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The best gaming headset I tried this year is $60 off for Black Friday
Consumer Tech·3 min read

Black Friday buys that actually save you money: headsets, streaming bundles, VPNs and a 5K monitor

By Riley Hart

If you want good sound, cheaper streaming and a privacy boost - without buyer’s remorse - Black Friday 2025 is handing out sensible bargains. From a $139 wireless gaming headset to two-year VPN plans under $60, a few targeted purchases will cut your annual tech spend and tidy your desk at the same time.

Retailers and publishers have been tossing out doorbusters since late November, but not every discount is worth the drawer space. Smart shoppers should focus on items that deliver durable value: hardware you’ll use daily, subscriptions you compound over a year, and services that protect data across devices.

Headphones and displays: spend where you notice it

Why this matters now: streaming prices have climbed across the board this year, hardware waits can stretch into months, and many of the best short-term Black Friday offers expire December 1. Locking in a subscription or snagging a well-reviewed peripheral at a steep discount can save you hundreds over 12 months; miss the window and you’re likely paying full price again.

Streaming bundles: pick the combo that replaces, not duplicates

If your desk is your cockpit, the right headset and monitor change the flight plan. Fractal’s Scape wireless PC headset dropped to $139.99 at Amazon and B&H after earlier Black Friday cuts (down from its initial street price near $199). It impressed reviewers for “great sound quality” and an elegant dock-based charging system; Cameron Faulkner called it "one of the most thoughtfully-designed models" he’d tried. It lacks active noise cancellation and simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth pairing, but the trade-offs are practical if you value comfort and desktop ergonomics (https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/829932/wireless-pc-gaming-headset-fractal-scape-deal-sale-black-friday).

If you need a monitor, the KTC H27P3 27-inch 5K display is under $535 at Amazon and can be had for about $510 with the manufacturer's on-page coupon. It packs 5,120 by 2,880 pixels, 217 PPI, HDR support, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, and 65W USB-C power delivery-plus a dual mode that lets you run 2,560 by 1,440 at 120Hz when smoothness matters more than pixel density (https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/833564/this-great-27-inch-studio-display-alternative-is-cheaper-than-ever). For creators who juggle color work and spreadsheets, that single-cable convenience can replace a docking station and shave clutter from your routine.

VPNs and privacy: long-term protection, short-term price

Streaming bundles: pick the combo that replaces, not duplicates

Subscription pile-up is the silent budget leak. Disney’s ad-supported Duo Basic bundle-Disney+ plus Hulu-dropped to $5 per month for a year (about $60 total), a big cut from the regular $13 monthly price for the pair. That’s a sensible grab if your household leans toward family-friendly content and network shows; the discount applies to new and eligible returning customers and runs through early December (https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-disney-hulu-bundle-is-still-only-5-per-month-for-one-year-thanks-to-black-friday-deals-094131684.html).

How to decide in the next 72 hours

Walmart’s temporary Walmart+ sign-up deal - $49 for the first year - is another stealth win because new subscribers can choose Peacock Premium with the plan; Peacock’s Premium tier normally lists at about $110 a year. Engadget notes the packaged benefits of Walmart+ beyond streaming, including free shipping and gas discounts, which can amplify savings if you already shop there frequently (https://www.engadget.com/deals/use-this-hack-to-get-a-year-of-peacock-for-49-before-black-friday-192739009.html).

VPNs and privacy: long-term protection, short-term price

A VPN is one of the few digital buys that compounds value: you pay once and get continuous protection for devices and streaming unblocking. Proton VPN’s two-year Plus plan fell to $59.76 (about $2.49 per month), a 75 percent discount from the usual list; Proton’s testing showed modest speed impacts-downloads dropped about 12 percent, uploads 4 percent-and the company emphasizes a “no-logs” policy and full-disk encryption on its servers (https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-vpn-deals-are-still-live-get-75-percent-off-proton-vpn-two-year-plans-plus-deals-on-nordvpn-expressvpn-and-more-153737335.html).

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