In the wake of the unrest in Minneapolis following the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by ICE agents, a few tech CEOs have begun to speak out about the Trump administration's policies, be it on social media or through internal communications with their employees.

While all of the statements have expressed dismay at the situation, most — such as the one from Apple CEO Tim Cook — have called for de-escalation, rather than condemning the actions of ICE outright.

Apple's Tim Cook: 'This is a time for deescalation'

On Tuesday (Jan. 27), Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, issued a statement to employees saying he was "heartbroken" at the events unfolding in Minnesota, and called for a "deescalation."

"I’m heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis, and my prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families, with the communities, and with everyone that’s been affected.

"This is a time for deescalation. I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they’re from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for. I had a good conversation with the president this week where I shared my views, and I appreciate his openness to engaging on issues that matter to us all.

"I know this is very emotional and challenging for so many. I am proud of how deeply our teams care about the world beyond our walls. That empathy is one of Apple’s greatest strengths and it is something I believe we all cherish.

Thank you for all that you do."

Cook has faced criticism from employees after attending a private screening of "Melania" at the White House, along with Andy Jassy from Amazon and Lisa Su from AMD, the evening that Pretti was killed.

OpenAI's Sam Altman: 'What’s happening with ICE is going too far'

Earlier on Monday, OpenAI Sam Altman wrote to his employees on an internal Slack message that ICE has "gone too far," and vowed that his company would strive to "try to figure out how to actually do the right thing."

Here's the full text of his message, as reported by The New York Times:

"I love the US and its values of democracy and freedom and will be supportive of the country however I can; OpenAI will too. But part of loving the country is the American duty to push back against overreach. What’s happening with ICE is going too far. There is a big difference between deporting violent criminals and what’s happening now, and we need to get the distinction right.

"President Trump is a very strong leader, and I hope he will rise to this moment and unite the country. I am encouraged by the last few hours of response and hope to see trust rebuilt with transparent investigations.

"As a company, we aim to stick to our convictions and not get blown around by changing fashions too much. We didn’t become super woke when that was popular, we didn’t start talking about masculine corporate energy when that was popular, and we are not going to make a lot of performative statements now about safety or politics or anything else. But we are going to continue to try to figure out how to actually do the right thing as best as we can, engage with leaders and push for our values, and speak up clearly about it as needed."

Anthropic's Dario Amodi: 'The horror we're seeing'

Another executive to speak out was Anthropic's cofounder Chris Olah, who wrote on X that "a federal agent killing an ICU nurse for seemingly no reason and with no provocation – shock the conscience."

Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei also referenced "the horror we're seeing in Minnesota" on X, before linking to an essay on the risks of AI to national security, economies, and democracy.

Vinod Khosla: "Macho ICE vigilantes running amuck"

Vinod Khosla, the founder of venture capital firm Khosla Ventures, which has funded such companies as OpenAI, DoorDash, and Instacart, was one of the more vociferous voices, writing on X that the video was "sickening to watch."

Target and Best Buy weigh in

On Sunday, the CEOs of 60 Minnesota-based companies, which include Target and Best Buy, issued an open letter, calling for "an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions."

An open letter to tech CEOs

Cook and Altman are the rare exceptions among tech leaders to comment on the Trump administration's controversial tactics when it comes to deporting illegal immigrants. An open letter, signed by more than 800 employees from companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, have urged their executives to condemn the administration's policies.

More from Tom's Guide

• Tim Cook could step down as Apple CEO as early as next year — and this is the front-runner to replace him
• Meta earnings live updates — stock down ahead of Q4 results, AI spending biggest worry
• Microsoft Q2 earnings live — all the latest news as it happens

Black Friday is only a few days away, but there is already a host of great deals out there. It's a good time to grab the generous savings on a new phone, gaming laptop, or even a new TV.

The issue for many of us is that, while getting new tech is exciting, it does raise the question of what to do with all our old stuff. I know that I have, in the past, discovered that nearly every drawer in my house is filled with old hardware and cables.

However, all hope is not lost, as there is actually a wealth of choices available to you when it comes to your old hardware. The problem is that all the options can get a bit confusing. Since I've I worked in second-hand electronics for a long time, I have some experience in finding the best option.

With that in mind, let me break down some of the choices available to you when it comes to older tech.

You can trade it in to offset the price of your new phone

One of the best things you can do with your old hardware is to trade it in when you buy a new phone. Most of the major retailers will offer at least a discount when you trade in an older device while purchasing a new phone.

For instance, you could trade in your Google Pixel 8 when looking to buy a Pixel 10 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro XL from Google. Alternatively, Samsung and Apple also offer a similar offer on their respective websites when you're buying a new phone.

Not surprisingly, the value you're given with your old phone depends on what you're trading in. Google offers an estimated trade-in value of $350 for a 256GB Pixel 9 in good condition. Meanwhile, Samsung can offer up to $400 for a Galaxy S24.

While these might be some of the best prices you'll get, credit isn't all that useful when you've already bought a new phone. In that case, you'll want to start looking into getting cash.

Sell your phone for some extra cash

There are plenty of second-hand retailers and websites out there. Two of the most prominent, GameStop and Best Buy, will buy older cell phones and offer either cash in hand or credit. Just with anything, though, the value can vary wildly depending on the retailer.

It's worth noting that second-hand value in the U.S. isn't usually great, at least when it comes to cash. For instance, a 256GB Galaxy S24 that is marked as “good” condition will get you around $56.70 from GameStop, or around $81 in credit. In contrast, Best Buy would offer you $140 in credit for the same phone.

Alternatively, if you’re in the U.K., then you could use a company like CeX to sell the same phone and receive either £413 in cash or £512 in a voucher. As such, if you’re in the U.S., then one of your best bets will be to sell your phone on eBay instead.

While there's the potential to get more value, there is a whole new set of risks here, including just not making a sale at all. That's why it's worth making sure you're comfortable with selling on eBay and doing a bit of research before you do so. One thing I recommend doing is to check the listings of other sellers to make sure you know what a good price will be.

Finally, if your phone is broken, some stores and sites will still buy it, but don’t expect much. Compounding that is the risk of it being much harder to wipe a broken phone, depending on how it is damaged. If you want a safer bet, big companies like Apple will usually recycle damaged phones for free.

What to do before you sell a phone

There's a lot you need to consider before selling your phone, and we have a guide that might help, but the main thing to note is that you need to completely wipe your phone. This is for the company's benefit as much as yours, because most will not complete the purchase if there is a Google or Apple account still on the device — or worse yet, a pass code.

If you're looking to get the best price possible, then it's a good idea to give the phone a good cleaning, while also looking to see if you can find the phone's original box. On top of that, if you have a screen protector, try to remove it as the screen underneath will usually be much better looking.

Hopefully, that has given you some ideas for what you can do with your old phones, but if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments.

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• Black Friday has come early for the OnePlus 13 — grab one for the lowest price ever!
• I've spent 2 weeks with the OnePlus 15 — 7 ways it beats the Galaxy S25 Ultra
• Is free really good? Here’s what you need to look out for with Black Friday iPhone deals

It’s always exciting when planning your dream home re-design or kitchen upgrade.

And while we all could do with the help of design guru Joanna Gaines, finding inspiration and suitable appliances to match can be challenging at the best of times.

Launching this fall, Best Buy and IKEA will team up to lend a helping hand. The two popular home stores have partnered up to offer a one-stop shopping experience for customers to buy new appliances for their kitchen and laundry rooms.

These in-store planning centers aim to help customers make better buying decisions about what will work best for their home and needs that also matches IKEA’s design inspiration.

“This partnership between IKEA and Best Buy is about making great design and functionality more accessible for the many,” states Rob Olson, chief operations officer for IKEA U.S., in an IKEA press release.

Currently, 10 Best Buy stores will feature in-store planning centers So what can we expect?

What do the Planning Centers do?

Essentially, these exciting in-store planning centers will include 1,000-square-foot IKEA layouts modeled to showcase ideal kitchens or laundry rooms. Customers can then walk around in the spaces to visualize and experience how Best Buy and IKEA products can work well together — and can be incorporated into their homes and lifestyles.

Additionally, there will be IKEA staff at hand to assist customers with the design of a space, and advice on what appliances, electronics and furnishings to buy.

In fact, this ground-breaking partnership is the first time IKEA products and services will be accessible through another U.S. retailer, making it more tailored to customer needs.

So if you want to create your dream (and no-fuss) home upgrade, be sure to head to your nearest Best Buy this fall.

Full list of locations:

Check here to find out if there’s a Planning Center near you:

• Boynton Beach, FL
• Daytona Beach, FL
• Lakeland, FL
• Melbourne, FL
• Waterford Lakes, FL
• Alamo Ranch, TX
• Hulen, TX
• Humble, TX
• Mesquite, TX
• South Austin, TX

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• IKEA’s new $14 storage gem will double your space
• Should you buy IKEA kitchen appliances?
• I just upgraded my home with these 5 IKEA items

Surprise! TCL — makers of some of the most competitive, budget-friendly Mini-LED TVs in the game — just debuted a brand-new model without so much as a peep.

Best of all? It’s already ridiculously affordable.

Right now, you can land the all-new 55-inch TCL QM5K for just $379 at Best Buy. At the moment, the QM5K appears to be a Best Buy exclusive.

Here’s everything we know about the TCL QM6K — from specs to available size options.

TCL QM5K: sizes and pricing

We’re working our way through reviews for TCL’s 2025 TVs, so we have a pretty good understanding of where the QM5K slots into the brand’s lineup.

All of TCL’s mainline TVs leverage Mini-LED backlighting, including the entry-level QM6K, the mid-range TCL QM7K and the recently announced flagship, the TCL QM8K.

The QM5K is situated below the QM6K, making it an even more accessible entry-level option than the QM6K.

Here’s how the series shakes out in terms of pricing:

• TCL 50QM5K (50-inch): $649.99 | sale: $349.99 at Best Buy
• TCL 55QM5K (55-inch): $699.99 | sale: $379.99 at Best Buy
• TCL 65QM5K (65-inch): $899.99 | sale: $499.99 at Best Buy
• TCL 75QM5K (75-inch): $1,199.99 | sale: $699.99 at Best Buy

The series includes an elusive 50-inch model — a rare size option for this day and age.

TCL QM5K: specs

We’ve reached out to TCL to get the full scoop on the QM5K, but there’s plenty we can glean from its reported specs.

As an ultra-affordable Mini-LED TV, we can reasonably assume that its brightness, overall contrast and backlight control aren’t as impressive as what you’ll find on the higher-end QM6K, and certainly nowhere near the QM7K.

Still, it’s nice to have local dimming of any kind at this price point, especially if you’re trying to avoid buying an edge-lit TV.

Despite its limitations, you’re still getting HDR support with the QM5K, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. I wouldn’t expect its HDR performance to be as impactful as the TVs situated above it in TCL’s lineup, though, so adjust your expectations accordingly.

The same goes for your expectations of the QM5K’s gaming prowess. According to Best Buy, all sizes in this series are limited to a native refresh rate of 60Hz across three HDMI 2.0 inputs. This means that gamers will have to settle for 4K gaming at a maximum of 60fps.

The QM5K is built around the Google TV smart platform, which is great news for folks who want their next TV to handle streaming duties. (And, with only three HDMI inputs to spare, I imagine most people will.)

Most of the people covering TVs at Tom’s Guide (myself included) appreciate Google TV for its ease of use and stellar app support. If you’re upgrading to a smart TV for the first time — or if you’re just worried about learning a whole new software suite on the fly — you’ll be relieved to know that Google TV has a gentle learning curve.

TCL QM5K: outlook

We can’t make any definitive claims about the QM5K Mini-LED TV until we wrangle one in our test lab for an official review, but from where I’m sitting right now, it looks like a pretty sweet deal.

I spoke at length about the QM5K’s limitations, but truth be told, the Mini-LED backlighting alone puts it at a serious advantage when compared to similarly priced models like the Samsung DU8000.

If you're on the fence about the QM5K's leaner performance profile, I recommend spending just a little bit more on the QM6K. Right now, a 55-inch TCL QM6K is just $499 at Best Buy — about $120 more than the QM5K.

We’ll be sure to update this page when TCL gets back to us with more information.

More from Tom's Guide

• TCL finally added this key feature to its 2025 TVs — here's why you should use it
• What is the Dirty Screen Effect and how can you tell if your TV has it?
• I'm a TV expert and this is the one picture mode you should avoid at all costs

Nvidia's RTX 50-series GPUs have been announced, and while they pack impressive power, so too does this Alienware m16 gaming laptop with an RTX 4080 — and it's now over $500 off.

Right now, the Alienware m16 with RTX 4080 is $2,239 at Best Buy, and it even comes equipped with a 16-inch display with a 240Hz refresh rate. Alienware laptops rarely see discounts this aggressive, and this price drop may be one of the best cheap laptop deals we've seen.

It's part of Best Buy's clearance sale, so if you're after a new, powerful gaming laptop with a neat discount, you better scoop it up fast.

Alienware boasts a great reputation when it comes to its lineup of gaming laptops, and the Alienware m16 is no different. Our Alienware m16 review had this to say: "Dell has delivered a respectable product that is massively helped by Nvidia’s AI learning techniques that ultimately make this a compelling laptop for its price point." Now that it's over $500 off and sports a RTX 4080, this is one powerful machine.

We're big fans of the Alienware m16's impressive 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) with a 240Hz refresh rate, making it perfect for competitive PC games and high-quality titles alike. It's keyboard is also a major highlight, with a fitting and comfortable travel distance and the m16’s per-key AlienFX RGB effects offering great appeal.

While the review unit we received came with an RTX 4060, we were already wowed by its performance. With an RTX 4080 on board, this laptop will truly shine.

There are some flaws to consider, including its chunky build and loud fans. However, if you prefer to make this laptop a mainstay on your desk and have a quality pair of over-ear headphones to block out any noise, then it's hard to go wrong with this Alienware m16.

Looking for more brilliant deals? Check out what's in store at this huge Walmart sale.

After Nvidia finally announced its RTX 50-series graphics cards during CES 2025, many wondered when we'd start seeing RTX 50-powered gaming laptops come into the fold. Now, we have a good idea thanks to listings spotted at Best Buy.

Spotted by Wccftech, Best Buy has listed RTX 50-powered gaming laptops, including laptops from Asus and HP. While they're currently "Coming Soon" and not available to purchase, we now know the general pricing for several RTX 50-series laptop GPUs.

According to the listings, an RTX 5090-equipped gaming laptop will cost around $4,000, an RTX 5080 ranging from $2,600 to $3,000 and an RTX 5070 Ti for around or just under $2,000. These laptops also come equipped with Intel Core Ultra HX or AMD Ryzen AI 9 CPUs.

Of course, pricing is based on the laptop itself and other specs, including the CPU, display and the amount of RAM and storage used.

Laptop versions of the RTX 50-series GPUs are expected to land in March, so these gaming laptops from Asus and HP are expected to arrive around this time.

Here's the nine laptops currently listed at Best Buy, including their price:

• Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (Intel Core Ultra 9 HX/RTX 5090): $4,199
• Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9/RTX 5090): $3,999
• Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9/RTX 5080): $3,199
• Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX/RTX 5080): $2,999
• Asus ROG Strix G18 (Intel Core Ultra 9 HX/RTX 5080): $2,899
• HP Omen Max (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX/RTX 5080): $2,699
• Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX/RTX 5070 Ti): $2,199
• Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Intel Core Ultra 9/RTX 5070): $1,999
• Asus ROG Strix G16 (AMD Ryzen 9 HX/RTX 5070 Ti): $1,899

It hardly comes as a surprise that both RTX 5090-equipped laptops from Asus will cost a pretty penny, seeing this is the strongest GPU on the market. However, the difference in pricing between RTX 5080 models is interesting, with a $500 gap between the Zephyrus G16 and HP Omen Max sporting the same GPU.

There are sure to be more gaming laptops listed as we get closer to Nvidia's 50-series laptop GPU launch in March, but in the meantime, we now know the prices to expect with each RTX 50-powered gaming laptop.

Are RTX 50-series gaming laptops too pricey?

Considering that many of the best gaming laptops today, including the Alienware m18 R2, that sport an RTX 4090 will set you back around $4,000, it's clear that Nvidia has tried to keep pricing similar to that of its previous RTX 40-series GPUs.

Nvidia revealed the pricing for its new generation of laptop GPUs, and they match the prices of the previous generation. It's important to note, however, that Nvidia's DLSS 4 graphical upscaling tech to deliver better graphics and higher framerates means that you'll get more out of the lower bracket of GPUs.

For example, an RTX 5070 Ti is expected to boast around the same graphical power as an RTX 4090, and it's all thanks to AI. With this in mind, many looking for high-end gaming but don't want to spend a small fortune may want to keep RTX 50-series gaming laptops on their radar, as they'll get a lot out of a sub-$2,000 RTX 5070 Ti-equipped gaming laptop.

While we wait for RTX 50-series laptops to launch, RTX 50 desktop GPUs are set to arrive this January. We got a chance to play games on a Nvidia RTX 5090, and the hype is real.

More from Tom's Guide

• I just played games on Nvidia RTX 5090, and the hype is real — here’s why
• Intel Core Ultra 200H and HX Series chips are here — everything you need to know
• I wasn’t planning on building a new gaming PC but the RTX 5080 just changed my mind

Best Buy is once again recalling its budget in-house Insignia brand of appliances. Like the Insignia pressure cookers late last year, Insignia air fryer ovens pose a potential fire hazard. These affordable alternatives to some of the best air fryers and convection ovens can overheat which will cause the handles to melt or break.

This defect poses a potential burn or fire risk. Additionally, this overheating can cause the glass on the door to shatter which can cause lacerations. There have already been 24 incidents of either melted air fryers or shattering glass reported to the tech retail giant. Of those, there were 6 reports of air fryers catching on fire. On a crowded countertop, this can spread flames fast.

How to know if your Insignia air fryer is part of the recall

Insignia's Air Fryer Ovens were sold online and in stores between November 2021 through November 2023 for between $32 and $180. Any of these appliances with the model number NS-AF34D2, NS-AF5DSS2, NS-AF5MSS2, NS-AF8DBD2, NS-AF10DBK2, and NS-AF10DSS2 are subject to the recall. 

These plastic and stainless steel air fryers were sold in capacities ranging from 3.4 to 10 quarts. The brand name INSIGNIA appears on the top or front of each unit opposite the permanent product label on the underside. Each air fryer has the Insignia brand and model number printed on it. 

What to do if your air fryer has been recalled

If you own any Insignia model air fryer, stop using it immediately. You can visit https://www.recallrtr.com/airfryer for instructions on how to submit photos of the recalled unit(s), the model number, purchase receipt, and on the destruction of the unit. You will be refunded in the form of either a check or Best Buy store credit. If you can't provide a receipt you will still be credited for the average sales price of your specific model. You may also:

• Call the company's Recall Hotline at 1-800-566-7498 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

• Chat with a live support agent at BestBuy.com or visit Best Buy's product recall page.

You can also find this information on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall page. 

Unfortunately, this is the third consecutive year of Insignia's product recalls as over 700,000 of the brand's Digital and Analog Air Fryers were recalled back in 2022. 

If you've had to return your Insignia air fryer and are on the hunt for a new one, check out our guide to the Best Air Fryers.

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• Best Instant Pots
• Best Air Fryers
• Ninja Foodi DualZone Air Fryer review

Update: Walmart announced in a press release Tuesday morning that it is officially purchasing Vizio for $2.3B. 

Walmart’s potential aggressive push into the TV industry made headlines earlier this week as reports suggested the massive retailer could be in talks of buying Vizio for $2B.

It’s not so farfetched as it might seem from the outside looking in. Walmart, no stranger to TV designs as witnessed in its relatively lackluster Onn brand, has quite the incentive to deliver TVs at an affordable price point as the market could prove lucrative if approached correctly.

On the other hand, while teaming up with Vizio is certainly a gamble — quite the expensive one at that — the optics seem more so focused on other areas where Walmart can leverage the Vizio branding for other purposes, most notable of all being advertising. Walmart’s ads business has ballooned over the past year, with Inside Intelligence claiming it saw over $3B in 2023 alone.

Is Vizio’s buyout a natural foil to Amazon Fire TV and Roku, or could it be just another way to bleed Walmart mindshare and its products into homes worldwide? There’s some good and some potentially bad aspects behind Walmart’s supposed $2B deal, so let’s break down how it could shake up the TV industry and if it will ultimately be rewarding for consumers — or a total nightmare.

Walmart’s $2B Vizio deal — the good 

Walmart’s Onn brand TVs, which typically retail for around $100 to $500, aren’t exactly the most ideal displays on the market. Although cheap, these TVs have arguably the lowest quality and performance baked in, with little to show for other necessities like audio and gaming enhancements.

Data sets provided in our own review of a 50-in 4K Roku Onn TV prove an incredibly lackluster narrative across its color volume (96.7% sRGB), gaming potential (32.1ms input lag), and contrast levels. At least its pricing matches with the value, but even then there’s better TVs out there to buy at its price point — Vizio TVs included.

While not quite at the level of either Hisense or TCL, Vizio still provides some remarkable sets at incredible price points. And the firm is continuously improving upon its underlying operating system (OS), as seen with the speed boost update it garnered this past December.

With a $2B cash injection, Vizio could leverage that capital for some serious gains. Vizio’s R&D could cook up major rival TV models against not just both Amazon Fire TV and Roku, as mentioned in the initial report published via the Wall Street Journal, but also maybe even Hisense and TCL as well.

Although there was only one series of it, Vizio’s OLED TV went relatively under the radar due in large part to its name. There's no guarantee we'd ever see another Vizio-branded OLED, however a potential $2B check could make it a reality.

Right now, there’s really no indication as to where Walmart might take the Vizio brand in terms of its display innovation, but hopefully Walmart uses the brand to prop up its own TV sales with some really interesting new models. 

Though, then again, maybe it’s not so sunshine and rainbows after all.

Walmart’s $2B Vizio deal — the bad

In the more negative camp, which to many seems to be the most prime reality, Walmart’s potential $2B investment into Vizio is just another commercial ploy, one to prop up its ever-thriving Connect ads business. This not only pertains to both shoppable ads as seen on the TV at home and in stores, but likewise for the potentially far more lucrative data corralled within Vizio’s consumer base.

Called Retail Media Networks (RMNs), retailer ads businesses have thrived over the past several years as seen in mega corporations like Google and Apple. Walmart’s Connect obviously can’t hit the same heights as presented by these two names, nor even that of Amazon’s incredible dominance in this sector either, but retail media is a potential goldmine for Walmart — a goldmine that Coresight Research claims could be a $60B opportunity in 2024.

Walmart’s ads business has been growing by the billions over the past few years, with 2023 raking in over $3B and 2024 looking to capture $4B and more, according to Statista. Through Vizio, Walmart could leverage the platform to sell even more ads across TV screens that could potentially even rival small sectors within its own conventional retail business.

That’s not even accounting for the other untapped goldmine in the equation: data monetization. Vizio currently wields an 18M strong user base, making it a platform ripe for monetization — a business sector that Coresight Research claims could net $1M-$5M per every $1B earned in revenue.

In other words, if Walmart were granted the keys to Vizio’s kingdom, it could mean a whole lot more ads served to its millions of users. And, on top of that, said users’ data will most assuredly be leveraged to service these ads and better process the kinds of products Walmart puts at the forefront of its retail business.

But, with all of that being said, who’s to say the deal even goes through?

Walmart’s $2B Vizio deal — it may not even happen

The purported $2B deal that sees Walmart eyeing Vizio might not even come to fruition. The deal — if it's ever publicly acknowledged by both companies — all comes down to Vizio CEO William Wang, an executive wielding majority voting rights within the business and also founded the TV manufacturer back in 2002.

If the deal is finalized with Walmart as its new owner, it’s unclear what his role would be going forward. Additionally, Walmart might not be the only shark out there battling the tides of the TV industry seas.

Best Buy, too, has its own TV brand, called Insignia. Similar to Walmart, these TVs aren’t exactly the most ideal displays on the market, but through Vizio, it could bring about some serious change with the right capital injection. Best Buy scooping up Vizio and rebranding its own internal TVs with even better internals might give it a sweet push for 2024, especially given Best Buy’s commitment to value offerings — not unlike Walmart itself.

It all remains to be seen, and who knows? Maybe Vizio doesn’t even sell and remains its own entity entirely. We’ll just have to wait and see where this TV industry is headed as 2024 blazes on.

More from Tom's Guide

• Vizio M-Series Quantum X 50-inch Class 4K TV review
• Vizio TVs now double as digital photo frames — here’s how it works
• Vizio's first OLED TV is its most impressive set ever

People care about the quality of their "home theater" (a.k.a. their primary TV- and movie-watching space) more than ever. But many of the best TVs and best soundbars aren't cheap, so it might seem tricky to build an entertainment setup within a fixed budget.

With concerns like this in mind, I was challenged to shop for a full-featured home theater for under $1,000. This challenge is part of our YouTube series called The Haul, where I'm restricted on how much I can spend to meet an assigned goal. In this case, the goal was a great at-home cinema experience that doesn't break the bank. You can check out the full episode here: 

I decided to go to Best Buy with my budget, knowing that the electronics store has one of the biggest selections for TVs and audio gear you'll find. While you can shop online or in-stores, I decided to visit an actual retail location to see my options to take home on the same day. Plus in general, I know people like to see TVs in-person before they purchase.

Assuming that a TV would take up most of my $1,000, that's where I started. Of course my eyes were drawn to the likes of the LG C3 and LG G3 TVs, but there's no way an OLED TV would work for my budget. Instead, I honed my search on LED TVs. It's true that there's a wide gamut of technologies and terminologies in the LED TV category, but gravitate towards two brands for price conscious shoppers: Hisense and TCL.

The TCL and Hisense sections weren't as prominent in-store as LG's or Samsung's, but each had the most popular models displayed. I weighed my choices and ultimately decided that the 65-inch TCL Q6 TV for $499 is a deal I wouldn't be able to beat — it's rare to find good 65-inch TV for under $500, but you'll want to be sure to choose the best TV size for your setup.

Next I checked out the soundbar options. Best Buy has a wide variety from third-party audio brands as well as sound systems from TV manufacturers. I'll admit, the Sonos Ray for $279 caught my eye, and Sonos speakers are great for whole-home audio solutions. But I ended up putting the TCL Q Class 5.1 Channel soundbar in my cart. Not only does it come with a soundbar, subwoofer and pair of surround speakers, but the whole package only cost $249. I also threw in a set of speaker stands for $119, though you could wall mount them if your space allows. 

With some more budget to spend, I had a few possible paths to talk. I could get a wall mount to hang my TV up, but I'm a renter. I could shop for a new Blu-Ray player, but I don't have a big collection of discs. I could invest in some gaming gear, but I'm satisfied with my Nintendo Switch OLED right now. 

Instead, I priced out immersive TV strip lights. Several smart lighting brands sell light kits that sync up with the TV's on-screen picture, whether it's through an HDMI input like the Philips Hue Sync Box or a camera positioned at the screen. Best Buy had both versions on shelves, but I went with the Govee Dreamview TV Backlights and Light Bar for just $90. 

That brought my total to $957 for those counting, giving me some wiggle room before factoring in tax. Now, I know that are other choices I could've made along the way. But between the TV's bright picture, the all encompassing speaker sound, and the next-level immersion from the lights, I’m thrilled by the quality of setup we were able to get for the price. You'll have to watch the full video on YouTube to see how it all looks together. 

Obviously there are more advanced options of these products with premium features and price tags to match, but if we’re talking about what’s possible within a budget, this goes to show you can still get a great setup without overspending. 

More from Tom's Guide

• Super Bowl 2024 on Fire TV Stick: How to watch 49ers vs Chiefs for free
• 7 best TVs for Super Bowl 2024 — our top picks and lowest prices
• Epic Super Bowl TV deal — get this LG OLED for just $549 now at Best Buy

Get ahead of the holiday rush with these awesome deals on OLED TVs so you can experience all your favorite entertainment the right way. Major retailers, main among them being Amazon and Best Buy, have dropped several of the best TVs to record lows in the weeks ahead of Christmas.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday might be well behind us by this point, but that hasn’t stopped the holiday cheer from animating LG OLEDs to incredible new prices. Of note is the 65-inch LG B3 OLED that's dropped to $1,299 at Best Buy, or the 77-inch model that’s as much as $900 off down — the 77-inch LG B3 OLED is $1,999 at Best Buy this weekend as well.

They may not keep you warm this winter, but they will surely keep you entertained and in the action with impeccable detail, color, and sound.

Don’t wait before these awesome deals are gone, as the holiday deals are sure to wrap up before the new year starts. Even through the holidays, stay informed on all of the very best OLED TV deals here at Tom’s Guide as we deliver well beyond the Christmas season.

Holiday OLED TV deals — Quick links

• LG 77" B3 4K OLED TV: was $2,899 now $1,999 @ Best Buy
• Sony 65" A80L OLED 4K TV: was $2,299 now $1,899 @ Best Buy
• Samsung 65" S95C 4K OLED: was $3,297 now $2,397 @ Amazon
• LG 55” C3 OLED evo 4K TV: was $1,799 now $1,296 @ Amazon
• Samsung 77" S89C OLED 4K TV: was $3,599 now $1,999 @ Best Buy
• Sony 65" Bravia XR A75L OLED 4K TV: was $2,599 now $1,499 @ Best Buy
• LG 48" A2 4K OLED TV: was $1,299 now $549 @ Best Buy

Holiday OLED TV deals — best on-going sales

Best Buy's in-house Insignia brand of gadgets produces affordable alternatives to some of the Best TVs and surge protectors. However, one of its most popular appliances — a signature multifunction pressure cooker — has a defect that could cause hot contents to expel under pressure.

A recall has been issued for the Insignia Pressure Cooker, as it poses a burn hazard due to incorrect volume markings on the inner pot. This can cause owners to overfill the chamber, which can lead to hot food and liquids being ejected when the pressure cooker is vented using the quick-release method or opened while its contents are pressurized. There have already been 31 incidents reported to the tech retail giant. Of those, there were 17 reports of burn injuries that ranged up to second-degree burns.

How to know if your Insignia pressure cooker is part of the recall

The Insignia Multi-Function Pressure Cooker was sold online and in stores between October 2017 through June 2023 for between $50 and $120. Any of these appliances with the model number NS-MC60SS8, NS-MC60SS9, or NS-MC80SS9, and inner cooker pots with model numbers NS-MCRP6NS9 and NS-MCRP6SS9 are subject to the recall. 

These electric pressure cookers and inner cooker pots were sold in both six- and eight-quart capacities. The brand name INSIGNIA appears on the front of each unit and on its permanent on-product label located on the side of the cooker. This label also has the model number of the pressure cooker printed on it. The inner cooker pots are black with a non-stick coating and embossed markings indicating cup and liter measurements.

What to do if your pressure cooker has been recalled

If you own this model pressure cooker, stop using it immediately. You can contact Best Buy to get a free replacement of the inner pot and floating locking valve for signaling pressure:

• Call the company's Recall Hotline at 1-800-566-7498 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

• Chat with a live support agent at BestBuy.com 

You can also find this information on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall page. For reference, the recall number is 24-013.

Unfortunately, this isn't Insignia's first rodeo with product recalls as over 700,000 of the brand's Digital and Analog Air Fryers were recalled last year. 

If you've had to return your Insignia pressure cooker and are in the market for a new one, check out our guide to the Best Instant Pots.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best Instant Pots
• Best Air Fryers
• Best Toaster Ovens

I track deals every day for Tom’s Guide, and Best Buy is one of favorite retailers when it comes to finding big discounts on must-have gadgets. So I’m not surprised that the electronics specialist is offering some top-tier early Black Friday deals. 

One of my favorite deals right now is the LG A2 OLED TV on sale for $549. That’s a massive $750 off one of the best entry-level OLEDs. Plus, the MacBook Air 13 has dropped to $749, and the seriously useful Seagate 1TB Storage Expansion Card is just $149. It's become practically an essential accessory for Xbox Series X owners. 

There are even more Best Buy early Black Friday deals if you’re a My Best Buy subscriber. But we’re rounding up the best deals you can shop right now even if you just have a standard account down below. Plus, be sure to check out our Best Buy coupon code guide for even more ways to save. 

Best Buy early Black Friday deals — Quick links  

• Fire TV Stick 4K: was $49 now $29 @ Best Buy
• Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen): was $89 now $49 @ Best Buy
• iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550): was $899 now $499 @ Best Buy
• Ninja Foodi XL 2-Basket Air Fryer: was $249 now $129 @ Best Buy
• Blue Yeti USB Mic + Logitech Webcam: was $229 now $149 @ Best Buy
• Seagate 1TB Storage Expansion Card: was $219 now $149 @ Best Buy
• Bose 700: was $379 now $279 @ Best Buy
• iRobot Roomba i7+ (7550): was $899 now $374 @ Best Buy
• Apple Watch Ultra: was $799 now $629 @ Best Buy
• LG A2 48" 4K OLED TV: was $1,299 now $649 @ Best Buy
• MacBook Air 13 (M1/256GB): was $999 now $749 @ Best Buy
• LG 55" B3 OLED 4K TV: was $1,699 now $999 @ Best Buy
• Acer Predator Helios 300: was $1,499 now $1,000 @ Best Buy

Top Best Buy deals right now — Editor's Picks

Amazon's October Prime Day event is just around the corner, but Best Buy is beating its retail rival to the punch with even more ways to save. Best Buy has kicked off its Samsung Savings Event, offering huge savings on the brand's latest and greatest phones, tablets, smartwatches, computer monitors and more. And there are plenty of other deals beyond Samsung to be had as well. 

Right now, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is $899 at Best Buy. We think it's one of the best Android tablets currently on the market for its versatility, and it's a speedy all-purpose device for both work and play. Or if you're looking to upgrade your aging handset, Best Buy is offering up to $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus when you trade in your old phone, plus it'll throw in a free $150 Best Buy gift card with your purchase. 

Best Buy is also offering huge savings on a range of other devices from the biggest names in tech, from the best Apple products (including the MacBook Air 13 at the lowest price we've ever seen: $749) to hardware to upgrade your gaming setup like the Seagate 1TB SSD, which you can snag for $149, $70 off. 

Read on below for our favorite picks in Best Buy’s latest savings event. While you're at it, make sure to check out our Best Buy promo codes guide for more ways to save. 

Best Buy sale — Quick links

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: was $919 now $799 @ Best Buy
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra: was $1,199 now $899 @ Best Buy
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro: was $449 now $399 @ Best Buy
• Samsung Galaxy Buds Live True Wireless Earbuds: was $149 now $79 @ Best Buy
• Samsung S90C OLED 65" Tizen Smart TV: was $2,600 now $1,799 @ Best Buy
• Samsung Odyssey Ark 55" Curved Monitor: was $2,999 now $1,999 @ Best Buy
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus: Up to $500 off with trade-in plus a free $150 gift card @ Best Buy
• Samsung 77” Class S89C OLED 4K Smart TV: was $3,599 now $2,699 @ Best Buy
• Seagate 1TB Storage Expansion Card: was $219 now $149 @ Amazon
• 10.9" iPad Air (WiFi/64GB): was $599 now $499 @ Best Buy
• MacBook Air 13 (M1/256GB): was $999 now $749 @ Amazon
• MacBook Air (M2/256GB): was $1,099 now $899 @ Best Buy
• MacBook Pro 13" (M2/256GB): was $1,299 now $1,049 @ Amazon
• 10.2" iPad (WiFi/64GB): was $329 now $269 @ Amazon
• LG C3 55" 4K OLED: was $1,799 now $1,399 @ Best Buy

Best Buy sale — Top deals right now

Amazon Prime Day may be fading fast into 2023's rearview mirror, but that doesn't mean there aren't great deals to be had. In fact, now is the time to look at competing retailers to see what's on offer and ease your Amazon hangover.

Best Buy has a range of deals on products from the likes of Apple, Samsung and Asus. So whether you're on the lookout for an iPad upgrade or want one of the best TVs, you don't need to feel like you've missed your chance with Prime Day behind us. And you also don't need to wait months for Black Friday to feel like you're saving big on top tech. Coincidentally, if you're just after a new gaming laptop you're in luck — Best Buy is having a massive gaming laptop sale right now.

To save you the effort, I've rounded up 15 of the top tech deals available at Best Buy this weekend. There's no telling how long these deals will stay live for, so if you see something that fits your purpose, it's best advised to move fast.

Best Buy weekend deals: Quick links

• WD_Black 1TB SN850 SSD for PS5: was $239 now $89
• Samsung Galaxy Buds2: was $149 now $99
• Seagate 1TB Xbox expansion card: was $219 now $149
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 4: was $379 now $199
• MacBook Air M1 13": was $999 now $749
• Samsung 55" Q70C QLED TV: was $999 now $799
• LG C2 OLED TV 42": was $999 now $899
• iPad Pro 11": was $1,099 now $999
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: was $1,199 now $999
• Asus ROG Zephyrus 16" Laptop: was $1,649 now $1,099
• HP 14" Chromebook: was $299 now $149
• Google Pixel 7a: was $499 now $449
• GoPro HERO11: was $499 now $399
• Samsung MX-ST50B Sound Tower: was $699 now $449
• Insignia 43" Class F30 Series Smart Fire TV: was $299 now $159

Amazon Prime Day may be on its way, but other retailers are stepping up their deals game in response; case in point Best Buy has a great deal on the excellent Dell XPS 13 Plus. 

Right now you can get the Dell XPS 13 for $1,303 at Best Buy, which sees $346 sliced off the price of a great slim and light laptop that’ll see you through a day at the office and then a Netflix binge on the way home. Do be sure to move fast on this, as such deals tend to sell out pretty quickly. 

With the XPS 13 Plus, Dell took the standard XPS 13 and rejigged its design, with a standout feature being that it has no discernable trackpad, instead using a glass bar below the whole keyboard as a form of expansive yet invisible touchpad; it’s certainly different. 

In our Dell XPS 13 Plus review, we praised the laptop’s intriguing design, bright and vibrant OLED display, excellent performance and comfortable keyboard. As this model is from 2022, it makes use of a 12th Gen Intel Evo i7 processor, rather than the latest 13th-gen chips. But the performance on offer is plenty for most every-day computing tasks as well as some video editing on the go. Add in 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD and you’ve got plenty of performance and storage for a laptop. 

The Full HD touchscreen in this model might not be as impressive as the 3.5K OLED display available in more expensive XPS 13 Plus versions. But Dell has a reputation for using excellent displays in the XPS laptops, and 1080p resolution in a 13.5-inch display is plenty sharp for most things. 

The only real caveat here is the XPS 13 Plus replaces physical function buttons for a capacitive function row that some people may not gel with. And the battery life isn’t the most impressive, lasting only 7 hours and 34 minutes in our testing, which involves continuous web surfing at 150 nits of screen brightness (it’s worth noting that was on the OLED model that can be more power hungry than LCD displays). 

All in all, the Dell XPS 13 Plus is an impressive slim and light laptop and with more than $300 off, it’s well worth considering if you’re in the market for a new Windows 11 laptop. For more deals, check out our rundown of the best Prime Day laptop deals you can get today. 

When shopping for a new 4K TV, there’s always a temptation to go for the lowest-priced option — and, most of the time, that’s going to be an Insignia TV. 

Insignia is Best Buy’s in-house brand of electronics and the label can be found on everything from computer speakers and USB cables to appliances like refrigerators and dryers. But Insignia TVs are one of the biggest sellers for the brand and garner lots of attention come Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

Having reviewed a number of Insignia TVs here on Tom’s Guide (see: the Insignia F30 Fire TV Edition and Insignia 4K Fire TV) we’ve spent plenty of time in front of them and can tell you, definitively, what was good and wasn’t about the budget TV brand. 

In short, these affordable screens are great as a second-room TV that doesn’t get a lot of use or scrutiny, but often fail to keep pace with similarly-specced models from LG and Samsung. If you set the bar low, Insignia TVs might be a good budget buy – but don’t go in expecting it to be the best performing or most modern-looking TV on the market.

Insignia TV as your primary TV: pros and cons

Insignia TVs are well worth considering when shopping for the best TV under $500. They offer an affordable smart TV with 4K resolution and a reasonably large screen size. As far as the basics go, Insignia TVs really nail it. 

That being said, most Insignia TVs are missing out on a lot of technology that makes TVs look their best. Almost every Insignia TV available for sale only has a 60Hz native refresh rate, for example, and the most popular F20 and F30 Series don’t have a full array with local dimming backlight and instead opt for direct lighting. 

In terms of lab results, we measured the Insignia F30 Fire TV Edition's output around 347 nits of brightness in a 10% window. That’s about half of what we saw from the Hisense U6H and the Vizio M-Series Quantum X were able to achieve.  

Based on all the data we’ve collected, we can safely say that Insignia TVs often don’t have the best contrast or highest peak brightness in their price ranges, though their color accuracy is better than expected. That said, because most living rooms will have ambient light in them, we recommend staying away from Insignia if you are buying it as your primary TV. 

Insignia TVs as a second screen: pros and cons 

So when would we recommend buying an Insignia TV? Well, they’re great if you need a low-cost TV that simply gets the job done. Buying a TV for a kids room where it might, possibly, get broken? Sure, an Insignia TV would work great there. 

An Insignia TV would also work if you plan on only using it for streaming video. Nearly every Insignia TV is a smart TV and comes with most major streaming services built in. That means you won’t have to worry about buying a separate streaming device like a Roku or Amazon Fire TV Stick – all of that functionality comes built into the TV.

That said, should you buy it as a secondary TV for a sports bar? Probably not. Not only do Insignia TVs’ color saturation leave a lot to be desired, but colors desaturate quickly the further you move off-axis – i.e. anyone who doesn’t have front-row seats won’t get a good view of the game.

Another area of weakness that we found was in motion interpolation, as we noted in our F30 review: “Blurring presented another problem, especially with motion processing and dynamic noise reduction on. The TV had trouble keeping up with fast action sequences during The Old Guard and quick drives down the lane in a live basketball game.”

So what about gamers? Well, how good an Insignia TV is will depend on which kind of game system you plan on connecting to the TV. If you connect a Nintendo Switch that’s limited to a 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second, then an Insignia TV can absolutely work. For a PS5 or Xbox Series X, however, an Insignia TV doesn’t have the HDMI 2.1 ports or native refresh rates necessary to get the most from the consoles. 

Should I buy an Insignia TV? 

You should buy an Insignia TV if you want a cheap TV that doesn’t have all the features or performance quality of a more mid-range model. The biggest faults to be found with an Insignia TV is that they don’t have a full array backlight with local dimming zones and are locked into a 60Hz native refresh rate. These are issues that you will notice, even if you’re not someone who considers themselves particularly picky when it comes to TVs. 

As a second screen, however, there are plenty of reasons an Insignia TV will work for you. Just be sure you know what you’re buying and for what intended purpose. 

Black Friday deals are happening now. If you're in the market for a new TV, Best Buy Black Friday deals are especially hot. 

One of the best deals so far is the LG 70-inch UP7070 4K UHD smart TV for just $549 at Best Buy. It gives you a decent picture, HDR support and LG's webOS smart TV system all at a reasonable price. Add in that it's absolutely massive at 70-inches, and you've got a great Black Friday TV deal.

Luckily, this year, supply chain constraints are a bit better than the 2021 holiday season. But that doesn't mean you should wait too long to get your shopping done. Retailers from Amazon to Walmart and of course Best Buy are already flooding the market with early deals. (Check out our Black Friday deals live blog for the latest sales). 

While it's not one of LG's top-tier OLED sets, thanks to the television’s 4K resolution and strong picture performance, you can enjoy bright colors, high contrast, and detail while watching TV shows and movies or playing the latest games. Plus, this television has HDR10 and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) support. Without getting too into the weeds, this basically means whatever you're watching will look gorgeous.

This LG smart TV also runs LG's webOS system which gives it a full suite of smart TV features and apps you’d expect. From Netflix to HBO Max, you can watch content on just about every streaming service under the sun. The only trade-off is this model doesn't come with a voice assistant built-in. But it's a small price to pay to get this good of a deal.

If you’re looking for a new television to watch all your holiday favorites this winter, then you really can’t go wrong with this early Black Friday deal from Best Buy. But if you want to make sure you get the best of the best, make sure to check out our guide to the best TVs available before you buy anything.

Who says bigger TVs always need to be more expensive than smaller ones? Best Buy is rolling out huge sales this week as part of its early Black Friday deals, and this one really got our attention.

Right now the 75-inch Insignia Fire TV is just $549 at Best Buy. That's $300 off and of the best big-screen TV deals we've seen so far. While you don't get OLED picture quality, the price for a screen this size is hard to beat, especially when it's packing an on-board smart system like Fire TV. 

Other perks on this model include Alexia voice control via the remote and Apple AirPlay. There’s no Chromecast Built-in, but that could be tacked on with a new Chromecast and thanks to an eARC port, it's easy to connect a soundbar.

In our Insignia F30 review, which is an earlier model in this line, we called it “one of the best models with Amazon’s Fire TV built in” and “notably better than its competitor and cousin, the Toshiba 4K Fire TV Edition."

The out-of-the-box picture may not be up to snuff, but spend a few minutes tweaking the settings and you should be able to get a decent picture.

Full steam ahead on Fire TV sales

So how's this price comparing to other Black Friday TV deals? Well, quite favorably honestly. Yes, we've seen some cheaper 55-inch models like the Hisense R6 that's $298 @ Walmart and the 65-inch Onn. 4K TV that's $368 @ Walmart, but this is a rock-solid deal if you want something larger than 65 inches.

As for how well this deal will fare when stacked against the Black Friday TV deals we'll see in a few weeks, it's anyone's guess, but it's hard to imagine this going down any further. 

As always, we'll be tracking TV deals up until Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so stick with us if you want to snag a cheap big-screen TV before the end of the year.

• Rather shop at Amazon? Check out our guide to the best Amazon Black Friday deals

Best Buy Black Friday deals are now live. The electronics retailer isn’t waiting any longer to start discounting hundreds of popular products, and it's currently offering one of the cheapest Windows 11 laptops we’ve ever seen. 

Right now, the Lenovo Ideapad 1 14” laptop is on sale for $99 at Best Buy. That’s a $150 discount compared to its full retail price of $249, and the lowest price for this device. It’s not only one of the strongest Black Friday deals of the year so far, but one of the best cheap laptop deals we’ve come across. 

We’ve flagged laptop deals of this quality before, but typically it’s Chromebooks that drop to below $100. A laptop powered by Windows 11 on sale at this price is fairly rare, and this Lenovo Ideapad makes a strong case for itself at such a relatively low price point. 

The Lenovo Ideapad 1 definitely isn’t a powerhouse laptop, and you’ll need to tolerate some limitations. But considering its price, it’s hard not to be impressed by this machine. It comes sporting a 14-inch HD display, Celeron N4020 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB eMMC. You won’t be tackling performance-heavy tasks such as video editing, and high-level gaming is certainly out of the question, but if you need a dependable machine for everyday use this Lenovo laptop will do the job without fuss. 

This Lenovo laptop is ideal for working on the go with a highly-portable chassis that weighs just 3 pounds. Plus, it's rated for up to 10 hours of battery life, which should get you through long journeys without needing to reach for a charger. It also packs a built-in webcam with a privacy shutter, HDMI output for connecting to an additional display and Intel UHD Graphics that can be used for basic photo editing or simple gaming.

Black Friday is rapidly approaching, and retailers are offering some of the best deals earlier than ever this year. So, make sure to keep it locked to Tom’s Guide for comprehensive coverage of the sales events across every major retailer. We’ll make sure you don’t miss a must-have deal.  

Amazon is offering a tidal wave of Prime Day deals, but that doesn’t mean its retail rivals are just sitting on the sidelines letting the online retail giant hog the spotlight. The likes of Best Buy, Walmart, Target and more are all offering competing sales designed to steal Prime Day's thunder. 

These range from Best Buy’s Black Friday in July promotion to Walmart’s ongoing summer sale, but there’s one common theme among these deals, they’re all giving Prime Day a serious run for its money. While there are many epic offers to be found on Amazon right now, equally big savings can be found at alternative retailers as well. 

The best anti-Prime Day deals range from $200 off the MacBook Pro M1 at Best Buy to Smart TVs starting at just $99 at Walmart, plus there are savings on household essentials at Target. It’s easy to get swept up in the Prime Day hype and assume all the biggest savings right now are on Amazon, but make sure to shop around to ensure you’re getting the best price. 

To help you find the best deals across retailers, we’ll be covering all the best anti-Prime Day deals in this live blog. So follow along for some epic savings that don’t require an Amazon Prime membership. 

Top 10 anti-Prime Day deals

• MacBook Pro 13" (M1/256GB): was $1,299 now $1,099 @ Best Buy
• LG 55" A1 OLED 4K TV: was $1,699 now $946 @ Walmart
• KitchenAid Professinal 5qt Stand Mixer: was $449 now $270 @ Target
• iPhone 13 Pro: save up to $700 @ Best Buy
• Lenovo Ideapad 3i laptop: was $699 now $399 @ Walmart
• The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild: was $59 now $39 @ Walmart
• Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones: was $349 now $228 @ Best Buy
• Dyson TP01 Tower Air Purifier and Fan: was $399 now $299 @ Target
• Eufy RoboVac 25C: was $249 now $149 @ Walmart
• ASUS 14" Chromebook: was $299 now $149 @ Best Buy

Welcome to Tom's Guide Anti-Prime Day live blog! Here we'll be rounding up all the best deals from retailers other than Amazon. The second day of Prime Day deals is just beginning, but that doesn't mean there aren't epic offers at competing retailers worth flagging as well. 

For example, take the fantastic MacBook Pro M1, at Amazon it's being sold for its full retail price of $1,299, but at Best Buy you can score the MacBook Pro M1 for $1,099. That's $200 off. 

This 2020 release is no longer the latest model, but it still holds its own against some current flagship laptops. The MacBook Pro M1 continues to impress thanks to its speedy M1 chip, strong battery life and vibrant display. 

MacBook Pro (M1/256GB): was $1,299 now $1,099 @ Best Buy

One of our favorite Prime Day headphone deals is a massive discount on the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, which we rank as some of the best headphones you can buy. 

However, this deal is exclusively for Amazon Prime members. But fear not if you're not subscribed to the retailer's premium membership program, because Best Buy is offering the same deal and it's open to everyone. For a limited time, the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones are $228 at Best Buy, that's a saving of $121. 

In our Sony WH-1000XM4 review, we praised these headphones for their excellent audio quality, outstanding noise cancellation, the intuitive smart controls and the lengthy battery life of around 30 hours (with active noise cancellation enabled). All this easily beats even the significantly more expensive Apple AirPods Max wireless headphones. Sounds like a great deal to us.

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones: was $349 now $228 @ Best Buy

One of the Prime Day video game deals we definitely expected to see this year was some form of a reduction on The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, but curiously Amazon has kept the popular Nintendo Switch game at full price. Thankfully Walmart is picking up the slack instead. 

Right now, Breath of the Wild on Nintendo Switch is on sale for $39 at Walmart that's a $20 saving compared to its full price. You might expect a game that turned five years old earlier this year to be available for pennies, but Breath of the Wild has held its price remarkably well. 

Perhaps that is because even all these years later it's still the best game on the Nintendo Switch offering an expansive open world to explore and some delightfully fun puzzles. It's also a surprisingly tough game, with an emphasis on gathering the necessary resources to survive in the wilderness. A sequel is slated for next year making now the perfect time to circle back if you missed it the first time around. 

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild: was $59 now $39 @ Walmart

Hi, I'm Jane, Fitness Editor here at Tom's Guide and taking the reins from Rory briefly (don't despair gaming fans, he'll be back). I'm a big fan of the Apple Watch 7, and quite a few retailers currently have big savings on the smartwatch. For instance, Target currently has it on sale for just $279, which matches the price on Amazon and is a new low for the device. 

Prime Day Apple deals are always popular, but if you've been holding out to invest in a new watch, this is a deal worth shopping for. The Apple Watch 7 is available in two different sizes — 41mm and 45mm — and is on sale in blue, green, black, and starlight. The watch has a larger, brighter screen than the Apple Watch 6, and when testing, we found it to be the most usable standalone smartwatch yet. You can read our Apple Watch 7 review to find out more here. 

From a fitness perspective, this is a great watch to have on your wrist, and if closing your rings doesn't keep you accountable, I don't know what will. Grab it while you can. 

Apple Watch 7:  was $399, now $279 @ Target

Here's a deal that's cheaper somewhere other than Amazon right now — Target has the Beats Studio3 headphones for $174 right now, down from the usual $349. Amazon, meanwhile, has them at $199. 

Wherever you buy them, you'll be getting a good pair of over-ear headphones that we praised in our Beats Studio3 review for their comfy fit, up to 22 hours of battery life, and near-seamless pairing with iOS devices. Their active noise-canceling also does a decent job of blocking ambient sounds. 

Beats Studio3: was $349 now $174 @ Target

As the proud and happy owner of a Google Nest Hub, I can personally recommend it as the center of a smart home. It plays particularly nicely with my Nest Doorbell, as you'd expect, but also has a lot more skills besides. 

For instance, the second-gen Google Nest Hub features a 7-inch smart display and built-in speakers. This device also offers support for some of the best streaming services out there, including Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu and more. It's a bargain right now at Best Buy.

Google Nest Hub (2nd gen): was $99 now $54 @ Best Buy

Hello, it's Rory here again, I'm back to guide you through some of my favorite anti-Prime Day deals. Let's move over to the world of television, we've got a separate Prime Day TV deals live blog running alongside this one, but there are also some epic discounts at alternative retailers worth considering. 

Case in point, Walmart is offering the LG A1 55" 4K OLED TV on sale $949. That's a sizeable $753 off its full retail price of $1,699. If you're in the market for one of the best OLED TVs available, then the LG A1 OLED is a set worth considering (even if we ultimately prefer the more expensive LG C1 model).

This TV packs LG's powerful Alpha 7 gen 4 processor and support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Plus, it sports a full 4K resolution, HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision support. This particular model packs a rich 55-inch 4K Ultra HD display with an OLED panel and has a refresh rate of 60Hz. 

LG A1 55" 4K OLED TV: was $949 now $1,699 @ Walmart

Around this time last year, I bought a WB_Black SN850 SSD for my PS5 as I was already running out of storage space. It's been permanently slotted into my console ever since. 

While Amazon is offering the 2TB model for $240, Best Buy has the WB_Black SN850 2TB SSD w/ heatsink on sale for $207. That's a huge $222 discount compared to its regular retail price of $429, and an even better deal than Amazon. To be honest, these SSDs rarely sell for north of $400, but anything less than $230 is a pretty great deal. 

12 months ago I paid more than $200 for a 1TB model, so the fact you can now score 2TBs for the same price is making me wish I'd held out a little longer. Plus, because this model comes with a pre-installed heatsink it can be added to your PS5 straight out of the box. If you're struggling to free up PS5 hard drive space to install new games, this SSD is the ideal solution.  

WB_Black SN850 2TB SSD w/ heatsink: was $429 now $207 @ Best Buy

If you're looking to upgrade your entertainment setup without buying an entirely new TV, consider snagging the Roku Streaming Stick 4K for $29 Walmart. This is the best streaming device at its normal $50 price point, so this deal makes streaming your favorite shows and movies even sweeter.

As we explain in our Roku Streaming Stick 4K review, this TV plug-in provides you with the top interface and app store in the market; meaning, you're likely to find whatever it is you want to watch on Roku. This version also comes with a voice remote, so you can speak-to-search for the utmost convenience. 

Roku Streaming Stick 4K: was $49 now $29 @ Walmart

Is that a freshly brewed deal I smell? Oh, it's just the Keurig K-Mini for $59  at Target. In one our favorite competing Prime Day deals, Target has discounted one of the best budget Keurig machines for by $40 — this model normally costs $99.

The tiny Keurig K-Mini coffee maker lets you get single-serving coffee in any of Keurig's 100+ pod varieties, making 6-12 ounce quickly and efficiently. It even works with My K-Cup universal reusable pods, letting you enjoy your favorite blend without adding to the landfill.

Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker: was $99 now $59 @ Target

Super Bowl TV deals are getting more and more impressive as we inch closer to the big day, discounting some of the most sought-after models on the market. So if you've been holding off on purchasing a great TV at a cheaper price, now's the time to act. 

Currently, you can get the LG 70-inch Class UP8070 LED 4K Smart TV for $799. That’s taking a solid $200 off its usual price of $999. This easily makes it one of the strongest cheap TV deals we’ve seen all year round. A set of this size and quality for less than $800 is most certainly a bargain worth considering. Make sure to hurry though, as stock isn't guaranteed to last long.

With Presidents Day sales and Super Bowl 2022 just a shy of few weeks away, some of the best 4K TVs are already getting the kind of price cuts that can only be spotted around Black Friday sales. Similar to Samsung, LG is considered a highly reputable brand when it comes to TVs. 

This particular model features a massive 70-inch UHD display with 4K resolution and is equipped by LG's powerful Quad-core 4K processor. And thanks to the TruMotion 120Hz technology, all of the fast-moving action sequences will be smooth and sharp, making this set great for PS5 and Xbox Series X console gaming.

Plus, this model also features HDR10 and Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) support and provides access to some of the best streaming services, including as Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO Max and more. 

The television also runs on webOS which gives it the full suite of smart TV features you’d expect. It can be controlled with just your voice too thanks to integrated Amazon Alexa support, so you’ll never have to worry about losing your remote again. 

So whether you're contemplating to get this set to catch up on your favorite TV show or tune into Super Bowl 2022 through the 4K display, then you really can’t go wrong with this Best Buy deal. Hurry and get it before the stock runs out. 

After halting sales earlier this month, TCL has announced that it has resumed selling its new 6-Series and 5-Series Google TVs.

The company was originally dealt a blow in early December when Best Buy — the exclusive U.S. retailer of TCL Google TVs — opted to remove the 6-Series and 5-Series models from all store listings after a myriad of complaints flooded in regarding slow performance and a buggy interface.

In a statement issued today by a spokesperson to The Verge, TCL made it clear that "significant improvements on the stability and speed of the TCL televisions featuring Google TV" will ensure that it “represents the powerful performance that TCL and Google believe is the future of TV.”

TCL TVs have spent many years being synonymous with Roku software, but the 6-Series and 5-Series models have ditched Roku in favor of Google TV. Of course, it isn’t TCL’s first collaboration with Google, as it has released sets featuring Android TV in the past. However, the company had certainly hoped its 2021 sets would be a powerful showcase for the much newer Google TV interface, so hopefully these fresh updates will help that dream along.

TCL has long been known for providing affordable options for enthusiasts, and this year’s displays are continuing to aim for that goal. The 6-Series boasts a stunning mini-LED display and HDMI 2.1 support for 4K resolution at 120hz, making it an excellent choice for PS5 and Xbox Series X gamers wanting an ultra-smooth experience. As a matter of fact, multiple TCL TVs landed on our list of the best 4K TVs of 2021.

If you already have a TCL Google TV, you should be prompted to update to the newest firmware automatically, but in the event that you’re not, you can always head to the TCL website and learn how to install it manually.  

Yesterday Best Buy held its latest PS5 restock, but this one came with a pretty significant catch. The console was only available to Totaltech members, which might have been permissible if an annual membership didn’t cost an eyewatering $200.

For context, Best Buy launched its Totaltech membership program earlier this month. It gives customers around-the-clock tech support, up to 24 months of product protection on most Best Buy purchases, free delivery, and a few other benefits. This drop was the first time the retailer gated a PS5 restock behind a paywall — and it sucks. 

• PS5 restock update: Track on Twitter, Best Buy, GameStop and more
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• Plus: Netgear’s new Wi-Fi 6E router costs $1,500 — wait, what?

It’s likely that Best Buy was hoping to use the allure of a PS5 restock in order entice people to sign up for its new membership scheme. But the move has not been well received by gamers still trying to get hold of a PS5 console. 

A Reddit thread about the restock has attracted more than 100 comments, almost all of them calling out the retailer for this gated drop. One user described the restock as “basically Best Buy finding a way to scalp” and another called it a “garbage event.” 

Of course, buying a PS5 on the resale market will likely cost you an extra $200 anyway, and that’s without also getting the benefits of a Totaltech membership. So, if you’re a regular Best Buy shopper this could in fact be a good deal. Although, the average resale price of the PS5 is quickly dropping, so this may not be the case for long.  

And regardless, there's a big old whiff of Best Buy using the PS5 stock shortages as a cynical way of promoting it's own service. Sure, do that for certain products, but not those that people are still desperate to get nearly a year after the PS5's release; there's making a profit and then there's profiteering. 

Best Buy is certainly not the first retailer to hold a PS5 restock exclusively for members of a premium rewards program, but what makes this drop so egregious is the cost of a Totaltech subscription. GameStop offers early access to next-gen console restocks through its PowerUp Reward Pro membership, but that costs a mere $15 annually.

Amazon has also experimented with offering Prime members priority access to PS5 restocks, but Prime costs a more reasonable $12.99 a month. Plus, Prime comes with a host of other benefits including access to the popular Prime Video and Prime Music streaming services, which made it worth having even before the PS5 restock perk was introduced.

Despite the backlash, the PS5 has once again sold out at Best Buy. Therefore the possibility of Best Buy holding further Totaltech-exclusive drops seems high. Make sure to bookmark our PS5 restock hub, and we’ll let you know when Best Buy or any other major retailer has stock of the console.

PS5 restock tracker — stores to check

• Walmart: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition (last restock September 23)
• Best Buy: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition (last restock October 11)
• GameStop: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition (last restock September 28)
• Amazon: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition (last restock September 21) 
• Dell: PS5  | PS5 Digital Edition (last restock August 25)
• Target: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition (last restock October 1)
• Sony: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition (last restock September 28)
• Newegg: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition (last restock April 29)
• Kohl's: PS5 (last restock April 21)
• Adorama: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition | Bundles
• Costco: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition (last restock April 22)
• Antonline: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition (last restock September 23)
• Sam's Club: PS5 (last restock October 1)

Best Buy had PS5 restock on Friday and has since sold out, but there could be more inventory on the way soon. 

This was the third Friday in a row that Best Buy has dropped PS5 stock, so a pattern is definitely emerging at this point. Hopefully, it's a sign that the stock issues that have plagued the console since launch are starting to alleviate and soon you'll be able to buy a console without worry. 

PS5 restock at Best Buy

Check PS5 restock at other retailers

• Walmart: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition 
• Best Buy: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition 
• GameStop: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition | PS5 Bundle
• Amazon: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition 
• Target: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition 
• Sony: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition
• Newegg: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition 
• Adorama: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition | Bundles

How to get your PS5 from Best Buy 

If PS5 restock comes in at Best Buy, you need to be quick. And we've got some tips that will help to tip the odds in your favor next time.  

It’s important to note that Best Buy will not allow you to order the PS5 from one of its retail stores. You must order your PS5 online. You can select in-store pickup from some locations, but you’ll need to complete the transaction online beforehand. 

When the PS5 is back in stock at Best Buy it will almost certainly sell out in minutes, so you need to be lightning-quick getting your order through. Make sure you already have a Best Buy account and have all your payment information pre-saved so you can speed through checkout. 

Setting up stock alerts, or following a PS5 restock twitter account, is also a smart move as you’ll need to be on the Best Buy website the moment that stock is released in order to secure a console. 

If you want up-to-the-minute updates on PS5 restocks, make sure to bookmark our guide on where to buy a PS5 and guarantee that you'll always be in the know.  

• The most anticipated PS5 games — what we’re excited to play

Best Buy has decided to discontinue its smart home device division, Insignia Connect. Starting November 6, the Insignia Connect app will be shuttered and a number of WiFi-enabled Insignia products—which include a smart plug, smart light switch, and a home security camera—will become eligible for reimbursement.

The announcement, shared discreetly to Best Buy’s Insignia website, doesn’t detail the reason for the company ending its Insignia Connect products. It simply states that the accompanying app used to control products like the Insignia WiFi Smart Plug and WiFi Freezer won’t work as of November 6.

Best Buy says those two devices, along with the WiFi Smart Light Switch and WiFi Camera are eligible to return in exchange for Best Buy credit. (Towards non-Insignia smart home devices, perhaps?) 

The affected products are no longer available for purchase, either.

Although the Insignia Connect app will cease to function, Best Buy says most of the products can still function manually. Its Insignia freezer will still keep ice cream cold. Its smart plugs and smart switches should retain previously designated routines. 

The only device that won’t work at all is the smart security camera. Without the app, the security camera cannot share recorded footage with a mobile device. If you own an Insignia WiFi Camera, consider returning the hardware for one of the best home security cameras we’ve tested. 

Fortunately, Best Buy carries gadgets from number of the smart home companies, so the store credit for its dumbed down devices could be used for replacements. But it's only accepting up to 10 returns per customer and won’t reimburse for installation fees. Either way, this sounds like a major headache for anyone who owns an Insignia Connect ecosystem.

Earlier this year Lowe similarly ended its own smart home platform. It directed Iris users to Samsung SmartThings, and offered Visa gift cards for the trouble.

Though it didn’t shut down its smart home system, Google migrated Works with Nest functions to Google Assistant this year, too. The move caused smart home companies to come up with quick solutions for enabling their products on a new platform. It also forced users to switch from Nest accounts to Google ones.

Best Buy’s Insignia Connect platform might not be the most popular smart home system, but it’s certainly concerning that a company can decide when your ecosystem of switches and lights will lose its smarts.

• Best Buy Black Friday Deals