This week the month of Black Friday officially started and we reviewed the brand new Samsung Galaxy XR headset.
To catch up on both of these stories and more, scroll down to read our quick roundup of the seven biggest tech news of the week.
7. The month of Black Friday began
We’re still a few weeks away from Black Friday proper (this year it’s set for November 28), but that hasn’t stopped big stores from launching big deals as part of their early Black Friday sales.
We’re seeing deep discounts from a wide range of brands, including Samsung, Ninja, Hisense and more, across a range of retailers in the US and UK – with some discounts seriously impressive considering it’s not Black Friday yet.
We’ve covered Black Friday deals for years, and these early deals are worth your time – while some items will get cheaper as November 28 approaches, many won’t – and others may still go up in price. So don’t be afraid to browse the early sales and grab a pre-Black Friday deal while you can.
6. Google Maps got a major 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 copilot.
Some of the improvements include much more natural voice assistance (for example, being able to ask follow-up questions about the parking at your destination), better turn-by-turn directions (like “turn right after Thai Siam Restaurant”), and a new Gemini-powered version of Google Lens in the Google Maps app.
On the downside, most of these features will initially only be in the US. Still, the improved Gemini voice assistance is rolling out on Android and iOS in all regions where the AI assistant is available. Expect to start chatting with it “in the coming weeks”.
5. IKEA launched 21 smart home gadgets
IKEA isn’t messing around when it comes to smart home tech, it seems, as it just dropped 21 new products to choose from across smart lights, smart sensors and smart controls.
This includes the lights in the KAJPLATS range with 11 different bulb types, the MYGGSPRAY motion sensor, the ALPSTUGA air quality sensor and the GRILPLATS 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 dropped Wrapped-lite
Earlier this week, Spotify launched a new listening stats tab in the app that provides fresh insight into your weekly listening habits – and it’s a great way to get us ready for the packed season.
In addition to seeing your top artists and songs in real time, you’ll also find new playlists based on what you’ve been listening to recently. Spotify has also shared that each week you’ll receive a ‘special highlight’, which could be anything from a milestone to a new discovery to a unique fact about your personal listening habits.
Spotify has shared that listening stats are not only designed to show what you’ve streamed the most, but they also aim to bring you closer to the music you already love.
Now rolling out to free and premium users in over 60 global markets, Listening Statistics is updated every 24 hours, providing new recommendations based on your listening behavior.
3. Grand Theft Auto was delayed again
Feeling déjà vu? Rockstar may have just announced that the next installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, GTA VI, has been delayed to 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 to add extra time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you’ve come to expect and deserve.”
The game is still set to land on PS5 and Xbox Series X (and Series S) generation consoles, but if there are more delays, Rockstar may have to prepare for a PS6 launch.
2. DJI hit out at its looming US drone ban
The clock is ticking on a DJI drone ban – and ahead of the crucial cut-off date on December 23, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has now given itself the power to retroactively ban gadgets it believes pose a security risk.
This means that, in theory, not only could new DJI products be banned in the US from 2026, but the FCC could also go back and remove older gadgets from sale. The Chinese drone giant is understandably not happy and is calling for an extension of the decision, suggesting that “due process, fairness and transparency” are not being applied.
Unfortunately for drone fans in the US, it’s increasingly looking like a Huawei-style situation for DJI – but owners of existing drones will at least be able to keep and use them for now.
1. We spent a week with Samsung’s Galaxy XR
We’ve tried the Samsung Galaxy XR headset, and it’s an impressive multi-modal AI spatial computer that’s much cheaper than the competition (aka the Apple Vision Pro), although at this early stage we’re not sure it does enough to stand out.
According to Lance Ulanoff, “The Samsung Galaxy XR delivers moments of beauty and inspiration, but it’s also filled with disappointment, from the sound of fans in your face to imprecise gestures to a total lack of ‘wow’ apps and experiences.”
Our hope is that Samsung’s headset will improve over time, but for now it only earns three and a half stars.
