning drivers to slow down for children. Brownlee pinned his own comment on the video this afternoon, saying he cut out the “unnecessary driving clip” and that he “hears everyone’s feedback on sponsored videos.” He then posted an acknowledgment and apology on X saying it was “absolutely inexcusable and dangerous.”

Last video I did something pretty stupid. You might’ve already seen it, but maybe not so I’ll address it here. There was a clip with the action cam of me test driving a car and going way to fast. Absolutely inexcusable and dangerous.I’ve since cut it out of the video with…— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) November 12, 2024

This is the second loud backlash against Brownlee in about two months. In late September, fans criticized him for launching an expensive wallpaper app; he later addressed the situation and made changes to the app that seemed to rectify some of the loudest complaints.
Brownlee has increasingly been expanding beyond his traditional YouTube videos. He’s worked on physical products, like his Atoms shoes collaborations, and he joined the board at wallet maker Ridge.

A screen grab of the video titled “How My Video Gear is Changing!” | Image: MKBHD

Marques Brownlee is dealing with another commenter backlash. Fans of Brownlee are furious that his latest video, titled “How My Video Gear is Changing!” on the MKBHD YouTube channel, is a fully sponsored segment for DJI, rather than an editorially independent review. The video also contained a clip of Brownlee driving a sports car way over the speed limit on a suburban road.

Commenters have flooded the video with criticism, calling out Brownlee for running the sponsored segment. “This can’t even be considered a sponsored video anymore. It’s literally just a ten minute advertisement,” reads one comment with more than 12,000 likes.

In response, Brownlee edited the video to remove the clip of him speeding. It had originally shown him exceeding 95 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour zone and speeding past a sign on the road warning drivers to slow down for children. Brownlee pinned his own comment on the video this afternoon, saying he cut out the “unnecessary driving clip” and that he “hears everyone’s feedback on sponsored videos.” He then posted an acknowledgment and apology on X saying it was “absolutely inexcusable and dangerous.”

This is the second loud backlash against Brownlee in about two months. In late September, fans criticized him for launching an expensive wallpaper app; he later addressed the situation and made changes to the app that seemed to rectify some of the loudest complaints.

Brownlee has increasingly been expanding beyond his traditional YouTube videos. He’s worked on physical products, like his Atoms shoes collaborations, and he joined the board at wallet maker Ridge.

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Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge

For months now, there have been rumors about a smart home display Apple is supposedly working on. Now Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the display will be wall-mounted and control smart home devices, attend video calls, and more, similar to the Amazon Echo Hub, and works on its own but requires an iPhone to complete the initial setup.
The iPad-like device, which will reportedly be available as soon as next March, has a six-inch display with thick edges, a built-in camera, a rechargeable battery, and speakers, according to Gurman. The plan is to have Siri and Apple Intelligence voice control support as well.

If the rumors are true, the smart display will offer a centralized way to control HomeKit-compatible lights, security cameras, sensors, thermostats, and more. Apple may also have a plan to build out its smart home ecosystem with even more products, as supply-chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo just reported that the company aims to start producing a smart home camera in 2026.
Apple has reportedly created multiple bases for the smart display, so it can hang on the wall or sit on a countertop using a stand with extra speakers (like the dock-equipped Google Pixel Tablet) and run a new operating system that “looks like a blend of the Apple Watch operating system and the iPhone’s recently launched StandBy mode.”

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
Apple’s rumored smart home display sounds similar to the dock-able Google Pixel Tablet.

The display will reportedly use sensors to detect how close a person is to the screen, allowing it to adjust what it’s showing based on how far away someone is. Apple’s display is also rumored to support the company’s Handoff feature that lets users continue tasks across different devices.
The device will reportedly be available in silver and black, and Gurman says the company is also working on a more expensive version with a robotic arm that can tilt and spin its screen. The Verge reached out to Apple with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.

Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
The smart display might even be like the Amazon Echo Hub, which you can mount on the wall.

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge

For months now, there have been rumors about a smart home display Apple is supposedly working on. Now Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the display will be wall-mounted and control smart home devices, attend video calls, and more, similar to the Amazon Echo Hub, and works on its own but requires an iPhone to complete the initial setup.

The iPad-like device, which will reportedly be available as soon as next March, has a six-inch display with thick edges, a built-in camera, a rechargeable battery, and speakers, according to Gurman. The plan is to have Siri and Apple Intelligence voice control support as well.

If the rumors are true, the smart display will offer a centralized way to control HomeKit-compatible lights, security cameras, sensors, thermostats, and more. Apple may also have a plan to build out its smart home ecosystem with even more products, as supply-chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo just reported that the company aims to start producing a smart home camera in 2026.

Apple has reportedly created multiple bases for the smart display, so it can hang on the wall or sit on a countertop using a stand with extra speakers (like the dock-equipped Google Pixel Tablet) and run a new operating system that “looks like a blend of the Apple Watch operating system and the iPhone’s recently launched StandBy mode.”

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
Apple’s rumored smart home display sounds similar to the dock-able Google Pixel Tablet.

The display will reportedly use sensors to detect how close a person is to the screen, allowing it to adjust what it’s showing based on how far away someone is. Apple’s display is also rumored to support the company’s Handoff feature that lets users continue tasks across different devices.

The device will reportedly be available in silver and black, and Gurman says the company is also working on a more expensive version with a robotic arm that can tilt and spin its screen. The Verge reached out to Apple with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.

Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
The smart display might even be like the Amazon Echo Hub, which you can mount on the wall.

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Image: The Verge

Apple and A24 are working on a new movie about imprisoned crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried based on The Big Short writer Michael Lewis’s book Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon. Variety reported their arrangement and that Girls creator and star Lena Dunham is set to write the film.
Going Infinite is Lewis’s chronicle of the rise, spectacular implosion, and eventual conviction of Bankman-Fried and his crypto exchange FTX.

Lewis was working on the book already and embedded with Bankman-Fried when FTX collapsed in 2022. SBF was ultimately found guilty of several criminal fraud and conspiracy charges and given a 25-year prison sentence. He’s appealing his conviction, even as his fellow FTX executives are being sentenced and some are beginning prison sentences of their own.
Since Girls, Dunham has most recently written and directed an upcoming Netflix romantic comedy series called Too Much, which is set to premiere in 2025.

Image: The Verge

Apple and A24 are working on a new movie about imprisoned crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried based on The Big Short writer Michael Lewis’s book Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon. Variety reported their arrangement and that Girls creator and star Lena Dunham is set to write the film.

Going Infinite is Lewis’s chronicle of the rise, spectacular implosion, and eventual conviction of Bankman-Fried and his crypto exchange FTX.

Lewis was working on the book already and embedded with Bankman-Fried when FTX collapsed in 2022. SBF was ultimately found guilty of several criminal fraud and conspiracy charges and given a 25-year prison sentence. He’s appealing his conviction, even as his fellow FTX executives are being sentenced and some are beginning prison sentences of their own.

Since Girls, Dunham has most recently written and directed an upcoming Netflix romantic comedy series called Too Much, which is set to premiere in 2025.

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