This week the month of Black Friday officially kicked off and we took a look at the all-new Samsung Galaxy XR headphones.
To keep up with these two stories and more, scroll down to read our quick catch-up on the seven biggest tech news stories of the week.
7. Black Friday month has begun
We’re still a few weeks away from Black Friday proper (this year it’s set for November 28), but that hasn’t stopped department stores from launching major deals as part of their first Black Friday sales.
We’re seeing deep discounts from a wide variety of brands, including Samsung, Ninja, Hisense, and more, at various retailers across the US and UK – with some discounts being truly impressive, considering it’s not Black Friday proper yet.
We’ve been covering Black Friday deals for years, and these early deals are well worth your time — while some items will get cheaper closer to November 28, many won’t — and others might increase in price even more. So don’t be afraid to browse the early sales and take advantage of a pre-Black Friday deal while you can.
6. Google Maps received a big Gemini upgrade
If you regularly use Google Maps while driving, this week brought some positive news: the app is getting a Gemini brain transplant that should make it a much better navigation co-pilot.
Some of the improvements include much more natural voice assistance (for example, the ability to ask follow-up questions about parking at your destination), better turn directions (like “turn right after Thai Siam Restaurant”), and a new version of Google Lens powered by Gemini in the Google Maps app.
On the other hand, most of these features will initially be reserved for the United States. Nonetheless, the enhanced Gemini voice assistance is rolling out to Android and iOS in all regions where the AI assistant is available. Expect to start chatting with him “in the coming weeks.”
5. IKEA released 21 smart home gadgets
IKEA isn’t messing around when it comes to smart home technology, it seems, as it just launched 21 new products for you to choose from including smart lights, smart sensors and smart controls.
This includes the KAJPLATS series lamps with 11 different bulb types, the MYGGSPRAY motion sensor, the ALPSTUGA air quality sensor and the GRILLPLATS smart plug, among others (as with all IKEA offerings, we love the names).
Best of all, these gadgets are Matter compatible, so you can easily sync them with your existing smart home setup.
4. Spotify has abandoned Wrapped-lite
Earlier this week, Spotify rolled out a new listening stats tab in the app that offers new insights into your weekly listening habits – and it’s a great way to get us ready for Wrapped season.
Besides being able to see your top artists and songs in real time, you’ll also find new playlists based on what you’ve listened to recently. Spotify also announced that each week you’ll receive a “special highlight,” which can range from a milestone to a new discovery to a unique fact about your personal listening habits.
Spotify shared that not only are listening stats designed to show what you’ve streamed the most, but they’re also meant to bring you closer to the music you already love.
Listening insights are now rolling out to Free and Premium users in over 60 global markets and will be updated every 24 hours, offering new recommendations based on your listening behavior.
3. Grand Theft Auto has been delayed again
A feeling of déjà vu? Perhaps that’s because Rockstar just announced that the next installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, GTA VI, has been delayed until November 19, 2026 – almost exactly 6 months later than its previous release date of May 26, 2026.
In a statement, Rockstar Games said: “We’re sorry for adding additional time to what we realize is a long wait, but these additional months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you expect and deserve.”
The game is still set to land on the PS5 and Xbox Series X (and Series S) console generations, but if further delays arise, Rockstar may need to prepare for a PS6 launch.
2. DJI denounces its impending ban on drones in the United States
Time is running out on the DJI drone ban – and ahead of the crucial December 23 deadline, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has now given itself the power to retroactively ban gadgets that it says pose a security risk.
This means that in theory, not only could new DJI products be banned in the United States starting in 2026, but the FCC could also go back and remove older gadgets from sale. The Chinese drone giant is understandably not happy, calling for an extension of the ruling and suggesting that “due process, fairness and transparency” are not being applied.
Unfortunately for drone fans in the US, this is looking more and more like a Huawei-type situation for DJI – but existing drone owners will at least be able to keep and use them, for now.
1. We spent a week with the Samsung Galaxy XR
We tried the Samsung Galaxy
According to Lance Ulanoff, “The Samsung Galaxy
We hope Samsung’s headset improves over time, but for now it only earns three and a half stars.
