**Why Cyber Monday Isn’t the End‑of‑the‑World Tech Bargain Bonanza (And Why You Should Probably Skip Most of These “Deals”)**

*If you’re still scrolling through that endless list of “must‑have” gadgets, buckle up. Below is a snark‑packed reality check on every major claim The Verge tries to sell you today. Spoiler alert: most of these “once‑in‑a‑lifetime” savings are either old‑news price cuts, marketing‑gimmick fluff, or straight‑up overpriced tech dressed up in a discount tag.*

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### 1. Apple Deals – The “Apple Discount” Myth

**Claim:** *AirPods Pro 3 for $219.99; 13‑inch MacBook Air M4 for $749.99; Apple Watch Ultra 3 for $699.*

**Counterpoint:**

– **AirPods Pro 3** are still **$220** – roughly the same price you paid for the previous generation a year ago. Compared with the **$179.99** Sony WF‑1000XM4 or the **$149** Google Pixel Buds A, Apple’s “discount” is more of a polite suggestion to keep paying premium for the brand name and a heart‑rate sensor that no one actually uses.

– The **13‑inch MacBook Air M4** is listed at **$749**, but the **M2‑based Air** (now on clearance for $599) delivers almost the same performance for everyday tasks. The M4’s advertised “dual‑external‑display” support is only possible with a **Thunderbolt 5** hub that costs another $100.

– **Apple Watch Ultra 3** at $699 is a **$200** cut from the launch price, yet the **Ultra 2** still sells for $599 and does everything you need – better battery, same ruggedness, and a proven strap ecosystem. The “new‑gen” label is mostly a marginal sensor bump you’ll never notice.

**Bottom line:** Apple’s “Cyber Monday” discounts are basically sales on *already overpriced* products. If you want a genuinely cheap Bluetooth earbud or a solid laptop, look beyond the Apple orchard.

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### 2. Streaming Service Bundles – “All‑You‑Can‑Watch” or “All‑You‑Can‑Endure Ads”?

**Claim:** *Disney+ + Hulu with ads for $4.99/mo; HBO Max ad‑supported for $2.99/mo.*

**Counterpoint:**

– The **$4.99/mo** bundle is **$8** off the regular $12.99 price, but you’re forced into an **ad‑supported** experience that interrupts binge‑watching just as you get to the climactic scene.

– **HBO Max** at **$2.99/mo** is a *tiny* fraction of the $10.99 standard price, yet the ad‑supported tier excludes the newest releases and sometimes even key Warner Films for a **“premium”** add‑on that costs extra.

– Neither deal offers a *real* discount on content you *can’t* get elsewhere. If you’re already subscribed to Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime, you’re basically paying for *more ads*, not *more movies*.

**Bottom line:** The “massive savings” are really a **price‑per‑ad** calculation. If you hate ads, keep your current subscriptions; if you love ads, congratulations, you just paid to be annoyed.

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### 3. Headphones & Earbuds – The “Best‑In‑Class” Claim Is a Hall of Mirrors

**Claim:** *Bose QuietComfort Ultra for $299; Sony WH‑1000XM6 for $398; Google Pixel Buds 2A for $99.*

**Counterpoint:**

– **Bose QuietComfort Ultra** still costs **$300**. You could buy a **Bose QC 35 II** refurbished for under **$180** and get comparable ANC with a proven design.

– **Sony WH‑1000XM6** drops $50 from launch, yet the **WH‑1000XM5** (now $350) already offers *better* battery life and similar sound quality – a classic case of “new model, same price, smaller discount”.

– **Google Pixel Buds 2A** at **$99** is a *good* deal *if* you don’t need the **active noise cancellation** that truly matters on public transport. For $99, you could get **Anker Soundcore** or **EarFun** earbuds with comparable ANC and longer battery life.

**Bottom line:** Most of these “flagship” headphones are only marginally improved over previous versions, and the discounts barely offset the premium you’re paying for the brand badge.

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### 4. Smartwatch & Fitness Tracker Deals – “Upgrade or Overpay?”

**Claim:** *Pixel Watch 4 for $299; Oura Ring 4 for $249; Fitbit Charge 6 for $99.*

**Counterpoint:**

– **Pixel Watch 4** is essentially the same hardware as the **Pixel Watch 3** (released 2023) with a *tiny* software tweak. The $100 discount isn’t enough to justify swapping the older model that’s still getting security patches.

– **Oura Ring 4** at **$249** is a *premium* price for a ring that measures the same metrics as a **Fitbit Sense** or **Whoop** strap that you can find for **$180** on sale.

– **Fitbit Charge 6** at **$99** looks tempting, but the **Charge 5** (still on clearance for $79) offers the same heart‑rate algorithm and a longer battery life.

**Bottom line:** Many of these “new” watches are *re‑skinned* older models. If you don’t need the newest OS integration, wait for a deeper price drop or consider a proven older generation.

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### 5. Tablet & E‑Reader Deals – “The Best‑Ever” Is Often “Best‑Ever‑Except…”

**Claim:** *iPad Pro 11‑inch (2025) for $899; Kindle Paperwhite (12th gen) for $124 (ads) or $145 (no ads).*

**Counterpoint:**

– The **2025 iPad Pro** with M5 is a **$100** discount off the MSRP, but its performance is identical to the **2024 iPad Pro** you can find for **$749** refurbished. The extra $150 for the “latest chip” is rarely justified for non‑pro workflows.

– **Kindle Paperwhite** with ads for **$124** is still more expensive than the **paperwhite** sold on Amazon’s “prime student” discount ($119) and the *no‑ads* version ($144) is barely cheaper than the **Kindle Scribe** for creators, which drops to **$279** (a decent price for a 10‑inch e‑ink stylus).

**Bottom line:** The tablet market is saturated with “incremental” launches. If you need a tablet, the **iPad Air M2** for $449 still smashes the price/performance ratio of the newest Pro.

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### 6. TV & Streaming Devices – “King of TV” or “King of Hype”?

**Claim:** *Sony Bravia 8 II OLED 55‑inch for $1,998; Roku Pro Series 4K TV 65‑inch for $798; LG C5 OLED 55‑inch for $1,197.*

**Counterpoint:**

– The **Sony Bravia 8 II** at **$1,998** is a *90%* price cut from the list, but you can buy the **LG C4 OLED** (2024) for **$1,099** and get *similar* picture quality, gaming HDMI 2.1 ports, and better dimming.

– **Roku Pro Series** is essentially a **TCL 5‑Series** re‑branded with a Roku UI. The $800 price tag for a 65‑inch panel is *still* above what you can snag on Black Friday the previous year for **$649**.

– The **LG C5** discount to $1,197 is impressive, yet the **LG C6 (2025)** is already on sale for **$1,099**, boasting a brighter panel and an updated WebOS.

**Bottom line:** TV pricing is a moving target, and “Cyber Monday” often just repackages previous year’s deals. Do the pixel‑push comparison before you hand over a six‑figure price.

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### 7. Smart Home – “Must‑Have” or “Must‑Buy‑Now”?

**Claim:** *Philips Hue Festavia string lights for $145 (65‑ft); Blink Video Doorbell (2nd‑gen) for $30; Ring Battery Doorbell plus bundle for $70.*

**Counterpoint:**

– **Philips Hue Festavia** at **$145** is a *significant* discount from $242, but **Govee** now offers a **130‑ft LED strip** with comparable color palettes for **$89** – same app control, no Matter requirement.

– **Blink Video Doorbell** for **$30** looks great until you realize the **Blink Sync Module** (required for the doorbell to actually work) costs another **$30**, effectively doubling the price.

– The **Ring bundle** is *technically* $70 off, yet Ring’s *subscription* for motion alerts costs **$3/mo**. Over a year, that adds $36, making the “deal” not as sweet.

**Bottom line:** The “smart home” industry thrives on *ecosystem lock‑in* fees. If you’re not already in the Ring or Hue camp, consider cheaper, open‑source alternatives (e.g., **Aqara**, **Eufy**, **Tuya**) before buying a $200‑plus bundle.

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### 8. Robot Vacuums & Mops – “Future of Cleaning” or “Future of Overpaying”?

**Claim:** *Dreame X40 Ultra for $500 (down from $1,200); Ecovacs Deebot T50 Max Pro for $500; Roborock Saros 10R for $1,000.*

**Counterpoint:**

– The **Dreame X40 Ultra** is a *budget* robot in disguise: its 12,000 Pa suction is respectable but its *lidar navigation* is less reliable than **Roborock’s S7+** (often on sale for **$549**).

– **Ecovacs T50 Max Pro** boasts auto‑empty and mop, but its *solid‑state battery* degrades quickly, and the *premium price* is still $100 above the **iRobot Roomba j7+** which now ships for **$649** with a comparable feature set.

– **Roborock Saros 10R** at **$1,000** is a *monster* price for a *monster* vacuum. Most users will never hit the 22,000 Pa suction or need the dual‑frequency GPS. A **Roborock S6 MaxV** for **$599** does the job for 90% of households.

**Bottom line:** These “high‑end” robot vacuums are often overengineered for the average apartment. If you need a robotic cleaner, go for a mid‑range model that actually fits a realistic budget.

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### 9. Soundbars & Speakers – “Immersive Audio” or “Immersive Price Tag”?

**Claim:** *Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 for $498; JBL Charge 6 for $130; Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar for $699.*

**Counterpoint:**

– **Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6** is *near* $500, but the **Vizio Elevate** or **Sonos Beam** (on sale for **$349**) deliver comparable Dolby Atmos with a *much* lower price and a *simpler* setup.

– **JBL Charge 6** at **$130** is a solid Bluetooth speaker, yet the **Anker Soundcore Motion+** at **$69** offers *similar* battery life and IP68 protection – a *real* deal.

– **Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar** for **$699** is a *premium* price for a *premium* brand. The **Samsung HW‑Q800B** (often $599) includes true **Dolby Atmos** and HDMI eARC – features that Bose only pretends to support via “virtualization”.

**Bottom line:** “High‑end” audio gear seldom justifies its cost. For most living rooms, a good **soundbar** under $400 paired with a **subwoofer** does the job.

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### 10. Laptops – “Latest Processor” vs. “Same‑Old Price”

**Claim:** *Microsoft Surface Laptop 13‑inch for $549; Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 for $1,300; Apple‑M4 MacBook Air for $749.*

**Counterpoint:**

– **Surface Laptop** at **$549** is a *nice* discount, but the **Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5** (AMD Ryzen 7, 16 GB RAM) offers a *similar* spec sheet for **$449**.

– **Asus ROG Zephyrus G14** at **$1,300** is *cheap* for a gaming laptop *only* because the **RTX 5060** is a *mid‑range* GPU. The **Dell G15** with the same GPU sells for **$999** and includes a better thermal design.

– **Apple M4 MacBook Air** at **$749** is effectively the *same* price as the **M2** version a year prior, which you can still find refurbished for **$599**. The “M4” advantage is a **12‑core CPU** that only matters for heavy video rendering – irrelevant for browsers and Word.

**Bottom line:** A laptop’s *value* isn’t in the newest chip name; it’s in real‑world performance vs. price. Many “new‑gen” models are just *re‑branded* previous‑year hardware with a *slightly* higher price tag.

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### 11. Gaming – “Next‑Gen Console” or “Re‑Bundle”?

**Claim:** *Nintendo Switch 2 for $449 (Mario Kart bundle); PlayStation 5 Pro for $649; Xbox Series X storage card 4 TB for $380.*

**Counterpoint:**

– **Nintendo Switch 2** is essentially the same *hardware* as the original Switch with a *brighter* screen. The $449 bundle is *only* $50 above the standard Switch 2 (at $399). For $50 more, you could get a **Steam Deck** (OLED version) with a *much larger* library and a better screen.

– **PS5 Pro** at **$649** adds a *bigger* GPU and a *tiny* SSD boost – but the standard **PS5 Slim** at **$449** runs all current titles *perfectly*. The “Pro” will only matter for 8K demos that no TV can display yet.

– **Xbox storage card** at **$380** for 4 TB is a *massive* markup. A **2 TB external SSD** (like the **Samsung T7**) costs **$129** and can be used for both Xbox and PC storage.

**Bottom line:** “Next‑gen” consoles today are *slightly* upgraded versions of existing hardware. If you want a genuine performance leap, wait for the real next‑gen generation or invest in PC upgrades.

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### 12. Smartphones – “Mid‑Range” or “Mid‑Priced”?

**Claim:** *Google Pixel 9A for $349; Pixel 10 for $549; Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for $900.*

**Counterpoint:**

– **Pixel 9A** at **$349** is *only* $50 cheaper than the **Pixel 6a** (still $299 after coupons) that receives *more* software updates.

– **Pixel 10** for **$549** is a *mid‑range* phone, yet the **OnePlus 12** (128 GB) sells for **$479** with a *faster* Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and a better refresh‑rate screen.

– **Galaxy S25 Ultra** at **$900** is “discounted,” but the **Google Pixel 8 Pro** (stocked at **$899**) offers *cleaner* Android, *more* timely updates, and *no* bloatware – a real value proposition.

**Bottom line:** The “discounted” flagship phones are still *premium‑priced* when you compare specs. For most users, a *well‑reviewed* mid‑range device under $400 already covers 95% of daily needs.

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### 13. “Accessories & Random Gadgets” – The Fine Print of “Freebies”

– **Anker 25 000 mAh Power Bank** at **$88**: comparable to **RAVPower** models that dip below **$70** during the same period.

– **Baseus Retractable USB‑C Cable** at **$10**: a sleek design, but the **Anker PowerLine III** (flat, 6 ft) is **$12** and comes with a lifetime warranty.

– **Blink Mini 2** at **$18** looks cheap until you factor in the **$30** Sync Module required for operation.

– **Amazon Echo Frames** at **$115** (with free Echo Spot): you’re paying *premium* for “smart glasses” that *don’t* have AR; they’re just *audio‑only* earbuds in a frame.

**Bottom line:** Many “accessories” are priced up because they’re *bundled* with obligatory add‑ons. Always calculate the *total* cost before you celebrate a “deal”.

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### 14. Board Games, LEGO & “Verge Favorites” – “Holiday Cheer” or “Holiday Bait”?

– **Catan 6th Edition** for **$30**: a *great* price, but the **online version** (Catan Universe) is free and supports the same game mechanics for solo play.

– **Lego Star Wars Boarding the Tantive IV** at **$38**: a *nice* set but the *price per piece* is **$0.19** – far higher than a standard **Lego Classic** set at **$23** (0.09 per piece).

– **HHKB Professional Hybrid Type‑S** for **$259**: a *premium* keyboard, but the **Leopold FC‑660M** (similar Topre feel) sells for **$230** and includes *PBT* keycaps.

**Bottom line:** “Must‑have” hobby items are often *over‑priced* because they’re marketed as *collector’s items*. If you’re truly into the hobby, you’ll know where to find the *real* value.

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## TL;DR – Should You Click “Buy Now”?

1. **Most discounts are shallow** – usually 10‑30% off a product that already carries a premium price.
2. **Older generations are often better deals** – a previous‑year Apple, Samsung, or Sony model almost always offers a higher performance‑to‑price ratio.
3. **Hidden costs destroy savings** – mandatory accessories, subscription fees, and ad‑supported tiers add up faster than the advertised discount.
4. **Brand‑name bias is real** – you’ll pay extra for the Apple logo, Bose badge, or Sony marquee even when an equivalent, cheaper alternative exists.

**Bottom line:** If you *really* need a new device, wait a week, compare the specs, and ask yourself whether the discount justifies the price. If the answer is “no,” you’ve just saved yourself a few hundred dollars and a whole lot of buyer’s remorse.

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**Keywords for the curious searcher:** Cyber Monday tech deals, 2025 tech discounts, best tech deals, Cyber Monday gadget sales, cheap headphones 2025, cheap laptops Black Friday, streaming service bundles, robot vacuum sale, smart home discounts, Android phone deals, iPad sale 2025.

*(Disclaimer: This roast is based on publicly available pricing and spec information as of Dec 1 2025. Prices may fluctuate, and we’re not paid to trash any brand – just to call out the hype for what it is.)*