Articles by Joe Maring

Shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are often the best time to finally make that big-ticket purchase you’ve been eyeing all year long. For a lot of people, that means seeking out a great Cyber Monday camera deal.

Smartphone cameras have gotten ridiculously good over the last few years, but if you want to take your photography hobby or business to the next level, there’s still no replacing a good mirrorless or DSLR camera.

If you’ve been eager to buy some new camera gear but haven’t been able to afford it, take a look at the best Cyber Monday camera deals we’ve rounded up below. There’s a lot on offer this year, so you’re bound to find something perfect.

Best Cyber Monday Camera Deals:

Kits
Cameras
Lenses

Best Cyber Monday kits deals

Canon EOS Rebel SL3 DSLR Camera | $150 off at Amazon

$599 at Amazon

If you’re in the market for your first DSLR camera, you can’t do better than the Canon Rebel series. For Cyber Monday, the excellent SL3 model is on sal…

There are countless accessories you can get to outfit your phone with. From cases, microSD cards, battery packs, and more, you have more than one way to personalize and customize your handset. Among all of those accessories, though, there’s one that stands out as being especially important — car mounts.

iOttie makes some of our favorite car mounts on the planet, and this Black Friday, all of its best ones are heavily discounted. Whether you want something super-affordable or one with Alexa built-in, iOttie has you covered.

Mount up

iOttie Car Mounts | Up to 44% off

From $17 at Amazon

If you still don’t have a car mount for your phone, Black Friday 2020 is the perfect time to change that. Not only does it make it way more convenient for following directions or changing road trip music, but it’s always way safer for doing those things. Be safe, be smart, and take advantage of any of these excellent options from iOttie.

The idea behind a car mount is pretty simple: it …

Best Black Friday Canada deals:

Amazon products
Smart Home
Audio
Phones, Tablets & Accessories
Wearables
Laptops & PC Components
Gaming
Televisions
Lifestyle & Kitchen

Black Friday is often considered to be a very U.S.-centric holiday, and while that may be true, that’s not to say Canadian shoppers don’t get to bask in killer deals as well. If you know where to look, it’s very possible to save a ton of cash even if you live in the Great White North.

Unlike years past, Black Friday 2020 looks a bit different than normal. Instead of retailers trying to pack their stores with as many shoppers as possible, we’re seeing tons of online deals that you can take advantage of from the comfort of your home. We’ve rounded up our favorites below, so feel free to browse through the best of what Canada Black Friday has to offer!

Best Canada Black Friday deals at a glance:

Amazon: Shop the holiday dash deals now
Best Buy: Early Black Friday deals are flowing
Walmart: Holiday de…

Best answer: The Galaxy S10 series still has a lot going for it in 2020, especially thanks to price cuts Samsung introduced when the S20 made its debut. However, with the recent launch of the Galaxy S20 FE, the older S10 lineup is a bit tougher to wholeheartedly recommend.

Oldie, but a goodie: Samsung Galaxy S10 ($750 at Amazon)
Get something new: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE ($549 at Amazon)

How much does the Galaxy S10 cost these days?

Samsung upped its prices across the board with the Galaxy S20 series, pushing some of us out of the market for its high-end phones. Thankfully, it continues to sell the S10 lineup with official price cuts, offering an enticing option for those who want a flagship phone but can’t get into four-figure prices for one.

Looking at the retail prices of the Galaxy S10 family, here’s what we’re now dealing with:

Galaxy S10e — $600
Galaxy S10 — $750
Galaxy S10+ — $850

Compared to the Galaxy S20 series, which starts at $1,000 and goes all the way up t…

Whether you’re upgrading or just starting your smart home, the Echo Dot is a fantastic gadget to have — and the new 4th gen model is the best version of the Dot we’ve ever seen. It’s compact, sounds good, and offers endless features thanks to Alexa.

Black Friday has given us ample deals/discounts on Echo hardware, and this is easily one of the best we’ve seen yet.

Right now, you can buy the Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) and an Amazon Smart Plug for just $34. You get both devices for that price, with this bundle normally costing $75.

Unbeatable bundle

Echo Dot (4th Gen) + Amazon Smart Plug | 55% off

$34 at Amazon

When we think of killer Black Friday deals, this is what we love to see. Amazon is offering a massive discount on one of its Echo bundles, with this one giving you an Echo Dot (4th Gen) and Amazon Smart Plug for one low price of just $34. That’s 55% off the normal retail price, so you’re getting serious savings.

Starting first with the Echo Dot, this is a key c…

What’s the state of the TV in your living room right now? Chances are, it’s an aging screen that’s been in need of an upgrade for a few years. Buying a new TV is a big purchase decision that most of us don’t make that often, but when a deal like this comes around, it’s a perfect excuse to finally upgrade your home entertainment.

Right now on Amazon Canada, the Samsung TU8000 is at all-time low price for its 50 and 55-inch models — both of which are down to $548 and $698, respectively.

No matter which size you opt for, this is one of the best Black Friday deals you’ll see this year.

High-end 4K

Samsung TU8000 Smart TV | Up to $100 off

$548 at Amazon Canada (50-inch)
$698 at Amazon Canada (55-inch)

Looking for the ultimate upgrade for your living room? Look no further than this deal on the Samsung TU8000. It’s a 4K smart TV with tons of features, and for Black Friday, the 50 and 55-inch models are down to their lowest prices ever.

Buying a new TV can be a daunting ta…

Google Pay is now over half a dozen apps in one.

If there’s one thing that Google’s proven to be consistent at over the years, it’s the company’s need to constantly change and update its apps/services. Whether it be shifting the placement of YouTube comments or ushering in gaudy new logos for G Suite, there’s always something being tweaked.

We saw another prime example of that last week with the major redesign that came to Google Pay. It’s actually more than a redesign, though, and more like a completely different app altogether. Where the old Google Pay was just used for paying at stores and sending money to friends, this new version bundles that with brand new features and a fresh app layout. Complaining about change just for the sake of it isn’t productive, but after playing around with the new Google Pay app for a few hours, I can’t help but feel hesitant about this new direction Google is taking.

The best way to think of the new Google Pay is like a smorgasbord of every money…

When trying to figure out what the best phone for kids, there are a lot of factors to consider. Deciding at what age they should get a phone is entirely up to you, but when you do go out and pick one up, you want to make sure you’re getting something worthwhile. Important things to consider are security, ease of use, and of course, budget. Lucky for you, there are tons of great handsets that your kid and wallet will equally love. We think the Pixel 4a is the best all-around choice, but if it’s not catching your fancy, there are plenty of other stellar phones on this list.

Best Overall: Google Pixel 4a

Buying a phone for your kid is a balancing act of getting something they’ll want to use and having excellent security, all without spending a fortune. In our eyes, the Pixel 4a best fits that bill.

The value proposition offered by the 4a is phenomenal due to the fantastic camera, good battery life, and regular security updates. Plus, there’s no breaking the bank to both get the pho…

Best answer: Although Visible is powered by Verizon’s LTE network, only select phones are compatible with the carrier. This includes many popular devices, such as the Galaxy S20 family, the Pixel 4a and 5 series, and the Moto Edge. If you prefer Team Apple, every iPhone from the iPhone 6 up to the iPhone 12 Pro Max is fully supported.

Great choice: Visible ($40/month at Visible)
Incredible camera: Google Pixel 4a ($350 at Amazon)
Awesome 5G experience: Moto Edge ($400 at Amazon)

Visible only works with select Android phones

Visible is one of the most enticing carrier options on the market right now. Still, at least for the time being, the most significant limiting factor is its lineup of supported Android phones.

Google

Pixel 3
Pixel 3 XL
Pixel 4
Pixel 4 XL
Pixel 4a
Pixel 4a 5G
Pixel 5

Hot Pepper

Hot Pepper Ghost

LG

G8
Stylo 5/M7
Stylo 6
V40
Velvet

Motorola

Moto E
Moto E6
Moto Ddge
Moto G power
Moto G7 power
Moto Z4

OnePlus

8 Pro
8
7 Pro
7T

Samsung

Galaxy …

Today’s phones and tablets are more powerful than ever, and despite more power-efficient processors, it’s not uncommon to find yourself needing to charge up at times when you aren’t near a wall outlet. Battery packs that are 20,000 mAh and higher are ideal for people that need a lot of juice while on-the-go, and while they may not fit into your pocket, they’re necessary for keeping your devices topped up. Our top pick is the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45W. Here’s why it’s the best high capacity power bank, along with other great alternatives if you need something even bigger.

Best Overall: Anker PowerCore+ 26800mAh PD 45W with 60W PD Charger

Anker is one of the biggest names in the power banks and chargers today, and it’s built that name of exemplary build quality and long-term durability, and the PowerCore+ 26800mAh PD is a major upgrade from previous generations. It bumps up from basic 15W USB-C charging to 45W Power Delivery, meaning that this power bank can be used to charge p…