Why You Can Trust CNET The Cheapskate's don't-miss Cyber Monday deals
Chromebooks! TVs! Earbuds with glowing LED cords! It's Monday madness! Don't miss these deals! Ahhhh!!!!
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What's better than Black Friday ? Duh: Cyber Monday ! Without any further ado, let's get right to my top picks for this, the only good Monday of the year.
Smart smart-TV buy
43 inches of Roku-powered goodness for $179.99. Woot!
If there's one product category that really makes Cyber Monday worth getting out of bed for, it's televisions . To wit: Best Buy has the Sharp LC-43LB481U 43-inch Roku TV for $179.99 shipped (plus tax), a full $120 off the regular price.
That's the lowest price I've seen for a Roku TV of this size. You may recall a recent $125 deal, but that was for a 32-inch model. And check out the user ratings on this bad-boy: a truly impressive 4.5-star average from over 600 buyers.
VIP: Very Important Privacy
If you've been eyeballing a virtual private network, here's one of the best deals I've seen all year: a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited for $22.49 when you apply promo code CYBER25 at checkout. The license is good for up to five devices, and the service is compatible with all major platforms.
You'll flip for this Chromebook
Once upon a time, you had to pay a stiff premium for a laptop with a 360-degree hinge and a touchscreen. These days? Not so much: StackSocial has the refurbished Asus Chromebook Flip C100PA for $199.99 shipped. That's at least $40 less than what you'd pay to get it new.
The Flip is 10.1-inch Chromebook tablet that also has a keyboard. Or it's a 10.1-inch touchscreen laptop that can also operate in stand and tent modes. Basically, it's a hyperversatile portable, one that's earned mostly glowing reviews from users and media outlets alike. (Read CNET's review, and check out PCMag's as well.) Note that shipping will likely take one to two weeks.
Get a grip! (On your phone...)
Don't knock it till you've tried it.
Have you ever dropped your phone? Of course you have, because gravity! And this is more likely to happen if you're trying to thumb your way across a big screen single-handed.
That's why I remain a huge fan of two products: Lazy-Hands and Ninja Loop. Both let you hold your phone far more comfortably for extended periods, while at the same time making your phone easier to operate with one hand.
Lazy-Hands adds a set of finger loops to the back of your phone. It comes in a variety of sizes and styles (including bigger versions for use with e-readers and tablets ), and through Dec. 11, Cheapskate readers can get 25 percent off any Lazy-Hands order by applying promo code lazycheapskate (hey!). Free shipping starts at $50. These make great gifts, in my humble opinion.
If you want something a little slimmer (and even more "stocking-friendly"), Ninja Loop affords a similar finger-powered phone grip. It's just a colorful strap that loops around the back of any phone case. I'm a longtime user and big fan. For a limited time, you can get a Ninja Loop for just $3.49 with coupon code LOOPS@30%OFF. Bag free shipping when you order at least three Loops.
Listen to this
Not everyone loves mainstream music. If your tastes lean more toward the indie scene, Soundcloud is the streaming service for you. Today only, you can get three months of Soundcloud Go for just $1. (After that: $9.99 per month.)
The service boasts a whopping 135 million songs (mostly from independent artists), and your Go subscription affords ad-free streaming and offline listening.
Listen to this, part 2
Speaking of music, is your car stereo Bluetooth-challenged? An FM transmitter can help by broadcasting your phone's audio to an unused station on your radio dial. Alas, many of these products are difficult to use and not very versatile.
Enter the boringly named but seriously cool Victsing Bluetooth FM Transmitter Radio Adapter Car Kit, which features a large LCD status screen, clearly marked controls, dual USB ports for charging your devices and four modes of operation: Bluetooth, line-in, USB and microSD.
Oh, and I buried the lede: You can get this super-luxe FM transmitter for $17.99 when you apply promo code O5I4CMX8 at checkout. Cheapskate exclusive, folks!
Listen to these
I like shiny, flashy things. And things that glow. If they can flash and glow at the same time, so much the better.
Today only, and while supplies last, Ellumiglow has the Future Illuminations Remyx LED sound-synchronized earphones for $14.99. Last time I ran these, they were $25.
Available in your choice of red, green or blue, the Remyx LED looks like a fairly ordinary set of earphones , complete with an inline microphone for hands-free calls and a play/pause button for music control.
And when the lights get low, things get cool: the entire cord glows in the aforementioned color. And if you toggle Sound Active mode, the LEDs will pulse in response to the music that's playing.
Wear this
Most Apple Watch deals have been on the Sport model, but some folks prefer -- indeed, covet -- the Stainless version.
Finally, there's a deal to be had on that one: Daily Steals has the 38 mm Apple Watch with stainless-steel case and classic black buckle for $279.99 shipped. ("Black buckle" is code for "leather wristband." If you prefer a sport band, you can get the Watch for $40 less.)
That's at least $20 less than I've seen this elsewhere. And it's new, not refurbished.
Put this in your stocking and, er, charge it
Finally, how could I let a Cyber Monday go by without a mobile charger? For a limited time, and while supplies last, you can get the Kmashi 10,000 mAh dual-output mobile charger for $9.20. That's after applying coupon code NK8R75ON at checkout.
Want something with a little more juice? The 15,000 mAh model can be yours for just $12.50 with coupon code JK38PZBW. Both chargers are modeled in snazzy black and red.
And there you go, cheeps! Hope this Monday was better than average for you. Hit the comments and let me know what deals you like and what you've found elsewhere that's worth sharing.