Smartwatches can be a popular gift during the holidays, but the best ones can definitely blow many people’s budgets. Fortunately, today you can get the 42mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic for just $149 at Walmart in black or white, an exceptional discount of $200. This model is the only one left with Samsung’s incredibly tactile and unique rotating bezel control, allowing you to use the watch with less confidence on the touchscreen – very useful for gloved hands during the winter months.
While the new Galaxy Watch 5 has brought slightly improved battery life and a somewhat useless temperature sensor, the Watch 4 Classic has remained in the range and now boasts deep enough discounts that still make it very attractive. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has all the usual health and fitness tracking you’d expect, and it runs Google’s latest Wear OS 3 operating system. Samsung has its own set of apps and UI tweaks and added new health and accessibility features over time, like tracking your sleep using cute cartoon animals. And again, I have to repeat: this bezel. Read our review.
The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has a nice physical rotating bezel and additional third-party support via Google’s Wear OS 3. But keep in mind that it is best paired with a phone made by Samsung.
Holidays often mean a lot of accommodation and activities around the house, which means a lot of cleaning before the company arrives and after the company leaves. A iRobot Roomba j7 Plus can definitely help make life a little easier by handling the bulk of your vacuuming tasks, and it’s on sale for $599 ($300 off) at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy.
This robot vacuum maps your home so you can have it target specific rooms or set up no-go zones to make sure it avoids places that could get it stuck. And even if you don’t do the housework before sending it off to clean, it avoids obstacles on its own and sends you photos thanks to its integrated camera informing you when it had to skip a few small spots because the cat got stuck. is hidden another toy under the bed. (Okay, maybe I’m speaking from personal experience here).
The j7 Plus remains our top recommendation for smart vacuums, in part because its self-emptying docking station and software make it a very simple and manageable experience that’s generally hassle-free.
The j7 Plus is good at avoiding obstacles, has good battery life and includes a self-emptying docking station. Plus, iRobot will replace the vacuum free of charge if it runs over pet waste within the first year of ownership.
If there’s one thing that will get us through the holidays and Black Friday, it’s coffee. How appropriate while self-heating Ember Mug 2 Smart Mug is on sale. You can get the 10-ounce version for around $99.95 ($30 off) at Best Buy, Target, or Amazon in black or white, or you can upgrade to the 14-ounce version for around $119.95 (also $30 off) at Best Buy, Target, or Amazon in those same monochromatic colors. Although perhaps the best deal is for those of you who are members of Costco, where you can get the 14-ounce Ember in gray for $99.99.
No matter which size is right for you, the Ember 2 mug keeps your beverage heated to your desired temperature within the range of 120 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. These mugs are great if you sit or stand at a desk for long hours and often forget about your drink until it’s cold. Is it a necessity? No. Is it incredibly practical and a charming use of technology? Sure ! It’s also a great gift, which is why it’s made its way into our home tech holiday gift guide.
The Ember Mug 2 is a temperature-controlled smart mug that keeps drinks hot for up to 80 minutes when on battery power or all day when sitting on its plug-in coaster. The accompanying iOS and Android apps let you dial in a specific temperature, from 120 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
State-of-the-art design is running an early Black Friday sale on its site, through Cyber Monday, offering up to 30% off select bags, smartphone cases and camera accessories. I’ve owned and used a variety of Peak Design stuff over the years, and its bags are among my personal favorites for carrying camera gear – although its marketing sometimes makes me cringe so hard I want to shoot myself in the sun. .
Some highlights of this agreement are the Everyday Zip Backpack 15L in blue or white for $132.96 ($56.99 off). This smaller backpack follows the design of the standard everyday backpack (which is currently 10% off), but uses a simple zipper to open from all sides. Plus, its small size keeps me from carrying heavy gear while still leaving room for a laptop, chargers, accessories, a mirrorless camera, and a few lenses.
The Everyday Zip Backpack is a compact, versatile camera and shuttle bag that uses an all-around zipper to open like a capsule, allowing side or top access. It features flexible dividers for mounting mirrorless camera systems, interior side pockets for small items, and a back pocket for a 13-inch laptop and small tablet.
The structuring of this bag and the way gear fits into its three shelves and side-access pocket walls provide versatility for those who carry lots of cameras and adjacent tech gear.
In addition to the somewhat fancy bags, Peak Design also makes some cute iPhone and Pixel phone cases that normally start at $39.95. These cases have their own built-in magnetic accessory system, which means you can add pseudo-MagSafe wireless magnetic charging to your Pixel 6 or Pixel 7. Pixel phone cases and previous generation iPhone cases are at 30% off.
Peak Design phone cases for iPhone and Pixel phones have a fabric back with protective rubber sides. They use built-in magnets for optional accessories like a tripod or bike mount, which also adds MagSafe-like charging to the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7.
Some other offers:
- The now Next-generation Apple TV 4K is on sale at Amazon for $79.99 (about $99 off). The new one may have more CPU power and HDR10 Plus support, but last year’s base model still has an Ethernet port. Read our review.
- The Logitech G435 Lightspeed Gaming Headset in blue and red is $29.99 ($50 off) at Walmart. This headset for PC, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch is one of the best all-around cross-platform wireless options, and it’s as cheap as it gets. Read our buying guide.
- The Microsoft Standard The Xbox Wireless Controller costs around $39.99 ($20 off) in select colors at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. It works on all current Xbox consoles or PC via Bluetooth wireless or wired USB-C connections.
- LG 48-inch A2 OLED TV is $569.99 ($730 off) at Best Buy. This 4K TV is budget-friendly for an OLED, although its biggest trade-off is just beyond a 60Hz refresh.