The Verge

Photo Illustration by Grayson Blackmon / The Verge Taking an unconventional route to a conventional business Continue reading…

Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer’s Legacy. Authorship takes on an all-new meaning in games where the plot is yet to be written Continue reading…

Hello! I’m back from Thanksgiving break and now have mashed potatoes for brains. Really, I’ve eaten mashed potatoes five days in a row. I can stop, but I won’t stop until the leftovers are gone. Anyway, in between mashed potato servings, I did my best to “log off” and not think about audio — no offense — so instead, I binged the entire new season of Selling Sunset and played many crosswords. I’m back for you now, though, and we have a big issue ahead. We’re talking about how a dating app stumbled upon viral audio success, and I chatted with the CEO of podcasting’s latest $100 million-funded company, Podimo. Plus, an update to my RadioPublic story from last week and new Apple charts. Lots! Of! Stuff(ing)! On we go.EXCLUSIVE: Hinge makes... Continue reading…

The International Space Station | Image: NASA Early this morning, NASA postponed a spacewalk scheduled to occur outside the International Space Station today, after getting word of a possible safety threat from some nearby space debris. It’s unclear where the debris is coming from, but the delay comes about two weeks after Russia blew up one of its own satellites in orbit, creating thousands of dangerous fragments that threatened the space station.NASA astronauts Kayla Barron and Thomas Marshburn were all set to don spacesuits and leave the confines of the ISS this morning at around 7:10AM ET, in order to replace an antenna on the outside of the station. It would have been the fifth spacewalk for Marshburn and the first for Barron.NASA says that it didn’t have enough time to... Continue reading…

NBA Top Shot moments are one of the most high-profile NFT successes so far, part of the initial early hype wave for the blockchain-based art that’s become one of the biggest buzzwords of 2021. And thanks to a new partnership with Infinite Objects, Top Shot owners will soon be able to immortalize their favorite clips in the real world with officially licensed looping video frames from Infinite Objects.Starting today, Top Shot owners will be able to log into Infinite Object’s portal, connect their Dapper account, view all their currently owned moments, and order a “Video Print” of the clip. Only the owner of an NBA Top Shot moment will be able to buy an Infinite Object frame with the associated video clip on it, and each frame will come... Continue reading…

The Roomba j7 Plus, released this year. | Image: iRobot iRobot has released a holiday-themed update for its latest robot vacuum cleaners to help them handle the cleaning demands of Christmas trees. The j7 and j7 Plus robovacs can also now identify and avoid shoes and socks.The festive trees, shoes, and socks feature builds upon iRobot’s latest navigation and control software, which first released in August last year. This software uses machine vision to identify furniture and specify “clean zones.” For example, you might have a dining table you want a Roomba to specifically clean under after chaotic family meals. There are also “keep out zones” which a Roomba might suggest avoiding, like the area under a TV stand filled with cables for it to get caught on.Mapping data can now be... Continue reading…

Rocket League Sideswipe, a mobile version of the popular car-based soccer game, is now available on iOS and Android. The game started rolling out on November 15th in Oceania, but is now available worldwide, albeit in a “pre-season” mode ahead of Season 1’s kickoff at an unannounced later date, according to 9to5Google.The free to play game, which was first announced in March, is a simplified version of the original Rocket League released in 2015. The biggest change is that the mobile version is played in 2D, rather than offering a fully three-dimensional stadium to drive around. You control your car with a virtual joystick on the left side of the screen, while buttons on the right handle jumping and boost. with touch controls.

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge The BBC is finally bringing its iPlayer app to the PS5 in the UK today, more than a year after the console’s original release. Brits have been waiting patiently for BBC iPlayer on the PS5, especially as the app is already available on more than 15,000 devices, including Xbox Series X / S consoles.The BBC iPlayer app is now available in the media tab on the PS5 home screen, and it includes support for streaming 4K content from the service. “From today, PS5 owners can add the BBC iPlayer app by going to the Media tab on the PS5 home screen and selecting BBC iPlayer from the All Apps section,” explains Neil Hall, head of product at BBC iPlayer. “This will add BBC iPlayer to the apps library and make it available to use direct from the... Continue reading…

Meta, the company formally known as “Facebook.” | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge The UK’s competition regulator has officially ruled that Facebook parent company Meta’s acquisition of Giphy should be unwound, a year and a half after the social media giant first said it was acquiring the popular GIF-making and sharing website. In a press release, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that it had come to the decision after its investigation found an acquisition could harm competition between social media platforms, and that its concerns “can only be addressed by Facebook selling Giphy in its entirety to an approved buyer.”The CMA said the acquisition could be used to deny or limit other platforms’ access to Giphy GIFs and drive more traffic to Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. It also raised concerns that... Continue reading…

Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images FIFA, the global governing body of the sport variously known as football and soccer, is trialling new technology that tracks players’ limbs to detect whether they’re in an offside position. The system will be employed at the 2021 Arab Cup, which kicks off today in Qatar, the host of next year’s World Cup.FIFA calls the system “semi-automatic offside technology.” It involves a camera setup installed on the roof of the stadium, with limb data extracted from the video and sent to the match officials’ operating room so the offside line can be calculated in real time. The BBC reports that 10 to 12 cameras collect up to 29 data points for each player 50 times a second.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge T-Mobile customers have been reporting issues making and receiving calls all afternoon, with problems frequently linked to Verizon numbers.Verizon and T-Mobile both say their networks weren’t at faultThis all started around 2PM ET this afternoon, with hotspots showing in most major metro areas on Downdectector. Initial reports suggested Verizon might be having issues, but Verizon spokesperson Kevin King tells The Verge that its network is operating “business as usual.”T-Mobile declined to provide a quote from a named spokesperson, but a representative sent the following message from the company’s media relations address: “We have no indication that this is a T-Mobile network issue but we have taken steps to reroute our customers and... Continue reading…

Getty “I have molded you,” Sunny Balwani texted Continue reading…

Cyber Monday isn’t over yet, even if some deals are becoming more difficult to find. We’ve adapted our coverage to make sure that you’re only seeing the latest and best deals on tech that you want — and that we recommend — whether you’re on the hunt for a pair of wireless earbuds, a 4K TV, games, phones, or something else entirely. The occasional Nerf blaster might find its way in here, too.If you’re hoping to get the majority of your holiday shopping done ahead of mid-December, now is a good time to do that. However, don’t despair if something you’re looking for is no longer available, or isn’t on sale for cheap as you would like. December always brings more deals, and we’ll do our best to give you every opportunity to score on tech... Continue reading…

Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ordered a new election at Amazon’s Bessemer, Alabama site, a tentative victory for organizers who had sought to unionize workers at the company’s fulfillment locations. The decision, issued by the regional director overseeing the case, builds on a previous recommendation from the hearing officer assigned to the case.“I agree with the hearing officer’s recommendations,” Monday’s decision reads. “Accordingly, I affirm the hearing officer’s rulings, I adopt her recommendation to sustain certain objections, and I order a second election.”“I order a second election”No date has been set for the second election, and Amazon will have ten business days to request a review of the decision. If Amazon... Continue reading…

Container ships at anchor outside the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. | Tim Rue/Bloomberg via Getty Images Amazon and Target are playing a big role in the port pollution crisis along the US West Coast, according to a report published today. These retail giants are among the top importers in the US and rely heavily on shipping routes between China and California.Communities near the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have some of the worst air quality in the nation thanks in large part to Americans’ shopping habits. Online shopping, which increased during the pandemic, has made the situation worse. So has the supply chain crisis that’s caused traffic jams just offshore of the twin ports, which make up the busiest port complex in the Western Hemisphere.“It is past time to hold these retailers accountable for their responsibilities at the... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge People have flocked to TikTok in droves over the past few years — but research into the social media giant’s potential health impacts hasn’t kept up. Despite the fact that TikTok now has over 1 billion users, public health researchers know very little about the health effects it might be having on the platform’s (mostly young) users. That’s concerning, because researchers know social media platforms can be harmful, especially to the health of some groups of teens and adolescents.“The platform is so massive, but there’s almost no scholarly investigation into it,” says Marco Zenone, a health policy researcher at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.Zenone believes it’s urgent for researchers to start figuring out if TikTok... Continue reading…

CD Projekt says its GOG games storefront will put more focus on offering “a handpicked selection of games” and transfer some developers to other projects, following ongoing financial losses at the division.“Regarding GOG, its performance does present a challenge, and recently we’ve taken measures to improve its financial standing,” CD Projekt CFO Piotr Nielubowicz told investors on a quarterly earnings call. “First and foremost, we’ve decided that GOG should focus more on its core business activity, which means offering a handpicked selection of games with its unique DRM-free philosophy. In line with this approach, there will be changes in the team structure.”“GOG should focus more on its core business activity, which means offering a... Continue reading…

Illustration by The Verge We’re rattling off the best Cyber Monday tech deals as we find them Continue reading…

B&H Photo in New York City may be commonly known to locals of the tri-state for its brick-and-mortar presence in midtown Manhattan, but the camera and electronics retailer has a lot on offer via its website for nationwide Cyber Monday deal hunters. Many people shop there for niche photography equipment — you can still buy darkroom supplies through B&H if you see fit — though there is also a lot of general tech on offer.Below we have surfaced some of the best tech deals we can find at B&H for Cyber Monday, with wide-ranging sales on products across photo and video gear, earbuds, computers, TVs, and more.Cameras and photo/video accessories

You can save big on Halo: The Master Chief Collection, gaming headsets, and accessories at GameStop. GameStop’s launched its Cyber Monday sales, featuring huge savings on digital and physical copies of games, gaming keyboards, and headsets for their lowest prices ever. There are even a number of excellent promotions that are of great value, whether you’re trying to snag a new console or build out your existing library.Of course, GameStop isn’t the only place with the best Cyber Monday deals, so make sure to check out our ever-expanding guide to Cyber Monday, as well as our retailer and brand-specific pages if you’re looking to cash in on more great savings.PromotionsXbox All Access is a program that’s been offered by Microsoft before but represents a unique opportunity for anyone that’s still trying to score an Xbox Series X or... Continue reading…

Staples still has plenty of Black Friday deals | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge Staples is offering Cyber Monday sales and is discounting a diverse range of items. While some are naturally very specific to office work — the retailer is currently offering up to 60 percent printer paper, for example — there are also some solid deals on smart displays, earbuds, and other tech products, many of which can also be found in our detailed guide to the best Cyber Monday deals happening now. To help you take advantage of the best deals before they sell out, however, we’ve curated a list of some of the top discounts Staples is currently offering, from the HomePod mini to Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K.Headphone and earbud dealsSmart home deals

Still plenty of deals to be had at Walmart While Black Friday itself is over, several retailers are now offering significant discounts for Cyber Monday — and Walmart is no exception. Right now, the retail giant has deals on everything from the AirPods Pro to the most popular TVs and streaming devices.We’ve featured a few of these items in our guide to the best Cyber Monday deals happening now, however, the list below highlights all of the best sales Walmart is offering across several categories rather than just a few. It’s perfect, then, for anybody who plans on shopping primarily at Walmart.If you subscribe to Walmart Plus, the retailer’s equivalent to Amazon Prime, you’ll also gain access to the deals four hours in advance. Regardless of when you plan on doing your shopping,... Continue reading…

Daniel A. Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images The Miami City Commission voted to end its short-lived ban on shared electric scooters Monday after some new safety measures were put in place.Early this month, the commission voted 4 to 5 to end the city’s multiyear scooter pilot, citing blocked sidewalks and the risk posed by untrained riders on busy streets. The companies that operate shared scooters, including Lime and Spin, argued that their services helped reduce car usage, connect residents to transit hubs, and bring extra revenue to the city.That message appears to have gotten through. On Monday, the commission voted 3 to 1 to rescind the ban on the condition that new safety regulations would be implemented.“Change is coming; it’s going to happen anyway. Regulate it,”... Continue reading…

You want to bring a badass foam blaster to your next Nerf war — or gift one to a very grateful kid or kid-at-heart this holiday. Good news: the Nerf Rival Perses, arguably the best official blaster ever made, is just $50 during Walmart’s Cyber Monday sale.Normally $100, it’s a fully automatic SMG-style blaster that holds 50 far-flying, bouncy foam rounds in its hopper and dishes them out at up to eight shots per second. Plus, you won’t need to buy big bulky dumb alkaline batteries for this one. It comes with its own rechargeable NiMH battery pack and charger, unlike practically every other Hasbro blaster on the market.Just know it’s a little too big for small kids. At over five pounds and with big beefy grips, it’ll be a late... Continue reading…

The black Friday deals you can still get at Target | Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Ver Cyber Monday is here, and lots of retailers are dropping prices for everyone's favorite shopping holiday. Right now at Target, we’re seeing great discounts on everything from Beats Studio 3 headphones to the Fitbit Versa 2 fitness tracker. We’ve already highlighted some of these products in our guide to the best Cyber Monday deals happening now, but this list is perfect for anyone doing most of their shopping at this particular retailer.If you’re doing your shopping elsewhere this weekend, we’ve also gathered all the best deals you can currently get from Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.We’ll be updating this document regularly to keep you posted on more deals as they become available, so make sure to check back with us for more savings... Continue reading…

Google’s newest Nest security cameras are on sale, too. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge For Cyber Monday, Google is holding onto most of its deals from Black Friday, and there’s a lot to like if you’re in the market for a Pixel, Chromecast, or Nest device. The search giant kicked off the deals in the Google Store early, and now many of the big-name retailers are offering equivalent deals on the same items. Google even advertises these deals as running until December 1st, a few days after Cyber Monday.There are many great other Cyber Monday deals that are live in addition to our retailer-specific roundups for sales at Target, Amazon, and Walmart. If you’re starved for ideas on what to shop for, we also have a variety of gift guides for you to check out.In the meantime, we have highlighted all the worthwhile Google deals... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Sonos is likely planning to announce a new, smaller, and cheaper subwoofer to join its home theater product lineup. A Redditor spotted mention of a “Sub Mini” right in the Sonos smartphone app, and based on the text, it’s evident that this is a real product and not some mistake or placeholder text. In the screenshot, Sonos describes the Sub Mini as a “smaller, cylindrical subwoofer” compared to the large, square, and very pricey Sub.Most conventional subwoofers are hefty squares or rectangles that people often try to keep out of sight. But cylinder-shaped subwoofers aren’t unheard of. The Sub Mini could resemble something like the below subwoofer from OSD. Image: OSD This example of a cylindrical subwoofer is... Continue reading…

Microsoft is currently offering savings across the Surface lineup. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Microsoft’s Cyber Monday deals are now live, offering some solid discounts on its line of Surface laptops and related accessories, with some models being discounted by as much as $600. Many of these models are also available as a bundle deal that allows you to get discounts on services like Microsoft 365 and accessories like the Surface Headphones 2 and the Surface Pen.While some of these extras only receive a discount if you purchase them as part of a bundle, we’ve included a few of the accessories you can buy individually that are currently marked down. And if you’re looking for more sweet deals this week, make sure to check out our roundup of the best Cyber Monday deals now available.The top-tier model of the Microsoft Surface... Continue reading…

Amazon’s Fire HD tablets are on sale starting at $35 | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge If you’re looking to score a great deal on an Amazon device for Cyber Monday, you’re in luck. Amazon is offering up to 50 percent of some of its most popular products, including the latest Echo Show 5 and Fire HD 10. The company is also offering a number of deals across several categories, ranging from Kindles and Fire TV sticks to Blink devices and even the Halo View, which has yet to be released.For your convenience, we’ve curated a list of the best deals currently to be had on Amazon devices. We’ll be continuously updating this post as well as more deals arrive, so be sure to check back. And, of course, if you want to save even more, check our coverage of the best Cyber Monday deals happening now.Echo deals

Amazon’s own devices, like the Kindle Paperwhite, are seeing some good deals right now. | Photo by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge Now that we’re past Black Friday, Amazon has shifted its deals — this time to Cyber Monday. Amazon has a slew of deals worth jumping on now if time is of the essence.Below are a variety of deals worth your time and attention, especially if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber. If you’re cross-shopping at the other major retailers, we’ve also put together a more general roundup of the best Cyber Monday deals to look out for. Also, if you love a chance to win some free stuff, don’t miss our mystery bag giveaway.4K TV deals

Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images Mobile kitchens that cater solely to food delivery services, like Uber Eats and DoorDash, sound like a great idea in theory, as dedicated delivery kitchens can push out food faster without having to worry about passing meals along to servers. But a report from The Wall Street Journal details some of the mishaps associated with one trailer-bound ghost kitchen company, Reef, which involves third-degree burns and regulatory violations.Just this April, the WSJ reports that one Reef kitchen in Houston, Texas experienced two fiery accidents in just four months. One involved a blast that erupted from the kitchen’s propane burners — and by a stroke of luck, the cook came out unscathed.

The best TVs on Sale over Black Friday weekend 4K TVs of all sizes and specs see price cuts several times throughout the year, but the time when we usually see the highest concentration of stellar deals is right now, as Cyber Monday is just around the bend. You’ve ended up in the right place if you’re looking for a TV deal, and yes, that includes people interested in a TV that has every bell or whistle, with the highest contrast ratio and the right features to eke all of the visual splendor from PCs and the latest gaming consoles or something that’s quite the opposite. We’ll be highlighting affordable TVs, too.Our team at The Verge is hard at work on compiling the best Cyber Monday deals, running the gamut of retailers participating, as well as breaking it down on a category level.... Continue reading…

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge There is never a better time to dive into the smart home than Black Friday and its close cousin Cyber Monday. Traditionally, tech deals on home gadgets are huge this time of year, plus, it’s the only time you’ll find real bargains on gear from some of the smaller companies, such as Eve, Level, and Nanoleaf.Whether you’re thinking about dipping a toe into this home automation shindig with a smart speaker or maybe a connected door lock, or want to bolster an already impressive smart home setup, it’s worth investing some cash this holiday season.Also, if you just want to upgrade your home cleaning routine or have a way to check in on Fido now that you’re back at work (the separation anxiety is real), this is a good time to get a great... Continue reading…

The best deals under $50 | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge What can $50 get you these days? Turns out, quite a lot; you just need to know where to look. As Cyber Monday approaches, we’ve already rounded up all the best Black Friday deals still available if you’re getting your shopping done early at retailers like Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart. But if you’re on a tight budget or looking for some gifts that won’t break the bank, you’ve come to the right place. Below are a few suggestions, all of which are available for under $50.

Still plenty you can get for under $25 If our roundup of best tech deals you can still get under $50 was outside your budget, don’t worry: there’s also plenty you can buy for under $25. Several retailers are now heavily discounting popular tech products during Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend, discounting everything from Bluetooth trackers and smart speakers to the latest gaming subscriptions.For your convenience, we’ve curated a list of some of the best sub-$25 options below. If you’re looking for more holiday gift ideas that won’t break the bank, however, we’ve also put together separate budget-based gift guides for items under $25 and $50.Several popular streaming services are offering some great discounts, and in some cases, you can enjoy up to one year’s worth of... Continue reading…

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is introducing new defamation laws that would force online platforms to reveal the identities of trolls, or else pay the price of defamation. As ABC News Australia explains, the laws would hold social platforms, like Facebook or Twitter, accountable for defamatory comments made against users.Platforms will also have to create a complaint system that people can use if they feel that they’re a victim of defamation. As a part of this process, the person who posted the potentially defamatory content will be asked to take it down. But if they refuse, or if the victim is interested in pursuing legal action, the platform can then legally ask the poster for permission to reveal their contact information.... Continue reading…

Welcome to the in-between of deals. Black Friday has come and gone. There were tons of great discounts, many of which even began well before the day after Thanksgiving, and our Verge Deals team worked to cover as many of them as possible. We even did a liveblog to bring you the latest up-to-the-minute updates. There have been deals on wireless earbuds, headphones, video games, 4K TVs, pre-built PCs, and even the occasional Nerf blaster. With so many savings already happening across the world of tech, it’s hard to believe Cyber Monday is still approaching.That brings us to today, where we find ourselves between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Plenty of deals are continuing on, and fresh ones have cropped up to join the fray. If you... Continue reading…

Backbone One for the iPhone | Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge The Backbone One is the best mobile gaming controller for the iPhone and you can get it from Amazon today for $70, $30 off of its regular price. In addition, it includes a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which lets you play over a hundred Xbox games right on your iPhone.If you’re looking for other Cyber Monday deals, be sure to check out our roundup of the best Cyber Monday offers from around the internet.Similar to other gaming controllers, the Backbone One slots an iPhone in between two hand grips, complete with analog sticks, multiple buttons, and shoulder triggers. It’s compatible with any iPhone that can run iOS 13 or later, and works with hardware dating back to the iPhone 6S.In his review earlier this year, Cameron Faulkner... Continue reading…

The AirPods Pro with the MagSafe charging case are on sale for just $190 at Amazon. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge Ironically, if you’re looking for Apple discounts ahead of Cyber Monday, you won’t find them at Apple, even if the retailer is bundling Apple gift cards with almost all of its latest products. Don’t fear, however, as there are plenty of reliable third-party retailers like Amazon, B&H Photo, and Best Buy that do.Many of these retailers started discounting some of the most popular Apple products ahead of Cyber Monday, dropping prices on everything from the latest MacBook Pro to the Apple Watch Series 7. Below, we’ve rounded up the best deals we’ve found by category, and we’ll continue to update this piece as more deals are published.Also, if you’re looking to save even more, make sure to check out our detailed guide to the best early... Continue reading…

HBO mistakenly added the censored version of Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) to its streaming service at some point. But now it has finally replaced it with the R-rated version, letting viewers indulge in all the curse words and crude gestures featured within the Suicide Squad spinoff.

Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge One of the most sought-after gifts every holiday — at least, ever since Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone — has been true wireless earbuds. They are often the favored listening device of many people because they offer the most convenience, and they’re a product category that frequently goes on sale. Full-size headphones offer superior sound, and those are still seeing their fair share of Cyber Monday discounts, but most casual listeners often prefer earbuds.Here, we’ve rounded up the best Cyber Monday deals on wireless earbuds from Apple, Samsung, Bose, Jabra, Beats, and even Google, as well as a couple of lesser-known brands. Each has its own unique qualities or value proposition to offer, and we have deals... Continue reading…

Black Friday may have come and gone, but that just means we are nearing the ending crescendo to the shopping holiday weekend with Cyber Monday. What first started as a focus on online tech deals has essentially morphed into an annual Black Friday 2.0, like some sort of sequel that you hope is even punchier than the original.Lots of deals at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart started plenty early, with many launching their holiday deal selection weeks ahead of Black Friday. Many deals are continuing through the weekend and into Cyber Monday, too, just as new and exciting ones begin to crop up. Regardless of whether they’re holdover deals or new ones, you can find all of the latest and must-know details to make your... Continue reading…

Embrace the silence Whether you’re overdue for a new pair or are just trying to cancel out the usual onslaught of holiday music, Cyber Monday is a great time to invest in some noise-canceling headphones. You’ll find significant discounts on many of our favorite headphones featured in our noise-canceling headphones buying guide. These include picks from Sony, Bose, Apple, Sennheiser, and others. In some cases, these deals will save you $100 or more.Aside from the steep discounts, another good thing about buying headphones during the holidays is the extended return period at many retailers. That gives you plenty of time to try out your new cans and make sure the sound quality, ANC, comfort, and other factors are all to your liking before you’re stuck with... Continue reading…

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Gamers are served up all kinds of great deals throughout the year. It’s not uncommon for recently released games to drop as much as 20 percent off in the first few months of release or to snag the occasional one-off deal on a controller or headset. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday are something special — a chance to get in on the year’s best offers all at once.Like 2020, the holidays in 2021 are a bit peculiar, what with the ongoing pandemic and chip shortage. There’s no shortage of games and accessories, but fewer consoles are available for first-time buyers to gift, which means the opportunities to get one are very rare and very popular. Some retailers have even taken to charging subscription fees that offer you a boosted chance of... Continue reading…

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Cameras and lenses can be a tricky thing to shop for around Cyber Monday. They are no small investment, though if you’re shopping for that lucky someone — or for yourself — there are some deals to be had that can save you a lot of money.We have vetted and rounded up the most notable deals from the major camera manufacturers, focusing on the latest mirrorless systems. It’s hard to justify spending big money on a new DSLR in 2021, as it may be better to look to the secondhand market for those older systems. Another hard truth is that some camera manufacturers have been plagued by the chip shortages on the latest models, and the deals on tap show that — many of the deeper discounts are on slightly older cameras, and some newer releases... Continue reading…

Dell is discounting its XPS 13 and 15 models. | Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge Black Friday weekend and Cyber Monday are often thought of as times to stock up on smaller investments on the cheap, like headphones, games, and other gadgets you may not have wanted to pay full price for. But it’s also a great time to save on big-ticket items, like that laptop you’ve maybe had your eye on. The shopping holidays have brought some seriously good discounts on laptops, whether you’re keen on sticking with Mac, or you want a Windows PC. Both often come in very slim designs, but for people who don’t mind a heavier laptop, we’ve included some gaming laptop picks.The kinds of deals you can get on laptops vary depending on the retailer, so that’s how we’ve split up the deals.

There are still some good deals to be had on the newest iPhones. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Need a new phone? Black Friday weekend and Cyber Monday are a great time to be shopping for a phone for yourself or as a gift to your nearest and dearest this holiday season. This is the time of year when retailers and carriers are dropping their best deals, whether it’s to make room for next year’s models or to sign up new cellular customers. Android users can cash in on a number of excellent deals from the likes of Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and Motorola; however, Apple is notoriously stingy when it comes to iPhone discounts. You might get a gift card or a pair of AirPods when buying an iPhone, or a carrier might offer a higher trade-in value for a “free” iPhone.Here are all the best early Cyber Monday phone deals we’ve found so far.... Continue reading…

Many can enjoy one year of Hulu’s ad-supported streaming service for just $1 per month. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Black Friday is actually more a weekend than a single day, and Cyber Monday is the perfect end-cap to it. Several popular streaming services are offering a number of discounts ahead of Cyber Monday. New and even some previous subscribers can, for example, enjoy a year of Hulu for just $0.99 a month. While that’s probably one of the best deals out there this year, other services are also great limited-time offers for new, past, and even existing subscribers alike. Below, we’ve curated some of the best we’ve seen this year to help you get the best bang for your buck.Also, if you’re looking for deals outside of streaming, be sure to also check out our roundup of the best early Cyber Monday happening now, where you’ll find discounts on... Continue reading…

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the company’s lowest-priced foldable yet at its normal $999.99, but today you can get the trendy phone for way, way less than that. In an early Cyber Monday 2021 deal, the unlocked Z Flip 3 is available from Best Buy for $599.99 if you activate service on the device with your purchase.That’s a colossal $400 discount from the Flip 3’s regular price and brings it on par with something like the Pixel 6. Google’s phone is terrific, but it certainly doesn’t have the cool factor of a folding screen. Verizon and AT&T customers can both get that price for a limited time.In certain cases, you can save even more. Activating a new line of service on T-Mobile / Sprint brings the price down to $499.99 for the unlocked... Continue reading…

Still plenty of savings to be had Black Friday may be over, but the memory — and deals — remain. Right now, there are still a ton of great discounts to be had on 4K TVs, noise-canceling headphones, and gaming accessories. Some of these deals are likely to expire soon or run out of stock, but we’ll be doing everything we can to keep this page updated with all the deals left standing, many of which will likely carry over to Cyber Monday. Also, if you’re looking for more great gift ideas, make sure you take a look at our 2021 holiday gift guide for a few suggestions.Latest deal highlights: