I have a new, all-consuming obsession, and that obsession is Ball x Pit. I didn't set out to replace all my free time with grinding its roguelite take on Breakout, but its reliance on strategy (with a butterfly kiss of luck) and enticing upgrade paths both on and off the playfield grabbed a hold of the primal lizard parts of my brain to the detriment of all other civilized activity. I am hooked. In fact, Ball x Pit is the only video game I've played since I first started it a couple weeks ago. I cannot break free from its satisfying loop of running a level and upgrading my balls, upgrading my city to unlock more balls, and then jumping right back in. It's a sickness, a sickness with no cure – and, honestly… I'm not even sure I'd want to be healed from the madness that has taken hold of me. I’ve been recommending it to everyone and, so far, those who have taken my advice inevitably reach out to tell me the same thing: "You ruined my life, you sicko." It’s fantastic. Join us. We all bounce down here.
At a distance, Ball x Pit looks like one of those crappy games you see advertised on TikTok or Reels. You know the ones: "We're playing a game the comments said was fake part 17," or something like that. At first blush, it does look like some endless runner game trying to hook you with playtime gems or whatever predatory garbage is in vogue these days. But, crucially, it’s not one of those games at all, as it’s entirely free of microtransactions and actually respects your time as it vacuums it all up. It doles out satisfying upgrades in each level and then gives you the opportunity to build up more permanent powers in your home base. There's nothing cheap or underhanded about it. It makes you feel powerful, not cheated, and even with an element of RNG in each level, it requires you to make the most out of every opportunity rather than rely on dumb luck or random chance. When you beat a level, it feels like you earned it.
The actual gameplay seems straightforward on the surface, too: Your character, or characters, march up the playfield firing bouncing balls at wave after wave of enemies. The balls are weaponized, the enemies are crushed under the onslaught, and eventually you get to a given level’s unique boss. That's the basic loop, but the operative word there is "basic." Because, friends, Ball x Pit is much more complex. For starters, there are different kinds of balls to fire. For example, your initial character, the Warrior, starts with a special ball that imparts a "bleed" status effect that stacks up to cause extra damage on successive hits. As you defeat enemies, you’ll also pick up gems in order to level up, which then gives you a choice of balls and other power-ups to use during that specific run.
There are special balls with status effects or area-of-effect damage, balls that spawn more "baby balls" (weird), and loads of other options. Then there are buffs, passive effects, defensive boosts, and even allies who'll join you in the march forward, dealing out damage or even health. Some of the power ups are much better than others. The Earthquake ball, for example, deals damage around the enemy it hits and, like most of the AOE balls, becomes incredibly powerful when fully upgraded. Others, like the Wretched Onion, kind of suck. Part of the fun is finding out which upgrades work best in any given level, as well as discovering what happens when you combine certain balls with Fusions and Evolutions that mix or modify their powers even further.
When you're fully powered up and the RNG gods have held you in their favor, it's a beautiful bloodbath.
Fusions can simply save you a slot by mashing two effects onto a single ball, but specific combos instead get the chance to evolve into a new power. For example, fusing the Horizontal Laser with the Vertical Laser creates my personal favorite, the Holy Laser. It shoots beams of pure fiery death vertically and horizontally on hit while also dealing AOE damage, which is as useful much as it just rules.
It’s cool that fusing balls both scales the damage you are dealing and gives you room to add even more. It's hard to keep track of all the possibilities, but there's an in-game encyclopedia that shows you the combos you've unlocked. I'm more than 30 hours in and I still have fusions I haven't found yet, which I find pretty damn exciting.
Honestly, the laser balls in any configuration do a crap-ton of damage, searing rows and columns, sometimes adding stackable status effects like radiation while also doing normal, hot laser damage. When you're fully powered up and the RNG gods have held you in their favor, it's a beautiful bloodbath. Lasers and explosions and effects are going off constantly, and the damage counters fill the screen as entire rows of enemies evaporate into experience gems, as well as gold you’ll spend back in your town between runs.
The town is the other half of Ball x Pit, one that's enormously important to growing your characters. In addition to earning permanent stat boosts just by playing as them, constructing certain buildings and character houses will provide buffs and bonuses as well, which you’ll absolutely need in order to make it through the later levels. But while it’s very important, the city-building part of Ball x Pit is extremely clunky – in fact, it’s probably the worst part of what I think is otherwise a flawless game.
After you complete a level, whether or not you did so successfully, you're thrown back into the town interface where you’ll build structures from blueprints you gathered out in the field. You also build resource tiles: forests for wood, fields for wheat, and rocks for… well, rocks. Those resources, in addition to gold, are required to build and upgrade new structures. Thankfully there are plenty of ways to gather resources outside of just harvesting, including during runs and with passive buildings like the stone quarry, but collecting it manually is the most fun.
In the harvest phase, you use your unlocked characters as balls, taking aim from the bottom of the board and letting them rip, Beyblade style, in the direction of the stuff you want to hit. They then bounce off the walls and buildings, collecting resources from the resource tiles and upgrading any buildings you marked for improvement. This process is amusing but also fairly tedious, as you can move buildings around before you harvest in order to optimize their placement, but there isn’t really a convenient way to do so.
City building is the worst part of an otherwise a flawless game.
What I usually end up doing is moving everything off to one side of the map, then shuffling all the parts and pieces back again to where I want them at that specific moment. It almost seems like Ball x Pit is aware of how cumbersome the city building is, because there's no penalty or resource cost for moving tiles around. What I'd love to see is some kind of option to wipe the slate clean without needing to go through and manually remove every building, or maybe a holding pen where I could drop structures temporarily while I reconfigure my layout.
And you will be reconfiguring your layout a lot. Building upgrades require your characters to bounce off the buildings multiple times, and if that building is in a weird location, good luck getting the trajectory right to consistently hit it enough times during the harvest phase without reorganizing half the town. I often ended up moving relevant buildings down near the launch area, which meant moving all the other stuff away… and then reorganizing it again after all is said and done. I don't like it at all.
It's such a bummer because you can’t really ignore this, as city layout is extremely important to how powerful you are in the levels themselves. Some buildings provide buffs that make the effects of other nearby buildings stronger, so their placement is crucial to your continued success. That need for careful planning is at odds with the reality of constantly shuffling tiles around when it comes time to harvest, build, and upgrade.
However, building-specific issues aside, I do really like how your town structures contribute directly to the action itself. The better your city, the better your characters, and the more blueprints you find, the more options you have when it comes to a new run. It may be cumbersome to move everything around, but the results are meaningful and can sometimes be surprising in a way that is ultimately a positive.
Double Down on Strategy
Somewhat early on, you unlock a building that lets you bring two characters into battle instead of just one, adding another layer of complexity and experimentation to each run. At first, it almost feels like cheating, but it would be functionally impossible to get much further without it. I'm still figuring out which combinations work well and which ones are total crap. Since you still gain gold and experience even on a failed run, I don't even mind when I pick a total dud combo because I've still made some progress. There have also been several times where I thought I'd figured out some god-tier combo, only to get three-quarters of the way through a level and realize I have made a terrible mistake.
The worst was when I paired The Warrior with The Flagellant for a New Game+ run of the first level. Balls shot by the Flagellant bounce off the bottom of the screen instead of the top, and The Warrior has no special attributes other than being your starting character. The first level boss, the Skeleton King, requires hits to the back of its skull to inflict damage. The RNG gods had graced me with some decent fusions, but all of them ended up bouncing harmlessly between his two arms out front, leaving me almost completely ineffective. An errant baby ball would sometimes bank off the wall to register a tiny amount of damage, but I ended up losing on purpose just to back out of the level.
As frustrating as that was, it's emblematic of something I love about Ball x Pit: it requires strategy in almost every facet. The balls and upgrades offered to you are at the mercy of RNG, sure, but you also have the choice of which ones to use and which ones to fuse and evolve. I was able to identify good combinations and bad combinations of characters based on their attributes and would make mental notes about which pairings would work out for my specific needs as I pushed through each level. The Juggler, for example, throws balls over enemies – pairing him with The Shade, whose balls shoot from the back of the field, and then following a heavy AOE upgrade path allowed me to clear out basically any row of enemies on the board while still getting a ton of damage from balls bouncing in the back.
That combination of strategy and knowing how to best upgrade any given character combination for a specific level is what keeps bringing me back, over and over again, until I'm bleary eyed and tired. When everything aligns and you're wiping out entire fields of enemies, when the screen is absolutely filled with lasers and explosions and baby balls scattering in every direction, you feel an enormous sense of power. From an outside view, honing in your upgrades combined with careful building placement and frequent stat leveling from buff buildings makes it seem like Ball x Pit would feel easier over time. But it does a rare thing: instead of feeling easy, it makes you feel powerful.
When I finally did beat the main story and watched the credits around the 20-hour mark, I immediately started up New Game+. I never do that. But the entirely inconsequential story is just a small part of Ball x Pit for me. The real joy here comes from building up your powers and combos and seeing what delights will unlock themselves during the course of a run. I play for moments when the music is nearly drowned out by the sounds of explosions and laser blasts, or when I get a gold bonus for clearing the field of enemies and then doing it two, three, even five more times in a given level. It scratches an itch deep within my lizard brain. Hard work pays off, but the right combinations of upgrades mixed in with a touch of luck pays off even more.
Not long you you wouldn't be able to find an electric bike for under $1,000. Although there are still plenty of "premium" brands that still sell ebikes for well above this threshold, it's no longer an accurate blanket statement. As we enter the Black Friday and holiday season, you can pick up an entry level ebike for as low as $300. The three deals below stand out for the following reasons: (1) they're a lot less expensive than buying the exact same bike off Amazon, (2) they're all shipped from a local US warehouse so you don't need to worry about tariffs or shipping delays, and (3) they're sold by reputable vendors with plenty of reviews and sales to back them up.
Amyet V9-G60 1000W Electric Bike for $426
AliExpress via Amyet's official seller account is offering the Amyet V9-G60 Electric Bike for just $426.04 after you apply $100 off coupon code "AEUS100" during checkout. The same bike is priced at $485 plus $165 shipping on Amazon. I've posted this deal before and it has so far been the best selling ebike here at IGN. Of the three bikes in this roundup, this has the most powerful motor and the biggest battery.
The Amyet V9-G60 boasts a 1,000W (1,500W peak) brushless motor that can push the bike at speeds up to 32mph. The 48V 20AH (960Whr) battery can last up to 70 miles on a single charge (the actual distance is dependent on other factors like your speed, terrain, elevation, etc). Other features include a lightweight aluminum frame, Shimano components for its 7-speed transmission, dual suspension, and 20" wheels with 4" fat tires for a more comfortable ride. The bike comes 90% preassembled and includes a 1 year warranty. It's also pretty mod friendly in case you wanted to do your own upgrades (like swapping to hydraulic brakes).
Luckeep X1 Lite 750W Electric Bike for $435.77
The Luckeep X1 Lite is a better choice if you're looking for an e-bike that you can fold up and store away where space is limited, like in the trunk of your car or SUV. It's also a little bit lighter than the Amyet V9-G60. AliExpress has it on sale for $435.77 after $100 off coupon code "AEUS100". The same bike is priced at $620 plus $99 shipping on Amazon.
The X1 Lite's 750W (1,500W peak) brushless motor can hit a top speed of about 28mph. The 48V 15AH (720Whr) battery can last up to 50 miles on a single charge. Like the Amyet V9-G60, it also features a lightweight aluminum frame, Shimano 7-speed transmission, and 20" wheels with 4" fat tires, and is covered by a 12 month warranty. The feature that sets this bike apart from the other two in the roundup is that it can be folded in half with the wheels stacked next to each other. This design makes it much easier to fit in a smaller space. A little engineering magic is needed to make sure that the frame maintains its rigidity and so this feature isn't commonly found in entry level bikes.
UrLife E20 Lite 750W Electric Bike for $290
The UrLife E20 Lite is the least expensive ebike in this roundup, and really just about the cheapest electric bike you can get anywhere. Where else can you get a brand new, pre-assembled ebike under $300 (after you apply a $64 off coupon code "AEUS64"). The same bike sells for $420 plus $90 shipping on Amazon.
UrLife E20 Lite is also the lightest bike in this roundup. Whereas the Luckeep X1 Lite weighs 70 pounds and the Amyet V9-G60 tops the chart at 77 pounds, the E20 Lite comes in at a modest 60 pounds. It's also equipped with a tamer 750W brushless motor with a peak rating of 1,000W, so the top speed is limited to a still respectable 20mph. The 48V 13AH (624Whr) battery, while being the smallest capacity battery in the roundup, has the best range at up to 80 miles, most likely because of the lighter weight and less power hungry motor.
This is an excellent entry level electric bike for an adult, or even a responsible teen who's never ridden an ebike before. The ebikes are not toys and you don't want to play with fire by getting something that is beyond your comfort zone. At this price, there's less damage to your wallet (and your dignity) if and when you put some dings and dents into it.
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.
Ahead of Black Friday, Dell is offering an Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop equipped with the GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card for as low as $2,065 with free delivery. Most RTX 5080 prebuilts you'll find elsewhere, including the more affordable brands you find on Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, are priced closer to $2,400 and up. That's impressive considering Alienware usually commands a higher price premium. Such a system would have cost as much as $3,000 at the beginning of the year, but Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 prices have been trending downwards lately.
Alienware Aurora RTX 5080 Gaming PC From $2,065
This $2,045 configuration system is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F CPU, GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 16GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F has a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz with 20 cores and a 36MB L2 cache. It's cooled by a 240mm AIO liquid cooling system. The system is run off a 1,000W power supply.
This system is customizable and the CPU, RAM, and storage can all be upgraded. For example, you can choose the more powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor, which boasts a higher clock speed and core count, for an extra $300. Another upgrade is a 2TB SSD (from the stock 1TB) for an extra $50.
The GeForce RTX 5080 GPU will run any game in 4K
Performance-wise, the RTX 5080 is no slouch. It's one of the fastest cards on the market, bested only by the $2,000 RTX 5090 and the discontinued $1,600 RTX 4090. This is a phenomenal card for playing the latest, most demanding games in 4K resolution at high settings and ray tracing enabled. The RTX 5080 supports DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation, which means you can push even more frames out of games that support the technology with minimal visual compromise. Recent games that support it include Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Borderlands 4, Stellar Blade, and Battlefield 6. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review for our hands-on impressions.
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.
More than 30 employees at the GTA developer were fired for sharing confidential information in a public forum. The union says they were just talking to labor organizers.
Ahead of Black Friday, Best Buy has dropped the price on an iBuypower Slate gaming PC equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU TO just $1,649.99 shipped after a $250 instant discount. The 9800X3D is considered to be one of the best gaming processors you can get right now. The Radeon RX 9070 XT an outstanding graphics card that can run the newest and most demanding games in 4K.
iBuypower Slate AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D RX 9070 XT PC for $1650
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Is the Best Gaming CPU
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU for most people. The 9900X3D might be a little bit faster in gaming benchmarks (according to Passmark), but real-world gaming performance is nearly identical and it retails for $120 more. For gamers, the 9800X3D is obviously the better value. It features a max boost clock of 5.2GHz with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache. AMD's X3D processors use 3D-V-Cache technology to outperform its non-X3D counterparts as well as any Intel CPU in games. It doesn't have as many cores as some other modern day CPUs, but keep in mind that most games can't utilize more than eight cores. Check out our AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review.
The Radeon RX 9070 XT Received a 10/10 at IGN
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the only 2025-released GPU that we gave a 10/10 score. Even though it costs $150 less than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, the 9070 XT beats it out in several of the games we tested. In a few benchmarks, the results aren't even close. The 9070 XT approaches the performance of the $1,000 RX 7900 XTX but with better ray tracing and upscaling performance than its predecessor. This is the least expensive graphics card from either AMD or Nvidia that I would comfortably recommend for playing the latest and most demanding games in 4K at 60fps or higher framerates. Check out our AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT review.
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.
OLED TVs are considered the best TVs for gaming, but they can also be very expensive. Fortunately, LG has a B-series OLED lineup that's hundreds of dollars cheaper than its other OLED TVs while still offering incredible image quality and gaming performance. Even better, LG has already discounted one particular TV to "Black Friday pricing". Right now you can pick up the 65" LG B5 4K OLED Smart TV for just $999.99 with free delivery. LG is even offering a free TV wall mount when you add it to the same order. The B5 is a current generation 2025 TV that can play PS5 games to their fullest potential.
Note that Amazon has price matched the TV, however you do not get the wall mount.
65" LG B5 4K OLED Smart TV for $999.99
Free wall mount (must add to the same order)
The LG B5 is equipped with a W-OLED panel that boasts superior image quality compared to non-OLED TVs thanks to its near-infinite contrast ratio, near-instantaneous response times, and ability to produce true blacks. Compared to the LG C-series TVs, it lacks the Evo technology which means it isn't as bright as an more expensive C5 model, however, it's very similar to the previous generation's C4 because the generational performance improvement closes the gap.
The LG B5 is an excellent gaming TV for the PlayStation 5 console because it has a native 120Hz panel and four HDMI 2.1 ports. That means it will properly display games running in 4K resolution at up to 120fps. The LG B5 also supports variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM).
Is the LG B5 OLED TV a good TV for the Nintendo Switch 2?
Despite being a current generation console, the Nintendo Switch 2 has lax TV requirements compared to the PS5 or Xbox Series X. When the Switch is connected to its dock and a television, it is only capable of outputting a 4K resolution signal at up to 60 frames per second. Oddly, it doesn’t even get VRR when docked – that’s reserved for handheld mode only. All that aside, the Switch 2 will still benefit from an OLED TV's overall image quality, just like how the Switch OLED looks better than the original Switch, despite the fact that the screens share similar specs.
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.
Ahead of Black Friday, the official LG Store just dropped the price on a current generation LG OLED TV. Right now you can order a massive 77" LG Evo C5 4K OLED Smart TV for $1,999.99 with free delivery, which also includes your choice of free stand setup or free wall mounting. LG is also offering a free LG S40T 2.1ch soundbar and TV wall mount when you add them to the same order. If you can't wait until Black Friday, this is a great deal on a 2025 OLED TV.
Note that Amazon has price matched the TV, however you do not get the soundbar or wall mount.
77" LG Evo C5 4K OLED Smart TV for $1,999.99
Free LG S40T 2.1ch soundbar and wall mount (must add to the same order)
LG's OLED TVs have been our favorite TVs for console gaming for three years running thanks to their outstanding image quality, low input lag, and high refresh rate. The 2025 C5 uses LG's proprietary Evo panel, which is significantly brighter and offers a wider color gamut than traditional W-OLED TVs. Aside from higher production costs, there's no downside to this technology; the C5 boasts the near-infinite black levels, near-infinite contrast ratio, and near-instantaneous response times you'd expect from any OLED TV This is easily the best TV for streaming 4K HDR content in its intended glory.
The LG C5 has the necessary gaming features as well, including a native 120Hz panel that can be pushed to as high as 144Hz, HDMI 2.1 inputs for running PS5 games in 4K at up to 120fps, variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM). The C5 is also lightweight for its size because the rear cabinet housing is made of a composite fiber; for example, this 65" model weighs only 36 pounds without the stand, making it much easier to wall mount.
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.
The four new phones included in the Pixel 10 lineup are here – and actually, they've gotten their first discounts ahead of Black Friday – so now's your chance to go through the time-honored tradition of buying a new case, because god forbid anyone be able to use their old case with a new device. That’s actually a good thing this year, though, because Google has finally invented MagSafe charging with Pixelsnap, its new marketing term that denotes Qi2 magnetic wireless charging. Rejoice!
The Best Pixel 10 Phone Cases Right Now
Qi2 has been a slow burn when it comes to bringing magnetic wireless charging to Android devices. The first magnetic chargers to actualize the standard began to arrive in late 2023, but only a few Android phones, like the HMD Skyline, have actually supported it out of the box. Samsung has gone halfway there, releasing its Galaxy S25 phones as Qi2 Ready-certified – meaning they’ll get 15W of power delivery wirelessly if you add a Qi2 Ready magnetic case to them.
Thankfully, that’s not the case (ba dum *ch*) with the Pixel 10. Every Pixel 10 phone supports Qi2 wireless charging up to at least 15W, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold gets support for Qi2.2’s max speed of 25W.
1. Google Pixelsnap Cases
Best Pixel 10 Case
Google wasn’t always great at phone cases, but it’s come a long way in the last couple of years. Its silicone cases come in seven colorways, including four options color-matched to the phones themselves. Expect a slim, pleasant fit that doesn’t add too much bulk or heft, along with a soft microfiber lining. And this year, they’re magnetic, so you can get full power out of your Qi2 wireless charger.
They’ll still come with the usual silicone case problems: Specifically, they can be a little sticky. That’s a good thing for keeping the phone securely in-hand, but it’s a pain when it comes to pocketing it on a hot day in your favorite blue jeans. They tend to collect dust and hair, especially as they age.
At $49.99, they’re a little spendy compared to some third-party cases, but if you like Silicone, the Google Pixelsnap cases are probably the best ones you can buy right now.
2. Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold Pixelsnap Case
Best Pixel 10 Pro Fold Case
Last year, Google made some of the best cases for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and I expect that to be no different this year. The first-party case is likely to be the best-fitting, and it’s color-matched to the phones, so you don’t have to worry about coordinating colors so the camera bump isn’t a garish little window.
Otherwise, expect the case to be effectively identical to that of last year’s phones – Qi2 magnetic charging ring included – since Google didn’t really change the chassis this year. That may even mean that, if you’ve got an old Pixel 9 Pro Fold case, you can just re-use that one, at the risk of mismatched colors. But hey, if it saves you the $69.99 Google charges for it, it’s a good way to put off the extra expense after you’ve just spent at least $1,799 for the phone itself.
3. Dbrand Pixel 10 Grip Case
Most Stylish Pixel 10 Case
Dbrand has come out of the gate with its usual slew of stylish cases for the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The cases come in matte black, but are also available with options like a shimmering holographic skin and a couple of prints of the innards, either scanned or X-rayed.
If you used the company’s older Pixel Grip cases, expect more of the same, down to the magnets; only now that Google has named it, they’re Pixelsnap magnets. The one difference, for now at least, is that Dbrand isn’t offering its anti-yellowing Ghost clear case for the standard Pixel 10 series – just the Pro and Pro XL models.
Pricewise, at $59.90, these are spendier than a lot of the options on this list, but the company’s cases tend to fit well and offer decent drop protection. They have chamfered lips, too, to make it more pleasant to interact with the touchscreen than cases with blunt edges.
4. Peak Design Everyday Case
Best Mountable Case
Peak Design doesn’t make your usual smartphone cases. The company, known mainly for its fashionable bags, has a line of phone cases with a modular spin: They connect to a variety of mounts for things like motorcycle and bicycle handlebars and tripods, using Peak Design’s strong, square-shaped magnetic SlimLink connector. They also contain a magnetic ring that lets you use a Qi2 charger with your phone.
The Pixel 10 Everyday case comes in black, green, and brown, and they’re made of either nylon or Clarino vegan leather, which is a microfiber material created from industrial waste. (Don’t worry, it won’t turn you into The Toxic Avenger. Probably.) The lip is lined with a TPU bumper, and it’s got anodized aluminum buttons, which is good – metal buttons are table stakes if you want me to pay $49.95 for a phone case.
The cases aren’t the most expensive, but they’re not exactly cheap either. They’ll run you $49.95 for the basic case or $59.95 for the Pixel 10 Everyday Case Loop, which has a built-in finger loop for a more stable hold. Unfortunately, it looks like the Loop version is only available in brown.
5. Force Air Case with Pixelsnap
Best Clear Case
Google sells a couple of Pixel 10 clear case options via its online store, but the better of the two seems like the Force Air Case with Pixelsnap. I’ve never actually heard of Force, the company that makes it, but there are a couple of reasons I’m giving its case the nod. One is simply price: it’s only $34.99, while the Case Mate option Google also sells is $10 more.
The other is its polycarbonate backing. Dbrand made a lot of noise in 2023 when it created the Ghost Case, a clear case it claimed would never yellow. The main reason isn’t that the company figured out some secret sauce that keeps the TPU from going all piss-colored. It’s that it replaced the back of the phone with polycarbonate, using TPU just for the outer edge.
The Force Air case does the same thing, which probably means the fully clear version’s TPU outer edge will take on a dingy hue eventually. But the company is also offering the case in two other options in which the outer edge is a colored TPU, in blue or black. I’d expect that those two would stay clear, at least for longer than a normal floppy TPU case would.
6. Mous Super Thin Case With Pixelsnap
Best Thin Case
This Mous (pronounced “mouse,” by the way) case is 1.1mm thick, with slightly raised edges that the company says can help protect the phone while saving bulk. It’s also Pixelsnap-compatible, with a built-in magnetic ring for charging the phone or slapping accessories onto. Mous also says it was co-created with Google’s own designers to ensure fit and that the colors match.
Whatever the company did for protection, it’s probably still not as protective as some of the bigger tank-like options out there, but if you’re willing to sacrifice a little peace of mind for a phone that feels better in-hand, Mous has you covered. Plus, at $44.99, it’s a little bit cheaper than most of the cases on this list.
7. Otterbox Defender
Best Rugged Case
Otterbox has a longstanding reputation for high-quality phone cases made of sturdy plastic and rubber, and I’d expect that to be the same for the Pixel 10 series. The company has cases for all of the standard phones – it’s only offering one of its Thin Flex Series cases for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
All of the Defender cases right now are clear, with a rubbery border (black or navy) for outer protection. They’ve got embedded magnets to let you charge the phone or attach magnetic accessories, and they’ve got built-in anchors for adding straps and tchotchkes to your phone. The company says it also offers a free holster that can let you clip your phone to a belt or bag and also serves as a kickstand.
The one thing I’ve never liked about Otterbox cases is really just how the buttons feel although that seems challenging when you’re focused on making the phone as protective as possible. These new cases are spendy, too, costing $69.99 each (or $59.99 for the Thin Flex Pixel 10 Pro Fold case I mentioned).
How to Pick a Google Pixel 10 Case
Choosing the right phone case is easier these days than it used to be, although not necessarily because cases are any better. They are, but phones have also become a lot more durable. Still, they’re an expensive investment, particularly if you’re not going through a wireless provider deal to get them.
If you’re like me and aren’t quite as concerned about adding durability and heft, the right things to consider are ergonomic in nature – is it comfortable to hold? Do the buttons feel good to use? Is the case designed with the minimal bezels of modern touch screens in mind? Looks are key, too. Is it going to ugly up Google’s phones, which are genuinely nice to look at?
And if you’re buying a clear case, consider fit and the possibility that the case will grow yellow with time. TPU is commonly used in these cases and is nice and flexible, but it also takes on a grimy look over time, while straight up plastic is far less malleable and can crack if you drop it. A combo of the two is better, especially if the TPU part is colored. The other thing about clear cases is they like to collect dust. A good fit reduces this, but only so much, so bear in mind you might be compelled to wipe it out every now and then.
If you’re buying a folding phone, your priorities may bend back toward protection, despite the Pixel 10 Pro Fold being IP68-rated, meaning it’s dust and waterproof when it ships. That’s a big win for foldables, which have been particularly vulnerable to dust, but it’s still an inherently vulnerable form factor, thanks to its folding hinge. Look for a case that’s protective yet grippy, and be especially mindful of the bumper around the front-facing outer screen, as that’s the most challenging piece to get right and is often so floppy you might as well not bother using it, because it’ll just keep falling off.
Wes is a freelance writer (Freelance Wes, they call him) who has covered technology, gaming, and entertainment steadily since 2020 at Gizmodo, Tom's Hardware, Hardcore Gamer, and most recently, The Verge. Inside of him there are two wolves: one that thinks it wouldn't be so bad to start collecting game consoles again, and the other who also thinks this, but more strongly.
Best Buy is offering a great deal on a powerful gaming laptop ahead of Black Friday. For this week only, you can pick up the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16s GeForce RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop for just $1,599.99 with free delivery after a $300 instant discount. This is a well-equipped laptop, boasting a gorgeous 16" 240Hz OLED display and a high-end Intel Core Ultra 9 HX series processor. The RTX 5070 Ti is a powerful mobile GPU that can run any game you throw at it.
Acer Predator Helios Neo RTX 5070 Ti Laptop for $1,599.99
The Acer Predator Helios Neo is a mid to high-end laptop featuring powerful components at a no-nonsense price. Build quality and materials is good with a solid aluminum top lid and a plastic composite bottom chassis. This particular configuration is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB of DDR5-6400MHz RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Both the RAM and SSD are user-upgradeable. The gorgeous 16" OLED display features a 2.5K 189ppi resolution, 0.2ms response time, 240Hz refresh rate, HDR 500 True Black certification, and 100% DCI-P3 color space. Connectivity options include both Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1 ports and an ethernet port.
The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a top performing CPU
The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor has 24 cores and a max turbo frequency of 5.4GHz. This is the second most powerful Intel mobile CPU currently available (the Ultra 9 285HX has a slightly higher clock speed) and goes toe to toe with AMD's flagship Ryzen 9 9955HX processor. This is an excellent CPU to pair with a powerful GPU like the 5070 Ti.
The GeForce RTX 5070 Ti mobile GPU can handle the most demanding games
The RTX 5070 Ti mobile GPU is comparable in performance to the previous generation's RTX 4080 and pulls ahead of it in games that support DLSS 4. It should be able to handle even the newest and most demanding games like Ghost of Yotei, Battlefield 6, and Borderlands 4 on the native 2560x1600 resolution.
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.
Russo, meet Rambo. Anthony and Joe Russo’s AGBO will produce John Rambo, the upcoming prequel-reboot of the iconic action franchise that Noah Centineo (Black Adam, The Recruit) is in final negotiations to star in.
AGBO will produce John Rambo in association with Lionsgate and Millennium Media, Lionsgate announced Wednesday. The Russo Brothers themselves will serve as executive producers.
Sisu’s Jalmari Helander will direct the movie from a screenplay by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani (The Mauritanian, Black Adam). Angela Russo-Otstot and Michael Disco will produce for AGBO, alongside Kevin King Templeton, Les Weldon, and Jonathan Yunger for Millennium Media.
“Set during the Vietnam War and filming in Thailand, John Rambo will explore the formative experiences that shaped one of cinema’s most memorable action heroes,” according to the official announcement.
Production on John Rambo is expected to begin in early 2026.
“Rambo is one of the most enduring and iconic figures in action cinema and exploring the origins of that mythology is an incredibly exciting opportunity,” said Angela Russo-Otstot, Chief Creative Officer, AGBO.
“Everyone knows John Rambo is a relentless force of nature, but what truly distinguishes him are his principles, his code, his unerring sense of what’s right, and his willingness to risk everything to defend it. Jalmari brings the raw action and emotional depth needed to pay homage to this legendary character. We’re thrilled to collaborate with our partners at Lionsgate and Millennium to support his vision and introduce a new generation to Rambo.”
Charlotte Koh, Executive Vice President , Acquisitions & Co-Productions Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said: “Combining our longstanding partnership with Millennium Media with AGBO's groundbreaking body of work and Jalmari’s singularly visceral directing talent, we are confident that John Rambo will be an event film that is a must-see for action fans.”
The character of John J. Rambo was created by author David Morrell for his 1972 novel First Blood. Morrell blasted Rambo: Last Blood when it came out, posting on social media at the time: "The film is a mess. Embarrassed to have my name associated with it."
Holy pizza, they're making an Overcooked reality TV show at last.
This news dropped today from Deadline, which reports that the series is in the works for Netflix from A24. This would be A24's first reality series.
The reality show is supposedly an unscripted format along the same lines as Nailed It! and Floor Is Lava, and will feature kitchen challenges with a bent toward the kind of chaos you might see in the Overcooked video game. You know, trying to cook meals in the beds of two moving trucks, for instance. Probably. I'm sure.
The show is in the early stages and is being produced by Gemma Langford, Oli De-Vine, and Phil Duncan, all members of developer Ghost Town Games.
Overcooked first released in 2016, as an up-to-four-player cooperative game where players try to complete cooking tasks to build orders to meet customer requests, all while dealing with various kitchen obstacles. It's a fun, chaotic time that we gave an 8.4/10 back in 2017 when its Nintendo Switch port first arrived. As our reviewer said then, "Overcooked is one of the freshest couch co-op games I’ve ever played. It’s a perfect blend of strategy and chaos, asking you and your teammates to think on your feet as its smart and strange levels do everything they possibly can to make sure you are shouting at each other."
The "All You Can Eat" version of Overcooked, which includes both Overcooked and its sequel, Overcooked 2, online play, and all DLC, launched back in 2021.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Black Friday deals season is fast approaching. It's the biggest shopping holiday of the year and overall the best time to find discounts on just about everything. If you're hoping to save some money on gifts and essentials in 2025, this upcoming sales event is your best bet.
With that in mind, Black Friday has evolved well beyond a single day of deals. While plenty of shoppers still tend to do the bulk of their actual shopping over Thanksgiving weekend, you will definitely be able to find good deals well before then. Best Buy has has already launched its early Black Friday sale, so you don't even need to wait.
When Do Black Friday Sales Actually Start?
Black Friday is November 28 this year, but we expect most sales to drop much earlier than that. Based on last year, we expect all of the major online retailers to start offering "early" Black Friday disounts at the beginning of November or on Halloween and continue through the week before Thanksgiving. Right after that, the "official" Black Friday sales start going live.
Best Buy was the first retailer to reveal its sale dates for 2025, and it looks like its Black Friday sales will start on Thursday, November 20 this year. Amazon was one of the first retailers to kick off the sale last year on the Thursday before Thanksgiving weekend, and it would seem that trend has caught on for 2025. Amazon will almost certainly match Best Buy's sale start time. Costco has also announced that part of its sale will begin on November 17 this year with more deals arriving online on Thanksgiving.
You'll be able to do most of your online Black Friday shopping the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Best Buy, Costco, Target, and Walmart have all made an announcement about sale dates, so it's probably safe to say that you'll be able to do most of your online Black Friday shopping the weekend before Thanksgiving in 2025. For many brick-and-mortar stores, you may be able to expect the full discounts even earlier. Some sales will still only take place on actual Black Friday, like at the LEGO Store, but for the most part the discounts will start ahead of then.
What Deals to Expect From Major Retailers
With the ongoing tariffs and recent price increases in the U.S., it's difficult to predict exactly what discounts we'll see during the 2025 Black Friday season. The IGN Deals team has been covering shopping events all year and we have a decent idea of what you can expect, even if the prices will be higher than what we saw last year.
Amazon Black Friday
Amazon has one of the biggest Black Friday sales every year and tends to have discounts on just about everything. Based on previous Amazon sales like Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days, you can expect the same discounts on Amazon devices we saw earlier this year. The lowest prices will most likely be on Kindles and Fire TV sticks, as well as Echo speaker bundles. Amazon has also been pushing a pretty steep discount on the Luna controller and subsequent bundles during every major sale this year. These particular discounts will most likely be exclusive to Prime members.
Outside of Amazon devices, the online retailer will also automatically match prices on popular products that are offered at other retailers. That means you can expect discounts on things like Apple devices, LEGO sets, laptops, TVs, and just about every other brand not exclusively owned by another major retailer. Amazon's Black Friday sale will usually be offering the same low price (or lower) as any of its competitors for these types of items.
After Amazon, the next biggest Black Friday sale you can expect is at Walmart. These discounts will be both in store and online, but the online savings should start a bit earlier. Walmart usually has some of the best deals on Apple devices like iPad and AirPods. You'll usually also find some of the lowest prices of the year on Walmart-exclusive products like Onn electronics, select Vizio TVs, some gaming PC configurations (see: the recent GeForce sale), and certain home appliances.
In the past, Walmart has also had some great Nintendo Switch deals that Amazon wasn't able to offer. We'd expect to see this again this year, most likely on newer Switch 2 games or Pokémon cards. Expect some of these discounts to be available early for Walmart+ members, which has been the case for other major sales this year.
In addition to popular tech and games, Walmart also tends to have deals on groceries, clothing, and toys. Walmart has been especially known to offer particularly good LEGO discounts, but stock tends to be fairly limited.
The Best Buy Black Friday sale is usually the best collection of tech deals during the holiday season. Many of these discounts will be price-matched by Amazon and Walmart, but it will still likely have all of the same Apple devices, TVs, and video games on sale as everywhere else. You can also likely expect some sort of video game console deal on the PS5/PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X. With the continued price increases, this could just mean getting a free Best Buy gift card with your purchase, but it will still be a better deal than paying full price with no additional benefits.
In addition to consoles, video games, and video game accessories, Best Buy also tends to be one of the best places to buy handheld gaming PCs and laptops. With the recent release of the ROG Xbox Ally X, Best Buy has been the only retailer to keep stock. You can likely expect price cuts on the previous generation ROG Ally devices at Best Buy this year, as well as other popular handhelds. We also expect competitive pricing around newer laptops with the latest 50-series GPUs.
For more information on what to expect, check out the Best Buy Black Friday ad from last year. Best Buy has stated that it will have new doorbuster deals dropping every friday starting on Halloween this year, so expect the deals to arrive early.
Target Black Friday
The Target Black Friday sale is usually pretty similar to Walmart's Black Friday sale every year. Expect similar discounts on video games, toys, Apple products, and appliances that you'll find everywhere else. Where Target tends to differentiate from competitors in its exclusives. The retailer has partnered with a bunch of different home brands and is usually the only place you'll be able to buy those items at a discount during Black Friday shopping season. This makes it a great place to do your shopping if you're planning on buying any decor upgrades for your home.
Target has also been consistently offering some unique discounts on select toys that Amazon hasn't been able to price match. The most recent example is a LEGO sale on new 2025 sets. Amazon did match prices on a few of the sets, but not all of them. We'd expect this to happen on Black Friday too, so you'll need to check prices between retailers on the more popular toy items.
For more information on what to expect this year, check out the Target Black Friday ad from last year. Target has announced an early Black Friday sale for November 6-8 this year and it's larger official sale will begin on Thanksgiving.
Costco Black Friday
Costco is a bit of a wildcard during the Black Friday season as it offers deals on pretty much everthing. For 2025, the full Costco Black Friday schedule has already been revealed and you can already see what deals to expect. Included in the holiday booklet there steep discounts on furniture, jewelry, and electronics. The same discounts you find at Amazon for select TVs and video games will likely also be available at Costco even if they aren't featured in the ad. You can also expect steeper warehouse discounts, like on the Kirkland Signature jewelry or various furniture items that are only featured for a limited time.
In addition to things like toys, gifts, and household items, Costco usually has some pretty decent grocery deals during the holiday season. You can usually find these ahead of Thanksgiving on things like turkey, snacks, and various other items. You will still need to buy in bulk, but the stacked savings on top of that are usually worth it.
For more information on what to expect this year, check out the expansive Costco Black Friday ad for 2025.
Other major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, and Target will all have discounts on furniture as part of their Black Friday sales. But the overall largest discounts on furniture will be at Wayfair during this time. Wayfair consistently has the best furniture deals anywhere during the holiday season and you should be able to find a good deal on just about everything you can purchase for your home.
As for what specific discounts to expect, we can check out the Wayfair early Black Friday sale to get a better idea. On average you can save around 50% on chairs, tables, rugs, decor, and even pool tables. These discounts will sometimes be locked to a specific color or material type, and sometimes you'll be able to find steeper discounts on overtock items if you dig deep enough. The early access sale is happening right now through November 10 and we expect the main Black Friday sale to replace that with more deals sometime before Thanksgiving.
eBay Black Friday
eBay is still the Wild West when it comes to tracking down deals. There are plenty of bargains to be found, but a fair amount of research is required to be able to identify them from the other listings masquerading as deals. Most deals won't be discounted during Black Friday, however eBay will likely offer a sitewide coupon code - typically anywhere between 15% and 30% off - that will work on thousands of items from tech, apparel, sporting goods, home improvement, and more. General eBay codes will always be advertised on eBay's Deals page. Currently eBay is offering a 20% off coupon code "TECH4THEM" that works on over 2,500 refurbished items including the Meta Quest 3 and LG Evo C5 OLED TVs.
Barnes & Noble
Although Barnes & Noble doesn't offer the same level of deals as a retailer like Amazon, it's still one of the best places to buy books and toys during Black Friday season. It's also pretty easy to predict what Barnes & Noble's Black Friday sale will look like because it's always fairly similar. You can expect 50% off select books and Blu-rays as well as some surprisingly good deals on LEGO sets. There's also a pretty decent gift card deal going on already that gets you $10 of credt for every $100 you spend on gift cards.
The real question is what books and toys will actually be included in those sales. You can take a look at last year's Barnes & Noble Black Friday sale for an idea of what to expect in 2025.
What to Buy on Black Friday This Year
Black Friday is the best time to buy most things online or in stores, but there are some items that get significantly bigger discounts during this time. If you're looking to save as much money as possible during Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year, here a few product categories that we expect will massive discounts this year.
TVs and Monitors
The best time to buy a TV or a new gaming monitor is without a doubt Black Friday season. This has been the case since Black Friday first became a thing and will long continue to be a trend we see repeated in the years to come. There are cheap TVs and monitors available pretty much year-round, but it's during this time of year that we see the steepest discounts on newer models. The popular LG C-Series TVs, for example, have already started dropping in price ahead of November. Many of these brands are not affectd by U.S. tariffs as well, so we likely won't see the same markup we're seeing on other products this year.
Video Game Consoles
While you shouldn't expect discounts on the new Nintendo Switch 2, both PS5 and Xbox consoles will most likely be getting discounts this year. Costco has already confirmed a price cut on the PlayStation Slim console, which means November is for sure going to be the best time to buy to buy a PS5. These prices cuts aren't as steep as previous years, but they are notable due to consoles seeing price increases this year.
Outside of consoles themselves, Black Friday's also a great time to pick up any accessories. We're already seeing early price drops on the DualSense Edge controller as well as a spread of Xbox controllers.
And, of course, this is one of the best times to find discounts on games. This is especially true if you're looking to buy actual physical games as Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart will all have some sort of sale worth checking out. GameStop usually has a pretty good Black Friday sale as well. Expect popular titles to drop below $30 for the first time and $10 discounts on recently released games in some cases.
Toys and LEGO Sets
Due to its proximity to Christmas, Black Friday is undoubtedly the best time to buy LEGO sets and other toys. In all of the previews we have gotten so far (from Walmart and Costco), toys heavily featured in those discounts. That doesn't necessarily mean every type of toy or LEGO set will get discounted, but you can expect to see price cuts on items that haven't gone on sale all year during this time.
Apple Products
Although Apple does usually offer some sort of Black Friday promotion every year, but it's the other retailers that tend to have the best discounts. Black Friday is always the best time to buy a new iPad, AirPods, Apple Watches, and pretty much all other iOS accessories. Major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy will all be competing for the lowest price on the latest devices and we usually see the lowest prices all year on the latest Apple releases. This season is also a generally good time to buy an iPhone as most carriers will start offering their holiday promotions in November for the new iPhone 17 models.
Gaming Laptops and PCs
Black Friday has always been one of the best times to buy a new gaming PC or laptop. In 2025 this is especially true as we're finally starting to see the first discounts on prebuilt machines with 50-series GPUs included. Major retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart will usually have at least one really good deal over the holiday weekend worth checking out. You can also expect significant discounts direct from manufacturers like Dell, Lenovo, and HP that are just as good if not better than what we've seen all year long.
Phones
Black Friday is by far the best time to buy a new phone. This is mostly because we see all of the biggest discounts around this time, but it's also thanks to the release schedules of new phones. Both Google and Apple launch their new flagship phones in the fall and it's around November that we start seeing prices drop on new and previous generation phones.
If you're looking for deals on unlocked phones, some of those discounts have already begun. You can already get a great deal on a Google Pixel 10 smartphone at Amazon right now. We also expect the Samsung Galaxy phones to get similar discount later in the season.
Books, Comics, and Manga
Any physical media collectors will definitely have a great opportunity to stock their shelves during Black Friday. Amazon often runs BOGO or '3 for 2' promotions on books, movies, and even board games. The 3 for 2 sale popped up last Black Friday and returned more recently during the retailer’s October Prime Day. It’s very likely we see some variation on it toward the end of November, which is a great opportunity to scoop up individual books as well as box sets and special editions.
If you're on the e-reader wave, Kindle Unlimited, a solid platforms for comics, will have some form of promotion. Audible, the audiobook haven, has already launched a "three months for $3" deal that will last through December. Otherwise, individual physical media deals will pop up across more tailored retailers like Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million. Expect price drops on classics as well as the newest book releases.
Streaming Services
Regardless of what streaming services you're subscribed to, I'm willing to bet you encountered a price hike at one point or another in 2025. To cut down on subscription costs, I recommend stocking up whenever there's a discount. One of the only guaranteed times to see streaming discounts is Black Friday.
Black Friday is the best time to buy pretty much everything, but that doesn't mean everything will go on sale. There are some products that won't see any discounts at all simply because they are too new or demand is just too high. This is particularly true when it comes to things like tech and popular toys. For example Nintendo just launched the Switch 2 this year and there's very little chance we'll see any Black Friday deals on the new console outside of bundles that already exist. The same thing goes for the recently released Xbox Ally X, which has very little chance of receiving a discount so soon after launch.
When it comes to toys, don't expect discount on anything that has come out in the last few months. This is especially true for new LEGO releases as we usually don't see discounts on those until six months or more after the initial release date.
Tips for Black Friday Shopping Online
It may seem silly to start planning your Black Friday shopping right now, but doing so can help you save a lot of money when it comes time to actually start making purchases. Here are a few Black Friday tips that you should consider ahead of the event:
Set a Budget – Keeping track of how much money you can actually spend is important to avoid overspending. When everything is on sale, it can be easy to buy more than you really should just because things are at their lowest price of the year.
Create a Shopping List – Knowing exactly what you're trying to find discounts on is a great way to avoid making unnecessary purchases. It can also make it easier for you to compare prices between retailers or set price drop alerts ahead of time.
Compare Prices – Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart make it really easy to do all of your shopping there. That being said, those retailers don't always have the best price on the items you're looking for. Make sure to compare prices across the web before you buy something for more than you have to.
Research Before You Buy – If you're making an expensive purchase, make sure you do at least some research before you buy it. This means looking for independent reviews or testimony from trusted sources about those products. You shouldn't necessarily trust Amazon reviews, for example.
Be Wary of Search Results and AI Summaries - Search platforms, such as Google, have a tendency to be flooded with sponsored links in the results as well as AI summaries that are potentially biased. Be careful to avoid clicking on a sponsored ad if you're looking for reviews or searching for specific products by price.
AliExpress is known for being one of the best online shops to pick up a 3D printer at the lowest possible price. I'm not talking about obscure, unvetted models. Some of the most popular 3D printer brands, including Creality (arguably the most well-known), Anycubic, and Flashforge, have official storefronts that carry some or all of their product lineup.
Below, I've picked out the best deals on 3D printers that are well-reviewed; the entry-level models are a great choice for anyone just starting out and not ready to invest a ton of money, and the higher-end models have all the features a seasoned professional could ask for, but without the exorbitant price tag. With coupons applied, you can pick up a fully-assembled 3D printer for as low as $170. All of the printers I've recommended below are sold by the manufacturer and ship locally for free from the United States. Plus, most orders will arrive within one to two weeks.
3D Printer Deals on AliExpress
Flashforge Adventurer 5M CoreXY 3D Printer
Looking for the absolute lowest price on a 3D printer? Look no further. The Flashforge Adventurer 5M is down to well under $200 with coupon. That's impressive considering it's a CoreXY printer, which is a more stasble type of 3D printer that usually costs more than your average 3D printer.
TL;DR:
Open chamber 8.7" cubed working space
CoreXY 3D printer (more stable than other types)
600mm/s print speed with 20,000mm/s² acceleration
Auto leveling and vibration compensation
Easy assembly
Anycubic Kobra 3 Multi-Filament 3D Printer Combo
The Kobra 3 is Anycubic's entry level 3D printer with plenty of features that make it an outstanding value given it's sub-$300 price point. Even more impressive is the fact that this combo includes the Ace Pro multi-filament module that allows you to print objects with multiple colors instead of just one. The module usually sells for over $200 by itself.
TL;DR:
Open chamber 9.8" cubed working space
600mm/s print speed with 20,000mm/s² acceleration
Built-in camera for remote monitoring
Includes Ace Pro multi-filament printing module
Automatic filament switching
Auto leveling and vibration compensation
Easy assembly
Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro CoreXY Enclosed 3D Printer
The Flashforge Adventure 5M Pro is essentially a closed chamber version of the 5M with a built-in camera for remote monitoring. A closed chamber provides a more stable workbench environment, especially if you utilize the dual layer filtration system with both HEPA and carbon air filters. The benefits include a consistent temperature that allows you to use more types of filament materials, reduction of foreign contamination, lower noise, and fume containment.
TL;DR:
Closed chamber 8.7" cubed working space
CoreXY 3D printer (more stable than other types)
600mm/s print speed with 20,000mm/s² acceleration
Built-in camera for remote monitoring
Auto leveling and vibration compensation
Easy assembly
Flashforge AD5X CoreXY Multi-Filament 3D Printer
The AD5X is the Flashforge printer you want if you're looking for multi-filament (multi-color printing). Although it features an open chamber by default, you can purchase a kit that can turn it into a closed chamber setup.
TL;DR:
Open chamber 8.7" cubed working space
CoreXY 3D printer (more stable than other types)
600mm/s print speed with 20,000mm/s² acceleration
Includes multi-filament printing module
Automatic filament switching
Auto leveling and vibration compensation
Easy assembly
Creality K1C CoreXY Enclosed 3D Printer
Creality is one of the most well-regarded 3D printer brands on the market and it also happens to have an official storefront on AliExpress. Creality's K1C printer is the 2024 successor to the venerable K1 model. Upgrades include an tri-metal unicorn nozzle, clog-free metal extruder, a built-in AI camera for remote monitoring, and wider material compatibility including carbon fiber printing.
TL;DR:
Closed chamber 8.7"x8.7"x9.8" working space
CoreXY 3D printer (more stable than other types)
600mm/s print speed with 20,000mm/s² acceleration
Built-in camera for remote monitoring
Auto leveling and vibration compensation
Easy assembly
Anycubic Kobra S1 CoreXY Enclosed Multi-Filament 3D Printer
If you really want to step up your game, Anycubic's Kobra S1 is a rather huge upgrade from its entry level Kobra series. For starters, it's equipped with a CoreXY structure and features a closed chamber setup for consistent, predictable, and higher quality results. And if you want to create 3D prints with mulitple colors, don't worry because the combo includes the Ace Pro multi-filament module, which conveniently sits atop the 3D printer itself to conserve space.
TL;DR:
Closed chamber 9.8" cubed working space
CoreXY 3D printer (more stable than other types)
600mm/s print speed with 20,000mm/s² acceleration
Built-in camera for remote monitoring
Includes Ace Pro multi-filament printing module
Automatic filament switching
Auto leveling and vibration compensation
Easy assembly
Need more printer filament?
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.
KPop Demon Hunters is, unshockingly, getting a sequel. But it's going to take a bit of time to make, so you're not going to see it until 2029.
This news comes from Variety, following reports earlier this year that KPop Demon Hunters would in fact be getting sequels (plural). According to Variety, Netflix and Sony have finalized a deal for the direct sequel, but animated movies simply take a long time to make.
It's no surprise that KPop Demon Hunters has garnered this much support for follow-ups. The film is literally the most popular thing Netflix has ever put out, even beating out Squid Game's first season, Wednesday, and Stranger Things. Despite releasing all the way back in June, it remained the second most-popular movie to watch on Netflix last week (ending 11/2, behind House of Dynamite) and has spent 20 weeks in a row in Netflix's top 10, usually in the first or second spot. 14 million people watched it last week alone. Yeah, I'd be hustling to get a sequel made, too.
If you somehow haven't watched it yet, KPop Demon Hunters is a Sony Pictures Animation film following Korean pop band Huntrix, a trio who moonlight as, demon hunters battling against an evil demon king intent on devouring humanity. In our 8/10 review, we called it "a stunning animated action musical with terrific fight sequences, catchy musical numbers, and an ample amount of harmony and heart."
Though past reporting has suggested a live-action remake might be in the works, creator Maggie Kang has since said that the series is best-suited to animation, saying that it's "really hard to imagine these characters in a live action world."
KPop Demon Hunters is available to stream on Netflix now, both in regular and singalong formats.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
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