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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.

If you’re in the market for a phone upgrade but don’t want to get tied into a lengthy carrier contract, a new early Black Friday sale on unlocked Google Pixel phones at Amazon could be just the ticket. There’s no need to worry about opening a new line or trading in your old device, and you can nab one of the best Android phones on the market while saving as much as $400. The deals are also available directly at the Google Store.

The current flagship of Google is the Pixel 8 Pro, which has been discounted to $859 from $1,059. Just be aware that CNET’s Andrew Lanxon found some early issues with the Pixel 8 Pro cameras. If you don’t care as much about having a flagship, you could go for the Pixel 8, which was much better reviewed and is a direct upgrade from the Pixel 7. You can grab the Pixel 8 for $549 instead of $600.

If you’re upgrading from an older phone, you can go for 2022’s Pixel 7 lineup. The larger, 6.7-inch Pixel 7 Pro is on sale for $649 instead of $899. The 6.3-inch Pixel 7 is available for $449. Alternatively, if you need something a bit more budget-friendly, you could go for the Pixel 7A, which is going for $374 instead of $499.

For those on the cutting edge, Google is also discounting its Pixel Fold tablet and phone hybrid. Since it’s only the first generation foldable from Google, it still has some room from improvement and doesn’t really stack up against something like the Samsung Z Fold 5. That said, it’s a great way to get into foldables if you are in the Google ecosystem, and you can pick one up at a huge $400 discount.

There are a variety of color and configuration options in the sale, and even cases to grab for these devices, so be sure to check out the complete sale. Also, if you aren’t convinced with the Google Pixel, be sure to check out some of these other Black Friday phone deals.

Apple’s M3 and M3 Pro-powered 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros might have only been on sale for a matter of days, but you can already save up to $200 depending on the configuration you want thanks to this early Black Friday sale.

There are multiple different MacBook Pro configurations available with a discount right now, but at the time of writing the best prices seem to apply to the space black version, which is the hot new color. You can choose silver if you prefer, but you’ll pay more.

The discounted MacBook Pros really do run the gamut of specifications, too. For those looking to spend the least the new M3 14-inch MacBook Pro can be had for just $1,449 which is a price that comprises a $50 holiday saving and an additional $100 coupon that will be applied automatically at checkout. In terms of specifications, you’ll get a 512GB SSD and 8GB of RAM to go with that M3 chip.

Upgrading to the M3 Pro means paying $2,199 which is $200 off the usual price for a Mac laptop with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD once again.

Towards the top end of Apple’s MacBook Pro range is the aircraft carrier-like 16-inch MacBook Pro, this time with an M3 Pro chip inside. That comes with 18GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $2,299 which is another $200 off. There don’t appear to be any savings to be had on beastly M3 Max configurations, unfortunately. That may change sooner rather than later, though — the B&H Photo Black Friday deals are sure to hot up within the next week or so, after all.

T-Mobile and Microsoft are giving Surface Pro 9 with 5G users a gift as the holidays approach: 30GB of free 5G data. T-Mobile says that the new promotional offer announced on Thursday, is available to anyone who doesn’t already have its 5G service active on their Surface.

This isn’t the first time T-Mobile has offered free tablet data. Back in 2013 it was giving iPad users free 200MB of cellular data per month “for life.” It ended the program for new users, however, in 2017.

With this deal, T-Mobile is upping the data to a much more usable 30GB, but it should be noted you will only have 90 days to use it. If the 90-day window closes (or you use up the 30GB) you will need to start paying for a connected device plan to continue accessing T-Mobile’s network. Under T-Mobile’s tablet plans, 2GB of high-speed data is $10 per month while unlimited data (with 50GB at high-speed) starts at $20 per month.

Surface Pro 9 with 5G users can activate the T-Mobile eSIM by heading to “Network,” choosing the “connect with a data plan” option and selecting T-Mobile followed by “get connected.” According to T-Mobile’s website outlining the instructions you will need to enter in payment information.

The extended free data trial on the Surface is similar to what T-Mobile offers prospective phone switchers with its Network Pass. That program allows unlocked phone users a similar ability to sample T-Mobile’s network for free over 90 days, though you won’t need to give the company a credit card for that trial.

It is unclear if T-Mobile plans to bring this offer to other connected Surfaces or devices. CNET has reached out to the carrier for additional details and will update if they respond.

Could this finally be South Africa’s year? After a superb World Cup campaign, the Proteas will be looking to lose their well-earned chokers tag as they battle it out today with Australia for a place in the final.

South Africa have tasted heartache on four previous occasions at this stage of the tournament and have never reached the final, but after seven wins out of nine in this year’s tournament, fans could be forgiven for thinking that this could finally be their year.

Standing in their way are five-time winners Australia. The Baggy Greens have recovered well after losing their first two games of the tournament, and are currently on a run of seven straight wins. However, they have lost their last four meetings with South Africa, including a 134-run thrashing in the early stage of this World Cup in Lucknow four weeks ago.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch every match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, no matter where you are in the world.

South Africa vs. Australia: When and where?

South Africa take on Australia at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, on Thursday, Nov. 15. Play is set to start at 2 p.m. IST local time in India. (That’s 8:30 a.m. GMT in the UK, 7:30 p.m. AEDT in Australia, and 3:30 a.m. ET or 12:30 a.m. PT in the US.)

How to watch the 2023 Cricket World Cup online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view the tournament locally, you may need a different way to watch — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Australia, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream South Africa vs. Australia in the US

World Cup 2023 matches are available to watch live on both ESPN Plus and dedicated cricket streaming service Willow TV.

Stream South Africa vs. Australia in India for free

Free live coverage of the 2023 Cricket World Cup in the host nation is available to watch on mobile devices via the Hotstar app.

Those looking to catch all the action on a device with a larger display will need to sign up for pay TV service Star Sports or Disney Plus Hotstar.

Watch South Africa vs. Australia in the UK

All matches of the Cricket World Cup are being shown live in the UK by Sky and its dedicated Sky Sports Cricket channel. If you already have Sky Sports as part of your TV package, you can stream the first Test via its Sky Go app, but cord-cutters will want to get set up with a Now account, and a Now Sports membership, to stream the match.

Stream South Africa vs. Australia in Australia

Pay-TV network Foxtel and its streaming platform Kayo is showing every match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, including South Africa vs. Australia.

Stream South Africa vs. Australia for free in New Zealand

Pay TV broadcaster Sky Sport has broadcast rights to show every 2023 Cricket World Cup game live in New Zealand.

Quick tips for streaming the 2023 Cricket World Cup using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming the Cricket World Cup action live may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

If you have an older TV that isn’t smart, or don’t like the smart platform your current TV is on, you can upgrade with a Fire TV from Amazon. That’s great if you’re part of the Amazon ecosystem, and you can even get it for cheap by taking advantage of some Black Friday deals from Amazon. In fact, Amazon is having a sale on Fire TV sticks, and you can get one for as low as $16.

If you’re not sure which Fire TV Stick to choose, have a look at our list of the best Fire TV Sticks to compare. One of our favorites for anyone with a 4K TV who wants to take advantage of ultra-high-definition streaming, is the Fire TV Stick 4K. It’s currently priced at $45, saving you 25%. The device also offers HDR and HDR10 Plus. And streaming can be lightning-fast with Wi-Fi 6 support.

If you don’t have a 4K TV or aren’t particularly worried about streaming in the highest resolution, the most affordable model at this sale is the Fire TV Stick Lite which you can grab for just $16, $12 off. It’s our favorite budget option and only offers the basics that allow you to access your favorite streaming apps through any HD TV. Or, for just $4 more, you can upgrade to Amazon Fire Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, which is currently on sale at 50% off the regular price.

And if you want the total powerhouse, the Fire TV Cube also offers 4K streaming and is the fastest streamer in this sale — it’s twice as powerful as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and it’s $110 right now. It has Wi-Fi 6E and Ethernet, hands-free Alexa, along with support for Dolby Vision, HDR and Dolby Atmos.

Since the iPhone 14 launched in late 2022 with Emergency SOS satellite texting, Apple has trumpeted the feature’s successful use in saving people from dire situations outside cell signal range. While initially offered for two years of free service, Apple announced that current iPhone 14 owners will get another year of Emergency SOS without charge.

Emergency SOS taps into GlobalStar’s network of satellites to enable iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 owners in 16 countries to reach emergency services in remote areas not reached by mobile networks. While Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T have all announced plans to use satellite networks to expand connectivity, none have moved beyond technical demonstrations. A Qualcomm endeavor to link Snapdragon-powered phones to Iridium’s satellite network also recently shuttered.

This leaves Apple as the first and still only major phone provider to offer widespread coverage of satellite emergency texting, and the company has not been shy about touting when Emergency SOS has helped people in life-threatening situations. Providing another year of the satellite service to iPhone 14 owners will likely lead to more incidents of people rescued using Emergency SOS.

But it doesn’t clear up Apple’s long-term plans for Emergency SOS. When the iPhone 14 launched, Apple noted that phone owners would get two free years of the service, though the company didn’t explain how the service would be used afterward (say, for a one-time or monthly fee). Adding another free year of service is certainly welcome, but still doesn’t clarify how the service will evolve.

Read more: How to Use Your iPhone 14’s Emergency SOS via Satellite to Contact 911

It’s worth noting that anyone who buys an iPhone 14 after today won’t get the extra year, according to Apple’s official post — only those who activated their phone in a country that supports Emergency SOS prior to Nov. 15, 2023, when the extension was announced. Since the trial period begins when a device is first activated, that means someone who bought and booted up an iPhone 14 up to Nov. 14 will get three years of Emergency SOS.

Owners of the iPhone 15, which just launched in September, will also not get the extra year of Emergency SOS.