Greetings, everyone! As the calendar turns to November, the first week has already ushered in a bustling wave of pre–Black Friday promotions, filling the marketplace with an impressive array of early deals. Remarkably, a considerable number of these offers have remained active well into the weekend, providing shoppers with a prime opportunity to secure significant savings before the official shopping frenzy even begins. Among these, several of our favorite fitness trackers have plummeted to record-low prices, offering enthusiasts of health and activity tracking the chance to invest in top-tier wearables without breaking the bank. Beyond the realm of technology, we are also witnessing enticing markdowns on seasonal staples such as holiday décor, enabling early planners to set a festive tone ahead of the December rush. For those seeking comprehensive coverage, we’ve already assembled and published a detailed list of standout early Black Friday bargains—a guide we plan to refresh weekly as new discounts appear. Yet for now, this roundup focuses on the crème de la crème of current offers, emphasizing a select combination of remarkable finds, including a few deals that transcend the traditional parameters of Black Friday shopping.
One of this week’s most notable highlights is the Apple Watch SE 3, which might see its price dip even lower once Black Friday formally commences. However, those unwilling to wait can already take advantage of a compelling discount: the 40mm GPS configuration is currently reduced to $199.99—a full $50 off the usual retail price—at both Amazon and Costco. This marks the lowest price to date for Apple’s latest entry-level smartwatch, a model that already offers exceptional value even at its standard rate. It’s important to note, however, that this specific Amazon offer applies exclusively to the elegant “starlight” color variant, a refined and neutral tone that complements virtually any style.
Despite being categorized as an introductory model within Apple’s lineup, the SE 3 impresses with features that rival those of higher-end devices. Notably, it boasts an always-on display—an upgrade never before seen in the SE series—enhancing convenience by allowing users to check the time or notifications at a glance without raising the wrist. Powering the watch is Apple’s efficient and lightning-fast S10 chip, the same processor utilized in the premium Apple Watch Series 11 and the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 3. This parity ensures not only smoother performance but also access to the company’s latest innovations, such as on-device Siri functionality and a newly introduced wrist flick gesture that streamlines navigation. Furthermore, the SE 3 integrates advanced health and wellness-monitoring capabilities once reserved for Apple’s more expensive offerings. These include sleep apnea detection alerts, a wrist-temperature sensor that assists in tracking overall wellbeing, and comprehensive ovulation tracking for users monitoring fertility cycles. Although certain specialized medical metrics—like EKG readings or blood oxygen saturation—remain exclusive to higher-end models like the Series 11, such omissions are understandable compromises at this highly approachable price point.
For those planning to unwind during Thanksgiving weekend with hours of binge-worthy streaming—perhaps immersing themselves in the newest season of the sci-fi phenomenon Stranger Things—the Google TV Streamer (4K) presents a compelling way to elevate the viewing experience. Currently available for an unprecedented low price of $74.99 (a $25 reduction) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Google’s own store, this device transforms ordinary streaming sessions into a cinema-like spectacle. Supporting leading visual and audio standards such as HDR10 Plus, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, the Google TV Streamer (4K) enhances picture clarity, contrast, and sound depth, creating a rich, immersive environment especially suited for high-impact cinematic moments. Its intuitive interface aggregates content recommendations across streaming platforms while integrating Rotten Tomatoes scores, simplifying the process of choosing what to watch next. Adding to its user-friendly design, the included remote features a Find My function, enabling users to trigger a soft alert from the box itself if the remote ever goes missing—a clever addition that spares frustration during movie nights. Equally impressive is its role as a smart home hub, with built-in Matter and Thread support permitting control over compatible lights, cameras, and other devices directly from the television screen, thereby turning your home entertainment setup into a unified digital command center.
For anyone already embracing the cheerful anticipation of the holiday season, a particularly delightful find comes from the brick-building universe of Lego. The 2025 Star Wars Advent Calendar, currently discounted at Target to $26.99 (a generous $18 reduction), offers the best price recorded for this set. Comprising 263 individual pieces, the kit conceals 24 miniature surprises—one for each day of December—making it an engaging countdown to the festivities. Inside, builders will discover a blend of iconic minifigures, self-contained micro-builds, and whimsical set pieces inspired by the legendary Star Wars saga. Characters include fan favorites such as Babu Frik, C-3PO, a festively dressed holiday Jawa, and even a cheerful version of BB-8 topped with a seasonal hat. Alongside them are eight small but detailed droid constructions, including a pit droid and the instantly recognizable GNK power droid (affectionately known as the “Gonk” droid), first seen in 1977’s A New Hope. As December progresses, some of the day-by-day builds combine to form more substantial and cohesive scenes—culminating in a small workshop tableau that evolves over the month. Once the final door has been opened, all the pieces can be seamlessly integrated into existing Lego collections, encouraging continued creativity and imaginative play well beyond the holiday countdown itself.
These highlights represent only a portion of the notable bargains currently available, yet they exemplify the growing momentum of early Black Friday sales. As retailers unveil more offers in the coming weeks, shoppers have an excellent opportunity to secure hard-to-beat values ahead of the year’s busiest shopping period—whether they’re upgrading personal tech, preparing thoughtful gifts, or simply indulging their seasonal enthusiasm for building, decorating, and celebrating.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/tech/816649/apple-watch-se-3-lego-star-wars-advent-calendar-deal-sale
