While we’ll be knee-deep in Black Friday deals a week from now, there are plenty of deals to check out if you’re planning on spending some time this weekend. As you prepare for the main event taking place next week, make sure to bookmark our Black Friday hub for regular updates on the latest deals.
Our first deal ending the work week is the first significant discount we’ve seen on the Fifth generation Amazon Echo Dot. Currently, you can pick up the latest Echo Dot for $39.99 from Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, taking $20 off the watch model’s regular price. However, if you prefer your watchless Echo Dot, you can also pick up the watchless Echo Dot for just $24.99 ($49.99).
The latest Echo Dot doesn’t look any different than its previous iteration, but it does offer a number of significant hardware upgrades. Not only does Amazon claim that it sounds better, but that the fifth-gen Echo Dot is more responsive to tap gestures and its built-in temperature sensor can trigger Alexa routines based on the ambient temperature. The watch-enabled model of the Dot can also show you song information as well as the current weather forecast via its display.
Just like the fourth-gen model, the fifth-gen Dot can double as an Eero Mesh Wi-Fi extender, which can come in handy in a pinch but can hurt your device’s overall performance. However, the latest Echo Dot has the feature out of the box, while the fourth-gen version will support the feature when an over-the-air update arrives in the coming months. Read our review.
The fifth generation Echo Dot advertises a temperature sensor, better sound and faster response time than the previous model. It can also act as an extender for your Eero Wi-Fi system.
Looking back at devices from the last generation, you will currently find the 512GB configuration of the 12.9 inch 2021 iPad Pro Reduced to $999.99 at both Amazon and Best Buy, reducing the regular price of the Wi-Fi-enabled M1-equipped Apple tablet by $400. If you’re happy with less storage, Best Buy also has the 256GB configuration for sale for $899.99 (usually $1,299.99). Even with the slightly older M1 CPU, the 2021 iPad Pro has more than enough juice to serve as an ad hoc laptop, and it comes with one of the sharpest displays you can get on a tablet. Read our review.
Apple’s latest iPad Pro comes with the proprietary M1 processor and Thunderbolt. However, the 12.9-inch model also offers the best display of any tablet available.
If you’re in the market for a cheaper Apple tablet, you can currently find the base 2021 64GB iPad matching the lowest price on Amazon. Normally $329, you can get the Wi-Fi model of the 10-inch Apple tablet for $269.99. While it lacks the M1 processor found in newer iPad models, the A13 Bionic processor is still able to handle most applications. It’s also worth noting that the vanilla 2021 iPad is the only Apple tablet that still uses a Lightning connector for charging, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired listening, as opposed to USB-C.
Apple’s latest entry-level iPad marks a minor update, with a new A13 Bionic chip and a 12-megapixel front camera that supports Apple’s center stage feature.
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You can currently save on some excellent Sony headphones at a number of retailers. The newest Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones typically cost $398, but they can be found on both Amazon and Best Buy for around $350. Sony’s latest noise-cancelling earbuds, the WF-1000XM4are available from Amazon, Target, and Best Buy for around $180, which is $100 off their usual price.
The WH-1000XM5 have a slimmer design than the XM4, and while Sony haven’t made any drastic changes to their main features, they offer a totally upgraded experience. Outstanding noise cancellation along with a better sound profile and improved voice call quality is why we currently consider the XM5 to be the best noise canceling headphones you can get right now. Read our review.
With a fresh design, improved comfort, refined sound and even better active noise cancellation, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones offer a winning mix of features for their premium price.
For something a little smaller, we think Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds are the best wireless earbuds you can buy. The XM4 earphones are a superb combination of best-in-class noise-cancelling, amazing battery life, and rich, detailed sound quality. While the microphone quality is only average, a recent firmware update fixed one of our main issues with these earbuds by giving the XM4 multipoint Bluetooth connectivity. Read our review.
Sony’s WF-1000XM4 have some of the best noise-cancelling of any true wireless earbud, and the sound quality is second to none. The earbuds now also have wireless charging and a new design that’s smaller and IPX4 certified.