Life is a funny thing. You know what else is funny? Video games. Crafting an enjoyable or edifying gaming experience is challenging enough. But creating a game that manages to be hilarious? Thats a feat of design and writing worthy of admiration.If you find yourself in need of a good hearty chuckle, weve got just the list for you. Weve pulled together a selection of the best video games that are actually funny. From amnesiac disaster cops to flying suitcases and more, here are 10 games (and series) with the best comedy writing the medium has to offer.Disco ElysiumWhere to play: Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series XDisco Elysium is considered by many to be one of the best-written RPGs of the past decade, so its no surprise that its also considered one of the funniest. No matter how the player chooses to customize their starting stats, the protagonist of Disco Elysium is the living human embodiment of a train wreck, bumbling from one perversely embarrassing encounter to the next in his existential mission to not only uncover the culprit behind a murder, but settle on an ideological framework by which to judge that murder. More often than not, you cant stop your character from putting his whole foot (or worse) in his mouth. All you can do is try to roll with the punches and laugh your way through it. Toussaint EganHitmanWhere to play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series XThe Homing Briefcasealone would be enough to earn the Hitman series spot on this list. But thats just one example of the many ways IO Interactives immersive assassination simulator allows players to toy with the games impressively crafted stages. Rather than attempting to make massive open-world environments, the games instead function more like the best city block simulators youve ever played, each with their own intricate series of patterns, pathways, and ridiculous characters. The games winking tone, silly weapons, and penchant for hijinks means every attempt at a level is a chance for something hilarious to happen. Pete VolkThe Monkey Island seriesWhere to play: Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series XStarting with The Secret of Monkey Island in 1990 and running all the way to Return to Monkey Island in 2022 (which landed at No. 16 on Polygons list of the top 50 best games of the year), this series has been a standard-bearer for comedy in point-and-click adventure games. Thats to the credit of Ron Gilbert, a master of puns and interactive story design, who headed up each game in the series. Very few games have made me laugh out loud while playing them, but all six Monkey Island games have. You do need to like puns, though. Maddy MyersOverboard!Where to play: Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Windows PCInOverboard!, you are not motivated by righteousness unless you think pushing your husband off a cruise ship because hes holding you back in life is righteous. This point-and-click murder mystery starts out with a grisly killing like any other, but in this colorful take, youre not trying to solve it youre trying to get away with it. It has to be funny by nature, otherwise itd be morally depraved, and the game succeeds there. The main character is sultry and witty, and you might find yourself commanding her to seduce the captain by complimenting his hat or smother a nasty old woman who knows too much. Whether you end up in jail or not, when each 20-minute playthrough ends, you can start over with your new information and a few new objectives in tow. Zo HannahPaper Mario: Color SplashWhere to play: Wii UNintendos writers like to cut loose when it comes to the humor and real-world references in the Paper Mario series. The entire franchise is varying degrees of funny, but the series may have peaked with 2016s Paper Mario: Color Splash for Wii U a game thats unfortunately still stuck on that platform.Paper Mario: Color Splash sends Mario to Prism Island, after the heroic plumber receives a letter in the mail which actually turns out to be a paper Toad who has been drained of its color, having met that fate thanks to paint-slurping, straw-wielding Shy Guys. At Prism Island, they meet Huey, a sentient can of paint who delivers much of the games jokes and meta-commentary. Color Splash is also packed with wise-cracking Toads this game has SO many Toads and Bowsers minions who riff on anything and everything. There are great paper-based sight gags, fourth-wall-breaking jabs at the Mario franchise, cleverly disguised gun-control jokes, and even jokes about the Watergate scandal. Some of the games real-world references may have even gotten a little too hot for Nintendos tastes.If you dont have a Wii U handy, hope that Nintendo sees fit to bring Color Splash forward to the Switch. But Switch owners have another great option in Paper Mario: The Origami King, which is also very funny just not as consistently funny as Color Splash. Michael McWhertorPortalWhere to play: Android, Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, Windows PC, Xbox 360The first Portal is a standout for puzzle design, an irrepressible gem that remains on almost every critics personal best-of-all-time video game list for good reason. But the other reason its a standout is its dialogue. You play as Chell, a silent protagonist stuck in a maze-like series of puzzle rooms that turn out to be a testing center run by a sentient robot named GLaDOS. For whatever reason, this robot has been programmed to be a master shit-talker, and she will be making you chuckle even as you question what the hell is going on throughout every single puzzle room. She keeps up the shtick in Portal 2, but her jokes get a lot meaner and (in my opinion) less funny; the original Portal has the perfect balance. Maddy MyersThank Goodness Youre Here!Where to play: Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PCDo you enjoy Monty Python,Fawlty Towers, orThat Mitchell and Webb Look? If yes, have I got the game for you. If no, consider this an introduction (or indoctrination) to the world of absurdist British humor. Developed by Coal Supper and published by Panic Inc. (the latter best known forUntitled Goose Game),Thank Goodness Youre Hereis a comedic adventure game about a small fellow running errands for the locals of Barnsworth, a fictional small town in Northern England. You interact with everything and I mean everything by punching, which proves to be an exceptionally effective strategy. The writing is brisk and cheeky, supported by an exceptional cast of actors that includesWhat We Do in the Shadowsstar Matt Berry. Chris PlanteThe Yakuza/Like a Dragon seriesWhere to watch: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Wii U, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series XThink of the Yakuza series (recently rebranded Like a Dragon in Western markets) as a collision ofThe GodfatherandThe Simpsons. Each entry tells a life-or-death story of an ex-Yakuza member navigating the gray space between crime, law enforcement, and civilian life. But these dramatic narrative threads get entwined with hundreds of side characters and their comedic, heartfelt ambitions. Take for example the most recent release,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.The protagonists desire to save Hawaii from a megalomaniacal cult leader gets put on ice as he helps a struggling musician rediscover his passion for environmentalist death metal. For nearly two decades, the games designers have chosen joy above all else, whether thats a parody of Pokmon in which you collect local perverts, an Animal Crossing clone set on an island of trash, or a boss battle in which the squad fends off construction vehicles with a collection of pristine office furniture. CPThere Is No Game: Wrong DimensionWhere to watch: Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Windows PCIm remiss to say anything about howThere Is No Game: Wrong Dimensionplays, because watching the confounding narrative unfold with each chapter is the joy in itself. It feels distinctly inspired by the point-and-click browser games of old likeWorlds Hardest Game, where the game itself is plotting against the player. This version is animated and aged up for the current moment, filled with decisions and puzzles thatll confuse you into putting the game down, but motivate you to pick it up again a few minutes later. This game is not fair, but it is supremely funny the perfect antidote to the current moment, whichalsofeels like the wrong dimension. ZHTrombone ChampWhere to play: Mac, Nintendo Switch, Windows PCTrombone Champ could have been a one-note joke, that note being the flatulent tooting of a trombone. The rhythm parody game could have effectively mocked the genre with nothing more than its out-of-tune, fart-adjacent impersonation of the instrument. An ironic selection of public domain hits like The Blue Danube and The Old Gray Mare would have sealed the deal as an instant hit on Twitch streams. But the more you play Trombone Champ, the funnier it gets, as you uncover bizarre Tromboner cards and inexplicable baboon-related deep lore. The community has made hundreds of custom tracks if you want to trombone your way through the fire and flames. But if thats all too much satire for you, its still ultimately a game about making fart sounds, and that will always be funny. Perfecto! Clayton Ashley

Aaron Schimbergs fantastical dark comedy A Different Man is one of 2024s richest, strangest movies a film about a man who radically changes his appearance and his life, but is haunted by the success of someone who looks just like he used to. Its a perfect viewing companion for The Substance, another woozy, disturbing 2024 movie about a beautiful changeling battling a former version of herself. But Schimbergs take on the tale is funnier and more down to earth, built around believable performances and a situation steeped in reality as much as fantasy.Sebastian Stan (the MCUs Winter Soldier; Donald Trump in the 2024 movie The Apprentice) stars as Edward, an actor with significant facial tumors who lives in isolation until he starts to get to know his new neighbor Ingrid (The Worst Person in the World star Renate Reinsve). A radical new neurofibromatosis treatment gives him a new face, so he takes on a new identity and finds success in every aspect of his life except his relationship with Ingrid especially when a wildly popular, cheerfully charismatic man named Oswald (Under the Skins Adam Pearson), who looks exactly like Edward used to, enters their lives.Like so many doppelgnger movies (Dual, Enemy, The Double, and Cam immediately leap to mind), A Different Man finds horror in the idea of someone confronting a more successful version of himself who represents roads not traveled and choices not made. Unlike most of those movies, though, A Different Man is sharply funny, when it isnt tragic or terrifying. Polygon sat down with Stan and with previous filmmaking partners Pearson and Schimberg (who worked together on 2019s dramedy Chained for Life) at 2024s Fantastic Fest film festival to discuss how they found the right tone for the movie.[Ed. note: This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.]Polygon: So much of this movie is about seething and repressing a vast frustration around how the world works, and how people work. It all builds up to a pretty unexpected cathartic point at the end. Sebastian, how did you approach playing that breakdown?Sebastian Stan: Well, we do that all the time. We always repress things, all the time so [in a role like this], you just keep doing it more extensively.But I think there are so many things you read that try to explain things [in movies]. Theyre always overwritten. This happens usually on more of a bigger-budget film, where the worry is always that the audience isnt going to understand whats happening, so you need to make sure they get it. Im just so grateful we didnt have to deal with that kind of thinking and approach in this. Because rather than [explaining the ending] I think it is interpretation. People will relate to that moment or find things about it differently. You dont want to comment on that, to tell people how to feel about it.I will say that its interesting Edward and Oswald and Ingrid, they all sort of weirdly need each other, and they all are sort of these planets spinning around each other in a necessary way, whether there are all these other feelings there. It is a mix of emotions. Its not just one thing thats driving him at the end of the movie, its a slew of things. Theres probably an inner struggle between being in awe of these people, while at the same time being incredibly hateful and angry at these people.After the Fantastic Fest screening, you mentioned in a Q&A that you worked with Adam to discover how Edward would have experienced life, given his condition. You said Adam was very generous with his life experience. What did you learn from him that was important in playing Edward?Stan: Well, one of the things that my task was and Aaron brought this up in the rehearsal was to figure out [Edwards] backstory. Who was Edward? How did he get this apartment, how did he decide to be an actor? What happened to his mother? There were these things that are not in the script.So I was doing research and creating a backstory, and looking at things online, and speaking with people who, for instance, had dealt with weight issues and had lost weight drastically, and had an identity crisis as a result. And then just soaking up whatever I could that was online from anyone that was dealing with neurofibromatosis or any other ailments or disfigurements.A lot of those people were orphans. They were talking about being abandoned by their families. So there were things there. But with Adam, I actually had someone next to me who I could ask questions, about how he grew up, or what he had experienced simply just even on a playground.[To Adam] I think my biggest lesson was: You had a very strong support system in your family and in your mom, who from my understanding always said, Look, youre going to walk in this room with your head held high, no matter what happens. And a lot of people didnt have that.But at the same time, it didnt necessarily mean he didnt encounter the same slew of stereotypical responses from everybody around him. For me personally, [the important lesson] was perhaps understanding this ownership that Adam has over himself, in more ways, I think than I have about myself, or other people I know in the world have. Maybe also more so than Edward has.Adam, what was your side of that? What was important to you to see reflected in Edward or to see in this film?Adam Pearson: First of all, with regards to the conversations that me and Sebastian had, unless someone was going to be really and truly honest, there was no point in having them. It can be really easy to dilute it down and skip over the more visceral moments. So that wouldve been an incredibly counterproductive endeavor.And for me, a lot of it was just about trust. [To Stan] I can only give you so much information or equip you so far, and I need to take my hands off the range and trust that you know what youre doing at your end of things. And luckily, I got there really quickly.I think Sebastian has this warmth and integrity thats beyond his years, beyond what you see in other actors. And then theres the really great writing and understanding the subject area that Aaron has. I had no qualms or fears that this could go the other way, and become stereotypical or problematic. So yeah, you come in, you trust the material, you trust the people youre working with, and you come to everything with honesty, integrity, a clear head, and a full heart. And then you cant go wrong.Aaron, the tone of this movie is so complicated. There are so many things going on with the drama and the comedy. How did all three of you work to get to the tone you wanted?Aaron Schimberg: I agonize over the tone before I ever start writing. I dont agonize over how Im going to do it. I agonize over what its going to look like, and I agonize so much that I dont write. I procrastinate. And then eventually, when I cant take it any longer, Ill write a scene. And as soon as I start writing the scene, the tone lays itself out for me.I found this to be the truth, the way it is: Everything Ive written, it seems to come naturally. I think on one hand, I think every film I make, or project I undertake, I take something thats painful to me that I want to explore, and put under the microscope. Its coming from a place of trauma or whatever, not to overuse that word.And then I also have a distance from it, and a comic side, with it. I want to make it light, I dont want to make it dark. And these two things together create this tone, not to overanalyze it. And then I think the tone is sort of set in the script, but then when I bring everyone together, sometimes it tips a little more into tracking and sometimes it tips a little more into comedy. And Ive sort of designed it that way. And my only job is really to make sure that there are guardrails up so that it doesnt tip into one direction, or so that it doesnt become too heavy. And we make sure that we bring it back we put a comic moment into something dark. But I also just have to hand it to my collaborators, who are able to interpret this tone.I knew what Adam was capable of. I wrote the role for him. And I knew the first time talking to Sebastian that he understood this tone. So that just set my mind at ease. Sebastians performance is both tragic and comic. [I had] a general fear about it, because without this tonal balance, the whole thing pulls apart. But I dont know that Im so much controlling it, so much as Im protecting against it falling apart.That sounds a lot like what Adam said about dealing with impostor syndrome at the Q&A last night, about the only people who never get impostor syndrome are the impostors.Pearson: Yeah. Its just such a weird thing Ive been thinking about it a lot, because I come to everything with a certain degree of self-doubt and nervousness. And for years, it bothered me, like, You should be over this feeling by now. But then one of my friends pulled me aside and went, If that feeling ever leaves you, you are not in the right place. Because it means you dont care.A Different Man is now available for digital rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and other platforms.

Arcanes secret sauce has always been its soundtrack. Theres no better example of this than one of the early scenes of season 2s first episode, as Caitlyn mourns the death of her mother. Rather than forcing grief-stricken dialogue to communicate how shes feeling, the show cuts to a completely unique animation style, with stylized black charcoal sketches draining the color from Caitlyns world.But to underscore Fortiches inventive animation the show needed a song thats as specifically tailored to Caitlyns emotional state as the visuals are, so the shows creative team turned to Freya Ridings to write a beautiful, haunting ballad to let us inside Caitlyns head. This kind of decision is all over Arcane and according to showrunner Christian Linke, it always will be.Ahead of the shows season 2 premiere, Polygon had the chance to sit down with Linke to talk about how he and the team work with artists to create the perfect songs, and why he feels like licensed music has no place in the series.Polygon: Arcane often uses original songs to communicate the feelings of its characters in ways that dialogue alone couldnt. Whats the process like of crafting those songs and finding the right artists for each moment?Christian Linke: Conceptually, it is just very important to me. I dont think Ill ever in my career work with licensed music and I think it just comes from a point of having been a musician. Its really hard to have a career in music. The fact that so many franchises with so much money just keep cutting checks for Led Zeppelin, Im like, Cool guys, Im sure they need it. Theres so many musicians that struggle to have a career. Its such a cutthroat world out there.So I love the fact that all we do is original music. We work with artists from the ground up, we collaborate and we give them and some of these artists that we work with, they dont need the platform, theyre already big, but others, its really great for them. It really gets the word out there for them. Thats really important to me, thats a principle that has held up from the beginning. It creates a lot of work, but thats also what makes it awesome.You start with a scene in an episode where they feel the thing youre trying to say, and then you just hunt for the right artist and thats where you need a good team. We have an amazing team [with] the Riot Music group, where I just say, I need an emotional song where its all about this and that, or I need a really loud song where its about the anger of this and that. And then they go, OK, they take that away and they think about artists and they come back to me with a list of artists that we then reach out to.Then do you sort of meet with the artist from there and give them an idea of what theyre looking for?Yeah, I brief them on, Heres what the moment is about. For example, when I worked with Mike Shinoda, it was something where I was like: This is about the legacy of Caitlyn, the feeling of what it means to be a member of this esteemed family thats been really important in Piltover, and the weight that comes with that. And thats when he wrote Heavy Is the Crown. And its something if you put the right thoughts in the artists head, then you end up getting these amazing pieces of music that you couldnt even have dreamed up yourself.What are you listening for when you get those samples that your team has sent you?I think the emotional connection, the lyrics kind of having a meaning. When the Sting song on season 1 begins and it goes, Im the monster you created, Im like, There it is. It just belongs and it sits down. It settles in the creative fashion where it just feels connected. And so thats a big part of it. Other than that, I think its just a piece of music that is fun and that feels like it says something. The obvious choice is sometimes necessary for a fight scene, but sometimes the real surprises I liked about season 1 is that we had very different genres. Our Love was such a different genre than you would expect from a show like Arcane. And we did the same thing again in season 2. Very, very different, very eclectic genres. But yeah, my job is mostly just making sure theres a clear emotional connection to the story.Is there any limiting factor to what kind of genre and what kind of music can be in Arcane and can feel like that?No. I mean, if anything, people may say that Ive taken it a bit too far. I like loud stuff, I like extreme stuff. I will say sometimes there are genres where it makes sense, but Im not at home in those genres and Im not always so confident in giving feedback and then I need to rely more on the team. Hip-hop: Im simply a terrible person with terrible taste in that regard. Guitar music: I know what to do. So we have a team thats a team of musicians, of composers that sometimes need to save my ass, lets be honest, in making sure we land a certain piece. So we have a very eclectic group and I think what made it work is that we have a lot of different tastes represented that they can jump in when necessary.The first three episodes of Arcane season 2 are now streaming on Netflix. New episode batches drop every Saturday.

When it comes to productivity hacks, there are two things I love: the tried-and-true classics, like the Pomodoro method, and shaking them up with a few customizations. I've written before about other ways to mold Pomodoro to match what you need, but today's idea, Pomodoro 2.0, is one of the easiest and most effective adaptations. What do I mean by "Pomodoro 2.0?"First, a refresher on what the Pomodoro technique even is. When you're using this technique to focus and be productive, you set an alarm for 25 minutes, work for that time, then take a five-minute break. You complete that cycle four times, then give yourself a longer break at the end, up to half an hour, before starting again. That's it. It works because you spend those relatively short bursts really concentrating on the task at hand, knowing a reprieve is coming. Since they're not too long, it doesn't feel insurmountable. I saw the idea of "Pomodoro 2.0" mentioned on a forum a while back and started googling. What I found impressed meit addresses one of the main critiques I have of the original, which is that 25 minutes isn't always enough time to get into a state of deep work. Over at Beyond Productivity, Dr. Christian Poensgen recommends starting the Pomodoro session with a 30-minute work block, then adding more time to it after the break, tacking on between 15 or 60 minutes. I recommend doing this incrementally, adding 15 every time, so you work for 30, then 45, then 60, and finally 75 minutes before your big break. Adding too much too soonor working in too-large chunks all the way throughdefeats one of the main purposes of the technique, which is to not get overwhelmed, so taking it slower and easier while still adding on time is the best bet.Why use Pomodoro 2.0?The Pomodoro technique shines (and has been so popular for so long) because it helps you ease into your work, motivated by the small work sprints and promise of rewards. It's absolutely true that you need to take breaks to keep your productivity up, so that part should never be altered or skipped, but sometimes, 25-minute grind sessions just aren't enough. Getting into a state of deep workor pure focus where you have no distractions and feel almost like the time is slipping by because you're working so effectivelytakes time. Repeatedly stopping yourself before you hit that point is counter-productive. Giving yourself more time to work on harder, more complex tasks is critical in some instances, just like taking breaks. Adding time to the work blocks in increments helps you settle in and get more done without overwhelming yourself. You should consider this alteration if you have a major project that demands a lot of resources or energy, letting yourself build up to the hard parts as you add minutes to your timer. If you're trying this out and not getting the results you want, you can shake it up another way, too. Remember the idea of "eating the frog," or tackling your biggest to-do list item first thing in the morning? Consider eating the frog in Pomodoro 2.0, starting with your 75-minute block and working backward to 60, 45, and 30. Remember, none of these rules are hard and fast; you can make changes that match your needs and personal preferences. If you're someone who doesn't get overwhelmed and has the ability to jump in on long-term work, this structure could suit you, as the promise of shorter and shorter work sessions can feel like a motivator of its own.

As someone who frequently copies and pastes, I rely on clipboard managers to get work done on my Mac. Quite often, when I copy something, I forget to immediately paste it elsewhere. Without a clipboard manager, that item would be lost forever the instant I copied something else. But thanks to these apps, I can keep track of everything I've copied and retrieve things from my clipboard history easily. I've long wished for something similar on the iPhone, and recently, some clever app developers have finally figured out a great workaround to bring the same features to my pocket.How always-on iPhone clipboard managers work Credit: Pranay Parab On the Mac, your clipboard manager will run in the background, storing everything you copy (other than sensitive items such as your passwords, of course). On an iPhone, the same apps can't run the same way because iOS imposes resource limitations on apps in order to improve battery life. When an app leaves the iPhone's foreground, it usually enters a suspended state, and that means iOS clipboard managers historically couldn't be as effective as their Mac counterparts.Recently, apps have begun using a workaround involving the picture-in-picture (PiP) mode to monitor the clipboard. These apps generate a static video frame that stays running in a floating window. The video does nothing, but it allows the clipboard manager to monitor and store everything you copy. You can move this video to one side to avoid blocking the display, so you'll only see a small arrow on one side of the screen.Are clipboard manager apps safe? Credit: Pranay Parab The clipboard is a very sensitive space. Lots of people end up copying credit card information, passwords, bank details, and many other things from various apps there. When you're using a clipboard manager, you're giving it access to a lot of sensitive data. To see if a clipboard manager is trustworthy, you can check if the developer is well-known, see the app's business model, and check its privacy nutrition label on the App Store. As a rule of thumb, you should avoid ad-supported apps for sensitive features such as clipboard management.Always-on clipboard managers on the iPhone Credit: Pranay Parab I've found two apps that let you enable always-on clipboard management features. These are Yoink ($6) and PastePal (free download, $15 to unlock all features). Yoink on Mac ($9) is an app that lets you create a shelf and drop items in it to retrieve later. It's been around for many years and I've recommended it previously, too. The iPhone version of Yoink features a clipboard manager and also a keyboard to quickly paste items you've copied. To use this feature, you can open Yoink on your iPhone and tap the + button in the top-left corner. Then, select Monitor Clipboard and choose how long you want it to keep an eye on your clipboard. Select Monitor Clipboard once more to enable it. As long as the picture-in-picture (PiP) window is open, the clipboard manager will be running. You can close this window anytime to stop Yoink from monitoring your clipboard.PastePal is a dedicated clipboard manager app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and even the Apple Vision Pro. The app has a single in-app purchase that unlocks all its features on all platforms. You can try PastePal for free to see if it works as advertised before making your purchase. Open PastePal on your iPhone and go to the Settings tab in the bottom-right corner. Scroll down and enable Background monitor, then tap the PiP button up top, next to the X button, to launch its clipboard manager. You can only use one clipboard manager at a time, since iOS only allows you to have one PiP window running at any given moment. Once this is set up, you can copy multiple things and all of them will be stored in your clipboard manager. If the app is also syncing your clipboard with its Mac counterpart, then you'll have a nice universal clipboard that works across all your Apple devices (meaning you could copy something on iPhone and access it later from your computer). Although Apple devices have a universal clipboard feature built-in, these clipboard managers should make your iPhone's own clipboard much more powerful, allowing it to better help out your ecosystem overall.

The Samsung 55-inch QN90D 4K QLED TV is currently at its lowest price, dropping to $1,197.99 from $1,797.99, according to price-tracking tools. That's a $600 discount on a TV that is reportedly impressive in color and contrast, making HDR content pop with its over-1,000-nit brightness, and offering rich black levels and a deep contrast effect, thanks to its mini-LEDs. It supports HDR+ and Dolby Atmos for immersive audio, though its worth noting that it doesn't have Dolby Vision. For those loyal to Dolby Vision, the Hisense U8K, also on sale for $1,402.58 (down from $1,699.99), is a good alternative. Samsung 55-Inch QN90D 4K QLED TV (QN55QN90DAFXZA) $1,197.99 at Amazon $1,797.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1,197.99 at Amazon $1,797.99 Save $600.00 Its well-equipped for connectivity with four HDMI ports (one with eARC), USBs, Ethernet, and more. Samsungs solar remote is a nice touchno batteries needed thanks to a solar panel that recharges it under light or via USB-C, if you prefer. However, the remote reportedly lacks a dedicated input button, meaning switching sources isnt as quick as it could be, and reviewers note that some settings can be a little tricky to find, which could frustrate those who prefer a more straightforward interface.Powered by Samsungs Tizen OS, this model gives you access to all the major streaming services and supports Apple AirPlay for easy streaming from your Apple devices. You can also connect your Windows PC to function as an external display using Miracast. If youre a fan of voice assistants, Amazon Alexa is built-in, and with the TVs far-field microphones, you can use it completely hands-free. Youll need a Samsung account to use network-based serviceswithout one, youll be limited to basic channels and physical or external connections.For gamers, the QN90D seems solid. With a 120Hz panel, it delivers smooth gameplay, and its 2.9ms input lag makes it super responsive. It even supports 144Hz for compatible PCs, has a Game Bar for on-screen adjustments, and gives quick access to game streaming services and platforms. That said, according to this PCMag review, it's limited to wifi 5, so you wont get the top-tier speeds of wifi 6 or 6E on high-end routers, which may impact streaming quality a bit.

There is already a bunch of early Black Friday deals to check out, but if you're on the lookout for a great set of wireless headphones for yourself or a loved one, here's one that's absolutely worth your attention. Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones have dropped to $298. That's a $102 discount. This isn't quite the lowest price we've seen for the over-ear XM5s. They dropped to $280 at one point earlier this year. However, the headphones haven't gone back down to that point since, and this is still a great deal. The XM5s are our pick for the best wireless headphones overall. We've long been recommending Sony's 1000X line and this is the best iteration to date. They earned a score of 95 in our review. The redesigned headphones are much more comfortable to wear for extended periods than previous models. Sony has improved the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature as well, thanks to the addition of a new chip and four more microphones. We feel that the company's current flagship headphones do a better job of blocking out high frequencies and background noise (and even human voices) than the XM4s. The XM5s can switch between noise modes depending on your location or activity, and they can pause audio automatically when you start speaking. They deliver better call quality than rival models and, in general, you'll get clear, crisp sound, including punchy bass. You won't need to charge the XM5s too often either, as they have a 30-hour battery life. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sonys-wh-1000xm5-headphones-are-100-off-in-this-black-friday-deal-192016343.html?src=rss

Black Friday may technically just be one day, but its evolved to consume the entire month of November in the US at this point. For the past few years, retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target have ushered in the holiday shopping season earlier and earlier, and this year is no different.Early Black Friday deals are already here, bringing discounts to some of our favorite tech weve tested this year. While its still advisable to wait until the week before Thanksgiving to ensure youre getting the best of the best deals, you have plenty of opportunities to save right now if youre eager to get a jump on your gift list this year. These are the best early Black Friday deals we could find; well be updating this post regularly throughout November, so check back for the latest discounts.Engadget's top picksApple MagSafe charger pad for $25 ($14 off)Apple iPad (9th gen) for $200 ($129 off)Dyson V11 cordless vacuum cleaner for $400 ($170 off)Anker MagGo 3-in-1 foldable charging station for $82.50 ($27.50 off)Fitbit Charge 6 fitness tracker for $100 ($60 off)The best early Black Friday dealsNathan Ingraham / EngadgetApple MagSafe charger pad for $25 ($14 off): Apple's newest MagSafe charger provides up to 25W of fast-charging power to iPhone 16 handsets when paired with a 30W or 35W adapter. It works with older iPhones too, of course, and will provide that satisfying magnetic snap with the latest Apple smartphones (and AirPods, too).Apple iPad (9th gen) for $200 ($129 off): Apple discontinued this model with the release of the new iPad Pro and Air models earlier this year. In what's likely an effort to get rid of current stock, the price is down to a new record low of $200. The 9th generation iPad is the former budget pick in our guide to the best Apple tablets and will serve well as a casual browsing, streaming and game playing machine.Apple 2024 M4 iMac desktop computer for $1,204 ($95 off): Apple just released the refreshed iMac last month, and now the silver model is $85 off and down to $1,214 at Amazon. It has the latest Apple silicon, the M4 system on a chip that gives it a speed boost and enables the new Apple Intelligence features in macOS Sequoia.Anker MagGo 3-in-1 foldable charging station for $82.50 ($27.50 off): This Qi2 charging station supports up to 15W of power output and can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and a pair of AirPods all at once. It also comes with a 40W USB-C charger and connecting cable, so you get everything you need to use it in the box.Anker 10K MagGo power bank for $60 ($30 off): This is one of our top picks for the best power banks you can buy today thanks to its versatile capacity, speedy Qi2 charging capabilities, clear screen that shows remaining battery power and its built-in kickstand.Anker 3-in-1 10K portable charger for $36 ($9 off, Prime members only): A top pick in our best power banks guide, this 10K brick has a built-in USB-C cable so you don't need to remember to bring one with you, plus it has an extra USB-C port for charging other devices.Anker Soundcore Space A40 for $45 ($35 off, Prime only): The Space A40 is the longtime top pick in our guide to the best budget earbuds, as it delivers the kind of robust feature set we expect from pairs that cost three times as much. Call quality isn't the best, and it won't auto-pause when you take out an earbud, but its warm sound, powerful ANC, eight-ish hours of battery life and comfy design all impress for the money. This deal ties the lowest price we've seen it's only available to Prime subscribers at Amazon, but you can also grab it at Anker's online store with an on-page coupon.Cherlynn Low for EngadgetFitbit Charge 6 fitness tracker for $100 ($60 off): Our top pick for the best fitness tracker, the Charge 6 has a comfortable design, built-in GPS and heart rate monitors and 20 exercise modes ready to be tracked.Google Pixel Watch 3 for $280 ($70 off): Google's latest smartwatch is down to an all time low price. This is the model we recommend for anyone with an Android phone in our guide to the best smartwatches and it earned an 84 in our review. It detects workouts quickly, has an extra long battery life and is one of the more attractive smartwatches on the market. The deal applies to the 41mm size with GPS only but the larger and cellular-enabled models are on sale too. Also at Best Buy and Target.Google Pixel 8a for $399 ($100 off): This is the best midrange smartphone on the market right now thanks to its solid performance, 120Hz OLED touchscreen and excellent camera array. The standard Pixel 8 is also on sale for $449.Google Nest Indoor security camera (wired) for $70 ($30 off): Google's security camera can tell the difference between people, animals and vehicles while it's monitoring your home, and it supports 1080p video, night vision and two-way audio.Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E (three-pack) for $279 ($120 off): We consider the Nest Wi-Fi Pro mesh system to be one of the easiest for folks who have never installed their own router, and the three-pack provides coverage for up to 6,600 square feet. Also available at Google.Amazon Fire HD 10 for $75 ($65 off): No Fire HD tablet comes close to matching the performance, build quality and app support of an iPad, but they're significantly more affordable, and they still work well enough if all you need is something for casual streaming, e-reading and web browsing. At this price, the 10.1-inch Fire HD 10 is likely a better value than the smaller Fire HD 8, as it has a sharper display, it's a tick faster and it can last slightly longer on a charge. Just be ready to deal with a bunch of ads for Amazon's own apps and services. This discount ties an all-time low, and it's also available at Best Buy and Target.Blink Outdoor 4 (6-pack) for $180 ($300 off): The Outdoor 4 is a wireless, IP65-rated outdoor security camera we highlight in our guide to the best smart home gadgets. It captures decent (if not class-leading) 1080p video, it's relatively painless to install and it supports features like night vision, motion alerts, local storage and two-way talking. The catch is that it locks things like person detection and cloud storage behind a subscription plan. Still, it's a solid value on balance, and this deal furthers that. We've seen this price on a six-camera bundle for a few weeks, but it's still an all-time low. An eight-camera pack is also on sale for $250, another low.Audible Premium Plus (3-month) for $1 ($29 off): Those who don't currently subscribe to Audible can get three months of the audiobook service's Premium Plus plan for $1. Normally, the service costs $15 per month after a 30-day free trial. As a refresher, Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier: In addition to giving access the full Audible Plus library, it lets you keep one title from a curated selection of audiobooks each month. We wouldn't call it essential, but if you've been on the fence, this is a good way to see if it'd work for you. Just note that the plan will auto-renew until you cancel.BoseSony WH-1000XM5 for $298 ($100 off): It doesn't get much better than the XM5 if you're looking for the best wireless headphones to buy right now. They provide excellent sound quality, strong ANC, a comfortable design, multipoint connectivity and a good battery life.Bose QuietComfort Headphones for $199 ($150 off): This ties the lowest price we've seen for Bose's mid-tier noise-canceling headphones. At this price, their effective ANC and light fit make them a worthy alternative to higher-end pairs like the Sony WH-1000XM5 (our favorite pair overall). That said, their bass-heavy sound won't be for everyone, and the XM5 has a more comprehensive feature set. Also at Bose.com, Target and Best Buy. The higher-end QuietComfort Ultra, meanwhile, are $100 off and put out even stronger ANC, though we still prefer the XM5 for around the same price.Samsung Music Frame for $248 ($150 off): This unique smart speaker can show art or your own photos while it plays music, and it can sync with your Samsung TV speakers. Also available at Samsung.Hisense U8N 4K TV (55-inch) for $728 ($371 off): The U8N is the next step up from the U7N in Hisense's TV lineup, so it should provide better colors, contrast and brightness across the board. If you don't mind buying a smaller panel for around the same price, this is another new low. Also at Best Buy.Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ for $170 ($50 off): Our top pick for the best budget Android tablet sports an 11-inch 90Hz display, a microSD card slot for extra storage and a hefty battery.Samsung T9 portable SSD (4TB) for $300 ($250 off): The latest model in the T-series of Samsung's portable drives supports read and write speeds of up to 2,000MB/s, and it has dynamic thermal guard to keep it cool even when you're pushing it to its limits. Also available at Samsung.Seagate Storage Expansion Card 2TB for $200 ($160 off): Seagate's expansion card is one of the best options for expanding your Xbox Series X/S storage. A 2TB version has dropped to $200, its lowest price to date. It's one of our picks for the best Xbox Series X/S accessories. Also available at Seagate.Dyson V11 cordless vacuum cleaner for $400 ($170 off): Dyson machines are some of the best cordless vacuums you can buy, and this model has three power modes, a motorbar cleaner head that works well on all types of flooring and up to 60 minutes of runtime. Also available at Dyson.iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max for $974 ($425 off): You can get a sizable discount on one of the newest (and more expensive) robovacs at Wellbots with the code ENGBF425. This one mops, vacuums, empties itself and cleans its own mop pad with little involvement from you.Expired Black Friday dealsApple AirPods Pro 2 for $170 ($80 off): These are the best AirPods you can get this year, thanks to their good sound quality, secure fit, solid ANC and transparency mode, and they have more hearing aid features now too.Apple Pencil Pro for $92 ($36 off): While this deal is a couple bucks higher than the lowest price we've ever seen for Apple's top-of-the-line iPad stylus, it's still a sizable drop compared to buying from Apple directly. Just be aware that Pencil Pro is only compatible with the most recent iPad Airs and iPad Pros. Also at Walmart.Apple iPad mini (7th gen) for $400 ($100 off): The latest iPad mini only just arrived this month, but it's already $100 off with an on-page coupon at Amazon. Only the purple colorway is on sale, but this is a giant discount for a new Apple release, so we wouldn't expect it to last long. We gave the new mini a review score of 83: It's a minor refresh, but it continues to provide most of the iPad Air's strengths in a form factor that's easier to tuck in a bag and hold with one hand. This deal is available in additional colors at Costco, but only to store members.Apple iPad Air (13-inch, M2) for $691 ($107 off): If you'd prefer more screen space, the 13-inch iPad Air is also down to an all-time low at Amazon. This model can get slightly brighter than its smaller counterpart, but the two slates are virtually identical otherwise.Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M2) for $497 at Amazon ($102 off MSRP): This is a new low for the latest iPad Air, which we consider to be the best Apple tablet for most people. While it lacks the top-end performance and 120Hz OLED panel of the iPad Pro, it's much less expensive, and it still gets you a more futureproof M2 chip, a superior display and better accessory support than the base-model iPad. Also at Best Buy.Apple AirTag (4-pack) for $74 at Amazon ($25 off): The AirTag is, unsurprisingly, the top pick for iPhone users in our guide to the best Bluetooth trackers, as it uses Apple's giant network of Apple devices and ultrawideband tech to locate items accurately. Its effectiveness has had deeply unfortunate side effects, but if you use it as intended, it can provide a little extra peace of mind. While not an all-time low, this deal is a welcome drop from the usual $80 street price we've seen for a four-pack in recent months. Also at Best Buy.Apple MacBook Air (13.6-inch, M2) for $700 at Amazon ($300 off): This matches the all-time low for Apple's last-gen MacBook Air, which remains a perfectly competent notebook for everyday use. The caveat is that this model only comes with 8GB of RAM, so it's really only meant for lower-power tasks. Apple (finally) made 16GB of memory the standard across its MacBook lineup earlier this week, so this might be an instance of Apple trying to clear out old inventory. Still, this is a great value if you only need a laptop for basic web browsing, emailing and word processing. Clip the on-page coupon to see the full discount.Anker Soundcore Motion+ for $69 at Amazon ($31 off): We recommend the Soundcore Motion+ in our guide to the best portable Bluetooth speakers. While it isn't especially light or compact, it pumps out a more spacious sound than most speakers in its price range, it's waterproof and it lasts a decent 12 to 15 hours per charge. We've seen this discount a few times before, but it comes within a few bucks of the lowest price we've tracked. Also at Anker's online store with an on-page coupon.Hisense U7N 4K TV (65-inch) for $700 at Amazon ($300 off): Variousreviewsaround the web suggest that the U7N is one of the year's better TV values, with impressive brightness and contrast for the money. It supports up to a fast 144Hz refresh rate in 4K, which is great for gaming, and it runs on the easy-to-grok Google TV platform. Its image can wash out when viewed at an angle, though, and it's limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports. This discount is a new low for the 65-inch model. Also at Best Buy.Dyson Digital Slim cordless vacuum for $250 ($250 off): It's hard to beat a Dyson for less than $300, but we do expect even more Dyson Black Friday deals to pop up as we get closer to the big day. This model is 33 percent lighter than the Dyson V11, which could make it a good pick for someone who loathes their current, heavy-duty upright vac. The LED screen shows power mode, maintenance alerts and remaining run time, and you should get up to 40 minutes of battery life here. Also available at Dyson.Backbone One (PlayStation Edition) for $60: The Backbone One is an comfy gamepad that snaps around your phone and lets you play mobile or cloud-based games without having to rely on touch controls. We've recommended it before. This deal on the PlayStation-themed version isn't an all-time low, but it's $10 to $20 less than the usual discounts we've seen over the past year. Sony's listing doesn't specify whether this is the first- or second-gen model the latter can fit a wider range of phones and cases but that shouldn't be a major hindrance if you use an older iPhone or Android device. Both the USB-C and Lightning variants are on sale.Beats Solo 4 for $100 ($100 off): The Solo 4 is light on features and may be uncomfortable on larger heads, but its even-handed sound and 50+-hour battery life make it worth considering if you prefer a more compact on-ear design instead of traditional over-ears. We gave it a score of 79 in our review. This discount ties an all-time low and is also available at Walmart, Target and Best Buy. The full-size Beats Studio Pro is discounted as well, but that pair is a bit harder to recommend over the top picks in our wireless headphone buying guide.Amazon Echo Pop for $18 ($22 off): Amazon's smallest smart speaker has dropped to a record-low price. It's part of a larger sale that includes the Echo Dot for $28 and the new Echo Spot for $50.Amazon Echo Show 5 for $50 ($40 off): We highlight the Echo Show 5 in our guide to the best smart displays. While the Echo Show 8 which isn't majorly discounted yet has a roomier display, louder speakers and sharper cameras, this 5.5-inch model provides most of the same functionality in a design that's easier to fit on a nightstand. If you're already onboard the Alexa train, it'll work nicely as a smart alarm clock. This deal is $10 more than the all-time low we saw last Black Friday, so it may drop further in the weeks ahead, but for now it matches the best price we've seen in 2024. Also at Target, Kohl's and Best Buy.JBL Clip 5 speaker for $50 ($30 off): This tiny speaker has a built-in clip so you can hang it from a backpack or bag easily, plus it packs good sound with punchy base. You can expect 12 hours of battery life on it as well.Black Friday FAQsWhen is Black Friday 2024?Black Friday 2024 lands on November 29 this year.When do Black Friday deals start?We expect some Black Friday tech deals to start as early as November 1. Over the past few years, retailers have been kicking off the holiday shopping season earlier and earlier. This trend will continue in 2024, and youll likely find early Black Friday deals available online and in stores in the weeks before the actual shopping event.When do Black Friday deals end?Some Black Friday tech deals will end immediately on Saturday, November 30. But those will likely be few and far between. Along with starting deals earlier and earlier, retailers have also extended Black Friday deals past the day for a while now, too. In the tech space, weve seen many Black Friday deals in the past run through Cyber Monday.Where are the best Black Friday deals?There is no one place to buy all of the best Black Friday deals, but you can expect the big retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target to have many of the same Black Friday deals available both in the lead up and on the day itself. We also recommend checking direct-to-consumer sites like Apple, Samsung, Sonos and others to make sure youre getting the best deal before you cross things off your list.Does Apple have Black Friday deals?You typically will not find cash discounts on Apples website for Black Friday, though it has offered various gift card bundles during Black Friday in recent years. You may be able to find local Apple store discounts on accessories, but Apple isnt a retailer known for slashing prices on its products. However, you can find more traditional Apple Black Friday tech deals at other retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy.Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-2024-deals-the-best-early-sales-we-could-find-from-amazon-best-buy-apple-samsung-and-more-163039995.html?src=rss

Sony will soon stop offering the free adapter that allows gamers to connect the PlayStation Camera to their PS5. The camera (which was released for the PS4) is required to use the original PlayStation VR on the company's current console, as the headset has a light-based tracking method. The PS5's own HD camera accessory isn't compatible with PS VR."As of November 26, 2024, or until supplies last, the PlayStation Camera adapter will no longer be available," Sony says on a support page. In the meantime, you may be able to request an adapter via a form. Alternatively, as Wario64 points out, you may have to call Sony support at 1-800-345-7669. You'll need the serial number from the PS VR's processing unit to claim an adapter.If you miss out on grabbing the accessory from Sony, there are third-party options available. Still, this one's free and it's the official Sony adapter.As a reminder, PS VR games do not run on PS VR2, in part because the headsets use different tracking methods. Some games have been ported to the latest headset, as well as other VR platforms. However, many are still only available on the original PS VR, including several first-party titles. So if you want to play the likes of Astro Bot Rescue Mission or Everybody's Golf VR via your PS5, you'll need a PS Camera adapter.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-is-discontinuing-its-free-ps5-playstation-camera-adapter-for-ps-vr-171350519.html?src=rss

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.