Technologies

Tempted by Black Friday Deals? Don’t Buy These Gifts Without Reading This

Whether you’re thinking about buying a smartwatch or a tablet this Black Friday, there are a few ground rules you should know first.

It’s not quite Black Friday yet, but deals are already in full swing, with sales on the AirPods 3, Echo Dot and Hue smart bulb bundle, Google Pixel 6A and so many other items like video doorbells and bluetooth speakers.

But before buying any tech toy you plan to give as a gift, it’s our job to make sure you’ve thought through all the angles, so that your present doesn’t turn into an accidental burden.

Unlike a TikTok-approved hot air brush or clothing from Carhartt, tech gifts add another dimension of reward and usability, but they also introduce issues ranging from privacy and security to old-fashioned compatibility. And that could become an issue for whoever you’re gifting to.

Here’s what you need to know before you buy certain tech gifts — and we’re not talking about the gift receipt.

Beware of extras someone else will have to buy

Nomatter what type of device you end up buying as a gift, keep any extraaccessories it may require in mind. Ask yourself — or the salesperson— if the device is ready to use right out of the box.

For example, if you buy color-changing bulbs like Hue or Wyze, do they require a hub to get them to work? If it’s a phoneor tablet, does it make sense to also give a case, or to let yourfriend or loved one pick one out later? Many phones have ditched the headphonejack, so a dongle to go from a USB-C or Lightning plug to a 3.5mm audioconnection may be needed if you know your recipient has wired headphones or accessories they love.

Another aspect to consider is if your giftee will need to replace stuff they already have. Maybe that new phone requires a different kind of charging cable than what they already use. It may not be your responsibility to replace that, but be aware that your gift could have ripple effects.

More examples to heed: For a Roomba,extra brushes, filters or virtual barriers are going to be items yourloved one will eventually need. Odds are, if you gift a smart speaker,which also doubles as a voice-activated speaker for streaming music, agift card for a subscription to Spotify or Pandora will also be appreciated.

Don’t buy gifts that clash with what they already have

You may have to be crafty about finding out what your friend or family member does or doesn’t already have, but it could make all the difference between a thoughtful gift they can start using right away or one they may need to swap, if integrating it into their life becomes troublesome.

You wouldn’t want to get an Apple Watch for a friend who uses an Android phone (use would be extremely limited) and an all-Apple household probably won’t appreciate the latest Amazon Echo, even if it does have cool new features.

Wireless earbuds are usually a safe bet, and smartwatches (outside of the Apple Watch) generally work with any type of smartphone. Streaming devices like Roku or Fire TV typically work with any TV, as well (just make sure they don’t already have a Roku-enabled TV).

We don’t mean to frighten you, just do what you can to suss out the situation first and of course include a gift receipt so your giftee can make a gift-free exchange if it comes to it. If you have a general idea of what kind of device (or devices) the giftee already uses around the house, here are more specific angles to consider when giving smart home gifts.

If you’re buying a phone as a gift…

If you’re buying someone a phone, the most important thing to consider is making sure the device will work with their wireless carrier of choice.Wireless providers use different technology that can prevent phonesfrom working across competitors’ networks. The last thing you want to dois buy a phone that only works on Verizon Wireless for someone who’s entrenched in T-Mobile.

Eitherask the gift recipient which wireless carrier they use or considerbuying an unlocked phone. Many phone-makers offer an unlocked versionthat will work on almost all wireless carriers. Just know that not everycarrier feature might work, like Wi-Fi calling, which is tuned tospecific networks. This gift is all about the gesture, but it helps to know your audience.

Watch out for privacy red flags

Someproducts have privacy and security implications. Even if you’re OK withhaving a Google Nest speaker and its always-on microphone in your home, yourgiftee might not be as comfortable with the idea. Westore a lot of information on our phones and gadgets. Privateinformation such as banking info, frequently visited locations, ourcurrent location, photos and conversations are all things we blindlytrust our devices with.

At the least, you should take note of companies such as Meta or Amazon, which are constantly surrounded by privacy questions and concerns, if you’re considering buying the Quest 2 or the latest Ring Video Doorbell 4 as a gift.

If you’re looking at a product from a company you’ve never heard of, or even for companies you have, a quick Google search is in order. Looking up «Meta/Facebook privacy issues,» for example, should surface any red flags.

Know how long a company will support its product

Routinesoftware updates are an important part of owning a tech product. Notonly do updates make a product better over time but they can fix andimprove the security of a device.

As such, it’s important to haveconfidence that companies are going to continue to support a devicethrough updates, especially when security issues are discovered (as theyoften are).

If you’re shopping for a phone, the Apple iPhone and Google Pixel receive consistent and timely updates. Outside of Google’s own phones, Samsung has a good track record for consistent updates to its Android phones, as do the OnePlus phones.

Software updates for smart speakers and streaming devices such as a Chromecast or Apple TV are handled in the background, without you ever knowing. That’s ideal for those who aren’t all that tech-savvy.

It’s a good idea to look into how long a company promises to support a product with software updates after its release.

Finally, there are bound to be many great deals and promotions this shopping season, especially around Black Friday.Don’t be swayed by a deal on a product that seems too good to be true.If the product is discontinued (or soon-to-be), your gift could end upbecoming an expensive paperweight. Again, Google is your friend when itcomes to learning more about a product and its future.

Make sure you grab the right model

Evenif you’re handed a list with a specific gadget gift idea, make sure you’re getting the right model. Many look and sound the same.

For example, the Nintendo Switch comes in three versions: the original ($300 full retail price), OLED ($350 retail) and Lite($200 retail). If you’re opting for the Lite — the least expensive version —you should know that it doesn’t come with Joy-Con controllers, not allgames are compatible with it and it doesn’t feature TV or tabletop mode.And while you could swing for the fences with the OLED model (whichcomes with a 7-inch touchscreen, 64GB of storage and abuilt-in wired LAN port), the original still packs a punch and comeswith many of the features the Lite is missing.

Thesame can be said for products that were released earlier in the yearand are likely to be upgraded and replaced shortly after the holidays.Take some time, do your research and make an educated choice.

Still not sure where to start? Here are the best phones of 2022, along with our 2022 Black Friday cheat sheet that includes items for different budgets and gifts for different kinds of people. Youcan also check out our favorite selections for popular products likesmart speakers, tablets and laptops.

Technologies

Southwest Airlines Says You Can’t Use Portable Chargers Inside Your Bags

There’s a new airline safety rule for everyone’s favorite travel tech because of the risk of fire.

Southwest Airlines is implementing a new safety policy, effective May 28, requiring passengers to keep portable phone chargers and power banks visible during flights when you’re charging a device. The airline will prohibit the use of these devices while they’re stored in carry-on bags or overhead bins, aiming to mitigate the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.

This policy change comes in response to a series of incidents involving overheating lithium-ion batteries. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there have been 22 battery-related incidents on flights in 2025 alone, following a record 89 such events in 2024. Notably, a fire aboard an Air Busan flight in South Korea in January — suspected to have been caused by a power bank with deteriorated insulation — led to the evacuation of 176 people, including passengers and crew.

Read more: The Best Way to Pack Your Carry-On Bag to Breeze Through TSA Lines

While the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration currently allow lithium-powered devices, like e-cigarettes and power banks, in carry-on luggage but prohibit them in checked bags, they do not mandate that portable chargers be kept in plain sight. Southwest’s new policy goes a step further, aligning with practices already adopted by some Asia-based carriers, including Singapore Airlines, AirAsia and all South Korean airlines, according to Reuters.

This move by Southwest Airlines reflects a growing concern in the aviation industry regarding the safe transport and use of lithium-ion batteries on aircraft. Passengers are encouraged to stay informed about airline policies and to handle electronic devices with care to ensure a safe travel experience.

«Southwest will introduce a first-in-industry safety policy on May 28 requiring customers to keep portable charging devices visible while in use during flight,» Southwest Airlines confirmed in a statement to CNET via email. «Using portable charging devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees.»

For more travel-related articles, explore these travel essentials you need for every vacation and then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also read about the new Real ID requirement for getting through airport security.

Technologies

Walmart Says Tariffs Will Drive Up Prices but Avoid Panic-Buying. Do This Instead

Technologies

Sega’s Re-Released Games for Switch 2 Include Yakuza 0 and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S

The first of Sega’s third-party games to hit the console are re-releases from consoles past.

As the Nintendo Switch 2 prepares to launch, its list of third-party games grows, including a trio of Sega and Atlus games that include classics and deep cuts. I got to play all three ahead of the Switch 2 release on June 5.

The three games — Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S and RAIDOU Remastered — are odd bedfellows that represent distinct eras and genres among Sega’s oeuvre. All three play well on the Switch 2, which is unsurprising given the console’s rumored PS4-equivalent performance but still reassuring given the original Switch’s limited capability.

Yakuza 0 is the marquee title of the trio for its role in the series — a prequel to the original Yakuza and de facto entry point for new players that details the origins of fan favorites Kazuma Kiryu and Daigo Dojima. In addition to the story, Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut includes a new mode, Red Light Raid, that lets you pick a character from a roster of Yakuza heroes and nobodies to brawl with successively harder rounds of enemy groups.

While dated compared with the sharp combat and graphics of the latest in the series, February’s Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Yakuza 0 is still a fantastic game and great to have on the new console. I only played it in docked mode, so I can’t say how the game plays in handheld with a 1080p and 120 frames per second display graphics cap.

Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a deeper cut, the third game in the Devil Summoner series within the Megami Tensei franchise, which was originally released for the PS2 in 2006. Though the game has been refreshed for modern consoles (the game will also be out on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and last-gen systems), it preserves the charm of the era’s games — one where very little is explained and players have to figure it out for themselves. (I had to have a certain solution to a puzzle spelled out for me.)

Starring the eponymous Raidou as a detective assisted by demons he captures and can use to investigate denizens of his town or summon for battle in real-time combat, the game is a little slower and less dense than today’s graphically-intense titles.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is the opposite — a contemporary puzzle game first released in 2020 for current and last-gen consoles, the re-release preserves the bright colors and frantic gameplay with a few new multiplayer modes. In our preview, Sega paired up gamers for 2-vs-2 puzzler matches where we tried to stay out of each other’s way while clearing lines. For Switch 2, players can switch from Joy-Con mode to Mouse mode, which is precise enough but adds to the frenetic tension.