Vue lecture
Dune: Prophecy Episode 3 Review – “Sisterhood Above All”
The following review contains spoilers for the third episode of Dune Prophecy, “Sisterhood Above All”
“Sisterhood Above All” is all about consequences. Whether it’s Tula’s decision to put Lila through the Agony, Vorian Atreides’ decision to spread rumors (true or not) about Abulard Harkonnen, or Griffin Harkonnen’s decision to confront Vorian about those rumors, everyone is f****ing around and finding out in episode 3. And frankly, it’s the best recipe for success that Dune: Prophecy has come up with so far. A lot of that comes from a noticeable and welcome absence of the droning political plotlines, but it’s just as much elevated by the strong backstories written for our two main leads, and the actors who carry those stories out. It doesn’t get away without running into some of the series’ known drawbacks, but one can start to see how the series might still be able to find success if it can keep the drama up.
The younger members of the cast steal the show in “Sisterhood Above All.” Jessica Barden is able to capture Valya’s wisened essence while adding her own flair and understandable fury to the Harkonnen daughter. Despite Valya’s sometimes violent tendencies, this endears us to her, and makes for a more three dimensional lead. Though on a nit-picky note, I would like to mention my distaste for Valya being the sole discoverer of the Voice. It feels in line with how we learned where Han got his blaster and his name in Solo: A Star Wars Story; that’s to say a disappointing explanation of something we didn’t ultimately need to know. The Voice’s development feels like something that should have taken place over centuries of studying and researching and testing. It could have also been left completely unexplained, and the mystery of that might have been better. Knowing that Valya just happened upon the ability in a time of distress – like an X-Man unlocking their X-Gene – is just kind of a bummer.
Emma Canning is the real “Sisterhood Above All” highlight, though, leading a revenge plot that horrifies, delights, shows Tula in a new light, and gives her a ton more depth. Known only as the empathetic and forgiving Reverend Mother and sister up until this point, Tula’s revenge against Vorian and the Atreides clan for killing her brother Griffin is one I didn’t see coming, and the slow buildup and reveal is really well executed. Canning perfectly reflects the compassionate yet cunning sides of her character, even as she drives the poison needle into the neck of the man she just agreed to marry. It’s the standout storyline in a standout episode, and a scheme within a scheme that would make her Harkonnen descendants proud.
Back in the present day, Tula is dealing with more death by her own hand, but this time it’s one she actually regrets. Having to face Lila’s demise, and the wrath of a mourning Sister Jen, Tula doesn’t seem to have retained the willpower necessary to put down the horse with a broken leg down. The reveal of the thinking machines as the backbone of the genetic library and the tool by which Tula plans to resurrect her surrogate daughter ends the episode in a fittingly dark place while leaving the audience with a good hook to come back for. It’s another intriguing layer to the Tula puzzle.
This is where the budget and art direction of the series fails this above average episode, though. Our first real look at how thinking machines operate – with the code running through the walls – gives off generic and even corny vibes,. Like the origins of The Voice, it’s another tantalizing mystery that was better left to the imagination.
Ousted from the royal house’s business thanks to the influence of Desmond Hart, Valya goes to drastic lengths to get her power back in “Sisterhood Above All.” Juxtaposing her return to the family with flashbacks to her banishment gives the episode a good balance, and seeing how House Harkonnen have managed to move up in the world while still remaining on the outs with the other great houses shows just how far they fell when Vorian ruined their reputation. The current head of the family is Harrow Harkonnen, a measly man who would be a disgrace to his name if not for Valya, whose plans involve the Baron in her plans to regain her power. The episode ends with an encouraging tease of what those plans might entail.
The Best Cyber Monday Gaming Laptop Deals: Walmart and Best Buy Are the Winners
Upgrading your gaming laptop can be an expensive proposition. With a gaming PC, you have save money by going the DIY route or you can just upgrade specific components instead of replacing the entire desktop. Also, since the monitor is not a part of the system, you can keep using it for future builds. You can't afford such luxuries with a laptop. You'd essentially have to buy an entire new system every time. Fortunately, laptop prices have dropped tremendously over the years. Where before you would expect to pay at least over $1,000 for a decent gaming laptop, nowadays you could get one for $600 or less. Of course, that doesn't mean you shouldn't save even more.
Cyber Monday sales have started, and this is your best chance to invest in a gaming laptop at a great price. Several deals went live today from Best Buy, Walmart, Alienware, HP, Amazon, and Lenovo as well as some deals that carried over from Black Friday. A few more deals may crop up tomorrow and I'll be sure to add those as well.2.
Looking for gaming PCs instead? Check out the best Black Friday gaming PC deals.
The Alienware x16 R2 is one of the thinnest gaming laptops on the market. It boasts exceptional build quality; the chassis is magnesium alloy, the lid is aluminum, the base is stainless steel, and the trackpad is glass. The RTX 4090 is still the most powerful mobile GPU, and by a very substantial margin. It's roughly equivalent to a desktop RTX 3090 GPU. It has more than enough power to run any game at high framerates on your choice of the 1900x1200 or 2560x1600 display (the default choice is 1900x1200, but you can change it to 2560x1600 without adding to the cost).
Dell is offering an Alienware m16 R2 16" RTX 4060 gaming laptop for $1,199.99 after a $300 instant discount. You'll need a decent amount of GPU power to be able to run games smoothly on the display's bumped-up QHD+ resolution. The RTX 4060 sits between the RTX 3070 and the RTX 3070 Ti, so it's definitely no slouch in terms of gaming performance. Alternatively, you can upgrade to an RTX 4070 for $200 more. The RTX 4070 mobile is on par with the RTX 3080 but with newer features like DLSS 3.0.
More Alienware Gaming Laptop Deals
The Alienware Cyber Monday Sale is already well underway with some hefty discounts on Alienware m-series and x-series gaming laptops. The m-series is Alienware's best-selling gaming laptop; it boasts excellent build quality and powerful gaming components for a very reasonable price. The Alienware x-series is a more recent model that boasts a slimmer and lighter redesign. It's the thinnest Alienware laptop ever and compares to other ultra-thin laptops like the Razer Blade.
The Walmart Black Friday Sale brings with it this excellent gaming laptop deal. Walmart is offering a Lenovo LOQ RTX 4070 gaming laptop for only $879.99. Yes you read that right. The LOQ is Lenovo's lineup of budget-oriented gaming laptops. This system features a 15" 1080p display, a low-voltage AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS CPU, GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The RTX 4070 GPU is a fully powered (115W TGP) model, not a throttled one like on some other budget laptops. Despite its low cost, this laptop will perform almost as well as the best RTX 4070 gaming laptops. You should be able to play any game comfortably on the 1080p display.
Here's another excellent gaming laptop deal from Walmart. The Asus ROG Strix G17 gaming laptop, which is equipped with a 17" FHD display, AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX CPU, RTX 4070 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, is down to $1199 shipped. That's an excellent price for an RTX 4070 equipped gaming laptop, even better for a laptop with a larger 17" display. Like the Lenovo above, the G17 is equipped with a 115W TGP RTX 4070 GPU that should be able to handle any game comfortably on the 1080p display. It's paired with a powerful, high-end Ryzen 9 CPU that effectively turns it into a mobile desktop replacement for all your workstation tasks.
Right now you can get an HP Victus RTX 4070 gaming laptop for only $929.99. That's the least expensive RTX 4070 laptop deal we've seen so far for Cyber Monday. The Victus is HP's lineup of budget-oriented gaming laptops. This model features a 15" 1080p display, a low-voltage AMD Ryzen 8 8845HS CPU, GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The RTX 4070 has a maximum TGP rating of 105W (120W with dynamic boost), which is actually quite impressive for such an affordable gaming laptop.
The MSI Katana features an upgraded AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and the same RTX 4070 GPU with a TGP rating of 105W. It also has a larger 1TB SSD. It does cost about $150 more than the Victus deal above, but the CPU upgrade and the increased storage might be worth it for many people.
I had to throw this in here because I have seen very few Razer laptop deals for Cyber Monday. This laptop is nearly maxed out in gaming prowess. It boasts a gorgeous 16" OLED display with a 2560x1600 (QHD+) resolution and up to 240Hz refresh rate. You'll need a beefy GPU to run games smoothly on such a sharp display, and fortunately the Razer Blade delivers with an RTX 4080 GPU. It's also equipped with an Intel Core i9-1400HX CPU (the most powerful Intel processor).
The Acer Nitro V offers decent gaming performance at an awesome price. The RTX 4050 is a budget GPU, but it's still powerful enough to run most games at relaxed settings in 1080p. It's a lot better than any onboard graphics solution, like an Intel Arc or Iris Xe. It's well paired with a 1080p display, AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 offers a combination of a smaller 14" footprint that's easier to carry around, a gorgeous OLED display with a sharp 3K resolution, and powerful components in the guise of an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and your choice of an RTX 4060 or 4070 laptop. Which you choose depends on the games you play, but the RTX 4060 model is objectively a better deal for Cyber Monday, since it costs $450 less (and I don't think the performance difference is worth that much).
This Lenovo LOQ gaming laptop is the least expensive laptop equipped with a discrete GPU that I've seen for Cyber Monday. The RTX 3050 is not the fastest GPU on the block, but it's still better than any onboard graphics solution. It's certainly powerful enough to run games that aren't super demanding, like League of Legends, Fortnite, or the thousands of indie games available on Steam. If you want to play Black Myth Wukong with high settings however, you'll need to look for something more powerful.
This Lenovo Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop offers a lot of upgrades for a very reasonable price. Unlike most laptops at this price point, it's equipped with an Intel Core i9-14900X (Intel's best 14th gen CPU), RTX 4070 GPU with the maximum TGP rating, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD (both double what you would normally see). The RTX 4070 mobile GPU performs on par with the RTX 3080 and should provide ample horsepower to power games on the QHD+ display.
This Lenovo Legion Pro 7 gaming laptop offers a lot of upgrades for a very reasonable price. Unlike most laptops at this price point, it's equipped with an Intel Core i9-14900X (Intel's best 14th gen CPU), RTX 4070 GPU with the maximum TGP rating, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD (both double what you would normally see). The RTX 4070 mobile GPU performs on par with the RTX 3080 and should provide ample horsepower to power games on the QHD+ display.
HP OMEN Transcend Gaming Laptops
The OMEN Transcend 14 is HP's newest gaming laptop and was released in January 2024. It is lighter and thinner than the standard OMEN, weighing in at only 3.6lbs and measuring 0.71" thick, and it features better build quality and materials like a premium aluminum chassis. This is also the only laptop that lets you add on a gorgeous OLED display. The OMEN Transcend is a great option for anyone who wants a slim and easily portable laptop while still being able to play games.
HP OMEN Transcend 16" Gaming Laptop
So the base configuration of this HP OMEN 16" model features a 16" 1080p display, Intel Core i7-14700HX CPU, RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. However, this laptop can be configured to make it truly one worth fawning over. Here are some two upgraded configurations we would recommend.
Tldr; this OMEN Transcend is configurable. By upgrading the GPU, you can get potentially better deals:
- Upgrade to RTX 4060 and QHD+ OLED Display for $1429.99
- Upgrade to RTX 4070 and QHD+ OLED Display for $1639.99
HP OMEN Gaming Laptops
The OMEN is HP's most popular series of gaming laptops. They offer great performance at a very affordable price point. The 2024 models are available in both 16" and 17" screen sizes.
HP OMEN RTX 4070 Gaming Laptop
HP is offering a great deal on its workhorse HP Omen 16" gaming laptop. You can get it equipped with an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor (Intel's best mobile CPU) and an RTX 4070 GPU for only $1399.99 after a $620 off instant discount. Even better than that, you can upgrade the GPU to an RTX 4080 in the customization page for an extra $400, bringing the total to $1,799.99. That would be the lowest price for Black Friday for an RTX 4080 equipped gaming laptop.
Tldr; this OMEN is configurable. By upgrading the GPU, you can get potentially better deals:
- Upgrade to RTX 4080 for $1749.99
HP Omen 16" Intel Core i7-14700HX RTX 4060 Gaming Laptop
Here's one more HP OMEN gaming laptop that can be customized to your liking. The base configuration still packs in a powerful Intel Core i7-14700HX CPU, an entry-level RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The 16" display features a 1080p resolution, but you can upgrade to 1440p if you prefer.
Tldr; this OMEN is configurable. By upgrading the GPU, you can get potentially better deals:
- Upgrade to RTX 4060 for $879.99
- Upgrade to RTX 4070 (must also upgrade to 4-zone RGB keyboard) for $1030
There are two important tidbits that deserve mention concerning graphics cards found in laptops. First, mobile GPU variants are not as powerful as their desktop counterparts. For example, a mobile RTX 4060 doesn't perform as well as a desktop RTX 4060. The mobile versions are generally about one to two tiers lower in performance. Using the same example, the mobile RTX 4060 performs more similarly to a desktop RTX 4050.
Second, not all laptops feature the same performance out of the same GPU. Two laptops equipped with the same RTX 4060 GPU, for example, might perform very different in gaming. In order to roughly tell how good a GPU will be, you can look at the TGP rating. That's basically the amount of power supplied to the GPU. A higher TGP rating means more power will be delivered, equating to stronger performance, however the wattage consumption and heat generated will be higher. Here are the maximum TGP rates for the RTX 40 series graphics cards:
- Mobile RTX 4050: 115W
- Mobile RTX 4060: 115W
- Mobile RTX 4070: 115W
- Mobile RTX 4080: 150W
- Mobile RTX 4090: 150W
Will the Deals Change for Cyber Monday?
In my experience, many of the same deals we saw on Black Friday will return for Cyber Monday 2024, including deals that were sold out or expired. Retailers usually release their hottest selling items in batches so that every sale event has at least some inventory reserved. That said, I also expect plenty of new, never before seen deals. Traditionally, Black Friday was known as the "retail holiday," where the best deals were found in-store, and Cyber Monday was known as the "online holiday," where the best deals were online only. Although today the lines have blurred, it is still true that many online only retailers still consider Cyber Monday the sale event of the year instead of Black Friday. Expect some amazing sales to come out of online-only sites like Amazon, Newegg, Dell, HP, Lenovo and several online-only deals from traditional retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. In fact, Amazon has taken the preemptive and already switched over to Cyber Monday.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
The HP Cyber Monday Sale Is Live: The Best Deals on Omen Gaming Laptops & PCs
HP has kicked off its Cyber Monday Sale with some exclusive deals on their HP OMEN and Victus gaming desktop PCs and HP OMEN, OMEN Transcend, and Victus gaming laptops. These deals should last through Cyber Monday so you don't have to worry about FOMO just yet. In the past, Cyber Monday has often been a golden "last chance" opportunity for latecomers to still score a great gaming PC or laptop deal. Last year, HP's Cyber Monday deals are actually better than their Black Friday dealss.
HP OMEN 45L Gaming PCs
The OMEN 45L is one of the best prebuilt gaming PCs you can get. This is HP's roomiest chassis with plenty of cooling with three 120mm fans positioned at the front of the case and another three 120mm fans attached to the 360mm all-in-one liquid cooling radiator at the top of the case. This PC is equipped with a massive 1,200W 80PLUS Gold certified power supply that's big enough for even the most power-hungry of gaming PCs.
HP OMEN 45L RTX 4090 Gaming PC
HP is offering an HP OMEN 45L gaming PC equipped with an Intel Core i9-13900K Raptor Lake CPU, GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and dual storage (1TB SSD and 1TB HDD) for $2,299.99 after a $550 off discount.
The RTX 4090 is the most powerful GPU on the market. In his RTX 4090 review, Chris Coke writes, "The RTX 4090 may be huge and expensive, but holy smokes if it doesn’t blow the competition out of the water... Until the rest of the pack can catch up, between its impressive hardware specs and its DLSS 3 AI wizardry, even the $1,599 price doesn’t seem unreasonable for the unrivaled frame rates that this card can crank out."
HP OMEN 45L RTX 4080 Super Gaming PC
For $900 less, HP has another OMEN 45L gaming PC on sale. This configuration is equipped with an Intel Core i7-14700K Raptor Lake CPU, RTX 4080 Super GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD for only $2,099.99 after a $700 off discount.
The 4080 Super is a second generation card that supersedes the RTX 4080. It's Nvidia's second most powerful card and a superior GPU to AMD's Radeon RX 7900 RTX if you factor in DLSS and ray tracing performance. In our RTX 4080 Super review, Jackie Thomas writes, "If you're in the market for a 4K graphics card around $1,000, it's hard to think of any GPU that's a better purchase right now. This is the RTX 4080 that should have launched in 2022."
HP OMEN 35L Gaming PCs
New for 2024, HP touts the OMEN 35 as its "first gaming desktop designed with OMEN components." What that essentially means is that many of the parts that were originally sourced elsewhere are now designed in-house by HP. That includes the power supply unit, the case fans, and the cooling system. The OMEN 35L itself is a good looking, mid-tower chassis with a sensible airflow design; two large 140mm fans bring air in from the front and a rear 120mm fan exhausts it out the rear. Some of the higher end models are also equipped with a 240mm liquid cooler that exhaust air out the top. Overall this looks like a promising redesign that prioritizes cooling and ease-of-use.
HP OMEN 35L RTX 4060 Gaming PC
This particular OMEN 35L is equipped with an Intel Core i5-14400F CPU, RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD for a very respectable price of $879.99. The RTX 4060 is a great budget card for 1080p gaming. You could also run games at 1440p with relaxed graphic settings, but at that point I'd recommend upgrading to an RTX 4060 Ti or higher. Because it's a current generation card, the RTX 4060 supports DLSS 3.0, which gives you a noticeable performance boost compared to equivalent AMD cards without sacrificing visual quality.
Tldr; this OMEN 35L is configurable. By upgrading the GPU, you can get potentially better deals:
- Upgrade to RTX 4070 Super (must also upgrade to 850W power supply) for $1280
- Upgrade to RTX 4070 Ti Super (must also upgrade to 850W power supply) for $1530
- Upgrade to RTX 4080 Super (must also upgrade to 850W power supply) for $1880
HP OMEN 35L Radeon RX 7600 Gaming PC
If you prefer to go the AMD route, this HP OMEN 35L is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 8500G CPU, Radeon RX 7600 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD for an even lower price of $839.99. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 GPU is a bit less powerful than the RTX 4060 hence the lower price point, although actualy performance is roughly the same. However, if you decide to upgrade the GPU, you're actually getting lower pricing than with the RTX 4060 equipped Omen 35L. In fact, you can potentially equip this with the same RTX 4060 GPU and you would come out about $20 cheaper.
Tldr; this OMEN 35L is configurable. By upgrading the GPU, you can get potentially better deals:
- Upgrade to RTX 4060 for $850
- Upgrade to RTX 4070 Super (must also upgrade to 850W power supply) for $1250
- Upgrade to RTX 4080 Super (must also upgrade to 850W power supply) for $1650
HP OMEN Transcend Gaming Laptops
The OMEN Transcend 14 is HP's newest gaming laptop and was released in January 2024. It is lighter and thinner than the standard OMEN, weighing in at only 3.6lbs and measuring 0.71" thick, and it features better build quality and materials like a premium aluminum chassis. This is also the only laptop that lets you add on a gorgeous OLED display. The OMEN Transcend is a great option for anyone who wants a slim and easily portable laptop while still being able to play games.
HP OMEN Transcend 16" Gaming Laptop
So the base configuration of this HP OMEN 16" model features a 16" 1080p display, Intel Core i7-14700HX CPU, RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. However, this laptop can be configured to make it truly one worth fawning over. Here are some two upgraded configurations we would recommend.
Tldr; this OMEN Transcend is configurable. By upgrading the GPU, you can get potentially better deals:
- Upgrade to RTX 4060 and QHD+ OLED Display for $1429.99
- Upgrade to RTX 4070 and QHD+ OLED Display for $1639.99
HP OMEN Gaming Laptops
The OMEN is HP's most popular series of gaming laptops. They offer great performance at a very affordable price point. The 2024 models are available in both 16" and 17" screen sizes.
HP OMEN RTX 4070 Gaming Laptop
HP is offering a great deal on its workhorse HP Omen 16" gaming laptop. You can get it equipped with an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor (Intel's best mobile CPU) and an RTX 4070 GPU for only $1399.99 after a $620 off instant discount. Even better than that, you can upgrade the GPU to an RTX 4080 in the customization page for an extra $400, bringing the total to $1,799.99. That would be the lowest price for Cyber Monday for an RTX 4080 equipped gaming laptop.
Tldr; this OMEN is configurable. By upgrading the GPU, you can get potentially better deals:
- Upgrade to RTX 4080 for $1749.99
HP Omen 16" Intel Core i7-14700HX RTX 4060 Gaming Laptop
Here's one more HP OMEN gaming laptop that can be customized to your liking. The base configuration still packs in a powerful Intel Core i7-14700HX CPU, an entry-level RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The 16" display features a 1080p resolution, but you can upgrade to 1440p if you prefer.
Tldr; this OMEN is configurable. By upgrading the GPU, you can get potentially better deals:
- Upgrade to RTX 4060 for $879.99
- Upgrade to RTX 4070 (must also upgrade to 4-zone RGB keyboard) for $1030
Not all laptop GPUs are the same, even if they share the same name.
There are two important tidbits concerning graphics cards found in laptops. First, mobile GPU variants are not as powerful as their desktop counterparts. For example, a mobile RTX 4060 doesn't perform as well as a desktop RTX 4060. The mobile versions are generally about one to two tiers lower in performance. Using the same example, the mobile RTX 4060 performs more similarly to a desktop RTX 4050.
Second, not all laptops feature the same performance out of the same GPU. For example, the RTX 4060 found in the HP OMEN is generally more powerful than the RTX 4060 found in the HP OMEN Transcend, although there are exceptions (as seen in the example below). To make things even more complicated, the same laptop model can be equipped with GPUs of varying TGP ratings. For example, the OMEN Transcend "u1xxx" has a better performing RTX 4060 GPU than the one found in the OMEN Transcend "fb0xxx." Very confusing!
In order to roughly tell how good a GPU will be, you can look at the TGP rating. That's basically the amount of power supplied to the GPU. A higher TGP rating means more power will be delivered, equating to stronger performance, however the wattage consumption and heat generated will be higher. Here are the maximum TGP rates for the RTX 40 series GPUs:
- Mobile RTX 4050: 115W
- Mobile RTX 4060: 115W
- Mobile RTX 4070: 115W
- Mobile RTX 4080: 150W
- Mobile RTX 4090: 150W
More Cyber Monday Gaming PC Deals
HP isn't the only retailer with great Cyber Monday deals on gaming laptops and gaming PCs. Dell has an Alienware Cyber Monday Sale going on, for example, that has comparable deals to the ones from HP.
Will the Deals Change for Cyber Monday?
In my experience, many of the same deals we saw on Black Friday will return for Cyber Monday 2024, including deals that were sold out or expired. Retailers usually release their hottest selling items in batches so that every sale event has at least some inventory reserved. That said, I also expect plenty of new, never before seen deals. Traditionally, Black Friday was known as the "retail holiday," where the best deals were found in-store, and Cyber Monday was known as the "online holiday," where the best deals were online only. Although today the lines have blurred, it is still true that many online only retailers still consider Cyber Monday the sale event of the year instead of Black Friday. Expect some amazing sales to come out of online-only sites like Amazon, Newegg, Dell, HP, Lenovo and several online-only deals from traditional retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. In fact, Amazon has taken the preemptive and already switched over to Cyber Monday.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Amazon Slashes the Price on the New Apple iPad Pro Tablet with OLED and M4 Chip for Cyber Monday
Amazon has just dropped prices across the board on various Apple iPad models for Cyber Monday, including the best deal we've seen on the recently released 2024 Apple iPad Pro. Right now the 11" model costs $849 (normally $999) and the 13" model costs $1,099 (normally $1,299). The new iPad Pro boasts a couple of significant upgrades over its predecessor, including a powerful M4 chip and, for the first time ever, a tandem OLED display.
Note that these are pretty much the only Apple iPad deals that are still at their original Black Friday pricing. Apple sales generally do not survive past Black Friday so if you're eyeing one of these deals, especially the 11" model with its extra $50 off clippable coupon, I'd recommend jumping on it now.
Black Friday iPad Pro Deals
In our 2024 iPad Pro 11" M4 review, Jacqueline Thomas wrote, "For creative professionals, the 2024 iPad Pro is the most powerful tablet on the market and is going to shine if your work revolves around a touchscreen. For the rest of us, though, the iPad Pro is simply the most beautiful display you'll find in a tablet, with hardware that's powerful enough to be a top-end device for years to come."
The 2024 iPad Pro is the best tablet on the market, iOS or otherwise, thanks to the new M4 processor which is both powerful and power efficient. Compared to the previous generation iPad M2, it performs about 20% better. However, the biggest update of the iPad Pro is not the M4 chip, but instead the tandem OLED panel which hadn't previously been seen on an Apple product. Tandem OLED is better than traditional OLED in two ways: 1) it's far brighter, and 2) it's less prone to burn-in. If you're wondering why this technology hasn't found its way into TVs, the answer is simply because it's not cost effective at larger sizes. The iPad can get away with it because the 11" screen is much smaller, but that's also a major reason why the iPad Pro is priced considerably higher than the other iPads in Apple's 2024 lineup.
More Apple iPad Deals for Black Friday
If you're looking for other Apple devices, check out our Apple Cyber Monday hub with deals on AirPods, Watches, and more. The AirPod Pro 2 is on sale for $154 and the Apple Watch SE is down to $150.
Looking for more iPad resources?
If you're not sure which iPad is best for you, we have an iPad guide which details which iPad is ideal for which use case. If you intend want to get an iPad for schoolwork, we have an iPad guide for students as well. If you're looking for options outside of iOS, check out the best Android tablets of 2024.
Will the Deals Change for Cyber Monday?
In my experience, many of the same deals we saw on Black Friday will return for Cyber Monday 2024, including deals that were sold out or expired. Retailers usually release their hottest selling items in batches so that every sale event has at least some inventory reserved. That said, I also expect plenty of new, never before seen deals. Traditionally, Black Friday was known as the "retail holiday," where the best deals were found in-store, and Cyber Monday was known as the "online holiday," where the best deals were online only. Although today the lines have blurred, it is still true that many online only retailers still consider Cyber Monday the sale event of the year instead of Black Friday. Expect some amazing sales to come out of online-only sites like Amazon, Newegg, Dell, HP, Lenovo and several online-only deals from traditional retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. In fact, Amazon has taken the preemptive and already switched over to Cyber Monday.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
The Best Fitbit Deals for Cyber Monday 2024 Are Already Live, Including Fitbit Versa 4 Smartwatch
It's been a long time since smartwatches appeared, but these days, they are more varied than ever, with offerings running the gamut from "simple and kid-friendly" to "sophisticated and feature-rich." While Apple Watches remain the best for iOS users, Fitbit is another big winner here.
Fitbit is one of the premier smartwatch and fitness tracker brands, and for good reason. It's the most high-quality, the most reliable, and the most affordable. So I went out to hunt down the best Fitbit deals going on during Cyber Monday to help you get your wellness journey started on the right foot.
The Absolute Best Fitbit Deal - Get the Versa 4 for Under $120
The Fitbit Versa 4 has the biggest discount of any other Fitbit smartwatch for Cyber Monday so far. I use a Fitbit Sense myself, but I've been eyeing a Versa 4 because it ranked so high on our list of the best Fitbits, scoring the title of Best Fitbit Smartwatch. It has an AMOLED display and a ton of functionality, including Bluetooth connectivity, swim tracking, heart rate monitor, auto-exercise recognition, and over six days of battery life, including blood oxygen sensors, an altimeter, a GPS, and a heart sensor. And now it's nearly half off.
More Fitbit Deals
One of the best things about the Fitbit series is that they span a huge range, from ultra-affordable to middle/high-end. Whether you want a simple step tracker or a smartwatch with dedicated health and wellness functionality, there's sure to be something for you. The Fitbit Inspire 3 is the most affordable on this list, and the Sense 2 and Ace LTE are nicer watches for adults and kids.
More Fitness Deals
For more workout gear, check out our list of the best fitness deals for Cyber Monday. If you want to explore Apple Watches too, Apple Watch Cyber Monday deals are already live ahead of the official 'holiday' on Dec 2. The Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra are all on sale.
Brian Barnett writes reviews, guides, features, & more for IGN, GameSpot, & Kotaku. You can get more than your fair share of him on Bluesky & Backloggd, & enjoy his absurd video game talk show, The Platformers, on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
The Best Cyber Monday Gaming Monitor Deals for 2024
Cyber Monday is the best time of year to take advantage of fantastic pricing on the best gaming monitors, from high-end monitors with OLED panels, 240Hz refresh rate, and 4K resolution to perfectly capable 1080p 144Hz gaming monitors that fall well within the tightest of budgets. Whether you're intending to use the monitor for your gaming PC or PlayStation 5 console, there's definitely a perfect monitor for everyone. There are plenty of great monitor deals that are available right now, with perhaps a few more coming on Monday. Stay tuned.
The Best Cyber Monday Gaming Monitor Deals
The Best Cyber Monday Alienware Gaming Monitor Deals
57" Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Dual 4K Gaming Monitor
This is one of the best Cyber Monday deals on a high-end gaming monitor. Amazon is offering the massive 57" Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Dual 4K UHD gaming monitor at the exclusive price of $1,499.99. That's $100 less than everyone else's gaming monitor Black Friday deal and nearly 50% off the retail price. Keep in mind that there is no other monitor to compare it with. If you're looking for the biggest and sharpest super ultra-wide gaming monitor on the planet, this would be it right here. Just make sure that your GPU is up to snuff.
32" Alienware AW3225QF 4K OLED Monitor
Bonus $100 Dell promotional gift card with purchase
Alienware just sweetened the deal on its best gaming monitor for Cyber Monday. Right now, the 32" Alienware AW3225QF 32" 4K QD OLED gaming monitor is down to $899.99. That's the lowest price I've seen all year long. However for Black Friday only, Alienware just tossed in a bonus $100 Dell promotional e-gift card with your purchase. If you're looking for the best 4K gaming monitor, this should definitely be on your short list. This is the monitor I personally use and I absolutely recommend it. Dell backs this monitor up with a three-year warranty that includes burn-in protection.
34" Samsung Odyssey G5 Gaming Monitor
This deal started ahead of Black Friday, and it is still one of the best deals we've seen. Unfortunately, it's getting hard to find this deal in stock, depending on your zip code. You can score a 34" Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor for just $229 shipped after a massive $320 (60% off) instant discount. This is a great price for a very capable gaming monitor with a sharp 3440x1440 resolution (110 ppi), an immersive curved design that's essential for a monitor this wide, and a high 165Hz refresh rate that makes it great for plinking your opponents in FPS games like Call of Duty or Valorant.
34" LG UltraGear 34GN850-B WQHD Gaming Monitor
The 34" LG UltraGear GN850 gaming monitor from Walmart offers a lot of premium features for its price. First and foremost this monitor is equipped with a Nano IPS panel. This is LG's highest end panel short of OLED, and it's essentially their version of Samsung's QLED technology. Other specs include a 3440x1440 QHD resolution (110ppi), 1ms response time, and 144Hz refresh rate. It's also officially G-Sync certified, whch is difficult to find in this price range.
49" Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 (G91SD) DQHD Monitor
This feels like a monster of a deal to me. Samsung is offering this new-for-2024 49" Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 (G91SD) gaming monitor for $899.99. There's a $50 "coupon" that you can select on the product page that drops it to $849.99. But that's not all. You also get a bonus Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD with your purchase. The G91SD is a true quantum dot OLED monitor with a 5120x1440 Dual QHD resolution much like its more expensive G95SC sibling. The main difference is that this model is capped at 144Hz refresh rate, while the G95SC can go up to 240Hz.
27" Acer KB272 1080p Gaming Monitor for $90
Amazon is offering a heck of a deal on this Acer gaming monitor. For well under $100, you're getting a 27" gaming-ready display with 1080p resolution, 1ms response time, and up to 120Hz refresh rate. It even sports a fast-IPS panel, which most people prefer over most other panel types for their wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction. It also has a slim "zero-frame" bezel that makes it work great as a multi-monitor setup. At this price, why not get two or even three for a lot less money than buying a single 49" monitor.
27" Acer Nitro 1080p 180Hz Gaming Monitor for $109
Here's another great deal on a budget 27" Acer monitor, this time from Walmart. This monitor improves on the specs of the Acer KB272 with a curved panel design for maximum immersion and a faster 180Hz refresh rate, which makes it better for FPS gamers. It also has a "zero-frame" bezel for multi-monitor usage.
27" Dell G2724D QHD Gaming Monitor
The Dell G2724D is a great monitor for both general workstation usage and gaming for well under $200. The display's 2560x1440 resolution (109 ppi) is a nice upgrade from the 1080p resolution you normally see on monitors in this price range and the aspect ratio is more useful for everyday tasks than an ultra-wide monitor. The IPS panel produces great color accuracy and wide viewing angles as well. On the other hand, the G2724D also has essential gaming features like a fast 1ms response time and up to 165Hz refresh rate over DisplayPort (144Hz over HDMI).
45" LG Ultragear DQHD Gaming Monitor
If you're looking for a super ultra-wide monitor at a great price, look no further than the 45" LG 45GR65DC monitor. Amazon has it for $549.99 and you'd be hard pressed to find other 45" monitor from a reputable brand for the same price. This monitor sports a 5120x1440 32:9 Dual QHD display with a fast 1ms response time and up to 200Hz refresh rate. It is DisplayHDR 600 certified with up to DCI-P3 95% color space. It also has both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort inputs.
45" LG UltraGear OLED WQHD Gaming Monitor
The new-for-2024 LG UltraGear 45GS96QB features a 3440x1440 ultra-wide resolution (less taxing on your GPU than a 4K monitor) and an aggressive 800R curve for maximum immersion. The best thing about the 45GS95QE is, of course, the OLED panel. OLEDs blows away any IPS, VA, or TN monitor in terms of HDR, black levels and color rendition. The 45GS96QB boasts a blazing fast 0.3ms response time (typical of OLEDs), and 240Hz refresh rate. It's also both G-SYNC and FreeSync certified and has both HDMI 2.1 and a DisplayPort 1.4 inputs for more flexible connectivity options.
The Best Retailers for Gaming Monitor Deals
Samsung
Samsung has dicounted their entire lineup of Odyssey gaming monitors on Black Friday. These manufacturer discounts are also available at third-party retailers like Amazon or Best Buy; however, Samsung sometimes offers extra incentives for cutting out the middleman and buying direct. In the past, this has included a bonus Samsung or Best Buy gift card or a freebie item like a solid state drive or even a second monitor. Choose free shipping or pickup at your local Best Buy.
If you're lucky enough to be eligible for a Samsung education, business, military, government, or first responders account, you'll be able to take advantage of massive savings that generally can't be matched anywhere else.
LG
Like Samsung, LG also has manufacturer discounts on its UltraGear gaming monitors. To incentivize buyers to buy from from their own storefront, LG usually provides complimentary services like white glove delivery or free wall mounting. In past sales, LG has given out freebies like a soundbar, portable speakers, or a pair of earbuds.
LG always offers a 10% off coupon code by signing up for its newsletter, and it usually comes with few restrictions. LG also has its own partner store program for eligible employers and students.
Amazon
Amazon is the one-stop shop for all of your Black Friday needs and that extends to monitor purchases as well. Not only will you find deals on Samsung, LG, and Alienware monitors, you'll also find a great selection of deals from other well-known brands like Asus, Acer, MSI, and Gigabyte. Even if the manufacturers have Black Friday sale prices that extend to all retailers, there's a good chance Amazon will go ahead and reduce the price even further. If you find a deal elsewhere that you're ready to jump on, you should go back to Amazon and make sure the price there isn't lower. Amazon has an excellent 30-day return policy, especially if you buy a product that's sold and shipped from Amazon directly, and since it's an authorized reseller, you're getting the same warranty coverage as buying direct from the manufacturer.
Amazon Prime members can sign up for the Prime Visa Card and get 5% cash back on all of their Amazon purchases. That's essentially getting an additional 5% discount on every deal you score on Amazon. This is a Chase-issued Visa credit card that can also be used elsewhere. It comes with some other cardmember benefits like no foreign transaction fees, 2% cashback at gas stations, 3% cashback on Chase Travel, and more. Even better, this card has no annual fee, so you don't have to pay any more money other than the cost of your Prime membership.
Best Buy
Like Amazon, Best Buy has plenty of Black Friday deals on a wide selection of gaming monitor brands. It is also offering its own extra discounts on top of the standard Black Friday MAP discounts for select monitors. One significant advantage that Best Buy has over online-only retailers like Amazon is that you have the option of buying your gaming monitor online and picking it up in store. Chances are there's a retail location within driving distance of your home. Not only do you avoid the hassle of shipping, especially during the busy holiday season, but it's easy to return the monitor if you're dissatisfied.
Walmart
Walmart has a couple of the best gaming monitor deals of all of Black Friday. Before the deals go live, Walmart offes five hour early access for a Walmart+ membership. In addition to the standard perks like free shipping with no minimum and easy returns from your home, you'll also get early access to the Black Friday deals. Walmart+ membership normally costs $98, but for Black Friday it's 50% off, which is a phenomenal deal.
Costco
Costco doesn't carry a large selection of monitors, but whatever is on sale for Black Friday is usually competitive with everywhere else. Like Best Buy, Costco has retail locations so you can opt to shop online or in-store (although in-store pickup isn't an option). Costco also has the best return policy; you have up to 90 days to return electronics with no questions asked. You do need to have a paid Costco membership to buy anything there, but if you're a regular shopper, the access is more than worth the cost.
Will the Deals Change for Cyber Monday?
In my experience, many of the same deals we saw on Black Friday will return for Cyber Monday 2024, including deals that were sold out or expired. Retailers usually release their hottest selling items in batches so that every sale event has at least some inventory reserved. That said, I also expect plenty of new, never before seen deals. Traditionally, Black Friday was known as the "retail holiday," where the best deals were found in-store, and Cyber Monday was known as the "online holiday," where the best deals were online only. Although today the lines have blurred, it is still true that many online only retailers still consider Cyber Monday the sale event of the year instead of Black Friday. Expect some amazing sales to come out of online-only sites like Amazon, Newegg, Dell, HP, Lenovo and several online-only deals from traditional retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. In fact, Amazon has taken the preemptive and already switched over to Cyber Monday.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Swiftie Holiday Gift Idea: Get Taylor Swift’s New Book and Vinyl Exclusively at Target
Target's got even more up its sleeve this Cyber Monday alongside some great deals: It's officially dropped the exclusive Taylor Swift The Eras Tour book and The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology album on CD and vinyl, available online as of November 30.
If you're a Swiftie like me who has been hoping to relive the magic of The Eras Tour, or listen to the massive 35-song tracklist of TTPD (which includes four acoustic bonus songs in this version), you can pick them up right now at Target. The book costs $39.99 while the CD costs $17.99 and the vinyl is available for $59.99.
The Official Taylor Swift Eras Tour Book Now at Target
Packed with 256 pages, The Eras Tour book chronicles Taylor Swift's wildly popular tour with over 500 images from the show. Per Target's press release, this includes "never-before-seen performance photos from every era as well as exclusive rehearsal photos and behind-the-scenes images of instruments, costumes, set pieces and designer sketches used throughout the tour." You'll also find notes sprinkled throughout from Taylor as she reflects on the tour.
The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology Album at Target
The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology bring the digital album into a physical form. Target shoppers can scoop up the 35-track album – now including four bonus acoustic songs – on either vinyl or CD. The former comes with four marbled translucent discs alongside a 12x12" poster.
If you're on the hunt for deals this year, Target has plenty of discounts to check out while you're shopping around on its website. Some of our favorite Black Friday deals from the retailer include an excellent Switch bundle, a PS5 Slim deal, and a fantastic Meta Quest 3S offer. But that's not all. There's so much left to check out right now for Black Friday. Have a look at our breakdown of Black Friday 2024 to see our top picks from the sale overall.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Save $50 on Xbox Series S Ahead of Cyber Monday
While most of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals were PlayStation-focused, Xbox deals worth looking at are starting to crop up. We've rounded up our picks for the best Black Friday/Cyber Monday Xbox deals already, but one of our favorites that is already live is the Xbox Series S for $248. As the cheapest console between Xbox and PlayStation, this is the perfect entry-level device to enter the Xbox ecosystem and experience 2024's most popular games.
Score an Xbox Series S for $248
In the box, you'll get the Xbox Series S, one Xbox Wireless Controller – though if you want to pick up a couple extras, Lenovo has a really good deal on Xbox controllers – and all necessary cables. Both the controller and console come in Roboto White, giving a clean look to any setup. The Xbox Series S only includes 512GB of storage, with just 364GB available for games. The rest of the storage is taken up by the OS and for features like Quick Resume. If you're looking for more space, we'd suggest grabbing an SSD – this 1TB WD Black storage card is at its lowest price of the year.
Xbox has multiple major games on the horizon, making now a perfect time to hop in and score an Xbox Series S at a discount. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is due out next week, and Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed is set to launch in February. At $248, this isn't a ground-breaking low price, but it's enough of a discount to justify picking up the Xbox Series S if you don't own an Xbox or PC.
Looking for More Cyber Monday Gaming Deals?
If you're searching for the best deals out there this Black Friday, some of the biggest consoles, accessories, bundles and video games are on sale, including FFVII Rebirth, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Astro Bot, and more.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
We're a 3D printing household now, and our favorite beginner printer is $100 off for Cyber Monday
The Best Cyber Monday Apple Watch Deals of 2024
For Cyber Monday, two of the three tiers of Apple Watches – the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 10 – are still on sale right now from Amazon Cyber Monday, Target, and Walmart. The Apple Watch Ultra had also been discounted on Black Friday, but unfortunately, that one expired prematurely. If you own an iPhone, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are easily the best times of year to pick yourself an Apple watch at the lowest price possible. After all, the Apple Watch is indisputably the best smartwatch for iOS users. It's sleek and stylish, it's chock full of useful features that complement your iPhone, and it's surprisingly affordable. In fact, the Apple Watch SE might be the least expensive smartwatch you could get.
For more workout gear, check out our list of the top Fitbit Black Friday deals and the best fitness deals for Cyber Monday.
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
The best budget Apple Watch
For anyone on a budget, this is the Apple Watch to get. The second-generation Apple Watch SE starts at just $149 only at Amazon and Walmart. This is the best price we've ever seen for a brand-new Apple Watch with a warranty. Despite the affordable price tag, you actually don't lose out on much functionality if you opt for an Apple Watch SE. It's powered by the same S8 processor found in the Apple Watch Series 8 and the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra. It also features a bright and sharp OLED Retina display, IPX7 water resistance, fall detection, sleep tracking, Apple Pay, nearly all the fitness tracking functionality including heart rate monitoring, and more. The $149 model does have a smaller 40mm face, but it might actually be a better fit for more petite wrists.
Apple Watch Series 10
The best Apple Watch for most people
The Apple Watch Series 10 is the newest generation mainstream model and is currently $70 off at several retailers including Amazon, Target, and Walmart. The price starts at $329 for the base model with a 42mm case and GPS + Wi-Fi functionality. Improvements over the Apple Watch Series 9 include a bigger OLED Retina display, a new S10 processor that isn't faster but it's thinner, which allows the watch itself to have a slimmer profile, and new some new (although admittedly trivial) features like a water depth gauge. If you do already own an Apple Watch 9, there's little reason here to upgrade.
Compared to the Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch Series 10 has a bigger display and Always-On functionality, 30% more powerful processor, double the storage, more advanced fitness tracking and body monitoring sensors, double-tap gesture support, and faster charging. The Series 10 is pricier than the SE, but I think the upgrades are worth it for most people.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The best Apple Watch for the rugged outdoors
The second generation Apple Watch Ultra Smart Watch is down to $619.99 $719.99. That's the best price we've seen for Apple's highest end and most rugged watch in its lineup. It's definitely the best watch if you enjoy the rugged outdoors.
The Apple Watch Ultra features a titanium case that's more rugged and corrosion resistant than the softer aluminum or stainless steel casing found in the less expensive Apple Watches. Pure titanium (not titanium "coated") metal is considerably more expensive and is probably one of the main reasons why the Apple Watch Ultra is so much pricier. The size of the case is also larger at 49mm (compared to 41mm-45mm for the Series 8) so it feels more substantial.
Other upgrades over the standard Series 10 include a brighter display protected by a more scratch resistant sapphire crystal face, a more precise dual-frequency GPS, beam-forming triple microphone array, dual speakers, up to 36 hours of battery life, up to 100m (300ft) of water resistance, a customizable physical action button next to the crown, and a built-in Oceanic+ app that literally puts a dive computer on your wrist.
Can You Use an Apple Watch with Android Phones?
Although it's technically possible to use an Apple Watch with an Android phone, we wouldn't recommend it. Apple made it so that a lot of the functionality of the Apple Watch requires a smartphone with an iOS operating system. There are some workarounds to implement some of the features, but for the average person, the hassle isn't worth it. If you're absolutely intent on getting an Apple Watch, then getting an iPhone first would be the best option. For those of you quite happy with your Android smarpthone, there are plenty of Android smartwatches that would be a better fit than the Apple Watch.
Looking for More Apple Deals?
These are just a few of Apple's Cyber Monday deals, so check out the rest if you're in the Apple ecosystem. If particular, if you're looking for an iPad, there are plenty of amazing Cyber Monday iPad deals going on right now. And if you've decided to upgrade to a new pair of buds, the Apple AirPods Pro has also dropped to the lowest price ever.
Will the Deals Change for Cyber Monday?
In my experience, many of the same deals we saw on Black Friday will return for Cyber Monday 2024, including deals that were sold out or expired. Retailers usually release their hottest selling items in batches so that every sale event has at least some inventory reserved. That said, I also expect plenty of new, never before seen deals. Traditionally, Black Friday was known as the "retail holiday," where the best deals were found in-store, and Cyber Monday was known as the "online holiday," where the best deals were online only. Although today the lines have blurred, it is still true that many online only retailers still consider Cyber Monday the sale event of the year instead of Black Friday. Expect some amazing sales to come out of online-only sites like Amazon, Newegg, Dell, HP, Lenovo and several online-only deals from traditional retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. In fact, Amazon has taken the preemptive and already switched over to Cyber Monday.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Target Cyber Monday 2024: 5 Hidden Gems You Might've Missed
There's nothing more satisfying than finishing up your holiday shopping for friends and family, looking back at the receipts and realizing exactly how much you saved. Though Black Friday has come and gone, Cyber Monday invites a whole new slew of deals for you to shop smart on a budget while grabbing rave-worthy gifts for your friends and family.
Target has an especially competitive lineup of Cyber Monday deals, including major discounts on electronics, beauty products, and cookingware. We've compiled a list of the five hidden gems you might have missed at this sale-savvy retailer — suggestions we're sure would make perfect holiday gifts at a range of price points.
Don't wait until the last few days before the holidays when stores are jam-packed, items are full price, and stock is limited. Your best bet is to grab these items now, while they're at the lowest prices you'll see all year.
Settlers of Catan Board Game - $25.49
Settlers of Catan is one of the most bestselling strategy board games of all time, according to company data provided to NPR. And if you've played it for yourself, it's no surprise why. Each game is different depending on the amount of players, who you're playing with, and a little bit of luck. For the friends and family in your life who haven't tried it, or maybe don't have their own copy, you can grab the base game from Target right now for just $25.49, shaving $18.50 off its list price of $43.99.
It's a simple game to learn, dealing primarily with turn-based strategy and bartering among players. The goal of the game is to reach 10 or more victory points before anyone else, which you get from creating villages and cities with resource cards you randomly receive each turn based on other players' dice rolls. I won't get into the nitty gritty of it all, but it's a modern classic beloved among board game fans, and the ideal game to pull out for family gatherings on cold December nights (just don't blame us when things inevitably get heated).
The best part of this deal is that Target is also currently offering a Buy 2, Get 1 Free promotion on a variety of other board games in their collection, which means you can pair the base game with a couple expansion packs for an incredibly fair price.
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer and Hot Air Brush - $32.99
Let me assure you, this one-step hair dryer, volumizer and brush can truly do it all. Speaking from personal experience, I use this product religiously for a quick blow-out every morning, and it works wonders. You can grab this brush from Target for $32.99 — a 40% off discount from its list price of $54.99, which is a steal when you consider the money you'll save the lucky recipient from skipping trips to the salon.
This Revlon brush leaves hair feeling smooth and silky, eliminating frizz and hair damage that's par for the course with a regular blow-dryer. Plus, if you're impatient like me, this device gets the job done in minutes — it offers three different heat settings to get your hair dry at rapid speed.
For my fellow ladies out there with curtain bangs, it's the perfect device to seamlessly swoop your front layers to the side with ease. The blend of brush and blow dryer in one makes it so you can shape and style while removing moisture from your hair. Plus, there's a built-in cooling option so you can flexibilly style according to your hair type.
Keurig K-Iced Plus Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker with Iced Coffee Option - $64.99
If you're stumped on what to get your kid in college, look no further. Sleepless nights preparing for exams are a whole lot easier with your own coffee maker. But Keurigs are especially great because they do all of the work for you, aside from turning it on, adding water, and placing a pod with the roast of your choice into the machine. These are also just a great kitchen addition to any home for those days where you only want a single serving of coffee rather than the whole pot.
What sets the Keurig K-Iced Plus machine apart from other models is that you can even brew coffee over ice directly from the machine. The brewer will auto-adjust the temperature, starting hot to extract the full flavor, and then cooling down significantly to minimize ice meltage so your coffee never tastes watered down. It's a quintessential multi-use machine for both hot and cold beverages, and like other Keurigs, it comes with options for three brewing sizes — 8, 10, and 12oz.
Plus, at just 5" wide, it can easily fit on any countertop or in the confines of a dorm room. You can pick up a Keurig K-Iced Plus Single-Serve Coffee Maker from Target for $64.99 right now — a 50% off markdown from its $129.99 list price. You'll save $65.00 on this purchase, but the recipient of this gift will save hundreds from switching to at-home brews instead of coffee shop excursions. Take this gift a step further by pairing it with a box of starter pods: Target is selling La Colombe pods in medium and dark roasts right now for 26% off.
Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Earbuds - $79.99
For the music lovers in your life, Target's deal on the Beats Studio Buds is pretty unbeatable. These ear buds usually sell for $149.99, but right now you can get them for just $79.99. At a hefty 47% markdown from their retail value, it's well worth it to pick these up while the sale lasts. These buds are an excellent alternative to AirPods if you're in the market for a more cost effective option.
Like modern AirPods, the Beats Studio Buds offer noise reduction technology that allows users to toggle between Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency modes to control how much they can hear of the outside world. Three different eartip sizes are provided with purchase to ensure a comfortable fit that also optimizes acoustic delivery.
These ear buds actually provide even more playtime than standard AirPods, allowing users to keep jamming for up to eight hours with noise reduction features turned off, or five hours when these features are being utilized. When plugged into the pocket-sized charging case, these buds can keep going for a maximum of 24 hours.
If you're more in the market for a standard pair of headphones, the Beats Studio Pro Bluetooth Wireless Headphones are also heavily discounted at Target. You can purchase a pair right now for $159.99, which is 54% off from the list price of $349.99, saving you a total of $190.
Elephas 1080p HD Mini Projector - $99.99
A mini projector is a fantastic gift for any film buff to take their movie-watching experience to the next level. Or, give it to a friend who loves camping so they can bring a compact theater with them wherever they go. Right now, Target is selling these mini projector sets (tripod and bag included) for $99.99, which is $100.00 (or 50% off) from their retail value of $199.99.
This is one of the latest models from Elephas, so it's equipped with all of the best technology to ensure crisp, high resolution picture quality. The projector supports 1080p HD video and uses a German emerald glass lens to deliver vibrant color. Don't be deceived by its tiny appearance; with this device, video can be projected on a screen as big as 200". The Elephas Mini Projector also comes with several ports, so you can connect to your laptop, PC, TV, Chromebook, tablet, Blu-ray or DVD player, smartphone, or a USB flash drive on a whim.
The Target bundle comes with a carrying bag, which is essential to ensure the safety of your device while you're on the go, as well as a tripod, which means you won't have to craft a DIY stand to get the best angle for projecting.
Katie Reul is a freelance journalist whose entertainment reporting has been featured in IGN and Variety.
The Cyber Monday iPad Deals Are Selling Out Quickly, Here Are the Best Deals of 2024
Apple has a reputation of being stingy when it comes to discounts and sales, but you'll be still be able to take advantage of significant savings on iPads during the holiday season. Deals on select Apple iPads - including new 2024 models - went live during Black Friday and has continued to stay live through Cyber Monday from retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart. Unfortunately, prices are climbing back up and the most popular models are going out of stock. Apple products that go out of stock probably won't return. If you see a deal you are interested in, you should jump on it sooer than later.
Featured in this article
The list of iPads and their lowest prices are listed above. For a breakdown of each iPad model, read on below.
iPad 10th Gen
Right now 10th gen Apple iPad is down to $259 only at Walmart. For most people, the iPad (not the Air, Mini, or Pro) is the best model to get because it offers nearly all the benefits of the iOS operating system and snappy performance at an affordable price. This model has significant improvements over its predecessor. For starters, it boasts a larger 10.9" screen without adding to the overall dimensions thanks to a slimmer bezel. It also has a faster A14 Bionic chip, which is a 20% increase in CPU performance and 10% increase in GPU performance over the A13. It's now compatible with the Magic Folio keyboard so you can convert it into a mini laptop for better workflow (making it one of the best iPads for students). Other upgrades include the transition to a USB Type-C port, a better camera, and the Wi-Fi 6 protocol.
iPad 9th Gen
This super popular deal is back at Target. The iPad 9th Gen is the most affordable iPad model you can get brand new with warranty. Currently you would have to pay an extra $60 to upgrade to the newest 10th gen Apple iPad, which may not be worth it for many people. Despite its very low price tag, the 9th gen Apple iPad is a fully featured and capable tablet. The 10.2" Retina display is bright and crisp, and the Apple A13 Bionic chip offers good CPU and GPU performance. The iPad is also equipped with both a front-facing camera for voice chat and rear camera for taking photos and videos. This is a great option for school, work, or simply relaxing with your favorite movie, book, or streaming service.
iPad Pro (M4)
The 2024 iPad Pro is the best tablet, iOS or otherwise, thanks to the new M4 processor which is both powerful and power efficient. Amazon has dropped the prices by up to $200 and I don't think the price will drop any further. In our iPad Pro M4 review, Jacqueline Thomas wrote, "For creative professionals, the 2024 iPad Pro is the most powerful tablet on the market and is going to shine if your work revolves around a touchscreen. For the rest of us, though, the iPad Pro is simply the most beautiful display you'll find in a tablet, with hardware that's powerful enough to be a top-end device for years to come."
Compared to the previous generation iPad M2, the new M4 chip boosts performance across the board by about 20%. However, the biggest update of the iPad Pro is actually the newer processor, but instead the tandem OLED panel which hadn't previously been seen on an Apple product. Tandem OLED is better than traditional OLED in two ways: (1) it's far brighter and (2) it's less prone to burn-in. If you're wondering why this technology hasn't found its way into TVs, the answer is simply because it's not cost effective. The iPad can get away with it because the display is much smaller, but that's also why the iPad Pro is priced much higher than the other iPads in Apple's 2024 lineup.
iPad Air (M2)
The 2024 iPad Air is nearly as powerful as the iPad Pro but at a much lower price point. It comes in two sizes, an 11" display with 2360-by-1640 (264ppi) resolution and a 13" display with 2732x2048 (264ppi) resolution. The display is superior to the one found on the standard iPad model with more premium features like P3 wide color, True Tone, and an ultra-low reflectivity film that helps combat glare and direct sunlight. Upgrades over the previous gen iPad Air include an M2 chip that's 15% faster in CPU performance and 25% faster in GPU performance over the M1, compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, and adoption of newer connectivity standards like Wi-Fi 6E and USB Type-C.
We chose the iPad Air as our best iPad of 2024 because it’s the ideal tablet for both casual and professional use -- from watching videos, listening to music, drawing with the Apple Pencil to getting some work done with the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio or Apple Magic Keyboard.
iPad Mini (A17 Pro)
The 2024 iPad Mini is priced at $469 exclusively at Amazon. This is the most recent model that was released on October 23 of this year. The iPad Mini may be the most diminutive tablet of the bunch, but that doesn't mean it's hindered in any way. This is the most compact and portable iPad measuring 7.7" long, 5.3" wide, and only 0.25" thin, but still manages to pack in a gorgeous 8.3" Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 Wide Color, and ultra-low reflectivity. This new generation improves upon its predecessor, with a more powerful A17 Pro processor, double the base storage capacity, an updated faster Wi-Fi 6e protocol, a USB Type-C port that offers faster charging, compatibility with the newer Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), and upcoming support for Apple Intelligence.
iPad Mini 6th Gen (A15 Bionic)
Don't discount the older iPad Mini just yet. Even with the release of the new iPad Mini, the 6th gen iPad Mini has plenty of power and features under the hood that keep it up to date. Walmart currently has it for $358, lower than anyone else. Like its successor, the 6th gen iPad Mini boasts an 8.3" Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 Wide Color, and ultra-low reflectivity. It's powered by an Apple A15 Bionic processor, which is still superior to the A14 Bionic found on the 10 generation iPad. It's also equipped with a USB Type-C port for supports the Apple Pencil 2 Apple Pencil (USB-C) for better workflow.
Looking for more iPad resources?
If you're not sure which iPad is best for you, we have an iPad guide which details which iPad is ideal for which use case. If you intend want to get an iPad for schoolwork, we have an iPad guide for students as well. If you're looking for options outside of iOS, check out the best Android tablets of 2024. These are just some of Apple's Cyber Monday deals, so check out the rest if you're in the Apple ecosystem.
Will the Deals Change for Cyber Monday?
In my experience, many of the same deals we saw on Black Friday will return for Cyber Monday 2024, including deals that were sold out or expired. Retailers usually release their hottest selling items in batches so that every sale event has at least some inventory reserved. That said, I also expect plenty of new, never before seen deals. Traditionally, Black Friday was known as the "retail holiday," where the best deals were found in-store, and Cyber Monday was known as the "online holiday," where the best deals were online only. Although today the lines have blurred, it is still true that many online only retailers still consider Cyber Monday the sale event of the year instead of Black Friday. Expect some amazing sales to come out of online-only sites like Amazon, Newegg, Dell, HP, Lenovo and several online-only deals from traditional retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. In fact, Amazon has taken the preemptive and already switched over to Cyber Monday.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
The Best Cyber Monday Gaming PC Deals of 2024: Walmart and Lenovo Are the Winners Right Now
Without a doubt, the period between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is the best time of year to upgrade your gaming PC. Several retailers including Alienware, Best Buy, Walmart, HP, and Lenovo have released excellent Cyber Monday deals on gaming PCs ranging from budget to best. There are a lot of options to choose from, and I've highlighted the deals I think stand above the rest. More deals may show up on Monday, and if they do, I'll make sure to add them to thlis list.
Looking for gaming laptops instead? Check out the best Cyber Monday gaming laptop deals.
This might very well be the best gaming PC deal of Cyber Monday. As part of its Walmart Cyber Monday Sale, Walmart is offering this iBuyPower Y40 gaming PC with AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU and the excellent RTX 4070 GPU for only $1199. The RTX 4070 Super is one of the best graphics cards for most people; it's affordably priced and yet it's powerful enough to run games at up to 4K (although 1440p is its sweet spot). I personally gamed on a 4K monitor with a RTX 3080 GPU (less powerful than the RTX 4070 Super) before I upgraded. The system is contained in a nice looking Hyte Y40 midtower chassis (iBuyPower and Hyte are sister brands).
Walmart also has this CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme gaming PC for only $1,199 after a $370 instant discount. This PC features an AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU, Radeon RX 7900 GRE GPU, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a 2TB M.2 SSD. The Radeon RX 7900 GRE is a relatively recent (March 2024) release. It's roughly 10-15% faster than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU and is more comparable to the new RTX 4070 Super. This rig is ideal for gaming at up to 1440p resolution at high framerates, although it can also run most games in 4K.
This the currently the best Cyber Monday deal at Lenovo. This Legion Tower 7i RTX 4080 Super gaming PC is currently available for under $2000 with coupon code "LEGIONC5SALE24". This system will pretty much run any game in 4K at maximum settings, even with ray tracing enabled. We rarely see a Legion RTX 4080 gaming PC ever drop below $2,000, and we even reviewed it (favorably) as well.
This Lenovo Legion Tower 5 gaming PC is equipped with an Intel Core i7-14700F CPU, RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. That's a good price for a gaming PC with well rounded specs ready to go without any upgrades. The RTX 4070 Super outperforms the RTX 4070 by a decent amount. In her RTX 4070 Super review, Jacqueline Thomas wrote that "The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super is the mid-range card we should have got back when the RTX 4000 generation launched. It's around 16% faster in most games at the same price. If you've been waiting to make your GPU upgrade, now's the time."
The Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4090 Super gaming PC drops to $2,999.99 after a massive $1,000 instant discount. It features an Intel Core i9-14900KF CPU, RTX 4090 GPU, 64GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD. The RTX 4090 is the most powerful GPU on the market. In his RTX 4090 review, Chris Coke writes, "The RTX 4090 may be huge and expensive, but holy smokes if it doesn’t blow the competition out of the water... Until the rest of the pack can catch up, between its impressive hardware specs and its DLSS 3 AI wizardry, even the $1,599 price doesn’t seem unreasonable for the unrivaled frame rates that this card can crank out." The 4090 is also great for AI thanks to its 24GB of VRAM.Crucial® DDR5 Pro OC Gaming DRAM
The Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC features a Intel Core i7-14700F CPU, RTX 4060 Ti GPU, 16GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. The RTX 4060 Ti video card is a very good option for 1080p gaming at high frame rates. It's also the minimum NVIDIA GPU we'd recommend for 1440p gaming.
HP's new sensibly designed Omen 35L gaming PC is least expensive at Best Buy. This attractive gaming desktop features an AMD Ryzen 7 8700G, RTX 4060 Ti GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The RTX 4060 Ti video card is a very good option for 1080p gaming at high frame rates. It's also the minimum NVIDIA GPU we'd recommend for 1440p gaming.
More Best Buy Cyber Monday Deals
The OMEN 45L is HP's flagship gaming PC. This is HP's roomiest chassis with plenty of cooling in the form of three 120mm fans positioned at the front of the case and another three 120mm fans attached to the 360mm all-in-one liquid cooling radiator at the top of the case. This PC is equipped with a massive 1,200W 80PLUS Gold certified power supply that's big enough for even the most power-hungry of gaming PCs.
For $900 less, HP has another OMEN 45L gaming PC on sale. This configuration is equipped with an Intel Core i7-14700K Raptor Lake CPU, RTX 4080 Super GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD for only $2,099.99 after a $700 off discount.
More HP Cyber Monday Deals
HP has kicked off its Black Friday Sale, which includes deals on their Omen and Victus gaming PCs. Save up to $1,000 off HP's flagship Omen 45L gaming PC, which is equipped with your choice of an RTX 4090 or 4080 Super GPU and 240mm-360mm AIO liquid cooling. For the budget-minded, the HP Victus gaming PC with RTX 4060 GPU is down to $779.99.
If you're in the process of building out a new gaming PC and you're looking for the best gaming processor, this is it. Right now, the recently released AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 desktop processor is back in stock at Amazon at its retail price of $479 shipped. This is the official launch price with zero markup, and it's not bundled with anything you don't want or need.
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming processor currently on the market and a much better option than the new Intel Core Ultra 9 285K. If you're waiting for a discount on this processor for Black Friday, though, don't hold your breath. There is the slimmest of slim chances that anyone will drop the price of this hot commodity before 2025.
In our AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, Jackie Thomas wrote that "the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is extremely powerful in games, which makes it easier to recommend than other recent processors like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K or Ryzen 9 9900X. Especially if you’re building a rig with a powerful graphics card, the 9800X3D is going to be the best way to get the most performance out of whichever GPU you pair it with.
Will the Deals Change for Cyber Monday?
In my experience, many of the same deals we saw on Black Friday will return for Cyber Monday 2024, including deals that were sold out or expired. Retailers usually release their hottest selling items in batches so that every sale event has at least some inventory reserved. That said, I also expect plenty of new, never before seen deals. Traditionally, Black Friday was known as the "retail holiday," where the best deals were found in-store, and Cyber Monday was known as the "online holiday," where the best deals were online only. Although today the lines have blurred, it is still true that many online only retailers still consider Cyber Monday the sale event of the year instead of Black Friday. Expect some amazing sales to come out of online-only sites like Amazon, Newegg, Dell, HP, Lenovo and several online-only deals from traditional retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. In fact, Amazon has taken the preemptive and already switched over to Cyber Monday.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
21 Nintendo Switch Games You Can Get for $30 or Less Right Now (Including Tears of the Kingdom)
Switch games aren't known for being cheap. Especially when it comes to first-party Nintendo titles like Zelda and Mario, you often see games sticking with an above $40 price tag years and years after their release. That's why this deals season, the number one thing I had my eye on was price drops on Switch games, and for the first time (maybe ever), Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have exceeded my expectations. While the Nintendo eShop has its own digital game sale underway, some of the best Switch games have their lowest prices ever at select retailers like Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart.
With major price cuts to games that typically cost upwards of $50 (looking at you, Zelda), these Cyber Monday deals aren't getting any better. We’re here to help you find the best picks for Nintendo's handheld while holiday shopping on a budget. Here's 12 Switch games under $30, and 9 more Switch games under $20.
The Best Switch Game Deal, Period - Tears of the Kingdom for $30
If you just want a straight answer about the best Cyber Monday game deal, look no further than Tears of the Kingdom for $30. Usually retailing for a full $69.99, this $40 discount from Walmart is an unprecedented deal for a first-party Nintendo game, let alone one of the best games ever. And in case you were wondering, Walmart's deal is $20 cheaper than the eShop.
11 More Switch Games Under $30:
The Best Switch Game Under $20 - Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection
This might kind of be cheating, but if you want the most bang for your buck, Konami's Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is over 50% off, making it my top pick for the best Switch game under $20 right now. If you recently finished Metaphor Re:Fantazio and want to check out more Atlus games, Persona 5 Royal is down to $15.
8 More Switch Games Under $20:
Amazon Has Unbeatable Cyber Monday Deals on Switch Accessories
If you’re planning on taking advantage of Walmart’s $30 Tears of the Kingdom deal, you’d be remiss to disregard Amazon’s abundant deals on memory cards. A regular Nintendo Switch holds only 32GB of internal storage, and the Legend of Zelda entry takes up about half of that space. But don’t fret! With Amazon’s nearly half off discount on the Lexar 1TB Play microSDXC memory card, you can ensure you have room to download all of your favorite games without spending a small fortune.
When Do Switch Games Go on Sale?
If you’re looking to expand your game library, now is the time to do so. Switch games rarely go on sale, and when they do, they tend to sell out quick. These are some of the lowest prices I've ever seen on the games listed above, and I doubt those prices will get lower over the holidays. That said, I do recommend keeping an eye on the Deals section in the Nintendo eShop.
If you’re not a Switch gamer, there’s plenty more gaming deals to take advantage of this holiday season for PlayStation and Xbox. Or, check out IGN’s picks for the best tech sales on TVs, gaming PCs and Apple devices.
Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who is always looking for the next great horror movie and is currently addicted to Pokemon TCG Pocket.
Our favorite gaming chair is on sale for Cyber Monday and well worth the price, which I only know because I've been sitting in one for years
Walmart's Cyber Monday Sale Is Live Now: TVs, Games, and Air Fryer Deals
Walmart's Cyber Monday 2024 sale is now live for everyone. That means you can save a bunch on everything from LEGO sets to housewares, from gaming laptops to PS5 controllers. You can scroll down to see our picks for the best deals across all sorts of categories, or you can skip all that and see all the deals here. It's your call.
Pokemon TCG Legendary Warriors Premium Collection
This Pokemon Trading Card Game collection is selling fast and contains the following:
- 2 foil cards featuring Zacian V and Zamazenta V
- 2 foil cards featuring Zacain and Zamazenta
- 1 oversize foil card featuring Zacian V
- 14 Pokemon TCG booster packs
- A code card for Pokemon TCG Live
FitRx 52.5lb Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair)
Far and away, one of the most popular Walmart deals over past week has been this pair of adjustable dumbbells. Without filling your house with bulky weights, it lets you quickly pick how much you want to lift and get started lifting. It's like an entire weight rack in a compact package. It's also three times cheaper than Bowflex's take on the exact same idea.
PS5 Hardware Deals
Cyber Monday is a great time to save on Sony hardware. You can get an all-time best price on PS5 bundles (either with or without a disc drive). This is also the best-ever price on PSVR 2, if you want to venture into virtual reality. And the Pulse 3D headset is another terrific pickup at this price.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Digital) for $30
Physical copies sold out quickly at this price, but you can still grab a digital copy of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom $30. That's a terrific price (over half off!) on one of the best games ever made. Don't expect to see this price again until next holiday season.
Switch Games for $30
During regular sales throughout the year, Nintendo never drops prices on Switch games to $30. It's just unheard of. Thankfully, Cyber Monday is no regular sale, so you can score the best deals of the year on both first-party and third-party Nintendo Switch games.
LG C4 OLED 4K Smart TV for $1272
Cyber Monday is also the best time of year to buy a new TV. This is a killer deal on one of the best TVs on the market (see our best 4K TV, best TV for gaming, and best TV for PS5 guides for proof). Walmart currently has the newest 2024 model 65" LG Evo C4 4K OLED Smart TV down to only $1,272.44. To get this price you will need to follow these simple steps:
- You'll need to sign into your Walmart account to see this deal (signing up is free)
- Add the 65" LG Evo C4 4K OLED TV to your cart
- Clip the $224.55 coupon in your shopping cart to bring it down to $1,272.44
The deal is so popular that the TV is on backorder, but you can lock this price in now, and it'll ship when it's available.
50" Philips 144Hz 4K Ultra HD Gaming Smart LED TV for $298
If you want a modestly priced 144Hz 4K TV for gaming, this 50-inch Philips is a solid bet at just $298. That's a lot of TV for not much price. It won't have as nice a display as the LG C4 above, but it ought to look good enough.
55" Hisense R6 4K TV for $178
I can't believe this one is still in stock. One of Walmart's doorbuster deals is a 55-inch Hisense 4K TV for just $178. It might not have all the top-of-the-line features of the latest, much pricier TVs, but it'll do just fine for many instances, like as a TV for a bedroom or guest room.
More TV Deals
If you don't want the two TVs listed above, perhaps one of these will fit the bill. There's a variety of TVs on sale right now that run the gamut in terms of features and price points.
PS5 and Xbox Game Deals
If you're looking for Black Friday video game deals, Walmart has some serious doorbusters, with prices lower than we've seen anywhere else, sometimes by a lot. Two of this year's biggest PS5 exclusives, Rise of hte Ronin and Helldivers 2, are both on sale for just $30. The excellent action-RPG Hogwarts Legacy is the same price. That's killer.
Gaming Laptop and Monitor Cyber Monday Deals
Gaming laptops are on sale right now for reasonable prices, as are a couple of gaming monitors. These aren't super high-end machines, but they ought to be able to play modern games on them for a while to come.
Board Game Cyber Monday Deals
Board games are also on sale for Cyber Monday. These include a lot of time-tested classic board games, as well as a smattering of more modern entries. And if you pick up Monopoly: The Witcher Edition, you'll bridge both.
LEGO Cyber Monday Deals
If you've been a fan of LEGO in recent years, you may have noticed the sets getting more expensive. That's a bummer, but sales like this Cyber Monday one can help ease the pain on the pocketbook. Some of our favorite Marvel and Disney-themed sets are included in the deals.
Up to $500 Gift Card with Select Phones
The iPhone 16 just came out, so you're not likely to find too many deals on it just yet. That said, Walmart has the next best thing for Cyber Monday. You get free gift cards (up to $500) with the purchase of select iPhone and Android models. That includes the brand-new, as well as Samsung Galaxy S24. If you have an eligible phone to trade in, you can get up to $1,500 in gift cards, which just seems wild.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C for $154
The price of the latest model of AirPods Pro has never been this low, and these noise-canceling earbuds are absolutely fantastic. I have a pair, and I couldn't live without them. I wear them on runs, while mowing the lawn, while doing the dishes, and many other times besides. If you have an iPhone or other Apple device to use them with, I wholeheartedly recommend them. For an added bonus, pick up a MagSafe charger (on sale for $29) to charge them wirelessly.
Apple Watch SE for $149
Not everyone needs to spend $400 to get the smartwatch to suit their needs. If a basic Apple Watch will fulfill the role you want it to, then you don't actually need to spend more than $149. The Apple Watch SE has all the features you probably want in a smartwatch, without all the extra sensors and features they've tacked on since.
Kitchen and Home Deals
It's not always fun to buy new appliances and items for your home and kitchen, but it is often necessary. Right now for Cyber Monday, you can save on everything from air fryers to blenders, from vacuums to food storage containers. See the all the discounted home and kitchen items here.
Seasonal Decor Deals
The time for Christmas decorations has arrived. If your halls could be decked with new pieces, you'll probably want to spend as little as possible. These Cyber Monday discounts help you do just that. You can see the whole category here.
Headsets and Earbud Deals
If discounts are music to your ears, then check out these terrific deals on earbuds and over-ear headphones. You can save on brands like Beats, Apple, and JLab.
Toy Deals
From riding toys to plushes, plenty of toys are on sale at Walmart for Cyber Monday. Scroll through the ones above for the kids on your gift list this year. And if you want even more choices, check out all the toy deals in the sale.
Batteries, Portable Chargers, and More Tech Deals
We can't cover all of the categories here so see all the tech deals in Walmart's sale if the ones above don't cover your Cyber Monday shopping needs.
Walmart+ Cyber Monday Deal
Walmart+ gets you free shipping from the website with no minimum order and free delivery on $35+ orders from stores (groceries and anything else your local Walmart sells). It also includes a subscription to Paramount+, discounts at Burger King, savings on fuel at select gas stations, and more.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky and Threads.
Why Pay $400 for Bowflex When You Can Get These FitRX Adjustable Dumbbells for $139 for Cyber Monday
Bowflex isn't the only option when it comes to adjustable dumbbell sets, especially on Cyber Monday. FitRX is another popular brand at a much, much lower price point. As part of the Walmart Cyber Monday Sale, you can pick up a pair of FitRx Adjustable Dumbbells for only $139.97. A comparable set of Bowflex 551 adjustable dumbbells costs three times more. Walmart even offers free shipping, which is great since the package will weigh in at well over 100 pounds.
Update: A pair of Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells just dropped to $379 on Amazon for Black Friday. Retail price is $429. That price seems comically expensive compared to these.
Pair of FitRX Adjustable Dumbbells (52.5lbs Each)
The low price of $140 gets you a pair of FitRx adjustable dumbbells, or $69.50 apiece. Each dumbbell is adjustable from 5 pounds all the way to 50 pounds. The weight can be adjusted across 15 increments (5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 52.5lbs) with just a turn of the dial. The advantage of an adjustable dumbbell is that the plates are all neatly contained in a small tray, which means this set will take up far less floor space than an entire rack of individual dumbbells. A stand isn't included; you can add the official stand for $50 but honestly any sturdy stand or table will do.
I haven't personally tried out this exact brand of dumbbells, but I can tell you that although they are cleverly engineered, adjustable dumbbells feature a relatively simple design with few moving parts (and no electronics and software) so they are easy to replicate. The FitRx dumbbells have plenty of positive reviews on Walmart, with over 2,700 users rating it an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars. This Black Friday deal is exclusively at Walmart.
Free weights are a great choice for anyone who wants to work out at home but is limited on space. A pair of dumbbells is all the equipment you need to get access to a wide range of exercises that can target just about every muscle in your upper and lower body. Supplement your free weight exercises with cardio and other workouts that use your own body weight as resistance (like pushups, burpees, or squats) and you may never need to purchase more equipment.
Will the Deals Change for Cyber Monday?
In my experience, many of the same deals we saw on Black Friday will return for Cyber Monday 2024, including deals that were sold out or expired. Retailers usually release their hottest selling items in batches so that every sale event has at least some inventory reserved. That said, I also expect plenty of new, never before seen deals. Traditionally, Black Friday was known as the "retail holiday," where the best deals were found in-store, and Cyber Monday was known as the "online holiday," where the best deals were online only. Although today the lines have blurred, it is still true that many online only retailers still consider Cyber Monday the sale event of the year instead of Black Friday. Expect some amazing sales to come out of online-only sites like Amazon, Newegg, Dell, HP, Lenovo and several online-only deals from traditional retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. In fact, Amazon has taken the preemptive and already switched over to Cyber Monday.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Deals Are Still Live for Cyber Monday
Black Friday may be over, but the deals are still in full swing for Best Buy and Amazon's Cyber Monday sales. The time is now to give your kitchen a makeover by stocking up on new appliances for some of the lowest prices you'll see all year. Ninja Foodi products are especially discounted right now for the holiday season, so we've put together a list of the air fryers you can still purchase for the most bang for your buck.
Ninja Foodi 10qt XL 2-Basket Air Fryer
Save $126.50 on this air fryer when you purchase at Best Buy today for Cyber Monday. Normally sold for $249.99, the Ninja Foodi XL 2-Basket Air Fryer is currently being offered for half off at $123.49. It's the perfect addition to your kitchen for hosting large gatherings of friends and family, with two separate 5qt cooking baskets that let you simultaneously cook two different foods two different ways.
Its DualZone technology makes timing your meals easier than ever, ensuring that settings are synced across zones so that both baskets finish cooking on time. An integrated Foodi Smart Thermometer also guarantees that your meats reach the perfect internal temperature – no more dry, overcooked chicken breast.
It's an incredibly versatile product that comes with six cooking pre-sets, including Air Fry, Air Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. My personal favorite use is the Air Fry function, which makes eating french fries feel guilt-free — the Ninja Foodi XL gets them extra crispy without using any oil and up to 75% less fat.
Ninja - Foodi DualZone FlexBasket Air Fryer with 7qt MegaZone
If you're looking for a slightly cheaper option and don't require as much space, the Ninja Foodi DualZone FlexBasket Air Fryer is the perfect middle ground. This air fryer is selling for $99.99 at Best Buy, but it typically has a retail price of $179.99 any other time of the year.
Cook a large protein in one basket and a side dish in the other to create the perfect family dinner, all using just one device. Each basket holds 3.5qts, and they're separated by a removable divider so you can maximize the full 7qt capacity — the MegaZone — of your air fryer. You'll still have access to the six stand-out cooking presets as well as DualZone technology that allows you to cook two foods different ways and sync your settings so your food all finishes at the same time.
Ninja - Foodi 8qt 2-Basket Air Fryer
Currently selling for $119.99 — an $80 markdown from its $199.99 list price — the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 8qt 2-Basket Air Fryer with DualZone Technology is the next best thing to the XL model at an extremely fair price. It has all the same bells and whistles as the XL model, but with 1qt less capacity in each basket. It was the first air fryer of its kind to feature two independent cooking baskets, which is what paved the way for later models like the XL and Max to hit the shelves.
If the deal on the XL sells out, this is another great option. But honestly, for less than $4 extra, it's worth it to get the slightly bigger model.
Ninja Foodi Max Digital Air Fryer
This product is making waves on Amazon UK, where it's priced at £159 — a total of £80 less than its retail value. Unfortunately, if you're in the US, this probably isn't the deal for you unless you're willing to pay over $150 in postage and packing fees.
The Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer is like the sleek British cousin of the XL model, with both offering similar functions and storage capacities. The main difference comes down to appearance — with the Max boasting copper hardware that makes it an appliance worthy of staying out for the long haul on your kitchen counter.
This product has an extra large 9.5L (about 10qts) capacity and two separate cooking baskets, which makes prepping dinner for a large group of people extra convenient. Like the XL model, the same six cooking functions are built into the product. The only difference among the presets between the XL and the Max is the "Max Crisp" setting, which subs in for the XL model's "Air Broil" setting.
More Cyber Monday Deals
Cyber Monday officially starts tomorrow, but don't miss this opportunity to grab these powerhouse products for a fraction of the cost. For more fun new finds that will make your kitchen shine and your cooking stand out, check out these deals that are still live on espresso machines, blenders, ice cream machines. We'll keep you updated as more get posted and others sell out.
All the Best Cyber Monday Board Game Deals
Believe it or not, Cyber Monday deals are already here. Many of last week's deals are still alive and well, and a new batch of discounts is also coming online. Included in the latter category are a whole bunch of new Cyber Monday deals on board games. We're talking board games of all kinds, from the classics your parents grew up playing to bleeding-edge new games all the cool kids are talking about. Read on, because we've gathered the best board game deals from all the major retailers below.
Amazon's Buy 2, Get 1 Free Sale
If you want to stock up on board games, then your best bet this Cyber Monday is Amazon's Buy 2, Get 1 Free sale. It features lots of excellent games to bring to the table, including family board games like Exploding Kittens to adults-only games like Cards Against Humanity. Some of these are party board games, while others are deep strategy board games like The Lord of the Rings. Basically any category of board game you want to play is represented in the sale.
More Amazon Board Game Deals
Outside of the above deal that rewards multiple purchases, plenty of individual board games are on sale at Amazon for (sometimes) all-time low prices. You're not going to find Azul for less than $13.33 anytime soon, because that's the lowest price we've ever seen on it (per the price-tracking site Camelcamelcamel). Ditto Disney Lorcana. Scroll through and grab whatever games grab you.
Walmart Board Game Deals
Not to be outdone, Walmart has plenty of board game deals of its own for Cyber Monday, though the options don't go too deep. These are mostly board game mainstays, like Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Scrabble. But if you don't have some of these on your shelf, they make excellent additions – especially at these discounted prices.
Target Board Game Deals
If you want to see the scale of Target's truly massive Cyber Monday board game sale, take a look at the full sale here. It has over 5,000 items in it. We've selected some of the highlights above, but that just skims the surface of what's available.
Black Friday vs Cyber Monday
Typically, the deals available on Cyber Monday are similar to what you'll find on Black Friday. Back in the olden days of yore, Black Friday was an in-store shopping event and Cyber Monday offered an online alternative. As people became more comfortable doing their shopping online, these two events gradually blurred into the several-weeks-long mishmash of savings you know it as today. Even so, some deals are Cyber Monday-exclusive, and some are even better deals than you'll find during Black Friday. So stay nimble and when you see a deal you can't pass up, grab it.
Save 40% Off the Apple AirPods Pro for Cyber Monday
The best Cyber Monday AirPods deal is still available, although it looks to be selling out quickly. The Apple AirPods Pro wireless noise-canceling earbuds dropped to $154 during the leadup to Black Friday, and although most retailers have bumpted the price back up to $170, a few - namely Amazon and Walmart - still have it discounted for Cyber Monday. This discount brings the price down to the same level as the Apple AirPods 4 with noise cancellation. Between the two, the AirPods Pro is still Apple's best earbuds because it offers better sound quality and better noise cancellation.
Apple AirPods Pro for $154
The AirPods Pro is the best-sounding "truly wireless" earbuds for iPhone users thanks to its passively isolating in-ear design, low-distortion driver and amp, and the newer Apple H2 chip. In addition to being only one of two AirPods earbuds with active noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro has useful features like "Adaptive Transparency Mode" to hear your surroundings without removing the earbuds and "Conversation Mode" that automatically enhances the voices of people you're talking to. The newer second-generation AirPods Pro replaces the Lightning port with a more universal USB Type-C port so you don't have to mix and match cables, and also includes a MagSafe charging case by default.
Should you get the AirPods Pro over AirPods 4 with ANC?
Normally, I would suggest going with the AirPods 4 ANC because it's usually $70 cheaper. However, if the price is taken out of equation, the AirPods Pro is a superior earbud. Both feature active noise cancellation, but the AirPods Pro produces better sound and more effective noise cancelling because of its design. The AirPods 4 ANC is an open-ear style earbud with non-adjustable tips. They're designed to sit right outside of the ear which – while comfortable – means you get plenty of sound leakage and ambient noise intrusion.
On the other hand, the AirPods Pro is an in-ear style of earbud that sits right inside your ear canal, sealing the passage and passively isolating it from the ambient air. Adjustable tips are included to accomodate different sized ears and ensure you get that proper sealing fit, which is very important to squeeze out the best performance. At this price, the only compelling reason to still go for the AirPods 4 ANC is if you don't like the intrusive nature of in-ear style earbuds in general.
This is just one of Apple's Cyber Monday deals, so check out the rest if you're in the Apple ecosystem. If particular, if you're looking for an iPad, there are a few straggler Cyber Monday iPad deals going on right now (although most have expired). If you're planning to upgrade your smartphone in the near future, the new iPhone 16 is a solid contender. In our iPhone 16 review, Mark Knapp wrote that, "The iPhone 16 performs great, looks good, and snaps nice photos."
These "AirPods" are just as good
The AirPods Max is the crown jewel of Apple's AirPods lineup, but that quality doesn't come cheap. The wireless headset is normally priced at $550, but for Cyber Monday, Amazon has dropped the price down to $399. That's a $150 (28%) off and the lowest price we've seen. Unlike its AirPods brethren, the AirPods Max is a more traditional style over-ear headphone. If you're not a fan of earbuds, then the best hi-fi noise cancelling headphones of 2024 might be right up your alley.
More Cyber Monday Headphone Deals
Check out all the other best headphone deals for Cyber Monday from other brands right now including the incredibly affordable JLabs JBuds Lux for only $29 at Walmart.
Will the Deals Change for Cyber Monday?
In my experience, many of the same deals we saw on Black Friday will return for Cyber Monday 2024, including deals that were sold out or expired. Retailers usually release their hottest selling items in batches so that every sale event has at least some inventory reserved. That said, I also expect plenty of new, never before seen deals. Traditionally, Black Friday was known as the "retail holiday," where the best deals were found in-store, and Cyber Monday was known as the "online holiday," where the best deals were online only. Although today the lines have blurred, it is still true that many online only retailers still consider Cyber Monday the sale event of the year instead of Black Friday. Expect some amazing sales to come out of online-only sites like Amazon, Newegg, Dell, HP, Lenovo and several online-only deals from traditional retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. In fact, Amazon has taken the preemptive and already switched over to Cyber Monday.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
10 Best Cyber Monday Deals That Came Early: Meta Quest 3S, 65" LG Evo 4K OLED TV, AirPods Pro 2, and More
Cyber Monday is almost here, and we've rounded up the best early deals you can find! Many deals at retailers like Target, Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart are already live, but it's likely that even more will pop up tomorrow. Here are our picks for the best Cyber Monday deals available early for Sunday, December 1:
Meta Quest 3S VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow
Bonus $75 Amazon Credit
Amazon has the Meta Quest 3S VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow for $299 today. You'll even get a bonus $75 Amazon credit with your purchase! This headset is perfect if you're just entering the VR space, and it's equipped with everything you need to experience all the latest games out there.
In our 9/10 review, we stated, "Raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S a fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time."
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for $30
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is only $30 today at Walmart. This Switch deal still hasn't sold out, and it's easily one of the best still available. The secrets of the Zonai tribe are revealed, and you'll discover new areas to explore in the skies above and depths below. If there's one game you should pick up this weekend, Tears of the Kingdom is it.
65" LG Evo C4 4K OLED TV for $1272.44
We finally have another good OLED TV deal ahead of Cyber Monday. Walmart has listed the 65" LG Evo C4 on sale for $1272.44 ahead of Cyber Monday. This TV is perfect for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, with all sorts of features for gaming. First, you have a refresh rate up to 144Hz, which is essential for playing games at 120fps on console. Additionally, there's built-in support for variable refresh rate (VRR). The TV itself uses LG's Evo panel, allowing for a brighter and crisper image than other OLED TVs.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $154
The best Black Friday AirPods deal is still available. This second generation of Apple AirPods packs in a few new features, with a major one being the switch from Lightning to USB-C. Additionally, you'll find a speaker on the case to help you locate it if needed. While the AirPods 4 have ANC features, the AirPods 2 are the best wireless earbuds you can buy from Apple. If you just recently picked up a new iPhone, this is the perfect accessory for you.
Metaphor: ReFantazio for $49.99
Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest game from Persona 3, 4, and 5 Director Katsura Hashino and the team at Atlus' Studio Zero. For the first time since launch, you can score the game at a discount, saving $20 ahead of Cyber Monday. In our 9/10 review, we stated, "Refining the Atlus RPG formula of weaving tough turn-based combat into compelling social sim mechanics, Metaphor: ReFantazio doesn’t just send a powerful message across its political drama, it becomes a beautiful expression of the real impact storytelling can have on all of us."
Star Wars Outlaws for $39.99
Star Wars Outlaws released in late August, and it's already $30 off ahead of Cyber Monday. Protagonist Kay Vass stars in a journey across the galaxy where she must take down a crime boss and unite thieves and criminals alike. While there were some issues at launch, Ubisoft has remedied those for the most part with the recent 1.40 update. This is the lowest price we've seen yet for the game, and it's one of our favorite deals still live after Black Friday.
Final Fantasy XVI for $24.99
One of the biggest 2023 games has hit a new all-time low price! Final Fantasy XVI follows Clive Rosfield on his journey to avenge his brother. For the first time in the Final Fantasy series, you can become a summon, known as Eikons in this world. With spectacular boss battles and an engaging story, Final Fantasy XVI is an excellent time, especially for $24.99.
Stellar Blade for $49.99
Ahead of Cyber Monday, Stellar Blade is on sale for the first time since launch. This action game from Shift Up has been one of the most popular games of the year. Just a few weeks ago, new Nier: Automata DLC was released, which included new outfits inspired by A2, 2B, and Emil. In our 7/10 review, we stated "Stellar Blade stands out as a gorgeous and well-crafted action game with very impressive strengths and very clear weaknesses."
iPad (10th Generation) for $259.99
The iPad can be an incredibly useful device if you're needing something bigger than a phone, and this is our pick from this year's iPad discounts. Powered by the A14 Bionic, you can sketch, create presentations, and watch content all day long, with up to 10 hours of battery life supported. The 10th Generation iPad includes support for Touch ID, Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard Folio, and more.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $39.99
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was one of 2024's biggest games, continuing the story from 2020's Final Fantasy VII Remake. Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII begin their journey outside Midgar, meeting characters like Yuffie, Vincent, and Cid alongside the way. This experience offers well over 100 hours of content, with 36 sidequests and a main story over 40 hours long. Plus, there are dozens of minigames to discover. This is by far one of the best games you can get for under $40.