TikTok Shop launches digital gift cards to challenge Amazon and eBay

TikTok Shop launches digital gift cards to challenge Amazon and eBay | TechCrunch

Tech-news digital gift cards, social commerce, TikTok December 22, 2025

TikTok Shop has rolled out a new feature that allows users to purchase digital gift cards, making it easier to help friends and family buy from the millions of products on the app.

The feature was strategically launched during the holiday season — a high-stakes period for the company’s shopping division as it aims to prove its value in the market. This move into digital gifting positions TikTok Shop to compete more directly with e-commerce giants like Amazon and eBay, both of which offer gift card options. TikTok Shop has also recently expanded into luxury retail, another move to solidify its footing in e-commerce.

Users can load the gift cards with anything from $10 to $500. What sets these cards apart is the ability to personalize them using a wide variety of animated designs. There are also animations for thank you cards, birthdays, weddings, and other occasions.

Gift cards are delivered via email, and recipients must have a TikTok account. Once redeemed, the card’s value is instantly credited to their TikTok Balance. Recipients can reply with a thank-you note or even send a gift card in return.

However, the gift cards can only be purchased in the U.S. for now.

Image Credits:TikTok Shop

TikTok said it plans to add features that let users personalize gift cards more. By early 2026, users will be able to record or upload video messages to attach to their digital gift cards. A company spokesperson said the experience will also include an “interactive unboxing that captures their reaction in real-time,” but declined to share further details.

The launch of digital gift cards comes on the heels of a significant milestone for TikTok Shop: Over the four days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the app recorded sales of more than $500 million in the U.S.

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However, despite this achievement, TikTok Shop faces uncertainty as the sale of the app’s U.S. operations to an American investor group looms. If a sale doesn’t occur, TikTok faces a potential ban in the country. President Trump has extended the deadline to January 23, 2026, leaving the app’s future in the U.S. hanging in the balance.

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How To Sleep With Lower Back Pain, According to Experts

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#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google">

The Best Chromebooks Are Doing Their Best to Course CorrectI was delighted to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn’t skimp on a crappy touchpad. That goes a long way toward improving the experiencing of actually using the laptop on a moment-by-moment basis. I wasn’t annoyed every time I had to click-and-drag or select a bit of text. This one’s biggest weakness is definitely the screen, which is true of just about every cheap Chromebook I’ve tested. The colors are ugly and desaturated, giving the whole thing a sickly green tint. It’s also not the sharpest in the world, as it’s stretching 1920 x 1200 pixels across a large, 16-inch screen. But in terms of usability and performance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a great value, combining an Intel Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB of storage. For a Chromebook that’s often on sale for 0, it’s a steal.While we’re here, let’s go even cheaper, shall we? Asus has two dirt-cheap Chromebooks that I tested last year that I was mildly impressed by. The Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as 0. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than 0, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for 0 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.Other Good Chromebooks We’ve TestedWe’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past years, having reviewed every major release across the spectrum of price. Unlike Macs and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tends to stick around a bit longer though, and aren’t refreshed as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google

mwasimuddin125 0

I was delighted to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn’t skimp on a crappy touchpad. That goes a long way toward improving the experiencing of actually using the laptop on a moment-by-moment basis. I wasn’t annoyed every time I had to click-and-drag or select a bit of text. This one’s biggest weakness is definitely the screen, which is true of just about every cheap Chromebook I’ve tested. The colors are ugly and desaturated, giving the whole thing a sickly green tint. It’s also not the sharpest in the world, as it’s stretching 1920 x 1200 pixels across a large, 16-inch screen. But in terms of usability and performance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a great value, combining an Intel Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB of storage. For a Chromebook that’s often on sale for $350, it’s a steal.
While we’re here, let’s go even cheaper, shall we? Asus has two dirt-cheap Chromebooks that I tested last year that I was mildly impressed by. The Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as $130. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.
With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).
Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than $200, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.
Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for $100 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.

Other Good Chromebooks We’ve Tested

We’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past years, having reviewed every major release across the spectrum of price. Unlike Macs and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tends to stick around a bit longer though, and aren’t refreshed as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.

Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster

#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google">The Best Chromebooks Are Doing Their Best to Course Correct

I was delighted to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn’t skimp on a crappy touchpad. That goes a long way toward improving the experiencing of actually using the laptop on a moment-by-moment basis. I wasn’t annoyed every time I had to click-and-drag or select a bit of text. This one’s biggest weakness is definitely the screen, which is true of just about every cheap Chromebook I’ve tested. The colors are ugly and desaturated, giving the whole thing a sickly green tint. It’s also not the sharpest in the world, as it’s stretching 1920 x 1200 pixels across a large, 16-inch screen. But in terms of usability and performance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a great value, combining an Intel Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB of storage. For a Chromebook that’s often on sale for $350, it’s a steal.

While we’re here, let’s go even cheaper, shall we? Asus has two dirt-cheap Chromebooks that I tested last year that I was mildly impressed by. The Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as $130. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.

With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).

Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than $200, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.

Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for $100 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.

Other Good Chromebooks We’ve Tested

#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google

TL;DR: Amazon has the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor back on sale for $499.99, knocking $400 off its $899.99 list price. That’s a 44% discount on a QHD OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.

$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away.

As of April 22, Amazon has cut the price of LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor by 44% — dropping to $499.99 from $899.99. This brings this LG monitor back to its lowest ever price with the retailer, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

At 27 inches with QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, this monitor hits a sweet spot for both competitive gaming and everyday desktop use, while fitting nicely into any setup without taking too much space. With a 240Hz refresh rate, this UltraGear monitor promises to keep even fast-paced titles running smoothly — the 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time means motion stays crisp without ghosting.

Effectively, these specs mean they’ll make a noticeable difference in anything you play; that’s whether you’re going for an intense multiplayer game like Overwatch or a cinematic story-driven game like Saros, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, or Pragmata.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

No matter what you’re playing or watching, the LG UltraGear should make the experience even better with its added picture quality. After all, the OLED panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification backs up what you can see with your own eyes — blacks that are genuinely black, not the washed-out grey you get from most LCD panels.

Mashable Deals

It also plays nicely with a wide range of setups, with both NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro on board. The anti-glare coating, height and pivot-adjustable stand, and a two-year OLED warranty round out a package that’s hard to argue with at this price.

If you have a bit more space in your setup for an even bigger unit, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is now over $400 off. If you want something from another brand, Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 is $300 off at Amazon.

#gaming #monitor #deal #27inch #UltraGear #OLED #Amazon">

mwasimuddin125 0

TL;DR: Amazon has the LG 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor back on sale for $499.99, knocking $400 off its $899.99 list price. That’s a 44% discount on a QHD OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a 0.03ms response time, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.

$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away.
As of April 22, Amazon has cut the price of LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED gaming monitor by 44% — dropping to $499.99 from $899.99. This brings this LG monitor back to its lowest ever price with the retailer, as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.
At 27 inches with QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution, this monitor hits a sweet spot for both competitive gaming and everyday desktop use, while fitting nicely into any setup without taking too much space. With a 240Hz refresh rate, this UltraGear monitor promises to keep even fast-paced titles running smoothly — the 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time means motion stays crisp without ghosting.
Effectively, these specs mean they’ll make a noticeable difference in anything you play; that’s whether you’re going for an intense multiplayer game like Overwatch or a cinematic story-driven game like Saros, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, or Pragmata.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

No matter what you’re playing or watching, the LG UltraGear should make the experience even better with its added picture quality. After all, the OLED panel covers up to 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and the VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification backs up what you can see with your own eyes — blacks that are genuinely black, not the washed-out grey you get from most LCD panels.

Mashable Deals

By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

It also plays nicely with a wide range of setups, with both NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro on board. The anti-glare coating, height and pivot-adjustable stand, and a two-year OLED warranty round out a package that’s hard to argue with at this price.
If you have a bit more space in your setup for an even bigger unit, the 45-inch curved LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor is now over $400 off. If you want something from another brand, Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 is $300 off at Amazon.

#gaming #monitor #deal #27inch #UltraGear #OLED #Amazon">Best gaming monitor deal: 27-inch LG UltraGear OLED now $400 off at Amazon

$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

OLED gaming monitors are steadily becoming more affordable, but this returning Amazon deal on an LG model is worth jumping on right away.

Mashable Deals

#gaming #monitor #deal #27inch #UltraGear #OLED #Amazon

SpaceX and Cursor are now working closely together to create the world’s best coding and knowledge work AI.

The combination of Cursor’s leading product and distribution to expert software engineers with SpaceX’s million H100 equivalent Colossus training supercomputer will allow us to build the world’s most useful models.

Cursor has also given SpaceX the right to acquire Cursor later this year for $60 billion or pay $10 billion for our work together.

#SpaceX #cuts #deal #buy #Cursor #billionAI,Business,Elon Musk,News,Science,Space,SpaceX,Tech,Twitter – X,xAI">