Alienware's new flagship gaming laptop - the Alienware Area-51 - was released earlier this year. It replaces the m-series laptop and bring to the table a host of upgrades including a sleeker redesign, current generation components, and better cooling potential. As part of the Dell Memorial Day Sale, several variants of both the Alienware 16 Area-51 and Alienware 18 Area-51 gaming laptops are on sale for the first time. They're all equipped with the latest Nvidia Blackwell GPUs, including the RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090. Orders are expected to ship out in mid June.Featured in this articleNew ReleaseAlienware 18 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop (32GB/2TB)Alienware 18 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5090 Gaming Laptop (64GB/2TB)Alienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5070 Ti Gaming Laptop (32GB/2TB)New ReleaseAlienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop (32GB/1TB)New ReleaseAlienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop (64GB/2TB)Alienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5090 Gaming Laptop (64GB/2TB)Memorial Day Alienware 18 Area-51 DealsThe Alienware 18 Area-51 is a large laptop that serves more as a mobile desktop replacement than commuter's laptop that you tote around to work or class on a daily basis. It weighs nearly 10 pounds and measures 0.95 inches at its thinnest point. It also consumes a lot of power (a 360W power brick is included), which means you should keep it plugged into an outlet when you're using it. The larger form factor carries several advantages, like an expansive 18" display, a full-sized keyboard with discrete numpad and a bigger, more aggressive cooling system and can keep noise levels to a minimum, and space to accomodate an RJ45 ethernet port.Two models are currently on sale for Memorial Day. The $3,150 model is equipped with RTX 5080 mobile graphics and 32GB of memory. The $3,750 model is upgraded with RTX 5090 mobile graphics and 64GB of memory.New ReleaseAlienware 18 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop (32GB/2TB)Alienware 18 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5090 Gaming Laptop (64GB/2TB)Memorial Day Alienware 16 Area-51 DealsThe Alienware 16 might not be as imposing as the Alienware 18, but this is still a premium gaming laptop through and through with an emphasis on maximum power and cooling. It weighs in at 7.5 pounds and measures 0.85" thick at its thinnest point. Like the Alienware 18, it comes with a 360W power brick, and you're recommended to keep it plugged into an outlet when you're using it. Because of the smaller footprint, the Alienware 16 houses a 16" display, standard sized laptop keyboard (meaning no discrete numpad), and no ethernet jack. However, it can still be equipped with the same internal specs, like an Intel Core Ultra 9 HX processor and up to an Nvida RTX 5090 GPU, since it also boasts a rugged cooling system that can handle the hottest of components.Four models are currently on sale for Memorial Day. The $2,850 model is equipped with RTX 5070 Ti mobile graphics. The $2999.99 model and $3,150 model are equipped with an RTX 5080. The $3,650 model goes all out with an RTX 5090.Alienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5070 Ti Gaming Laptop (32GB/2TB)New ReleaseAlienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop (32GB/1TB)New ReleaseAlienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5080 Gaming Laptop (64GB/2TB)Alienware 16 Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5090 Gaming Laptop (64GB/2TB)This CPU / GPU Combo Excels in Any GameThe Area-51 laptop is also equipped with a very powerful CPU as well. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX boasts a max turbo frequency of 5.4GHz with a whopping 24 cores and 40MB total L2 cache. According to Passmark, this is one of the fastest mobile processors on the market, going head to head with the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D.According to Notebookcheck, the RTX 5070 Ti mobile GPU is "the true successor to the RTX 4070", with performance on par with the RTX 4080. The RTX 5070, unfortunately, lags far behind, with performance on par with the RTX 4070. It should run any game comfortable on the display's native 1920x1200 resolution.According to Tom's Hardware, the RTX 5080 mobile GPU is roughly 15%-20% more powerful than the RTX 4080 mobile GPU that it replaces. It also happens to be about 5% more powerful than the RTX 4090, which was the previous generation's flagship card. The RTX 5080 appears to be a better value than the much pricier RTX 5090 as well. It only lags by about 15% despite being nearly $1,000 cheaper. Since the Alienware Area-51 uses a QHD+ (2560x1600) instead of 4K display, this GPU should be able to run new and upcoming games at high framerates, quadruply so if DLSS 4 is supported.The Area-51: New Style, More Power, Better CoolingNew for 2025, the Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop features a magnesium alloy chassis with upgraded cooling to tackle the latest and greatest heat generating components. This includes more fans and bigger cutouts enabling greater airflow, more generous use of copper, and a new thermal interface material to better transfer heat away from the core components. Dell claims that the laptop can handle a higher power ceiling of up to 240W TDP without raising acoustics.Design-wise, the Area 51 accentuates its smooth contours, with rounded edges and soft corners replacing the squared off design you'd see in most other laptops. The hinges are also mostly internally positioned so that they're near invisible. As befits an Alienware laptop, there are ample customization options for RGB LED lighting. Connectivity-wise, you get three USB Type-A 3.2 15Gbps ports (one with PowerShare), two Thunderbolt / USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a card reader. The 16" model weighs in at 7.5 pounds and the 18" model weighs 9.6 pounds.More Alienware Memorial Day Gaming Laptop DealsNew for 2025Alienware Aurora 16 Intel Core Ultra 9 270H RTX 5070 (85W) Gaming Laptop (16GB/1TB)$1,949.99 at AlienwareNew for 2025Alienware Aurora 16X Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5070 (115W) Gaming Laptop (32GB/2TB)$2,299.99 at AlienwareAlienware x16 R2 16" Intel Core Ultra 7 155H RTX 4060 Gaming Laptop (16GB/1TB)Alienware x16 R2 16" Intel Core Ultra 9 185H RTX 4070 Gaming Laptop (32GB/1TB)Alienware x16 R2 16" Intel Core Ultra 9 185H RTX 4090 Gaming Laptop (32GB/2TB)Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Table of ContentsSmartphone DealsTablet DealsComputer Mouse DealsSpeaker DealsAir Purifier DealsWi-Fi Router DealsGaming Monitor DealsSSD DealsSmartwatch DealsSmart Lock DealsTV DealsPrinter DealsGimbal DealsSoundbar Deals Memorial Day Weekend is here, and the tech discounts at Amazon are plenty. From wireless headphones and portable speakers to tablets and smartphones, there’s serious money to be saved on everyday tech. Discounts on some of the biggest brands are on the list. But don’t wait around. Limited-time offers like these tend to disappear quickly, sometimes within hours. Whether you're upgrading your gear or picking up a gift, now’s a smart time to buy. Below, we’ve rounded up some standout picks worth grabbing before they’re gone.Don't forget to check out our round-up of the Best Memorial Day tech sales for all of the best deals out there. Smartphone DealsThe Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a lightweight, compact, beautifully designed foldable smartphone featuring impressive hardware, AI capabilities, and a bright, large screen perfect for watching videos and multitasking. Its solid cameras capture detailed photos with smart editing tools, and the Gemini AI introduces exciting features like advanced photo tweaks. PCMag expert Eric Zeman says, "The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is an outstanding phone from top to bottom." With an "Excellent" rating in our review, it's a standout choice for AI and photography enthusiasts, especially with this $300 discount.Tablet DealsThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a solid Android tablet for sketching, note-taking, and general creative work. "The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is clearly positioned as the Android alternative to the base iPad. And considering that the price includes the S Pen (Apple's Pencil is a $99 add-on), this becomes a better buy," notes our expert Sascha Segan. Its stereo speakers sound way better than you'd expect at this price (now marked down by almost $65), while the headphone jack is a real bonus. Rated “Good” in our 2020 Galaxy Tab S6 Lite review, it nails the basics if you want a budget-friendly tablet that’s ready for creativity right out of the box.Computer Mouse DealsThe Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 gaming mouse is all about speed and simplicity. It's effortless to move and amazingly light without the usual cutouts, making it both comfortable and durable. The rock-solid performance offers precise tracking and a long battery life that keeps you gaming without interruptions. Plus, the grippy texture adds a nice touch. Our rexpert Mark Knapp notes, “At $159, it’s best suited to competitive players who have everything dialed in tight and don’t need to swap DPI settings often, but who do need the fastest polling rates to keep up with the pace of gameplay," while bestowing on it an “Excellent” rating in our review. And that was all before today's 31% discount. Speaker DealsThe Sonos Move 2 is one of our favorite portable speakers out there, and it’s definitely worth the hype. The sound quality is fantastic with rich bass, crisp highs, and stereo audio. It also presents a significant battery life lasting over 24 hours on a single charge. It’s super versatile, working seamlessly over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and the Sonos app is a dream to use. As our expert Tim Gideon put it, “The Move 2 is easily the best Sonos speaker for listening to music outside.” It’s not fully waterproof, but it can handle rain and splashes effortlessly. All these reasons were enough for it to earn an “Excellent” rating in our 2023 Sonos Move 2 review and now it can be yours for $113 less.Air Purifier DealsGet cleaner air and a fan in one sleek machine with the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07. It takes up barely any space, and once you’ve got the app set up, it’s super easy to control from your phone or with voice commands. The display gives real-time air quality updates, which are genuinely helpful if you live in a city or have pets. In 2021, Angela Moscaritolo said, “It’s the most effective smart air purifying fan we’ve tested,” and she rated it “Excellent” in our Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 review and honored it with the Editors’ Choice award. Meanwhile, the magnetic remote is a small but smart touch.Wi-Fi Router DealsThe TP-Link Deco BE63 offers an easy-to-set-up solution for bringing seamless Wi-Fi 7 coverage to your home with impressive speed and reliability. With multi-gig Ethernet ports, this system ensures robust connectivity for demanding users. "It rocked our performance tests, delivering some of the fastest throughput scores we've seen," writes expert John R. Delaney, rating it "Excellent" in our TP-Link Deco BE63 review. Currently discounted by 30%, it's also an Editors' Choice winner, making this a standout deal.Gaming Monitor DealsThe Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a jaw-dropping ultrawide monitor that’s designed for immersive gaming. The 49-inch OLED screen with a 240Hz refresh rate, vibrant colors, true blacks, and the 32:9 aspect ratio makes titles like Cyberpunk 2077 feel next-level. As our gaming expert said, “The Odyssey OLED G9 is a monitor for enthusiasts, meant for those willing to max out their PC builds.” It’s slim, sleek, and packed with features like Samsung’s gaming hub. We offered a rare “Outstanding” rating in our 2023 Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 review, and it’s an Editors’ Choice winner. With this massive $800 price drop, it's the ultimate pick for ultrawide gaming. The LG 27 UltraGear Gaming Monitor (27GR83Q) is an excellent choice for gamers seeking performance without overspending, especially with a 41% discount. The 27-inch QHD display appears sharp, and the 240Hz refresh rate provides a buttery smooth experience, particularly in fast-paced games like Fortnite and Apex Legends. As a result, our expert Zackery Cuevas rated it “Excellent” in our review of the LG 27 UltraGear, stating, “It’s a reliable, solid choice for gamers looking for a monitor that combines good looks and strong performance.” Furthermore, the screen displays vibrant colors, and the IPS panel guarantees wide viewing angles, eliminating any awkward color shifts when you’re not sitting directly in front. If you have a midrange PC or console, this monitor is a fantastic fit.Recommended by Our EditorsSSD DealsThe 4TB Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield is an external SSD built to handle rough conditions thanks to its rubberized shell that protects it from drops, rain, and dust. Our expert Tony Hoffman says, "If you ever take your laptop on the road or into the great outdoors, whether for business or pleasure, you'll appreciate having a drive like the T7 Shield," while giving it an “Excellent” rating in our 2022 T7 Shield SSD review. Plus, it has built-in encryption to keep your files safe. It’s not the absolute fastest SSD out there, but it still delivers reliable performance. Best of all, it's $220 off today!Smartwatch Deals“If you’re looking for a smartwatch to complement your Samsung phone, the Galaxy Watch 7 should be at the top of your list," says our senior analyst, Andrew Gebhart. It builds on the previous model with upgraded AI-powered health insights, better gesture controls, and smarter sleep tracking. The heart-rate sensor is impressively accurate, and the watch handles everything from workouts to snoring detection with ease. The battery life isn’t groundbreaking, but the overall experience still earns it an “Excellent” rating in our Galaxy Watch 7 review. Also, you get a free SmartTag2 in today's deal while saving over $100.Smart Lock DealsOur expert said, “If you’re looking for a stylish smart lock that is easy to install and offers broad third-party support, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is your best bet and our Editors’ Choice.” It’s one of the smallest models from the company and features complete Wi-Fi support, which gives you total control over locking and unlocking remotely. It works with Alexa, Google, and HomeKit, so you can use voice commands or set up automations easily. All these fantastic features earned the lock an “Outstanding” rating in our 2020 August Wi-Fi Smart Lock review. Plus, its compact design blends right in, making it a sleek and smart addition to any door. Grab it now for a whopping 50% discount.TV DealsThe Hisense 85U6N television has impressive contrast and vibrant colors that actually hold up in real-world viewing. Streaming apps load quickly, Google TV runs super smoothly, and even the voice control works hands-free. The TV also has a small input lag, clocking in at just 3.6ms, making it super responsive. Our expert Will Greenwald called it “the best affordable TV you can buy right now,” and it earned an “Outstanding” rating in our Hisense 85U6N review. Honestly, for movie nights or casual gaming on a massive screen, this one’s hard to top.Printer DealsThe Canon Pixma TR8620a has a 4.3-inch color LCD touchscreen for quick, intuitive printing. Plus, having two black ink dispensers ensures your documents and photos really pop. You can load regular paper in the main tray and photo paper in the rear feed for quick switching. “The Canon Pixma TR8620 all-in-one inkjet scans and prints excellent text, graphics, and photos, making it a sensible choice for low-volume family and home office use,” says our expert William Harrel, who rated it “Excellent” in our 2020 Canon Pixma TR8620a review. This printer keeps things simple and affordable thanks to this $60 discount.Gimbal Deals“The affordable Hohem iSteady Mobile+ phone gimbal helps you capture smooth video while easily tracking subjects,” says Iyaz Akhtar, who rated it “Good” in his review, and that was even before today’s 30% off. It’s light enough to carry around all day, and the simple joystick control makes it easy to pan and tilt. The battery life lasts long enough to record lengthy events, and you can attach your phone quickly without fumbling. If you’re after reliable stabilization on a budget, this is a solid option for the price.Soundbar DealsIf you’re into films and big sound, sweeping scores, and lots of explosions, then you should seriously consider making the JBL Bar 9.1 your new movie night companion, especially with this $400 discount. As our expert Tim Gideon puts it, “The system really draws you in, with a surround experience that combines what is more like a 5.1 build with the Atmos drivers.” That’s why it earned an "Excellent" rating in our JBL Bar 9.1 review in 2020. Plus, setting it up is super simple, the bass is strong enough to shake your room, and the Dolby Atmos feature adds this amazing 3D feel to the audio that pulls you into the action.  And with wireless rear speakers that detach from the main bar, you'll have an actual surround sound experience without the mess of cables.We’re finding Memorial Day Deals everywhere, from retailers like Walmart to top brands like Apple and HP. And don’t forget to check out all of the Memorial Day Deals Under $100 and Under $50. But, if you’re looking for something more specific, we’ve rounded up the following holiday deals for you:

Xiaomi has retaken the digital crown in the global wearable band market, surpassing Apple to become the top vendor in Q1 2025, according to new data from Canalys. The research firm says Xiaomi pulled it with a more mature ecosystem strategy than the one it had back in mid-2021 (the last time it led the pack), while Apple’s wearable strategy has grown stale. According to the Q1 2025 report, the wearable band market showed signs of strong recovery. Shipments rose 13% year-over-year to 46.6 million units, driven largely by demand for basic wearables, which are more appealing to emerging markets. And that’s where Xiaomi really pulled ahead. As Canalys analyst Jack Leathem said: Xiaomi has upgraded its Mi Band and Redmi Watch series with refreshed designs and advanced data capabilities, bringing comprehensive features down the price segments, boosting its value proposition. Its growth has also been supported by effective multi-category coordination and competitive pricing, particularly in emerging economies. (…) Samsung has also increased its focus on its basic bands to grow its presence in emerging economies. Xiaomi shipped 8.7 million units this past quarter, up 44% from a year ago. The Redmi Band 5 played a key role, but Canalys says Xiaomi’s broader momentum comes from its HyperOS push, connecting phones, wearables, and home gear. The Apple Watch, meanwhile, had a relatively quiet quarter. Shipments rose 5% to 7.6 million units, inching to 16% total unit share against Xiaomi’s 19%. These numbers echo a recent Counterpoint report, which highlighted the Apple Watch’s ongoing two-year global decline in 2024. The report reads: With 2025 marking the Apple Watch’s tenth anniversary, Apple is expected to regain momentum in the second half of the year with a big portfolio update, leaning on its mature and tightly integrated health-focused ecosystem. As for the rest of the market, Huawei held onto third place with 7.1 million units, thanks to strong performance from its GT and Fit lines and the growing global footprint of the Huawei Health app. Samsung, in fourth, saw the biggest jump among the top vendors, a whopping 74%, to 4.9 million units. The Korean company split its focus between basic bands for emerging markets, and higher-end smartwatches elsewhere. Garmin rounded out the top five with 1.8 million units and a 10% year-over-year increase. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Three years after suing to block Microsoft from buying one of the biggest names in video games, the U.S. government is finally giving up. The FTC announced plans Thursday to drop a Biden-era case against Microsoft over its $69 billion acquisition of game maker Activision Blizzard, a decision the regulator said now best serves the public interest.  In 2022, the FTC first announced that it would try to kill Microsoft’s planned acquisition of the gaming giant, which makes hit games like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. The following year, after the FTC failed to secure a preliminary injunction to stop it, Microsoft actually finalized the massive deal, but the regulator vowed to continue appealing that decision.  Earlier this month, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s order denying the injunction, ruling that the FTC’s claims that the deal would limit competition in the gaming industry were weak. The acquisition was destined for intense scrutiny from day one, both for its size and its potential to totally reshape the landscape for one of tech’s hottest sectors.  Microsoft swooped in to save Activision Blizzard from itself When Microsoft announced its plan to buy Activision Blizzard in January 2022, the smaller company had been rocked by emerging allegations of systemic sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Those ongoing scandals eventually forced longtime CEO Bobby Kotick out of the company as Microsoft cleaned house leading into the merger.  Microsoft also had to clear major regulatory hurdles in the U.K., resolving antitrust concerns there over its cloud gaming services before getting the green light to close the deal. That bit of regulatory maneuvering resulted in an unusual arrangement to offload cloud streaming rights for its games to competitor Ubisoft in order to appease the Competition and Markets Authority, the U.K.’s powerful trust buster. (This portion of the deal isn’t great news for anyone who’s wrestled with Ubisoft’s awkward online gaming service over the years.) A boost to Microsoft’s online gaming roadmap By bringing Activision Blizzard under its wing, Microsoft can also bring the company’s many hit titles into the popular Xbox Game Pass service, which gives players unlimited access to games for a monthly subscription fee.  Gaming companies have increasingly turned to monthly subscriptions and live service games over the last decade and many of Activision Blizzard’s hit franchises revolve around online multiplayer, including Call of Duty, Overwatch, Diablo and World of Warcraft. Activision Blizzard also owns Candy Crush, a colorful tile-matching game that’s still synonymous with mobile gaming almost a decade after Activision Blizzard bought its developer King for a then whopping $5.9 billion. Microsoft President Brad Smith described his company as “grateful” to the FTC for its decision to allow the acquisition to settle. “Today’s decision is a victory for players across the country and for common sense in Washington, D.C.,” Smith said.

The streaming space saw a relatively quiet April, according to StreamElement’s latest State of the Stream report. Twitch saw fewer hours watched than in March, which the report attributes at least in part to a lack of “major” game releases — games like South of Midnight and Oblivion Remastered not being enough to move the needle on viewers at least. The most notable thing about the month is the precipitous spike in viewership for Call of Duty: Warzone, which saw 45 million hours watched in April, a 146% increase. According to StreamElement’s report, which was done in partnership with Rainmaker.gg, Twitch saw a total of 1.573 billion hours watched in April, less than even February despite have two more days. For daily hours watched, Rainmaker’s data shows viewers watched about 52 million hours total per day, lower than any other month in April. Or Perry, StreamElements CEO, attributed the viewership spike to the re-launch of the much-beloved Verdansk map. “The highlight of April was Call of Duty: Warzone experiencing a whopping 146% surge in viewership on Twitch, driven by the return of an updated version of the fan favorite Verdansk map. Nostalgia is a powerful tool because it makes things feel instantly familiar, with Warzone’s latest release standing out by reestablishing that emotional connection while upgrading rather than simply recycling old content.” The rest of the report covers the list of the top 10 streamers on Twitch. Caedrel remains at the top of the list, thanks to his League of Legends commentary streams — he covered the LCK Spring Split in April, and also received the EMEA Masters Trophy his team, Los Ratones, won at the winter event. It’s his third month GB Daily Stay in the know! Get the latest news in your inbox daily Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured.

Macworld There may be a new M3 iPad AIr on shelves, but since not much has changed, we’re always on the lookout for a sale on the M2 model. And today we’ve got a whopper: Amazon is selling the M2 iPad Air with 512GB of storage and 5G connectivity for just $699. That’s a savings of $350 and the best price you’re ever likely to see. When we reviewed the M2 Apple iPad Air, we gave the tablet a 4-star rating, appreciating its performance and the speedy processor. We also really liked the landscape front camera with Center Stage because it made participating in video calls or shooting vids for social media that much easier. With 512GB of storage space (four times the base model), you get tons of space for apps and games, so you’ll never have to worry about running out. The 11-inch Liquid Retina display is gorgeous and delivers vivid colors and great contrast, as well as 500 nits of brightness. This model also comes with 5G built-in, so you can connect to a wireless network on the go. It requires an extra change through your carrier, but it’s usually just $10 or $15 per month on top of your regular bill. The M3 iPad Air is pretty great, but it’s going to be a long time before it gets anywhere close to the M2 price levels. So take advantage of this $350 discount and order the M2 iPad Air while this deal is hot. Snag an iPad Air with 512GB of storage and 5G for $350 offBuy now at Amazon

This affordable TV will be an impressive spectacle in any home. Credit: Best Buy/Mashable Photo Composite Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Learn more about how we select deals. SAVE $4,000: As of May 23, get the 85-inch TCL X11K 4K UHD TV for $5,999.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $9,999.99. That's a discount of 43%. Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy TCL X11K 4K UHD TV $5,999.99 at Best Buy $9,999.99 Save $4,000 Whether you just want a bigger screen for the most popular room in your house or you want something you can brag about to your friends, an 85-inch TV is a fun splurge that anyone should be able to experience once. But the price can be prohibitive. However, if you're going to spend a big chunk of change, you'd might as well be able to save some cash on your big-ticket item when you make the choice to. In this case, you can score a huge 85-inch MiniLED TCL TV for a massive discount. As of May 23, get the 85-inch TCL X11K 4K UHD TV for $5,999.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $9,999.99. That's $4,000 off and a discount of 43%. You May Also Like Aside from being absolutely huge, this TV is all about giving you excellent picture quality. It has 6500 nits of brightness and up to 14,112 dimming zones to give you a more realistic picture with deep contrast and bright, vivid colors. Its MiniLED features combine the great parts of both QLED and OLED tech for better pixel precision too, so you get a wide color gamut, higher peak brightness, and a TV that lasts longer than its brethren. All this, and it's accompanied by Bang & Olufsen sound with a slimmer profile than other TVs in its usual price range. It accomplishes its impressive picture and projecting audio with a super thin, delicate body that looks great mounted or standing on its own in your home, wherever you decide to put it. Mashable Deals Want more hand-picked deals from our shopping experts? Sign up for the Mashable Deals newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Perhaps the most exciting part about the deal, however, is that you're saving thousands. If it's time to lock in and get an impressive new display, TCL has your back with this Best Buy discount. Brittany Vincent Brittany is fueled by horror, rainbow-sugar-pixel-rushes, and video games. Until her dying breath she'll be wielding a BFG made entirely of killer drive and ambition. Check out her work at PfhorTheWin.com. Like a fabulous shooter once said, get psyched!

Readers were annoyed to discover something galling: evidence that an author used AI, right in the middle of a novel.The novel, titled "Darkhollow Academy : Year 2," penned by author Lena McDonald, falls under a romance subgenre called "reverse harem," which conventionally follows a female protagonist with multiple male partners.But as eagle-eyed fans of the genre were irritated to discover, the author left glaringly obvious evidence of not only using an AI chatbot to write portions of the book — but also of a naked attempt to copy the style of a real fellow writer."I've rewritten the passage to align more with J. Bree's style, which features more tension, gritty undertones, and raw emotional subtext beneath the supernatural elements," a since-deleted passage in chapter three of the novel reads, as seen in screenshots posted to the ReverseHarem subreddit earlier this month.J. Bree is the human author of an internationally bestselling series of romance and fantasy novels.The instance is yet another illustration of how Amazon is being flooded with self-published AI slop, a trend that has been going on ever since the tech went mainstream a few years ago. It's a real problem for human authors, too, with AI-generated books drowning out their work in search results pages.In one particularly egregious example, author Jane Friedman discovered back in 2023 that roughly a dozen books were being sold on Amazon with her name on them.Understandably, the small ReverseHarem community on Reddit was outraged after McDonald was caught blatantly using AI to rip off the voice of a real author."I just about fell out of my chair when I read this!" wrote the user who shared the screenshots."I got the book to provide secondary confirmation that this is real," another user chimed in. "Which means everyone has now read part of the book, which qualifies for a Goodreads rating, and possibly even Amazon."Readers tore into the book in a storm of one-star reviews."This was written with generative AI, as is clear by the prompt that was left in the book before uploading to Amazon," one disgruntled reviewer wrote. "I will support authors in many, many ways, but generative AI is theft and it’s not a replacement for actual writing.""I would assume all of her other writing uses AI as well, as book 1 of this series released 1/24/25, book 2 on 3/13/25, and book 3 on 3/23/25," one GoodReads reviewer wrote. "That's faster than Steven King."A book reviewer account called Indie Book Spotlight put it a lot more bluntly in a Bluesky post."F**k you if you steal and copy authors’ works," the user wrote. "F**k you if you use gen ai and call yourself a writer. You’re an opportunist hack using a theft machine."McDonald's blunder is just the tip of the iceberg. Two other purported authors identified by Indie Book Spotlight were caught dabbling with generative AI to churn out novels.Earlier this year, a writer who goes by KC Crowne was also seemingly caught leaving ChatGPT prompts in the text of their work."Thought for 13 seconds," one passage of a book titled "Dark Obsession" on Amazon reads, as seen in screenshots posted to the RomanceBooks subreddit in January. "Certainly! Here's an enhanced version of your passage, making Elena more relatable and injecting additional humor while providing a brief, sexy description of Grigori."Crowne's Amazon page features a whopping 171 titles, each adorned with an AI-generated cover of topless, tattoo-covered men."International Bestselling Author and Amazon Top 8 US Bestseller," the author's bio reads.A third writer, who goes by Rania Faris, was also caught using an AI chatbot."This is already quite strong, but it can be tightened for a sharper and more striking delivery while maintaining the intensity and sardonic edge you're aiming for," reads a passage one Threads user discovered in a printed copy of Faris' book.Oddly enough, Crowne's novels are getting predominantly positive reviews on GoodReads, indicating they have found their niche, and readers may either not care or not be aware of the use of AI.Users on Bluesky were sharing theories as to why."Oh wow, I just caught up on the KC Crowne AI thing," award-winning Canadian author Krista Ball wrote in a post back in January. "So setting aside the AI prompt left in the book, I am amazed that this wasn't mentioned anywhere by the early readers, the street team, etc - which leads into my paranoid theory that a percentage of readers are just skim reading.""Remember back in the day when writing fast was like a good reputation builder?" she added. "Now it's sus as all hell."Neither McDonald nor Faris has publicly listed contact information. Crowne, at least, is taking accountability for the situation."Earlier this year, I made an honest mistake," Crowne wrote in an email to Futurism. "I accidentally uploaded the wrong draft file, which included an AI prompt. That error was entirely my responsibility, and that's why I made the tough decision to address it publicly."Crowne claimed that "while I occasionally use AI tools to brainstorm or get past writer’s block, every story I publish is fundamentally my own," saying that "I only use AI-assisted tools in ways that help me improve my craft while fully complying with the terms of service of publishing platforms, to the best of my ability."AI or not, Crowne has somehow published 171 novels over the last seven years.Whether the use of generative AI in self-published books on Amazon breaks any rules remains somewhat unclear. An Amazon spokesperson pointed us to the company's content guidelines, which govern "which books can be listed for sale, regardless of how the content was created."The guidelines have an entire subsection dedicated to the use of AI, which stipulates that "AI-assisted content" is permitted and sellers aren't even "required to disclose" its use. However, any "AI-generated images include cover and interior images and artwork" have to be labeled as such.The internet at large is also facing an existential threat in the shape of an AI slop tsunami. Do we really need to extend that trend to 300-page fantasy novels to read on the subway to work?Self-published authors who are trying to stand out in an already busy marketplace aren't hopeful."They bring down the reputation of those of us who don't touch AI to write our books," author Catherine Arthur tweeted. "Being tarred with the 'self-published = written by AI' label is not good, and if they don't stop, then that's what may happen."Share This Article

Macworld When you hear the term Siri smart home, you probably think of advanced gadgets and appliances that cost thousands of dollars and require tons of setup. It doesn’t have to be that way—my favorite Apple smart home device costs just $15 and is as easy as scanning a QR code. As someone who bounces around from place to place, Nanoleaf’s plug-and-play smart bulbs have accompanied me for years without any hiccups. Setting up one of the bulbs is pretty Apple-esque. I merely screwed it into a regular lamp socket and scanned the printed QR code using Apple’s Home app. It pairs in seconds and immediately lets me change the light’s color and intensity without even needing to download the Nanoleaf app (though it’s a good idea to install it for the occassional firmware update and to unlock additional features such as playlists, scenes, and motions that offer custom looks and so on). I can set up all sorts of automations for my Nanoleaf bulb without any additional hardware.Foundry You may be wondering why you’d want to invest in this lesser-known brand when Philips Hue exists and is perceived by many Apple users as the best smart light. Philips undoubtedly puts out high-quality products, but I have two main problems with its Hue devices: pricing and automation. A pair of basic Nanoleaf smart color bulbs costs just $30, while Philips charges a whopping $99. That’s not to mention that Nanoleaf bulbs support automations out of the box through your existing HomeKit hub (Apple TV or HomePod), while Hue requires a proprietary Bridge, which costs another $60 as well as its own setup. So, for a fraction of the price and effort, you’re getting a smarter, equally colorful bulb. Thanks to HomeKit automations, my bulbs automatically turn on when I arrive home after sunset. They turn off on their own whenever I leave the house. I’ve also set a conditional automation that turns the bulbs on after sunset if I’m at home—and it adapts to my location and season, sparing me from manually adjusting it throughout the year. And once I’m in bed at night, I can just ask Siri to turn off the lights or alternatively use the Home app’s Control Center toggle.  Hands down, this $15 smart bulb has made my life a bit brighter. All without anything other than screwing it in. Get your own Nanoleaf smart bulb for $15Buy now at Amazon

Sciel is a true heavy-hitter in your Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 party, offering a fairly straightforward way to make number go up compared to her counterparts. While, yes, Lune and Maelle can dish out serious damage, both require some preparatory work to achieve that output, whereas Sciel only requires you to be aware of her comparatively more streamlined Twilight mechanic. If you’re interested in the best of the best for your scythe-wielding teacher, this Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 guide will break down the best Sciel build, including her best weapons, attributes, Pictos, and skills to quickly dispatch foes. Best Sciel build in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sciel works as a support unit and DPS, but we believe her talents are much better in a damage-dealing role. She’s at her best as the team’s primary source of damage. With Sciel, you want to apply Foretell stacks on enemies and then trigger those stacks with the appropriate skills. The best skills for Sciel will allow her to mark enemies as well for her other teammates to trigger, so she works well with at least one other dedicated damage dealer — preferably Maelle. The best Sciel build in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is: Attributes: Defense and Luck Weapon: Charnon Skills: Twilight Dance, Sealed Fate, Final Path, Delaying Slash, Fortune’s Fury, and Plentiful Harvest Pictos: Immaculate, Glass Cannon, and Inverted Affinity Sciel’s best attributes by far are Agility and Luck. Her skills and playstyle are meant for someone who can attack often and deal critical hits, too. What’s more, in the game’s opening act, the best weapon for Sciel, the Scielson, scales well with the stats mentioned above. As you progress, you’ll be swapping weapons to the Rangeson and Charnon, respectively, but once you reach the endgame and the Charnon, you’ll have access to guaranteed critical hits. This allows you to Recoat her attributes away from Agility and put them into Defense instead. Below, we’ll explain in more detail why this is the best Sciel build in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Best attributes for Sciel Your attribute spread for Sciel will look different depending on how far in the game you are. Make sure to save a Recoat for the late game so you can prioritize the perfect attributes for the final stretch. In Act 1, prioritize Agility and Luck for the extra turns and crit chance. (You can also put points into Vitality to give Sciel some survivability in the early game.) In Act 2, the best weapon for Sciel becomes the Rangeson, so her attributes should reflect that. You should alter your strategy and prioritize Agility and Defense. Once you get Charnon, you’ll want to Recoat your attributes again, only this time prioritizing Defense and Luck for that weapon’s scaling. Best weapon for Sciel The best weapon for Sciel is the Charnon. This missable weapon can be found by defeating the Gestral Merchant, Grour, at Renoir’s Drafts. To find this merchant, you must have Esquie’s diving ability, which you get when he reaches relationship level 6. Defeating Grour will allow you to purchase the Charnon. Hopefully you’ve been saving your cash — it costs a whopping 89,884 chroma! The weapon’s strength comes from its Level 4 passive, granting guaranteed critical hits when Sciel is in Twilight. Sciel’s abilities fit into one or two categories, Sun and Moon. Using a skill will generate a card of the assigned typing. Once you’ve generated both a Sun card and a Moon card, Sciel will enter Twilight, offering increased damage and double the amount of Foretell you can stack on an enemy. The goal is to ensure Sciel spends as much time in Twilight as often as possible, so it only makes sense you’d want a weapon that empowers the stance to new heights. Best Pictos and Luminas for Sciel You will need some time to build up the best Pictos and Luminas for Sciel. The best Pictos in her case are Immaculate, Glass Canon, and Inverted Affinity. Below are the detailed descriptions of what these Pictos do and the stats they grant bonuses to. Immaculate — Speed and Crit Rate. 30% increased damage until a hit is received. Glass Cannon — Speed. Deal 25% more damage, but take 25% more damage. Inverted Affinity — Health and Crit Rate. Apply Inverted on self for three turns on battle start.50% increased damage while Inverted. These Pictos are pretty much the “One Shot Setup.” They provide Sciel and other DPS characters the scaling and damage necessary to dictate the battlefield. However, the trade-off of these Pictos is low survivability. If you’re not a God at Expedition 33’s defense mechanisms, maybe you should practice them as you make your way through the game and to Sciel’s perfect build. You can also offset this weakness a bit with the right Luminas. We’d recommend using the following Luminas, depending on how many Lumina Points you have. Augmented Counter I Auto Rush Critical Burn Dead Energy II Roulette Empowering Parry Energising Jump Energising Parry Energising Start II First Strike Tainted Full Strength Painted Power Recovery Cheater Solidifying Sweet Kill Warming Up Best skills for Sciel The best skills for Sciel are the following: Twilight Dance: Deals extreme single target Dark damage. 4 hits. During Twilight, extends Twilight duration by 1 turn. Consumes all Foretell to deal additional damage. Sealed Fate: Deals high single target damage. 5-7 hits. Uses Weapon’s element. Each hit can consume 1 Foretell to deal 200% more damage. Critical Hits don’t remove the Foretell but still gets the damage increase. Final Path: Deals extreme single target Dark damage and applies 10 Foretell. 1 hit. Can Break. Delaying Slash: Deals medium single target damage. 2 hits. Uses weapon’s element. Consumes Foretell to increase damage and delay target’s turn. Fortune’s Fury: Targeted ally deals double damage for one turn. Plentiful Harvest: Deals medium single target Physical damage. 2 hits. Consumes all Foretell on a target and gives 1 AP to a party member for each Foretell consumed. These moves allow you to properly set Sciel or your chosen sub DPS unit for success. Fortune’s Fury will be your primary skill. Combined with a skill like Marking Card, it is perfect for unleashing considerable damage on the game’s more challenging encounters. Final Path and Twilight Dance are your primary sources of damage if you prefer another weapon. However, with the Charnon and its awesome critical hit passive, you can’t go wrong with Sealed Fate.