Top early Black Friday tech gifts

Black Friday is coming in hot, and I’ve rounded up 13 awesome gadgets that are on sale now and make great gifts. Holiday hero mode: ON. If you don’t want to save money on the best deals, scroll down to the Web Watercooler and find out when Prince William will give his kids phones.

🤖 Roborock Q7 M5+ (49% off)

Save $210! This robot vac and mop combo cleans the floors and rugs but also recognizes shoes, cords, socks and even dog poop. A game changer for anyone with kids, pets or a messy partner. My mom called hers “Rosie.” I miss hearing her say that.

Echo Dot Kids (42% off)

“Alexa, start kids’ mode.” Amazon’s latest smart speaker includes a full year of Amazon Kids+ on the house. All with parental controls at your fingertips.

💻 Acer Chromebook Plus (30% off)

A solid laptop. Perfect for school, work, binge-watching and everything in between, thanks to its 15.6” touch screen and built-in Google AI. All for under $300.

Wi-Fi LED lights (31% off)

Instant vibe shift. Control these smart strips with Alexa, Google Assistant or your phone. Perfect for holiday decorating or a gift for that teen in your life who is hard to get anything for. I scored big last year with this!

📱 Adjustable phone stand (37% off) 

Your phone’s throne. Read this newsletter, follow recipes and take Zoom calls for under $10. You can finally stop propping it on a coffee mug. I am using mine right now!

Kodak instant photo printer (18% off)

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🎁 Gifts under $50? You betcha!

Holiday shopping stressing you out? Skip the gift-card trap. I’ve rounded up 10 amazing gifts, all under $50, that bring joy, wow, and are easy on the wallet. Let’s jump in.

Slice your meat on one side of this cutting board (43% off) and your veggies on the other. Nonstick and dishwasher-safe, too.

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Sleigh the airport chaos

You can’t control delays, but you can control what you bring.

🌬️ Power puffs: Travel steamer (27% off)

Dual voltage = no adapter drama. Pack a two-in-one iron that fits in your carry-on and heats up in 30 seconds flat. Tough on wrinkles, gentle on delicates like silk and lace.

🧳 Shrink your clothes: These compression packing cubes (30% off) save up to 60% of your luggage space. They come with a handy drawstring bag for your shoes.

Sky-high screen time: Clip this airplane phone holder (36% off) to your tray table and lock it at the perfect angle. The best part? A built-in light for Zoom calls at 30,000 feet.

⚡ Juice for days: Anker’s Prime power bank (22% off) takes your phone or laptop from zero to 50% in under 30 minutes. And yes, it’s TSA-approved.

Plugs without borders: Don’t forget a power adapter (20% off) if you’re heading overseas. Charges up to five gadgets at once in 150+ countries. Score.

📅 Deals take off soon

  • Black Friday comes early this year: Amazon starts dropping the discounts on Nov. 20. Click here to check out the early steals.
  • From AirTags to neck pillows: Find 30+ handpicked faves that make every trip smoother, smarter and less stressful.

Your ID is a moneymaker

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DMVs across the country pull in millions by selling your personal data with your license. Also, caller Dennis says he almost got duped by an AI voice clone of his daughter. Plus, MrBeast gets his own theme park, Gen Z and FB dating, and how to buy the stuff Amazon throws away.

You look familiar: Ever wanted to ring a doorbell and get your face added to a database? You’re in luck. Amazon’s new Ring cameras can recognize “familiar faces,” but here’s the rub: They scan people’s faces without asking. The EFF says it might break biometric privacy laws in states like Illinois and Texas. Amazon says that’s your problem. Also, the scanning happens in the cloud. Sleep tight.

Stream like a king: Amazon cut the Fire TV Cube price down to $99.99 ($40 off), and it’s  worth it. It’s like if a Fire Stick and Alexa had a baby with 4K Ultra HD, Wi-Fi 6E and Dolby Atmos. Basically, it turns your old TV into the rich kid at school. 

Holiday gift guide: Unwrap the presents everyone wants

Google just dropped its 2025 Holiday 100, aka what everyone wants this season. I dug past the hype to find the gadgets, gear and glam that are actually worth your cash. But don’t wait until December. Many are bound to sell out sooner than later.

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Stop porch pirates from ruining your holidays

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for gift-giving and the worst time because of gift-stealing. Over $2 billion worth of parcels got stolen in the last three months of 2024 alone. That’s a lot of missing presents and stocking stuffers. With the right gear, you can leave porch pirates out in the cold. 

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Treat yourself (or someone else)

You deserve a break, not a breakdown.

💝 Gift of instant chill: Eye massager (40% off)

Tired of looking tired? Slip on this heated mask and soothe away hours of screen strain, headaches and stress. Tax-free bonus: It’s FSA/HSA eligible.

🕯️ Can you candle it? An electric candle warmer lamp (50% off) melts your favorite holiday scents without lighting a flame. Built-in timer turns it off for you.

No pull zone: The stainless steel blades on this hair trimmer (36%) keep your nose, ears and dignity in check. Great stocking stuffer for him or her.

💤 Sleep smarter: Psst … this is your sign to finally snag an ergonomic memory foam pillow (22% off). Your neck, back and shoulders will thank you.

Under $10! Beekeeper’s Naturals nighttime cough syrup (33% off) is packed with plant-based ingredients that fight those seasonal sniffles.

🧑‍🎄 Your shortcut to Santa status: Find all the best gifts, decor and latest deals on Amazon’s Holiday Shop. Get them while they last!

Screen dreams come true

I’ve got the gadgets that’ll make you swipe right.

🍏 Byte-size: Charging station (40% off)

One station, three devices. This wireless charger juices up your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch all at once. Easily packs flat for travel.

🤖 Galaxy, get ready: Rocking a Samsung? Dock up to five gadgets on a fast-charging station (30% off) that won’t overcharge your tech. Fits on your nightstand or desk.

More screen, more power: Triple your workspace with a laptop screen extender (24% off). Makes multitasking on the go way easier.

🔥 Lit for bingeing: Amazon’s newest Fire HD 8 tablet (45% off) is only $55 right now. Prime member? You get early access to the smarter Alexa+.

Jam sesh ready: Give this cell phone stand (33% off) to anyone who loves watching movies on their phone, even if that “someone” is you.

⚡ Current-ly the best: Tap here to see what other goodies are on sale. Go forth and finish your shopping in no time.

Fall flavors, zero fuss

Whether it’s Thanksgiving dinner or a quick lunch break, I’ve got you.

🍏 Slice & dice: Fullstar Original Pro Chopper (40% off)

Chop onions without tears. Razor-sharp blades make prepping stuffing, soups, casseroles, salads and roasted veggies almost effortless. Viral on TikTok for a reason.

🥣 Powerful space-saver: From frothing milk to whipping cake batter, this immersion blender (45% off) replaces five tools in one sleek design.

Macros made simple: Get a smart food scale (23% off) that tracks what’s in over a million foods. Open the app, scan the barcode and weigh.

🍳 Your nonstick ninjas: Hotec’s spatula set (30% off) can handle temps of up to 600°F. Perfect for flipping eggs, burgers, fish, you name it.

Bye-bye, fast-food lines: An electric lunch box (21% off) heats up your leftovers in 30 minutes or less. Comes with a stainless steel container.

😋 Click, cook, repeat: Find 30+ more gadgets on my Amazon shop. You’ll feel like a five-star chef at home.

🏠 Deck your yard

Let’s prep your porch for the holidays without blowing a fuse (or your wallet).

🔌 Festive power-up: Outdoor extension cord (33% off, $30)

Playing electrical Jenga? These cords are waterproof, wear-resistant and built with a flame-retardant jacket. Perfect for inflatables or that one reindeer that always droops.

Set it and forget it: This power stake timer (18% off, $24) means no more walking outside to unplug lights at midnight. Comes with a remote that reaches 100 feet.

In honor of Veterans Day: Salute our heroes by upgrading your outdoor American flag ($10, 50% off). Heavy-duty polyester lets it wave, not fray.

Easy on, easy off: A pack of these light clips (8% off, $12) keeps your Christmas lights sturdy without peeling your paint. Your walls (and sanity) will thank you.

🚪 Front-entrance flex: This wreath hanger (15% off, $9) holds up to 20 pounds and adjusts for the perfect placement. Change it up without leaving a mark

Wipe those shoes: Stop dirt before it hits your floor with a new doormat (24% off, $46). The low profile means your door won’t catch and drive you nuts.

🎁 Shop the season: Hit up Amazon’s holiday page for more steals on decor, stocking stuffers and more. You’ll rest easy getting that out of the way now. 

Tech toys you’ll actually use

Let’s power up your life one cool gadget at a time.

🌟 Bring home the galaxy: Northern light projector (40% off)

No need to freeze in Alaska. This beams stunning auroras right to your ceiling. Perfect gift pick for kids or that one friend who’s obsessed with mood lighting.

📺 The latest and greatest: Tap into Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus (40% off) with faster Wi-Fi and AI-powered voice search. It’s like your old TV got a brain transplant.

Dongle to the rescue: Keep these headphone adapters (20% off, two-pack) handy when you forget to charge your earbuds or when Bluetooth refuses to work.

🎶 Old-school meets new-school: Dust off your old CDs and connect your phone to this retro music player (26% off). Music nerds will go crazy (in love) for it.

🔋 Pocket power punch: This mini portable charger (32% off) fits in your palm and fast-charges your MacBook Air to 42% in 25 minutes. Bonus: TSA-approved.

👩‍💻 Your gadget hunt continues: If you liked these, wait till you see my other picks on sale waiting for you. Something in there could become your next favorite thing.

🚨 Code kale red: Hang onto your kombucha. Imagine standing in Whole Foods, home of the healthy organic alternative, when a robot whips through the aisles with a Tide Pod and a Pepsi. Amazon’s testing “ShopBots” (paywall link) in some stores, so you can grab your kale, then order junk food like it’s contraband. It’s part of Amazon’s full takeover as Whole Foods execs now report to Amazon’s top brass.

🦃 Turkey month is here

Before food (and in-laws) take over your life, let’s get you stocked for under $50.

🔥 Oven oracle: Smart meat thermometer (33% off, $40) 

No more guessing games. Stick this gadget in your turkey and track temps from your phone. Say goodbye to overcooking and hovering over a hot oven.

🔪 A cut above the rest: Level up your dull blades with a knife sharpener (50% off, $9) because meal prepping shouldn’t feel like a workout.

Beat the holiday mess: A dish-scrubbing gnome (25% off, $15) makes tackling your sink pile feel enjoyable and a whole lot more festive.

🍿 Snack break SZN: Keep hangry relatives calm with this popcorn maker (33% off, $32) while the main course heats up. Fresh in under three minutes!

Charcuterie champ: This bamboo cutting board (21% off, $27) has a built-in storage compartment. Handy for travel, so your presentation stays on point.

🍽️ Ready, set, feast: Hungry for more Thanksgiving helpers? Scoop up 35 more on my Amazon shop.

🔥 Fire drill: Picture this, you’re an Amazon driver in California, and your route literally runs through a wildfire, smoke everywhere. You call dispatch thinking they’ll tell you to turn back. Instead? “Do what you can.” That’s what Johnny heard. Amazon’s apps track every blink, brake and sip of water, but they can’t seem to provide basic safety guidance like not driving into a fire. 

Turn gadgets into gift cards: Got old tech collecting dust? Amazon takes e-readers, smart speakers, phones and more. Tell them what you’re trading in and its condition to get an estimated value as an Amazon Gift Card. Bonus: If you trade in Amazon gear like a Fire Tablet, you’ll also score 20% off a new device.

Lazy-day win: In maybe the best news in a while for incessant returning folks, you may soon be able to skip the whole “find a box, print a label, drive to UPS” thing. Amazon’s testing a partnership with USPS that lets you hand off returns right from your doorstep. Eligible items are under 15 pounds, and it’s rolling out quietly.

Employees are faking expense reports with AI

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AI’s new job? Creative accounting. Workers are having it whip up fake receipts for business lunches that never happened. Plus, Amazon’s big layoffs, chess makes an online comeback, and how to have AI help with lost stuff.

✨ Light up your life (literally)

Your eyes called. They’re already sending thank-you notes.

🕯️ Your holiday glow-up: Flameless candles ($14, 30% off)

Set the mood, not a fire. A 12-pack of remote-controlled LEDs flicker like real flames. Perfect for your tree, mantel displays or that “Hallmark movie energy” you need.

💻 Laptop, meet your new buddy: Plug in a portable monitor ($125, 26% off) and instantly double your screen real estate. Slim, bright and smooth at 144Hz.

For the late-night readers: This reading light ($15, 52% off) fits comfortably around your neck. Aim it at the page without blinding your partner.

🤓 Long hours in front of screens? Same. Slip on some blue-light-blocking glasses ($16, 20% off) before work. Cut the glare and still look sharp.

See what you’ve been missing: These microfiber sleeves ($9, 31% off) protect your specs and double as lens cleaners. Your shirt can retire from smudge duty.

🎁 Time to deck your halls: Head to Amazon’s Holiday Shop for everything you need to make this season merry, bright and smart.