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The Fujifilm X Half is on sale for what it should have originally cost
Consumer Tech·3 min read

Black Friday still has bargains: what to buy now (and who should skip the hype)

By Riley Hart

Stores stretched Black Friday into a long weekend this year, and some of the best tech discounts are still live as Cyber Monday approaches. From a quirky Fujifilm camera to sensible Pixel phones and console bundles, the deals that matter are the ones that match a real need - not the ones that shout the loudest.

Retailers have kept major discounts rolling through the weekend, with many offers set to expire December 1, 2025. That extension matters because it gives shoppers a rare chance to compare prices, read quick reviews and avoid impulse buys that only look cheaper at a glance.

Two standouts: buy for fun or buy for value

This story picks through the loudest headlines - the Fujifilm X Half, Google Pixel 9A, PlayStation 5 and other notable markdowns - and explains who benefits from each price, what features you’re sacrificing for the discount, and how to lock a good deal without buyer’s remorse.

If you want a camera that’s more charm than engineering, Fujifilm’s X Half slipped to about $649 in recent Black Friday promos after launching at $849.95 earlier this year, according to The Verge’s coverage on November 29, 2025. The X Half uses a 1-inch sensor and a fixed 32mm-equivalent f/2.8 lens; Fujifilm leaned into analog nostalgia with film simulations and a manual “advance the roll” shooting mode.

That discount makes the X Half a reasonable impulse for hobbyists who prize look and feel over specs, but it’s essential to note what you give up: The Verge points out there’s no RAW capture, no image stabilization and no electronic viewfinder. If you want photographic versatility or strong low-light performance, a discounted $649 point-and-shoot still won’t match a midrange interchangeable-lens camera or a stabilized compact.

Gaming and VR: price vs. ecosystem

Contrast that with a straightforward practical buy: the Google Pixel 9A. The Verge called it “the Pixel phone beloved by dads everywhere,” and the phone dropped to $349 over the weekend, down from a $499 list price. That $150 cut gets you a water-resistant phone with a brighter screen and a multi-year update promise - a meaningful benefit for people who keep phones for three to five years and want predictable security updates.

Those two examples illustrate a simple rule of thumb: spend on personality if you’re buying for joy, and spend on durability and software longevity if you want a daily driver. How you’ll use each device determines whether a headline discount is actually valuable.

How to separate smart deals from marketing fast

Gaming hardware saw meaningful reductions this weekend. Engadget’s Black Friday roundup lists the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition at $399 (a $100 cut), the standard PS5 at $449 and the PS5 Pro at $649. Those prices are the lowest we’ve seen this calendar year and matter most if you don’t already own a current-gen console or can’t count on retailer bundles to remain in stock.

If you’re evaluating a VR entry point, the Meta Quest 3S fell to about $250 in some offers, which Engadget flagged as a solid pick for newcomers. The Quest family’s appeal is the all-in-one form factor and wide app library; at $250, the headset becomes a clear gift pick or a cheap way to try VR without a PC tether.

The catch for both categories is software and ecosystem lock-in. Consoles get cheaper, but exclusive titles, subscriptions and accessory costs are ongoing. VR can look inexpensive at first purchase, yet you’ll soon spend on games and storage. Look beyond the sticker price: factor in a typical $60-70 full-price game, plus $80-150 for a solid wireless accessory or extra storage if needed.

How to separate smart deals from marketing fast

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