My phone pings constantly from where it’s plugged in across the room. But I’ve got my Galaxy Watch 4 on my wrist, so I can check to see who’s pinging me, which app the notifications are from, and whether it’s important enough to merit my standing up and walking the dozen or so steps to unplug my phone and look, or just respond on my smartwatch (or swipe the notification away).

Smartwatches are becoming more an more an essential tech item, but most people don’t need the latest and greatest version to get what they need out of it. One of the best ways to buy a thoughtful tech gift without spending too much money? Choose a previous version of a current device, especially if the earlier model offers everything they need. So if you’re searching for a cool gift for someone (or yourself), might I suggest my favorite smartwatch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4? Thanks to Walmart’s Memorial Day deals — its answer to Amazon’s Memorial Day Sale — the 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is only $99 right now.

Why I love the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

Sure, it’s not the latest model of the Samsung Watch. That would be the Galaxy Watch 7 or Galaxy Watch Ultra. But it still has all the main features, including ECG, blood pressure monitoring, sleep monitoring, Google integration for most things and Samsung Health.

I’m not a fitness fanatic, so I don’t need all the latest tracking features or even the improved battery life and bigger screen size of the Watch 7, which has a list price of $300, but is going for just $209 right now if you do want the upgrade. The Galaxy Watch 4 has the fitness tracking I need without being overly complex. (Though it has advanced workout tracking for six modes including running, rowing and swimming, if you like those auto-detected tracking features.) For everyday use, I can check all my notifications and respond, take hands-free calls, track sleep and skip between songs when listening in Spotify. Oh, and check the time.

If you’re looking for a wearable, it’s the one I’d recommend checking out before looking into the latest version of the Galaxy Watch series. One caveat: Some people have complained that their battery is depleting quickly lately. Samsung has advice on how to run a diagnostic on your watch and remedy the issue.

Impulse Buys Under $25 That Make Surprisingly Great Gifts

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Why the Galaxy Watch 4 makes a fun gift

The Galaxy Watch 4 isn’t going to be a gift you give to the tech enthusiast in your family, or an Apple fan, but it’s perfect for anyone who wants a smartwatch but doesn’t want all the bells and whistles on offer, or someone who doesn’t know what they want in a smartwatch at all. For more, here are our other favorite smartwatches. If you’re looking to gift someone a new phone, CNET has rounded up the best deals on the Samsung Galaxy S25.

Memorial Day weekend is practically here, and the sales are already piling in. Plenty of retailers have kicked off their Memorial Day sales, including many people’s online shopping go-to, Amazon. We spotted a deep discount on our favorite Sony wireless earbuds on Amazon. The Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds are currently just $198. This is a discount of 34%, and saves you $102. The discount applies to all color options too, so you can pick which one you like best. 

The Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds sit at the top of CNET’s list of the best wireless earbuds for 2025. They offer true noise cancellation, so you can focus on your favorite audio. They’re equipped with an AI algorithm that blocks out distractions whenever you’re making phone calls, so you won’t miss calls from loved ones or colleagues when you’re on the go. Need to take these earbuds on a long trip? Their battery lasts 8 hours on a single charge, and up to 24 when you take your charging case with you.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.   

These earbuds are equipped with Bluetooth for easy pairing, but they also work with Alexa for added voice control options. Even better, they’re made with recyclable materials, so you can be confident that you’re making a more environmentally-friendly purchase than some alternatives.

Why this deal matters 

These Sony earbuds offer premium features and normally come with a premium price tag to match. We haven’t seen these earbuds drop down to this price since the holiday season last year. They were discounted a little during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, but not all the way down to this low price. This Memorial Day deal can end at any time, so don’t wait too long if you’re interested in saving over $100 on these Sony earbuds. 

The privacy-minded Signal messaging service is putting a blindfold on the prying eyes of the newly returned Windows Recall, Microsoft’s AI-powered feature that will take a screenshot of whatever you’re doing on your computer every few seconds to give your PC the «photographic memory» you never asked for.

In a blog post Wednesday, Signal announced a new «screen security» feature for its Windows 11 app so that said screenshots will appear as a black screen when it tries to snap what you’re doing, much like what happens if you try to take a screenshot of DRM content from Netflix and the like.

Last year, Microsoft pulled Recall from new Copilot Plus PCs in response to backlash over security and privacy concerns, which continued to plague it in the ensuing months as Microsoft worked through revisions. 

Neither Signal nor Microsoft immediately responded to a request for comment.