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All the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

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UPDATE: Nov. 27, 2024, 4:15 p.m. EST The week of Black Friday is finally here. We’re tracking all the best deals across retailers and updating this list as things come in and go out of stock.

The time is nigh. In a matter of days our bellies — and shopping carts — will be full. While Black Friday properly falls on Nov. 29. this year, retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have already kicked off their sales.

Even if you’re prepared, you know who and what you’re shopping for, it’s hard to not get in a tizzy. You’re in luck though, we’ve done most of the leg work for you. At this point, we’ve been tracking Black Friday deals for weeks, finding the best prices on all the big names: Apple, Bose, Sony, Samsung, and more.

If you want to take the day after Thanksgiving off, you can start shopping early Black Friday deals now. Here are the best deals to shop.

Best Apple deal

Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M2 MacBook Air.

“A couple of weeks ago, the MacBook Air got a quiet RAM upgrade, without a price hike. Now, we’re seeing the M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage on sale for $749, officially back to its lowest price ever. With these specs, this MacBook will be more than capable of handling everyday tasks with ease, while offering you more flexibility to run more (and more intensive) programs at once. Considering Mashable reporter Alex Perry called this laptop “just about the ideal work-from-home (or work-from-wherever, really) companion,” in his review, this memory upgrade is certainly welcome.” – Bethany Allard, Shopping Reporter

More Apple deals

MacBook Air (13-inch)

MacBook Air (15-inch)

MacBook Pro

Mac

iPad

iPad Air

iPad mini

iPad Pro

Apple Watches

AirPods

AirTags and Apple Pencil

Best robot vacuum deal

Why we like it

“I think of the Roborock Qrevo S as the diet version of my favorite self-emptying robot vacuum right now, the Roborock Qrevo Master. And unless you’re open to spending $1,000 or more on a robot vacuum, you can probably live without the Qrevo Master’s fluff features like a livestream pet camera or extending side mop — especially when, at this price, you could buy a Qrevo S for two stories of your home for less than the price of one on-sale Qrevo Master.

Opting for the cheaper Qrevo is still a solid move: Compared to other 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop combos also on sale for Black Friday, the Qrevo S is one of the rare options under $500 that washes and dries its mopping pads.” — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More robot vacuum deals

Robot vacuum and mop combos

Best headphones deal

Why we like it

“Bose makes some of the best headphones they’ve tested. The brand’s QuietComfort line-up strikes the genius balance of sound quality and comfort. While the QuietComfort Ultra headphones and earbuds are the most elevated Bose models, the basic QuietComforts are still great.

If you don’t need spatial audio, but you do want sound that will make your music sound better, elevating drop beats and sick synth, go for the Bose QuietComfort headphones. The power button on the side is responsive, and the battery is insanely long. I wore these while taking the train from Boston to New York and by the time I reached my destination, they still had 50% battery life.

Normally, $349, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are down to $199. That saves you $150 for 43% savings.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More headphone and speaker deals

Headphones

Earbuds

Speakers

Best laptop deal

Why we like it

Read Mashable’s full review of the 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

“Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC has an even longer battery life than the new M4 MacBook Pros — it lasted nearly 23 hours in our testing — and it comes with AI features that ‘make Windows fun again,’ Gedeon wrote. She gave it a 4.8/5; it’s a Mashable Choice Award winner and our current favorite laptop for most people, barring any app compatibility issues.

The upgraded configuration that Gedeon tested is a 13-inch model featuring a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It usually retails for $1,999.99, but Amazon and the Microsoft Store both have it listed for $1,599.99, or 20% off. That’s its biggest discount to date.” — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More laptop and computer deals

For MacBook and Mac deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Windows laptops

Chromebooks

Gaming laptops

Best tablet deal

Why we like it

“An iPad under $200 is a true gift this holiday season. Apple’s 9th generation model is down to $199.99 at Target, less than a dollar short of its lowest price ever. While there might be newer generations available, this is the most budget-friendly model, especially now that it’s $129 off.

The 9th generation Apple iPad comes with the A13 bionic chip, which provides plenty of processing power for streaming, gaming, or working. The 10.2-inch retina display gives plenty of space for your creative pursuits, as it’s compatible with the first generation of Apple Pencil.

Now is the right time to shop, as you can find the Apple iPad 9th generation for 39% off.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More tablet deals

For Apple iPad deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best Kindle deal

Why we like it

“The new batch of 2024 Kindles are the fastest yet, turning pages quickly and with less delay when switching between books in your library. The Kindle Paperwhite and Signature Edition both have bright, high-contrast screens, so you can read in any environment. While I prefer the Kindle Paperwhite over the Signature Edition most of the time, right now you can’t beat the SE’s Black Friday price.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is 23% off, bringing it down to $154.99. That’s some big savings ($45 to be exact) on a device that’s usually $200. You get everything you love in the Paperwhite, lightweight and waterproof design, with the added benefits of double the storage, wireless charging, and auto-adjusting brightness.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Kindle deals

More e-reader deals

Best Echo device deal

Why we like it

“The line-up of Amazon Echo devices is sprawling. You can find everything from a multitasking smart speaker to a touchscreen smart home hub. The absolute best deal on Echo devices right now is on the Amazon Echo Pop. This small but mighty device with a quality speaker and built-in assistant so you can play music just by calling out to Alexa.

Currently, it’s down to $17.99 — its lowest price ever. That knocks 55% off the regular price for $22 in savings. While we expect this price to hang around through Black Friday weekend, you can rest assured you’re getting it at a great deal when you buy now.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Echo deals

Best TV deal

Why we like it

“Black Friday is all about huge discounts on huge TVs, and this 85-inch Hisense model is a perfect case in point: Now just $650, it’s far cheaper than any other TV this big — not just at Best Buy, but at Amazon and Walmart, too. (And abnormally-cheap-for-their-size TVs are really more Walmart‘s thing.) The fact that it has a bright and vibrant QLED display, not a standard 4K screen, sweetens the deal even further.

Kind of surprised this one wasn’t chosen as a doorbuster, TBH. Let’s call it a hidden gem.” — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More TV deals

TV deals are sorted by size, then price.

43- to 50-inch TVs

55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and larger

Streaming devices and media players

Best fitness tracker deal

Why we like it

Read Mashable’s full review of the Oura Ring Gen3.

“The previous-gen Oura Ring is an excellent fitness wearable with heart-rate and blood oxygen monitoring, temperature and activity tracking, and a multi-day battery life — all wrapped up in a sleek, durable titanium design. It’s on sale at Best Buy this Black Friday for $50 to $200 off, depending on the style and finish (starting from $249.99).” — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More fitness tracker deals

For Apple Watch deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best kitchen deal

Why we like it

“If you’re getting ready to whip up dozens of Christmas cookies, don’t even think about doing it all by hand. Sure, it will be a great arm workout, but at what cost? Upgrade your kitchen tools ahead of the holiday season with the KitchenAid 5.5-quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. It has twice the power of KitchenAid’s standard tilt-head mixer and can mix batches of 11 dozen cookies at a time. This mixer is no joke.

You can get the savings ahead of Black Friday as it’s marked down to $279.99, saving you $170 for 38% off.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

Mashable Deals

More kitchen deals

Best home deal

Why we like it

“As you get ready for guests during the holidays, a vacuum is your best friend. It sucks up crumbs leftover from dinner, or anything trailed in on winter boots. In the panic of prepping for visitors, if you don’t want to deal with cords or bags, look to the Dyson V11 Cordless Vacuum.

It had whole-machine filtration to seeks to remove the smallest particles from pollen to bacteria. Plus there’s nothing worse than hair getting stuck in the vacuum head, but it automatically detangles hair. Ahead of Black Friday, you can find this vacuum for just $349.99. That saves you $250, for banging savings of 42%.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More home deals

Best mattress deal

Why we like it

“We’re shocked by how many mattress deals are popping off this early in the game. While there are great discounts across the board, the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress (Queen) has our vote as the best deal ahead of Black Friday.

This 13-inch-thick mattress has twice as much pressure-relieving memory foam as the Nectar Classic, 60 percent more cooling, and is currently 50% off. With five layers of premium OEKO-TEX-certified materials, this mattress will provide an incredibly comfortable and supportive night’s sleep. There’s also a 365-day trial and forever warranty, so if you don’t absolutely love it, you can return it.” — Tabitha Britt, Mashable Contributor

More mattress deals

Best streaming deal

Why we like it

“Hulu remains the top dog when it comes to Black Friday deals. For the second year in a row, the streamer is offering an entire year of Hulu with ads for just $0.99 per month. That’s less than $12 total for an entire year of streaming. It’s a bit surprising, honestly, as Hulu upped the cost of its basic plan just last month from $7.99 per month to $9.99 per month. In other words, the savings this year are even more impressive — 90% or $108 in total over 12 months.

Hulu is the streaming home for three of our favorite shows of 2023, The Bear, Abbott Elementary, and Reservation Dogs, as well as our top favorite show of 2024, Shōgun. It’s also where you’ll find episodes of ABC shows the day after they air, like Dancing with the Stars, and Neon movies fresh out of the theaters, like Cuckoo (coming Dec. 17).” — Christina Buff, Mashable Contributor

More streaming deals

Best book deal

Why we like it

“It’s safe to say that the Wicked craze is in full swing. Whether you’re holding space for all the memes the press tour is delivering or already ready for your second in-theater watch, have you considered reading the source material? And we’re not talking about The Wizard of Oz.

The musical is based on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the novel by Gregory Maguire, and if you, or the biggest Wicked fan in your life, are eager to dive deeper into the world, now is a great time to pick up a copy. Ahead of Black Friday, Walmart is offering 50% off the novel, bringing it down to $10.

Wicked not your thing? Don’t sweat because the Black Friday book deals are endless. Explore more deals on fiction, non-fiction, YA, and cookbooks below.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More book deals

Kindle book deals

Best gaming deal

Why we like it

“The second season of The Last of Us is coming in 2025, and if you still haven’t played the video game, now is your time to catch up. Ahead of Black Friday, find The Last of Us Part I for PlayStation 5 marked down 57%. It’s down to $29.99, saving you $40. Plus, you can save 15% on Astro Gaming headsets with the purchase of a video game at Best Buy.

And while you’re at it, you may as well pick up “The Last of Us Part II Remastered” for PlayStation 5, which is also on sale ahead of Black Friday.” — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More gaming deals under $50

Best toy deal

Why we like it

“The Office Lego Set may have sold out at Walmart within a day or so of dropping, but we still have another favorite Lego deal to highlight. Star Wars fans will get a huge kick out of the Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle. With a rotating cockpit, signature red wings, and four figurines including bounty hunter and Sith, this is an action-packed set. Walmart’s nearly 28% discount drops this set to $45, beating Best Buy’s price by $13.99 on the same model number.” — Gabriel Morgan, Mashable Contributor

More toys and games deals

Lego deals

Toy deals

Board game deals


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Lego’s May the 4th Star Wars drop is here, and half the sets are under $50

With May the 4th coming up, my nephew and I are getting ready for our mandatory apartment tradition: hitting up BrickinBad (a local “Lego collector hub”) so he can pick out a new set for us to build together over the weekend. Neither of us is a huge Star Wars fan, but you don’t have to be to appreciate a good Lego build.

SEE ALSO:

We know it’s only April, but Star Wars fans should grab the Lego Gingerbread AT-AT while it’s back in stock

Lego’s annual May the 4th drop is known for being an expensive, shelf-clearing event. But looking at the 2026 lineup, the prices are pretty reasonable. Yes, there’s a $250 Ultimate Collector Series ship in the mix, but most sets run just under $50.

The official promotional event runs from May 1 to May 6, but seven of the eight new sets hit shelves early on April 26. But, if you hold off and buy them in May, Lego will throw in exclusive freebies — like a free Darksaber set if you spend over $160.

Whether you’re treating yourself to some new desk decor or taking a kid on a weekend toy run, here’s the full breakdown:

Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter (75442)

Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter (75442)

If you’re going to splurge this Star Wars day, make it this one.
Credit: Lego

It wouldn’t be May the 4th without a ridiculously detailed Ultimate Collector Series model to anchor the event. This 1,809-piece N-1 Starfighter is the priciest set of the bunch at $249.99, but buying it automatically scores you an exclusive Mandalorian and Grogu Display gift. It drops on May 1 for Lego Insiders and May 4 for everyone else, so you’ll want to jump on it before it sells out.

Lego Star Wars The Razor Crest (75447)

If you want a more affordable weekend project ($250 is kind of steep), Mando’s iconic original ship is a great alternative. This 930-piece version of the Razor Crest hits shelves on April 26, and if you wait to buy it during the May event for $149.99, it qualifies for a free Razor Crest mini-build.

Lego Star Wars Grogu, Mandalorian Apprentice (75446)

Lego Star Wars Grogu, Mandalorian Apprentice (75446)

Because there’s no such thing as too much Grogu.
Credit: Lego

For fans who prefer building characters over ships, this 1,200-piece model portrays Grogu in his apprentice era. (Holding off to buy this one in May also gets you the free Razor Crest mini-build.) It’s intricate enough to display on an office desk without looking too toy-ish, plus there’s really no such thing as too much Grogu merchandise in your apartment.

Lego Star Wars Anzellan Starship (75445)

Lego Star Wars Anzellan Starship (75445)

A must-have if you love Babu Frik.
Credit: Lego

If you’re a fan of Babu Frik and his adorable droidsmith species, this 701-piece ship is a mid-range option. It drops on April 26 for $74.99 and is another set that’ll score you the free Razor Crest mini-build if purchased during the promotional window.

Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Bust (75439)

Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Bust (75439)

Come to the dark side.
Credit: Lego

You can grab this 349-piece Darth Vader bust starting April 26. It’s great if you just want a small, $49.99 piece of the May the 4th action for your desk. If you want to complete a classic trilogy display while building up your cart to hit that $160 Darksaber freebie threshold, you might want to consider adding the Yoda bust to your cart too.

Lego Star Wars AT-RT Attack

Lego Star Wars AT-RT Attack

A fun, action-focused build.
Credit: Lego

At 297 pieces, this AT-RT Attack is the smallest and most affordable set of the entire drop. It hits shelves on April 26 for $44.99, giving you a quick, action-focused build that qualifies you for the free Razor Crest mini-build. It’s also a great pick if you’re taking a kid on a toy run and don’t want to do any real damage to your bank account.

Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian and Grogu: Allies & Villains (40856)

Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian and Grogu: Allies & Villains (40856)

A solid mid-size build to celebrate the iconic duo.
Credit: Lego

This 661-piece set drops just ahead of the holiday on April 26 and leans heavily into the Mando hype. At just $39.99, get a decent amount of bricks to keep you busy for an afternoon without emptying your wallet. Plus, it’s an easy add-on to throw in your cart if you’re just trying to cross that $160 finish line for the free Darksaber.

Lego Star Wars Yoda Bust (75438)

Lego Star Wars Yoda Bust (75438)

A quick, affordable build for fans of the original trilogy.
Credit: Lego

If you prefer the classics over the newer Disney+ shows, this 399-piece Yoda bust is a quick and affordable build. It won’t take up your entire weekend to finish, but still helps you hit the $160 minimum to get the free Darksaber set.

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Event Horizon Ties Into Another Sci-Fi Universe Nobody Expected

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published

Fan theories can range from the plausible and very likely, such as the “Pixar connected universe,” or “Elsa and Anna’s brother is Tarzan,” to the unbelievable, “Snowpiercer’s Wilford is Wily Wonka,” or “Jar Jar Binks is a Sith,” but there’s one that’s so perfect, it has to be true: Event Horizon is set in the Warhammer 40k universe.

This theory makes sense from the very beginning, when the titular spaceship activates its gravity engine and travels through a nightmarish dimension that’s full of demons and cosmic horrors. That’s exactly how ships travel in the world of Warhammer 40k, and it’s only the start of the connections. 

Event Horizon Traveled Through The Warp

Event Horizon takes place after the ship mysteriously reappears after it was missing for years, with the entire crew dead, and as the Captain’s log reveals, it was the crew themselves that turned violent and killed each other. The Captain, having ripped out his own eyeballs, issues a warning, in Latin of course, to “Save yourself from Hell.” It’s a gruesome, bloody sequence filled with rapid flashes of violence that make it hard to focus, and the first time seeing the film, it’s hard to comprehend what you’re even seeing. 

The rescue crew ends up giving into the spreading madness themselves, or rather, Dr. Weir (Sam Neill, the perfect star for a film about cosmic horror), the designer of the Event Horizon, goes mad and has to be put down by the rescue ship’s Captain Miller (Laurence Fishburne). And he is, but after he’s sucked into space, Weir comes back having embraced the strange and bizarre Hell-like dimension, and he taunts Miller by showing him visions from the Hell dimension. It’s a dark and disturbing moment, but it’s also an amazing live-scene depiction of Warhammer 40ks The Warp, a strange dimension in which time and space have no meaning, that happens to be filled with Daemons and, in Games Workshop’s universe, is used by humanity as an intergalactic superhighway. 

The Influence Of Chaos

The Warp is a dangerous dimension that exists outside of four-dimensional space, but it’s also able to be navigated by psychic humans called Navigators who use the Astronomican, a massive psychic beacon waypoint that you think of as a transdimensional lighthouse, to remain safe while traveling through. In Event Horizon, set in the year 2048, it’s the experimental gravity engine that pulls the ship out of our reality and into The Warp, making it humanity’s first experience with Chaos Deamons and the horrors that lurk outside our universe. Those dangers include the Chaos Gods, Tzeentch, Khorne, Nurgle, and Slaanesh, and amazingly, Paul W.S. Anderson’s sci-fi horror even implies the influence of these beings on the ship’s original crew. 

While the rescue crew from the Lewis and Clark is watching the original Captain’s video, it’s clear that the crew is killing each other (that would be Khorne, the Blood God, encouraging slaughter and destruction), but at the same time, it’s clear that Slaanesh, the Prince of Pleasure, is involved since some of the crew to be “enjoying” themselves. The other two, Tzeentch and Nurgle, may be sitting this one out, but Event Horizon includes one other story beat that touches on the technology of Warhammer 40k. Weir implies during the back half of the film that the ship itself has become possessed by a Deamonic spirit, and of course, that’s a huge part of the Warhammer 40k setting where humanity believes machine spirits power all machines. ]

The Machine Spirits

In the grim darkness of the far future in Warhammer 40k, technology is incredibly advanced but also oddly primitive, with Tech Priests rubbing ointments and saying prayers over military vehicles before they go to war to embolden the machine spirits within. The denizens of The Warp are able to possess technology and infect with their own Daemonic spirits, giving players the option to use twisted versions of the Imperium of Man’s own weapons against them. If that sounds like exactly what happens to the ship in Event Horizon, well, that’s another reason why this is secretly a Warhammer 40k film.

The Event Horizon fan theory may not even be a fan theory, and is instead confirmed thanks to screenwriter Philip Eisner commenting on Twitter in 207 that “I played the sh*t out of 40K, so it was definitely an influence, conscious or otherwise.” Writers who went on to work at Games Workshop to help shape the universe returned the favor, with an attempt to name-drop the ship in one of the game’s official codexes, but the U.K.-based company stopped it from seeing print. Still, it’s a comment straight from the twisted mind behind the film that the classic tabletop miniatures game’s gothic setting had an impact on the film.

Event Horizon Is A Gateway To Warhammer 40k

When Henry Cavill and Amazon bring Warhammer 40k to life, it won’t look like Event Horizon, but there’s no doubt that, intentionally or not, the 1997 sci-fi horror is the perfect companion piece to the grimdark future franchise. If you enjoy the movie, there are multiple Black Library novels out there that you should check out, starting with Xenos by Dan Abnett, the first of the Eisenhorn novels, which isn’t nearly as bloody and gruesome as the movie, but it nails the dark, ominous feeling of something being very, very wrong that first half of the movie does so well.

The Event Horizon/Warhammer 40k fan theory has existed since the film first hit theaters, over a decade after Games Workshop released Rogue Trader, the first game set in the world of 40k. It’s been an enduring fan theory because it honors both the film and the gaming franchise, and it doesn’t demand either one of them, and simply says, “Hey, this would be really cool.” The best fan theories are just that, they’re fun, but this time around, the Sam Neill horror film is also a perfect introduction to how crazy the Warhammer 40k setting can get, and given the cost of running a well-painted 3,000-point competitive army, that might be the most horrifying part of the movie.

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Last chance to score the latest Visual Studio Pro for just $43

TL;DR: Visual Studio 2026 brings AI-assisted coding, real-time collaboration, and cross-platform development into one powerful IDE, and it’s on sale only through today.

$42.97

$499.99
Save $457.02

 

Modern development demands more than just a code editor — it calls for a smarter, faster, and more collaborative environment. And Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 is designed to simplify things in a very real way.

This latest version leans heavily into what modern developers actually need: speed, flexibility, and smarter tooling. Built as a fully 64-bit IDE, it handles large solutions and complex workloads without the usual slowdowns, which is especially noticeable when you’re working across multiple projects or environments.

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One of the biggest upgrades here is how seamlessly AI is integrated into your workflow. Instead of feeling like an add-on, features like IntelliCode actively learn from your codebase to suggest entire lines or blocks of code, help refactor on the fly, and reduce repetitive tasks. It’s less about replacing your workflow and more about quietly speeding it up.

On the cross-platform side, Visual Studio 2026 keeps things flexible. You can build everything from .NET MAUI mobile apps to web apps with Blazor, and even target Linux or container-based environments — all without jumping between tools. Add in hot reload, and you can make changes in real time without breaking your flow.

Collaboration also gets an upgrade. With Live Share, teammates can jump into your session, edit, debug, and test code together without needing to clone repos or configure their entire setup. It’s a small shift that can make a big difference in how quickly teams move.

Then there’s CodeLens, which surfaces insights like test status, commit history, and code references directly in your editor, so you’re not constantly context-switching just to understand what’s going on.

Don’t miss this 2026 upgrade while it’s on sale. Get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 while it’s just $42.97 (reg. $499.99) through April 19.

Grabbing this offer? Once your cart hits $100+, add Microsoft Office 2021 and apply GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) at checkout to get a lifetime license for free. Ends April 19.

Gift with $100+ purchase promo ends April 19, 2026. Exclusions apply. Only one promo code applicable per order. Prices subject to change.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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