Tech / Technology

Best controller deal: Get the ‘Legend of Zelda’ Hori wireless Nintendo Pro controller for $25 off

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As of Nov. 9, get the ‘Legend of Zelda’ Hori wireless Nintendo Switch Pro controller for just $34.99 at Woot! That’s a discount of 42%.
'The Legend of Zelda' Hori Wireless Nintendo Switch Pro Controller on abstract orange background

SAVE $25: As of Nov. 9, you can get ‘The Legend of Zelda’ Hori wireless Nintendo Switch Pro controller for $34.99. That’s a savings of 42%.


The Nintendo Switch has been seeing banger after banger this year. From The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to the recently released Super Mario Bros. Wonder, there’s so much to explore on the system that it might make your head spin. Be prepared for all the new titles on their way, like Super Mario RPG, or cozy up with recently-released games like Fashion Dreamer with a brand new wireless controller.

As of Nov. 9, you can get The Legend of Zelda Hori wireless Nintendo Switch Pro controller at Woot! for just $34.99. That’s a savings of 42% and $25 off its normal price of $59.99.

This officially licensed Hori controller is emblazoned with a cool black and gold Zelda theme, which features Link himself, an all-over map of Hyrule, and a golden Hylian crest. It’s a lightweight, comfortable controller with 32 feet of Bluetooth range, and an accelerometer and gyroscope for full motion control support. It’s rechargeable via USB-C and, best of all, it’s your best bet for an analog of the pricier Nintendo Switch Pro controller, which usually costs about $60 to $70.

If you don’t prefer using the Joy-Con Switch controllers or want something a little more ergonomic or sturdier for long-term play, this is your best bet. And at this price, you can get a couple — one for you and one for your favorite player 2. The holidays are coming, after all!

Tech / Technology

Samsung launches Galaxy S Pen Creator Edition in the U.S.

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Samsung’s latest S Pen stylus has more of a creative edge than the others, with better tilt sensitivity than previous models.
Samsung Galaxy S Pen Creator Edition

Samsung just upped its stylus game.

The Korean electronics giant officially launched the Creator Edition of its popular S Pen stylus accessory in the U.S. this week, after initially announcing it in July. For $99, you get a stylus that’s supposed to be more suited for artistic endeavors than the regular $59 S Pen that currently comes with the company’s Galaxy Tab tablets.

What exactly does that mean? Well, Samsung’s store page is relatively vague about the enhancements inherent to the Creator Edition, but it does mention increased tilt sensitivity (which is huge for digital artists) as well as a wider grip for long-term use. You can use the S Pen Creator Edition with Galaxy Tab S devices, as well as Galaxy S21 Ultra (and higher) phones, Galaxy Note 10 (and higher) phones, and PCs.

Samsung’s tablet + pen ecosystem isn’t quite as highly regarded for digital artists as the vaunted “iPad and Apple Pencil” combo, so this is obviously a step toward fixing that. It’s also an interesting move when viewed in contrast to Apple’s most recent Apple Pencil launch, which actually stripped out some creative-minded features like pressure sensitivity.

Get to drawing, folks.

Tech / Technology

Viture One review: These XR glasses turn your phone into a 120-inch TV

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This Viture One review dives into how it can benefit your everyday life, whether you’re a gamer, a worker bee, a night owl, or a privacy-conscious traveler.
Viture One XR glasses with iPhone 15 Pro Max

I plugged the Viture One glasses into my brand spankin’ new iPhone 15 Pro Max and my jaw dropped.

There it was. One of my favorite shows – Netflix’s Selling Sunset in all of its glory – hovering before my very eyes on a 120-inch virtual TV via a funky pair of XR glasses.

A couple wearing the Viture One XR glasses

Watch your favorite streaming shows and films on the Viture One XR glasses
Credit: Viture

And guess what? Not only can you plug the Viture One into your phone, but you can also connect it to your MacBook and Windows laptop. Hell, you can even stick it into your Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch to enjoy a blown-up gaming experience, which may be particularly useful while traveling.

However, the Viture One XR glasses don’t come cheap.

Viture One XR glasses price and availability

The Viture One XR glasses have an MSRP of $549, but as of this writing, they’re down to $439 on Amazon.

Alongside the XR glasses, you’ll get four nose pads. You can swap ‘em out to test which one feels most comfortable on your honker. 

What's inside Viture One packaging

Check out what’s included the Viture One packaging
Credit: Viture

You’ll also get a USB-C to magnetic connector cable, which lets you plug your XR glasses into your devices. And finally, a spiffy case ships with the Viture One XR glasses, too, so you can keep ‘em protected while you’re on the go.

I don’t typically talk about packaging in my reviews, but unboxing the Viture One XR glasses was a swanky, premium experience. A couple of “oohs” and “ahhs” escaped my lips while unwrapping the spectacles.

The box opens up like French doors and the quality of the black-and-orange case is top-notch. Even when I tried to deliberately scratch it or leave fingerprints, it was resistant to my attacks.

Viture One case

The Viture One XR glasses case
Credit: Viture

The Viture One XR glasses come in two colors: Jet Black and Matte Indigo.

What I love about the Viture One XR glasses

If you wore the Viture One without the cable attached to it, people would be none the wiser that you’re wearing a pair of badass XR glasses that can maximize your viewing experience into a dazzling 120-inch screen.

Sleek, sophisticated, lightweight design

However upon closer inspection, the Viture One looks bizarrely futuristic. It’s what I’d imagine VR glasses to look like in the year 2050 once we’ve reached Ready Player One nirvana. The top-edge of the glasses – the rims – are thick AF to accommodate two adjustment wheels.

Viture One XR glasses

The Viture One XR glasses are sleek and lightweight
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

 

These dual dials allow you to adjust the lenses for crystal-clear clarity. I played around with the dials to see if I could enhance the virtual display, but I didn’t need to – the glasses’ out-of-the-box settings were perfect for me.

The glasses’ temples are thick, too, to accommodate the cool tech that facilitates its XR prowess. On the end of the right temple, you’ll find some pogo pins that invite you to magnetically attach its companion cable.

Viture thought ahead about design flaws

While the glasses itself felt lightweight on my face (it’s only 2.7 ounces), the default nose pad felt uncomfortable – as if the weight of spectacles rested on the bridge. Luckily for me, Viture included three other nose pads. I opted for the largest one – it now feels cushy, snug and weightless.

Viture One pogo pins

Connect the cable magnetically via its pogo pins.
Credit: Viture

I also noticed that, while the glasses were connected to the cable, something kept snagging the wisps of hair that fell around my ears. As it turned out, Viture thought ahead about that, too. The Viture One XR glasses also includes something called an Anti-Clip Hair Cover that surrounds the magnetic pogo pins, which puts an end to all the irksome hair snagging.

Transforms my iPhone 15 Pro Max into a cinematic experience

Apple finally got with the program and added USB-C when it debuted the iPhone 15. This means you no longer need to use an adapter while using any current-generation iPhone (though you will need one for the iPhone 14 and older).

iPhone 15 Pro Max and Viture One

I connected the Viture One XR glasses to my iPhone 15 Pro Max
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I connected the Viture One XR glasses to my iPhone 15 Pro Max, and within seconds, the spectacles mirrored my display. At first, I was concerned – the glasses were mirroring my display in portrait orientation. I thought, “If I launch Netflix right now, will it stay in portrait mode, too?”

Fortunately, that’s not what happened. When I fired up Selling Sunset, the image flipped to horizontal orientation. Before my eyes, I saw reality TV actresses Christelle Stause and Amanza Smith having an emotional conversation on a 120-inch virtual screen, thanks to the micro-OLED screens. The display is 1080p and runs at 60 frames per second.

The show – known for sweeping, drone-facilitated, bird’s eye views of luxurious, million-dollar homes across LA – looked crisp and sharp on the Viture One. It showed off vivid, rich hues of verdant, lush landscaping and textured, colorful roofs.

Viture One worked its magic on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

I plugged the Viture One into my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, too, but it required a few extra steps to ensure it’d work as smoothly as it did with my iPhone 15 Pro Max. First, while the XR glasses were connected, I had to turn off Samsung DeX, which launched by default. The issue with this feature is that it overrides screen-mirroring mode and splashes an unwanted desktop-like experience to your virtual monitor.

Viture One XR glasses on a bench

Viture One XR glasses
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You also must go to “Media Output,” which you can find by swiping down from the top of the screen, and switch it to the Viture One – or else you’ll find that the audio will play from the smartphone, not the XR glasses.

With these minor tweaks, I fired up The Wolf of Wall Street and watched Leonardo DiCaprio – clear and crisp as ever — cleverly convince a chump to buy junk stocks.

It supports laptops and tablets, too

I typed this very section using the Viture One with my M2 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro — and the experience was seamless.

Viture One XR glasses with MacBook Pro

I connected the Viture One to my MacBook Pro, too.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Unlike my streaming experience, smudges and other blemishes are less forgiving when it comes to reading text on the Viture One’s virtual monitor. As long as you take a microfiber and clean the lenses, the text on these spectacles are crisp.

What’s the use case for plugging the Viture One XR glasses to your laptop? You can work late nights on it without disturbing your partner. For example, I can darken the screen on my MacBook to its lowest setting, but with the spectacles connected, the virtual monitor is still bright and illuminated, allowing me to navigate on the Viture One without any issues.

This bad boy also works on tablets such as the iPad Air and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9.

What’s ‘eh’ about the Viture One glasses

There’s a lot to love about the Viture One glasses, but there’s one thing I’m indifferent about: the sound.

The sound is just OK

Viture boasts that that the XR glasses, packed with Harman-tuned audio, deliver an impressive spatial sound experience – and I concur. While watching The Wolf of Wall Street on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, for example, it felt as if I was sitting in a surround-sound theatre. However, the sound quality is just OK. It’s not remotely terrible, but doesn’t give me an “eargasm” either. However, this is expected because there’s only so much tech you can pack into a tiny pair of XR glasses.

What I don’t like about the Viture One glasses

One of the best use cases for the Viture One is gaming, particularly for those who love to travel with handheld PC consoles like the Steam Deck.

Viture One on a plane

The Viture One is an excellent travel accessory.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Do you know how annoying it is to have to crane your neck over the Steam Deck while you’re on a plane? With the Viture One, you can lay your head comfortably on your reclined seat. No matter where you look, you’ll find the 120-inch display before you while playing your favorite triple-A titles.

I ran Cyberpunk 2077 on my Steam Deck and had a blast picking off enemies one by one while trying to escape goons during a car chase. It’s worth noting that I had to use the adjustment dials to sharpen the display’s clarity, but once I did, I was kicking ass and taking names. I could also see myself using the Viture One for privacy reasons while traveling. Once the smart glasses are connected to the Steam Deck, the screen turns black, so nosybodies can’t see what you’re playing.

Playing Steam Deck with Viture One

The Viture One pairs well with the Steam Deck.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, I discovered one small grievance while gaming with my Lenovo Legion 9i.

Viture should offer longer cables

An ideal gaming session with the Viture One XR glasses would allow me to plug ’em into my Legion 9i gaming laptop that sits on my coffee table. After that, I can lie on my back and play my favorite Steam games like Dishonored and Prey – as if I had a 120-inch TV attached to the ceiling. However, I couldn’t fulfill that dream because the cable is too short.

Final thoughts

Keep in mind that the Viture One XR glasses aren’t compatible with every device. For example, when I plugged ’em into the Xiaomi 13T Pro and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, nothing happened. Check the compatibility list to make sure the Viture One XR glasses support your device of choice.

The Viture One is my favorite tech device I’ve tested this year. It has so many use cases, from transforming your smartphone into a 120-inch TV experience to upgrading your comfort while traveling with your Steam Deck. The only thing I’d change about it is the short cable, but other than that, these XR glasses are totally worth the $500 price tag.

Tech / Technology

Best Apple deal: Get a refurb MacBook Pro for $350

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Save 70% on a refurbished 2015 MacBook Pro at the Mashable Shop.
2015 Apple MacBook Pro with pink gradient background

TL;DR: Through Nov. 9, you can save an extra 70% on a refurbished MacBook Pro (Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) for yourself or someone on your holiday list. Get it for just $349.97 (reg. $1,199) for a limited time.


This holiday season, you can treat yourself or a loved one to an Apple laptop that seamlessly combines power, performance, and portability at a price that won’t break the bank. This refurbished Apple Macbook Pro 13.3″ is hundreds off at $349.97 ahead of the holiday shopping rush.

It has a 2560 x 1600 Retina display for a clear, welcoming view of work apps or your favorite streaming content. The 128GB solid-state drive provides decent local storage for your most important files or photos. It operates on a 2.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor to give you reliability without the lag.

And if you or your giftee relies on graphics professionally or for entertainment purposes, the Intel Iris Graphics 6100 allows for quality images for video editing, gaming, and more

It includes WiFi capabilities and Bluetooth 4.0 to connect your peripherals like headphones or a wireless mouse easily. And it has two USB 3.0 ports.

This MacBook Pro is from the model year 2015, so it doesn’t have the latest in Apple tech. But it has been cleaned and inspected to work like new, even if it may have some light cosmetic blemishes on the body. However, a refurbished laptop does come with the added benefit of reducing e-waste.

Whether you’re looking to boost productivity or start creative projects, this refurbished MacBook Pro is a gift of possibilities that can keep giving long after the holiday season.

Pick up the refurbished MacBook Pro for just $349.97 (reg. $1,199) when you order by November 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Prices subject to change.

Tech / Technology

Best tech deal: Multi-device wireless charger for $35

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A multi-device wireless charger (in black or blue) from Electronic Avenue is on sale for $34.97. That’s 70% off its regular price of $119.99.
Multi-device wireless charger shown powering up a phone, Apple Watch, and AirPods

TL;DR: As of November 4, you can get a multi-device wireless charger (in black or blue) for just $34.97 instead of $119.99 — which is a savings of 70%.


Shopping for Apple techies may be challenging and expensive, but you don’t have to splurge on name-brand products to give a thoughtful and practical gift. This charger has two wireless spots for an iPhone and Apple Watch, and an additional USB-C output for a third device.

With this early-bird holiday savings event running through November 9, you can grab this multi-device wireless charger in black or blue for $34.97 (reg. $119.99).

One charger, three devices

If we had to compare this multi-device wireless charger to a name-brand Apple product, it would be the MagSafe Battery Pack (retailing for $99). However, they’re actually very different, since this one can charge three devices at the same time:

  • 5W wireless smartphone charging. Works with iPhone 12 and newer or Qi wireless-compatible Android models.

  • 3W Apple Watch charging. 

  • USB-C output. Use with any cord that has USB-C on one end to charge AirPods, an additional smartphone, Bluetooth speakers, or virtually any other compatible device or gadget.

The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack doesn’t have this much versatility and convenience at such an affordable price point.

Thin, lightweight, and comes in black or blue

With this affordable alternative, you aren’t also compromising on aesthetics. It’s only half an inch thick and super lightweight for ultimate portability, and convenience when you want to use your phone while it’s charging. It also comes in your choice of black or blue to match your smartphone or color preference.

These prices are only available until November 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT, and no coupon is needed:

Prices subject to change.

Tech / Technology

Best Apple deal: Refurb MacBook Pro on sale for $236

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A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro is on sale for $235.97. That’s 32% off the device’s regular price of $349.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro overlaid on a bright, orange-pink background

TL;DR: As of November 4, you can get a refurbished Apple MacBook Pro for only $235.97 instead of $349 — that’s a savings of 32%.


Apple enthusiasts are hard to shop for, and it’s not due to a lack of gifting options. If you know someone who’s been eyeing up a MacBook and has a taste for classic Apple tech, this timeless, refurbished MacBook Pro could make a thoughtful and practical gift option. And, maybe most importantly, one that’s actually affordable. 

Get ahead of the holiday shopping rush with this limited-time offer: $235.97 (reg. $349) for the refurbished MacBook Pro through November 9.

Refurbished MacBook Pro: An oldie but a goodie

Purchasing refurbished is a way to give older devices a second chance at life. This MacBook Pro was given a grade “B” refurbished rating to signify its quality — it has some cosmetic imperfections like light scuffs and scratches, but none on the device’s screen.

While you’re saving hundreds compared to shopping for brand-new models, you may also get some features discontinued on later models. This MacBook Pro has a CD and DVD reader, an SD card slot, USB 3 and 3.5mm aux inputs, and more that you can’t find on newer models.

Key specs: 13.3-inch display, Intel Core i5, and 500GB of storage

This MacBook Pro also has specs that, arguably, still hold up to today’s standards:

  • 13.3-Inch display with 1366×768 resolution

  • Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM

  • 500GB of hard drive space

  • Up to seven hours of battery life on a single charge

  • HD FaceTime camera

It’s not going to perform like brand-new models just hitting Apple store shelves, but it’s an affordable option for those who don’t need the latest features.

Surprise an Apple enthusiast in your life with this refurbished Apple MacBook Pro that’s on sale for $235.97 (reg. $349) until November 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with no coupon needed.

Prices subject to change.

Tech / Technology

Best Black Friday AirPod deals 2023

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Black Friday AirPods deals are here. Grab the second-gen lightning and USB-C AirPods Pro for their record-low price of $189.
man wearing silver airpods max

Here are our favorite Black Friday AirPod deals as of Nov. 3:

Best early Black Friday deals on AirPods and Apple headphones:

Best AirPods deal

AirPods Pro (2nd gen)

$189 at Walmart
(Save $60)

apple airpods pro earbuds


Best Beats deal

Beats Studio Buds +

$129.95 at Amazon
(Save $40)

transparent beats studio buds +

Black Friday season is here, which means it’s officially one of the best times of year to pick up a new pair of headphones.

True to Apple form, AirPods aren’t cheap, making them an especially coveted pick during the shopping holiday (which is basically on all month long). Already, we’re seeing the second-gen AirPods Pro with both the lightning and USB-C cases down to their record-low price of $189 (which we first saw crop up during October’s Prime Day sale).

We’re hoping to see some price drops on the AirPods Max, which two Black Fridays ago made it all the way down to $429 — a price we haven’t seen since 2022. We’re also looking forward to Walmart’s price drop on the second-gen AirPods, which will fall down to just $69 on Nov. 8.

If you’re looking to get the greatest discounts possible on AirPods, either on or before Black Friday’s official kickoff on Nov. 24, we’ll be updating the post regularly with all the best deals.

Best AirPods deal

Why we like it

We first saw the AirPods Pro hit this record-low price during October’s Prime Day sale. Though it jumped back up briefly, it’s found its way back down to the $189 low in the weeks following, both for the lightning case and the new USB-C model. The noise canceling on these headphones is the best we’ve seen for a pair of earbuds, and you get up to 30 hours of charge with the case.

Read our full review of the second-generation AirPods Pro.

More deals on AirPods

More headphone deals from Apple