Best Cyber Monday Deals on Tech

Much like trackers made by Samsung and Tile, AirTags work best if you’re looking for one within Bluetooth range (roughly 30 feet) of your own phone. But that said, there are millions of iPhones and other Apple devices roaming around out there that can pick up a signal and discreetly convey it to you when you find yourself searching for, say, a park or a school campus for the keys you dropped. Is the tracking pinpoint accurate? No. But it’s close enough to give you a little peace of mind.

Available today only in the gold finish, this Anker Prime Power Bank is one of our favorites. It can charge three devices at once using its USB-A port and two USB-C ports. And with a 27,650-mAh capacity, it packs enough juice to charge a smartphone about five times or a laptop at least once. That may be just enough to get your gadgets through a weekend-long camping trip or an emergency power outage.

This 2-meter cord, designed for the iPhone 5 through the iPhone 14, survived 11,500 bends without failing in the rig we created to test charging cord durability. That’s the equivalent of more than six years’ worth of use, according to our estimates.

This 75-inch Roku TV set, also sometimes referred to as the Roku 75R6A5R/75R6AX, is in Roku’s own step-up Plus series. It delivers top-notch overall picture quality, but it doesn’t quite get bright enough to earn a high score for high dynamic range. One big Plus series improvement over many of the Select models we’ve tested is much better sound. The price dropped $50 at Walmart this week.

Shoppers looking for a truly jumbo-sized TV at a bargain might consider this 98-inch behemoth from TCL at the lowest price we’ve seen so far. It’s from a 2024 entry-level 4K QLED Google TV series but has some premium features, such as a 120-hertz refresh rate, support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ HDR, and nice gaming features. We didn’t test this set. Other models in the series do well for overall picture quality but aren’t so hot at HDR performance.

Okay, not everyone has the space—or the back strength—to handle a 100-inch TV in their living room. But if your budget has so far been your biggest obstacle to getting a set this size, consider the Hisense 100QD7N, a midtier 2024 QLED TV that now costs less than $1,600, its lowest price so far. Though it lacks some features found in the company’s ULED sets, such as Mini LEDs and local dimming, it does have support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ HDR, Dolby Atmos audio, and a 144Hz refresh rate (great for gaming). The model uses the Google TV smart platform with Google Assistant built in. This model is now a few hundred dollars cheaper than during Amazon Prime Day. It’s no longer available at Amazon or Walmart.

The AirPods Pro are Apple’s bestselling earbuds, with good reason. They sound good and offer effective noise canceling, including a transparency mode that pipes in outside sound so that you’re not fully cut off from the world while out walking. Better yet, says Apple, a free over-the-air upgrade will allow the model to deliver a clinical-grade hearing test, which, if necessary, can be used to turn the Pros into an over-the-counter hearing aid.

These are the previous-gen Studio Buds, not the newer, more expensive Studio Buds+, but they perform almost identically, delivering quality sound and effective noise canceling. They’re now $20 more than they were earlier this month, but it’s still a great price. And unlike Apple’s entry-level AirPods, which have a hard plastic earpiece, these have silicone ear tips, which many users prefer. The Studio Buds also have a transparency mode that pipes in sound from outside to keep you connected to the world. In fact, the Studio Buds have many of the features of Apple’s AirPods Pro for less.

While there’s nothing revolutionary about the design of Sonos’s first headphone, it is well-executed. The sleek and even minimalist Ace is actually flattering when sitting on your head. The wireless noise-canceling model also offers warm, comforting sound and solid bass.

The JBL Tune 510BT is already a budget-friendly option, but at half off its list price, it dips into stocking stuffer territory. This Bluetooth model delivers sound quality in the ballpark of far more expensive headphones, and it has a 40-hour advertised battery life. It sits on the ears, which some people find more comfortable than being engulfed by bigger, over-the-ear style cans. As an extra perk, you can use the headphones with a cable if you forget to charge them. These aren’t noise-canceling headphones, but for the price, they’re hard to beat.

This is a modest discount, but Soundcore Anker Life Q20 headphones represent a great value, outperforming models that cost hundreds more in both sound quality and their ability to drown out background noise. Anker also claims a generous 40-hour battery life.

This 13-inch model has Apple’s latest M3 processor, which delivers strong performance while sipping at the battery. Combine that with the barely there 2.7-pound weight and it’s easy to see why the Air continues to be so popular. The model we tested is slightly more powerful, with 16GB of memory and a 512GB solid-state drive, but this base model (8GB of RAM and a 256GB drive) has plenty of muscle for the average user.

Thin, light, and powerful, with battery life to spare, the MacBook Air has been a great choice for consumers since the first model was released way back in 2008. This one—outfitted with Apple’s homegrown M1 processor—debuted in 2020 and is still a compelling choice. (Heck, this copy was written on one!) And the model is now selling at a price so low it practically requires a double take.

HP makes a lot of Chromebooks, so it can be challenging to find the right one. Let’s save you some time: This 15.6-inch model has just about everything you want in a Chromebook here in late 2024, including an Intel processor, 8GB of memory, and 64GB of flash storage. That may seem underpowered if you’re used to Windows specs, but it’s more than sufficient for “Chromebook-y” things like browsing the web, editing documents, and participating in video calls.

Apple recently unveiled a Mac Mini with an M4 processor, but this M2 model delivers admirable power and performance, especially for this price. The model features 8GB of memory and 256GB of solid-state storage, and remains the least expensive way to buy a Mac, assuming you already have a mouse, keyboard, and external monitor.

This has dropped $30 since Black Friday.

This full-sized tower completes tasks with impressive speed, handling even demanding video games with ease. It features an Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB of memory, a 1TB solid-state drive, and an Nvidia Geforce RTX 4060 video adapter with 8GB of dedicated video memory. It comes bundled with a wireless keyboard and mouse.

This all-in-one desktop features impressive specs—an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB solid-state drive—plus a 23.8-inch anti-glare touchscreen. It won’t dazzle you at video game play, but it’s plenty fast for everyday tasks, from word processing to streaming movies. It comes with an AMD Radeon graphics card and a wireless keyboard and mouse.

This Dell Inspiron desktop computer offers midtier specs for less than what you’d pay for a comparable laptop. It delivers solid performance, ergonomics, and versatility, too. It’s not a high-end gaming PC, but if you’re looking for a reliable desktop at a good price, it’s hard to go wrong here.

The XG300 delivers satisfying sound plus the features you want in a modest-sized tailgating speaker: decent volume, an IP67 water-resistance rating (which means it can survive a dunking), and a rechargeable battery with 25 hours of battery life, according to Sony. All in all, our testers say, it’s a significantly better speaker than its more expensive XG500 sibling, and here it is at less than half price.

The Sonos Move is great for a Sonos fan looking to expand an existing multiroom system to a porch or patio. This rather large portable smart speaker is modestly weather-resistant and, like Sonos’s other smart speakers, can work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Sonos’s own digital assistant. It can also add Bluetooth functionality to your existing Sonos system. And the price has dropped $15 since Black Friday.

The Amazon Fire TV Cube is a mash-up of an Amazon Echo and a 4K Fire TV streamer. It has Amazon Alexa voice assistant built in, and its universal remote control capabilities let you control a host of other compatible A/V gear, including TVs and soundbars. The updated model has a faster processor, which upscales lower-resolution content to 4K, and HDMI 2.1 connections for controlling other devices using your voice. (One cool trick is that the Cube will also upscale any content from a source connected to its HDMI input.) Other features include WiFi 6E, support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ HDR.

We expect this price to remain steady through the holiday season. Situated right below the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ model, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K has most of the same features—including improved WiFi, support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR, and the ability to work with Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay, and Google Assistant voice assistant—but not the new rechargeable Voice Remote Pro remote control. Instead, you get a standard Roku voice remote, which lacks the hands-free operation, a headphone jack for private listening, and a lost-remote finder feature found on the Voice Remote Pro.

The Roku Express 4K+ is a small set-top box that offers 4K picture quality, plus support for both HDR10 and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats, though not Dolby Vision, which is found in some pricier models. The included WiFi voice remote control has TV controls that let you turn on the TV, adjust the set’s volume, and use Roku Voice to launch channels, search for content, and control streaming services.

This stick-style player has a slightly faster processor and more storage (16GB instead of 8GB) than its predecessor. It has a newer WiFi technology—WiFi 6e—though you’ll also need a WiFi 6e router to take advantage of it. And it has a new feature called the Fire TV Ambient Experience that lets you see information, such as calendars and reminders, control smart devices, or view artwork and photos, on the screen when you’re not watching TV.

The Arlo Pro 5S is one of the company’s higher-end security cameras. It’s weatherproof and battery-powered, allowing you to place it just about anywhere on your property within WiFi range. It offers decent video quality and features color night vision, a built-in siren, and two-way audio. Additional features like AI object detection and activity zones require an Arlo Secure subscription.

This dropped in price by $50 since Black Friday.

The Blink Mini 2 is a small security camera that offers great video quality and speedy motion alerts. It can also work outdoors and store footage locally without a subscription, but each of those features requires you to buy an accessory. The former needs the Blink Weather Resistant Power Adapter, $10, while the latter needs the Blink Sync Module 2, $35, and a USB flash drive. Cloud video storage requires a Blink Subscription Plan. This camera is back down to its fall Prime Day price.

The TP-Link Tapo C420S2 performs well across the board in our tests for video quality, response time, data security, and smart features. This two-camera kit’s features include color night vision, person detection, pet detection, vehicle detection, a built-in siren, and free local video storage on up to a 256GB microSD card. Cloud video storage is also available with a subscription.

The Ring Alarm (2nd Gen) is a great DIY home security system, performing well for ease of setup, ease of use, data security, security essentials, and more. The system requires a $10 per month subscription to function, but it works with Amazon Alexa (for voice control) and Ring video doorbells and security cameras. Amazon is discounting a handful of Ring Alarm bundles to its fall Prime Day prices. Costco is also discounting an eight-piece kit down to $120, but the deal is exclusive to Costco members.

One of the best (and least expensive) doorbell cameras you can buy, the TP-Link Tapo D130 offers a bunch of features—even without a subscription. They include local video storage on a microSD card (up to 512 gigabytes, sold separately), AI object recognition (for people, vehicles, packages, and pets), activity zones, and color night vision. The model needs low-voltage doorbell wiring for power. Cloud video storage is available via subscription. Also on sale: the battery-powered Tapo D230S1 ($89.99) and wired Kasa KD110 ($37.99)

The budget-friendly Google Pixel 8a has a large 6.1-inch screen. And it gets good marks in our testing on all the basics—like its camera system performance, durability, and overall ease of use. The Pixel 8a slightly outperforms the base Google Pixel 8, which is a slightly larger device. But you can score a decent deal on both models.

This pint-sized, foldable phone is only $50 more than it was during Amazon’s last big sale. It easily stows in your pocket but flips open to reveal a high-quality 6.7-inch display. The cover screen, which remains visible even when the device is closed, shows notifications, dynamic widgets, and your personalized wallpaper. The camera quality and battery life are both respectable. All in all, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 is a solid performer for fans of foldable phones. 

The Galaxy S24+ is the midtier model in Samsung’s popular S-series. It’s got everything you want in a high-end smartphone: a large quality display, an impressive rear camera system, and long-lasting battery life. And, like the other S24 models, it comes with a suite of Galaxy AI features, like the ability to translate texts and calls into more than a dozen languages and edit passersby from photos after the fact. The gray model is available at this price and the black at $863.75.

The brand-new Apple Watch Series 10—reviewed here for CR members—comes with a bigger, brighter display and faster charging capabilities, which might make tracking your sleep easier. The model is also equipped for the first time with sleep apnea detection cleared by the Food and Drug Administration.

The Apple Watch SE is the company’s budget model and it does everything most people want from a smartwatch—and does it well. You can read and respond to texts, tap to pay at checkout, and get motivated to move by closing your daily activity rings.

The Versa 4 is a great fit for fans of the Fitbit app who want a sleeker-looking smartwatch than the options of yore. You get a good-sized display and all the basics, like GPS-enabled workout tracking and heart rate monitoring. The new holistic Daily Readiness Score, which suggests when to ramp up your activity or take a break, is also handy.

The sleek Samsung Galaxy Watch6 LTE is now a generation old, but it holds its own against newer competition with a wide range of sensors for workout, sleep, and heart rate tracking, as well as a bright, colorful display. You can also make calls right from your wrist. It’s a great fit if you own a Galaxy phone. The Amazon price varies based on color. The one listed here is for the graphite model.

This rugged-looking (and high-performing) Samsung smartwatch is aimed at outdoors enthusiasts—and anyone who wants the latest premium health- and fitness-tracking features. Just note that Galaxy Watches work only with Android devices. The Walmart price has increased $25 since Black Friday.

If you want a slim fitness tracker that keeps tabs on the basics—like your sleep, step count, heart rate—the Fitbit Inspire 3 is a good buy at this price. It also has a convenient 10-day claimed battery life.

The Sonos Ray is a compact 2.0-channel soundbar and the least expensive Sonos model we’ve tested. Despite its small size, it manages to deliver impressive overall sound. It lacks an HDMI input—you connect it to a TV via the optical digital audio input—but it has built-in WiFi for playing music, podcasts, and radio from your favorite services. It was listed at this price at several retailers during the Amazon Prime Day sale last summer.

The updated Sonos Beam is an all-in-one model that delivers admirable overall sound quality. Compared with its predecessor, the model supports Dolby Atmos audio, though it doesn’t have upfiring drivers. Instead, it uses signal processing and phased speaker arrays to create Atmos effects. Like its predecessor, the new Beam is a smart speaker with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant built in. It also includes support for Apple AirPlay 2.

We tested the Samsung HW-Q600C, a 2023 soundbar, and it does very well in our ratings. It’s well-priced for a 3.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos/DTS:X soundbar and it includes a center-channel speaker for dialogue, as well as upfiring speakers to create a sense of height for Dolby Atmos Audio. It doesn’t have rear satellite speakers, but they can be added to create a full surround-sound setup.

This slim 3.1-2-channel Dolby Amos soundbar delivers satisfying sound. The main enclosure includes upfiring drivers to create a sense of height when used with Dolby Atmos soundtracks or music. The system, which includes a separate wireless subwoofer, can be expanded to a full surround-sound system by adding optional battery-powered wireless rear speakers. It has both WiFi and Bluetooth, plus built-in Alexa for controlling the soundbar with your voice.

The Samsung HW-Q60C is a midlevel 3.1-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar from 2023 with sound quality good enough for both music and movie soundtracks. It includes a center-channel speaker for reproducing dialogue, as well as a separate wireless subwoofer. It doesn’t have rear satellite speakers, but you can add them to create a full surround-sound setup. It has Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature, which lets you use both the TV and soundbar speakers together.

To make your holiday light display really pop this year, consider the Twinkly Strings. We tried out these lights a few years ago and found them to be a fun way to put on an elaborate light show. The lights connect to WiFi, so you can customize them from your smartphone. They also work with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home/Siri, and Google Home/Assistant. The price has increased $10 since Black Friday.

Interested in a smart lock but don’t like hubs and dongles? The August WiFi Smart Lock connects directly to WiFi, no hub needed. It’s also a retrofit model, meaning it replaces only the interior side of your deadbolt so you can keep your existing keys. It performs quite well in our tests, including those for ease of remote access and convenience. Features include auto-locking and unlocking, access logs, electronic keys, and a door sensor.

Released just a few weeks ago, this Fire tablet packs a lot of value into an 8-inch package—and that’s before you even consider the low Cyber Monday price. It doesn’t have high-end features and specs, but if you’re looking to do simple things like stream video, read books, or browse the web on something bigger than your phone, it’s hard to beat. We have yet to finish testing the model but expect it to perform just fine based on the results for the 2022 model.

This entry-level iPad from 2021 is a bargain at the usual price. At this price, it’s a steal. It features a 10.2-inch screen (measured diagonally) and boasts more than 14 hours of video play per charge, plus more than enough performance for everyday tasks like browsing the web and watching videos.

The main thing that the Canon PIXMA TS7720, an all-in-one inkjet, has going for it is its price. The real street price is closer to $100 than the original $150, but you’re still getting a nice savings here. Our annual estimate of ink cost is $68 a year, pretty typical for a cartridge printer. The lab results it turns in are decent, not extraordinary.