Brandt Ranj | The Verge

The best deals on 4K TVs

2026-01-08T17:56:15-05:00

Sony’s Bravia 8 II remains one of the best OLED TVs you can buy, and Super Bowl deals will likely make in an unbeatable value.

Things are looking bright for those who want to nab a great TV in 2026 at a substantial discount. Even though the year’s biggest, brightest, and priciest TVs were announced at CES 2026, there’s usually a great deal happening on a mid- or high-end TV from LG, Sony, Hisense, or Samsung. With the Super Bowl coming up, you’re right to start hunting for deals now on TVs, as well as for speaker systems.

Right now, there are a number of discounted 4K TVs to choose from, spanning a wide variety of prices, sizes, and feature sets. Whether you want a secondary screen for the bedroom or a high-end OLED that’s built to provide the ultimate gaming or cinematic experience, we’ve picked out the best TV deals.

The best 4K TV deals for most people

Samsung Q8F

Samsung’s Q8F is available for around $697.99 ($52 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo in its 55-inch configuration, which is a decent value for a QLED 4K TV. Its quantum dot LED panel boasts great contrast (especially in HDR content). The Q8F has a 120Hz panel and four HDMI 2.0 ports. This means you can play in 4K at up to 60Hz with a Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series S/X, or a PlayStation 5 Pro, or at a faster 120Hz refresh rate bumped down to 1440p resolution. Samsung is also including two free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with purchase, which will allow you to stream games directly to your TV through the cloud, eliminating the need for a console.

The TV is powered by Samsung’s Q4 AI processor, which is used to upscale HD video to 4K when necessary, to optimize the picture in real-time, and make navigating its interface feel snappy. Samsung also touts the Q8F’s audio system, which adjusts the EQ and boost dialogue volume when needed. If you’ve cut the cord with cable, you can watch over 2,700 free channels of TV (over 400 of which are exclusive to Samsung TVs) in addition to streaming services. You can save $302 by jumping up to the 85-inch model, which is on sale for around $1,697.99 or so at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo.

Samsung Q8F

Where to Buy:

If you’re looking for a 65-inch TV for watching sports, TV shows, movies, or playing video games, Hisense’s U65QF is a great choice, one you can currently purchase at Amazon and Best Buy for $699.99 ($147 off). The TV features a native 144Hz refresh rate and two HDMI 2.1 ports, both of which can take full advantage of the high-speed display. It also sports a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports — which can carry a 4K signal at up to 60Hz — and a port assortment that makes it a good choice for current-gen consoles, 4K Blu-ray players, and streaming devices. If you connect a gaming PC with an AMD graphics card, you can even take advantage of the TV’s support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, which reduces graphical glitches such as screen tearing.

The U65QF has an LED screen, which means it can’t match the black levels or per-pixel brightness control you’d get with an OLED display. However, its full array lighting panel offers 300 local dimming zones. The TV can control the brightness of each zone to reduce blooming, which is what happens when the area around a bright object (think a lit torch in a cave) looks unnaturally bright. Additionally, the TV has a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, so the image it produces should look good even in a room with some light interference. The U65QF also supports Dolby Vision, HLG, and HDR10 Plus for better color reproduction, and it features a Hi-View AI chip that automatically processes the image on screen so that it appears sharper.

As for its operating system, Hisense’s U65QF runs on Amazon’s Fire OS and features Amazon Alexa built in. You can use the smart assistant to control the TV’s many functions, search for content, control compatible smart home accessories, and look up answers to various questions with your voice. If you want an even larger screen, you can also pick up a 75-inch model for around $895.99 (originally $1,299) at Amazon and Best Buy.

Hisense U6 mini-LED TV (2025)

Where to Buy:

TCL Nxtvision

TCL’s Nxtvision is an entry-level “art TV,” and both the 65- and 75-inch models are currently on sale at Best Buy for $999.99 ($300 off) and $1,699.99 ($100 off), respectively. The 4K TV set has a matte 120Hz QLED screen with a brightness of around 441 nits, and it can display more than 100,000 pre-generated AI artworks, your own photos, or one of over 300 pieces of art from its built-in library. It features two HDMI 2.1 ports best suited for current-gen game consoles and PC gaming, along with HDMI 2.0 ports, which are fine if you want to hook up a 4K Blu-ray player or previous-gen game system.

Verge senior reviewer John Higgins tested the A300W and liked the way the TV looked once its included bezel set was installed, which made the TV look more like an actual painting. He also liked that it uses Google’s TV platform, an operating system he found easy to navigate and use. However, it was noticeably dimmer than the other art TVs he tested, and the artwork quality could vary from piece to piece. Still, the A300W is a great choice if you’ve been curious about getting an art TV but don’t want to immediately make the jump to a higher-end model like Samsung’s Frame Pro.

TCL Nxtvision TV (A300W)

Where to Buy:

The best budget-friendly 4K TV deals

Hisense QD7

If your budget is under $500, the 55-inch Hisense QD7 has a lot to offer, especially now that it’s on sale for $399.99 ($100 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. It features a QLED panel that can deliver more contrast and brightness than a typical LED TV, with support for HDR10 Plus and Dolby Vision, with a peak brightness of 600 nits. The 4K set features a processor capable of AI upscaling and full array local dimming with 160 local dimming zones. A panel with full array local dimming offers better control of brightness and contrast than direct- or edge-lit LED panels (this video from LG shows how it works), providing a more consistent picture across the entire screen. The QD7’s obvious weak point is gaming, due to its 60Hz refresh rate, but if that’s not important to you, it remains a superb value. If you want a larger TV, you can get a 65-inch model for around $448 ($152 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.

Hisense QD7

Where to Buy:

The best deals on high-end 4K TVs

Sony Bravia 8 II

If you want a TV that produces reference-quality images, Sony’s Bravia 8 II (K65XR80M2) is the best choice. It was selected as the top TV in Valve Electronics’ 10th annual TV Shootout based on objective and subjective tests conducted by a panel of experts comparing each set to the image on a $43,000 reference monitor (Disclosure: Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel was one of the judges). The 65-inch model is currently available with a $500 price cut, dropping it to around $2,998 at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo.

Sony’s premium set has a 120Hz refresh rate panel, with two HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K at 120Hz and two HDMI 2.0 ports that top out at 4K / 60Hz. It doesn’t support Nvidia’s G-Sync or AMD’s FreeSync Pro, so there aren’t any specific features on this TV that PC gamers can take advantage of. The TV runs on Sony’s XR processor, which uses AI to adjust the color, contrast, and clarity of whatever you’re watching in real time to look better. Sony also says its TV has modes that are specifically calibrated for Netflix, Prime Video, and its own Sony Pictures Core streaming services.

Sony Bravia 8 II

Where to Buy:

~~$3499.99~~ $2998 at Amazon (65-inch)

LG C4

The last-gen LG C4 remains one of the best OLED TVs you can buy, and the 65-inch model is currently on sale for $1,299.95 ($1,200 off) at B&H Photo. Like LG’s newer C5 OLED, it has a 120Hz panel with support for VRR, Nvidia G-Sync, and AMD FreeSync Premium (the option exists to enable a 144Hz mode if you dig in the TV’s options). Its embedded A9 AI Processor Gen7 offers higher-quality video upscaling and image optimization compared to the C3. The biggest difference between the C4 and C5 is their maximum brightness. The C4 tops out at an advertised 1,000 nits, while the C5 tops out at around 1,165 according to tests conducted by Tom’s Guide.

Additionally, the C4 features a three-channel audio system, which might sound impressive compared to other TVs, but still can’t compete with a soundbar. When you’re not watching videos or playing games, you can also enable the C4’s Gallery Mode to display art. Basically, the LG C4 offers many of the same features as the C5, but retails for nearly $400 less. You can also save on the 77-inch model, which is on sale for $1,799.95 ($1,700 off) at B&H Photo.

LG C4

Where to Buy:

Samsung S90F

If you want an OLED, but don’t have a lot of space, Samsung’s 42-inch S90F is down to a new low of around $1.097.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. The TV features a 120Hz panel and four HDMI 2.1 ports, letting you play games in 4K at up to 120 frames per second. The ability to connect all your current-gen consoles and a gaming PC simultaneously without sacrificing resolution or speed is impressive for an OLED TV under $1,000. The TV can also access Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which allows you to play games available through Nvidia GeForce Go, Amazon Luna, and other cloud gaming services on your TV without any additional hardware — besides a controller, of course.

The S90F supports Samsung’s OLED HDR, and it has an NQ4 AI Gen3 processor that optimizes its picture quality and can upscale non-4K video. The TV also runs on Samsung’s Tizen operating system, which offers apps for every major streaming service, and features support for both Alexa and Samsung Bixby, so you can use either virtual assistant to control your various smart home gadgets. If you like the S90F’s features but want a larger TV, the 65-inch model is also on sale for an all-time low of around $1,597.99 ($102 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo.

Samsung S90F

Where to Buy:

Hisense U8QG

If you want a premium TV but don’t want an OLED set, Hisense’s U8QG is an excellent alternative that’s currently available at Amazon and Best Buy in its 65-inch configuration for $1,299.99 (about $200 off its regular 2025 price, but higher than it has recently sold for). The TV has a mini-LED panel with full-array local dimming, so blooming shouldn’t be a huge issue. It also features a 165Hz refresh rate and three HDMI 2.1 ports, making it a great choice for those with a gaming PC or a current-gen console like the PlayStation 5. It also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, so gaming PCs outfitted with an AMD card should experience fewer graphical glitches, including screen tearing.

Hisense says the U8QG has a maximum screen brightness of 5,000 nits, which is substantially higher than the OLED TVs we’re recommending here. It also supports all your major HDR formats, including Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10 Plus, HLG, and Advanced HDR by Technicolor, so it’ll show vibrant colors regardless of how the video you’re watching — or game you’re playing — was mastered. Its AI processor was also designed to improve the clarity and brightness of SDR content, and the TV’s high refresh rate and peak brightness make up for the fact that its panel offers lower contrast than an OLED TV.

Hisense U8QG

Where to Buy:

Samsung Frame Pro

According to The Verge’s own John Higgins, Samsung’s Frame Pro is the best “art TV” you can buy for watching TV shows, and the 65-inch model is a couple hundred dollars off, selling for around $1,897.99 at Amazon and Best Buy. Both Amazon and Best Buy have also knocked the price of the larger 75-inch model to around $2,497.99 ($1000 off its original price).

Samsung’s art-inspired 4K TV features a 120Hz LED panel with a peak brightness of over 1,000 nits and better color accuracy (especially in filmmaker mode) than its competitors. Its matte screen reflects less light than a typical LCD or OLED screen, which is helpful whether you’re watching TV shows in a bright room or using the TV’s “Art Mode,” which allows you to display famous paintings. The TV comes with a small selection of free art, but you can gain access to more than 4,000 pieces by subscribing to the Samsung Art Store for $50 a year.

The Frame Pro also comes with the wireless Connect Box, which features four HDMI ports, two USB-A ports, a coaxial input, an ethernet port, and an optical audio input. You plug devices into the wireless Connect Box, which then sends audio and video from your source to the TV. Samsung recommends keeping it within 10 meters of the TV, but the wireless latency (lag) from the setup shouldn’t matter much when watching videos; however, it may be noticeable if you’re playing fast-paced video games, including first-person shooters.

Samsung Frame Pro

Where to Buy:

Update, January 8th: Updated pricing / availability for the TVs included in this article. Stay tuned later in January when we expect there to be significant savings on 4K TVs, whether you’re after something cheap or high-end. Cameron Faulkner also contributed to this article.

Some of our favorite gifts will cost you less than $25

2025-12-21T13:00:20-05:00

Holiday shopping on a budget can feel constricting, especially if you’ve been invited to a white elephant or need a last-minute stocking stuffer. The good news is that, with this guide, you can leave that stress behind.

Whether you’re aiming for something practical or fun, we’ve found plenty of great gifts for under $25 — heck, we found several under $10 — that don’t scream “I bought this at the gas station on my way over.” You might not expect to find a worthwhile Nintendo Switch / iPad-compatible controller, a 4K-ready streaming stick, or a waterproof speaker in this guide, but here we are. And that’s just the start.

Mini Buddha Board

Your desk could probably use a fun distraction to help you unwind a little in the middle of the day. The Mini Buddha Board lets you create ephemeral sketches using water and the included brush. Once the water evaporates you’ll be left with a blank board to create a new work, no cleanup necessary.

Where to Buy:

8BitDo Micro controller

8BitDo’s Micro is a pocket-friendly, 16-button wireless game controller compatible with iOS, Android, and the Nintendo Switch. It can make playing mobile games easier than tapping a touchscreen, and it’s perfect for playing NES, SNES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Advance titles on the Nintendo Switch.

Where to Buy:

Thing Explainer

A big roadblock to learning how stuff works is getting immediately bogged down by jargon. Author Randall Munroe sidesteps that in Thing Explainer by using the thousand most common English words to describe how bridges, data centers, helicopters, and the tectonic plates (and more!) work. The explanations are complemented by drawings that literally illustrate what’s going on.

Where to Buy:

SnapPower GuideLight

SnapPower’s GuideLight can illuminate your dark hallway without permanently giving up an outlet to a nightlight. It replaces the cover around your duplex outlet receptacle and draws power by attaching its built-in prongs to screws on the side of your outlet. Once connected, the lights on the bottom of the GuideLight automatically turn on once it gets dark.

Where to Buy:

Paladone NES coasters (four-pack)

Finding the right video game to gift can be a challenge, but Paladone’s cartridge-shaped coasters are a fun alternative for fans of the 8-bit era. Each coaster features cover art from a popular game — whether it be Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, or Metroid — and can be hand-washed should a beverage spill on it.

Where to Buy:

GE indoor HD digital TV antenna

Nobody should have to pay for a streaming service or cable just to watch live events like the Super Bowl, World Series, or Oscars. GE’s HDTV antenna can receive a TV signal from up to 40 miles away. Which channels you’ll get depends on your location, but CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS, and ABC are some of the most common stations that’ll be picked up over the waves.

Where to Buy:

Bentoheaven Premium Bento Box

Bentoheaven’s stackable bento box is slicker than most lunch bags. It comes with two large, 7.3-inch containers, a divider to help keep foods separated, and a smaller container for stashing snacks. The top container even has a compartment in its lid for utensils, and a velcro strap prevents the bento from opening in your bag.

Where to Buy:

Altec Lansing Mini H2O speaker

A waterproof speaker should look good and sound good, too. Altec Lansing’s Mini H2O has an IP67 rating, floats when dropped in water, and has a built-in loop so you can attach it to a backpack with the included carabiner. The company claims its battery lasts up to six hours per charge. If you get two speakers, they can be paired together for stereo sound.

Where to Buy:

Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box

There’s nothing quite as nostalgic as building a Lego set. The 484-piece Medium Creative Brick Box contains the pieces you’ll need to make your own custom scenes, plus specific bricks to create Lego vehicles, animals, and other objects — including a windmill and toaster. The pieces come in a giant Lego brick-shaped bucket for easy storage.

Where to Buy:

Apple Earpods (USB-C)

Bluetooth earbuds are all the rage, but you’d be surprised how often a wired pair comes in handy. Apple’s EarPods have a surprisingly good microphone, never need to be charged, and should work with all your USB-C devices. An inline controller on the earbuds’ cable lets you change your volume and pause or skip tracks.

Where to Buy:

Field Notes (three-pack)

Using a physical notebook isn’t as convenient as dashing off quick ideas in your phone’s notes app, but putting pen to paper can feel more satisfying. Field Notes’ 48-page notebooks are pocket-friendly at 3.5 inches wide and 5.5 inches tall, and their graph paper makes them useful for sketching diagrams in addition to jotting down notes.

Where to Buy:

Anker MagGo Qi2 wireless charging pad

A wireless charging pad is a practical way to charge your gadgets without being tethered by a cable. Anker’s Qi2 15W MagGo pad is compatible with the iPhone, Android phones, or earbuds inside a wireless charging case. The pad snaps to your iPhone with magnets. For gadgets without magnets, the charging pad is large for easy alignment.

Where to Buy:

Bananagrams (Winter Wonderland edition)

Bananagrams is a chaotic word game that can bring out the competitive side in anyone. The objective is to use tiles to create words that branch off of one another. The game is done once one player uses all of their tiles and the shared pool of tiles is empty.

Where to Buy:

Baseus EnerFill FC51 Bipow2 Pro Power Bank

A power bank is an essential travel gadget, and Baseus’ 22.5W model is feature-rich considering its low price. It has a built-in 8.6-inch retractable USB-C cable, so you’ll always have a cord with you, along with USB-C and USB-A ports to charge two more devices. Its 10,000mAh capacity is enough to fully recharge a smartphone with juice to spare.

Where to Buy:

GE Cync smart bulbs (two-pack)

GE’s 800-lumen Wi-Fi bulbs serve as a great entry point for making your home a little smarter. The color-changing LED bulbs work with Alexa and Google Assistant without a hub, and they support Matter for interoperability with Apple Home, making them a great choice if you’re unsure which smart home platform your giftee uses.

Where to Buy:

Hydro Flask Travel Tumbler (32-ounce)

Staying hydrated is harder if your beverage spends most of the day sitting at room temperature. Hydro Flask’s 32oz tumbler is made from dishwasher-safe, BPA-free stainless steel, and it can keep beverages hot and cold for several hours. It’s big, but the tumbler’s tapered bottom can fit in car cupholders, and its handle makes it easy to carry.

Where to Buy:

iOttie Easy One Touch 6 car mount

Looking at your phone for directions while driving is very dangerous, but iOttie’s One Touch car mount can keep it at eye level for easy glancing when you really need to look. The suction cup mount has arms that grip your phone to prevent it from falling, and there’s even a cutout to hold your charging cable. It’s compatible with most smartphones — even larger devices like the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Where to Buy:

Time Timer MOD (Home Edition)

A basic timer may seem like a thoughtless gift, but there are many tasks we procrastinate on every day that could be more easily managed if we dedicated a little bit of time to them. A visual Pomodoro timer like the colorful MOD (Home Edition) is key to helping break tasks into manageable, bite-sized chunks.

Where to Buy:

Kaisi 136-in-1 Electronics Repair Tool Kit

If you want to fix electronics instead of replacing them, you’ll need the right tools for the job. Kaisi’s 136-piece kit includes the spudgers, picks, tweezers, and screwdriver bits (111 of them!) to get inside gadgets and replace parts. The kit also has an anti-static wristband so you don’t accidentally short a motherboard with a shock.

Where to Buy:

$23.99 at Amazon

Lodge 10.25-inch Seasoned Cast Iron Baker’s Skillet

A cast iron skillet is one of the few gifts that could last a lifetime. Lodge’s 10.25-inch skillet is big enough for cooking multiple burgers or pancakes at once, or baking biscuits or cornbread for a crowd. If you’ve never cooked in cast iron, remember not to soak it in water, and season it with oil fairly frequently.

Where to Buy:

Onn 4K Streaming Device

If your TV struggles to run streaming apps well (or at all), consider Onn’s 4K Streaming Device. It supports Dolby Vision HDR and all your favorite apps via the Google TV interface, from Netflix and Disney Plus to YouTube. Recommendations are pulled from across services, and you can even use Google Assistant to search for shows and movies using your voice instead of the remote.

Where to Buy:

$19.88 at Walmart

Scosche BTFreq Pro FM transmitter

For older cars without built-in Bluetooth, get Scosche’s BTFM9, which can bring wireless music streaming to its speakers. It has USB-C and USB-A ports for charging gadgets and a Bluetooth transmitter inside. Once it’s paired to your phone, the BTFM9 can stream audio from your phone over an FM frequency picked up by your car’s radio antenna. It’s a simple, tool-free upgrade for almost any car.

Where to Buy:

Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce

Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce should be a staple in every household. The savory-sweet condiment is pretty atypical compared to American BBQ sauces, which often rely heavily on brown sugar or molasses for taste. Instead, Bachan’s recipe offers a nice balance of ginger, soy, mirin, green onion, and other Japanese flavors that work great if you’re trying to add a kick of umami to your next meal.

Where to Buy:

Tile Mate (2024)

Everyone has felt the sinking feeling of losing their keys. Tile’s Mate is a Bluetooth tracker designed to fit onto your key ring. If you forget them, you can check the tracker’s location using an app to retrieve them. The Mate also has an SOS button you can push to subtly alert friends and family members you’re in an unsafe situation.

Where to Buy:

Gerber Dime 12-in-1 mini EDC multitool

A multitool is a practical gift that won’t collect dust in a junk drawer. Gerber’s Dime has 12 tools, including wire cutters, scissors, nose pliers, two flat-head drivers, and a bottle opener. The Dime is only 2.75 inches long when closed, so it’s easy to carry in a pocket or keep in a car glove box.

Where to Buy:

NeeDoh Groovy Glob stress ball

This past year might not have been as life-shattering for most as 2020, but we’d argue life doesn’t have to be pure chaos for a stress ball to come in handy. The NeeDoh Groovy Glob, like all of Schylling’s colorful dough-filled shapes, makes for an inexpensive release that can be squeezed, squashed, and pulled to your heart’s content.

Where to Buy:

TP-Link Tapo Matter-Certified Smart Plug Mini

A smart plug adds functionality to an existing gadget rather than replacing it. Once the plug is connected to your Wi-Fi network and a gadget, you can turn it on and off using an app. TP-Link’s Tapo smart plug supports Matter, so you can add it to whichever smart home platform you use.

Where to Buy:

Energizer Headlamp Pro (two-pack)

Having access to a spare headlamp is always a good idea, whether for grilling at night or sifting through an attic. The dirt-cheap Headlamp Pro might not be the brightest option available, but it runs on AAA batteries, carries an IPX4 weatherproof rating, and produces a 260-lumen beam that can illuminate up to 80 meters in front of you.

Where to Buy:

Echo Pop

The Echo Pop is a compact smart speaker that’s perfect for a bedside table. You can use Amazon’s Alexa to set an alarm, play music, or control smart lights (and other accessories). If you have an Eero Wi-Fi router, the Echo Pop can extend the range of your network up to 1,000 feet. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

Tessan 35W Universal Travel Adapter

True globe-trotters know to keep a power adapter in their bag so they don’t end up with a dead phone in an unfamiliar area. Tessan’s 35W Universal Travel Adapter features five USB ports, a versatile AC socket, and three sets of retractable prongs that can be plugged into receptacles in more than 200 countries.

Where to Buy:

Galison Sparkling City puzzle

If you know a puzzler with a penchant for festive jigsaws, Galison’s Sparkling City might be the perfect gift. The 1,000-piece puzzle depicts a wintery scene with an ice rink, falling snow, a starlit sky, and trees covered with various holiday lights. The 27-by-20-inch puzzle also features foil accents, adding yet another festive touch.

Where to Buy:

Magicteam Sound Machine SN-A1

A white noise machine can help you sleep or concentrate when silence is too boring, or when music or podcasts are too overstimulating. It can play 20 sounds, including blue noise, pink noise, rain or ocean sounds, or a fan. You can set the machine on a timer to turn off after one to four hours, or run continuously.

Where to Buy:

~~$29.99~~ $15.95 at Amazon

Hues and Cues

Hues and Cues is a board game that alternates between chill and absolute chaos. First, one player draws a card with a color on it and describes the color in a couple of words. Then, everyone else places their game piece on a board with 480 individual spaces, each with a different hue. Whoever guesses closest to the actual color scores points. It’s as simple as that.

Where to Buy:

Anker 140W 2-in-1 USB-C to USB-C Cable

No one should have to deal with a rat’s nest behind their desk when devices like Anker’s 2-in-1 USB-C cable exist. The handy USB-C cable splits at the end, giving you the ability to charge up to two devices from a single port. That means you can split power between a phone and tablet or juice a 16-inch MacBook Pro to 50 percent in just 20 minutes using a single port.

Where to Buy:

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Silksong is the long-awaited sequel to one of the most lauded Metroidvanias of all time. It’s an unrelenting game that requires patience, often requiring you to replay sections in an effort to learn how to defeat a boss or avoid a pesky hazard. You may have to take breaks, but the beauty of Silksong is that it often inspires you to give tough sections “just one more try.”

Where to Buy:

Topo Designs Taco Bag

What’s the point of a clippable zip-up bag this small? Basically, you can use it to stash anything you would otherwise put in your pocket but fear slipping out. That includes chapstick, cash, cards, earbuds, you name it. Just be sure to leave the actual street tacos at your local tienda.

Where to Buy:

Credits

Photographer, photo editor: Amelia Holowaty Krales

Art director and designer: Cath Virginia

Creative director: Kristen Radtke

The best thing I bought this year: The Nintendo Switch 2

2025-12-17T15:17:02-05:00

I waited for the Nintendo Switch 2 for a long time. Rumors of an allegedly-real-but-never-released Switch Pro swirled around for years as I watched fewer and fewer AAA third-party games make their way to Nintendo’s little console that could. There were always enough first-party titles and indie games to tide me over, but I watched with some envy as games like Elden Ring took the world by storm, knowing I’d have to wait until Nintendo’s next generation hardware arrived to add them to my Switch library. Now, finally, it’s here.

Games look gorgeous on its 7.9-inch screen. | Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge" />

The Switch 2’s core strength for me boils down to it being a better version of the original Switch. Its 7.9-inch 120Hz 1080P screen looks sharp — yes, an OLED display would have been nicer, but I’m not complaining — and its ability to output at up to 4K, or up to 120Hz at lower resolutions, is a welcome improvement. It can play most original Nintendo Switch games, some of which have been updated through free or paid patches to run at a higher frame rate or resolution.

The only native Switch 2 game I’ve played so far is Mario Kart World, which I picked up as part of a bundle with the system. My most-played game is the original Switch title The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which runs at 4K and 60 frames per second if you get the Switch 2 edition for $10 (it’s a free download if you have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription). That subscription also allows me to play a growing number of GameCube games available as Nintendo Classics, including titles I didn’t get to play when I was a kid.

I specifically put off playing games from my backlog, including titles going back several years, until I could play them on a larger display in handheld mode, and I don’t regret my decision. Putting dozens of hours into Octopath Traveler while chilling on the couch with the big-screen handheld was a heck of a lot of fun. Nintendo and third-party developers have also been pretty generous with releasing free demos of Nintendo Switch 2 titles, including Donkey Kong Bananza and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, so it’s possible to sample bigger titles before deciding to pick them up.

My only real complaint with the Nintendo Switch 2 is its 256GB of internal storage, which isn’t enough for folks like me who’ve built up a large digital library of Switch games. Adding more requires you to pop in a microSD Express card, which can be twice the price of than the regular microSD cards used by the original Switch. My hope is that if a hardware revision comes down the line it’ll include an OLED display and at least 512GB of storage. By that time microSD Express cards will have hopefully become more affordable.

The Switch 2 has allowed me to catch up on some classic GameCube games I’d missed. | Photo: Brandt Ranj / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Brandt Ranj / The Verge" />

The console’s $449.99 starting price came as a shock to many, but it seems fair given its tech specs, and an escalating tariff situation that delayed the Switch 2’s preorder timing in North America and compelled Nintendo to raise the price of the original Nintendo Switch. Nintendo recently announced that it “will shift our primary development focus to Nintendo Switch 2 and expand our business around this new platform.” I’ll continue to look forward to exclusive titles making their way to my new console of choice, along with ports of third-party games that I haven’t gotten around to yet.

Nintendo Switch 2

Where to Buy:

Sony’s XM5 headphones and the latest Kindle round out this week’s best deals

2025-12-20T13:30:59-05:00

If you’re feeling the stress of having procrastinated on your holiday shopping — and you missed out during Black Friday and Cyber Monday — we’ve got you. We’ve found a variety of gadgets on sale that make for great gifts, many of which will ship in time for the holidays. One of the standouts is the current promo on Sony’s noise-canceling WH-1000XM5 headphones, which are on sale with a free pair of wireless earbuds. Other deals you may have missed include steep discounts on Amazon’s latest entry-level Kindle and the new Echo Dot Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Where to Buy:

Sony’s last-gen WH-1000XM5 have consistently impressed us with their audio quality, active noise cancellation, and comfort. And right now, Amazon is offering them with a free pair of Sony’s WF-C700N earbuds for $248 ($152 off). The headphones have an updated design that includes a thinner headband, more memory foam in the ear pads, and repositioned mics that reduce wind noise when taking calls. These changes didn’t add much weight, and the headphones still get 30 hours of playtime with ANC enabled.

The XM5 sounded “more refined, detailed, and spacious” in our tests, but we noticed less oomph when listening to EDM or hip-hop tracks with a lot of bass. The headphones have eight microphones, four of which are for voice, and their excellent noise reduction on calls was immediately noticeable, even in louder environments. The $89.99 WF-C700N, meanwhile, are a midrange pair of noise-canceling earbuds with an IPX4 rating, up to seven and a half hours of battery life (with ANC enabled), and a slim design.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review.

Kindle (11th-gen)

Where to Buy:

Amazon’s 11th-gen Kindle is our favorite budget-friendly e-reader, and you can pick up the ad-supported version for $89.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The entry-level ebook reader features a six-inch 300ppi E Ink display that won’t show glare from the sun like your phone or tablet. It has enough storage space to hold thousands of books, or dozens of audiobooks from Audible, the latter of which you can play via Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

The Kindle’s built-in battery lasts up to six weeks, depending on how long you read per day and how reliant you are on its backlight, and recharges over USB-C. It has the same screen resolution and storage as the step-up Kindle Paperwhite, but it’s not waterproof, which may matter if you like to read at the beach or in the bath.

Echo Dot Max

Where to Buy:

Amazon’s last-minute “Super Saturday” sale is underway, though, we’d argue some of the better deals are actually some the lingering discounts we’re seeing on Amazon’s own devices, many of which have been effect for several weeks. Right now, for instance, you can grab the new Echo Dot Max at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $79.99 ($20 off), which is the best price we’ve seen on the smart speaker since it launched.

Despite the name, the Dot Max is less of a follow up to the Echo Dot as it is the fourth-gen Echo from 2020. It’s got a compact knit fabric design, simpler controls, a better processor, and more smart home sensors and radios than prior models (it offers support for Matter, Thread, and Zigbee protocols). It still sounds great for its size, though, and like prior models, it can function as an Wi-Fi extender if you’re looking buoy a Eero mesh network. It’s also one of the first devices to offer Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa Plus out of the box, which, while still very much a work in progress, is a step in the right direction.

Read our full Echo Dot Max review.

Several more great deals

Hollow Knight: Silksong is one of the best games we’ve played all year, and the PC version is down to an all-time low of $15.99 ($4 off) on Steam as part of the store’s annual Winter Sale. The boss battles and platforming sections of the difficult-but-fair Metroidvania require persistence to clear, but feel great when you do. You’ll face over 200 enemies and 40 bosses as you make your way through Pharloom, and you’ll need to refine your techniques using weapons and traps to find the best way to take them down. Read our hands-on impressions.
If your room needs a little more fun, Amazon and Target have knocked the price of the Lego’s “Up” House down to $30.39 (about $30 off) for a limited time. The 598-piece set includes mini figures of Carl Fredricksen, Russell, and Dug the dog, along with the kit’s titular house — complete with plenty of balloons. Turning the house around reveals a lot of detail within different rooms, with custom bricks depicting props from the movie.
We once dubbed the Keychron V1 Max the “Toyota Corolla of keyboards” because of its reliability and value. That’s especially true today, given Amazon has marked the model with quieter Silent K Pro Red switches down to $95.99 ($24 off), which matches the lowest price we’ve seen on the mechanical keyboard. Each key can be remapped in the Keychron Launcher web app, and you can swap its switches to suit your preferences. You can also alternate connecting the V1 Max to your device with a USB-C cable, 2.4GHz adapter (included), or Bluetooth.

The best Christmas gifts for gamers and movie lovers

2025-12-19T13:00:24-05:00

Most of us in the Northern Hemisphere spend the holidays indoors, but you can only watch so many TikToks about cute cats and cooking hacks before the need for something a little more substantive kicks in. Choosing the right game or movie to gift is tough, though, especially if you don’t have an exact read on what your friends and family like. And if you choose poorly, remember that you might also be on the hook to play or watch it with them.

That’s why, this year, we made it our mission to find gifts that appeal to people with diverse interests across a wide price range. If you know a Wes Anderson devotee, Criterion’s lavish box set is a great option to consider. We also have plenty of video game recs — from GOTY winner Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to the notoriously brutal Silksong — along with a raft of suggestions when it comes to tabletop books, toys, and other pieces of hardware.

The Console Chronicles

Anyone interested in the history of video games can learn a lot from The Console Chronicles, which covers every system from the Magnavox Odyssey (1972) to the Nintendo Switch (2017). The book is organized by generation, allowing you to see how a specific company’s hardware evolved or gain a sense of what all the major players were doing during any given time period.

Where to Buy:

~~$40~~ $28.8 at Amazon

Lego Game Boy

Lego delivered a gigantic dose of nostalgia with a near-perfect replica of Nintendo’s 1989 handheld. The 421-piece set captures the Game Boy’s many buttons, grilles, and curves remarkably well, while the lenticular screen inserts give the illusion of a working unit. It even comes with several brick-ified cartridges you insert into a slot in the back.

Where to Buy:

Govee AI Sync Box 2

Govee’s Sync Box 2 is a two-piece lighting kit that consists of a color-changing light strip and a breakout box with four HDMI 2.1 ports, which can pass up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz. The strip changes color in real time based on what you’re watching or playing, making it a great way to add some AI-generated pizzazz to your home theater setup.

Where to Buy:

~~$259.99~~ $179.99 at Amazon

The Wes Anderson Archive

Wes Anderson’s directing style is so distinct that it’s spawned a series of books dedicated to its aesthetic. The Wes Anderson Archive collects all of his films from Bottle Rocket through The French Dispatch in a single box set. The 20-disc trove includes every film on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray, plus more than 25 hours of special features and 10 illustrated booklets containing essays and interviews.

Where to Buy:

~~$499.99~~ $285.94 at Amazon

Xreal One AR glasses

There are alternatives that don’t cost nearly as much as the One, but Xreal’s glasses offer some of the best performance you can get in a pair of AR shades. They connect to your phone and some handheld gaming PCs via USB-C, and once connected, you can use them as an external monitor for gaming or watching movies.

Where to Buy:

Apple Gift Card

Perfect for the friend who games on iPhone and streams on repeat, Apple Gift Card is the ultimate entertainment upgrade. It can be used for App Store greats, in-app purchases, and your favorite subscription services, making it a flexible pick for anyone who loves their screen time.

Where to Buy:

$50 at Apple

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 breaks the mold of classic RPGs. The story is just as grandiose and gripping as the best Final Fantasy games, but by allowing you to dodge and parry every enemy attack, it flips more traditional turn-based combat on its head. Then there’s the score and visually striking world, both of which are just as refreshing to behold.

Where to Buy:

$49.99 at Best Buy (Xbox Series X)

Backbone Pro mobile controller

The Backbone Pro might be the most flexible controller out there. Like prior models, the USB-C gamepad lets you play games on your iPhone or Android device using physical buttons, joysticks, and triggers. The Pro model takes things one step further, however, allowing you to connect to everything from a Steam Deck to an iPad over Bluetooth.

Where to Buy:

Asus ROG Zephyrus G14

Thanks to an excellent combo of power and portability, Asus’ latest ROG Zephyrus G14 is the gaming laptop to beat. It’s thin and light enough to shove in a backpack, yet powerful enough to tackle modern games at the highest settings. Its 14-inch, 120Hz OLED screen is fast and easy on the eyes, too, making it a great everyday laptop.

Where to Buy:

Ghost of Yōtei

Sucker Punch’s follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima is everything you could want in a sequel. The open-world revenge epic brims with fluid combat and a host of welcome narrative twists, all set against the gorgeous backdrop of Japan’s Edo period. It’s precisely the type of game photo modes were made for, even if you never use them.

Where to Buy:

Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975

The first 15 Godzilla films, initially released between 1954 and 1975, were once considered the gold standard for monster movies. If you haven’t seen them yet, Criterion has packaged them in a single Blu-ray set that’s loaded with special features, including interviews, audio commentary, and a 1986 documentary featuring archival making-of footage.

Where to Buy:

~~$224.95~~ $131.91 at Amazon

Nintendo Switch 2

If you’re shopping for a console gamer, the Nintendo Switch 2 hits all the right marks. It boasts a spacious 7.9-inch display, a comfortable design, and backward compatibility with most OG Switch titles, some of which have even been updated to run at higher resolutions and frame rates. Just don’t forget to grab a copy of Mario Kart World or the new Donkey Kong game to go with it.

Where to Buy:

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Metroid Prime 4 is still a first-person adventure game like prior entries in the series, but this time around, bounty hunter Samus Aran is armed with a motorcycle and a slate of psychic powers. Not all of the new gameplay elements work, but Beyond is a fitting follow-up to what came before, with a lore-heavy story, great combat, and plenty of eerie exploration.

Where to Buy:

Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Blu-ray player

Streaming might be convenient, but 4K Blu-ray discs offer far more detail thanks to their lack of compression. Panasonic’s DP-UB420 lets you tap into a vast catalog of Blu-ray titles with support for HDR10 Plus, HLG HDR, and uncompressed DSD audio. It also supports a bevy of streaming apps, as well as both Alexa and Google Assistant.

Where to Buy:

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Where to Buy:

Onn 4K Streaming Device

Where to Buy:

$19.88 at Walmart

Twelve South AirFly Pro 2

The AirFly Pro 2 can amp up the sound quality of in-flight entertainment, making it a handy tool for frequent travelers. The long-lasting Bluetooth adapter can sync with two pairs of wireless earbuds or headphones at once, allowing you and a partner to share a movie, a podcast, or music without relying on the subpar earbuds most airlines provide.

Where to Buy:

~~$59.99~~ $49.99 at Amazon

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

Final Fantasy Tactics may be a remake of a beloved classic, but that doesn’t mean your giftee needs to have played the original to enjoy the recent tactical RPG. The grid-based combat is terrific, the new voice acting is even more expressive, and the retooled UI is a welcome upgrade. You can even switch to a “classic version” that’s more faithful to the PlayStation original if you’re not a fan of the modern glow-up.

Where to Buy:

Logitech G309 Lightspeed gaming mouse

The G309 is an inexpensive, dual-mode wireless gaming mouse that punches well above its weight. It’s equipped with the same Hero 25K sensor and hybrid optomechanical switches found on pricier models, along with up to 600 hours of runtime over Bluetooth. It’s also the cheapest Powerplay mouse you can get, if you want to skip the whole charging thing altogether.

Where to Buy:

Blue Prince

The irony of Blue Prince is that knowing as little as possible about it is what makes it great. The puzzle title’s central mystery plays second fiddle to the clever gameplay, which has you work your way through all 45 rooms in your uncle’s magical mansion, one architectural puzzle after another. Just be sure to keep an actual notebook nearby. You’re gonna need it.

Where to Buy:

Donkey Kong Bananza

I’m sorry, but Donkey Kong Bananza is the first killer exclusive for the Switch 2, not Mario Kart World. The game’s crowning achievement is its destructible environments, which you can crash and smash your way through as you collect gems. And don’t worry, you’ll still use DK’s fists to clock plenty of foes as you go.

Where to Buy:

Mechanism Gaming Pillow

The Mechanism Gaming Pillow helps gamers stay comfortable for hours on end. Made from soft, high-performance Lycra, it holds tech up so their arms don’t have to, letting them play longer without arm strain. It also comes with a mount to accommodate one of many gaming handhelds, from the Steam Deck and Switch 2 to the ROG Ally X.

Where to Buy:

Meta Quest 3S

The Quest 3S is the best VR headset for most people, full stop. It can tap into a large library of games on its own — including Resident Evil 4, Beat Saber, and the excellent Batman: Arkham Shadow — or you can pair it with a more powerful gaming PC, significantly expanding the number of plausible VR titles.

Where to Buy:

Metroid Prime 1–3: A Visual Retrospective

Piggyback’s insightful Metroid retrospective is a 210-page hardcover book full of concept art from the venerable GameCube and Wii trilogy, as well as notes from producer Kensuke Tanabe. The thoughtful (but candid) notes offer a behind-the-scenes look at each game’s development, including the frequent tension between Retro Studios and Nintendo.

Where to Buy:

~~$49.99~~ $47.49 at Amazon

Asus ROG Falcata

Marathon gaming sessions are less fun when your wrists hurt. The Asus ROG Falcata is a compact, ergonomic split keyboard with an ultrafast polling rate that also lets you adjust the actuation point of each Hall effect key by as little as a hundredth of a millimeter. It connects over USB-C, or wirelessly via Bluetooth or the included 2.4GHz adapter.

Where to Buy:

~~$419.99~~ $279.99 at Best Buy

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the first game in the main series with a real-time battling system instead of the traditional turn-based formula. You’re still catching pokémon, leveling up, trading, and battling in the game’s Paris-inspired setting, but the more action-oriented battles and smooth performance (on the Nintendo Switch 2) are very welcome.

Where to Buy:

Sony InZone H9 II gaming headset

Half the fun of online gaming is being able to coordinate your strategy — well, that and (lightly) dunking on your friends. Sony’s latest InZone headset boasts some of the same hardware as the company’s stellar XM6 headphones, meaning you’re getting fantastic ANC in addition to a wealth of refined, gamer-centric features.

Where to Buy:

Lego Super Mario Soda Jungle Maker Set

Lego and Nintendo partner quite often, but the Soda Jungle Maker Set is probably one of their more unique collabs in recent memory. The 598-piece kit features iconic baddies from the Super Mario games instead of Nintendo’s titular Italian plumber, allowing a Shy Guy, Piranha Plant, and Wiggler to take center stage for once.

Where to Buy:

~~$54.99~~ $42 at Amazon

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4

The newest Tony Hawk remake offers improved graphics, better controls, more skaters, and the ability to customize goals via an in-game course creator. THPS4 even features two-minute goals in the style of the first three entries, rather than the open-ended nature of the original, resulting in a best-of-both-worlds situation.

Where to Buy:

Apple TV 4K (third-gen)

If you subscribe to Apple Arcade, an Apple TV 4K can effectively double as both a mini gaming console and one of the best streaming devices you can buy. With it, you can connect a Bluetooth controller like the PlayStation 5’s DualSense, thus allowing games that were initially developed for PC / consoles to be played on the big screen for which they were designed.

Where to Buy:

Credits

Photographer, photo editor: Amelia Holowaty Krales

Art director and designer: Cath Virginia

Creative director: Kristen Radtke

Steam’s annual winter sale is here — these are the best games to get

2025-12-18T16:55:06-05:00

If you’re lucky enough to have a bit of time off around the holidays, we have great news: Steam’s annual winter sale kicked off today, and will run through Monday, January 5th at 1PM ET. Now’s a great time to stock up on some of the best games of 2025 at a solid discount, or add some classics to your backlog if you’ve got a hole in your library. Thousands of games are on sale, but we’ve picked out some highlights to help you get started.

We were surprised to see Hollow Knight: Silksong for $15.99 ($4 off) given its modest price and how recently it came out. You can also pick up Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for $39.99 ($10 off), Silent Hill F for $41.99 ($28 off), and Assassin’s Creed Shadows for $34.99 ($35 off). These games are all on sale just a few months after their release.

Some of the most notable remakes and remasters of 2025 have also been discounted. You can snag Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles for $39.99 ($10 off), Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter for $44.99 ($15 off), Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 for $29.99 ($20 off), Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake for $35.99 ($24 off), and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater for $41.99 ($28 off). These titles are worth trying even if you’re familiar with the originals.

Steam’s sales are an opportune opportunity to pick up older titles that have stood the test of time, some of which you can get for under a couple of bucks. Too many great games fall into that category, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t call your chance to grab Stardew Valley for $8.99 ($6 off), The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition for $9.99 ($30 off), Slay the Spire for $2.49 ($22.50 off), Resident Evil 4 for $15.99 ($24 off), Castle Crashers for $1.49 ($13.50 off), Bastion for $2.99 ($12 off), and To the Moon for $1.99 ($8 off).

You can go even further back in the history of gaming and pick up collections of 8- and 16-bit games, including the chance to pick up Mega Man X Legacy Collection for $7.99 ($12 off), Castlevania Anniversary Collection for $7.99 ($12 off), and Contra Anniversary Collection for $7.99 ($12 off). There’s a little something for everybody in the sale, and we encourage you to mix and match contemporary and classic games to avoid getting bored.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Where to Buy:

~~$19.99~~ $15.99 at Steam

Hollow Knight: Silksong is a tough-as-nails Metroidvania whose boss battles and platforming sequences reward your tenacity as you slowly get better. As Hornet, you’ll cautiously ascend to the top of the world, using weapons and traps to take down over 200 enemies and more than 40 bosses. Be mindful that letting your guard down can be lethal. If you haven’t gotten around to playing the original Hollow Knight, you can pick it up for $7.49 ($7.49 off) during the sale. Read our hands-on impressions.

Silent Hill F

Where to Buy:

~~$69.99~~ $32 at Woot (PS5, with code SAVETWENTY)

Silent Hill F is an exceptional survival horror game set in 1960s Japan. Protagonist Hinako Shimizu is a high school student who has to defeat actual monsters with whatever weapons she can find while also wrestling with inner turmoil caused by familial trauma. Her personal growth, a great script, and terrific score may compel you to replay the game to see all five of its possible endings. Read our review.

Resident Evil 4

Where to Buy:

~~$39.99~~ $15.99 at Steam

If you prefer a healthy dose of action in your horror games, the 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4 is an excellent choice. Federal agent Leon Kennedy is sent to retrieve the president’s daughter from a remote Spanish village, and ends up uncovering a murderous cult and plenty of gnarly monsters. The original game’s story has been fleshed out, and its script has been reworked without losing all of its campiness. Read our review.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Where to Buy:

~~$49.99~~ $39.99 at Steam

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a turn-based RPG with an engaging battle system that rewards you for mastering its dodge and parry system. Pulling off the right parry, which takes time to learn, and you can turn the tide of a battle. The game has an atmospheric soundtrack along with a story our reviewer found heart-wrenching, stirring, and humorous. It won Game of the Year at the 2025 Game Awards, too. Read our review.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Where to Buy:

~~$69.99~~ $34.99 at Steam

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has two big strengths: Its setting (medieval Japan) and its two lead characters, Naoe and Yasuke. Each character has a unique gameplay style, which gives you a couple of ways to approach each situation stealthily or by using brute force. Shadows’ open world is huge, and the little activities we found on our way to the big quests, and codex entries offering exhaustive details about the game’s setting made it fun to traverse. Read our review.

The best gifts for dads that have everything (but deserve more)

2025-12-18T11:49:22-05:00

What do you get the man who says he has everything? It’s a tough question — and one you have a limited amount of time to answer, given the holidays are nearly upon us. You could try dropping subtle hints or asking friends and family for suggestions, but they might save their best ideas for themselves. Fortunately, if you’re struggling to come up with something, we have more than a few ideas.

With the help of Verge staffers, we’ve compiled suggestions for dads of every make and model. We’ve collected great ideas for music-loving dads, whiskey aficionados, and anyone looking to top off all of their gadgets at once.

BioLite Site Lights

If dear old dad is the one who plans the family camping trip each year, consider getting him a set of BioLite’s Site Lights. Each weatherproof bulb can be attached to one of six durable ABS stakes or suspended over the campsite using the included cable. They also last up to 20 hours and can be topped off via the included case, which offers both solar and USB-C charging.

Where to Buy:

Distil Folly magnetic sunglasses

It’s not the timeless look that makes Distil’s Folly Sunglasses attractive — though they do look quite good. The real appeal lies in their hidden neodymium magnets, which allow you to clip the polarized shades to your shirt or bag without having to worry about them falling off. That alone is worth the $69 price tag.

Where to Buy:

Nomad ChargeKey V2

Everybody forgets to bring their charging cable with them from time to time, but it’s a lot harder to do with Nomad’s ChargeKey. The 6-inch zinc cable comes attached to a loop, which is easy to affix to the same ring as your keys. It even supports up to 240W of power and 10Gbps data transfer speeds, despite its short stature.

Where to Buy:

Paper Apps Dungeon Notebook

You’ve heard of procedurally generated video games, but how about procedurally generated paper dungeon crawlers? Each 60-page Dungeon Notebook is completely unique and requires nothing other than a six-sided die and a pencil, which give you the means to navigate a variety of floors filled with coins, four-legged baddies, and hearts.

Where to Buy:

Twelve South AirFly Pro 2

Where to Buy:

Exceptionally Bad Dad Jokes

There’s nothing quite like a bad joke… until you’ve heard it a hundred times. Luckily, if you’re looking to expand your dad’s comedic repertoire, this 106-page book is loaded with clean, family-friendly puns that are exceptionally bad. In fact, did you ever hear the one about the police officer who caught two kids playing with a firework and a car battery? He charged one and let the other off.

Where to Buy:

Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock

Your dad shouldn’t be walking around with an arsenal of gadgets that are constantly on the brink of dying. Belkin’s 3-in-1 charger sports a magnetic Qi2 charging pad, a second 5W charging pad for earbuds, and a third for fast-charging newer Apple Watch models. It’s also perfect for leveraging Apple’s StandBy mode, making it a truly versatile desk accessory.

Where to Buy:

Paladone NES coasters (four-pack)

Where to Buy:

Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro keyboard

The Rainy 75 is the kind of budget board that simply did not exist a decade ago. The mechanical keyboard supports both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, comes in a variety of charming colors, and delivers a fantastic typing experience. What’s more, the Pro model comes with Kailh Cocoa linear switches, which produce the TikTok-famous “raindrop” sound for which it’s known.

Where to Buy:

Liiton Everest Crystal Whiskey Glasses (set of two)

Using an ice cube in a cocktail will keep it cool, but the melting ice will steadily dilute the flavor. Thankfully, a set of proper whiskey glasses can save your spirits. When chilled, Liiton’s dishwasher-safe Mount Everest crystal can cool your drink in under a minute, letting you enjoy your latest concoction at your own pace.

Where to Buy:

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Whether your dad prefers to rock out to Sabrina Carpenter or Stravinsky, the AirPods Pro 3 deliver. Apple’s latest pair of earbuds offer improved ANC and sound, a more comfortable design, and real-time fitness tracking courtesy of a new heart rate sensor. That makes them well suited for more than just listening to tunes.

Where to Buy:

Field Notes “Flora” Edition

The Notes app is great, but sometimes pen and paper are where it’s at. Field Notes are small enough to fit in your pocket or a small bag, yet spacious enough to house all your big ideas and errant thoughts. The “Flora” Edition can even add a much-needed pop of color to any desk setup.

Where to Buy:

Focusrite Scarlett Solo mic preamp (fourth-gen)

The Scarlett Solo can help your old man finally record that album he’s been noodling on since high school. The fourth-gen gizmo functions as a beginner-friendly USB audio interface, one that comes with its own recording software and the ability to record two tracks at once. Focusrite even offers interfaces with additional inputs if he wants to record with multiple people.

Where to Buy:

OXO Good Grips Grilling Turner and Tongs Set

OXO’s grilling set is an essential piece of kit for any dad who considers himself to be “king of the grill.” The stainless steel spatula and tongs let you flip food without getting too close to the heat, while the textured grip on the handles makes them easier to hold. The tongs also feature a scalloped edge for gripping food and a built-in bottle opener, which, honestly, might be more important.

Where to Buy:

Nintendo Switch 2

Where to Buy:

Selkirk SLK Nexus Max Pickleball Paddle

Is your dad officially on the pickleball bandwagon? If so, let us introduce you to the Selkirk Nexus Max, a durable fiberglass paddle with a cushioned grip and a large sweet spot that allows even beginners to hit the ball with greater control and consistency. The attractive color combos are just an added plus.

Where to Buy:

Noco GBX45 UltraSafe Jump Starter

You might be able to help your father out with a car problem for once with Noco’s GBX45. The handy 1250A jump starter allows you to revive a dead battery without hooking it up to another car, whether you’re working with a gas or diesel engine. It also provides up to 60W of power via USB-C, so you can charge other gadgets in an emergency.

Where to Buy:

Lodge 8-inch Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

Lodge’s 8-inch cast iron skillet only gets better with age, just like dad. It comes pre-seasoned, is deep enough for both frying and searing, and can be used either on a stovetop or in the oven. Cast iron is often associated with savory foods, but if your dad has a sweet tooth, it can also be used to whip up pancakes, cinnamon rolls, and other treats.

Where to Buy:

GameSir Cyclone 2

If your giftee owns more than one system, a wireless controller that works with multiple platforms makes for a great gift. The Cyclone 2 features drift-free Hall effect joysticks, built-in RGB lighting, and support for GameSir’s Connect PC app, which lets you customize trigger, joystick, and button settings. Best of all, it works with the Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, and Android devices.

Where to Buy:

Sony Bravia 8 II

Sony’s Bravia 8 II was voted the top TV of 2025 by a panel of experts — including our own Nilay Patel. The dazzling QD-OLED has a 120Hz panel, terrific AI processing for image optimization, and support for Dolby Vision. It also features support for both Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Google’s intuitive TV interface.

Where to Buy:

Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones

They might cost $50 more than their predecessor, but the latest iteration of Sony’s best-in-class noise-canceling headphones up the ante in every way. Sony made subtle improvements to every facet of the WH-1000XM6, from sound quality to ANC performance, while wisely bringing back the foldable, travel-friendly design last seen on the XM4.

Where to Buy:

RTIC Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler (20-can)

Whether your dad is a fan of massive IPAs or cherry lime La Croix, RTIC’s Soft Pack Cooler can keep the chilled drinks flowing. The cooler’s insulated, waterproof design can keep drinks and other contents cold for up to two days with minimal prep, while a comfortable shoulder strap and end handles help ensure it’s never too difficult to lug from one hang to the next.

Where to Buy:

Apple Watch SE 3

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a great tool if your dad wants to keep tabs on his health, in addition to the time. The entry-level smartwatch is chock-full of sensors for tracking things like heart rate and sleep activity, and this time around, Apple outfitted it with an always-on display, on-device Siri, and surprisingly intuitive gesture controls. What’s not to like?

Where to Buy:

The Good Hurt Fuego hot sauce gift set

They say variety is the spice of life, which makes the Good Hurt Fuego box doubly so. Thoughtfully’s 20-pack of tiny hot sauce bottles includes flavors like cilantro jalapeño, bacon cayenne, and ghost pepper. Each bottle contains 0.7 fluid ounces of sauce, too, which is enough to get a taste before you lather them on your favorite pair of wings, Hot Ones-style.

Where to Buy:

$34.99 at Walmart

Marshall Acton III

Marshall’s handsome Acton III resembles the classic amps used by rock icons like AC/DC and Jimi Hendrix, right down to its vintage brass knobs and control switches. However, the powerful Bluetooth speaker lets you kick out the jams via your phone or any device that’s connected to the speaker’s 3.5mm audio jack, as opposed to a ’64 Stratocaster.

Where to Buy:

Fluance RT82 turntable

Vinyl has been making a comeback for years, which means your dad may have a few LPs in his collection by now. That being said, Fluance’s RT82 offers several features older turntables lack, including a fresh Ortofon OM10 cartridge and feet that are less prone to vibration. It doesn’t have a built-in phono preamp, though, so make sure to get him a receiver with a phono input if he’s just getting back into wax.

Where to Buy:

Bones Coffee World Tour Single-Origin Sample Pack

You can help dad put a little extra pep in his step (and refine his taste) with Bones’ latest sampler. The eclectic variety pack includes five 4-ounce bags of single-origin coffee grounds from around the world, including locales like Sumatra and Ethiopia, each with its own distinct flavor profile. The only question is whether he prefers it ground or not.

Where to Buy:

$38.99 at Amazon (ground)

Kindle Paperwhite (12th-gen)

You know how your dad is always quoting War and Peace without having actually read it? The latest Kindle Paperwhite may coax him to catch up on the classics. It has a 7-inch E Ink display that won’t glare in the sun, 16GB of storage (enough for hundreds of books), and a battery that lasts up to 12 weeks. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

Lifepro Powerflow Plus Dumbbells

Lifepro’s Powerflow Plus Dumbbells are an excellent set for incremental strength training. You can increase their weight up to 25 pounds in 5-pound increments by using a slider to add or remove weights. These adjustable dumbbells are also significantly more space-efficient compared to storing multiple pairs.

Where to Buy:

Gozney Tread

The Gozney Tread is a travel-friendly, gas-powered pizza oven that can reach 950 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s big enough to bake a 12-inch pizza (ideal for Neapolitan-style pies), or anything you want to cook at extremely high heat on cast iron cookware. Handles built into the top of the Tread make it easier to load and unload into a car.

Where to Buy:

Made In 8 inch Chef Knife

Made In’s 8-inch knife is the perfect tool for chopping or dicing vegetables, slicing fruit, or carving meat. The full-tang blade is made from a single rod of stainless steel, and the entire knife weighs nearly half a pound, so it’ll feel substantial in the hand. Just be sure to let him know that the knife can only be hand-washed, and that Made In recommends drying it immediately afterward.

Where to Buy:

$129 at Amazon

DeWalt 20V Max 5-Tool Combo Kit

DeWalt’s robust tool kit can help prepare you for almost any DIY project or home renovation. It consists of a drill, an impaired driver, a reciprocating saw, a circular saw, and a brushless oscillating multitool. It also nets you a tool bag and all the necessary charging components, so you’ll have everything you need for your next endeavor.

Where to Buy:

The Criterion Channel subscription

A subscription to The Criterion Channel is the ultimate gift for a movie lover. The streaming service lets you stream some of the greatest movies of all time, from Donnie Darko and The Shining to Natural Born Killers and Once Upon a Time in America. It also includes access to Criterion 24/7, an endless stream of movies that you can watch when you don’t want to make a decision.

Where to Buy:

Credits

Photographer, photo editor: Amelia Holowaty Krales

Art director and designer: Cath Virginia

Creative director: Kristen Radtke

You can snag a pair of the Beats Solo 4 headphones for under $100 right now

2025-12-17T15:39:59-05:00

If you’re looking for a gadget to get as a last-minute Christmas gift, we’ve got your back. The Beats Solo 4 are among the best on-ear headphones we’ve tested in the last year or two, and they’re currently down to a new low of $79 ($120 off) in select colors at Walmart. If you prefer a different color, both Amazon and Best Buy have also marked them down to $129.95 ($70 off). All three stores are offering fast, free shipping, allowing you to pick them up before the holidays.

Beats Solo 4

With lossless USB-C audio, 50 hours of battery life, Find My support, spatial audio, and comfy ear cups, the Beats Solo 4 offer significant quality-of-life improvements over their predecessors. They still deliver that bass-rich Beats sound, too. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

Beats headphones are known for being relatively bass-heavy, but the Solo 4 have an EQ that doesn’t overemphasize particular frequencies, making them well suited for a variety of genres. The headphones are wireless, but you can use them as a wired pair by connecting them to your device with the included USB-C or a 3.5mm audio cable. Using them in wired mode allows you to listen to lossless audio with no compression, and you can continue to use the Solo 4 in wired mode when their battery runs out. However, that shouldn’t be a problem given they can last up to 50 hours on a single charge.

On the technical side, the Solo 4 support both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub networks, which allow you to track them using either an iOS or Android device. However, there are features that are exclusive to each platform. iPhone users get personalized spatial audio with head tracking, for instance, while Android users get automatic device switching between Android, Chromebooks, and other devices.

The only major features the Solo 4 don’t have are water resistance and active noise cancellation, which means they’re not the best choice for traveling. Nonetheless, they’re still well suited for listening to music at home or a quiet office, with relatively good passive noise isolation.

Read our full Beats Solo 4 review.

The Meta Quest 3S is $50 off and is bundled with a $50 gift card and game

2025-12-15T11:09:31-05:00

If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for a gamer, you’re in luck. Both Best Buy and Target are offering the 128GB Meta Quest 3S VR headset for around $249 ($50 off) and include a $50 gift card on top of that. Best Buy has bundled the headset with a copy of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, while Target’s bundle includes a 3-month trial of Meta’s Horizon Plus subscription, which gets you instant access to a library of over 50 games.

Best Buy and Target are also offering a model of the headset with 256GB of storage for $349.99 ($50 off) along with a $50 gift card, a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow, and a 3-month trial of Meta Horizon Plus.

Meta Quest 3S

The Meta Quest 3S is a battery-powered standalone VR headset that has the same chipset as the pricier Quest 3, but with the same lenses and screen resolution as the Quest 2. In addition to being able to play many games from the Meta Store, it can also be connected to a gaming PC to play VR games like Half-Life Alyx. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

The Quest 3S is a standalone virtual reality headset that has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor as the more expensive Meta Quest 3, but the lenses, field of view, and per-eye resolution (1823 x 1920 pixels per eye) of the Quest 2. The headset’s lower resolution is outweighed by the ability to play the latest compatible VR games at their top speed. The Quest 3S can also be connected to a gaming PC wirelessly using Meta’s AirLink app or the official Steam Link app.

Our reviewer played Batman: Arkham Shadow and Maestro while testing the Quest 3S, and came away impressed. He also praised the headset’s library, which includes Resident Evil 4 and Beat Saber. The Quest 3S is one of the best standalone VR headsets you can get, and it’s an even better choice while it’s on sale and includes extras.

Read the full Meta Quest 3S Review.

Three more great deals

If you’re tired of having to charge your wireless earbuds, Apple’s wired EarPods (USB-C) are down to $9.99 ($10 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The buds have a built-in microphone, volume and media control adapter, and are compatible with both Apple and some non-Apple devices. You can also snag EarPods with a Lightning connector for $9.99 ($10 off) at Amazon and Best Buy if you have an older iPhone or iPad with that port.
Amazon has marked the Samsung P9 MicroSD Express Card down to $32.99 ($22 off), a new all-time low. The Switch 2-compatible memory card doubles the console’s total storage, which will likely be necessary if you’re building a library of digital games. If you need even more space, you can pick up a 512GB version of the card for $99.99 at Amazon — it’s not on sale, but its MSRP is lower than most cards with that much storage.
The latest-generation Echo Show 11 is down to $194.99 ($25 off), a new all-time low at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The smart display has an 11-inch full HD (1920 x 1200) resolution display, a three-driver audio system, 13-megapixel camera, and dedicated apps for Prime Video and Netflix. It also supports Alexa Plus, the updated version of Amazon’s smart assistant. Read our impressions.

Here are the shipping deadlines to get your holiday gifts on time

2025-12-13T09:00:26-05:00

Amazon Prime members may be eligible for free same-day delivery. | Photo: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Let’s face it, the same thing happens year after year. Things get busy with work, school, and life in general until you’re suddenly up against the clock as you race your gifts to your local post office, FedEx store, or UPS location. We’ve all been there, but we’d like to help as you plan your next move and begin sending out your holiday packages.

If you intend to send your gifts via traditional mail this year, we’ve compiled the domestic shipping deadlines for various carriers and major retailers, so you can plan ahead and ensure your packages arrive before the holidays. Hopefully, it will help you avoid some unwanted stress — well, assuming that’s even possible this time of year.

Final day to ship	Ships via this service
December 19th	UPS 3 Day Select
December 22nd	UPS 2nd Day Air
December 23rd	UPS Next Day Air

With UPS, you have until Tuesday, December 23rd, to ship via Next Day Air and have your package arrive by Wednesday, December 24th. Packages shipped via Next Day Air after the 23rd won’t arrive until after Christmas. Monday, December 22nd, is the last day to ship via 2nd Day Air if you want your package to arrive by December 24th. You can opt for UPS’s 3 Day Select option until Friday, December 19th, to have it arrive by the 22nd. If you plan to ship your packages before then, you should be fine opting for the standard pickup and delivery service.

See more details regarding UPS shipping deadlines here.

Final day to ship	Ships via this service
December 20th	FedEx Express Saver
December 22nd	FedEx 2Day and 2Day AM
December 24th	FedEx SameDay

FedEx says the cutoff for its SameDay delivery is Wednesday, December 24th, but it’s risky to ship packages that late, as even the slightest delay could result in them arriving after Christmas. However, if you ship it by Monday, December 22nd, you can choose either of the two-day shipping methods. And if you manage to get it to FedEx by Saturday, December 20th, you can go with the Express Saver option for a more reasonable shipping fee.

See more details regarding FedEx shipping deadlines here.

Final day to ship	Ships via this service
December 17th	First-Class Mail
December 17th	USPS Ground Advantage
December 18th	Priority Mail
December 20th	Priority Mail Express

Saturday, December 20th, is the final day to send packages (to arrive by Christmas Eve) via USPS Priority Mail Express, while the cutoff date for packages to be delivered before Christmas via standard Priority Mail is Thursday, December 18th. First-Class Mail packages and those you intend to send via USPS Ground Advantage, meanwhile, must be sent by Wednesday, December 17th, if you want them to arrive in time for Christmas.

See more details regarding USPS shipping deadlines here.

Amazon holiday shipping deadlines

If you subscribe to Amazon Prime and live in an eligible ZIP code in the US, you can get Same-Day Delivery on certain items through December 24th. You’ll need to meet the “minimum threshold” of eligible items in your cart; however, the exact threshold varies by location (see here for more details). Same-Day Delivery costs up to $2.99 per order for Prime members whose orders fall under the threshold, or up to $12.99 for non-Prime customers.
Prime members can get One-Day Delivery for eligible products through December 23rd with no minimum purchase amount or Two-Day Delivery through December 22nd.
If you’re a Prime member in select US cities, you can take advantage of two-hour grocery delivery through December 24th.

Shipping times and prices may vary depending on the product type, size, and whether it’s shipping directly from Amazon or a third-party seller, so make sure to check the expected arrival date at checkout, then choose accordingly.

Best Buy holiday shipping deadlines

If you’re a My Best Buy Plus or Total subscriber, you can get free two-day shipping with no minimum order size. However, those without a premium subscription must meet the $35 order threshold (before taxes but after coupons), and only certain items are available for next-day and standard shipping.
Free next-day delivery is available on select items through December 23rd if you order by 10:30AM local time.
You can get free same-day delivery if you order your package on December 24th, as long as you place your order by 12PM local time.
If you order online by 5PM local time on Christmas Eve, you’ll also be eligible for in-store pickup until 7PM.

Keep in mind that Best Buy’s shipment and arrival dates vary depending on the type of item you’re purchasing. Major appliances, for instance, may take longer to be delivered than smaller, more conventional electronics.

Walmart holiday shipping deadlines

Walmart offers free standard shipping on orders of $35 sold directly from Walmart. You must place orders by 12:30PM local time on December 23rd to receive the package in time for Christmas, however. Next-day shipping is also available in some areas.
Walmart also offers free next-day and two-day shipping to Walmart Plus subscribers with no order minimum. However, the arrival date of your package may vary depending on whether Walmart or a third-party seller is shipping your item.
The retailer offers same-day pickup and delivery on orders placed by 12PM local time on December 24th.
You can also have the package delivered to you in as little as one hour on Christmas Eve if you order by 5PM local time and pay a $10 Express Delivery fee.

Target holiday shipping deadlines

Target stores will be open until midnight through December 23rd and 8PM local time on Christmas Eve, though it’s wise to get pickup orders and same-day shipping orders in by December 23rd to be on the safe side.
Orders placed by 6PM local time on Christmas Eve are eligible for in-store pickup until 8PM.
Those with a Target Circle card can receive free two-day shipping on many items from the retailer’s website, and same-day delivery on orders placed by 3PM local time on Christmas Eve. Next-day delivery is available in 35 cities, too, but the order cutoff time varies by location.
Many (but not all) orders over $35 are eligible for free shipping, even if you don’t have a Target Circle card or Circle 360 membership. It’s determined by the item’s location and your ZIP code.

As with Walmart and Amazon, be aware that items shipped or sold by third-party retailers at Target may result in longer lead times. Product listings usually spell out your options for pickup, same-day delivery, and standard shipping — complete with estimated availability times — before you add them to your cart.

Update, December 13th: Updated shipping deadlines and other related information pertaining to the 2025 holiday season.