The big ticket tech gifts may get the lion's share of attention during the holidays, but it's surprising how much people appreciate small and thoughtful accessories and gadgets. We picked out a dozen such stocking stuffers for under $50 perfect for a little something extra for a loved one or a welcome gift for a coworker. Just be sure to check the shipping windows to make sure these handy gizmos will arrive in time. Here are some of our favorite techie gift ideas that come in at $50 or less. Be

Who needs a revamped Mac Pro when you can just turn several Mac Studios into a unified computing system? With the upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.2 release, Apple is introducing a new low-latency feature that lets you connect several Macs together using Thunderbolt 5. For developers and researchers, it's a potentially useful way to create powerful AI supercomputers that can run massive local models. That allows four Mac Studios, which can each run up to 512GB of unified memory, to run the 1 trillion par

There's finally a way to gift games purchased on the Epic Games Store. Epic has announced that it's now possible to gift digital games through the Epic Games Store, provided the person you're sending them to has an Epic Games account. On a game's store page, you'll now see a Gift button under the normal Buy Now button. Clicking it will prompt you to log in to your Epic account if you haven't done so already, and then ask you to enter the Epic account of whoever you're sending the game to, pick o

Meta has successfully avoided what was once the biggest existential threats to its company. A federal judge has sided with the social media company in a landmark antitrust case, ruling on Tuesday that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had not proven that Meta is a monopoly. The FTC filed antitrust charges against Meta, then known as Facebook, in 2020 during President Donald Trump's first term. The government had argued that by acquiring its one-time rivals, Instagram and WhatsApp, the company h

Waymo is launching in five new cities across Texas and Florida. Autonomous vehicles in Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando will begin accepting rides next year. The Alphabet-owned company said operations (sans passengers) will begin on Tuesday in Miami. The other cities will follow over the coming weeks. This phase is where the vehicles drive around town without anyone inside. That gives the company a chance to spot local quirks and adjust the driving algorithm accordingly. Waymo sa

Hypixel Studios has officially purchased the license to Hytale from Riot Games, according to a report by Game Developer . This means that development will continue just months after Riot shut everything down and cancelled the project. The developer is also rehiring 30 staffers that were laid off as part of the cancellation. We write so often about layoffs in the industry , so it's always a distinct treat to cover the opposite. We did it. Hytale is saved. We have acquired Hytale from Riot Games.

You dont have to spend a ton to get your hands on quality tech, thanks to Black Friday . Were already seeing lots of tech deals many for under $50 and some hitting the best prices weve seen all year. Many of the discounts apply to accessories the chargers, hubs, cables and drives that play supporting roles for smartphones and laptops but plenty of other small electronics are on sale, too. We rounded up smart speakers, portable speakers, streaming devices, smart plugs and Bluetooth trackers th

Fresh off a reorganized deal with OpenAI, Microsoft is diversifying its AI investments. The company says it will invest up to $10 billion in Anthropic. Meanwhile, NVIDIA has pledged up to $5 billion in the Claude maker. The three-way partnership, which includes various other commitments, could be seen as further evidence that an AI bubble is about to burst. As part of the deal, Anthropic has committed to buy $30 billion of Microsoft Azure cloud computing capacity. Anthropic says it will also con

Snapchat has introduced a new feature called Topic Chats, which allows users of the social network to participate in public conversations about popular trends. By its own admission, Snapchat has previously focused on private conversations, but says the growth of its TikTok-like Spotlight feature made it clear that people want to comment publicly about topics theyre interested in. Topic Chats, which are coming to Canada, New Zealand and the US first, will appear in different areas of the Snapchat

Apples latest MacBook Air M4 is now discounted to $750 for Black Friday . The deal applies to the entry-level 13-inch model, giving you the same sharp Liquid Retina display and impressive M4 performance that we praised in our review , now for less. The MacBook Air M4 continues Apples streak of refining whats already its most popular laptop. It runs on the new M4 chip with a 10-core GPU, offering fast performance for everyday work, creative apps and light gaming. The upgrade from the M3 model is

When a brand new company debuts its first product at CES, it can take a while before the device makes it to market. In fact, sometimes those products dont make it at all. Thats not the case with Seergrills though, as the company has started shipping its AI-powered Perfecta grills to early adopters after introducing the machine at CES 2024. The Perfecta relies on AI-powered cooking tech that helps you create chef-quality results in a fraction of the time as traditional grilling. Its powered by a

A VPN, or virtual private network, is a tool you can use to protect your identity online, change your virtual location, evade censorship, check out foreign streaming services and more. They mostly take the form of commercially available subscription apps, often so simple to operate that all you need to do is press a button to turn them on and off. While using a VPN is easy in practice, there's a lot going on under the hood. Knowing what's really happening can help you decide which VPN is right f

A few weeks short of Gemini 2's first birthday , Google has announced Gemini 3 Pro . Naturally, the company claims the new system is its most intelligent AI model yet, offering state-of-the-art reasoning, class-leading vibe coding performance and more. The good news is you can put those claims to the test today, with Google making Gemini 3 Pro available across many of its products and services. Google is highlighting a couple of benchmarks to tout Gemini 3 Pro's performance. In Humanity's Last E

Amazon has Black Friday savings on its most potent streaming stick. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is 41 percent off, bringing it close to its record low. You can get it now for $35. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is one of Engadget's favorite streaming devices . The stick supports a solid mix of advanced technologies for its price: Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, 4K and HDR10+. As long as the rest of your entertainment setup can handle it, you'll get a high-quality picture and sound. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E ,

While there are countless ways to play old video games, endless emulators that eat up ROMs and spew out memories, the hardware offerings from Analogue have elevated the act of retro gaming to an art form . With an obsessive dedication to pixel-perfect reproductions of classic platforms, Analogue's various devices generally set the benchmark for consuming old games on new displays . The company's latest entry is an ode to the Nintendo 64 , and that poses a bit of a problem. While Analogue's other

The financial software company Intuit has signed a nine-figure deal with OpenAI which will allow customers to use its various services within ChatGPT. Intuits apps include Intuit Turbo Tax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and MailChimp, all of which will now be accessible when using OpenAIs chatbot for personalized financial advice and management. The partnership is driven by what Intuit calls the hundreds of millions of consumers and businesses that ask ChatGPT finance-related questions every week. Co

When it comes to holiday video game gifts, Nintendo gear is often at the top of the list for kids and adults like. This year likely more so than ever thanks to the launch of the Switch 2 back in the spring. But fi you were hoping to save money on the console with Black Friday deals , you may be disappointed. The Nintendo Black Friday sale was just announced , and unsurprisingly, there are a scant few real deals to be had. This is typical of Nintendo, though actual Nintendo Black Friday deals ar

Xbox has revealed the last batch of Game Pass additions for November along with a couple of titles that are coming to the service in December. Starting today, though, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have a Fortnite Crew subscription at no extra cost. That includes access to the current Fortnite battle pass, along with the OG pass, Lego pass, music pass and Rocket League s rocket pass premium. On top of that, Fortnite Crew puts 1,000 V-Bucks in subscribers wallets every month. Microsoft announced

Amazon MGM has released another full-length trailer for Project Hail Mary and we are already at the theater seated. The three minute and four second trailer shows Ryan Gosling as Dr. Ryland Grace, a school teacher and former biologist who wakes up on a spacecraft with no idea who he is or why he's there. The first trailer gave us a look at Dr. Grace's first moments after waking up and an overview of his mission: find the one star in the universe that's not dying and save the world no big deal.

The PlayStation 5 is getting a major Black Friday discount, with $100 off consoles starting November 21 . That will bring the PS5 Digital Edition down to $399, the standard PS5 to $449 and the new PS5 Pro to $649. If youve been holding out for the right time to upgrade or buy your first console, this is the deal to beat. You'll find the deals direct at Sony and from other retailers including Amazon and Walmart . Sonys flagship console remains one of the most popular gaming systems available, and

The GoPro Hero 13 Black action camera is down to $310 as part of an early Black Friday sale, which is a record low price. That's a discount of 23 percent or $90. This model topped our list of the best action cameras , and for good reason. It's a fantastic device with all kinds of bells and whistles . It's the most versatile Hero camera that GoPro has ever made. There's a new family of modular lenses and it can shoot up to 5.3K and handle 2X optical zoom. The battery is bigger than ever before an

Mastodon's founder Eugen Rochko has officially stepped down as CEO . The move comes ten months after the company announced it would transition into a nonprofit entity and that Rochko would leave his post. Rochko will take on an advisory role with the company. In a blog post about this decision, Rochko pointed to a desire for guardrails to avoid becoming another egotistical founder sabotaging thriving communities. He added, But it would be uncouth for me to pretend that there isnt some self-inter

If you clicked on this story because you don't know what a fabric shaver is, you're not alone. That was me not too long ago when I started searching for something that could get rid of the pilling on some of my most loved pieces of clothing. Blessedly, I stumbled upon the Philips Fabric Shaver , a type of device I didn't even know existed, and decided to give it a shot. It's now an essential piece of tech in my house, and you don't have to pay as much as I did for it thanks to this Black Friday

Black Friday is arguably the best time of the year to pick up small kitchen appliances like blenders, toaster ovens and air fryers. In the latter category, one of our favorites is on sale right now for a great price. The Ninja DZ401 dual-zone air fryer is down to $180, which is 22 percent off its normal price. Admittedly, we have seen this model a bit cheaper in the past, but if youre on cooking duty for Thanksgiving, you might not have the option of waiting until what could be a deeper discount

Black Friday deals have come for VR headsets, and you can pick up our favorite budget set for less than usual. Meta's entry-level Quest 3S is 17 percent off and down to $250 for the 128GB version right now. Its normal price is $300, and with this version you get the game Gorilla Tag for free. There's also a 256GB option , which is on sale for $330, down from its usual price of $400. The Meta Quest 3S is an impressive VR headset for the price, and scored a 90 in Engadget's review , landing it amo

When it comes to making coffee at home, us coffee nerds are constantly evolving. Whether the person youre shopping for is newly indoctrinated into the world of small-batch roasters or obsessive over every possible aspect of every brewing process, weve compiled a list of the best coffee gear for any coffee geek this holiday season. For brewing, grinding and drinking, weve got multiple options at a range of prices to help expand any java geeks horizons. And if you think the coffee aficionado on yo

Holiday travel is getting closer and that means a lot of babies, crowds and nosey seat neighbors to contend with through it. Fortunately, Black Friday comes first and, with it, sales on a bunch of tech products that can make your journey a lot more enjoyable. Take the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds , which are 17 percent off in an early Black Friday sale. Our choice of best noise-canceling earbuds for 2025 are currently available for $249, down from $299. The deal brings these

It's a good idea to look for Black Friday Apple deals this time of year if you're thinking about upgrading an aging laptop or picking up a pair of AirPods or an Apple Watch as a gift. One of the best discounts we're tracking at the moment is on the M4-powered Mac Mini desktop it's $100 off right now, down from $599 to $499. That applies to the 16GB of RAM/256GB SSD model, and it's pretty close to its all-time-low price. We gave the Mac mini M4 a 90 in our review , in part, because it packs an i

While unofficial videos from filming The Legend of Zelda hit the internet first, Nintendo also unveiled the first images of its live-action project. One photo shows Link and Zelda amid the hills of New Zealand if youve got characters with Elven ears, you have to film in NZ. Nintendo As Engadgets Nathan Ingraham notes, Zelda appears with a bow and quiver, so hopefully its a more modern spin than the damsel-in-distress original. I mean, the game is named for her. Filming has just started, so this

If you've wanted to check out The Paper or any other new NBC show on Peacock, you can do so now while spending less thanks to this hack. Walmart, believe it or not, comes into play here: the retailer is offering Walmart+ subscriptions for half off right now, bringing the cost down to $49 for your first year. Thanks to a streaming benefit for subscribers, you can then sign up for Peacock at no extra cost. Walmart+ subscribers are able to choose between a Peacock Premium or a Paramount+ Essential

DJI has released its third action cam in less than four months, the Osmo Action 6. The new GoPro rival offers something we've never seen in this type of camera: a variable aperture for more control over exposure. It also has a new, square sensor (like the one we saw on the Osmo 360 ) that makes it easier to crop video for social media-friendly aspect ratios. I've had the Osmo Action 6 for a few days and it looks impressive so far. Rather than a fixed f/2.8 setting as before, the Osmo Action 6 of

Roblox is starting to roll out the mandatory age checks that will require all of its users to submit an ID or scan their face in order to access the platform's chat features. The updated policy, which the company announced earlier this year, will be enforced first in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands and will expand to all other markets by early next year. The company also detailed a new age-based chat system, which will limit users' ability to interact with people outside of their age

Headspaces Black Friday deal is live, offering 50 percent off its annual subscription through December 4. That brings the cost of a full year down to $35, giving you access to guided meditations, courses and stress-management tools that can help you stay balanced heading into the new year. Headspace has become one of the most recognizable names in digital mindfulness. The app blends practical meditation guidance with structured courses and calming soundscapes designed to make everyday stress eas

Weve tested more than a dozen air purifiers that range from $120 to $1,200 but the most effective method for getting the green light from our air quality monitors is completely free: opening the windows. Of course, seasonal allergies, frightful weather and wildfires can all conspire to make open windows impossible. Air purifiers are your second best option. With sound-muffled fans and multi-layered filters, these simple machines can clear up odors, cooking emissions, dust particles, smoke, pet

Those looking for a better way to keep track of their finances should consider a budgeting app . There are dozens of them on the market now, and one of our favorites is running a discount for new subscribers. Monarch Money is offering 50 percent off annual plans right now when you use the code MONARCHVIP at checkout. With the typical yearly price being $100, this will save you $50. As mentioned before, the discount is only for new users and it can't be combined with other offers. The code only w

Productivity setups are a personal thing. Some people swear by to-do lists and apps, some people like scheduling and planners. For those in the latter camp, Google has made a minor but valuable addition to the Workspace suite. Going forward, you'll be able to block off segments of time in Google Calendar for working on specific tasks. You can add descriptions and set your preferences for that task in regard to do not disturb and visibility settings. It's a nice step up from scheduling meetings w

Game publisher Paradox Interactive has split with Colossal Order, the studio behind Cities: Skylines II . Colossal Order, which also made the original Cities: Skylines back in 2015, will move on to something new after completing a few last updates. The intellectual property will remain with Paradox, which said today that work on Cities: Skylines II will be moved to Iceflake Studios. The Finland-based internal team will be responsible for all development, including future content updates and the

Creators on Facebook and Instagram have long griped about accounts that lift their videos without permission. Now, Meta is rolling out a new tool that allows creators to more easily track when their videos have been reposted by others. The company introduced a new tool for creators called content protection , which can automatically detect when a creator's original reel is reposted, either fully or partially, on Facebook or Instagram. Creators who are enrolled will be able to see which accounts

Lego is cutting prices for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so now's the time to find sets that make fantastic gifts . I'm a lifelong Lego lover, and my younger self would have squealed at some of the deals I'm seeing as I'm betting is true for many of you. Throughout the month, I'll be checking all the biggest online shopping centers in search of the biggest discounts on the best Lego sets available. We've already seen low prices on Disney and Harry Potter advent calendars your kids will love th

Xbox is hosting a partner showcase event on November 20 at 1PM ET. It'll be available for streaming on the platform's official YouTube page and Twitch page . We don't know how long this stream will run for, but previous Partner Preview events have lasted around 25 to 30 minutes . As indicated by the name, this stream will highlight third-party publishers. Xbox called out companies like THQ Nordic, Tencent and IO Interactive in the press release that announced the event. We do know some games tha

Tesla has secured a ruling to strip a 2017 lawsuit claiming a racist work environment of its class-action status, as reported by Reuters . California Superior Court Judge Peter Borkon, appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, ruled that the lawsuit could not proceed with class-action status because the plaintiffs' attorneys had failed to find 200 class members willing to testify. The judge said he could not assume that the experiences of a select group of workers could be applied to the entire cl

We won't have to wait too much longer to find out which game will follow the wonderful Astro Bot 's triumph at last year's edition of The Game Awards. The 2025 ceremony takes place on December 11 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. In between a cavalcade of video game trailers and announcements, the show will squeeze in some actual awards. We now know what the contenders for The Game Awards 2025 are after Monday's announcement of the nominees. Those vying for the top prize of game of the year

Generally speaking, there are two ideal periods to buy a TV: the late spring stretch when new models are announced and last years sets are heavily discounted to clear out inventory, and the holiday shopping season, right around Black Friday . Were firmly in the latter now, so if youve been thinking about making that big living room upgrade, its OK to take the plunge. To help you out, weve sorted through the many sales already floating around the web and picked out the best Black Friday TV deals

Google's DeepMind just released WeatherNext 2 , a new version of its AI weather prediction model. The company promises that it delivers more efficient, more accurate and higher-resolution global weather predictions. To that end, it should be able to provide accurate forecasts up to two weeks out, including information on temperature, pressure and wind. It should also be able to better predict tropical storm tracks, according to researchers. This means that predictions of a hurricane's path shoul

Its 2025, so chances are you have at least one person who works remotely on your gift list. While the work-from-home life has its perks nobody likes a long commute it certainly comes with its own set of challenges, from missing out on pro-level equipment to dealing with annoyances around the house. If youre looking to buy a gift for someone who spends much of their time in their home office, weve rounded up a few techy ideas that should make their days a little more delightful or at least eas

Now is arguably the best time of year to sign up for a VPN, or gift a subscription to someone. Black Friday VPN deals are already available, with one of the best being on our favorite VPN overall. Proton VPN is offering two years of access to its VPN Plus tier for $59.76, which works out to $2.49 per month. That's a discount of 75 percent compared with the regular price of $10 per month. Overall, you'd save $180. Proton VPN is our pick for the best VPN overall because it checks all of the boxes

Google has introduced some new tools in AI Mode alongside the expansion of others. The beta for Flight Deals , the AI-powered search tool that operates within Google Flights, is expanding globally. The tool works to find the best deals on flights in response to natural-language prompts from the user. The company is also expanding AI Mode's agentic capabilities to more users across the US, helping to book restaurants, event tickets and beauty or wellness appointments. The search giant is also add

If smartphones and tablets are the stars of the tech world, Anker is the faithful costar. Were big fans of the brands charging gear and accessories Anker has earned kudos in a number of our buying guides, from power banks to wireless chargers . Now for Black Friday , a whole slew of the companys gear is on sale, and some are hitting the best prices weve seen this year. So if youre looking for dependable sidekicks and supporting players to keep your heavy hitters in business, check out the best

Meta and Google are facing delays with long-promised undersea cable projects, according to a report by Bloomberg . A Meta spokesperson blames the delays on a range of operational factors, regulatory concerns and geopolitical risk. Meta's 2Africa subsea cable system is supposed to wrap around the African continent to deliver fiber internet to the region. It's also intended to connect Europe with Asia and Africa. The 28,000-mile project was first announced all the way back in 2020. Interesting: Me

Black Friday has become the time to buy the hottest tech of the year. Whether you're shopping for yourself or stocking up on gifts for the holidays, Black Friday deals next week are sure to bring the best prices of the year to things like headphones, game consoles, robot vacuums, phone accessories and everything in between. You don't even have to wait until Black Friday proper to save a ton of money. Over the past few years, we've seen Black Friday tech deals start earlier and earlier to the po