Category: Technologies

Although officially Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, it’s no longer a single day, packed with the best sales around. Retailers are releasing deals earlier and earlier, with many of them offering savings from late October through Cyber Monday. Which makes it a great time to score a new phone. While some of the biggest deals take place between Nov. 24 and Nov. 27, there are plenty of Black Friday phone deals to be had right now, including savings on phones from Apple, Samsung, Motorola and more.

With so many deals going on, it can be hard to keep track, which is why our team of more than a dozen shopping experts is spending over 515 hours each week to stay on top of the best possible deals out there. To help you narrow it down, we’ve got the best Black Friday phone deals listed below, and we’ll be updating this article regularly to make sure you’ve got the most current deals at your fingertips.

Black Friday phone deals

• Motorola Moto G Pure: $100 (save $60)
• Motorola Moto G Power G: $200(save $100
• Motorola Razr: $500 (save $200)

• Motorola Razr Plus: $700(save $300)
• Nokia G100: $120 (save $50)
• Motorola Moto G Stylus: $150 (save $50)
• Motorola Moto G 5G: $180 (save $70)
• Motorola Edge 2022: $240 (save $310)
• Google Pixel 7a: $374 (save $125)
• Google Pixel 7: $449 (save $150)
• Google Pixel 7 Pro: $649(save $250)
• Google Pixel 8: $549 (save $150)

• Apple iPhone 12 5G: $567 (save $106)
• Motorola Razr Plus 2023: $700 (save $300)
• Samsung Galaxy S23: $702 (save $98)
• Samsung ZFlip 4: $465(save $535)
• Apple iPhone 14: $680(save $50)
• Apple iPhone 14 Plus: $780 (save $50)
• Google Pixel Fold: $1,399 (save $450)

Is Black Friday a good time to buy a phone?

The best times of year for purchasing electronics like phones are Prime Day and Black Friday. As such, now is the perfect time to pick up a new phone if you’ve been wanting to, and with the whole of November now effectively Black Friday, you don’t necessarily need to wait for the actual Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend.

What is the best place to buy a phone on Black Friday?

Most of the major retailers are having big sales on phones, so it’s worth checking out Best Buy’s Black Friday sale and Walmart’s Black Friday offers. Amazon’s early Black Friday deals are also worth keeping an eye on. That said, some phone manufacturers might also be having sales on their sites that will give you extra bonuses; in particular, you’ll want to check out Samsung and Apple. It’s always a good idea to check the sites of other manufacturers and smaller retailers as well, but you likely won’t find as good a deal or as wide a selection there.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are right around the corner, and that means that Amazon already has tons of active deals for shoppers to peruse (with more to be coming in the days leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday). If you’re looking to take advantage of Amazon’s deals and tackle your holiday shopping this year, you’re in luck. Amazon’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals will extend beyond Amazon’s website thanks to “Buy with Prime”.

“Buy with Prime” gives Prime members discounts on products from a long list of brands that are offering Amazon’s Black Friday Deals on their websites. If a retailer is participating in “Buy with Prime,” they will include a “Buy with Prime” banner that allows you to add the product you wish to buy into your cart.

Read on to learn the ins and outs of “Buy with Prime” and what Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are available on third-party sites right now.

What is Amazon Buy with Prime?

Amazon’s Buy with Prime program lets Amazon Prime members shop at non-Amazon online stores seamlessly by automatically including their email address, shipping address and payment method from their Amazon account.

Participating brands include a Buy with Prime purchase button on their product pages, most often with a coupon code that’s required at checkout. Although they’re linked to your Amazon account, purchases occur on the retailers’ sites, not Amazon’s. Since retailers aren’t required to offer the same selection and pricing on Amazon as on their own sites, Buy with Prime can get you some deals that aren’t available on Amazon.

When you visit a product at an online store participating in Buy with Prime, you’ll see a blue button marked “Buy with Prime,” with an expected delivery date above or below the button. If the product is on sale for Amazon Prime Day, all you’ll need to do is click the “Buy with Prime” button.

When you click that Buy with Prime button, you’ll initiate a login process with Amazon. If you’ve never logged in to an external site with your Amazon account before, you may need to verify your identity with a one-time password sent to your email address or phone number.

After you punch in that six-digit code, you’ll get a confirmation that you’re securely signed in to Amazon on the retailer’s site, along with a brief description of what info Amazon will share with the retailer. If you have logged in to an external site with Amazon before, the Buy with Prime button will take you directly to the confirmation page to continue.

Hitting the “Continue as [your Amazon account name]” button will take you to a checkout screen on the retailer’s website that is hosted by Amazon Buy with Prime, with your delivery address and payment method automatically entered along with an expected delivery date. Clicking the shipping address or payment method will let you change them via the same process as on Amazon’s own website.

Once you’ve completed your purchases with Buy with Prime, Amazon will handle the shipping and returns of the product.

How do I get Prime Day deals with Buy with Prime?

If you’re interested in taking advantage of Buy with Prime, you can see a long list of Buy with Prime deals on the Amazon website. Brands include Sena Cases, Targus and k18.

Once you’ve made it to the Buy with Prime checkout page, you’ll continue to check out as you normally would, and the Prime Day discount will automatically apply to the price of the item. All Buy with Prime orders will be covered by the Amazon Pay A-to-Z Guarantee.

For more on Amazon Prime Day, learn how to get Prime Day deals for free and check out the best early Prime Day deals that are available now.

Bargain hunters can get a jump start on Black Friday right now. While the big event is just a week away, plenty of popular items are already seeing steep price cuts at various retailers. And for those of you looking for deep discounts on top-notch soundbars and Wi-Fi speakers for your entertainment space, Sonos is the gold standard. Right now you can score up to 25% off select Sonos speakers for Black Friday.

The sheer volume of deals can get overwhelming, but we have over a dozen of CNET’s shopping experts that have been analyzing the offers and have worked to gather the top deals across thousands of items at trusted retailers, spending more than 515 hours each week on bringing you the cream of the crop, especially deals on products we’ve tested and evaluated, like Sonos speakers. Many of our favorite models are seeing discounts right now, making it a great time to snag one for yourself (or a loved one).

Best Black Friday Sonos deals

• Arc Dolby Atmos soundbar: $719 (save $180)
• Beam (Gen 2) Dolby Atmos soundbar $399 (save $100)
• Ray soundbar: $223 (save $56)
• Sub (Gen 3) wireless subwoofer: $639 (save $160)
• Sub Mini WiFi subwoofer: $343 (save $86)
• Roam smart portable Bluetooth speaker: $134 (save $45)
• Roam SL portable Bluetooth speaker: $119 (save $40)
• Amp 2.1 channel amplifier: $599 (save $100)
• Port streaming media player: $399 (save $50)

Be sure to check our roundup of Black Friday TV deals if you want to upgrade your entire entertainment setup. And for more tech savings, Best Buy’s Black Friday sale has dozens of markdowns.

Will there be sales for Sonos during Black Friday?

Sonos products rarely go on sale, but you will find some prices fluctuate throughout the year. Usually the biggest discounts on Sonos speakers are available during major shopping events. With that in mind, we expect to see significant Sonos Black Friday and Cyber Monday savings this year on the brand’s top items.

Where’s the best place to buy Sonos on Black Friday?

We expect that you will find direct deals from Sonos directly, as well as savings from select third-party retailers. Based on both Amazon’s Black Friday and Best Buy’s Black Friday sales from last year, we anticipate both retailers to price-match the best deals on Sonos speakers during Black Friday.

Apple could be making a big step toward improving texting between iPhone and Android devices by adopting the Rich Communication Services standard in 2024.

According to 9to5Mac on Thursday, an Apple spokesperson said in a statement that RCS — a more feature-rich texting standard that’s available on Android phones — will be coming to the iPhone and will work alongside iMessage. Apple did not respond to a request for comment from CNET.

“Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement to 9to5Mac. “We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.”

An exact time frame wasn’t given. The move may lead to a vast improvement in how texts are sent between Apple iPhones and other phones, as RCS has the capability to support typing indicators, high-quality media sharing and in-line reactions. Currently, RCS handles these features for texts between Android phones that are using the Google Messages app, which is the default texting app on most Android phones.

“Everyone deserves to communicate with each other in ways that are modern and secure, no matter what phone they have,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement. “That’s why we have worked closely with the mobile industry to accelerate the adoption of RCS, and we’re happy to see Apple take their first step today by coming on board to embrace RCS.

“We welcome Apple’s participation in our ongoing work with GSMA to evolve RCS and make messaging more equitable and secure, and look forward to working with them to implement this on iOS in a way that works well for everyone.”

Should this indeed take place, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all of Apple’s best iMessage features would suddenly be available to Android users. Both Apple and Google have included their own exclusive features in their texting apps, such as Apple’s Check In feature for location sharing and Google’s Magic Compose feature that uses artificial intelligence to draft texts. It also might not mean the death of the green bubble versus blue bubble situation.

Update, 2:18 p.m. PT: Adds comment from the Google spokesperson.

Gearing up for gift-giving for gamers can seriously break your brain, especially if you’re not well-versed in the gaming world. And it can quickly become expensive too — the coolest gear is not cheap. Yeah, there are a lot of selections on this list of the best gifts for gamers that are on the pricier side, but we’ve made an effort to include options across a range of budgets.

We’ve got the perennial favorites on here — the Nintendo Switch OLED, the Sony PS5, and Microsoft Xbox Series X and Series S — but chances are your intended recipient might already own one of these. What you won’t find on here, at least not yet, are the new handheld consoles that run Windows, like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. They’re expensive and in my opinion, not quite mass-market ready yet.

Going a little further afield, Meta’s Quest 2 is still the VR headset to beat, even though the Quest 3 just came out; it’s still good but cheaper, and that can make a big difference when you’re shelling out for a lot of presents. But we also haven’t finished reviewing the Quest 3, and so that opinion may change after we do. The update to Sony’s veteran PlayStation VR headset, the PSVR 2, is fab as well, but costs as much as the PS5 it attaches to.

These are nothing without accessories like gaming headsets, mice and keyboards, and those are cheaper and more gift-friendly, but can still get pretty pricey. I’m still plowing through a seeming infinite number of options, but am trying to provide recommendations at all price levels; I’ll be adding more choices between now and the last possible minute.

Apple has some of the best headphones and earbuds available on the market today and there are a lot of AirPods models to choose from. Unfortunately, they can also be costly, but with Black Friday upon us there are plenty of deals to make it a little more affordable to get a pair of your own.

We’ve combed through early deals from tons of retailers and have gathered all of the best deals on Apple AirPods below. More than a dozen of CNET’s shopping experts are spending more than 515 hours each week this month making sure we have the very best prices ready for you to take advantage of. We expect to see more offers on these popular devices as we get closer to the big day, so keep checking back — we’ll be updating this page as new deals drop.

Black Friday AirPods deals

• Beats Studio Buds: $100 (save $50)
• Apple AirPods Pro (2nd-gen, USB-C): $230 (save $19)
• AirPods Pro 2: $200 (save $49)

• AirPods Max: $480 (save $69)

• Apple AirPods 2: $99 (save $30)

• AirPods 3: $160 (save $9)

• Beats Fit Pro: $180 (save $20)

What are the best AirPods to buy?

CNET’s David Carnoy and John Falcone have tested and ranked the top AirPods models out there and have a full breakdown with reviews. Right now, the best overall AirPods you can get are the AirPods Pro 2. However, there are a number of other options that may work better for you, depending on what features you need and your budget.

Is Black Friday a good time to buy AirPods?

AirPods fluctuate in price throughout the year, but major shopping events do tend to offer the biggest price cuts, which means Black Friday is a really good time to grab a pair for less. We anticipate a number of bargains across the whole lineup of AirPods this year.

Where is the best place to buy AirPods on Black Friday?

While it is rare to find discounts on AirPods or other Apple devices from Apple directly, plenty of third-party retailers offer price drops on AirPods throughout the year. We anticipate sizeable discounts on AirPods to show up during Best Buy’s Black Friday sale and Walmart’s Black Friday sale, making those two of the best retailers to watch. And don’t sleep on Amazon’s Black Friday deals — the company often price-matches what other retailers are offering, especially during Black Friday. You will probably find some discounts on AirPods in stores, but supplies may be limited, so we recommend buying online so that you can easily compare specs and prices and be able to check on what’s in stock while you shop.

When it came to cutting the cord, the Roku Streaming Stick was the best option for me. Honestly, I don’t miss the traditional way of watching TV. Gone are the days of scrolling through a guide to find something to watch. Plus, I don’t need an antenna or a clunky box to get the entertainment I want. All I need is a Wi-fi connection, my Roku Stick and an HDMI port, and I enter a land of possibilities.

The good news is that Black Friday makes this great TV streaming accessory even more affordable than usual — it’s currently 40% off at Amazon.

Whether I am blasting music on Spotify or binge-watching a cooking competition, my Roku Streaming Stick has me covered — it can plug into my television for a chill night in or into my Epson Home Cinema 1080 projector for movie nights or hosting parties.

To get the full movie theater experience, I pair my Roku with the Vizio V-Series 2.0 Sound Bar. Karaoke nights haven’t been the same with this pairing — guests are always impressed.

The best thing for me about this streaming stick is that I still have access to live TV. Thanks to streaming services like Peacock and Hulu Plus Live TV, I can watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade or the ball drop on New Year’s Eve in real time.

You might be thinking, “Don’t those streaming service subscriptions add up?” Well with options to bundle and internet providers offering deals with certain contracts, it can actually cost less than paying for cable.

I like the Roku Streaming Stick because it’s small and portable, and I’ve never had any problems with it not working. Occasionally my Roku will reboot for updates, or I’ll need to change the batteries in the remote, but, these are all small things compared to your cable box or satellite service going down.

We’ve got a great matchup tonight for Thursday Night Football. It’s always a slugfest when two AFC North teams meet, and it should be even more so in Baltimore tonight, because the Ravens and Bengals are each coming off a loss and desperate for a win. The Ravens lead the division at 7-3, and the Bengals are in last at 5-4.

Last week’s loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Bengals during which quarterback Joe Burrow regained his form after a slow start to the season. For the Ravens, Lamar Jackson is playing at MVP level, but will be without starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley against the Bengals.

Kickoff for the Bengals-Ravens game on Thursday Night Football is set for 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) tonight with the game streaming nationally on Prime Video and for free on Twitch.

Keep reading to see your options for watching Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, Twitch, NFL Plus and — if you live in the home markets of the Bengals or Ravens — a local network channel.

With YouTube and YouTube TV now the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, along with games also streaming on Paramount Plus, Peacock and ESPN Plus, there’s lots for NFL fans to keep track of this season. Check out our picks for the best live TV streaming services for NFL fans in 2023.

TNF streaming: Prime Video, Twitch and NFL Plus

Thursday Night Football games are streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video, giving NFL fans more incentive than free two-day shipping to sign up for an Amazon Prime account, which costs $15 a month or $139 a year. You can also subscribe only to Prime Video for $9 a month.

Fans in the local market of each team playing on Thursday night will be able to watch on an over-the-air station, while those who don’t pay for either of Amazon’s services can watch for free on Prime Video’s Twitch channel. (Twitch is also owned by Amazon.)

If you subscribe to NFL Plus, the league’s $7-per-month streaming service (or $15 a month with Red Zone included), you can also stream the game without subscribing to Prime or Prime Video. Note that NFL Plus viewing is limited to watching on just a phone or tablet, not on a computer or TV.

Can I watch Thursday Night Football on local TV?

Yes, you can, if you live in the local market of either of the teams playing on Thursday. For this week, that’s WCPO ABC 9 in Cincinnati and WMAR ABC 2 in Baltimore. There are two ways to watch local channels on your TV. The first is with a live TV streaming service. And the second is with an over-the-air antenna, if you live in an area that has good reception.

You can watch local networks with a live TV streaming service, but not every service carries every local network, so check each one using the links below to make sure it carries the channel needed for the game in your particular area.

All the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.

Apple could be making a big step towards improving texting between its iPhone and Android devices by adopting the RCS standard in 2024.

According to 9to5Mac, an Apple spokesperson told the outlet in a statement that RCS — a more feature-rich texting standard that’s so far been available on Android phones — will be coming to the iPhone and would work alongside iMessage. CNET has reached out to Apple and Google for confirmation.

“Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement to 9to5Mac. “This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users.”

While an exact timeframe wasn’t given. This may lead to a vast improvement to how texts are sent between Apple’s iPhone and non-Apple phones, as RCS has the capability to support typing indicators, high quality media sharing and in-line reactions. Currently RCS handles these features for texts between Android phones that are using the Google Messages app, which is the default texting app on most Android phones.

Should this indeed take place, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all of Apple’s best iMessage features would suddenly be available to Android users. Both Apple and Google have included their own exclusive features in their texting apps, such as Apple’s Check In feature for location sharing or Google’s Magic Compose feature that uses artificial intelligence to draft texts. It also might not mean the death of the green bubble vs. blue bubble situation.

Story is developing.