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Tag: Shopping

  • I Tested 17 Aluminum-Free Deodorants to See Which Ones Actually Worked

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    Compare Our Top 11 Natural Deodorants

    More Natural Deodorants We Tested

    Photograph: Louryn Strampe

    Kopari Performance Plus Deodorant for $20: This deodorant smells great—like a floral, beachy coconut. It’s more fresh than sweet, and I’d say it’s unisex-leaning-feminine. It goes on clear and smooth, and it didn’t stain my clothes at all. However, it didn’t last me through a workout without reapplying, unlike some other brands I tried. I think it’s fine, but I wouldn’t call it a “performance deodorant.” If you’re looking for a clear formula and you don’t mind reapplying, it might be worth a shot.

    Curie Clean Deodorant (two-pack) for $28: This formula smells good when first applied, but quickly fades away after an hour or two. It also stained my clothes more than some others I tried. During my second use, it caused some irritation, so I discontinued it. I didn’t notice myself sweating more or less compared to other kinds of natural deodorant. However, the brand does have a great Detox Mask that can help with the transitional period when switching to natural deodorant. It’ll be featured more prominently in an upcoming guide.

    Dove Aluminum-Free Deodorant for $11: Dove’s deodorant is mostly fine, and I like how affordable it is. But the texture is really smooth and leaves my underarms feeling strangely sticky, even after letting them dry. The fragrances aren’t powerful or long-lasting enough for my own personal preference. They also all have a powdery undertone that I was not a fan of. I did notice some BO partway through the day during my testing. Since this is so subjective, your mileage may vary. The packaging also came taped shut, and the tape left behind sticky residue on the outside of my deodorant that was impossible to remove without rubbing alcohol.

    Lume Whole Body Deodorant (three-pack) for $40: This pricey deodorant smelled terrible to me. I received the Invisible Cream formula in Minted Cucumber, which smelled like pool chlorine and hand soap. I refused to put it on my body. I also received the Clean Tangerine Smooth Solid formula, which initially smelled marginally better but still had a weird hand-soap element to it. It left white marks all over my clothes and oddly smelled like cheese once applied. I washed it off and called my testing done. Reader, I love you, but I’m not going to smell like cheese all day just to see if the smell magically transforms after a few hours. Senior commerce editor Kat Merck also tried the Lavender Sage Invisible Cream, and she said it reminded her of laundry that was left overnight in the washing machine—and that the deodorant made her smell worse than she would have had she not worn any in the first place. Lume does have many fans across the internet, so again, this may be something that can be boiled down to personal preference. I suggest smelling it in a store before purchasing.

    Bite Refillable Deodorant for $44: I like the minimalist aesthetic of this refillable deodorant. The sleek metal case is almost miniature, and the entire setup is completely plastic-free. However, it’s easy to push the deodorant stick up too high, which can be messy if the temperatures are warm. In fact, I found the formula too soft in general, and it tended to get gunky and gummy throughout the day, both on my armpits and on the case. I also didn’t love the neroli scent. I think this could work well if you want the most minimalist, nondescript natural deodorant possible, but there are other refillable options that smell better and last longer.

    Best Natural Deodorants Bit Brand with tin packaging

    Photograph: Louryn Strampe

    Saltair AHA Deodorant for $13: I was initially really impressed by the scent I tried from Saltair. Pink Beach smells like a summer sunset on the ocean. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts to make it work, I couldn’t apply this formula without my armpits feeling sticky and irritated. I used it on clean, dry, hairless skin, and I let my armpits dry fully before lowering my arms. But I had this constant feeling of tacky, sweaty irritation that eventually led to a rash, so I discontinued testing.

    How Does WIRED Test Natural Deodorants?

    I‘ve been wearing natural deodorant since 2020. I wore each of these deodorants at least seven times—including at least once during a calm day at home and at least once during a workout at the gym. I also tested whether they stain by putting on a black T-shirt after application. I test each on freshly showered and shaved skin, and by reapplying it at least once on a day that I haven’t showered. Next I’ll be testing liquid AHA deodorants and aluminum-free deodorant from Schmidt’s.

    What Ingredients Make Natural Deodorant Work?

    Here’s an explanation about some of the ingredients you may see in your research.

    Aluminum: Natural deodorants (usually) mask odor and don’t emphasize sweat reduction. Antiperspirants (usually) mask odor and prevent sweat. The sweat prevention comes from aluminum salts, which block sweat ducts under your arms. There were a few studies that talked about elevated breast cancer or Alzheimer’s disease risks from using aluminum, but there’s no definite link between them (according to the FDA, the American Cancer Society, and the National Cancer Institute, among others). It’s probably fine to use antiperspirants with aluminum in them. Some people with kidney disease are advised to avoid aluminum, and others want to “play it safe” and avoid aluminum. As for me, I sort of feel better when I sweat? In any case, that’s the lowdown on aluminum. TL;DR: The science says it’s fine for most people.

    Parabens: Parabens are preservatives that have been shown to mimic estrogen in the body, but at much lower rates than the body’s natural estrogen. Parabens are somewhat common ingredients in food, medicine, and beauty products, though they’re less common as more people try to avoid them. Some parabens are banned in the EU until more research can be done. The FDA has concluded that parabens are safe. It’s relatively easy to avoid parabens if you choose to. Most antiperspirants don’t contain parabens; most natural deodorants don’t, either.

    Phthalates: Phthalates make plastic more flexible and durable, and they can also be used in some beauty products as stabilizers. Some studies have concluded that they’re safe; others suggest links between phthalates and skin irritation, cancer, or early death. But those links were not causal. Phthalates do have a California Proposition 65 warning. The recommended deodorants in this guide are phthalate-free. Many antiperspirants do contain phthalates, but not all of them.

    Baking soda: Some natural deodorants use baking soda as an absorptive agent to prevent sweat and as an antibacterial agent to prevent odor. Some people can develop a rash from using baking-soda-based formulas, due to the reaction between the baking soda and their body’s natural pH balance. It’s hard to tell whether or not you’re sensitive to baking soda until you try it, but if you typically have sensitive skin, you may want to try a formula without baking soda. (We recommend some in this buying guide.)

    What Is the “Transition Period”?

    When you make the switch from antiperspirant to natural deodorant, you might go through a transition period lasting from one to four weeks. Long story short, after years of not sweating while using antiperspirants, you might find yourself sweating a whole lot more as your body adjusts when switching to natural deodorant. It’ll level out eventually, but for me personally, I smelled like a gym full of teenage boys for two weeks. Some people don’t have a transition phase at all. I also developed a heat rash from sweating so much during the middle of summer—my skin was irritated, which meant I couldn’t use deodorant at all, therefore raising the Stink Factor. Now, though, I sweat less than I ever did while using antiperspirants.

    Be prepared to stick it out. I have an issue with the term “detox,” because our bodies already have a detoxifying process (called the kidneys). However, a clay mask like the Curie Detox Mask can be helpful in drawing out excess moisture and calming down irritated skin that you might experience during the transition period. Otherwise, just keep your underarms dry and be gentle on your skin. It won’t last forever.

    What the Tables in This Guide Mean

    It’s hard to empirically test deodorant. Scent preferences vary from person to person, and they can change based on your body chemistry. Some people might prefer a different formula, some people shave and some don’t, and some people care more about sweat absorption than scent. Do you shower every single day? Do you work out frequently? Do you naturally sweat a lot or a little? All of these things can factor in to whether or not you’ll like a deodorant. Here’s what the tables in this guide mean.

    Available scents: How many scents you can choose from as of press time.

    Free from: These ingredients are not in the deodorant.

    Scent strength: “Strong” lasts all day. “Medium” fades halfway through the day. “Faint” means it faded fast or was barely noticeable in the first place.

    Sweat level: “Low” means I didn’t notice any sweat. “Medium” means I noticed some wetness but didn’t feel the need to reapply the deodorant. “High” means I sweat a lot and felt the need to reapply throughout the day.

    Clothing stains: “None” means it didn’t stain my clothes. “Few” means it might show up on a black T-shirt. “High” means it will absolutely show up on your clothes, regardless of color.

    Functional ingredients: A list of the main ingredients that help absorb sweat and prevent odor.

    Formula details: Is it vegan? Is it a stick, cream, or roll-on? I’ll let you know here.

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

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    Louryn Strampe

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  • Gear News of the Week: Steam Makes a Home Console, and Apple Debuts a $230 Pouch for Your iPhone

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    Valve made a big return to PC hardware this week. The company, most famous for its PC gaming platform, Steam, announced a new home console called Steam Machine alongside a new version of the Steam Controller, and a new virtual reality headset dubbed the Steam Frame.

    The Steam Machine is a revival of Valve’s original Steam Machine, a failed attempt to bring PC gaming to the living room almost exactly 10 years ago. Now, it’s back, built on the success of the Steam Deck handheld. Valve claims the new Steam Machine is six times more powerful than the Steam Deck, and it’s kind of like a compact PC. We don’t have exact measurements yet, but some early hands-on impressions have called it similar in size to the Nintendo GameCube. The Steam Machine uses a custom Zen 4 CPU from AMD, and will reportedly be sold in several memory and storage configurations, which are user-upgradable. The new Steam Controller is meant to be paired with the Steam Machine, and it has two haptic-feedback trackpads and the typical assortment of thumbsticks, buttons, triggers, and bumpers.

    Lastly, there’s the Steam Frame. This long-awaited VR headset is the follow-up to the Valve Index, which is over six years old. Valve calls the Steam Frame a “streaming-first” VR headset, meant to be connected to a PC for lag-free, wireless gaming. To overcome the problem of latency, the Steam Frame will come with a dedicated wireless module to connect to your PC to ensure all the visual data is transferred as smoothly as possible.

    The Steam Frame can also be used as a stand-alone headset, running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, meaning you’d be playing x86 games on ARM in SteamOS. It’s a tricky endeavor, but based on the success of the Steam Deck in juggling the emulation layers required, I trust Valve to do it in a way Microsoft has always struggled with. As for the headset itself, it only weighs 440 grams, which is significantly lighter than both the Meta Quest 3S and the recently announced Samsung Galaxy XR. It has two pancake lenses with two LCD screens at 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye.

    There’s a lot more to learn about these devices, and none of the new hardware has a firm release date or price yet, as is customary with Valve. All we know is that these devices will begin shipping in early 2026. —Luke Larsen

    A Pouch for Your iPhone

    Courtesy of Apple

    You’ve probably already seen or heard about the iPhone Pocket. Inspired by a “piece of cloth,” it’s a tiny shoulder bag designed to carry around your iPhone, and it stems from a collaboration between Apple and Japanese design brand Issey Miyake. The two companies have enjoyed a long history—Steve Jobs famously wore Issey Miyake’s black turtlenecks on stage during every major launch event.

    The cloth is a singular 3D-knitted construction made in Japan and will be able to fit any iPhone model. This isn’t the first time Apple has suggested you put one of its products in a piece of cloth. In 2004, Apple debuted the iPod Socks, a simple and fun way to keep your iPod screen protected when traveling. They cost $29 at the time (about $50 today).

    Unfortunately, you’ll be paying a heck of a lot more for the iPhone Pocket. The pouch comes in a short-strap version for $150 and a long-strap design for $230. Both are available in a range of colors, but since this is a special-edition release, you’re only able to purchase them at select Apple Store locations and Apple.com in France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and the US. (It’s already sold out online.)

    Digital ID Comes to Apple Wallet

    You already have your boarding pass on your iPhone, why not your passport, too? That’s the idea behind Apple’s new Digital ID, a new way to add information from your US passport into Apple Wallet. Acceptance is rolling out in beta at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports around the US for domestic travel, though Apple says that will expand in the future.

    You’ll be able to present this form of identification even if you don’t have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID. (You can already add your driver’s license to Apple Wallet, but this is only available in select states.) It’s important to remember, though, that Apple’s Digital ID does not replace a passport, which is still required for international travel.

    Samsung’s Movingstyle Screens Can Go Wherever You Do

    Gear News of the Week Steam Makes a Home Console and Apple Debuts a 230 Pouch for Your iPhone

    Courtesy of Samsung

    Samsung has announced a new line of “portable” monitors that are meant to travel with you around your house or office. The Movingstyle (LSM7F) and Movingstyle M7 Smart Monitor (M70F) are standard 27- or 32-inch displays, with one big twist: They come with a rollable floor stand with hidden wheels. Rather than have separate large screens in each room, the idea behind these Movingstyle monitors is to have a screen on the go—similar to LG’s StanbyMe range. It’s not hard to imagine scenarios where this could be convenient. Maybe you’re following a recipe in the kitchen or want to finish a show you’re watching on your television in the bedroom. Samsung claims the wheels are quiet and stable on both hardwood floors and carpet.

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    Julian Chokkattu

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  • I’m a Smart-Home Writer and This Is How I’m Automating My Holiday Parties

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    There’s an automated solution, though. For my latest parties, I brought the HP Sprocket Photo Booth Machine ($600), and it was a hit. It’s a 21-inch-tall, portable photo booth that both automatically prints 3 x 4-inch pictures and lets you download digital versions via a QR code. I love that you can create events on the device and set up customized filters—mine had the word “Soupsgiving” on the bottom, though it was in an incredibly small font compared to the regular filter designs—and you can also add settings like how many prints of one picture guests can print. We left the default setting of two on for the soup-themed Friendsgiving, but I think I’ll bump it up to at least three for future gatherings. Make sure to stock up on HP’s Zink paper packs ($40 for 50) for the photo booth to print with, especially if it’s a big gathering. It will need both Wi-Fi access and a power outlet.

    HP

    Sprocket Photo Booth Machine

    Sprocket Zink Photo Paper

    How to Automate Your Appetizers

    Feeding a crowd is hard. Feeding a crowd that includes some serious allergies and dietary restrictions doesn’t make it any easier. In the spirit of automating everything I could, I turned to ChatGPT to come up with my appetizer for a group that featured two vegetarians and someone whose allergies include avocado, beans, shellfish, and eggs. (Getting those two sets of friends their protein needs at the same time has a singular overlap in the Venn diagram of what they can all eat: tofu.)

    ChatGPT did a good job brainstorming some possible options, and when I asked for a holiday angle, it came up with new options that were nice and seasonal. I chose to go with the lowest-lift option—pomegranate and ricotta crostini—but the baked brie bites were a big contender too. I was able to have this digital conversation and get the recipes all on ChatGPT’s free tier, but you can hit the paywall when you ask too many questions or ask things that need more research from the artificial intelligence.

    How to Automate Your Cooking

    Fellow WIRED reviewer Matthew Korfhage is currently testing two different robots that will cook your dishes for you, but in the meantime, the closest I’ve found is the 10-in-1 Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker Pro ($119). You can choose from options ranging from sear and slow cook to sous vide and even bake. It turned my broccoli-cheddar soup experiment (I was on a quest to replicate my favorite Panera soup for Soupgiving) into a one-pot dish where I could sauté my onions, stir up my béchamel, and then mix in all my ingredients and let it simmer until done. It even comes with an integrated utensil.

    It was really helpful to use in an already busy kitchen, and I imagine it would be indispensable for big, Thanksgiving-style dinners where the stove and oven are monopolized. While I still had to do the cooking, I was able to hang out in my own little spot and let the PossibleCooker help me. It has a timer in the front to help remind me how long I’ve been cooking on a setting, though I do wish there were a medium setting (your choices are low and high for the cooktop settings).

    Photograph: Nena Farrell

    Ninja

    Foodi PossibleCooker Pro

    Automate Your Food Disposal

    There are a lot of food scraps when you’re cooking for events like Thanksgiving and holiday dinner parties. I really loved grabbing the canister from the FoodCycler and bringing it next to where we were cooking soups so everyone could throw their food scraps in as we went. When it’s full, just set it in the machine and it will grind-and-dry the scraps (or leftovers!) into a sort of nutrient-rich meal that can be mixed in with potting soil or sprinkled on your lawn. I have the new FoodCycler Eco 5, and WIRED reviewer Kat Merck recommends the FoodCycler Eco 3 as one of her favorite home food recyclers.

    FoodCycler

    Eco 3 Compact Kitchen Food Recycler

    What Else I’m Testing This Holiday Season

    The holiday season is only just starting, and I’ll be testing more gadgets and gear all season long. Here’s some of what I’m testing next:

    The Bartesian Cocktail Maker ($349): This cocktail maker promises to be the Keurig of cocktail machines, with capsules for cocktail mixes instead of coffee. You’ll need to bring your own liquor, but once you fill up the included containers with the liquid, the machine should be able to take it from there. I’ll be testing some of the fun holiday cocktails too.

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    Nena Farrell

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  • ‘All this over some Coors light’: New York Instacart shopper has to call the cops on a customer. Was he valid?

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    An Instacart shopper has gone viral after calling the cops on what he described as a ‘Karen.’ In a two-part TikTok series, which has amassed over 1 million cumulative views, Max Kanner (@maxkanner15) shared how his dealings with an Instacart shopper quickly went off the rails.

    In essence, Kanner claims that the woman “flipped out” when he asked to scan her ID on his phone, saying that she was uncomfortable with this. He says that while he repeatedly explained that it was Instacart’s policy to do this, the woman refused to relent. He notes that while she was obviously overage, Instacart wouldn’t let her keep her order if she didn’t have her ID scanned. So, he started grabbing the shopping bags to return this order.

    As he started grabbing bags, he claims she started grabbing too, and began recording him. At this point, he called Instacart and explained that the customer refused to have ID scanned—and Instacart, he said, agreed with him, saying that they would need to refund the order.

    At this point, the woman threatened to call the police—but Kanner got there first. He said he decided to record her too, and then shared footage of the encounter, where the woman reiterates that she didn’t want her ID scanned.

    “I don’t know why you’re being difficult with me,” the TikToker said.

    “You are at my house,” the woman shot back.

    As he tried to take another bag, the woman could be seen intervening, with Kanner asking her not to touch him. He reiterated that he was doing what Instacart told him to do, and as the woman accused him of “making things up,” he retorted, “When I was grabbing the bag you came at me.”

    @maxkanner15 PART 1. HAD TO CALL POLICE ON CUSTOMER BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO LET ME SCAN THEIR ID ON AN ORDER CONTAINING ALCOHOL. I kept calm the whole time and they flagged her account for what I had to go thru. #instacartshopper #instacartstorytime #copscame #instacartdelivery #karensgonewild ♬ original sound – Max Kanner

    What happened next?

    In the second part, Kanner shared more footage of himself and the woman in conversation with the police. According to him, the woman lied several times to the cops. Her first purported lie was that he tried to take the order back, with Kanner noting that she was “missing the part” when Instacart told him to do so.

    The second was when she told the police that she was telling him what to say to Instacart, when, in actuality, Kanner says that she was “screaming” at him. The woman also allegedly claimed that the man gave her “misinformation,” and that she used her phone to call the police, when she was actually using her phone to record him.

    Kanner also claimed that the woman insulted him by implying that he was a “he/she” and that he came from a poor neighborhood. At one point, the TikToker called the woman a ‘Karen,’ which, in turn, irked both the woman and the police. Despite the woman now saying she’d scan the ID, Kanner said he was uncomfortable and that Instacart was already processing the refund. So, he left.

    He says that he later showed his parents the video. They noted that she comes from a wealthy area that has its own police force, and questioned whether the cops sided with the woman because of this.

    Ultimately, he says that Instacart was “really helpful.” The company flagged the woman’s address so that he would never have to deliver to her again.

    Kanner didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via TikTok comment. Instacart didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via email.

    In the comments, users took Kanner’s side. “She doesn’t want a random person to have an her ID, but she gave a random person her address mind you,” one wrote.

    “It’s not just Instacart policy, it’s the LAW to ID for alcohol purchases,” another added.

    “It’s honestly that age range,” a third remarked. “They feel [like] everyone is trying to steal their info. Not sure how we can steal info from scanning their ID. I don’t think like a criminal, though.”

    While a fourth speculated, “I bet it’s not her first time doing this, she must’ve gotten away with it other times if so.”

    A fifth theorized that “100% her ID is expired or suspended. She’d have to do the same thing if she went in person and thought she could work around it.”

    Does Instacart always require an ID for alcohol purchases?

    According to an Instacart website targeted toward drivers, the shopping service only delivers alcohol to those aged 21 or older.

    To release the order, the customer must also present an “Instacart-accepted form of ID” to the driver, along with their date of birth, to verify their identity. The site also recommends telling customers about the policy prior to their delivery because “the customer experience is better if the customer knows what to expect.”

    Other rules from Instacart’s alcohol policy include never leaving the alcohol unattended and not allowing an underage or intoxicated person to collect the order.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.

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    Charlotte Colombo

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  • I’ve Been Writing About Black Friday for 12 Years. Here’s My Advice

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    Black Friday used to actually just be one day long. Shoppers would camp outside of stores, paper circulars in hand, eagerly awaiting the chance to bust down some doors and save a ton of cash. Over time, the sales event has grown. Now, the entire month of November is a hydra where the heads are “slashed prices” and the sword-wielding hero is an overwhelmed customer.

    Nearly every deal is available online, meaning you don’t need to leave the couch to participate. But all the marketing and chaos can get confusing. How can you tell if a deal is worth your time and money? When do sales start and end? Do you really need that gadget? I’m a Black Friday veteran who’s been shopping the sales since early childhood and writing about them since 2013, and I’m here to help.

    When Is Black Friday?

    In 2025, Black Friday falls on November 28. It’s followed by Cyber Monday on December 1, 2025. Most of the official sales start on Wednesday or Thanksgiving, though some of the best deals start on Friday, sometime in the early hours.

    I have been Black Friday shopping for over 20 years. My advice, if you’re on the hunt for killer deals, is to stay up late the day before Thanksgiving to check for online sales starting around midnight Eastern time on Wednesday, November 26. WIRED will also cover major sales later in the day on Thanksgiving. Early Black Friday deals are available now, as they usually are during the weeks leading up to the event.

    Can You Get Black Friday Deals Online?

    You can—and should. We exclusively cover online deals at WIRED because the majority of Black Friday deals are available on the web. The best deals often sell out quickly, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to your favorite store’s sale pages (and our coverage).

    Make a list of what you want to buy ahead of time—this can help you keep a clear head when it’s time to start shopping. You shouldn’t buy things just to buy them. Everyone’s on a tighter budget these days; sales will happen again. Take a deep breath and don’t get sucked into the frenzy.

    Which Retailers Will Have Black Friday Deals?

    Nearly all of them. There are obvious stores, like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy, but chances are every retailer and brand will have some sort of sale, spanning deals on clothing, shoes, books, electric scooters, tech, health and beauty items, or fitness specialty goods, to name just a few categories. There might even be promotions going on at your favorite coffee shop or restaurant. When in doubt, visit a retailer’s website. Usually, Black Friday sales are highlighted proudly on the homepage.

    Here are a few Black Friday sales pages from major retailers:

    Is Black Friday Worth It?

    In a word: Usually. Most of the time, Black Friday deals are the best we see all year, and they set the precedent for what dictates a good price in the months that follow.

    However, some Black Friday deals aren’t all that great or are repetitive from year to year. For instance, you’ll predictably see low prices on some smart-home tech, like the Amazon Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini. In previous years, those speakers have sold for around $20 or so, every single November. This year, they’ll probably dip to the same price. Even if a price is technically a historic low, consider whether you truly need another cheap little speaker before you place your order—especially considering that these deals tend to pop up repeatedly throughout the year.

    Discounts aren’t jaw-dropping if the products go on sale every few months, and unfortunately, we have seen more and more repeat sales as the shopping holidays start to blur into one big ball of madness. But the deals are still worth it if you are in the market for a specific item and want to save some cash. Just keep in mind that price research is important, and if you miss out on a deal, don’t fret; there’s a strong chance it will come around again at some point in the future.

    How Much Money Can I Save on Black Friday?

    That depends on what you’re shopping for. There are so many deals up for grabs in so many categories that it’s impossible to list them all here.

    For example, TVs are usually a great purchase to make around Black Friday, if you can find the right model. They are at their cheapest this time of year, especially if you don’t want to wait until Super Bowl season. In the same vein, you’ll be able to save on clothes, toys, and home goods, but those deals may not be as enticing when you look at specific dollar amounts. It’s safe to assume that everything is less expensive than usual, though.

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    Louryn Strampe

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  • Black Friday Is Coming, but These Deals Will Give You a Head Start

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    Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping holidays of the year. Falling on the Friday and Monday after Thanksgiving, it’s safe to expect Black Friday deals on thousands of items big and small. As always, the WIRED Reviews team will be scouring the Internet to find truly good deals on items we’ve actually hand-tested and would recommend to a friend. While the official sales have not yet started, there are already some great early discounts on reliable gear. Find our favorites below.

    Don’t miss our other recent deals roundups about the REI Holiday Sale and the Home Depot Black Friday Sale.

    Featured in this article

    The Best MacBook

    Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 2025)

    Jump to Deal

    The Best Bamboo Sheets

    Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set

    Jump to Deal

    Apple Watch SE 3 for $200 ($50 off)

    Photograph: Adrienne So

    The Apple Watch SE 3 is the best Apple Watch for most people. It has excellent value and most of the tracking metrics you’d want, like skin temperature sensing and sleep apnea notifications, in addition to common stats like steps, sleep, and workout efficacy. It doesn’t have blood oxygen or ECG capabilities, but we like the watchOS 26 operating system, the long-lasting battery, and the very affordable price tag.

    Apple

    Watch Series 10

    The last-gen Apple Watch is still fantastic, though we wish its battery lasted longer. But this price is a goodie.

    Dyson

    V12 Detect Slim

    Here’s a great deal on a capable Dyson vacuum, which is ideal for small spaces like a studio apartment.

    Amazon

    Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Generation)

    If you watch a lot of Amazon Prime Video content, this is a solid 4K streaming stick with an easy-to-use operating system that favors Amazon content.

    Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 2025) for $750 ($249 off)

    • Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

    • Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

    • Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

    • Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

    Apple

    MacBook Air (13-inch, 2025)

    The 2025 MacBook Air is the best MacBook on the market right now, and this price matches the best we’ve tracked (and is $50 lower than we’d seen up until this month). It can handle the tasks you’d expect, including multiple Google Chrome tabs with applications running in the background. It also has an upgraded 12 MP webcam and a few different ports, including a headphone jack. We do recommend going for upgraded unified memory if you’re a power user, and while it can handle some photo editing or other content creation, it’s probably not the best choice if you’ll be editing videos or other graphics-intensive tasks. But for just about anyone else, it’s worthwhile, especially at this price.

    Boox

    Palma 2

    This little tablet works well as an e-reader, especially if you’re traveling.

    Apple

    AirTags (4-pack)

    These trackers can add just about anything to Apple’s Find My network, and the price comes close to the best we’ve seen.

    Nothing Ear (a) for $89 ($20 off)

    Left: Two yellow in-ear buds on a wooden surface. Right: Hand holding one in-ear bud, showing the panel that extrudes.

    Photograph: Parker Hall

    These ultra-stylish earbuds are the very best on the market. The Nothing Ear (a) are on sale for this price relatively often, but it’s just $10 higher than the best we’ve tracked, and we’ve seen them sell out before when they do hit $79. The on-board touch controls and small, sleek charging case are nice, but the battery life and noise cancellation are nothing to sneeze at either.

    Ekster

    Vacuum Travel Kit

    This waterproof vacuum bag can hold a lot of stuff, though it’s best if you don’t need to separate items.

    Cadence

    Parcel

    These TSA-approved magnetic containers are great for travelers who like to decant their own products. Note that this 10 percent discount jumps to 20 percent off if you spend $200+, and 30 percent off for $300+.

    bb.FONTS

    Birds of a Feather Tote Bag

    This giftable vegan leather tote bag has space for a 16-inch laptop, plus much more.

    LYMA

    The Lyma Laser

    This pricey, easy-to-use laser can tighten and brighten skin, and it basically never goes on sale.

    Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheets for $246 ($62 off)

    • Photograph: Nena Farrell

    • Courtesy of Cozy Earth

    Cozy Earth

    Bamboo Sheet Set

    These decadant, soft sheets are silky, smooth, and slightly chilly when you first get into bed. WIRED reviewer and sheets expert Nena Farrell likens them to climbing in a puddle of melted butter—which sounds about as luxuriant and comfortable as falling asleep can possibly feel. They get warm in the night, so they’re especially nice to have during the cooler months of the year, and they’re deep enough to fit most mattresses. This deal is part of a larger sitewide sale at Cozy Earth—we also like its pajamas and slippers.

    Dreo

    TurboPoly Fan 508S

    Our favorite pedestal fan is quiet, it looks nice, and it has smart capabilities and optional RGB lighting too.

    Dreo

    Humidifier 524

    The best budget humidifier is user-friendly and customizable, and the indicator light provides at-a-glance air quality information.

    Great Jones

    All Aboard Cutting Board

    This oversize, nonslip cutting board is one of our favorites for prepping large quantities of basically anything.

    Great Jones

    Spout

    This little container is a great gift. It’s eye-catching and perfect for dispensing liquids like olive oil or salad dressing.

    Netvue Birdfy Plastic Smart Bird Feeder for $120 ($80 off)

    • Courtesy of Birdfy

    • Photograph: Medea Giordano

    Netvue

    Birdfy Plastic Smart Bird Feeder

    The best smart bird feeder goes on sale pretty often, but this time of year usually brings it to the lowest price we’ll see. Right now you can save on the base model with a solar panel. It might be worth forking over the extra cash for a lifetime subscription to its AI-powered bird identification services, though there’s a chance those lifetime subscription models will get cheaper on Black Friday. Otherwise, the subscription costs $5 per month. The feeder is easy to set up and use, with a 1080p wide-angle camera and an easy-to-clean, IP65 water-resistant plastic housing. You’ll have to mount the solar panel separately, if you go with that option, but the process isn’t too tricky.

    Birdfy

    Bath Pro

    This gift-worthy smart birdbath has a camera that’ll show adorable footage of birds—and probably other visitors, like raccoons and squirrels.

    Kiwibit

    Beako 4K Smart Bird Feeder

    This smart bird feeder has many thoughtful design touches, like a removable seed reservoir and intelligent recording times.

    FabFitFun

    Quarterly Subscription Box

    Beachwaver

    Blow Brush with Diffuser

    This blow-dry brush includes a few different attachments, and it works well with or without them.

    Dreamegg Sunrise 1 Alarm Clock for $60 ($40 off)

    • Photograph: Nena Farrell

    • Courtesy of Dreamegg

    Our favorite budget sunrise alarm clock gets surprisingly bright, and it has nine different colors of dimmable light to choose from. Also onboard are 29 different sleep sounds, and everything can be controlled on the clock itself rather than with a smartphone app or remote control. It doesn’t have a sunset routine, but the sunrise routine in the morning can help rouse you from sleep gently and naturally—which will especially come in handy during this time of year, when it feels like sleep schedules and circadian rhythms just go out the window.

    3i

    G10+ Robot Vacuum

    If you don’t need a ton of bells and whistles, this is a great deal on a basic robot vacuum that has a “startling” number of features per our expert reviewer.

    Branch

    Ergonomic Chair Pro

    We’ve tested nearly 60 office chairs. This option is the very best we’ve found, and it doesn’t go on sale for cheaper than it is right now.

    Lovesac

    Radiant Footsac Blanket

    I’m head over heels for this plush heated blanket, which has a built-in pocket to keep your feet warm. It’s my around-the-house sidekick during winter.

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

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    Louryn Strampe

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  • Our Favorite Webcam Is Marked Down by $35

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    Looking to upgrade your home office setup and impress your fellow remote workers? Consider the Logitech Brio 500, a variant of our favorite webcam, which is currently marked down by $35 at Best Buy, bringing the price down to just $95. While not everyone needs a webcam this loaded with features, it’s a good choice for anyone who frequently hosts meetings or presentations via software like Teams or Zoom.

    Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

    This upgraded webcam has a 4-megapixel sensor, which results in a sharp image. It’s capable of capturing 1080p video at 30 fps, or you can lower the resolution to 720p to raise the frame rate to 60 fps. It has an adjustable field of view with three options at 90, 78, and 65 degrees, so you can really lock in the perfect picture for that next presentation. The stereo microphone has a stated range of up to 4 feet, so you can sit back and relax and know that you’ll still be heard. You can attach it to your monitor or laptop with either the included clip, or using the adhesive on the mount, which we found stayed nice and sticky even when moving it frequently.

    You’ll also get access to a variety of helpful features bundled into the Logitech G Hub software. The classics are here, like autofocus and white balance, or you can let Logitech’s RightSight tech automatically tune everything, including centering you in the frame and zooming to get a good shot of your face. For anyone who needs to demonstrate or show off products, you can easily tilt the webcam down to point it at your desk.

    If you’re wondering about the numbers, I did some poking around on the Logitech site, and the cameras have essentially identical specifications. It looks like the Brio 500 is the one that’s sold on most consumer sites with a one year warranty, while the Brio 505 is targeted at businesses, with a longer three year warranty. If that’s important enough to warrant the full $30 price point, you can find that webcam here, or check out the other options on our roundup of the best webcams.

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    Brad Bourque

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  • The best early Black Friday beauty deals I’d recommend as a Beauty Writer

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    Fragrance lovers, you’re covered too. There are amazing savings on bestsellers from YSL and Armani, which make the perfect gift for her and if you’re in full winter wind-down mode, Laura Mercier’s Honey Bath is also included in the sale – dreamy.

    In short, take this as your sign to top up your routine, or tick a few Christmas wish list items off without totally rinsing your bank account.

    ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Black Cherry Cleansing Balm

    Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara

    YSL Loveshine Plumping Lip Oil Gloss

    Laura Mercier Honey Bath – Almond Coconut

    benefit Hoola Wave Light Cream Bronzer

    Fenty Beauty You Mist Setting Spray

    Shark Black Friday Beauty Deals:

    While some may head to Shark for its famous hoovers, I’m pretty obsessed with their beauty tech – in fact, I haven’t stopped recommending their latest Shark FacialPro Glow device since it landed on my desk last month.

    We know beauty tech doesn’t come cheap, but Black Friday savings definitely help – and Shark has just dropped theirs. First up, there’s £30 off the Shark CryoGlow Blemish Repair Mask, which was tested and reviewed in our best LED face masks guide. Our editor loved its cold-therapy tech for calming irritation and helping tackle breakouts.

    The discount I really wasn’t expecting to see this early is on the brand’s new Shark FacialPro Glow. It’s basically the first ever at-home device to mimic a hydrafacial. You can read all about it in my review here, but all I’m saying is my skin has genuinely never been glowier. The saving isn’t huge (£20 off), but I’m still very glad (and quite shocked) to see it included in the sale.

    And of course, if you’re after hair tools, the Shark FlexStyle and SpeedStyle are also part of the Black Friday lineup – ideal if you’re hunting for a beauty gift or simply want to make your morning routine quicker.

    Shark CryoGlow Blemish Repair Mask with Charging Stand

    What it is: A compact at-home facial tool that deeply cleanses, exfoliates, hydrates and depuffs with hot-and-cold therapy.
    Device type: Handheld skincare tool.
    Target treatment area: Face.
    Treatment time: 10 minutes.
    Wireless: Yes.

    Why we love it: The Shark FacialPro Glow is as close to a professional HydraFacial as you’ll get without leaving the house. It combines gentle exfoliation, deep cleansing, and serious hydration in one clever device – complete with a “gunk tank” that shows exactly what’s been pulled from your pores (oddly satisfying). You can switch to the Depuffi attachment after, which uses hot and cold therapy to calm redness, boost circulation and sculpt. It’s easy to use, self-cleaning, and genuinely delivers that just-had-a-facial glow.

    Shark FlexStyle 5-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Dryer

    Cult Beauty Black Friday Beauty Deals:

    While their Black Friday sale hasn’t officially gone live just yet, my other favourite online beauty retailer, Cult Beauty, is already treating us to 15% off your first beauty haul over £25 with the code FIRST15.

    Cult Beauty is basically home to every major name in beauty – from Sol de Janeiro, Charlotte Tilbury and Medik8, to Augustinus Bader, LANEIGE and Olaplex – so this is the perfect chance to stock up on your favourites or start ticking off those Christmas gifts early.

    Last year’s Black Friday event saw up to 25% off some of the biggest brands in the business (we’re talking Summer Fridays, Kosas, Hourglass and more), so it’s definitely one to watch. In the meantime, if you’re planning to make the most of that 15% off, here’s what Glamour’s Beauty Writer, Shani Cohen, recommends adding to your basket.

    Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder

    Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 76 Perfume Mist

    Beauty of Joseon Daily Tinted Fluid Sunscreen

    BYOMA Hydrating Soothing Milky Toner

    Anua Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum

    Paula’s Choice BHA Toner

    Charlotte Tilbury Black Friday Beauty Deals:

    Charlotte Tilbury has officially entered the Black Friday chat – and honestly, it might be the brand’s best sale yet. This year, Charlotte has dropped up to 50% off her bestselling beauty kits, including plenty of iconic duos that basically work out as “one for you, one for free.” If you’ve been eyeing anything from the brand’s holiday collection or her glow-giving staples, now’s the moment.

    As someone who has gone through more bottles of Hollywood Flawless Filter than I care to admit, this sale feels dangerously tempting. The Hollywood Flawless Filter Highlighter Duo is back, and so is the Magic Cream Duo – which is a dream if you want one to gift one to your bestie and one to keep strictly on your shelf. There are also eyeshadow palette duos, toner duos, and pretty much every kind of glow-boosting bundle you could want in the run-up to party season.

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    Shani Cohen

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  • Razer’s Cobra HyperSpeed Is Not Your Standard Gaming Mouse

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    Breaking open the mouse requires only four screws: two covered by one of the mouse’s adhesive feet, and two underneath the removable puck. Covering two of the screws with an adhesive panel limits repairability, since it will slowly lose stickiness over time. After removing the screws, there are two plastic clips up front and two in the back that need to be released. Like any plastic clip, you risk breaking them during disassembly.

    Inside the mouse is a single-sided printed circuit board that houses the sensor, micro switches, and the mouse wheel. The overall design is simple; with replacement parts and some soldering skills, repair should be straightforward. The battery is attached to a removable section on the top shell of the mouse using a rubbery adhesive. This adhesive panel stretches and sticks to itself when removed, making it nearly impossible to reuse with a new battery, but it leaves no residue on the actual plastic of the mouse. A new battery should be easy to install using double-sided tape.

    The Cobra HyperSpeed’s simple internal design has nothing unnecessary, and no added confusion or failure points. While some other models, like the Logitech MX Master 4 or the Razer Basilisk 35K, boast a lot of premium features (with added complexity), it’s always refreshing to see something only as complex as it needs to be.

    Alongside the $100 Cobra HyperSpeed, Razer also offers the $35 Cobra and the $130 Cobra Pro. Compared to the Pro model, the HyperSpeed’s slightly less responsive sensor and scaled-back RGB aren’t huge hits to performance or usability, and the HyperSpeed’s lower weight is a distinct advantage. Compared to the standard wired model, the addition of wireless is a major benefit to both performance and usability. The HyperSpeed’s optical scroll wheel is a definitive improvement over its siblings.

    Overall, this mouse is a solid workhorse for gaming and general browsing. It’s fast, comfortable, and compact. The simple yet robust build will stand up to normal day-to-day use. While it doesn’t push the limits of performance or functionality like some of the more expensive esports-focused mice available today, the Cobra HyperSpeed is a great option for someone who doesn’t need cutting-edge specs but wants a mouse that gets things done.

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    Henri Robbins

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  • The Best Deals From REI’s 2025 Holiday Sale

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    This year marks a decade of REI’s observance of the consumer high holy day, Black Friday. For the past 10 years REI has shut its doors for Black Friday, suggesting that instead potential customers should get outside and enjoy the world around you. That’s great advice, but of course Black Friday is also one of the biggest retail spending days of the year, and REI is a for-profit co-op—what to do? Have your holiday sale early, of course.

    This year the REI Holiday Sale runs from November 14-24. There are two member-exclusive coupons with the Holiday Sale. The first is for 20 percent off a regular-priced item at REI, the second is 20 percent off any item at REI Outlet. Many of the best REI deals this year are on the company’s house brand gear, but we’ve also pulled in deals from competing sales at Backcountry, Six Moon Designs, Zenbivy, and other cottage industry retailers. Below are the best deals on all our favorite tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, pads, cookware, outdoor apparel, and more.

    Not sure what you need? Check out our many outdoor gear guides, including guides to the best backpacking tents, best sleeping bags, best sleeping pads for backpacking, best base layers, best merino wool clothes, best rain jackets and many more for all our well-tested picks.

    WIRED Featured Deals

    Can’t You Just Put Links to All Your Outdoor Guides Right Here?

    Sure. Here you go:

    Hiking & Backpacking Gear Guides:

    Camping Guides

    Outdoor Apparel Guides

    Winter Sports

    Deals on Backpacks

    Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

    The Flash 22 is possibly the best value daypack on the market, especially now, on sale. This is a very lightweight, minimalist pack, but it’s surprisingly comfortable. It’ll handle loads up to 15 pounds without straining your shoulders, and the side stash pockets are large enough for a Nalgene bottle or rain jacket. The Flash 22 is made of 70-denier recycled ripstop nylon, which is on the lighter side, but mine has held up well, even on some rough cross country hikes in the North woods.

    The ultralight cousin to the Flash 22, the Flash 18 lacks the hip belt, side stash pockets, and floating lid. The result is a stripped-down, bare-bones pack that we like because you can stuff it in your carry-on, and have a nice backpack whenever you need it. Don’t load it up with more than 8 pounds of gear, and avoid anything with pointy bits, as there’s no padding here, but so long as you recognize its limitations, this is a great little pack.

    This travel backpack from Six Moon Designs makes it so you no longer have to pick between optimizing for air travel or carrying long distances at your destination. It’s the only bag I’ve used that maximizes your allotted carry-on space while remaining comfortable for a walk across a mid-sized European city or even a day on the trail. The bag’s square shape and suitcase handle make it easy to show the flight crew you’re compliant, but once you deplane, you have adjustable shoulder straps built by a brand that makes gear for serious backpackers. There’s also a padded harness with water bottle holders and a zipper pouches for Clif Bars or a flashlight. —Martin Cizmar

    Which GoRuck Backpack GR2 green bag on wood floor

    Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

    If I were going to live out of a single bag—traveling the world for the rest of my life—this is the bag I would bring. The GR2 is a gear-hauling monster with a ton of built-in organization options. This deal is on the 40L version, which I think is the perfect size for #onebag travel. It still manages to qualify as a carry-on bag for US flights (you may have trouble with that overseas though). The 34L waxed canvas version is also on sale for $340 ($115 off). And yes, it can double as a rucker, though there are better options if that’s your main use case. See below.

    This deal is only on a couple of colors, and only the X-Pac fabric, but this is the cheapest we’ve seen the GR1 go for in quite some time. The GoRuck GR1 (7/10, WIRED Review) is the pack that launched the company, and it’s still the best and most versatile of the GoRuck lineup. This deal is on the smaller, 21L pack which I think is the perfect size for rucking, everyday carry, and weekend trips. I have lived out of the 21L bag (with a shoulder bag for my camera gear) during a weeklong trip. It was a squeeze, but it worked. The 21L GR1 is deceptively large and always seems to swallow more gear than I think it can.

    If rucking is your thing, this is the GoRuck to get. It’s very close to the GR1 in size, layout, and fabric options, but the Rucker adds more handles, one on each side. The handles are so that the Rucker can be used as a weight (or kettlebell) in workouts. The interior has a Ruck Plate pocket for holding weight (the 20L version can handle up to 3-pound plates while the 25L can do up to 45-pound plates). The interior pockets are the same as the GR1, but instead of zippers, you get Velcro closures.

    Camping and Backpacking Deals

    The 31 Best Deals From REIs 2025 Holiday Sale

    Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

    Six Moon Design’s Lunar Solo (7/10, WIRED Review) is my favorite single-wall ultralight solo tent. It’s not without its quirks (read the pitching tips), but if you want something more than a tarp, that still weighs just 26 ounces (740 grams), this one is hard to beat. It’s well ventilated for a single-walled tent, with the ability to raise up the front door when weather is nice. I also like that it only needs one trekking pole (or one pole if you don’t hike with trekking poles. You’d be hard pressed to find a tent even half this nice at this price.

    I’ve noticed that, when trying to lighten their load with a smaller, lighter backpack, people then struggle to fit all their gear. The answer for sleeping bags and clothing is this compression stuff sack, which smashes anything soft down to about half the size of the same item in a regular stuff sack. This works well with sleeping bags and clothing, especially puffer jackets, but also fleece and merino wool.

    The Flexlite Air camp chair is a great example of the promise of REI brand gear: it offers 90 percent of the designer item, for 70 percent of the price. It’s not quite as nice as the Nemo below, but it’s still comfortable (it does wobble a little, side to side when you move) and it’s nearly half the price.

    Nemo Moonlite Elite Chair front view in the woods

    Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

    I rarely bring a chair backpacking, but if I did, the Nemo Moonlite Elite would be in my pack. At 18 ounces, it’s one of the lightest chairs around, and it packs down nice and small. It’s comfortable and reasonable stable. Nemo also solved the main problem with all pole chairs; The included base pad keeps it from sinking into soft ground.

    This is my favorite backpacking sleeping pad. With an R-Value of 5.4 and weighing just 18.2 ounces, the All-Season has the best R-Value-to-weight ratio of anything we’ve tested. There are lighter pads, like the Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite, but they are not as warm, nor as comfortable. The Tensor All-Season packs down well, rolling into a tiny stuff sack. It’s about the size of a 16-ounce Nalgene bottle. I often pair this with a closed cell foam pad like the Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite when camping in snow for a little extra insulation.

    I have never slept so well camping as I have on this mat. Technically I have the car-friendly model, but in terms of comfort, they’re the same. In our guide to car camping pads the Therm-a-rest MondoKing edges out the Megamat for top pick among the monster sleeping pads, but I prefer the Megamat for it’s extra warmth (it has an R-value of 8.1 to the MondoKing’s R 7.0) and the soft texture of the top. It’s comfortable enough to sleep directly on the Megamat.

    If you get the Exped Megamat, you’ll inflate it without this pump exactly one time. Then you will come back and buy this pump like a sane person. Save yourself even the one time and just get the pump with the pad. You’ll never know how much you should thank me, but that’s OK. Just carry on and have a good night’s sleep.

    The 31 Best Deals From REIs 2025 Holiday Sale

    Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

    My favorite stove for actually cooking real food in the backcountry, the Firebox Nano is a titanium (or steel, but I highly recommend titanium) shell that you can fit with an alcohol burner like the Trangia Spirit burner, or an isobutane burner. You can also use wood to cook directly over flames the way your ancestors did, and you should. For backpacking, with its frequent and pesky burn bans, the Firebox Gas Burner with its diffusion plate is hands down the best backcountry cooking system. It won’t win you any prizes at the next /r/Ultralight get-together (the Firebox Nano on its own weighs 4.25 ounces for the titanium version), but you could be eating some delicious food in the backcountry.

    Outdoor Apparel Deals

    REI CoOp Rainier Rain Jacket

    Courtesy of REI

    This is still the best budget rain jacket you can buy. REI’s Rainier Jacket is impressively waterproof and reasonably long-lasting for $70. The durable water repellent (DWR) is PFAS-free, but still pretty good. You also get taped seams and an adjustable hood, two nice features you generally don’t find in jackets this cheap.

    REI’s Sahara Shade Hoodie offers UPF 50+ fabric (a polyester and spandex blend) to protect you from that high-altitude sun (or any sun). It’s soft and stretchy, so you have a good range of movement, and there are thumbholes in the sleeves to keep them from riding up and exposing your arms. The three-panel hood has a drawstring you can use the cinch it down and keep your neck covered as well. I do prefer merino sun hoodies, but they’re double the price, if not more.

    The 31 Best Deals From REIs 2025 Holiday Sale

    Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

    Smartwool’s 100 percent merino Classic Thermal base layer is a nice, heavy 250-gsm merino, base layer, making it a great base layer for cold weather. It’s our top pick heavyweight base layer. It fits looser, making it feel more like a comfortable shirt. The looser fit makes it possible to use this as a second base layer over something like Ibex Woolies when it’s extremely cold (this combo is something I wear all the time here in Northern Wisconsin). The bottoms are also on sale (Men’s/Women’s).

    Icebreaker’s 200 Oasis base layer is a 200-gsm base layer. This is about what most of us call a midweight base layer, making it a good choice for everything from cool weather hiking in the fall or spring, to skiing in the front country. The 100 percent merino fibers here are not quite as soft at the Smartwool above, but they’re equally good at regulating body temperature and wicking away moisture. This is also the fastest drying merino top in our base layers guide.

    REI’s base layers are a solid value. If you want one base layer to do it all and don’t want to spend a fortune, these are the base layers to get. You can have a crew top and bottom for less than a single garment of merino or a brand name synthetic. This is the midweight version, which is 220 GSM (92 percent recycled polyester, 8 percent spandex). They’re comfortable with a tight, but not overly-tight, fit that makes them easy to layer over, and there’s nice extras like thumb loops on the sleeves.

    There are tons of neck gators out there, but this is my favorite (I actually have the slightly longer version, but this is close). Like most things merino it puzzles me how this keeps me warm in the winter, and keeps the sun off my neck in the summer without making me overheat. Somehow it manages this. These make great gifts for your outdoorsy friends too.

    These Fjällräven pants are among my favorite hiking pants. The G-1000 fabric is 65 percent recycled polyester and 35 percent organic cotton. They’ve got pockets everywhere and extras like ventilation zippers, reinforced knees (with openings for pads), and a loop on the leg to hold a axe. Do your pants have a axe loop? Didn’t think so. Note that Fjällräven recently changed the fit, so if you’re an old school wearer of these, size up.

    Sleeping Bag and Quilt Deals

    Grey sleeping bag on top of light blue inflatable sleeping pad both laying in the grass

    Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

    REI’s Magma 15 is one of our top sleeping bags. It’s warm (comfort rated to 21 degrees Fahrenheit) with a 15-denier nylon ripstop nylon shell (Bluesign approved, with a non-fluorinated DWR coating to keep moisture at bay). Baffles are variably spaced and not stitched through, which helps the fill stay put and minimizes cold spots. I also really like the Magma hood, which is warm and stays on your head throughout the night. There’s a nice interior stash pocket I use to keep my headlamp handy.

    Nemo’s Forte 20 is a 30-degree (comfort rated) synthetic-fill sleeping bag, making it a good choice for summer. It’s our favorite synthetic bag. What I like most about this bag, and nearly all of Nemo’s sleeping bags, is the wider cut through the torso area down to the knees. This bag is almost a hybrid of a mummy bag and your father’s good old 1970s square sleeping bag. Which is to say, this bag is roomy.

    We’re still working on a guide to backpacking quilts, but it will probably surprise no one to learn that this is our current pick for best value quilt. Like the Magma 30 sleeping bag, the Magma quilt is not the lightest, nor the warmest, but you get a lot, for not a lot. The 15-denier shell encloses 850-fill-power water-resistant goose down that’s comfort-rated down to 30 F. Weighing just 1 lb. 6 oz for a long, the Magma is on the light side for the temp rating. The footbox uses a zipper and drawstring system to be either completely open and flat, or zipped up and cinched down like a sleeping bag on cooler nights.

    Nemo Pulse backpacking quilt in gray and lime green

    Courtesy: Nemo Equipment

    Nemo’s Pulse quilt is made of 1,000-fill duck down that keeps you warm while remaining extremely lightweight (just 18 ounces for the regular size). I’ve found this to be one of the warmest quilts I’ve tested. Nemo rates it to 20F, but I’d be willing to go down below that provided you have a good, well insulated sleeping pad. Part of the weight saving is the 10-denier ripstop shell, but it’s held up just find in my testing. My only complaint here is the footbox which does not come completely apart to lay flat.

    Our favorite sleeping bag for summer car camping, the Siesta isn’t fancy, but hey, it’s car camping. If all else fails, there’s a car to retreat to. With that in mind, don’t spend a fortune on a car camping bag if that’s all you need. The Siesta gives you a nice, roomy, rectangular cut, and the 20-degree rating makes it enough for three-season trips. The bonus here is the hood, which you don’t often find in this type of bag. If you don’t need the hood, REI also has the new Campwell 30 degree bag on sale for $70 ($30 off).

    Think of a Rumpl blanket as if your sleeping bag had a baby with the coziest lap blanket that your grandma knitted for you. They’re made from DWR-treated ripstop polyester, so they’re sturdy, durable, and resist getting soaked or stained. But they’re also soft and warm enough to fall asleep under on the couch, and they come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. —Adrienne So

    Puffer Jacket and Winter Gear Deals

    It’s already snowed once where I live. Now’s the time to score some new ski gear—jackets, helmets, gloves, and googles are all on sale.

    A person with wearing the REI Magma 850 Puffer Jacket in twotone grey standing against a light brown wall

    Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

    With an 850-fill-power goose down and a recycled ripstop nylon shell, this is one of the warmer jackets in our best puffer jackets guide. I like the zippered chest pocket (there are also two zippered hand pockets, one of which the jacket stuffs into), and at 12.5 ounces this jacket is surprisingly light for how warm it is. The front zip has a wind flap, and there’s even a draft collar, something you hardly ever find in a puffer at this price. Even better, you can cinch the hood to keep cold air from blowing in the sides.

    Our favorite bargain three-season puffer jacket, the REI 650 down jacket isn’t as warm as the Magma above, but it’s hard to argue with this price. If you need a cheap, packable jacket for those cold summits or star gazing on chilly nights, this is the jacket to get. The stitched-through baffles mean this one isn’t as warm and is more susceptible to wind, but at this price, it’s worth buying.

    Initially I did not like the idea of a down vest. If it’s cold enough to need a down jacket, my arms are probably cold too, right? But then I moved somewhere cold (Why? I don’t know, but I did) and realized there is an infinite variety of shades when it comes to cold. For some shades of cold, the vest is the right move. Pair it with a good base layer, maybe even a hoodie, and you have something that’s warm, but leaves your arms free to swing an ax or whatever you might be doing.

    Fjällräven’s hybrid fill jacket uses 700-fill-power down for most of the jacket but adds recycled polyester insulation over the shoulders to help resist moisture. That later works quite well when the snow is really coming down. The hood does a good job of keeping you warm while staying out of your way thanks to two drawcord tabs at the front, and an elastic drawcord at the back. It also, as the name suggests, packs down pretty small.

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

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    Scott Gilbertson

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  • These 17 Cozy Amazon Boots Are Identical to Ugg — From $20

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    Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!

    We love Ugg boots, slippers and clogs, too, but not shelling out triple digits for a single pair of kicks. Luckily, we stumbled upon these 17 cozy winter shoes that look identical to the pricey label. Even better, they’re hiding right on Amazon.

    If you love the classic mini boots, platforms, tall boots or any other Ugg styles, you’ll find your match below. These shoe picks instantly elevate any outfit, whether you rock them with errand-ready sweats or your favorite tee and jeans. You’re guaranteed to look like a rich mom.

    17 Comfy Ugg Boot Lookalikes on Amazon From Just $20

    1. Celebrity Style: We’ve spotted Gigi Hadid, Keke Palmer and other A-listers in the Ugg’s mini platform boots. These suede booties nail the exact aesthetic.

    2. Cute Chelsea: Nail multiple looks with these platform Chelsea boots that feature a cozy faux fur lining.

    3. Classic Mini Boots: Timeless and versatile, these boots are destined to be your new everyday staple. Memory foam insoles are just a bonus.

    4. Tasman Lookalike: We can’t believe how well these clog slippers emulate the real deal, especially with the stitching pattern. They’re just $23!

    5. Tall Boots: Chocolate brown-colored suede gives these tall boots a rich, expensive-looking flair. Plus, they’re as comfy as they are classy.

    6. Oh-So Fuzzy: Between the fur interior, cloud-like warmth and anti-slip outsoles, these short boots are a must-have for errand runs.

    7. Western Flair: Give your outfit a playful twist with these Western cowboy boots that are truly one-of-a-kind. Just look at the intricate details!

    8. Barbie-Approved: If you want an instant confidence and mood boost, opt for these pink slip-ons that make every day a good day.

    9. Buckle Up: Fur trim and a shiny gold buckle are just a few highlights of these ankle-height booties. You’ll wear them from the couch to brunch.

    10. Inches Taller: These heeled booties look eerily similar to the Ugg Ultra Mini New Heights Platform Booties, down to the height, heel shape and seam detailing.

    11. Gift-Worthy: Shoppers describe these mini boots as incredibly comfortable, so grab a pair for the comfort connoisseur in your life (and yourself).

    12. Boho Style: Score 30% off these stylish shoes that combine slippers, knit socks and fuzzy boots.

    13. Lounge Day: Look no further for your new Sunday staple. These ultra-plush slippers are made with real leather and comfy Australian shearling fur.

    14. Bow Tie Babe: What a classic! These mid-calf boots boast dainty bows, exposed seams and smooth suede that scream ‘Ugg.’

    15. $20 Stunner: Go bold with these boutiquey boots that have buttons, exterior fur and a deep taupe hue.

    16. Trendsetter Alert: Channel your inner Nashville in these cowboy-style snow boots. They should cost hundreds, but we’re not complaining!

    17. Winter Wedges: Check every box in these darling 2-inch wedges that dress up and down in seconds. Fur lining adds a chalet-ready appeal.


    Related: 19 Comfy Winter Dresses at Better-Than-Black Friday Prices — From $6

    Who wants to wear tight jeans at this time of year? Not me! That’s why I found 19 of the comfiest fall-to-winter dresses for every occasion this season. Even better, these picks are all marked down to Black Friday-level prices (if not lower) — courtesy of Amazon’s Black Friday Week event. I’m talking cozy must-haves […]

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    Savannah Born

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  • $25 Off Exclusive Blue Apron Coupon for November 2025

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    We’ve been testing (aka eating) Blue Apron for our guide to the best meal kit subscriptions for nearly half a decade.The Gear team likes this service so much, it has its own story. If you’ve been struggling with figuring out what to make for dinner, you can save some money on our top service right now using a Blue Apron coupon or deal featured right here on WIRED.

    Unlock $25 Off With Our Exclusive Blue Apron Promo Code

    Blue Apron makes it easy—new customers can enjoy $100 off for the first five weeks of a new subscription—plus the first week ships free). Blue Apron is offering discounts of up to $4 per serving, depending on whether you opt for 4, 6, 8, or 10 meals per week. WIRED readers get rewarded—in discounts on delicious food—with $25 off your first 2 orders with promo code CONDE25, until August 11 2026. There’s also other deals for 20% off your first 2 orders with code WELCOME20, 25% off with code WELCOME25 at checkout, and up to 50% off your first 2 orders with promo code ORDER50, no subscription needed. Check out Blue Apron and see if it’s the right meal kit service for you, and from there you’ll be able to claim the deal with either promo code, and both codes are valid site wide.

    Get a 5% Off Blue Apron Coupon With Autoship and Save

    Apron now offers an Autoship & Save program, which includes a 5% off discount on every order for autoship. Be sure to download the Blue Apron app, which allows you to easily manage subscriptions, get notifications, and live delivery updates through your phone. With Autoship & Save, you’ll set up recurring deliveries on a schedule that works for you, and you can save 5% on every order. This includes setting your own schedule, including how often you want deliveries and what day of the week you want them. Plus, you can always skip a delivery if you don’t need it that week. To get started, you just need to choose your menu items from a wide range of options, and every order is pre-filled with meals Blue Apron recommends, but you can always add, swap, or remove anything before it ships out.

    Explore Blue Apron’s New Meal Kit Options From $7

    If you’re a commitment-phobe like me and don’t want to sign up for pricey recurring orders in the subscription model before trying, we have good news. Unlike almost all other meal kits and delivery services, Blue Apron just updated their model to include a la carte meal kits and ready-to-eat meals that don’t require a recurring plan. You can get delivery in as little as three days, and it requires no commitment or mandatory subscription.

    Meal Kits include step-by-step recipes and pre-portioned food, from $7 to $13 per serving. Easy ‘Assemble & Bake’ meals require minimal prep and are $11 to $13 per serving, and ‘Dish by Blue Apron’ are ready to eat, heat-and-serve meals from $9 to $12 per serving. They’ve also expanded their menu with new recipes, now with over 100 meals to choose from.

    Score 20% Off Blue Apron+ or Start a 30-Day Free Trial

    Blue Apron now also has a membership program, where for $10 per month, you’ll get free shipping on all orders, unlimited Tastemade+ streaming (this includes food, home and travel shows, a $50 value), and exclusive deals promotions throughout the year. If the bonus promos seem like something you’d use, the membership program is a good deal, because delivery is already $10 per month, so you’re getting free shipping plus all of these extra goodies. If you’re unsure, you can try it out with a 30 day free trial, just follow the link here. The good news is that you can get 20% off an annual Blue Apron+ membership, now at $80 per year instead of $100.

    Save up to 50% With Blue Apron Heroes Discounts

    Blue Apron wants to reward our everyday heroes, and has discounts for Military members, Students, Graduates, Teachers, Seniors, Medical Staff, and First responders. Members of these groups can get $150 off the first five weeks of a new subscription, plus free shipping for the first week of subscriptions. To get this discount, you’ll need to verify through ID.me or GovXID.

    How to Make the Most of Your Blue Apron Subscription

    Blue Apron makes it easy to customize your meal plan to fit your lifestyle, with new rotating menus released every week. Choose from vegetarian, carb-conscious or protein-packed options, and adjust portions or skip weeks as needed. You can even add extras like appetizers or desserts for a complete dining experience. Simply pick out your plan—you can choose how many meals you want per week and select your choice from the Mediterranean-style weekly menus. Pick your veggie- and protein-forward meals, enter your shipping information, and get ready to get cookin’. And if you don’t really want to cook at all, check out the Prepared & Ready meals for heat-and-eat options. Going on vacation? It’s easy to skip, pause, change, or cancel your plan right from your account online. Head over to their site to explore all of their options and save with a Blue Apron coupon.

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    Louryn Strampe

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  • We Tried and Tested the Best Gifts for Plant Lovers With Our Own Green Thumbs

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    Ostensibly, plant lovers should be the easiest to shop for. Just get them a plant, right?

    Wrong. (Well, most of the time.) I review indoor hydroponic gardens for WIRED and have been a proud plant parent for almost 30 years, so I can say that even if you have a running mental catalog of all your recipient’s houseplants and know which ones they don’t yet have, you may not know what they have space for, or what kind of substrate or pot they’d like to be using.

    In general, the best gifts remind them of the plants they do have, or that will help them care for them. However, suppose you know beyond a shadow of a doubt your recipient would indeed like a plant. In that case, we’ve included a couple of mail-order options from companies we’ve tried and recommend, including a lucky jade plant and a fruit tree that bears edible fruit.

    For more gift ideas, check out our other gift guides, including Gifts for Bird Lovers, Gifts for Coworkers, Gifts for Book Lovers, and the Best Flower Delivery Services.

    Updated November 2025: We’ve added new gifts from LeafyPod, Growstar, and Goha, updated our listing for Via Citrus, and ensured accuracy of links and prices.

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    Kat Merck

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  • The New Apple Watch Ultra 3 Is $100 Off

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    Apple enthusiasts know that the latest generation of watches only rarely go on sale, so imagine my surprise this morning to spot the Apple Watch Ultra 3 marked down at Amazon. Like the other Apple Watches, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 comes in a variety of case color and band combos, so your mileage may vary on which are discounted. I spotted three at the lower $700 price point: Black Titanium Case with Black Alpine Loop, Natural Titanium Case with Blue/Bright Trail Loop, and Natural Titanium Case with Light Blue Alpine Loop.

    Photograph: Adrienne So

    WIRED editor Adrienne So got a chance to test it out, and was impressed with the upgraded battery life. It has a quoted 42 hours, and she found it was enough to get her through a weekend camping trip, using it for navigation, activity tracking, and even sending satellite messages, a new feature found specifically on the Apple Watch Ultra line, which lets you communicate or even send an SOS signal when you’re out of normal cell signal range. Managing multiple days of wear makes this a much more appealing option, now that you won’t be hunting for a charging brick on a long trip.

    Of course, it has all the great features you also expect from any of the latest series of Apple Watches. The screens all got an upgrade this time around, not just in terms of clarity, but to the protective outer layer as well, which should make them more ready for adventure. These watches have a raft of physical and biological tracking options, including an upgraded heart rate sensor that can help keep an eye out for medical issues like high blood pressure. It has sleep tracking as well, and can sense and track a variety of physical activities, like running, swimming, and cycling.

    Ultimately, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is great option for the truly adventurous. Anyone who likes to go diving, spend time in the wilderness, or just wants to go multiple days without having to charge their wristwatch, should consider this early discount on the device. Make sure to check out our full breakdown of the latest Apple Watch updates, or mosey on over to our favorite smartwatch roundup to check out the other options.

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    Brad Bourque

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  • Stocking stuffers? Sorted, and most under £30

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    Without a doubt, Christmas is my most favourite time of the year. But the one thing I loathe? Coming up with stocking filler ideas for my entire family. Because why is it so hard to find small gifts they’ll love?

    This year, I’m taking a new approach to what – in our house – are known as ‘Santa gifts’. Yep, I’m going for quality over quantity, willing to invest a little bit more — say, up to £60 — on skincare gift sets, fashion accessories, and wellness gifts for my mum, dad and boyfriend.

    And, in a bid to take all the stress out of gift-giving for you, I’m now sharing my carefully curated edit. Think sleep masks, Laneige lip balms, silk scrunchies and LEGO sets, all suitable for slipping inside their stockings ahead of Christmas morning. Not the right vibe? I’ve also located novelty gifts, miniature gadgets and edible gifts like cocktail cans and coffee guaranteed to please, too.

    So, whether you’re looking to stuff a Christmas stocking or simply add some smaller presents to their (neatly wrapped) pile, I’ve found you options. And, best of all, most come in under £30.

    SKIP TO:

    Having been a commerce writer for the last three years, and a gift guide writer for just over two, it’s fair to say that I’m in the know about the best gifts for anyone (and everyone) on your list. But to ensure I’m an authority on all things shopping, I’ve attended countless press days, spoken to numerous shopping experts and personally tested hundreds of products to ensure they meet my standards over the last six months. Essentially, you can also be reassured that only products and brands I genuinely love and would recommend to friends make it into the Glamour Gift Shop.

    But when reviewing products — this includes TikTok-acclaimed beauty, new-in clothing, aesthetic homeware and unusual Advent calendars — I consider them all against the following criteria:

    Ahead, the best stocking filler ideas for 2025, approved by Glamour editors.

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    Sophie Donovan

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  • The OnePlus 15 Has Two-Day Battery Life. ’Nuff Said

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    On days with light use, I have 70 percent left by bedtime. When I spent more time on the phone, using it for music streaming, navigation, and Instagram Reels-ing, I often ended with around 60 or 50 percent. I’d leave it on my nightstand without bothering to plug it in, a refreshing change of pace. Over the course of two days, I hit an amazing 10.5 hours of screen-on time.

    This might be the best battery life on a flagship smartphone today in the US, especially when you pair it with the incredibly fast recharge times. OnePlus remains one of the only companies to include a charger in the box—mostly because it’s the only way to take advantage of its SuperVooc fast-charging technology. I was able to ramp from 15 to 80 percent in 30 minutes (50 percent in 15 minutes). It’s hard to worry about a dead phone if you don’t mind keeping the bulky charger on your person (is a folding prong too much of an ask?).

    But there’s always a compromise somewhere. If you’re a fan of wireless charging and are especially interested in Qi2 smartphones that use magnets (like Apple’s MagSafe) for more convenient and faster charging, you’ll be disappointed here. The OnePlus 15 supports wireless charging, but only the standard Qi technology. OnePlus is selling magnetic cases as a salve, but unlike Samsung’s current crop of top-end phones, this doesn’t even turn it into a Qi2 Ready phone. It will only charge at slow Qi wireless charging speeds. (You can buy OnePlus’ proprietary wireless charger to fast-charge, but that’s a separate purchase, and that wireless charger will only recharge select OnePlus devices quickly.)

    The beefy battery and super-fast wired charging may outshine the lackluster wireless charging, but now it’s time to talk about the second most impressive feat of the OnePlus 15: performance.

    Power Play

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    This is the first smartphone in the US to employ Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a processor we’ll see in most high-end Android phones in 2026. The benchmark numbers are excellent. In a Geekbench 6 test, the OnePlus 15 is officially the first phone to pass 10,000 in multi-core CPU performance, even besting the iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, the iPhone still had a slight leg up in single-core performance (it’s also generally more efficient).

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    Julian Chokkattu

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  • 7 best winter coats for women, according to the runways

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    Read more about how we test/choose things here.

    Ahead, the 7 best women’s winter coats for women for 2025:

    1. The trench coat

    Not that you need to be influenced to buy one of the best trench coats (as they’re sort of a forever-on-trend item), but this year we’ve spotted them everywhere from The Frankie Shop to & Other Stories in every fabric you could possibly desire. The ASOS Design Curve faux suede rendition has captured the hearts of everyone on Instagram – including ours – while Karen Millen’s sleek wool offering is ticking off two key coat trends in one fell swoop.

    Asos Design Curve Faux Suede Funnel Neck Trench Coat

    Pros

    • On-trend faux suede.
    • Also available in Asos Design in sizes 4-18.

    Cons

    • Material harder to keep looking its best.

    Plus Size Herringbone Wool Trench Coat

    Pros

    • Premium look and feel.
    • Will look smart enough to wear for work.

    Cons

    • On sale so may sell out quickly.

    Pros

    • Utilitarian details including belted cuffs, epaulettes and a storm flap.
    • Machine wash at 40 degrees.

    Cons

    2. The raincoat

    Unless you live in some magical part of the UK where it never rains (drop the pin, if that’s the case), then you’ll likely already own a raincoat/rain jacket. Though, in my case anyway, it’s also probably incredibly un-chic. Let’s face it, no one looks good in an anorak or waterproof jacket. The ones below are the most trend-driven waterproof and water-resistant designs you’ll currently find on the market, thanks to their earth-tone hues and high-shine finishes, all while being wind-resistant and remaining ready for wet weather. AKA winners in the versatility category. And everyone from H&M and Free People to specialist brands Sweaty Betty and Rains (of course) has them.

    Rain Jacket With Stormmove

    Pros

    • Have stormwear technology to make it wind-proof and rain-proof.
    • Can also use the drawstring to pull in the waist.

    Cons

    • Only available in beige and black.

    Pros

    • Lots of handy pockets.
    • Super lightweight and has reflective details for winter.

    Cons

    Pros

    • Patent design takes cues from the Alexander McQueen runway.
    • Available in 13 colours.

    Cons

    • Really lightweight so won’t keep you warm.

    Pros

    • Waterproof and windproof.
    • Made from 100% recycled polyamide
    • Available in green, brown and black.

    Cons

    • More expensive than other rain coats.

    Save when you shop for winter coats for women with these Free People discount codes at checkout.

    3. The barn jacket

    Not sure what a barn jacket is? Think corduroy collars, big pockets and wax-treated fabrics – the sort of winter jacket outerwear you’d opt for if King Charles invited you on a hunting trip at Balmoral or if Alexa Chung took you to Glastonbury as her plus one. So many editors and insiders had this coat style last year and they’re back once again. I’ve been seeing this ALIGNE one all over TikTok.

    Barbour Beadnell Wax Jacket

    Pros

    • Alexa Chung-approved.
    • A classic winter coat that’ll never date.

    Cons

    • Might need to size up if you want to wear jumpers beneath.

    Pros

    • Has zip and popper closure so will keep out the chill.
    • Great quality for the price.

    Cons

    Leopard Printed Canvas Midi Jacket

    Pros

    • Instantly recognisable as a Ganni buy.
    • Also available in sky blue or beige.

    Cons

    ASOS DESIGN Bomber Barn Jacket With Camel Collar

    Pros

    • Under £60 so an affordable option.
    • Also comes in dusty pink or chocolate brown.

    Cons

    • May be too cropped if you’re tall.

    Save when you shop for winter coats for women with these ASOS discount codes at checkout.

    4. The wool coat

    If you’re looking for something timeless that’ll remain in your wardrobe for years to come, then invest in one of the best wool coats. It goes with the territory of the fabric – wool lasts forever – but also the nature of their design, too. Often tailored to either a single-breasted or double-breasted silhouette, longline with peak lapels and perfect for wearing or commuting to work in and/or going to dinner parties, a wool coat is something you’ll never regret owning. Where to buy the best ones? Jisaw and Reiss never fail to impress me, especially because Reiss has different lengths to choose from.

    Brown Double Breasted Relaxed Coat

    Pros

    • Feels as expensive as it looks.
    • Also available in petite.

    Cons

    • Only in brown or brown check.

    Double Faced Wool Wrap Coat

    Pros

    • 80% wool so nice and cosy.
    • Works so well with burgundy – as you can see here.

    Cons

    Samsoe & Samsoe Alma Check-Pattern Wool-Blend Coat

    Pros

    • Gives a catwalk vibe with the heritage checks.
    • Cool oversized shape.

    Cons

    • It’s a wool blend.
    • Dry clean only.

    Save when you shop for winter coats for women with these Jigsaw discount codes at checkout.

    5. The fluffy coat

    From the best teddy coats to faux fur coats and shearling styles, fluffy outerwear is in for 2025. You heard it from us. & Other Stories’ sell-out fur-effect coat with belt is back again in the rich chocolate brown colour-way that’ll go with everything from your best jeans and white T-shirts to knitwear and a pair of wide-leg trousers, while toasty silhouettes such as Max Mara’s Teddy icons remain… well, iconic. On the coldest of cold weather days, these are the styles you’ll lean into. And they’re runway-approved, with the likes of Michael Kors and Roksanda all putting shaggy styles in their shows.

    Shearling Cuff And Collar Leather Coat

    Faux Fur Single Breasted Longline Coat

    Faux-Fur Coat with Buttons

    Save when you shop for winter coats for women with these Mango discount codes at checkout.

    6. The puffer coat

    Also known as duvet coats and down jackets/down coats, puffer coats are basically what they say on the tin: coats with stuffing. Think Michelin Man, but more fashion. They are the winter equivalent of A/W’s favourite quilted jackets, and promise to keep you warm and cosy thanks to often featuring down insulation and feather fillings. They’re also great for wearing with the best fleece-lined leggings.

    With many featuring adjustable hoods, two-way windproof zippers, breathable, durable and high-quality fabrics, a synthetic insulation or down-filled winter parka is the style to shop for if you want something practical or for extra warmth on chilly days throughout the winter season. The latest style I rate? Damson Madder’s best-selling two-in-one style now comes with a detachable scarf – and I’m obsessed.

    Pros

    • The bestseller has had an update with the removable scarf.
    • Detachable sleeves/2-in-1 gilet design.
    • Made from recycled materials.

    Cons

    Miu Miu Cotton Corduroy Down Jacket

    Pros

    • Iconic designer Miu Miu style.
    • Contrast collar taps into field jacket trend, too.

    Cons

    Brown Longline Padded Puffer Coat

    Pros

    • Great price for a long length puffer coat.
    • Comes in three timeless colours – brown, beige and black.

    Cons

    Save when you shop for winter coats for women with these New Look discount codes at checkout.

    7. The scarf coat

    Scarf coats were a huge hit last year, namely the high-end TOTEME design. Since then, there’ve been tonnes of other designer brands replicating the success, and now they’ve taken over the high street too. Why? They cut out the middleman. There’s no need to invest in one of the best winter scarves when your outerwear already features one. To make them feel new for AW25, look for additional drape details – they were all over the runways at Brandon Maxwell, Calvin Klein and Khaite.

    TOTEME + NET SUSTAIN Draped Fringed Wool-Blend Jacket

    Pros

    • Cult classic.
    • Everyone will know it’s a chic Toteme style.

    Cons

    Róhe Scarf Effect Wool Trench Coat

    Pros

    • Ticks off three trends in one – wool, trench and scarf detail.
    • Timeless colourway.

    Cons

    Brown Wool Blend Check Scarf And Trench Coat

    Pros

    • Scarf is detachable and the coat looks so premium.
    • Ticking off two trends in one being a trench coat with the scarf detail.

    Cons

    Long Buttoned Coat with Removable Scarf

    Pros

    • Looks so expensive.
    • Colour of the season.

    Cons

    • Dry clean only.
    • Wool mix, only 51% wool.

    Save when you shop for winter coats for women with these Net-A-Porter discount codes at checkout.

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    Georgia Trodd, Harriet Davey

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  • Nothing’s Budget-Friendly Phone (3a) Lite Is a Diluted Disappointment

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    The 5,000-mAh battery is ample for most days, and the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite could maybe even last two days of light use. You’ll have to plug in when it runs low (there’s no wireless charging), and the rate tops out at 33 watts. That’s not bad, enabling you to go from zero to 80 percent in less than an hour. There’s 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3 support, but expect the battery to drain much faster on 5G networks.

    Where the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset and 8 GB of RAM really struggled for me was the camera. On several occasions, it took seconds to open, and I had to reboot the phone at one point to get the camera app to load at all. I encountered occasional lag on opening and switching apps, but the camera performance was jarring because general use feels relatively slick for a budget phone.

    It doesn’t help that the camera system is disappointing. The main 50-megapixel shooter is capable, if a little slow, with a large-ish 1/1.57-inch sensor and an f/1.8 aperture that handles a range of scenarios quite well. But the 8-megapixel ultrawide is poor, and the 2-megapixel macro is a complete waste of time. Comparing a close-up with the macro and the main camera (see the flower photos) shows how useless it is. There’s a 16-megapixel shooter around front that’s fine for selfies and video calls.

    You’d think a design-led company like Nothing would be more calculated in adding features that only add value. If the ultrawide and macro are only going to offer lackluster results, cut them and stick with a single, solid primary camera.

    Photograph: Simon Hill

    Nothing Phone (3a) Lite, main camera.

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    Simon Hill

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  • Sephora Promo Codes for November 2025

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    If you’ve ever shopped for a beauty product, you’ve probably heard of Sephora. The brand is known for its excellent rewards program, free birthday gifts, free samples, generous return policy, and a giant variety of shades and products for everybody. Splurging on makeup, skincare, and haircare products can be expensive, but a Sephora promo code makes it easier to treat yourself to a big black-and-white striped bag of beauty products.

    Sephora Black Friday Sale 2025

    Like so many other brands, Sephora is holding their own Black Friday Sale. This means it’s a great time to upgrade your beauty collection while staying on-budget with major discounts on often-pricey makeup. There will be Sephora Black Friday discounts on everything from skincare to makeup. Plus, there will be more exclusive holiday deals and product previews on the Sephora app. Along with Sephora Black Friday beauty deals, there will be tons of beauty products on sale, including hair tools, fragrances, travel-sized items, and more. Make sure you’re also checking out Sephora’s Beauty Offers, promos and coupon codes that change weekly. It’s also a great time to browse their collection of the best beauty gifts to get a head start on holiday shopping.

    How to Use a Sephora Coupon

    While you don’t need to be a Beauty Insider to use every Sephora promo code, it’s definitely worth it if you sign up. You’ll earn points with nearly every purchase, plus you’ll get free shipping and a free birthday gift each year (like the heavily sought-after Dior perfume set of years past). There are member-exclusive sales and deals too. Once you’re signed up, you’ll be able to use coupons that are specifically for members, like those available during the Sephora Savings Event that takes place each November.

    Our Top Beauty Picks to Get With Your Sephora Discount Code

    Sephora sells most of our favorite hair straighteners, curling irons, and hair dryers. I also love Sephora’s gift sets, which are great for holiday gifts but also fantastic ways to treat yourself to something special. Sephora doesn’t only have great makeup, but beauty tech like PMD Clean Pro facial cleansing brushes or super trendy LED Light Therapy Devices to level up your beauty regimen. Microcurrent Devices like NuFace Trinity, Cryotherapy Tools like BeautyBio Cryo Skin Ice Rollers, or exfoliating Tools like dermaplaners are great beauty-tech gift ideas for others or yourself. Sephora has a wide selection of brands to choose from that you’ve probably seen on TikTok or Instagram. Some highlights include Drunk Elephant, Tatcha, and Fenty Beauty.

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    Louryn Strampe

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  • Top NZXT Discount Codes for November 2025

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    NZXT has been a household name in the world of PC gaming for years now, much thanks to its PC cases. The company’s cases are known for their clean and highly aesthetic design, marketed toward gamers that really care about how their system looks. That’s been NZXT’s jam, even as it has moved into other parts and peripherals in the PC gaming ecosystem. So, if you’re looking for an NZXT discount code or information on promos and deals, you’ve come to the right place.

    Score 50% Off PCs With NZXT Discount Codes and Deals

    NZXT has already changed the game with Flex, their subscription-based model for renting PCs that’s a cheaper way to get your hands on the latest tech. The idea is to service those gamers who might not be able to afford buying a PC gaming setup all at once upfront. Instead, you’re put on a monthly NXZT subscription plan, starting at $59 a month.

    You can also save up to $250 on the company’s daily deals. These include everything from PC cases or accessories. As we stated earlier, the company does far more than PC cases these days. We recently reviewed the NZXT Relay Headset and Switchmix and found it to be a really innovative wired audio solution. The company’s affordable wired gaming mouse, the NZXT Lift 2 Symm, even made it onto our picks for the best gaming mice. Check back daily, as NZXT drops daily deals and special offers all the time.

    Save up to $150 on Gaming Gear Bundles

    The savings at NZXT pile up if you plan to spend a bit more. For example, you might want to tie a few of these products together into a Gaming Gear Bundle. These NZXT combo deals are the best way to save money by bundling your purchases together, giving you discounts up to as much as $150.

    Enjoy Free Shipping on NZXT Gaming PCs

    NZXT also offers free shipping on select NZXT gaming PCs and other products if your order reaches $75 or more. That’s important to consider as you’re putting together your shopping cart, as it may be worth adding in a cheaper peripheral or accessory just to save on the shipping cost.

    Unlock Exclusive Discounts With NZXT Club Rewards

    For the true NZXT fans, the company has something called the NZXT Club. By signing up, you can unlock special offers and earn Pucci Points that can be redeemed for future discounts and exclusive perks that are only for NZXT Club members.

    Get 10% Off Refurbished NZXT in 2025

    Buying refurbished, like-new electronics is a great way to save money on major electronics purchases. NZXT makes it easy to save, with a whole section online of refurbished tech, including a refurbished custom build H9 (2023) gaming PC with RTX 4060, regularly $3,238, but now only $2,650. There’s tons of other great clearance deals, like a refurbished Player Three Prime H9 gaming PC with RTX 4080 SUPER, regularly $3,249, but on sale for $2,800.

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    Luke Larsen

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