There's something about Cyber Monday that brings out the technology nerd in all of us. Suddenly, that graphics card we've been trying to justify for the last six months doesn't seem quite so unreasonable. That ridiculously powerful laptop we've been admiring might actually be worth checking the price of.
And those software subscriptions we've been itching to upgrade? Well, now we have a perfectly good excuse to see what else they can do. Of course, with the cost of just about everything going up, getting more for our money is always welcome. Even a small discount on something we already use can make a difference, especially when we're paying for several subscriptions every month.
And if we can finally afford a few of those extra features we've been wanting, even better. Cyber Monday 2026 falls on 30 November, and we've already got a rather enthusiastic wishlist. Some of it is sensible, some of it is ambitious, and some of it is simply technology we think is incredibly cool.
10 Tech Categories We're Watching This Cyber Monday
We could probably make this list considerably longer, but we've managed to narrow it down to ten favourites. These are the things we're most interested in checking out when the Cyber Monday sales arrive, from upgrades we've been putting off to gadgets we're still trying to convince ourselves we need.
1. Graphics Cards (GPUs)
Anyone who's spent time looking at graphics cards knows how quickly a perfectly innocent PC upgrade can turn into a rather expensive shopping expedition. You start out wanting to play a few games at higher settings, and before you know it, you're comparing memory capacities, cooling systems and graphics cards that cost more than your car repayments.
But there's a reason GPUs are so high on our Cyber Monday wishlist. A good graphics card can completely change what your PC is capable of, whether you're gaming, editing videos, creating 3D artwork or experimenting with AI.
We're particularly interested in NVIDIA's GeForce RTX cards, AMD's Radeon range and Intel's Arc GPUs. NVIDIA is especially interesting for anyone wanting to run AI models locally, thanks to the software tools available for its graphics cards. And having an AI model running on your own computer, rather than relying entirely on an online service, opens up all sorts of opportunities for experimentation.
Of course, there's the small matter of making sure your new GPU will actually fit inside your PC and work with your power supply. Because discovering that your exciting new purchase requires a new case, power supply and possibly half a new computer is a rather unfortunate plot twist.
2. Laptops
There are laptops, and then there are laptops that make you stop scrolling and start wondering whether you really need both kidneys. Apple's MacBook range certainly has some impressive options. The MacBook Air is a lovely combination of portability and performance, while the MacBook Pro is where things get particularly interesting for developers, designers and creative professionals.
Apple's M-series chips have made it possible to do some seriously demanding work on machines that are still relatively portable. And the Windows side of things isn't exactly short of exciting options either. Lenovo's ThinkPads, Dell's XPS range and ASUS ProArt laptops all have their appeal, whether you're looking for a reliable work machine, a beautiful display or something powerful enough to handle creative projects.
But there's one laptop we're particularly excited about. Microsoft's Surface Laptop Ultra is powered by NVIDIA's RTX Spark platform and supports up to 128 GB of unified memory, which the processor and graphics system can share. That makes it particularly interesting for people working with demanding creative applications and larger AI models.
Now, we're not suggesting Microsoft is going to put its shiny new laptop on a spectacular Cyber Monday special. But we can dream. And if it does happen, we suspect quite a few developers and AI enthusiasts will suddenly find themselves doing some very creative budget calculations.
3. VPNs and Security Suites
VPNs are interesting because people use them for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes you need a secure connection to access your company's systems while working remotely. Sometimes you want a little more privacy when browsing online. And sometimes you have your own perfectly good reasons for wanting a website to think you're in another country.
We're not here to judge. But what we're particularly excited about this Cyber Monday is the number of privacy services that have grown into collections of useful tools. Because while a VPN is handy, a subscription that also helps you manage passwords, block trackers and protect your files is even more interesting.
Take Windscribe, for example. Its browser extension includes an ad and tracker blocker with advanced blocking controls based on uBlock Origin. That's a rather nice extra for people who like having more control over what their browser loads. Then there's Proton, which has taken the multifunctional approach even further.
Proton Unlimited brings together Proton VPN, Mail, Drive, Pass and Calendar, giving you several privacy-focused services under one subscription. NordVPN and Surfshark also have broader security offerings worth checking out.
And if any of these providers offer a good Cyber Monday discount on a plan you've been wanting to try, it could be a chance to get more useful features without adding quite so much to your monthly expenses.
4. Gaming Platforms and Subscriptions
There's something deeply satisfying about opening Steam, finding a game you've wanted for ages and discovering that it's finally on sale. Especially when it's one of those games that literally everyone you know has been playing for ages, and constantly asking you what you think about it. Of course, buying it doesn't necessarily mean you'll play it immediately.
There's still the small matter of the other 37 games sitting in your library, patiently waiting for their turn. But Steam, GOG and the Epic Games Store are all worth watching for Cyber Monday gaming deals, particularly if you've got a wishlist full of games you haven't quite been able to justify buying at full price. And we're not just talking about the latest blockbuster releases.
Sometimes the best discoveries are smaller independent games, clever puzzle titles or an old favourite you haven't played in years. Subscriptions like Xbox Game Pass are another possibility, especially if you enjoy trying different games without committing to buying each one.
The catalogue changes over time, but having a collection of games available to try can be a lot of fun. And really, if Cyber Monday gives us a chance to pick up a few more games for less money, who are we to argue? We'll get around to playing them. Eventually. Probably.
5. Work and Collaboration Platforms
Some people get excited about new gaming hardware. Others get excited about discovering that their project management software can automatically organise tasks, update statuses and remind people about deadlines. And some of us get excited about both.
There's something genuinely satisfying about finding a tool that does exactly what you need it to do, especially when it saves you from repeating the same boring little tasks every day. And when you discover that it can do something you previously needed two or three other applications for? That's a very good day.
ClickUp is a particularly interesting example, with its combination of task management, documents, dashboards and automations. Notion has its own appeal for people who enjoy building connected workspaces, while Slack and Microsoft 365 offer plenty of ways to keep teams communicating and working together.
And then there are the AI features appearing across these platforms. From helping you find information to organising work and drafting content, there's plenty to experiment with, although the useful features and subscription tiers vary. That's why we're hoping to see some good Cyber Monday software deals.
If you've already found a platform you love, a discounted upgrade could give you access to tools you've been wanting without committing to the usual price. Besides, there's a particular kind of joy in spending an afternoon building a beautiful new productivity dashboard.
Even if the task you were supposed to be working on is still sitting there, patiently waiting for you to finish being productive about productivity.
6. Cloud Hosting and Developer Tools
You know that project you've been meaning to start? The website you want to build, the app you've been thinking about developing, or the little AI experiment you've been planning for months? Well, perhaps Cyber Monday is the excuse you've been waiting for to finally get started.
Cloud hosting and developer tools are particularly interesting because they give us access to technology we might not have the hardware to run ourselves. You can host a website, build an application, experiment with databases or rent computing power for a project without having to buy and maintain an entire server.
DigitalOcean, Hostinger, AWS and Cloudflare are all worth keeping an eye on, although they offer quite different services. Hostinger is particularly relevant for websites and managed hosting, while DigitalOcean and AWS provide infrastructure for developers building their own applications. Cloudflare has some interesting tools for running code and delivering applications over the internet.
And there's plenty of room to get carried away. One minute you're setting up a simple website, and the next you're experimenting with APIs, automation and a database for an application you know would be perfect but doesn't actually exist yet. The only thing we'd watch carefully is how these services charge.
Some hosting plans have fixed subscription fees, but cloud platforms often bill according to usage. Cloudflare's usage-based billing documentation, for example, explains how costs can depend on requests, processing time and storage. A discounted hosting plan or promotional credit could be rather handy.
Just make sure your exciting new project doesn't develop an equally UNexciting monthly bill.
7. Smart Glasses and XR Devices
Now, this is the sort of technology that makes us want to forget about being sensible for a minute. We've been watching smart glasses develop for years, and they're finally getting to the point where some of the things we've imagined doing with them are becoming real products.
We're talking about glasses that can translate conversations, show you directions, answer questions about what you're looking at and even put digital screens in front of your eyes. Meta has some particularly interesting devices in this category.
Its Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses offer cameras, audio and AI features, but the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses take things further with a small display built into the lens. You can glance at messages, see navigation instructions and interact with information without constantly looking down at your phone.
There's even a wristband that detects subtle muscle movements, allowing you to control certain features with small hand gestures. Google's Android XR ecosystem is where things get especially exciting though. The XREAL AURA glasses announced in October 2026 use transparent lenses to place digital content in your field of view while letting you see the world around you.
You can arrange several virtual screens around yourself, watch videos on an enormous virtual display or connect a compatible laptop and use its screen alongside your Android applications. Imagine sitting at your desk with multiple monitors floating in front of you, except you don't actually own any of those monitors.
Or watching a film on what looks like a cinema-sized screen while sitting comfortably on your couch. Do we need any of this? Perhaps not. Do we desperately want to try it? Absolutely. The technology still comes with limitations, including compatibility, comfort and availability in different countries.
But if we're going to have a few ambitious items on our Cyber Monday wishlist, smart glasses seem like a perfectly reasonable addition to the list. And not just because they're super cool.
8. Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Sometimes you want headphones because you love music. Sometimes you want them because you're gaming, travelling or listening to a podcast. And sometimes you just want everyone around you to disappear for five minutes so you can finish whatever you're trying to do.
That's where a really good pair of noise-cancelling headphones becomes particularly appealing. Sony's WH-1000XM6, Bose's QuietComfort range and Sennheiser's Momentum headphones are all on our list of things worth watching. They're designed to deliver good sound while reducing unwanted background noise, which can be a wonderful combination when you're trying to concentrate in a busy environment.
Active noise cancellation works by using microphones to detect outside sounds and producing opposing sound waves to reduce what you hear. It's particularly effective against steady background noises, such as the hum of an air conditioner or the sound of an engine. Conversations and sudden noises can be more difficult to block completely, but they generally do a fair job.
And then there's the simple pleasure of putting on your favourite music, getting comfortable and disappearing into your own little world for a while. We're all for exciting new technology, but a pair of headphones that sounds fantastic, feels comfortable and gives us a little peace and quiet might be one of the most satisfying things we could buy this Cyber Monday.
Especially if it means we don't have to listen to someone else's meeting through the office wall.
9. Smart Home Tech and Gadgets
There's something wonderfully nerdy about spending an entire afternoon figuring out how to make your house do things automatically. You could just get up and switch off the lights, of course. But why do that when you could spend three hours setting up an automation that turns them off when you leave the room?
And once you've started, it's surprisingly easy to get carried away. Philips Hue smart lighting, Google Nest devices, Amazon Echo speakers and Samsung SmartThings are all interesting places to start.
Depending on the products you choose, you can control lights with your voice, set schedules for appliances, monitor parts of your home and connect different devices so they work together. Robot vacuums are another favourite. There's something particularly appealing about the idea of a little machine quietly cleaning your floors while you're busy doing something considerably more interesting. And who wouldn't want their very own little Admiral Stabby running amok?
And even simple smart plugs can be surprisingly useful. They can turn ordinary appliances on or off according to a schedule, provided the appliance is suitable for that kind of control. Of course, the fun really starts when you begin connecting everything. Lights that change colour when you're watching a film, routines that switch devices off at bedtime, or a home office that adjusts its lighting throughout the day.
Just check that the devices you want can actually communicate with one another. Smart home platforms don't all support the same products or features, and there's nothing quite like buying three smart gadgets only to discover that none of them wants to talk to the others.
Still, if we can automate the lights, vacuuming and half our daily routines, perhaps we'll eventually find a way to finish the work we were supposed to be doing while setting all this up.
10. Storage and Backup Tech
Every tech enthusiast has a collection of storage devices accumulated over the years. Random USB sticks, external hard drives, SSDs, old laptop drives that might still have something important on them, and a mixture of free cloud storage accounts and paid syncing services. Some of it is neatly organised. Some of it hasn't been plugged in for years. And there's probably at least one mystery drive we're convinced contains something worth keeping.
But there's always room for more storage, especially when we're creating, downloading and saving more things than ever. Samsung, Western Digital, Seagate, Crucial, Kingston and SanDisk all have interesting options, from portable SSDs to high-capacity external hard drives. And there's something deeply satisfying about getting a new drive, transferring a mountain of files onto it and suddenly having room on your computer again.
And if you're feeling particularly ambitious, Synology's network-attached storage (NAS) systems let you create your own central storage system at home or in the office. That's essentially a collection of storage drives connected to your network, allowing compatible devices to access files without constantly plugging in external drives. Which sounds rather appealing when you consider how many different places we've probably got files hiding.
Then there's the 3-2-1-1 backup rule, which gives us another perfectly good reason to keep looking at storage options. The idea is to have three copies of your data, stored across two different types of media, with one copy kept off-site and another kept offline or air-gapped. And when you think about how much of our lives we've got stored digitally, having a few different ways to protect it isn't exactly a bad idea. Especially when you consider what losing years of photographs, documents or personal projects would actually mean.
We're also rather fond of cloud storage services, particularly when they come with interesting extras. MEGA is a good example. Alongside encrypted cloud storage and file sharing, its wider range of services includes private communication tools, a VPN and password management. Proton Drive is another interesting option, particularly if you're already using Proton's other privacy services.
So if Cyber Monday gives us a chance to expand our storage, upgrade a cloud subscription or finally organise that growing collection of drives and scattered files, we're certainly interested. Although there's a reasonable chance we'll still be hanging on to that mystery USB stick. Just in case.
Final Thoughts: The Best Tech Deals Are the Ones That Make Us Happy
The trouble with being interested in technology is that there's always something new to get excited about. Just when you've finished upgrading your computer, someone releases a laptop with ridiculous specifications, a new AI tool does something you didn't think was possible, or a pair of glasses comes along that makes you reconsider what a computer could look like.
And we love that. Cyber Monday gives us an opportunity to indulge some of that enthusiasm without necessarily paying full price for everything. Maybe we'll finally get the graphics card we've been wanting, upgrade a subscription to unlock some interesting features, or find a good deal on something that's been sitting on our wishlist for ages.
Of course, we'd still like to keep some money in our bank accounts when December arrives. A discount is only a saving if we're happy with what we're getting, and sometimes the best deal is simply paying less for something we were already going to buy. But there's no reason every purchase has to be completely practical either.
Sometimes we want technology because it's clever, exciting or just plain fun. And sometimes the joy comes from discovering something new and wondering what we could do with it. That's part of what makes keeping up with technology so interesting in the first place.
And while we're waiting to see which of our Cyber Monday wishes might come true, EM360Tech will be keeping an eye on the developments behind them, from AI and cybersecurity to infrastructure and emerging technologies. Because there's always something new coming along to make our wishlists a little longer.
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