Look, we know that companies have to be careful when introducing new, AI-driven features, but Spotify is really taking its sweet time with AI DJ.

The company first introduced the feature in 2023. It uses AI smarts and your personal music listening history to create a mixtape, as well as add a human-like voice commentary so that the experience feels almost like listening to a real radio station.

The problem is, Spotify originally launched AI DJ in the U.S. and Canada, gradually expanding it to new markets over time, but some key markets, including many in Europe, were missing — until now.

On Thursday, Spotify announced the expansion of AI DJ to six European markets: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Switzerland, as well as Brazil and South Korea. The company also introduced four new language options for the AI DJ: French, German, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Spotify's AI DJ is now available in more than 75 global markets, the company said.

To try it out, find the DJ on your Spotify home page, or search for "DJ." You can then make a request by voice or text by tapping the DJ button; to switch between languages, tap on the three-dot menu and select the language you like.

Spotify pointed out that the feature is (still!) in beta, and that you'll need the latest version of the app to access all of its features .

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond or Better Value plan.

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Credit: Apple

T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free

 

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Earlier this year we got new iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads. That was a lot to take in, but what are we all supposed to do until the next launch? We can't sit around and wait until the foldable iPhone arrives in late 2026.

Instead, we should be using this time to scout the best deals on Apple's latest lineup.

And there's some good news for anyone looking to upgrade to the Apple iPhone 17: For a limited time, you can claim the iPhone 17 for free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond or Better Value plan. You can also switch to almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e. Neither of these offers requires a trade-in, but you do need to pay taxes and a $35 device connection fee.

The iPhone 17 is the first base model built to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. In Mashable's review, Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." Potential buyers should also know that the camera is "almost as good as the one on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max." That's good news for all the budding content creators out there.

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free with this latest offer from T-Mobile.

Portable power stations provide reliable off-grid power for travel, emergencies, and outdoor use. This video explains how they work, how to charge them, and where they’re most useful. It also looks at options like the Anker 521 and EcoFlow Delta 3.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box is on sale for $82.13 at Amazon, down from its typical $98.99 price. This is the lowest price we have ever seen on Amazon.

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Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box

$82.13 at Amazon
$98.99 Save $16.86

Get Deal

We’ve been lucky enough to see plenty of MTG discounts on the Avatar: The Last Airbender expansion recently, but Amazon has made statement with its best-ever price on the Jumpstart Booster Box. 

As of May 7, Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box listed for $82.13. That's 17% off its current $98.99 list price, and the lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. 

The Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box contains 24 Jumpstart Boosters, each with 20 Avatar-themed cards. That works out to about $3.42 per pack before tax, which is a strong price for a sealed box from one of MTG’s most popular trading card sets. 

For newer MTG players, the Jumpstart variety of boxes is one of the friendliest ways to get a Magic game going. Simply grab two boosters, shuffle them together, and you have an instant deck with Lands already included. There are 46 Avatar The Last Airbender pack themes altogether, so you can get different character, scene, and elemental combinations without needing to draft or hunt down singles. 

If Amazon sell outs, Walmart has the same Jumpstart Booster Box listed for $104.99. TCGplayer has listings from $79.99 with shipping included, while its market price sits around $79.72. At around $3 above market price, Amazon’s a fair place to buy right now.

Elsewhere, you can also grab the Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box for only $20.  As for new expansions, you can preorder Magic: The Gathering’s The Hobbit Bundle for $69.99 at Amazon. 

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio can't seem to stop slipping rap lyrics into important speeches.

His latest offence? Describing the top government officials in Iran as "insane in the brain", in an apparent reference to the 1993 Cypress Hill song.

"Really, Marco?" says Daily Show host Desi Lydic in the clip above. "A little inappropriate to be talking about old rap lyrics while you're talking about war. I mean, can you imagine your doctor telling you, 'If you're looking for the tumor on this scan, whoomp, there it is. I'm afraid it's actually spread from the windows to the wall...'"

Lydic goes on to play a montage of other times Rubio has referenced rap lyrics during speeches, before placing a hand up to her ear piece.

"I'm sorry," she says, "we're getting breaking news that rap is no longer cool."

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

SAVE $350: As of May 7, the Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum is on sale for $299.99 at Amazon. That's a 54% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Shark

Shark AV2501AE AI

$299.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $350

 

Get Deal

The Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum is on sale at Amazon for better than half off. If you're looking for an impressive robot vacuum that can handle just about anything at a great price, this deal is one for you. As of May 7, you can save $350 with the new price of $299.99.

The Shark AI robot vacuum is an incredibly smart device that's designed for cleaning all floor types, even if you have pets at home. It uses Matrix Clean Navigation to clean in a grid pattern, taking multiple passes over dirt and debris. And when it's done, the bagless self-emptying base will hold up to 60 days of dirt, so you don't need to empty it every other day. It also includes HEPA filtration that captures dust and allergens down to 0.3 microns.

The vacuum also has a self-cleaning brushroll for handling pet hair and can be controlled hands-free with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you really can just sit back and relax. You'll get up to 120 minutes of runtime and it features a Recharge and Resume function. This allows it to return to the dock, recharge, and continue cleaning where it left off.

Get this robot vacuum deal online at Amazon now.

SAVE $37: As of May 7, the Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement is on sale for $72.99 at Amazon. That's a 34% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement

$72.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $37

 

Get Deal

Fancy treating mom to something different this Mother's Day? How about a floral arrangement that will last more than the weekend, like this Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement?

As of May 7, this beautiful display is on sale at Amazon. Normally priced at $109.99, it currently sports a $37 discount that brings the price down to $72.99.

This Lego set is a 1,161-piece build for adults aged 18 and over. It has 14 brick-built flowers including camellias, peonies, hydrangeas, baby’s breath, ranunculus, bouvardia, and lilies. And they are all arranged and displayed in a white pedestal vase.

The flower heads can be rearranged to suit your mood, and additional flowers from other Lego Botanicals sets can be added separately to customize the arrangement. And after the fun of assembling it together, the arrangement is intended to be a piece of decorative home decor.

The set is also compatible with the Lego Builder app, which includes tools for tracking progress and viewing the model from different angles.

Get this Lego deal at Amazon in time for Mother's Day.

SAVE $250: As of May 7, the Google Pixel 10 Pro is on sale for $849 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Google

Google Pixel 10 Pro

$849
$1,088 Save $239

 

Get Deal

The Google Pixel 10 Pro has dropped in price again, and right now it's down to its best-ever price at Amazon.

If you've been looking for an impressive phone to buy outright, don't miss out on this limited-time offer. As of May 7, there's a $250 discount live that drops the price from $1,099 to $849. There are also four colors you can choose from at this low price: moonstone, jade, obsidian, and porcelain.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro is powered by the Google Tensor G5 chip, making it fast and powerful. It has a 6.3-inch Super Actua display with up to 3,300 nits peak brightness. It also includes AI features through Gemini to help make everyday use easier and your tasks quicker to complete.

If you like to take photos on your phone, this model is a solid choice. It features Google’s pro camera system with support for low-light photography, 100x Pro Res Zoom, 50 MP images, and 8K video recording. It's a robust phone too, built with aluminum and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for scratch and drop resistance.

This device is unlocked, so you can choose from multiple carriers including Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Get it from Amazon now while the deal is still live.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Snow White's friend.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DWARF

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To expand.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SWELL

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To take action.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

MODAL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Gadget.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

GIZMO

Final Hurdle hint

A gift.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

DOWRY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

We're just a couple of days away from the next phase of the lunar cycle, the Third Quarter. This is when the Moon appears to be around half full, lit only on the left side (right side if you're in the Southern Hemisphere).

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, May 7, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, 74% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

There is still enough of the Moon's surface illuminated to see features on it tonight. For example, if you look up with your naked eye you'll be able to spot the Mares Serenitatus, Vaporum and the Oceanus Procellarum.

If you have binoculars, you'll be able to see even more, including the Clavius Crater, Mare Humorum, and Alps Mountains are just a few. And that's not all, if you have a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 14 and 15 landing spots as well as the Rima Hyginus.

When is the next Full Moon?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete a full orbit around Earth, passing through eight different phases along the way. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the way sunlight falls on it changes as it moves, which is what creates the familiar full, half, and crescent shapes. In total, there are eight main phases in the lunar cycle:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

TL;DR: Want to be first in line for the new 2026 Samsung monitor lineup? Reserve now and get a free $50 credit towards a qualifying preorder purchase.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung's New Monitors 2026: Free $50 Credit

 

Learn More

Shopping around for a new monitor? If you want something brand new, Samsung has announced that new monitors are being released later this month. And for a limited time, you can score exclusive savings ahead of launch. 

Interested customers can now reserve to receive a free $50 Samsung credit towards an eligible upcoming 2026 Samsung monitor. The promotion runs during the “Handraiser Period” from May 5-19. There's no obligation to buy. These reservations do not require you to purchase the monitor — they secure the $50 off discount if you decide to proceed.

Early ordering for the new monitor range opens on May 19 at 10 a.m. ET and continues until June 2 at 9:59 a.m. ET, while supplies last. To register interest, customers will need to provide details including their first and last name, email address, and mobile number. 

Samsung is also asking customers to share what they’re interested in, including the intended purpose for the monitor, preferred screen sizes, and which specific products they’re considering purchasing.

Sign up via Samsung now to get $50 off qualifying preorder purchases.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some movie knowledge.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Shoe types

• Green: Competitive venues

• Blue: Alt names

• Purple: One word related to football

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Sneaker brands

• Green: Golf courses to host the U.S. Open

• Blue: Famous nicknames for MLB teams

• Purple: Movies that contain an NFL team name

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #591 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Sneaker brands: CONVERSE, NEW BALANCE, SAUCONY, UNDER ARMOR

• Golf courses to host the U.S. Open: PEBBLE BEACH, SHINNECOCK HILLS, TORREY PINES, WINGED FOOT

• Famous nicknames for MLB teams: AMAZIN' METS, BIG RED MACHINE, GAS HOUSE GANG, MURDERERS' ROW

• Movies that contain an NFL team name: LITTLE GIANTS, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, REMEMBER THE TITANS, THE BAD NEWS BEARS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 7 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 7 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 7 Pips

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 10-10, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box listed for $68.95, down from $84.99. That's the lowest-ever price we’ve seen for this ETB.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box

$68.95 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $16.04

 

Shop Now

Perfect Order continues its reign as the most budget-friendly Pokémon expansion in the trading card market, with ETB prices hitting all-time lows at Amazon.

As of May 7, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box on sale for $68.95 with free delivery, down from its $84.99 list price. It’s sold and shipped by Amazon directly, rather than a third-party seller. Using price tracking site camelcamelcamel, we’ve confirmed that $68.95 is indeed the lowest Amazon price on record.

Walmart is currently listing the same Perfect Order ETB for $68.95, while TCGplayer’s lowest listing is $69.94, with multiple unopened shipped listings hovering around the $70 mark. With Amazon now matching Walmart at $68.95, it’s the go-to if you want fast shipping and a straightforward checkout. 

Inside the ETB, you’re getting nine Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Perfect Order booster packs, one full-art foil Tyrunt promo card, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, a player’s guide, damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a collector’s box with dividers, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

If you haven't had the chance to dive into the Pokémon Legends: Z-A-focused expansion until now (with 120+ cards including Mega Zygarde ex, Mega Starmie ex, and Mega Clefable ex), this is the best opportunity for both your collection and your bank account.

Elsewhere, you can still preorder the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box at around the $130 mark.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG: Mega Zygarde ex Premium Collection available for preorder at $69.99, ahead of its May 22 release. TCGplayer is only slightly cheaper than the market price, with listings starting at $68.68. 

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Zygarde ex Premium Collection

$69.99 at Amazon

 

Pre-order Here

The Pokémon TCG Mega Zygarde ex Premium Collection comes out on the same day as the Chaos Rising expansion on May 22, and now you can secure a preorder for under $70. 

As of May 7, the Pokémon TCG Mega Zygarde ex Premium Collection is up for preorder at Amazon for $69.99. It’s being sold and shipped by Amazon, with the retailer’s pre-order price guarantee attached, so you will pay the lowest rate if the price drops before launch. There’s also free delivery for May 25, so note that it won’t actually arrive on your doorstop on the May 22 release date. 

This price is only slightly higher than the current TCGplayer market price of $69.17, while the lowest listed presale is $68.68 with shipping included — which still makes Amazon a reasonable go-to if you prefer buying your trading cards through the retailer.

The Pokémon TCG Mega Zygarde ex Premium Collection offers the following:

• Foil promo card featuring an exclusive version of Mega Zygarde ex 

• Oversized lenticular version of the same promo card

• Tech sticker

• Eight Pokémon TCG booster packs — five from Perfect Order, two Phantasmal Flames, and one Journey Together

You can also score the Pokémon TCG’s 36-pack Chaos Rising Booster Box for just over $277. Plus, you can grab individual Chaos Rising Booster Packs for $12.99 from Amazon. 

As a lifelong cat owner, it is with the knowledge of experience that I say the chore I dislike the most is cleaning the litter box.

I've tried to interrogate this to no avail — I don't find it particularly gross or tedious (it takes all of three minutes max if you do it daily). And while I couldn't find answers to my aversion, when Petlibro released its first automatic litter box just a couple of months after I adopted a new kitten, well, it felt something like an answer from the universe.

My kitten, Mouse, graciously took up the task of helping me test out the Petlibro Luma Smart Litter Box, both with and without the AI feature set. After about three and a half months (and at many pounds of growth on Mouse's part), here are my thoughts on the Litter-Robot alternative.

Petlibro Luma Smart Litter Box: Price

At $599.99, the price of the Petlibro Luma is nothing to scoff at, so let's break it down.

First of all, included in the box is one litter mat and litter filter (pre-installed in the Luma), an additional litter filter for non-clumping tofu and mixed litters, 15 waste bags, a removable step, and a carbon filter.

Expensive as it is, it is cheaper than a $749 Litter-Robot 4, the $799 Litter-Robot 5, and the $899 Litter-Robot 5 Pro. It is also the same price as the "affordable" model from the brand, the Litter-Robot Evo. At the same time, it far eclipses the price of the much less space-intensive and open-top PetSafe ScoopFree, which will only run you $119.99 (minus the cost of any tray replacements required for upkeep).

All this to say, the price led me to believe that with this product, Petlibro aims to offer the elevated automatic litter box experience (i.e., the Litter-Robot experience) at a price just competitive enough to be considered cheaper than Litter-Robot's.

Mouse leaving the scene of the crime. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

In addition to the upfront cost, to perform as intended, this litter box also requires replacement of the carbon air filter ($19.99) every one to three months and the interior litter mat ($29.99) every 90 days. If you want access to features like saved videos and smart summaries that feature details about your cat's health, these are the available pricing tiers:

• Video Cloud AI Standard: Costs $95.99 per year, with support for one Luma device. Saves seven-day video history, with smart summaries and highlight reels.

• Video Cloud AI Premium: Costs $135.99 per year, with support for one Luma device. Saves 30-day video history, with smart summaries and highlight reels.

• Video Cloud AI Premium Family: Costs $159.99 per year, with support for up to three Luma devices. Also saves 30-day video history, with smart summaries and highlight reels.

None of these are required to use the litter box (and I found it functioned more than fine without them), but if one of the primary reasons you're in the automatic litter box market is because you want to closely monitor your pet's health, it's a cost worth noting. For the majority of the testing period, I had access to the AI premium subscription, courtesy of Petlibro.

How the Petlibro Luma litter box works

The available feature set with this litter box includes the following, with bolded features only available with the AI subscription (which I'll get more into below):

• Automatic cleaning with odor control

• AI waste analysis

• Washable base

• Multi-cat detection

• Visit monitoring

• Video cloud storage

• Long-term health analytics

• Safety features

For a basic clean, the central part of the box rotates back and upwards to dump all the waste into the drawer that sits at the bottom of the box. While this happens, an air purifier runs. Then the main part of the litter box rotates back, shifting to reset the litter to an even position comfortable for your cat. All told, it can take about one to two minutes, but the sensors (which I'll talk more about below) will stop the cleaning process if your cat is anywhere near the box.

The central component of the litter box rolls back, closing it off, while emptying out. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Maintenance of the box itself is super easy — a notification let me know when it was time to clean out the waste drawer, which, true to Petlibro's estimate, was roughly every two weeks. The central drum of the litter box could easily be popped and cleaned within a matter of five to 10 minutes. While researching for this review, I saw plenty of folks on Reddit complaining about how the spin mechanism of the Litter-Robot made it easy to get dirty, and that cleaning it could be kind of a pain. With the Luma box, the cleaning process felt pretty much as easy as I could imagine.

To thoroughly clean the box, I was able to remove the drum without issue to get into all the nooks and crannies. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The after! Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Seamless performance with even better smell

The first time I emptied the waste drawer after two weeks of use, I was genuinely shocked at how bad it smelled, considering I hadn't noticed it at all prior to opening the drawer. Thankfully, experiencing the smell was short-lived: All I had to do to empty the drawer was tie up the drawstring bag, toss it, and replace it with a new one.

Mouse is an adventurous cat (which tracks for a kitten found on a California freeway), so she was game to use the fancy litter box on day one. Tucked away in my family's living room, everyone I lived with basically forgot it existed after the initial setup, minus the times its cleaning cycle ran. It's not very loud, but if you're worried about it going off at inopportune times, you can schedule cleans or switch on manual mode.

Mouse, immortalized in her post-spay recovery shirt, courtesy of the Petlibro app. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

This setup was especially nice for times I wasn't at home for longer stretches. My phone sent notifications every time Mouse was near or using the box, as well as when a cleaning cycle was up. Once I connected it to the AI subscription, I got access to a live and on-demand video feed of Mouse using the box. (Yes, I watched it! It was cute!)

Without the AI features, on the app, I could track every time she used the bathroom, her weight, and even get a picture of her using the box. Of course, it also let me know when the waste drawer needed to be emptied, and when the box needed a replacement carbon filter and litter mat. If she didn't use the bathroom for 24 hours, the app notified me to let me know her habits looked atypical, which could be huge if you're monitoring for any illness or weird behavior from your animal.

The features that live behind a subscription

"What does having an AI litter box even mean?" was a question I was asked no less than five times while I was testing this product, which, valid. I didn't quite know what to expect either.

After my months of testing, I can confidently say it's like having another pair of eyes on your cat — consider the Luma a Bathroom Big Brother. Maybe a bit dystopian, but any cat owner knows cats are notoriously good at hiding any health issues, especially when it relates to their bathroom habits, so in this case, it was genuinely helpful.

With the AI features, you know whether your cat has peed or pooped and whether it looks like a normal version of either. You can also view a video recording directly from the log on the app and verify whether the AI identified everything correctly. Petlibro claims the more you correct the AI, the better it gets, and I found that to line up with my experience.

The data from the app, sans AI subscription. Credit: Petlibro / Screenshot

Versus with the AI subscription. Credit: Petlibro / Screenshot

At the end of a month, Petlibro creates a highlight reel of your cat's time in the bathroom, condensed down to 30-second bits per day. This maybe felt like the least necessary of all the features, but if you're monitoring your cat especially closely and want to make sure you didn't miss a thing, it's a nice fail-safe.

The app also grants you access to care trends, whether that be changes in their waste or frequency of use, or weight, with the data tracked on easy-to-read charts. When revisiting past logs, you could also filter for certain data. Basically, it felt like a period tracker for my cat, which was kind of great for vet appointments.

Finding health data, made easy. Credit: Petlibro / Screenshot

Mouse favored her other litter box for a couple days, at which point the app let me know what I might want to flag to a vet. Credit: Petlibro / Screenshot

Safety precautions are there

One of the bigger hesitations I saw online about the Luma litter box was the rollback design of the central part of the litter box. It's fair — during parts of the cleaning process, a cat theoretically inside could get seriously hurt, as the drum rolls all the way back to empty out the waste.

However, Petlibro uses three different sensors to make sure that doesn't happen: an inward-facing AI camera, a weight detection sensor, and a front-facing motion sensor. There's also child-lock features for the buttons on the box itself, and the option to turn off automatic cleaning altogether, or to schedule the cleanings.

Overall, I didn't experience a single problem with safety. Mouse likes to watch when I scoop her non-automated box, and so naturally she also liked to watch the robot box do its thing — any time she got remotely close enough to actually get inside of it, it paused. One time during testing, it actually detected the weight of an animal in the box when there was one, but it was paused until I unplugged and re-plugged in the machine. While that wasn't the most ideal, it did give me the feeling that this box errs on the side of safety over convenience.

The cleaning completely stopped, with any option to manually resume it greyed out until the box could no longer detect the weight. Credit: Petlibro / Screenshot

Petlibro vs. Litter-Robot

Petlibro's Luma carves itself out as the mid-tier option between budget automatic boxes and the Litter-Robot, so while I haven't had a chance to test the Litter-Robot for myself, it felt worth looking at their feature sets to compare the performance and cost of the two as best I can.

The first difference is that while the Petlibro Luma rolls backward to empty itself, the Litter-Robot spins around from side to side to get empty, which means it always remains open. This has the safety benefit of always giving your cat an option to jump out. However, it does mean it might not appeal to cats who prefer a more open top, which the Luma does provide. As Mouse is still a baby (literally, I mean), she wasn't the best test subject for this point, but Petlibro says its box can fit cats up to 22 pounds.

The Litter-Robot EVO features design with a more closed-off top to cats. Credit: Litter-Robot

While Petlibro's Luma keeps things open. Credit: Petlibro

As I mentioned above, the spinning of the Litter-Robot also led to some folks online complaining about how quickly it can get covered in litter and dust.

Also on the design front, the Petlibro box comes with a ramp that touches the floor, while it's an additional purchase for the Litter-Robot. Compared to the Litter-Robot EVO, the most compact option from the brand, the Luma is a bit shorter but a few inches wider than the Litter-Robot.

Considering the Luma and EVO cost the same price, it's also worth noting that Petlibro claims up to 10 cats can use the Luma, while Litter-Robot doesn't recommend the EVO for more than a one to two-cat household. The EVO also has no WasteID features — you'd have to go to the more expensive Litter-Robot 5 or 5 Pro for that.

Is the Petlibro Luma litter box worth it?

If the idea of a high-end litter box is enticing to you, but the prices of the Litter-Robot have made you hold off until now, the Petlibro Luma presents a worthwhile alternative, especially if you're looking for waste analysis or a box for more than two cats, but don't want to spend upwards of $700.

While I can't personally speak to the performance of the Litter-Robot EVO, value-wise, Petlibro's model is the better option — especially if you can grab it on sale.

Petlibro Luma Smart Litter Box

$539.99 at Amazon
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The best streaming deals to watch "Send Help" at a glance:

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Evil Dead mastermind Sam Raimi has blessed us with a cheeky new thriller to obsess over in 2026. One of our most anticipated releases this year, Send Help marks Raimi's return to horror for the first time in over a decade. And it's officially headed to streaming.

Equal parts psychological thriller and dark comedy, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko calls Send Help a "totally twisted thrill ride" and a "gross and glorious good time." It stars a stellar Rachel McAdams in a role completely unlike anything you'd expect from her and an equally matched Dylan O'Brien (Twinless).

It hit theaters in January and scored unexpectedly high ratings. If you haven't seen it yet or you can't wait to see it again, now's your chance to watch Send Help — and all its gory, gloppy thrills —  at home. Here's what you need to know.

What is Send Help about?

Send Help follows Linda Liddle (McAdams), a mousy, middle-aged office worker and Survivor lover who has a ton of unexpected skills. Bradley Preston (O'Brien) is her douchey boss who promotes one of his frat bros over her. When the plane crashes on their next business trip, leaving them stranded alone on a desert island, a dramatic reverse in power dynamics presents itself.

As Puchko puts it, it's a bit "Romancing the Stone meets Triangle of Sadness... meets Misery."

Check out the full trailer:

Is Send Help worth watching?

Send Help is the sleeper hit of the season you didn't know you needed. After raking in $94 million worldwide (on a $40 million production budget), it holds a 93 percent critic rating and 87 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes — pretty impressive numbers for an original horror comedy. It largely benefited from word of mouth.

Mashable's own film critic had only positive things to say about the latest Raimi film. "Watching Send Help, my stomach churned, my jaw dropped, my eyes bulged, and I threw my hands over my face a few times to guard from the gross explosion on screen," she writes. "Then I walked out cackling and giddy, because Send Help is not just one of the grossest movies I've seen in the last decade. It's also a rip-roaring, no-fucks-to-give good time."

Read our full review of Send Help.

How to watch Send Help at home

Credit: 20th Century Studios

Send Help opened in theaters nationwide on Jan. 30, 2026. If you missed out, no biggie; it's now officially available to watch at home in a couple of different ways. As of May 7, 2026, you can buy it or stream it. See the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

The 20th Century Studios film officially made its at-home debut via video-on-demand retailers on March 24, 2026. You can purchase Send Help for your own digital library. The movie was also available to rent for 30 days, but has since disappeared. We'll be on the lookout for the rental option to return; it will likely cost $5.99.

Here are some quick links to buy the film on digital:

• Apple TV — $9.99

• Fandango at Home — $9.99

• Google Play — $19.99 to buy

• Prime Video — $9.99

• YouTube — $19.99 to buy

Stream it on Hulu

Send Help made its streaming debut on Hulu on May 7, 2026. That three-month window from the theater to streaming is right on par with other 20th Century Studios films.

Hulu subscriptions start at $11.99 per month (thanks to a late 2025 price hike), but there are a few different ways you can save. We've rounded up the best ongoing Hulu streaming deals below.

The best Hulu streaming deals

Best Hulu deal for most people: Hulu annual subscription

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Hulu (with ads) annual subscription

$119.99 per year (save $23.89)

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The best way to cut back on the cost of a Hulu subscription is to opt for an annual plan instead of a monthly plan. You'll pay for a year up front for $119.99 (which breaks down to $9.99 per month) instead of $143.88. That's about 16% or just shy of $24 in savings. It's not the biggest discount ever, but every dollar counts.

Best bundle deal: Get Hulu and Disney+ for 50% off

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Hulu and Disney+ (with ads)

$11.99 per month (save $11.99 per month) for six months

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One of the best deals in the streaming world is Disney's bundle plan, and for a limited time, you can sign up for a six-month subscription to both for only $11.99 per month (reg. $12.99 per month). That means you'll get one streaming service completely for free for six months. After the six-month promotional period, you'll pay just a dollar more per month — still a pretty great deal if you ask me.

Best for students: Hulu Student

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Hulu Student (with ads)

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College students can save 83% or $10 per month on a Hulu with ads subscription. Sign up through the Hulu Student promotional page and verify your college email address via SheerID, and the price will drop from $11.99 to just $1.99 per month. The deal is valid as long as your student status can be verified.

Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) free for select customers

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Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu

Hulu (with ads)

free for select T-Mobile customers

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Aside from the free trial, the only way you can get Hulu for free in 2026 is through T-Mobile's Go5G Next and Experience Beyond plans (you'll also get Netflix for free and Apple TV+ for $3). If you're already on one of these plans, head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim the offer. Just enter your T-Mobile number and account details to sign up for Hulu.

Newborn stars born in the biggest stellar clusters tear themselves out of their birth clouds much faster than those that grow up in small clusters, according to a new study. 

Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope, researchers studied nearly 9,000 examples from four different galaxies: Messier 51, Messier 83, NGC 4449, and NGC 628.

Because no one can watch a single cluster evolve over millions of years in space, scientists instead observed many clusters at different intervals and treated them like snapshots in a sequence. Some stars were still completely buried in dust. Some had partly emerged. Others were fully exposed.

What researchers found was a consistent pattern: The star clusters moved through the same sequence but how quickly depended on their mass. For the largest clusters, clearing the cloud of gas and dust may only take about 5 million years. The smaller ones may not break free for 7 to 8 million years.

The research puts real numbers on something that has remained ambiguous up until now. Simulations of star formation already factor in so-called "stellar feedback" — the radiation, stellar winds, and supernovas that young stars produce — but the models disagree on how fast those events and processes blow away gas. These new measurements, published in Nature Astronomy, give scientists a concrete timeline based on a large sample, said Angela Adamo, a lead author on the study from Stockholm University and the Oskar Klein Centre in Sweden.

The patterns showed up everywhere the team looked, even though each galaxy doesn't look or behave the same way. That consistency suggests the timing isn't just a product of a local quirk in one environment, but a basic feature of how star clusters evolve.

The clusters all started off similarly: with baby stars releasing their energy in secret. At the earliest stage, they're hidden deep within a thick cloud of gas and dust that blocks their visible light. Only infrared light can pass through that haze.

Inset images zoom in on newborn star clusters in Messier 51, one of the four galaxies included in the new James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble study. Credit: ESA / NASA / CSA / A. Pedrini / A. Adamo

As the concealed stars grow, they change their environment, heating the surrounding gas and blasting out radiation and fast stellar winds. Over time, that energy pushes the gas and dust away, revealing what's inside.

By counting how many clusters appear in each stage, the researchers estimated how long each phase lasts. The idea is simple: If lots of clusters show up in a stage, it tends to last longer; if only a few do, it's over more quickly.

Once the cloud is gone, there's nothing holding the stars back. Their ultraviolet radiation can travel farther through their home galaxy, colliding with nearby gas and influencing where new stars can or cannot form next.

When that stellar feedback is unleashed, it creates a lot of waste, sterilizing regions of galaxies. Most of the gas never gets used for star formation. 

That extends to planets, too. Young stars form with disks of gas and dust around them, and those disks birth planets. If a cluster blows away its surrounding material quickly, those disks get exposed earlier, vulnerable to harsh radiation that can interrupt the process of world building. 

The research has implications for scientists working on a variety of cosmic mysteries, said Alex Pedrini, lead author of the study, who is also based at Stockholm University and the Oskar Klein Centre in Sweden.

"We can look into the cradles of star clusters and connect planet formation to the cycle of star formation and stellar feedback," he said in a statement.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from France with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Access to Pornhub is restricted in a number of locations around the world.

Early in 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws for online adult content. After the introduction of these new requirements, Pornhub responded by blocking users from those locations. Now the same situation is taking place in France, with users in the country unable to access YouPorn, RedTube, and Pornhub.

There are complicated reasons for the blockade, but the workaround is actually very simple. If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from France, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in France

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock Pornhub for free in France with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026, a full-featured IDE with built-in AI tools and collaboration features, is now price dropped to $34.97 (reg. $499.99) through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026

$34.97
$499.99 Save $465.02

 

Get Deal

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your development environment, this deal makes it a lot easier to justify. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 is down to $34.97 (reg. $499.99).

Built as a 64-bit IDE, this release handles large and complex projects with ease. It supports a range of languages and platforms, from .NET and C++ to web development, offering flexibility for varied workflows and making it simple to tailor to your specific needs.

It also fits into workflows that developers are already using. With built-in integrations with tools like Azure and GitHub, you can manage version control, deployments, and collaboration without switching between platforms, helping keep projects moving without unnecessary slowdowns.

AI-powered tools like IntelliCode suggest code completions based on your day-to-day process, helping to accelerate repetitive tasks and minimize errors. CodeLens brings recent changes and test results directly into your editor, streamlining work across extensive codebases.

For teams, Live Share makes collaboration more straightforward. Instead of dealing with extra setup steps, you can jump into shared sessions to edit and debug code together in real time.

Of course, this isn’t necessarily for beginners who are just experimenting with code. It’s better suited to developers who already have some experience and need tools that can handle larger or more complex projects. It’s designed for Windows, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re working across multiple operating systems.

Still, if you’ve been comparing IDEs or waiting for a good price on Visual Studio, this software stands out. Getting access to a professional-grade development environment, especially with the added AI tools and collaboration features, is something that will come in handy every day.

If this matches your needs, Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 is available for $34.97 reg. ($499.99), through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

After her first year of college, rather than taking the summer off and decompressing from the school year, Chloe Gong decided to write a book. That novel, These Violent Delights, would go on to become a New York Times bestseller.

These Violent Delights debuted on Nov. 17, 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic and Gong's senior year at the University of Pennsylvania. Despite not being able to tour the country to promote her book, her novel still debuted on the New York Times bestseller list in the weeks after its release because Gong took a different route: TikTok.

Gong created her TikTok leading up to the release of her book, promoting preorders and seeking early readers. While the approach then may have seemed untraditional, she was, in reality, ahead of the curve in modern book marketing. Her TikTok account now has 221.7K followers, and she has published seven books, with two more coming in the second half of 2026.

What Gong tapped into was BookTok, a corner of TikTok where readers could connect and enthusiastically share their latest reads. As of 2026, the #BookTok hashtag on the app has surpassed 78.7 million posts. The platform's influence is hard to overstate. In 2021, the World Economic Forum reported that readers purchased a record-breaking 821 million books, a surge widely attributed to BookTok. Its impact has reshaped bookselling, with both physical and online stores routinely featuring dedicated BookTok sections. The publishing industry has had to adapt, and for authors, that shift increasingly means active participation in online communities.

Today, authors are expected to take on an additional role: creator. Authors, who used to be known by name alone and maybe an author photo on the back cover, have taken a front-facing role. Author Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen) has amassed 501.5K followers on TikTok, and Jodi Picoult (My Sister's Keeper) has 478.5K followers.

On BookTok, alongside readers posting monthly reading wrap-ups, you'll find bestselling and indie authors alike, pitching their books in less than 60 seconds. Authors are using the platform to engage with fans, and also just have fun, participating in trends and embracing lifestyle content.

Gong, whom I spoke with at BookCon 2026 in New York City, said, "Social media feels as though it has become an essential tool for authors who want to level the playing field, especially if they don’t have the backing of a lead title." In publishing, books generally fall into three categories: lead titles, midlist, and quiet books. As the name suggests, lead titles — often written by established or highly anticipated authors — receive the bulk of a publisher's time, resources, and marketing budget. Midlist and quiet titles, by contrast, receive progressively less support, placing more of the burden of promotion on the authors themselves.

Even with hundreds of thousands of followers, however, viral success does not guarantee book sales. Gong cautions that relying on social media remains a gamble. "It has worked for many people, but at the end of the day, it is still like gambling," she said. "There's no denying how powerful [social media] is, but when I'm giving advice to new authors, I always want to tell them, 'Look, you can roll the dice, but you can't beat yourself up for not winning.' The odds are just stacked against you. The algorithm is very specific about what types of books that it likes."

Emma Noyes is one author who took that gamble. In a Substack post titled "Once, I had a book deal for half a million dollars. Now, I'm back to self-publishing," she recounts her path to a traditional publishing deal. After years of trying to break in, Noyes joined TikTok in 2021 as BookTok gained momentum. By 2022, she had built a following of more than 150K, which helped her secure her dream agent. In July 2022, she signed a multi-book deal with Berkley Publishing, followed by another with Wednesday Books in May 2023. Combined, those advances totaled more than half a million dollars, she wrote.

But after the book deal, Noyes slowly learned a crucial lesson: "Followers do not equal book sales."

"People came to my page for the roommate who built my bookshelf, my Swedish boyfriend (now husband), my Vampire Diaries parodies and videos about the cast, and my older brother Henry, who the internet decided was hot (gross). All of those things were fun to film, but they had nothing to do with my writing," Noyes writes, "Which meant that, when I posted about my books, no one cared. And no one purchased." Now, she's taking a different route: self-publishing her next novel, Prince of the Sun.

For other authors, writing is built into their platform from the start. Katie Wu, who joined TikTok under the username @katiewuwrites, created her account the day after finishing her first novel. "I believed in myself, so I started my account in case it could help my author journey," Wu says when we spoke at BookCon.

Wu's debut novel, Madder Lake, is set to be published by Harper Voyager in 2027. As for whether her TikTok following helped her land the deal, she says it's possible. During the BookCon panel "Readers vs. Writers' Spaces," Wu shared that a "whole slew of factors" go into a publisher's decision to acquire a book — and she's unsure how much her platform ultimately mattered.

But with authors taking the gamble on content creation, there's another issue to contend with: navigating the boundaries between reader and writer spaces online. While Gong was early to TikTok, BookTok was originally, and still is, driven by readers sharing and reviewing books. While there are plenty of loyal fans of authors and book series, when a negative review rolls in, authors are now face-to-face with their critics.

"Just don't tag writers in negative reviews, right? That's just common courtesy," Wu said on her BookCon panel. Author Brooke Fast, who joined Wu on the same panel, also had insights. Like Wu, Fast was first a creator, primarily on Bookstagram (the equivalent of BookTok, but on Instagram), before HarperCollins published her debut novel, To Cage a Wild Bird.

"If I'm tagged in positive content, I'll typically interact with it when I'm able, but I would never interact with negative content," said Fast. "I know sometimes it gets confusing. I've heard authors say that if someone comments negatively on my post, that's my space and I'm now entitled to fight back. But I just think nothing good comes from fighting."

“If I'm tagged in positive content, I'll usually interact with it when I can, but I never engage with negative content," Fast said. "I know that can be confusing. I've heard authors say that if someone comments negatively on my post, that's my space and I’m entitled to fight back. But I don’t think anything good comes from fighting."

With authors increasingly present on BookTok, the challenge isn't just proximity to audiences; content creation can become a full-time job, often at the expense of writing. Wu says social media can be useful in the early stages, helping her narrow down and refine ideas. By staying attuned to what readers are discussing, she can "use that lens to help [her] pick and refine ideas." But once drafting begins, she makes a point to tune it out.

Gong echoed that approach. "My job is writing. My job isn't being an influencer. I’ll post if I have something to share with my readers — behind-the-scenes insights or news about a new book — but I always remind myself that my goal is connection, not growth. Otherwise, my books get sidelined."

So while the author-as-content-creator line begins to blur in the era of self-promotion, especially when publishing resources aren't stacked in an author's favor, it remains true that it's a tool for connection and promotion, but it's not a second career.

TL;DR: Learn piano on your own time with a lifetime subscription to this AI-powered Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, $99.97 (reg. $299.99) through May 10.

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Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription

$99.97
$299.99 Save $200.02

 

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Want to learn piano between emails, episodes, or outfit changes? Skoove Premium Piano Lessons makes mastering the keys fit into your busy lifestyle. Learn from this AI-powered app on your own terms with this lifetime subscription, on sale now for just $99.97 through May 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Do you have access to a piano or keyboard? If you do, all you’ll need is your phone to start on your journey to becoming a pianist. Skoove Premium Piano Lessons brings lessons to you with AI-powered teaching that fits your schedule.

Think of Skoove as your AI piano tutor that listens as you play. It can recognize your notes and give you real-time feedback, no matter your skill level. Hop in as a beginner or start at a more advanced level — there are over 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos to pick from.

Skoove lets you learn by playing your favorite tunes. Pick pop songs by Adele or The Beatles, or classical pieces by Beethoven or Bach.

With a lifetime subscription, the learning never ends. Continue enhancing your skills in your spare time, and keep things fresh with new lessons and songs added every month.

Need extra support? Skoove also offers one-on-one help from real music instructors when you need it.

Play piano like a pro thanks to this lifetime subscription to this AI-powered Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, now just $99.97 through May 10.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

12. Worst Ex Ever, Season 2

If you ripped through Should I Marry a Murderer? and want more true crime stories about romances that turned toxic (and even deadly), then Blumhouse's second season of Worst Ex Ever is for you.

Four new episodes told from the perspective of the exes who survived them reveal stories of betrayal, robbery, assault, and murder. Some you may have heard about, like the 90 Day Fiancé star accused of decades of domestic violence. Or the "worst ex" that kicks off Season 2: Wade Wilson, aka "the Deadpool Killer." But even if you've heard of these bad boyfriends before, this series unearths shocking details that are sure to leave you rattled. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Worst Ex Ever Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Whistle

So you're a group of students who find a creepy skull-shaped pipe and decide the best course of action is to blow into it. You're the characters from Whistle, directed by Corin Hardy (The Nun) and written by Owen Egerton (Mercy Black). But folks, this ain't just any cursed object, it's an Aztec death whistle, which, if blown into, will summon your future demise. Sounds like Final Destination meets Ouija. Fun! Terrifying! Orchestral! This Fantastic Fest debut promises to freak you out and possibly deter you from ever picking up a wind instrument again.* — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Sophie Nélisse, Nick Frost, Michelle Fairley, Dafne Keen, Sky Yang, Jhaleil Swaby, Ali Skovbye, and Percy Hynes White

How to watch: Whistle debuts on Shudder May 8.

10. Remarkably Bright Creatures

Shelby Van Pelt's bestselling novel Remarkably Bright Creatures comes to Netflix this May, bringing with it the sweet story of an unlikely friendship. On one side of the friendship? Tova Sullivan (Sally Field), a widow who works as a cleaner at a local aquarium. On the other side? Marcellus (voiced by Alfred Molina), a giant Pacific octopus whose tank Tova cleans. The pair's unlikely bond brings joy to Tova's life, as does her burgeoning connection with her younger coworker, Cameron (Lewis Pullman). Expect this one to tug at your heartstrings.* — B.E.

Starring: Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Colm Meaney, Joan Chen, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Sofia Black-D’Elia, and Alfred Molina

How to watch: Remarkably Bright Creatures debuts on Netflix May 8.

9. Touch Me

Here's a comedy for those who've become addicted to a beau who's bad for you. This horror comedy from writer/director Addison Heimann begins with best friends Craig (Jordan Gavaris) and Joey (Olivia Taylor Dudley), who know that her ex is bad news. But even though he's cringe, he's irritably alluring. No, like, he's an extraterrestrial narcissist whose touch is like heroin.

Weird and wild, Touch Me is the kind of comedy that's perfect for a movie night in with friends. Well, as long as your friends are weirdos too. — K.P.

Starring: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jordan Gavaris, Marlene Forte, Paget Brewster, Ashley Lauren Nedd, JJ Phillips, Yumarie Morales, and Eli Lucas

How to watch: Touch Me is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

8. The Terror: Devil in Silver

AMC's supernatural horror anthology season returns with Season 3 in the form of The Terror: Devil in Silver.

Adapted from Victor LaValle's novel, The Devil in Silver this season stars Dan Stevens as Pepper, who once dreamed of rock star glory as a drummer for a heavy metal band called Rhino. But in middle age, he's a blue-collar nobody with violent outbursts, whose life is thrown into spin when he's wrongfully committed to an asylum called the New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital. There, he'll confront his own flaws, and an evil he can't explain. — K.P.

Starring: Dan Stevens, Judith Light, CCH Pounder, and Stephen Root

How to watch: The Terror: Devil in Silver is now streaming on AMC+ and Shudder.

7. The Bear, "Gary"

Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach in "The Bear." Credit: FX

While you wait for FX to serve up Season 5 of The Bear, which is due in June, take a nibble on "Gary," a surprise stand-alone episode that dropped May 5. Written by and starring Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal, the flashback episode follows Mikey (Bernthal) and Richie (Moss-Bachrach) along on a work trip to Gary. 

The episode begins as a solid slice-of-life outing, full of pickup basketball trash talk and a sweet conversation with a hot dog restaurant owner. Quickly, though, it devolves into a self-indulgent trauma fest, complete with yet another unconvincing The Bear romance and a wild cliffhanger that sets up The Bear Season 5. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jon Bernthal, Marin Ireland, and Gillian Jacobs

How to watch: "Gary" is now streaming on Hulu.

6. RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Season 11

Racers, start your engines, and gear up for the summer's most fabulous smackdown.

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 11 pits 18 of Drag Race's fiercest queens against one another in the same battle bracket format that made Season 10 such a refreshing series reset. The cast mixes returning All Stars competitors with new blood, setting the stage for some juicy face-offs. Please, Drag Race gods, send me a lip sync between Kennedy Davenport and Morphine Love Dion! — B.E.

Starring: RuPaul, Michelle Visage, A'keria C. Davenport, Dawn, Lucky Starzzz, Morgan McMichaels, Morphine Love Dion, Mystique Summers, April Carrión, Crystal Methyd, Salina Estitties, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Vivacious, Hershii LiqCour-Jeté, Joey Jay, Kennedy Davenport, Sam Star, and Shuga Cain

How to watch: RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 11 premieres on Paramount+ on May 8.

5. The Drama

Between The Drama and Euphoria, it's a big year for Zendaya and disastrous onscreen weddings. One of the buzziest films of 2026 so far, The Drama pairs Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a seemingly perfect engaged couple named Emma and Charlie. In the days leading up to their wedding, the couple — prompted by friends Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie) — confess the worst things they've ever done. Emma's admission leaves jaws dropped, and Charlie in a spiral.

What follows is a harrowing interrogation of Emma and Charlie's relationship and how people perceive it. While Zendaya and Pattinson are tremendous, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko was less impressed with writer/director Kristoffer Borgli's execution, writing in her review (which, fair warning, contains spoilers should you want to go into the film blind), "But much like [Borgli's prior film] Dream Scenario, his actors give more than his undercooked script deserves." — B.E.

Starring: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates, and Zoë Winters

How to watch: The Drama is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

4. Lord of the Flies

A new miniseries from Adolescence co-writer Jack Thorne, based on William Golding's legendary novel Lord of the Flies? Count us in. Following a group of school boys who are forced to survive on a deserted island after their plane crashes, this new adaptation is every bit as brutal as the 1954 book. Expect coming-of-age friendships, rivalries, and a piercing exploration of just how quickly society can fall apart when things enter life-or-death territory. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Winston Sawyers, Lox Pratt, David McKenna, and Ike Talbut

How to watch: Lord of the Flies is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

In this direct sequel to Ready or Not, Samara Weaving reprises the the role of the Grace Le Domas (née MacCaullay), who was recently widowed when a deal with the devil went sideways for her in-laws. But they're not the only ultra-rich families who've struck such an agreement. And now, a new lot of affluent and armed antagonists are on the hunt for round two. At least this time, Grace gets a Player 2 in her estranged sister (Kathryn Newton).

In my review out of SXSW, I cheered the bonkers fun that the filmmaking team known as Radio Silence brings to this sequel. Particularly shouting out Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy for bringing mesmerizing menace as a pair of toxic twins, I concluded, "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a winner when it comes to being a totally batshit good time." — K.P.

Starring: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood

How to watch: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

2. Send Help

Sam Raimi, the gnarly mind behind the Evil Dead trilogy, brings his distinctive brand of horror comedy to this sensational and gloppy survival thriller.

Rachel McAdams stars as a mild-mannered office worker who gets stranded on a desert island with her jerk of a boss, played by Dylan O'Brien. Lucky for him, she's obsessed with Survivor, and actually knows how to stay alive in such extreme circumstances. Lucky for us, she's got a mean streak that really blooms in this tropical paradise.

In my review for the film's theatrical release, I wrote, "This was an incredible viewing experience; Raimi took me back to being a kid again, watching Evil Dead 2 on VHS and squealing at the sheer outrageousness of it all. All these years later, I'm much harder to shock — and yet he did it again. Watching Send Help, my stomach churned, my jaw dropped, my eyes bulged, and I threw my hands over my face a few times to guard from the gross explosion on screen. Then I walked out cackling and giddy, because Send Help is not just one of the grossest movies I've seen in the last decade. It's also a rip-roaring, no-fucks-to-give good time." —K.P.

Starring: Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien

How to watch: Send Help is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

Best of streaming this week: The Other Bennet Sister

Jane Austen-adjacent series The Other Bennet Sister premiered in the UK earlier this year to acclaim. Now, U.S. audiences can catch it on BritBox — and if you love Pride and Prejudice, you absolutely should.

Based on Janice Hadlow's book of the same name, this sweet Regency romance reimagines Pride and Prejudice — and beyond — through Mary Bennet's (Ella Bruccoleri) eyes. Bookish and a bit of a know-it-all, Mary is always overlooked by her family and by suitors. However, when she gets a chance to visit London, she'll set off on an endearing journey of self-discovery. Boasting a charming lead performance from Bruccoleri, as well as a swoon-worthy new love interest in Dónal Finn's Tom Hayward, The Other Bennet Sister is a delectable spring TV treat. — B.E.

Starring: Ella Bruccoleri, Ruth Jones, Richard E. Grant, Maddie Close, Poppy Gilbert, Grace Hogg-Robinson, Molly Wright, Indira Varma, Richard Coyle, and Varada Sethu

How to watch: The Other Bennet Sister premieres on BritBox on May 6.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

TL;DR: A refurbished 2020 MacBook Air for $289.99 (reg. $999) delivers solid everyday performance and seamless Apple ecosystem integration.

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Credit: Apple

Apple MacBook Air 2020 (Refurbished)

$289.99
$999 Save $709.01

 

Get Deal

Have you been thinking about getting a MacBook? This is the kind of sale price that makes you stop scrolling.

The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is going for $289.99 (reg. $999), and for most people, it checks the boxes that actually matter. Not maxed-out specs, but real-world usability.

You’re getting a 10th-gen Intel Core i3, 8GB of RAM, and a fast 128GB SSD. That translates to smooth performance for everyday tasks — think browsing, email, Google Docs, streaming, and juggling multiple tabs without everything slowing to a crawl. It’s not built for heavy video editing or gaming, but that’s not what most people are buying a MacBook Air for anyway.

It also still shines in the overall experience. The 13.3-inch Retina display is sharp and easy on the eyes, with True Tone helping adjust to your environment. The Magic Keyboard is comfortable (and a big step up from older models), and Touch ID keeps logins quick and secure.

Battery life still holds up for a full day of light to moderate use, and the lightweight design makes it easy to carry around — whether you’re commuting, working from a coffee shop, or just moving from room to room.

And if you’re already using an iPhone or AirPods, this fits right in. AirDrop, iMessage, FaceTime — it all works seamlessly without any setup headaches.

It is refurbished (Grade B), so you might see minor cosmetic wear, but nothing that affects performance.

Don’t miss getting this quality refurbished MacBook Air while it’s $289.99 (reg. $999) and still in stock.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Even though a single viral moment can seem like a fast track to fame, the internet's fickle nature rarely turns one video into a lasting career. Creator Kelsey Impicciche knows that "overnight success" is usually years in the making, with a little fun along the way.

"Everyone says overnight success takes 10 years, and that's 100 percent what happened with me," Impicciche said when we sat down with her at BookCon 2026. Impicciche, a creator with over 1 million YouTube subscribers, has also added author to her resume with the 2026 release of her debut novel, The Voice of the Ocean.

We sat down with Impicciche to talk about the video that started it all and balancing life as a creator and author.

Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Adobe Stock/Electronic Arts/Blackstone Publishing

Mashable: What was your experience in gaining a following? Was there one video that took off, or was it a gradual incline?

Kelsey Impicciche: I started in content creation as a side thing because I was an actor in Los Angeles and wasn't getting a ton of auditions, especially ones that were challenging. So in the interim, I wanted something creative that I could own.

I just started posting online once a week to give myself something to do. I started from zero subscribers on YouTube and worked my way up, getting more opportunities until someone asked if I wanted to apply to be an intern at BuzzFeed. I gained a couple of thousand subscribers on my channel at that point, applied, and got it. Then I worked at BuzzFeed for a year and a half, and that's when my most viral video happened.

So I had been working on YouTube for like two, maybe even three years at that point, and had put out so many videos before I had this, like, mega-viral hit that everyone knows me from.

I remember the day it happened, too. It was the "100 Baby Challenge," where I played The Sims 4 and had one Sim who was supposed to have 100 babies [in one lifetime]. It was Christmas break, and I was on leave, but everyone at the office was texting me, like, "We've got to go back in and make more of these, because everyone's loving them." I had pitched the video as a joke because I was in between other projects, and I thought it would be funny. I really didn't think anyone would see it. That's always when magic happens, when you're having fun, you're not taking it too seriously, but you also really do know the audience. The cultivation of that title came from so many different videos that I had done up until that point that had done well, so this title has all the little ingredients that I know people gravitate toward. It happened to be this magical little concoction.

Was that the moment you felt like you had made it as a content creator?

There were so many moments along the way. The first audition was when they brought me in because I was a content creator, and I think I only had a couple of hundred subscribers at that point. And then when I first got the job at BuzzFeed, that really felt like I'd made it. Even just as an intern, I had my literal dream job making content.

Until the Sims video, I'd never put myself alone in a video. I'd always put myself surrounded by other people. I always felt like I wasn't funny or interesting enough to carry the whole video by myself. It felt like nobody knew who I was. But with that video, I was the only one who knew the challenge and knew the game well enough to play it, so I had to cast myself. It was a confidence booster, like, I don't need to be surrounded by funnier comics. I can stand alone here.

And when did writing a book come into your career?

With the internet, I feel like you have to just find your niche and stay there. kind of thing. So it's interesting that people think that [writing] came out of nowhere. But for me, I've been obsessed with books since I was a child, and that was actually my dream job. I went to college planning to write, but then took a swerve into acting. It's funny that you sometimes hide these pieces of yourself on the internet. At the end of the day, it's all storytelling.

When writing really kicked off was in the middle of COVID, and I was bored. I had so much downtime and felt really lonely. An email came across my desk from work, offering a creative writing workshop by one of the writers on staff. It was as if this dream deferred, bloomed inside of me.

So my first novel, Voice of the Ocean, was just me alone. It was a message in a bottle that I just flung into the universe, hoping someone would see it someday.

Over time, I realized BookTok was taking off, too, and my two worlds didn't have to be so separate. It's very similar to the plot of Voice of the Ocean, with the feeling of being pulled between two worlds. You can embody more than one thing online, so it was so exciting to start bringing books into my content and seeing how many girls who love games also love books.

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Credit: Blackstone Publishing

'The Voice of the Ocean' by Kelsey Impicciche

$27.95 at Bookshop.org
$29.99 Save $2.04

 

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How are you balancing writing with content creation?

Not well. I wish there were magically more time. I always remind myself to try to do it even when I'm tired. Sometimes it is a job, and you have to show up. But I still feel like the luckiest gal in the world every time I feel a little down on my energy, or I feel like I don't have enough time. I have to be like, "Dude, you're pinching yourself. This is the coolest experience ever." But I think the big thing for me is segmenting writing into many to-do lists, making sure I break each task into smaller ones. That way, I keep everything moving.

Have you embraced being an author in your content?

I'm still trying to strike that balance of showing up for all the people who love the Sims, introducing a new world to everybody, and showing up for the people who really love the book. It's hard. A lot of people suggest making separate accounts for everything. And for some people, that works, but I'm balancing the two on one channel. I think it might be the harder path, but it's really rewarding.

How do you feel about readers being in writers' spaces and vice versa?

I definitely think readers deserve their space and the ability to talk comfortably about a book without being beholden to authors. When I first started reading, I never felt like I had to take care of the writer's feelings. The book is for the reader. It's not for me [as the author], right? Like it might have been once, right, when I was writing it, but once you put it out in the world, all art is for its consumer. That's a magical part of it; the consumer can have whatever experience they're having.

But I do think it is quite hard because I'm also a fan of books and authors, and I'm also a content creator. So I've tried to walk that line where I'm not gonna be here to review books. I might talk about what I'm enjoying, but I always keep a positive spin on it.

I think it makes sense for readers to keep their own space while also not inviting me into it. If you want to see something sassy about me, that's totally fine, but please don't tag me.

What's next for you as an author and a content creator?

I have some really exciting stuff coming up in both fields. I'm writing the sequel to my duology. The first book is in edits right now. Hopefully, a title and a release date are somewhere on the horizon. I'm just so excited to be able to share all of this with readers and viewers alike, and to engage with people who share my passions.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, May 7, 2026:

Across

A-___ (top-quality)

• The answer is One.

B-___ (decent grade)

• The answer is Plus.

C-___ (group of execs)

• The answer is Suite.

Fails to be

• The answer is Isn't.

Nonbinary pronoun

• The answer is They.

Down

The center, guards and tackles on an N.F.L. team, for short

• The answer is Oline.

Like the taste of browned butter

• The answer is Nutty.

Language suffix

• The answer is Ese.

Helpful label by a door handle

• The answer is Push.

Get into a lotus pose, perhaps

• The answer is Sit.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Take the audio survey.

Here at Mashable, we’re always trying out the latest tech products to help our readers determine whether or not they’re worth it. But now, we want to hear from you about the products you use and love. In this edition of our Readers’ Choice Awards, we’re asking you about the audio gear you use in your daily life, including headphones and earbuds, speakers, and soundbars.

So, take a few minutes to fill out our audio survey. Your thoughts and feedback might just grant your favorite devices a Mashable Readers’ Choice Award — plus you could win a $250 Amazon gift card.

We’ll be running this survey until May 10, 2026, and then we’ll crunch the numbers to see which headphones/earbuds, speakers, and soundbars you all deem the best.

How to enter

There are two methods to enter the Sweepstakes: (1) fill out the online survey, or (2) enter by mail.

1. Survey Entry: To enter the Sweepstakes through the online survey, go to the survey page and complete the current survey during the Sweepstakes Period.

2. Mail Entry: To enter the Sweepstakes by mail, on a 3 x 5-inch card, print your first and last name, street address, city, state, zip code, phone number, and email address. Mail your completed entry to:

Readers' Choice Sweepstakes - Audio
c/o M. Kern
360 Park Ave South, Floor 17
New York, NY 10010

Mail Entries must be postmarked by May 11, 2026, and received by May 17, 2026. For official sweepstakes rules and promotion start and end dates, please click HERE.

Nintendo is remaking Star Fox 64, reviving the retro gaming classic for the Nintendo Switch 2. Announced during a surprise Nintendo Direct livestream on Wednesday, Star Fox will not only upgrade the graphics, but also add new features updating it for modern gamers.

Also known as Lylat Wars, Star Fox 64 is a 1997 rail shooter developed for Nintendo 64. Playing as humanoid fox Fox McCloud, players defend the fictional Lylat star system by shooting down enemies and dodging obstacles in his spaceship. Star Fox 64 was a significant hit that is still fondly remembered today — and also spawned the classic meme "do a barrel roll."

Now Fox McCloud is back in Star Fox, sporting "a more animal-like design" alongside fellow Star Fox team members Falco Lombardi, Peppy Hare, and Slippy Toad.

"Star Fox is based on the Nintendo 64 game Star Fox 64, but the visuals have been completely updated," said Nintendo senior executive officer Yoshiaki Koizumi, speaking via a translator during the prerecorded livestream. "All of the characters in the game have also been redesigned."

Nintendo states that level layouts will be the same as in Star Fox 64, and that the banter between the Star Fox team is returning. Star Fox 64's vehicles are back too, with players able to pilot the Landmaster land vehicle, Blue-Marine submersible, and Fox McCloud's trusty Arwing spaceship. And yes, it will be able to do a barrel roll.

Credit: Nintendo

Credit: Nintendo

The remake does make a few changes though, with new mission briefing cutscenes placed between stages to flesh out the story. Star Fox will have online multiplayer and matchmaking too, allowing players to work in teams and compete against each other remotely. The game will still have local co-op, but rather than the split-screen days of yore, players will be able to share Star Fox from a Nintendo Switch 2 to other local Switch devices via the GameShare.

Interestingly, Star Fox will let players split pilot and gunner controls for a single vehicle if they so choose, which seems like a handy co-op option for getting younger children involved. Players can also use a Joy-Con 2 controller like a mouse for more precise targeting, or go completely old-school with a Nintendo 64 controller.

Star Fox offers character avatars in the Switch 2's GameChat as well. This feature tracks players' head and face movements via webcam, animating characters to match it in real time and displaying this to others using Nintendo's voice and video chat system.

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Reaction to Nintendo's announcement has been mixed. While some are excited about the prospect of a new game in the Star Fox franchise, others have criticised the hyperrealistic look of its anthropomorphic animal characters, or bemoaned the fact that it's a remake instead of a new original game in the series.

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This isn't Nintendo's first Star Fox 64 remake. The company previously remade the game for Nintendo 3DS in 2011, entitled Star Fox 64 3D. Then in 2016, the Japanese gaming giant released Wii U reboot Star Fox Zero. A decade later, a new version of Star Fox 64 is now on its way, and it won't be long to wait.

Star Fox launches on June 25 for $49.99, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-orders are open now.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an NBA fan.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Big catch

• Green: Many

• Blue: A sports no-no

• Purple: Ascend and descend

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Fishing gear

• Green: Multitude

• Blue: Commit a basketball infraction

• Purple: Controlled with up/down buttons

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1061 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Fishing gear: FLY, HOOK, LINE, NET

• Multitude: DROVE, HOST, MASS, PACK

• Commit a basketball infraction: CARRY, DOUBLE-DRIBBLE, GOALTEND, TRAVEL

• Controlled with up/down buttons: CAR WINDOW, CHANNEL, ELEVATOR, VOLUME

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you always ask for permission.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Go right ahead!

The words are related to permission.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being allowed.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Give the Nod.

NYT Strands word list for May 7

• Approve

• Permit

• Sanction

• Give the Nod

• Allow

• Bless

• License

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're always on the move.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To move.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BUDGE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Apple has reached a $250 million settlement in a lawsuit that accused the company of exaggerating Apple Intelligence's intelligence.

The suit claimed that Apple misled iPhone users about Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of AI tools, before and after the launch of the iPhone 16 in Sep. 2024. The settlement filing states that U.S. shoppers who bought certain iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025 may qualify to receive a portion of the $250 million settlement.

Multiple class-action suits were filed over Apple Intelligence marketing before being combined into a single action. According to the May 5 filing with a U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, both parties in the case have now agreed to settle.

Once a judge approves the agreement, qualifying Apple customers will be able to receive payments between $25 to $95.

As is typical in class-action settlements, Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing. The company defended itself in a statement sent to the New York Times: "We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users."

Why was Apple sued in the first place?

When ChatGPT burst onto the tech scene in 2022, it ignited a global AI arms race. While companies like Google have been able to release competitors to ChatGPT, Tim Cook's company staked out a cautious position on the sidelines.

In 2024, Apple launched its own AI tools under the banner of Apple Intelligence. Early marketing for Apple Intelligence highlighted a variety of use cases, such as writing emails and a more conversational, intelligent Siri.

The lawsuit states that Apple promised iPhone shoppers "enhanced Siri features" and advanced AI capabilities, and that its failure to deliver violated consumer protection laws.

Apple's stalled work on an AI version of Siri has been one of the biggest ongoing stories in the tech industry in recent years. The company is expected to finally release the updated Siri at the WWDC 2026 event in June, two years behind schedule.

In short, the suit claims that Apple oversold customers on AI features that weren't even built, and that remain undelivered today.

"We are proud to secure a historic settlement on behalf of consumers who should feel confident and protected when deciding where to spend their hard-earned dollars," said Ryan Clarkson, founder and managing partner of Clarkson Law Firm, one of the firms involved in the class-action case. "We are at an inflection point with AI, and the choices companies and regulators make now will shape how this technology impacts everyday people."

Clarkson told Mashable that "the balance of power between ordinary consumers and rich and powerful corporations" may depend on lawsuits like this, at least "until the political gridlock is cleared in Washington." He called out companies like Apple for "mandatory arbitration provisions buried in pages of so-called terms of service that avoid accountability, shut the courthouse doors, and force individuals to assert low-dollar claims in secret tribunals outside the public eye."

What iPhone models are included in the class-action settlement?

The agreement stipulates that shoppers who reside in the U.S. and purchased iPhones with Apple Intelligence features between June 2024 and March 2025 may be eligible for compensation. The phones named in the agreement include:

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16 Plus

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

Typically, class-action settlements like this require approval from a judge. Notices will go out automatically to many customers, and a settlement website will be created with additional information on consumers' rights in the case.

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What a difference an inch makes.

That was my first thought on using the Paper Pure, the new entry-level e-ink tablet offering from Remarkable. And it's been my thought several times since, whenever I surprised myself by reaching for the Pure to write my daily journal when its pricier cousins were right there.

Remarkable is the Norwegian e-ink tablet maker behind the A4-sized Remarkable Paper Pro (from $579) and the reporters' notebook-sized Remarkable Paper Pro Move. Until now, the company has offered the $399 Remarkable 2 (originally released in 2020) as its entry-level e-ink tablet. And in some respects, the Paper Pure is a Remarkable 2 in new clothing.

Family portrait: The new Remarkable Paper Pure, center, flanked by the Paper Pro (L) and Paper Pro Move (R). Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

The size of the screen itself, 11 inches, is identical to the Remarkable 2. As with the Remarkable 2, the Paper Pure offers no backlight or color e-ink (if either are necessities for you, go directly to our Paper Pro, Paper Pro Move, or Kindle Colorsoft Scribe reviews).

The Marker stylus included at that $399 price point is the improved version also used on the Paper Pro models. You can pay more for one with a physical eraser on one end — the Marker Plus (which will set you back $40 more as part of a bundle that also includes a Sleeve Folio). But if you care about that rather than the on-screen eraser tool, you're probably in the market for a pricier e-ink tablet.

Likewise, if latency is important (that is, the gap between the stylus hitting the screen and ink appearing), the Paper Pure is a tiny step down from its pricier brethren — a 21 millisecond gap rather than 12 milliseconds on the Paper Pro models.

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The Paper Pure feels lighter than air

The plastic back of the Remarkable Paper Pure: Not cheap, super light. Credit: Remarkable

But what the Paper Pure lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in sheer usability. If you're new to the whole concept of e-ink tablets — the pen-on-paper-like notepads that are easy on your eyes, easy to use in sunlight, and in the style of a Kindle — then the Pure is the best place to start. If you're a power user who can afford both, the Pure may be the one you feel comfortable throwing into your work bag while keeping a Pro at home.

Part of that sense of usability is the weight difference. Not to weight-shame, but at 360 grams (0.79 lbs), the Paper Pure is 44 grams (1.55 ounces) lighter than the Remarkable 2 — even as the Remarkable 2 is a hair's-breadth slimmer than the Pure.

Does that make a difference? Heck yeah, it does, and your wrist will thank you. There's not even the mildest clenching of tendons in your forearm when your hand holds a Pure, the way you might be used to clenching when picking up a regular tablet. For comparison, the latest 11-inch iPad Air is 1.02 lbs (462g). The Paper Pure is the kind of tablet for which the designation "air" really makes sense.

Fortunately, you don't have to sacrifice much in the way of performance. The new e-ink tablet actually has double the RAM and four times the storage of its admittedly aged predecessor (2GB and 32GB, respectively).

Side view: Look at the lovely round edges. Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

How did Remarkable achieve this lightness? It's largely in the housing; the Remarkable 2 used brushed aluminum for its backside, and the Paper Pure uses plastic. But the Paper Pure's plastic back doesn't feel cheap. In fact, it feels a tad more welcoming. The metal back on the Remarkable 2 and the Paper Pro both feel cold to the touch; the Pure is more like room temperature.

More weight has been shed by the decision to not include a connector for the Folio keyboard, which you could get as an extra for the Remarkable 2. To my mind, this is no great loss; I've had the Folio for years, and can count on one hand the number of times I've used it for any length of time. Typing is not the point on an e-ink tablet; handwriting (which can convert to text) and sketching are the point.

When you do need to type — and it is nice to have the option to go back and forth — I've found that the on-screen keyboard is enough. If you're typing all the time, maybe what you're looking for is a laptop, or an iPad with a Magic Keyboard, rather than an e-ink tablet. The refresh rate on e-ink is a perpetual problem, and it's always going to make typing seem slower than we're used to.

The Paper Pure is a little bit shorter

Old vs. new: The Remarkable 2 (left) and the Remarkable Paper Pure. Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

Then there's that other crucial difference in form factor: height. The Pure is like a Remarkable 2, but roughly an inch shorter (8.9 in. vs 9.7 in., to be exact). It also has notably rounder edges, which is the kind of thing design nerds care about, but they do combine with the height and weight differential to make the Pure feel ... well, in a word, friendlier.

The battery life is also friendlier. Remarkable says a single charge lasts three weeks in the Paper Pure. That's the kind of claim it's hard to test for a launch-day review, but I have no reason to doubt it. Certainly, the Pure lasts longer than the Paper Pro and the Paper Pro Move, but in my experience, both tend to turn on at the slightest bag jostle, burning through battery life with that backlight.

Do you need a backlight, anyway? I thought I did, for end-of-day journal writing. But increasingly, research shows that any bright light at night (not just the blue light from regular LCD displays) can wake our brains up just when they're supposed to be going to sleep. After a few bouts of insomnia coincided with Paper Pro use, I've decided the Pure and a dimmed bedside lamp are all I really need at the end of the day.

The Remarkable Paper Pure Folio case — a good dust-catcher Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable

And what about the Paper Pure versus the even smaller Paper Pro Move, which I rhapsodized about last year? I still love my Move, especially the ability to toss it in almost any jacket pocket. When packing for trips, when space is at a premium, the Move is the Remarkable I'll reach for. It's great for privacy, too, and it's the Remarkable to use on a plane with a nosy seatmate (or at a press conference).

Still, most of us aren't exactly secret agents, and the Move has turned out to be a little too small for many real-life use cases. Over time, I have noticed my handwriting looks significantly worse on the Move, compared to Remarkable devices with larger screens, and that my posture gets worse as I use it, peering at the smaller screen.

But with the Paper Pure, it feels more like you're toting around a kind of short-but-cheerful clipboard. (For this reason, I never saw a need to put the Pure inside its Folio sleeve case.) I can also see doctors using it while doing their hospital rounds if, for example, they can't afford to let their handwriting suffer on the Move. Or I can imagine pulling it out at a regular conference room meeting, without derailing the meeting with questions about your snazzy device (the downside of light and color on the Pro devices: they often attract attention.)

The verdict: An impressive e-ink tablet with a great price

The Remarkable Paper Pure is your workhorse e-ink tablet. Or if you prefer a horse racing analogy, the Pure is an excellent jockey — a job where being a couple of ounces lighter and an inch shorter can make all the difference.

You can order the Remarkable Paper Pure starting May 6 for $399 at the Remarkable online store. You can purchase a Sleeve Folio case for $69.

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Credit: Remarkable

Remarkable Paper Pure

$399 at Remarkable

 

Shop Now

The world has no shortage of Pride and Prejudice adaptations.

On top of screen adaptations like the 1995 miniseries and the 2005 film (as well as Netflix's upcoming movie), Jane Austen's enduring novel has spawned several spin-off books, like P.D. James' Death Comes to Pemberley, Amanda Grange's Mr. Darcy's Diary, and Janice Hadlow's The Other Bennet Sister. The latter is the source material for a miniseries that aired on BBC One earlier this year to critical and public acclaim. Now, The Other Bennet Sister has made its way to U.S. audiences via BritBox, and it's the perfect watch for any Austen head. If you love Pride and Prejudice (either the novel or its many reincarnations), then here are five reasons to make The Other Bennet Sister your next binge.

1. It revisits Pride and Prejudice through a fresh set of eyes.

The titular Bennet sister is Mary (Ella Bruccoleri), the Bennet family's bookish, occasionally scolding middle child. Her family, especially her mother (Ruth Jones), finds her plain and uninteresting, and therefore have all resigned themselves to the fact that she will never find a suitable match. Because of this, Mary spends much of her time as a wallflower. It's through her wounded eyes that we witness the events of Pride and Prejudice play out anew, from Lizzie's (Poppy Gilbert) first anger at Mr. Darcy's (Victor Pilard) rude comments to her rejection of Mr. Collins' (Ryan Sampson) marriage proposal.

Thankfully, The Other Bennet Sister doesn't just offer up a Pride and Prejudice rehash. (In fact, it speedruns the book in its first two episodes.) Instead, it gives Austen fans just enough hints at the broader story they know and love, while still centering Mary's outsider perspective. This approach leads to several moving reframes of book scenes. Remember when Mary sings horribly at a ball, much to Lizzie's disapproval? The Other Bennet Sister dives into why she's so intent on singing at this moment, and how awful she feels after Lizzie cuts her performance short. Scenes like these make you consider the book differently, while also letting the original stand on its own.

2. It will make you think differently about certain Pride and Prejudice characters.

The Other Bennet Sister won't just make you reevaluate the oft-shunned Mary's role in Pride and Prejudice. It will also prompt you to reconsider your ideas of some of the novel's most ridiculous or villainous characters.

Take Mr. Collins, for instance. He's often an insufferable source of comic relief, and while The Other Bennet Sister still plays his fuddy-duddyness for laughs, it also proposes that he's fully aware of how much others disdain him. On top of generating empathy for him, The Other Bennet Sister also spends extra time on Charlotte Lucas' (Anna Fenton-Garvey) choice to marry him, and even tries to get inside the head of the icy Caroline Bingley (Tanya Reynolds). Could these reappraisals spark a new appreciation for these characters on your next Pride and Prejudice read-through?

3. It features a charming lead performance from Ella Bruccoleri...

In Bruccoleri's hands, Mary Bennet surges from the margins of Pride and Prejudice and into the spotlight with resounding success. She wrings heartbreak from the Bennets' constant dismissals of Mary and manages to turn Mary's pedantic corrections of the most minute details into timid moments of rebellion. When Mary corrects her mother on whether someone is coming "up" or "down" from London, she's really trying to assert power over the person who puts her down the most. Bruccoleri delivers each correction as if it's a surprise even to Mary, the words flying out of her before she's had the chance to think them through. (Granted, the character's most grating tendencies have been sanded down a bit for the adaptation, and I do sometimes wish they had let Mary be more conceited.)

Bruccoleri especially shines as The Other Bennet Sister moves to London, where Mary meets up with people who see her true value. Here, she undergoes a metamorphosis. Not a rom-com-style glow-up, but an opening of her mind and heart to others. It's a sweet arc that Bruccoleri charts with a winning openness, even when Mary herself struggles to close herself off.

4. ... and a swoon-worthy love interest in Dónal Finn's Tom Hayward.

One of the people who sees Mary's virtues immediately is Tom Hayward (Dónal Finn), a lawyer with a penchant for poetry. He may not be an actual Austen character, but he does make a fine addition to the canon of Regency romantic heroes.

Tom always appreciates Mary wholeheartedly and is willing to meet her at her level no matter the circumstance. In one serious scene, the pair discuss a potential future before Mary begins imitating the bird calls she hears around them. Undeterred, Tom joins right in. Their earlier conversation can wait! He also seeks to broaden her horizons. When she admits she doesn't like poetry because she can't feel the meaning of the words on the page, he organizes a private poetry performance in a secret garden dripping with lilacs. It's official: Romance isn't dead thanks to Tom Hayward, as well as Dónal Finn's charismatic performance in the role.

5. It's a more grounded Regency romance than Bridgerton.

No hate to Bridgerton, especially its spectacular fourth season, but sometimes you just want your Regency romance without the string quartet pop covers or fantastical costumes. Enter The Other Bennet Sister.

While I'm no expert on "historically accurate" aesthetics (nor do I believe a show needs accuracy to be good), The Other Bennet Sister's less elaborate balls and quieter costuming nicely match Mary's practicality. This isn't to say there is no fantasy. After all, one scene late in the season riffs on Colin Firth's Darcy's infamous lake scene. Yet for the most part, The Other Bennet Sister and its central romance succeed in their restraint: in Finn's longing delivery of each polite "Miss Bennet," in each lingering shot of Tom's forearms as he rolls up his sleeves. There's yearning to spare here, and The Other Bennet Sister weaves it expertly into Mary's tale of self-discovery to create a sweet spring TV treat.

The first three episodes of The Other Bennet Sister are now streaming on BritBox, with new episodes every Wednesday.

TL;DR: A well-specced Dell 15 laptop for $306.99 — fast SSD, solid performance, and ready for everyday use.

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Credit: Dell

Dell 15 2024 15.6-Inch (Certified Refurbished)

$306.99
$349.99 Save $43

 

Get Deal

You don’t need to spend big to get a laptop that keeps up. If you are in the market for a new machine that doesn’t cost a small fortune, this near-mint Dell 15 is on sale for just $306.99 (reg. $349.99) while stock is still available.

This laptop features an Intel Core 3 processor with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, which is a surprisingly solid combo at this price. This translates to it booting quickly, handling multiple tabs without choking, and keeping everyday tasks moving without frustration. Whether it’s emails, spreadsheets, streaming, or general browsing, it covers the basics comfortably.

The 15.6-inch Full HD display gives you enough screen real estate to actually work without feeling cramped, and the anti-glare panel helps if you’re not always in perfect lighting. It’s the kind of laptop you can use for a few hours without constantly adjusting things.

Connectivity is where it over-delivers. You’ve got USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, and WiFi 6, so it plays nicely with modern accessories and faster networks. No dongle drama necessary.

Battery life is rated up to around eight hours, which is enough for a work session, classes, or a long stretch away from an outlet.

And because it’s Grade A refurbished, you’re getting something that runs like new and looks close to new without paying full price.

If you want a reliable, no-nonsense laptop with the right specs in the right places, this is one of those rare options that makes a lot of sense.

Get this near-mint Dell 15 for just $306.99 (reg. $349.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

That was quick.

Some of the biggest AI companies have just agreed to provide the U.S. government with early access to their new AI models. And this went down just one day after a report from the New York Times detailed how the Trump administration was looking into government oversight of new AI models.

According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, three of tech's biggest AI companies — Google, Microsoft, and xAI — have all reached an agreement with the Trump administration to provide access to new frontier models before they are released to the public.

The three companies will provide this access to the Commerce Department’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI), which will evaluate new AI models on their capabilities and security. OpenAI and Anthropic have both previously agreed to a similar agreement with the Commerce Department in 2024.

CAISI has already completed over 40 evaluations on AI models before their release to the public.

“Independent, rigorous measurement science is essential to understanding frontier AI and its national security implications,” CAISI director Chris Fall said to the WSJ. “These expanded industry collaborations help us scale our work in the public interest at a critical moment.”

Earlier this week, the WSJ also reported that the Trump administration is looking into a "cybersecurity-focused executive order," which would create an oversight group whose role is to create standards for AI models.

These recent developments come in the wake of the Trump administration's feud with AI company Anthropic earlier this year. The US government declared Anthropic and its AI chatbot Claude was a supply chain risk to national security after the AI company requested that the Trump administration not use its technology for warfare or mass surveillance purposes.

Previously, the Trump administration has taken a very pro-AI stance, citing the need for U.S. companies to maintain an edge over their Chinese rivals.

Connections pulled a classic game design trick this week: showing the player a challenge they haven't seen before, but have unknowingly been preparing for this whole time.

The popular New York Times puzzle game, in which players usually are tasked with grouping a bunch of random words together into hidden categories, threw a heck of a curveball on Wednesday, May 6. If you haven't checked it out yet, today's puzzle is a bit strange in that it doesn't include words at all.

Instead, it's a bunch of symbols of mundane objects.

Uh...what? Credit: Screenshot: The New York Times

The puzzle actually makes some sense if you do what I did and just look up the answers, but for everyday Connections players, it's obviously going to be a more stiff challenge than usual. Of course, people on the internet had some real thoughts about this. Mostly very negative thoughts, to be precise.

Turns out, people really don't like it when you mess with their daily New York Times gaming routine.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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But there was at least one person who thought it was pretty neat.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Hopefully, tomorrow's puzzle is just words again.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Microsoft stands out as one of the most environmentally responsible companies in Big Tech, but a new report indicates it may be retreating from one of its most ambitious climate goals.

The Redmond, Washington-based company previously pledged to match 100 percent of its hourly electricity use with renewable energy purchases by 2030; Microsoft already meets its annual targets for renewable energy matches.

Now, with pressure to construct data centers to fuel AI, Microsoft is considering delaying or abandoning that hourly goal, Bloomberg reports.

The hourly clean power goal is named 100/100/0, indicating the intent to match all of its energy use, all of the time, with zero-carbon energy purchases. That goal is complicated by the enormous amount Microsoft is spending on data centers, around $190 billion through the end of the year. The data center boom has equated to less money for other corporate endeavors, like clean energy. In the wake of those costs, Microsoft has already begun reducing its carbon-dioxide removal program.

Many tech companies are looking to natural gas — which emits Earth-warming greenhouse gases — to partially power their data centers, rather than cleaner energy sources like solar, wind, or hydro power. 

The companies of Big Tech are all emitting more carbon in the wake of the AI race; Microsoft has seen a 23 percent jump in carbon emissions since late 2022, while Google's increased by 51 percent and Meta's by 64 percent during that same time period, Bloomberg reports.

A Utah law, enacted Wednesday, seeks to ban the use of VPNs to access porn sites.

The statute is part of SB 73, which contains amendments to the state's age-verification law. These laws typically require some proof of age to access adult content (or any content the state deems "harmful to minors").

Utah's age-verification law, SB 287, went into effect in 2023; it requires age verification via a digital ID card, a third-party verification service, or a credit card.

Pornhub promptly blocked users in Utah as the law went into effect.

Age verification often doesn't work because it can be circumvented. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which mask a user's real location, are one popular method for doing that. That's what the Utah law aims to tackle when it says porn sites must not allow VPN usage. Here's the relevant language:

A commercial entity that operates a website that contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors may not facilitate or encourage the use of a virtual private network, proxy server, or other means to circumvent age verification requirements, including by providing: (a)instructions on how to use a virtual private network or proxy server to access the website; or (b) means for individuals in this state to circumvent geofencing or blocking.

"Utah just became the first state in the U.S. to target VPN usage, and they are embarrassing themselves," said Lia Holland, campaigns and communications director at digital rights advocacy group Fight for the Future, in a statement sent to Mashable.

Holland added that the legal language in question reads like AI slop.

"You cannot require a website doing age verification to determine where someone using a reputable VPN is browsing from — this feat is literally impossible by design for even the best hacker," Holland continued. Websites are left with three choices, Holland said: block everyone using a VPN (which is likely impossible), require every site visitor to verify their age, or censor everything that might fall under Utah's "harmful to minors" standard.

Fight for the Future says it will endorse any lawsuit filed against Utah to overturn this law.

The digital civil liberties nonprofit, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), also criticized SB 73. EFF's associate director of state affairs, Rindala Alajaji, wrote in a blog post published April 30: "These provisions won't stop a tech-savvy teenager, but they certainly will impact the privacy of every regular Utah resident who just wants to keep their data out of the hands of brokers or malicious actors."

Alajaii added: "attacks on VPNs are, at their core, attacks on the tools that enable digital privacy. Utah is setting a precedent that prioritizes government control over the fundamental architecture of a private and secure internet, and it won't stop at the state's borders."

"Protecting kids while preserving freedom is not a new concept," SB 73 sponsor Sen. Calvin Musselman told The Salt Lake Tribune, and compared it to policies about alcohol, tobacco, and gambling. (Alcohol, tobacco, and gambling aren't protected by the First Amendment, however; free speech is.)

SB 73 appears to be the first bill enacted to block VPNs, but another ban has been proposed in Michigan. The UK government is also considering a ban on VPNs for minors.

When speaking with Mashable last year about age-verification, First Amendment experts warned of second-order censorship. The first order is age verification, they explained, but people find workarounds. Second-order censorship means banning the workarounds.

Finding genuinely good deals at Walmart just got a whole lot easier. The creator of camelcamelcamel, a popular free Amazon price tracker, has launched an identical tool for Walmart products called camelmart.

California-based programmer Daniel Green created camelcamelcamel in 2008 as "a code experiment" with Amazon's Product Advertising API, he told Mashable last fall. It took off among shoppers (and shopping reporters) after he put it online, so he hired a team of friends to keep it running — now for nearly two decades.

Camelcamelcamel and its browser extension, The Camelizer, can produce historical price charts for millions of Amazon products, making it easy to see if deals are worth adding to cart — or whether they're even "deals" at all. Users can also set up price-drop alerts to receive an email when an item goes on sale.

Here's camelmart's price history chart for the Apple AirPods Pro 3. At the time of writing, they were only 99 cents away from their record-low price at Walmart. Credit: Screenshot via camelmart.com

Camelmart pulls data from Walmart's official API and has the exact same features as its sister site. If you enter a Walmart product's URL into the search bar, you can view its price history and sign up for deal alerts.

Camelmart doesn't have its own browser extension yet, but Green tells me via email that "We plan to eventually either add camelmart to our existing extension, or release its own separate extension."

This isn't the first time Green and his team have branched out from Amazon. They released a Best Buy price tracker called camelbuy back in 2009, but eventually shut it down because it "didn't get the traction it needed to sustain itself," Green said. Camelcamelcamel and all of its spinoffs have been supported by affiliate links, so if you buy something through a link on the sites, they may earn a commission.

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Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, has now announced that "age-confirmed" iOS UK users can once again visit Pornhub. In January, the company said that it would block Pornhub in the UK for most people.

The change is due to Apple's release of iOS 26.4, which Aylo's vice president of brand and community, Alex Kekesi, called "the world's first ever device-based age verification solution for its users in the UK" in a press release.

UK adults who have confirmed their age through Apple's UK age-verification process can now visit Pornhub again.

Age verification can be done with a credit card or by scanning one's passport, driver's license, or other proof-of-age card. Apple will check if the device owner has a credit card on file to confirm if they're 18 or older. For children, teens, and unverified adults, Apple's Web Content Filter and Communication Safety features are automatically turned on. The latter blurs or warns about potentially inappropriate content.

Apple published these age requirements on its website on April 29. They come nearly a year after the UK enacted the Online Safety Act, a wide-ranging age-verification law. It also follows Aylo's request to Apple and other tech giants, Google and Microsoft, to enable device-level age verification in Nov. 2025.

Many people in the adult industry and free speech experts have been advocating for device-level age verification for years.

"We have been reaching out to the operating system providers to emphasize the need for a highly effective device-based solution, that includes Google, that includes Microsoft and Apple," said Solomon Friedman, partner and vice president of compliance at Ethical Capital Partners (which owns Aylo), in a Tuesday press briefing, 404 Media reported. "And on behalf of ownership, we're obviously delighted to see that Apple has instituted UK-wide, effective device-based age assurance."

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This next year or so is gearing up to be a big one for Apple. Case in point: Just this week, Mashable previewed the new features coming to iOS 26.5, and now there's already major news about what's coming in iOS 27.

According to a new report from Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman, Apple will soon let its users choose exactly which third-party AI models that they want to utilize with Apple Intelligence.

Apple is reportedly launching an "Extensions" feature, which will let AI companies opt-in and enable support for the feature through their App Store applications. If and when companies like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic enable Extensions for Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude, respectively, users will be able to select those AI models for Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools, Siri voice assistant, Image Plaground, and more.

Gurman says that third-party AI tools would be able to power Siri's feature set with their own distinctive voices answering prompts. Apple's own Siri would be able to join in with its own distinct voice as well, though this will likely be powered by Google Gemini.

This feature is scheduled to launch with iOS 27 for iPhone along with iPadOS 27 and macOS 27. iOS 27 will likely be announced at WWDC in June and then released later this year around the same time as Apple's big iPhone event, where the company is slated to unveil iPhone 18 and potentially the brand new iPhone Fold.

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Apple had received criticism over the past few years regarding its lack of AI strategy, and the company has largely been left out of the AI arms race. However, as its competitors have poured hundreds of billions of dollars into developing AI models and infrastructure, Apple has opted to partner with companies like Google and OpenAI, letting its customers reap some of the benefits of AI without spending massive amounts of money.

Of course, Apple's lack of AI technology has also cost the company. Apple recently settled a lawsuit for $250 million over claims that it exaggerated the abilities of Apple Intelligence.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Oh my god, you guys, Legally Blonde's heroine Elle Woods is headed back to our screens. Not in Legally Blonde 3 (although that's been in the works for years), but in a new prequel TV series, titled Elle.

Created by Laura Kittrell and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon, Elle rewinds the clock to 1995, well before Elle set foot on Harvard's campus. Before she began studying fashion merchandising in undergrad, even! Instead, Elle shows us who Elle (Lexi Minetree) was in high school. Spoiler alert: She's just as bubbly as she is in college, and dressed in just as much pink to boot.

However, Elle's high school life isn't all California sunshine. Literally. In the show's teaser, Elle's mother (June Diane Raphael) and father (Tom Everett Scott) reveal that they'll be moving to Seattle. That's right: Elle Woods, the queen of pink, is heading to Seattle, the land of flannel, rain, and apparently, no blonde people.

The Seattle move sets the stage for another fish-out-of-water story for Elle. This time, instead of trying to fit in among snobby law students and old money types, she'll have to contend with her grunge-loving peers. But if there's one thing Elle Woods can do, it's keep it positive and make the most of a tricky situation. What, like it's hard?

Elle premieres July 1 on Prime Video.

Comedian John Early makes his feature directorial debut with Maddie's Secret, an offbeat homage to melodrama that he wrote and headlines as its eponymous heroine.

As an aspiring food influencer, Maddie Ralph (Early) is passionate about her cuisine. And at first glance, she's got a picture-perfect life: a loving husband (Eric Rahill), a devoted best friend (Kate Berlant), and a job at a culinary content studio called Gourmaybe. But as the title suggests, there's a side to Maddie she can't stomach sharing with her loved ones. And this secret could kill her.

Out of the movie's premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall, I cheered Maddie's Secret, writing in my review for Mashable, "The film is silly and strange, but even amid campy bits, sincere. So, you'll laugh at its parody elements, but may well be genuinely moved by Early's commitment to this strange and splendid film."

I also said "John Early is a better ingénue than Sydney Sweeney," comparing Maddie's Secret to another earnest (but less entertaining) TIFF offering, Christy. And I stand by it.

Maddie's Secret opens in theaters in New York on June 19, and in Los Angeles on June 26.

TL;DR: Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Bayern Munich vs. PSG would have made an amazing Champions League final, but we should be happy that we're getting two matchups between these electric teams. The first leg finished 5-4 to PSG. We're not expecting the same again, because that was probably one of the best games of all time. If we get half that level of entertainment in the second leg, we'll be delighted.

Expect more of the same from the likes of Michael Olise and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as these teams battle it out for a spot in the showpiece event. The winner will meet Arsenal at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.

If you want to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bayern Munich vs. PSG?

Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on May 6. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free

Bayern Munich vs. PSG is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTÉ Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE 64%: Between May 6 and May 17, you can score up to 64% off at EcoFlow and snag free solar panels with your purchase.

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Credit: EcoFlow

EcoFlow Mother's Day Sale

Get up to 64% off plus a free solar panel with purchase

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I live in an apartment, so I don't exactly have a "whole home" to back up. But if there's one thing I hate, it's losing power. There goes the AC, the internet, the food in the fridge — it's a total nightmare. If you actually own a house and have been putting off buying a backup power system because it's pricey, I have some good news.

Right now, EcoFlow is running a Mother's Day Sale through May 17 with discounts as high as 64%. They're also throwing in free hardware to sweeten the deal: All single orders between $600 and $3,000 come with a free 45W solar panel, and orders over $3,000 come with two free 160W solar panels. If you're looking for something more portable, their RAPID Power Banks are also up to 53% off right now.

Just keep an eye on the countdown clock — it’s for the Flash Sale items that have even better, limited-time price cuts. If you miss the flash window, the standard Mother's Day and Home Improvement deals (including a $700 installation discount for larger systems) are still valid through mid-May.

Here are a few of the best deals I've spotted so far:

• DELTA 3 Max Plus Portable Power Station (2048Wh) — $1,099 $3,798 (save $1,899)

• DELTA 3 Ultra Series Portable Power Station (3072Wh) — $1,899 $1,899 (save $800)

• DELTA Pro + 2 x 220W Portable Solar Panel — $2,149 $4,997 (save $2,848)

SAVE $50: As of May 6, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) for $399 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $449. That's a discount of 11%.

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Credit: Amazon

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

$399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50

 

Get Deal

If you want to experience your favorite music to the fullest, you need headphones that are up to the task. Bose can typically be counted on to provide that kind of quality, especially with its QuietComfort lineup. You can try its newest model for less right now for less thanks to this Amazon deal, which heavily discounts the cans so you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on them.

As of May 6, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) for $399 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $449. That's $50 off and a discount of 11%.

Though an incremental upgrade from the previous QuietComfort model, these have some new features you'll want to try out. But mostly, these comfortable headphones are all about feeling great on your ears and sounding fantastic. They offer noise cancellation and spatialized audio so it sounds as though you're right where the music is. The new Cinema Mode can help to spatialize and balance background and sound and sound effects when watching movies to help put you right into the film as well.

Beyond that they can be used to take calls with their built-in microphones. They'll last a long time while you're on the phone too, with 30 hours of play time when listening to songs, podcasts, or taking meetings.

Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard took the headphones for a spin in her review and and called them a "well-rounded pair of headphones", praising their blend of "comfort, noise cancellation, and sound".

If you're ready to pick up a new pair of headphones at a discount that'll tick all the boxes for you, grab these before the discount disappears.

BUY A DELTA GIFT CARD FOR $300+ AND GET A FREE STARBUCKS GIFT CARD: Through May 11, buy a Delta gift card for $300 or more and get a free $20 Starbucks eGift card.

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Credit: Delta / Starbucks

Free $20 Starbucks eGift card with purchase of $300+ Delta gift card

 

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The price of flying these days is shocking. If you plan on traveling soon on a route served by Delta, it's well worth checking out this deal to get something for free. It'll help ease the pain of the ticket price.

Through May 11, purchase a Delta gift card worth $300 or more and get a free $20 Starbucks eGift card. It's as simple as that. You can also qualify for the deal by buying multiple gift cards that total at least $300. The deal with apply automatically and you'll receive a separate email containing the free Starbucks card.

Booking flights these days is not much fun. Prices are ahh.... abnormal, but Delta has eased the pain a bit thanks to this deal. The carrier is positioning this free Starbucks gift card deal as a good option for Mother's Day, but realistically, it's useful for anyone who plans to book with Delta soon.

Keep in mind the Delta gift card and Starbucks card will never expire. Delta mentions this offer is valid until May 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET or for the first 11,000 purchasers, whichever comes first. That means it might be smart to hop on this deal soon since there's no way to know if it'll last until May 11.

If you plan on flying soon or want to gift a special someone a Delta gift card worth $300 or more, snag this deal to get a free $20 Starbucks eGift card. It's a win-win situation for those who plan to fly with Delta.

FREE SAMSUNG GALAXY S26: Sign up for a T-Mobile Experience Beyond plan for 24 months and get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 (256GB) which ordinarily costs $899.99. Existing T-Mobile Go5G Plus members also qualify for the deal.

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Credit: Samsung

Free Samsung Galaxy S26 from T-Mobile

 

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It's tough to find a free deal these days. We usually have a massive amount of fine text to read, but T-Mobile is making this deal pretty simple. Sign up for two years of coverage (which you probably needed anyway) and get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 (256GB). Here's how to qualify.

To get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 (256GB) instead of paying the list price of $899.99, sign on for 24 months of a T-Mobile Experience or Better Value plan. You'll save the $900 over the next 24 months of bill credit at T-Mobile. No trade in is required to cash in on this deal.

Announced in February, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is the latest model from the major iPhone competitor. It comes with added features like better AI capabilities and a 50 megapixel camera. Samsung also mentions improvements in display clarity with the new S26, giving off better colors and sharper details.

If you're one for selfies, the Samsung Galaxy S26 could be a great option. Samsung designed the front-facing camera to have a wider view, making it easier to capture selfies with the group.

If you're going with T-Mobile coverage, it's well worth hopping on this free Samsung Galaxy S26 deal. The cell phone bill was inevitable so you might as well snag a free upgraded phone in the process.

Pokémon Pokopia has been a huge hit for Nintendo, so much so that some folks have thought about buying a $450 Switch 2 just to play the cozy life sim. (It's a system exclusive.) Nintendo has seemingly taken notice and announced a Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia bundle this week, combining the game with the console at a slight discount.

The only problem? You probably can't buy it without taking a 15-hour flight.

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Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 + "Pokémon Pokopia" Bundle

AU$769.95 at My Nintendo Store

 

Pre-order Here

Sadly, the Pokopia bundle will only be available in Australia and New Zealand when it launches on June 5. Gamers there can preorder it starting Wednesday, May 6 in the online My Nintendo Store for AU$769.95 or NZ$869.95, which works out to a savings of AU$39.95 or NZ$49.95 (versus buying the game and console separately). A Nintendo Account set to Australia or New Zealand is required to purchase the bundle.

If you live outside Australasia, you can change your account's region to add the bundle to your cart, but there's still the issue of actually getting it in hand. It only ships to local addresses, and it's only available for pickup at Nintendo Australia's Parts and Repairs Store in Victoria at this time.

You'll get this message if you try to buy the Switch 2 + "Pokémon Pokopia" bundle with a U.S. Nintendo Account. Credit: Screenshot via Nintendo.com

The Pokopia bundle will eventually be available for preorder at major Australasian retailers like Costco and JB Hi-Fi "in the near future," according to a Nintendo press release. But the company hasn't said when the bundle will get a wider global release — or if it ever will.

If it makes you feel any better, Team Northern Hemisphere, the bundle doesn't come with any exclusives, and its console is just a regular Switch 2 console; it's not a special-edition variant with Pokopia-inspired accents. Conversely, previous bundles for the first-generation Switch included themed Joy-Con and dock designs.

I'll also point out the obvious, which is that the bundle doesn't work out to much of a savings after you factor in the cost of getting to Australia or New Zealand, unless you were already planning on visiting.

It could be worth getting a Switch 2 just for Pokopia: It's a great game, and the system will get even more great exclusives as time goes on. But if you don't live down under, your only reasonable route is still buying them separately. (Read Mashable's full Pokopia review if you're wondering what all the hype is about.)

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Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2

$449.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now

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Credit: Nintendo

"Pokémon Pokopia"

$69.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now

SAVE 35%: As of May 6, you can get the Beatbot AquaSense 2 for $849 at Amazon, down from $1,298. That's a 35% discount or $449 savings.

Beatbot AquaSense 2

$849 at Amazon
$1,298 Save $449

 

Get Deal at Amazon

I don't have a pool (well, not a personal one, anyway; I live in an apartment complex), but I do have a robot vacuum, and I know the joy of watching a little machine clean my floors while I do other things. If you apply that same logic to pool maintenance (which I imagine is a lot more annoying than keeping your floors clean), then investing in a robo pool cleaner makes a lot of sense.

And, right now, you can get one of Amazon's top-rated models for a fraction of the price. As of May 6, you can get the Beatbot AquaSense 2 for $849 at Amazon, down from $1,298. That's a 35% discount or $449 savings. It's also the lowest price we've seen this model go for. The only problem? Amazon marked this as a "limited-time deal," and the countdown clock shows it ends in about 16 hours.

This thing works just like an indoor robot vacuum; it maps out its cleaning path and then uses an onboard 4-core CPU and 16 sensors to navigate using an S-path for the pool floor and an N-path to scrub the walls and waterline. It also has a "Double-Pass Scrubbing" feature for the waterline, so it'll get the grimiest spots twice per pass. Bonus: When it's done cleaning (or when the battery runs low), it automatically parks itself at the surface of the water so you don't have to go diving to retrieve it.

How many times do we have to go through this?

Yes, Mortal Kombat has been a massively popular video game franchise since its spawning in 1992. Yes, its over-the-top kills and thrillingly scornful catchphrases make the fighting games incredibly fun. But despite several attempts including 1995's Mortal Kombat, 1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, and the 2021 reboot, also titled Mortal Kombat, not a single good live-action movie has been made from this IP.

Yet here we are again with another ugly, nonsensical mess, this time called Mortal Kombat II.

Mortal Kombat, the last film in this much-flubbed franchise, centered on Cole Young (Lewis Tan), a descendant of Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), who's a fish out of water in the titular fighting tournament world. This time, he's relegated to a tertiary character, so the sequel can pivot to a new fish out of water, Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), a washed-up '90s action star who'd rather crush a beer than a spine. However, when a malevolent conqueror named Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) threatens Earthrealm, it's up to Cage and a coterie of super-powered fighters to win a Mortal Kombat tournament to save their world.

Wisely, Warner Bros. led with Cage in their early promos, releasing teasers that showed a cheeky self-awareness of the Western martial arts movie while suggesting Mortal Kombat II would be funnier than its predecessor. Frustratingly, this is another example of good trailer, bad movie. And a big part of why is that Cage feels like he's been wedged in, rather than centered on, for a new perspective.

Mortal Kombat II is a befuddling eyesore with sub-zero emotional depth.

Adeline Rudolph as Kitana. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Mortal Kombat (2021) director Simon McQuoid is back with muddy CGI settings, rubbery CGI fighters, and much of his movie's cast reprising their roles. Along with Tan and Taslim, Jessica McNamee is back as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion.

Joining the fighter line-up opposite Cage are fan-wielding Kitana (Adeline Rudolph), staff-armed Jade (Tati Gabrielle), the many-fanged Baraka (CJ Bloomfield), and Ford as brutish conqueror Shao Kahn.

Now, you might think that's too many characters to create meaningful story arcs over the course of a 116-minute runtime. And you'd be right!

Sure, screenwriter Jeremy Slater could have narrowed the focus to Cage's experience to better create a moving narrative, while still folding in the requisite fighting, brawlers, and game allusions. But hey, why not split the story focus between Cage, whose gruff has-been attitude pitches Mortal Kombat II toward a promising Galaxy Quest vibe, and Kitana, whose rebellious warrior princess thread is reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy's Gamora as she battled Thanos and her "sister" Nebula. But here, Thanos is Shao Kahn, who murders Kitana's dad in the film's glacially paced opening sequence. And Nebula is Jade, Kitana's bestie/guard since she became Shao Kahn's prisoner as a girl. (If you want more backstory, fret not, there's plenty.)

Tati Gabrielle as Jade. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cage won't even show up for the first 14 minutes of Mortal Kombat II. In that time, the sequel plunges into the same grim and self-serious atmosphere that made McQuoid's first Mortal Kombat a bore. Sure, the fight scenes are really violent and bloody, befitting the film's R-rating. But the fights feel disconnected from the storytelling. Worse yet, these battles are shot with very little visual logic, meaning some big blows just don't hit.

And yep, there sure are recreations of memorable characters, their costumes, weapons, and catchphrases. But the major important distinction between this rebooted movie franchise and the games is, the games were fun.

The most fun Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II can offer is Kano, the only character who resolutely refuses to take things seriously.

Karl Urban shines, but Josh Lawson is Mortal Kombat II's MVP.

Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, and Josh Lawson as Kano. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

As Cage, Urban brings with him an American arrogance that shakes up the seriousness of the Earthrealm battlers. He's snarky where they're stern, creating a feisty dynamic that borders on amusing. But as Cage's clichéd plot line demands he become a selfless, brave hero, he becomes more grave and less giggle-inducing. Thank the gods for Lawson's Kano.

This crusty criminal and unrepentant asshole died in the last movie, but like other MK fighters, he's resurrected for this sequel. Thankfully, rather than being brought back as another humorless revenant, Kano is as chaotically insulting as ever, slinging barbs with reckless abandon. When he mocks necromancer Quan Chi (Damon Herriman) for his "eyeliner," I howled with laughter. And for a brief moment I thought that between Cage and Kano, this movie might actually begin to get fun!

Alas, my hopes were squashed like a skull under a warhammer. Kano and Cage get to be comic relief, while Kitana broods and a new quest kicks off to heist a magical gem from Shao Kahn, which he effectively uses as an immortality cheat code. Again, life-or-death battles and a heist into the heart of a tyrant's castle? This should be exciting and entertaining!

Inexplicably, McQuoid bleeds any tension from these sequences with a mangled visual language that makes fights hard to follow and the quest feel like an afterthought. Suspense cannot build because in every other scene, Slater's script delivers another exposition drop to explain the tournament, the realms, the revenants — on and on! Video games are a visual medium. Movies are a visual medium. Yet much of this movie feels like I got locked into a tedious podcast.

In the end, Mortal Kombat II feels like the wretched compromise of two movie pitches. One is a sequel that closely follows the saga and dolesome tone of the last movie. The other is an action-comedy in the vein of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Whether it's Kano reading other fighters to filth, or a sequence where Cage is chased around a village by a rampaging Baraka, there are moments where Mortal Kombat II flirts with not taking this IP deadly seriously. But then McQuoid pivots back to a tone that's less Shogun and more Iron Fist. And as sloppy and artless as this adaptation is, it probably won't matter.

Gamers need to demand more of video game movies.

CJ Bloomfield as Baraka. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

It's long been a cliché that video game movies are traditionally bad. I was recently disappointed by the Until Dawn movie and moved to consider my own mortality over the vacuousness of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. And yet, studios keep plugging along with these movies "for the fans."

Don't be fooled. That's a cynical sales pitch that assumes gamers love the source IP so much that studios don't need to bring skilled filmmakers or spend the money on top-notch fight choreography, stunts, or visual effects. They believe the fans will come regardless of what they actually put on screen. And maybe they're right! After all, critics warned that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was a soulless sequel with more allusions than entertainment. But it's nearing a billion dollars for worldwide box office. So, why should studios change strategy?

Warner Bros hired a commercial director to make his feature directorial film debut with Mortal Kombat, and now he's back with a muddled vision that's an ugly and lifeless slog. But if fans go to the theater or stream this exhaustively on HBO Max, like they presumably did its predecessor, then the bar is in hell, and it won't be raised.

At least we have more Last of Us to look forward to, right?

Mortal Kombat II opens in theaters on May 8.

SAVE $700: As of May 6, get the Bosch Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machine for $1,799 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $2,499. That's a discount of 28%.

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Credit: Amazon

Bosch Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machine

$1,799 at Amazon
$2,499 Save $700

 

Get Deal

Tired of having to make a run to Starbucks or your local coffee shop every time you want a caffeine hit? Start making it at home with a machine that can handle whatever drink it is that you want to make. We found a heavily discounted coffee and espresso machine that can give you the real thing for less, and it's on sale right now.

As of May 6, get the Bosch Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machine for $1,799 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $2,499. That's $700 off and a discount of 28%.

This machine can whip up a whopping 36 drinks at the touch of a button: coffee, latte, cappuccino, espresso, and more. Just choose the drink you want via the touchscreen and it'll go from there. Control the size, strength, and milk ratio, all down to the type of aroma you want and your drink will be made in just minutes. No fiddling around with recipes or annoying settings.

You can brew two drinks at the same time or a double serving in one cup, or preschedule cups to be made while you're asleep so you can wake up to delicious coffee. And you don't even have to be at home to start things brewing. You can set up a coffee drink to get started via the Home Connect app so you can come home to a steaming hot java when you get through the door.

If you're tired of spending all your extra cash on drinks while out, spend the extra now and have all of your drinks at home. It'll save you some serious money in the long run, and offers plenty of convenience at that.

SAVE $100: As of May 6, the Acer Nitro V 15 laptop (Intel Core i5-13420H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is on sale for just $699.99. That's 13% off its list price of $799.99.

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Credit: Acer

Acer Nitro V 15 (Intel Core i5-13420H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$699.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $100

 

Get Deal

Whether you're just getting your feet wet in the gaming world or you're looking for a budget-friendly on-the-go setup, the Acer Nitro V 15 laptop is a solid pick — especially when it's on sale.

As of May 6, the 2025 Acer Nitro V 15 laptop with 8GB RAM and 512GB of storage is on sale for just $699.99 at Amazon. That's $100 cheaper than usual or 13% in savings. It also includes a free month of Xbox Game Pass for new users.

The Nitro V 15 isn't a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, but it does tackle the basics well for a good price. It has a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display with a speedy 165Hz refresh rate and 16:9 ratio. Inside, there's an Intel Core i5-13420H processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and 512GB of solid-state storage. There's also WiFi 6 compatibility and plenty of ports for all of your gaming peripherals, including HDMI 2.1, USB-C Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, and Ethernet E2600.

Acer calls the Nitro V 15 a "gateway to an adrenaline-charged journey," and that's a pretty accurate description. While it's not going to wow advanced gamers, it's a beginner- and budget-friendly gateway drug to an even better future setup.

If you're seeking a solid gaming laptop that performs well for less than $1,000, scoop up the Acer Nitro V 15 while it's $100 less.

On May 5, the dating app Bumble posted a cryptic message on Instagram: "Dear swiping, it's over. - Bumble."

View this post on Instagram

The post prompted comments filled with suspicious eye emoji, confusion, and guesses as to what this means. It was also shared the same day as Bumble's Q1 2026 earnings report, which stated that Bumble's total revenue decreased 14.1 percent year over year compared to Q1 2025, and that total paying users decreased 21.1 percent in the same period.

While total average revenue per paying user and net earnings both increased (8.9 percent and 165.4 percent year-over-year, respectively), Bumble has made it known that it'll be trying something different.

But does that mean that Bumble is getting rid of the swipe, an integral part of its app (as well as its rival, Tinder), since its inception?

It's difficult to say. A Bumble spokesperson told Mashable, "We have shared that Bumble is entering an exciting new chapter, with meaningful product innovations on the horizon. Our focus remains on bringing our members together in real life, in intentional ways, and that begins with how they connect on Bumble."

The "new chapter" is likely what Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd called "Bumble 2.0" in the previous earnings call in March. Wolfe Herd said then, "We are rearchitecting the entire Bumble experience from start to finish," and that the team is focused on product and technology innovation. This includes a new tech stack for the app's backend, as well as an AI-powered experience called, simply, Dates.

Wolfe Herd continued to discuss this reimagining of Bumble in yesterday's earnings call. The new tech platform is apparently launching in the coming weeks, she said, and the new platform experience as a whole (including a new interaction model and profile system) is rolling out throughout 2026.

It also seems that Bumble is investing more in IRL events, likely due to the explosion of offline dating events in recent years. The app is hosting events in both the U.S. and Europe, with Bumble "taking over" a host of New York City bars this summer, and partnering with local dating events in London.

It's clear that many dating app users are frustrated, so it makes sense that Bumble is trying to switch it up. Will it pay off?

Robot lawn mowers on sale at Amazon at a glance:

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Best robot lawn mower deal for larger yards

Dreame A3 AWD Pro Robot Lawn Mower + free replacement blades

$2,699.99 (save $500)

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Most affordable robot lawn mower

Ecovacs Goat O1000 RTK Robot Lawn Mower

$699.99 (save $300)

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Best robot lawn mower deal for smaller yards

Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15

$999.99 (save $800)

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Welcome to spring. It's a time of the year when everything comes back to life. Flowers bloom, bunnies appear in the yard, and we begin to think about summer plans. While plenty of elements that come along with spring are joyful, there's one particular yard-maintenance task that's less exciting — mowing the lawn. Sure, some people enjoy heading out into the yard to turn their sneakers a new shade of green, but if you're not in that camp, we have robot lawn mowers.

Similar to how we rely on robot vacuums to clean our floors inside, a robot lawn mower will take care of the chore for you. After creating a map of your yard, you can set a mowing scheudle in the app to make sure the lawn always looks freshly manicured. Most models also let you set the desired length and create no-go areas. They also come with the intelligence to avoid obstacles like lawn chairs or the volleyball net.

If you're looking for a way to shortcut yard tasks from here on out, check out these sale prices on robot lawn mowers we spotted at Amazon. Snag one soon and you might have already completed your final manual lawn mowing session.

Best robot lawn mower deal for larger yard

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Credit: Dreame

Dreame A3 AWD Pro Robot Lawn Mower

$2,699.99 at Amazon
$3,199.99 Save $500

get free replacement blades worth $699

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Why we like it

With all-terrain wheels and quiet operation, the Dreame A3 AWD Pro robot lawn mower can cover up over acre of lawn in a single day. Not only can you set a mowing schedule, you can choose from five mowing modes. Set the desired grass height between 1.2 and 3.9 inches, and the Dreame A3 will use it's wide 15.8-inch dual-disc path to mow quickly.

This model also comes with the intelligence of obstacle avoidance for over 300 items. Plus, it has a low-speed safety mode and settings for animal activity zones. Dreame says this model is so quiet that you can scheudle it to mow overnight and not worry about disturbing your sleep or that of the neighbors.

In addition to this model being on sale for $2,699.99, Amazon is throwing in a free Dreame Replacement Blades kit which ordinarily sell for $699.

Best budget-friendly robot lawn mower deal

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Credit: Ecovacs

Ecovacs Goat O1000 RTK Robot Lawn Mower

$699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300

 

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Why we like it

On sale for $699.99, the Ecovacs Goat 01000 RTK robot lawn mower is designed to care for yards with a quarter of an acre of grass. Ecovacs mentions this model only takes 15 minutes to get set up. Its smaller body design allows it to mow narrow areas that measure as little as 2.3 feet wide.

Since it comes with an IXP6 waterproof design, you won't have to worry about a summer shower, and it's capable of climbing hills that include a slope of up to 45%. It'll take about 100 minutes to completely recharge the Goat 01000. After that, it's ready to tackle up to 2,100 square feet of lawn mowing. Ecovacs says this model is particularly ideal for compact lawns or yards with segmented grass areas.

Best robot lawn mower deal for smaller yards

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Credit: Eufy

Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15

$999.99 at Amazon
$1,799.99 Save $800

 

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Why we like it

If your lawn is less than a quarter of an acre, the Eufy E15 could be the ideal robot lawn mower. Unlike older models of robot lawn mowers, the Eufy does not require you to bury a boundary wire. Instead, it uses Eufy's Pure Vision Navigation to map and then navigate the yard on its own.

From the app, you'll be able to schedule mowing sessions with the reassurance the mower won't miss any spots. It cuts in parallel lines for a clean look and it operates at about 56 decibels. Eufy compares this with the over 100 decibels that's common with traditional gas-powered or even electric mowers. The anti-theft system and GPS tracking are more benefits from this Eufy model.

A couple of major TV brands are now at the center of a class-action lawsuit.

A plaintiff named Terri Else proposed a class-action suit in California against TCL and Roku, per CNET. The specific accusation here is that Roku and TCL push software updates to their TVs that make the devices defective without any kind of a fix.

Roku has denied the claims in Else's complaint.

While Roku is primarily known as a manufacturer of streaming devices, it does manufacture its own TVs under the Roku Select and Roku Plus names, while also providing the underlying smart TV operating system for several models of TCL TVs. This lawsuit calls out Roku Select, Roku Plus, and any TCL TV in the 3, 4, 5, or 6 series running Roku OS.

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Else accused TCL of selling her a TV that became defective a few years after purchase in 2018, before it eventually stopped working entirely in 2023. According to Else, TCL would not cover whatever was happening to the TV under its warranty. What's worse, Else says, is that the next TV she bought also allegedly stopped working within a year.

The complaint claims that "Roku's software updates are repetitively defective, materially impairing the functionality of Roku Products, rendering many consumers' televisions either entirely unusable ("bricked"), blacked out, or otherwise substantially degraded in terms of device performance." The complaint specifically accuses Roku software updates of causing "screen black outs, loss of video, [and] the screen flashing on and off," among other problems.

Roku is a very popular brand in the U.S., and you don't have to look far on places like Reddit to find complaints about TVs from either Roku or TCL being bricked after software updates.

That said, a Roku spokesperson said to CNET that these claims are "meritless." Given that this is still just a proposed class-action lawsuit, there's still a chance that this complaint doesn't go anywhere.

SAVE $352: As of May 6, the Hisense 55-inch Canvas S7N QLED 4K TV is on sale for $647.99 at Amazon. That's a savings of 35% or over $350.

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Credit: Hisense

Hisense 55-inch Canvas S7N QLED 4K TV

$647.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $352

 

Get Deal

Top brands are emptying out their 2025 TV reserves to make room for the latest and greatest models, which means it's the perfect time to score a great TV deal. And if you're specifically seeking a TV with Art Mode, your search ends here. The Hisense Canvas TV — Samsung The Frame's arch nemesis — is on sale for over $350 off.

As of May 6, the 55-inch version of the Hisense Canvas S7N QLED 4K TV is down to just $647.99 at Amazon for a savings of 35%. That's its second-best price ever and only $48 away from its all-time low. Best Buy also has the same TV on sale for just $2 more for anyone who prefers not to shop at Amazon.

Like Samsung The Frame, Hisense's Canvas TV is a QLED display treated with an anti-glare, hi-matte finish to display curated artwork (or your own pictures). It comes with a teak wood magnetic frame (more options sold separately) and an ultra-slim wall mount that lies flush to make the TV itself look as close as possible to framed artwork.

"Despite often being minimized to a Frame dupe, the Hisense Canvas is actually a better value than The Frame in a lot of ways," Mashable TV expert Leah Stodart writes, noting its higher refresh rate (144Hz versus 120Hz) and two HDMI 2.1 ports (versus one). It features Google TV's interface, which is much more intuitive and responsive than the Samsung interface. Not to mention, Samsung charges a monthly fee to access artwork, whereas Hisense's digital art library is free.

If an art TV is on your wishlist, this is the one to buy. While the 55-inch model offers the biggest discount, other sizes are also on sale to suit your space.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A hole in the ground.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DITCH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Immense sadness.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GRIEF

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Found in tile.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

GROUT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Cooked in oil.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

FRIED

Final Hurdle hint

Turn.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

TWIST

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

SAVE $100: As of May 6, get the 55-inch Samsung M80H Mini LED TV for $597.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $697.99. That's a discount of 14% and the lowest price we've seen.

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Credit: Amazon

Samsung M80H Mini LED TV

$597.99 at Amazon
$697.99 Save $100

 

Get Deal

Looking to give your living room entertainment setup an upgrade? Or maybe you're just ready to add a new TV to another room, but don't want to break the bank. Either way, we've got you covered with a TV deal that you won't want to miss out on, especially if you want built-in streaming and a high-quality picture.

As of May 6, get the 55-inch Samsung M80H Mini LED TV for $597.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $697.99. That's $100 off and a discount of 14%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

This mini LED TV is powered by AI so it can offer the best picture possible, with intelligent processing to give you a better, more dynamic picture as AI analyzes and enhances each scene. Its Pure Spectrum Color features over one billion colors for bright hues and deeper shades of black to give you realism and scenes that pop. AI will take old shows and movies and make them look like new, essentially.

Plus, its variable refresh rate with 144Hz to work with is perfect for smoother sports and gaming, working to eliminate screen tearing.

If it's streaming content you want, this model also gives you plenty of free channels with a free Samsung account so you can browse hundreds of pieces of content and live streaming stations with all your favorite shows and movies on tap whenever you like, all for the low price of zero.

If you're ready for a new TV that won't cost you an entire paycheck, be sure to grab this model while it's still discounted.

SAVE 9%: As of May 6, you can get the Asus ROG Strix 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor for $996.25 at Amazon, down from $1,099. That's a 9% discount, or $102.75 in savings.

Asus ROG Strix 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor

$996.25 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $102.75

 

Get Deal at Amazon

If you're a gamer, like a serious gamer, then you're probably well aware that *real* gaming equipment comes with a hefty price tag. The good news? Amazon randomly discounts monitors, keyboards, and other accessories almost every day. The hard part is finding the good stuff, which is exactly why I'm here.

As of May 6, you can get the Asus ROG Strix 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor for $996.25 at Amazon, down from $1,099. That's a 9% discount, or $102.75 in savings. And while a measly 9% doesn't sound like much, that's still a Benjamin back in your pocket. Also, to put things in perspective, the all-time low for this monitor is $909, which it hit just two weeks ago.

It has a 32-inch TrueBlack Glossy WOLED display, which is basically two monitors in one thanks to a dual-mode feature that lets you switch between 4K at 240Hz and FHD at 480Hz. It also features a 0.03ms response time, G-SYNC compatibility for smooth gameplay, and a built-in OLED Care Pro system with a proximity sensor that auto-dims the screen when you step away to prevent burn-in.

Tinder's revenue and paying users have been trending down in recent years, but the most recent earnings report suggests that it could be making a comeback.

Tinder's parent company, Match Group, released its Q1 2026 earnings report yesterday, and for the first time in several quarters, there's good news for the dating app — kinda. Monthly average user trends were down seven percent year-over-year, which doesn't sound stellar, but it was the slowest rate of decline in 31 months, according to Match Group's press release.

The supplemental materials also show that Tinder's direct revenue is up in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025, but it's down compared to the rest of 2025.

New user registrations returned to year-over-year growth for Tinder, which may be due to the app's push for something new. In March, Tinder rolled out a host of new features, including AI matchmaking service Chemistry, and Astrology and Music Modes.

"Tinder works better today than it did before. Our product changes are resonating with Gen Z and driving improvements in leading indicators, which is a clear signal that Tinder's ecosystem is strengthening," Match Group and Tinder CEO Spencer Rascoff said in the press release.

Last month, Rascoff told the Financial Times that Tinder wants more women on the app, which is currently skewed male. He's also more interested in increasing the total number of people on the app, rather than just paid users.

Hinge, meanwhile, continues to make money for Match Group, with a 28 percent increase in year-over-year direct revenue growth. Paying users are also up 15 percent compared to this time last year. Looking at the supplemental materials of Match Group's earnings, Hinge is only trending upward.

"Hinge delivered another strong quarter and launched category-first features for highly intentioned daters that are improving outcomes," said Rascoff.

The earnings report comes a week after Match announced a $100 million investment in Sniffies, a gay hookup app, signaling Match's interest in diversifying its offerings while dominating the dating app space.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025-26 Champions League for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The top club competition in the world of football has to be the Champions League. There is nothing else that brings the very best teams in the world together in a battle for footballing immortality. Sure, winning your domestic league is great. But winning the Champions League is on another level.

If you want to watch the 2025-26 Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Champions League?

The Champions League is an annual club football competition organised by UEFA and contested by top-division European clubs. This year's tournament begins with a 36-team round robin group stage to determine which sides qualify for the double-legged knockout rounds, followed by a single leg final.

The defending champions are PSG.

When is the 2025-26 Champions League?

The 2025-26 Champions League is the 71st edition of the competition (and the 34th since it was renamed the Champions League). This season's tournament runs from July 8 to 30 May.

How to watch the 2025-26 Champions League for free

It is possible to live stream the 2025-26 Champions League for free on the following streaming platforms:

• Ireland — RTÉ Player and Virgin Media (select fixtures including the final)

• Turkey — tabii (select fixtures)

• UK — Prime Video (select fixtures including semi final with 30-day free trial)

These free streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025-26 Champions League by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the Champions League

4. Visit RTÉ Player, Virgin Media, tabii, or Prime Video (free trial)

5. Watch Champions League fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the 2025-26 Champions League without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, the fact is you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Champions League?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

When you put your car into reverse, it's important that the rearview camera displays what's happening behind you right now, not a while ago. Sadly, a pretty high number of Teslas are at danger of failing on that simple task.

The National ​Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Wednesday that Tesla is recalling 218,868 vehicles ​in the U.S. (via Reuters). The issue is as follows: when the car is put into reverse, the rearview camera display might be delayed "for up to 11 seconds."

The recall covers a number of Model 3, Model Y, Model ‌S, ⁠and Model X vehicles.

Tesla has already fixed the issue via an over-the-air software update, so owners needn't do anything aside from accepting the update.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Tesla has recalled vehicles over rearview camera issues. In 2024, the company recalled nearly 200,000 Model S, Model Y, and Model X vehicles over a bug that could prevent the rearview camera image from displaying at all.

Focusing on a flock determined to crack the case of their slain shepherd, Sheep Detectives is a new movie that's a ton of fun. To celebrate its theatrical release, Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko sat down with three of the film's stars, Hugh Jackman, Chris O'Dowd, and Nicholas Braun, to play Mashable's Pop Mash.

Puchko provides Jackman, O'Dowd, and Braun with a movie description that actually pulls details from two separate films. What these two movies have in common is one word in their titles; when the movies are combined, you get a new mash-up title.

For example: Nicolas Cage plays a lovestruck heavenly creature in this drama, wherein he helps an L.A. baseball team to victory. 

The answer: City of Angels in the Outfield.

For Sheep Detectives, Puchko customized the clues so that at least one title in each description stars Jackman, O'Dowd, or Braun.

Here's the Pop Mash puzzles they faced:

• This Wallace & Gromit spinoff focuses on a fluffy farm animal who leads a murder investigation when his beloved shepherd turns up dead. 

• In this wild comedy, Steve Martin stars as the titular patriarch, who's going mad as his daughter — played by Kristen Wiig — grapples with how to be the maid of honor at her best friend's wedding. Chris O'Dowd co-stars as a kindly cop. 

• Nicolas Braun plays Jim Henson and Andy Kaufman in this showbiz dramedy about what happens when zombies invade a comedy sketch show. George Romero directs. 

• Featuring songs like "This Is Me," this rousing musical stars Hugh Jackman as a circus founder who wears a red cape as he battles for Metropolis as a superhero. Michael Shannon co-stars as the villainous General Zod.

• Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz fall in love in this wacky rom-com about a magical English nanny who comes back to visit a family that once saw her fly away with her umbrella. 

• Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play a Neil Diamond cover band in this David Lynch neo-noir, where Dennis Hopper is a deranged gangster who huffs poppers. 

• A school for superpowered teenagers could be where teen Will Stronghold finds his inner hero. But how will he handle it when a vengeance-seeking cowboy challenges him to a shoot-out at 12 PM? 

• In this comedy anthology, Hugh Jackman plays a man who has balls hanging below his chin, while Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson play a trio of eligible bachelors who are overwhelmed by the duties of caring for an infant. 

• The god of Thunder returned for this critically panned sequel, which earned an Oscar nomination for John Lithgow's performance of a transgender ex-footballer. 

• This Pixar movie about a young girl who can transform into a big fluffy animal surprised audiences and critics with its mature subject matter. Written and directed by Kevin Smith, this film veers into the story of a Christian cult, armed with hot girls and lots of guns.

How many of these did you get right? Were you faster than the sharp minds of Sheep Detectives?

Sheep Detectives opens in theaters on May 8.

2018 was a weird year. I was 22 and just graduated college with an art degree that I still haven’t used to this day. I was planning to be the next Ryan McGinley, taking photos of handsome twinks around New York City. But I was still naive and living with my parents, working with my dad over the summer to make quick cash while I applied to photography internships around Manhattan. All unpaid.

I was flat broke, so I got my very first credit card, which funded a much-needed new mattress and a ticket to Firefly Music Festival with some of my besties. But I realized I needed more money.

I made an account on Seeking Arrangements, banking on being young and broke being enough, but to no avail. I went on Omegle with the tag “sugar daddy” so I could find someone who would let me bully them for incremental payments. That didn’t work either. I gave up on my sugar baby fantasy. 

Until I got to Firefly.

It was a hot weekend. Low 80s. No rain. I saw SZA and Kendrick and Eminem and Arctic Monkeys and MGMT. I was spending a lot of money on food inside the festival grounds. And I was horny. A little horny. Nothing crazy, but I was 22. If you’ve ever been 22, you know.

On the first night, we got back from the festival late. Past midnight. There were four of us in the tent and we were all sharing a Jackery power bank, rationing it so it would last the weekend. My friends were all asleep but I was still awake, phone charging, scrolling Grindr. Tons of profiles. Hot guys from Maine and Ohio and Michigan and Pennsylvania and even the United Kingdom flocking to me and me to them, all under 500 feet from me. Then, a message from a blank profile a little over 2,000 feet away.

“Hey,” he said. I didn’t reply. No pic, no chat.

A few minutes roll by.

“Can I give you some money? You don’t have to do anything.”

My eyes widened.

If I received a message like this now, almost 10 years later in 2026, that would be an easy ignore. Grindr is packed to the brim with bots pretending to be real people offering money, fake sugar daddy arrangements, or claiming they want to use your photos for an art project. It’s weird and these bots don't do a great job of hiding it. In 2018, this wasn’t the case. If someone was offering you money, yes, they could be a scammer, but it was less likely.

“I don’t have to do anything?” I replied.

“Nothing. Just send me your email for PayPal and I’ll give you money,” he answers.

Too good to be true. I google, “can someone hack your PayPal if you give them your email?” and got a clear answer. No, they can’t. Unless they have your password.

“Why do you want to give me money? What do you get out of this?”

“Being used financially turns me on,” he tells me.

Whatever. Sure. I told him to keep the payment light because I felt bad. I told him to send me $30. A minute later, I got a notification from PayPal, saying someone sent me $30. A first and a last name. Let’s call him S.J. (not his real initials). I look him up on Facebook and he’s real and he lives in Maryland and he’s an uncle and he works at a bank or something. He’s sort of handsome.

“Can I pay you throughout the weekend?” he asks.

“Sure,” I say. I fall asleep.

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The next morning, I didn't tell my friends. I don’t want them to think I’m going to pay for their drinks or anything. That $30 is for me. I bought Arancini Bros and Island Noodles. There’s not much cell service inside of the festival. It’s better at the campgrounds. So, the whole day, I’m practically off the grid. When I get back, I have another notification from PayPal. The guy sent me $70. So, I have $100 total. I go back on Grindr to thank him and his profile is no longer there, meaning he either deleted or blocked me. Bummer. But, now I have $70 more to spend. I’ll live.

The weekend continues. I spend his money. The weekend ends. I go back home to New Jersey, working the same job with my dad at the courthouse. It’s around two weeks later and I remember how much the money sucks, and then I remember S.J. I look back at the PayPal receipts. Full name. I find him on Instagram. I send him a message. I don’t follow him.

“Hey man, how’s it been?”

He replies immediately. He doesn’t follow me either.

“Good, man, how about you?”

“Good, missing Firefly. I spent so much money that weekend,” I say.

“You’re telling me,” he replies.

“Speaking of, I’m wondering if you can send me more? I’m just out of college and really struggling with bills right now.” I’m trying to make him feel bad.

“Yeah, I can only send $50 right now, that ok?”

“Yeah.”

He sends me $50. I say thank you. He asks if I want to start a payment plan and I tell him yes and we agree on a number. $250/week, but he can’t start until the following week. I tell him that’s fine. I’m excited. Easy money. For f*cking nothing. No conversation. No nudes. No nothing. Just money for the sake of money.

I wait a week and receive nothing. I message him. Hey. No reply. A few days go by and I message him again. Nothing. Again. Nothing. Again. Nothing. I send him around 50 heys with no reply for the rest of the summer. 

He replies one night at 3 a.m.

“Hey.”

Sh*t. I missed it. 50 more heys. No reply ever again. I forget about him.

I get a new job. One that pays like sh*t, too, but with potential to grow. I’m saving money to move to Brooklyn the following June and I’m doing an excellent job. It’s October 2 of the same year and I get an email from PayPal. 

The email says S.J. was charging back $50 to dispute his second payment. Why? He claims I did not provide the service I was supposed to perform. I look back at his payments. The first and third were sent as gifts from family and friends. The second he sent as a payment for services rendered. Services that never existed. I was just receiving money because he wanted to give it to me.

I call PayPal. I tell the guy on the other line exactly what happened. He sounds young and polished and it makes me trust everything he has to say. But he gives me information I don't love. What I did was a sex act, technically classified as financial domination, which their terms of service did not permit. PayPal's current terms state that it does not permit "services whose purpose is to facilitate meetings for sexually oriented activities." I'd never heard of financial domination (also known as findom). I tell him I didn't do anything sexual. He knows, he says, but given the circumstances, that's what was happening. This could suspend my account entirely, but he's leaving me with a warning. They're taking the $50. And another $20 for dispute charges.

Damn. This f*cking guy. I send S.J. a strongly worded email. I curse him out. I call him a loser. I call him pathetic. I call him a thief. I just lost $70. $70 I did nothing for, but still $70. $70 I spent already. I send the email. I’m fuming.

He replies minutes later.

“That was so hot.” 

I reply. I’m still heated, but I try one last time.

“Yeah? You think so, you worthless loser? Send me $50, you filthy piece of trash.” 

Returned to sender.

I look up his Instagram. It’s gone. I look up his Facebook page. It’s gone. I type his name into Google. I find no way of contacting him at all.

I never hear from him again.

And, S.J. if you ever see this, my contact information remains the same. I could still use that $50.

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Donald Trump hosted a group of children in the Oval Office for a physical fitness event on Tuesday, reviving the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, and the result was as ridiculous as you'd expect.

In the Daily Show clip above, host Desi Lydic plays footage of the president telling the assembled kids about "the power of a nuclear weapon" before adding "you might be too young for this."

"No, they're not too young, I'm sure they've already seen the Paw Patrol episode where they drop a ballistic missile on Humdinger," says Lydic. "How are you talking about nuclear war in front of children? You kids have seen Oppenheimer, right?"

Lydic goes on to play a montage of some of the other topics Trump discussed with the young cohort, including the "rigged election", "open borders", and "the Dow".

"Mom, could you pick me up from the White House?" says Lydic. "The president's trauma dumping on me again."

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Interrupting an actor's vocal warm-up is a risky move, especially when they're about to host SNL UK.

Ted Lasso star and West End icon Hannah Waddingham knows a thing or two about pre-show exercises, schooling cast members Annabel Marlow and George Fouracres in the video above.

Set to host the UK version of Saturday Night Live on May 9 with musical guest Myles Smith, Waddingham takes her warm-up extremely seriously, even if it's just throwing words together and dramatically sounding them out like "big beefy boys need big beefy toys."

It's the penultimate episode of SNL UK Season 1, the finale of which will be hosted by Doctor Who‘s Ncuti Gatwa on May 16, with musical guest Holly Humberstone. The first run of the spinoff has seen previous hosts Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed, Jack Whitehall, Nicola Coughlan, and Aimee Lou Wood.

Season 2 is yet to be announced.

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TL;DR: Amazon currently has the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) gaming monitor on sale for $699.99, down from its $999.99 list price. This deal comes with a free PC code for Resident Evil Requiem.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung 49-Inch Odyssey G9

$699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300

Get Deal

If you’re hunting for a good price on an ultrawide gaming monitor to give your setup a well-deserved upgrade, one of Amazon’s best offers now includes a code for one of 2026’s biggest games. 

As of May 6, Amazon has cut the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) gaming monitor to $699.99 with free delivery, making it a solid 30% discount for anyone trying to stretch their setup across one giant screen instead of juggling multiple displays. 

The G95C goes big without going OLED, pairing a massive 49-inch Dual QHD screen with a sharp 1,000R curve designed to wrap around your field of view. The 32:9 aspect ratio gives you room to spread out a game, Discord, Twitch, and a few extra tabs without making your desk look like a command center you can barely manage. 

As for speed, this sleek Samsung unit lists a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms(GtG) response time, which should help cut down on blur when matches get a bit chaotic. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support is also included for smoother performance during fast-moving scenes, while DisplayHDR 1000, 1000-nit peak brightness, and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio help bring extra depth to bright highlights and dark corners. 

Two business days after the monitor ships, you’ll receive an email with a redeemable code for the hit Capcom horror game Resident Evil Requiem. If you’re a fan of the long-running horror franchise, this a great first test for your visual upgrade. 

For any other games you feel like playing — be it a round of Fortnite or trying out Crimson Desert — the Odyssey G9 monitor’s setup-focused touches are worth noting. CoreSync and Core Lighting+ add reactive lighting behind the display, while the ergonomic stand lets you swivel, tilt, and adjust the height. Picture-by-Picture, Picture-in-Picture, Eye Saver Mode, and Auto Source Switch+ round out this unit for anyone using this as both a gaming screen and productivity hub. 

If you’re open to spending a bit less on a monitor that’s slightly smaller, the 34-inch Alienware curved gaming monitor is on sale for just under $300. What’s more, the LG 27-inch UltraGear GX7 is over $300 off. 

Back in 2020, in what's still one of the most shocking sporting upsets of the decade so far, Stephen Colbert managed to claim victory over Barack Obama in a game of "wastepaper basketball" — and now they're having a rematch.

In the clip above, after a tour and interview in the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, the two talk smack while throwing their little crumpled balls of paper at a distant trash can. The end result? A match that's not all that closely fought.

We won't tell you who wins, but we will say there's a trophy involved.

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

SAVE $200: As of May 6, the EcoVacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum is on sale for $899 at Amazon. That's a 18% discount on the list price.

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Credit: EcoVacs

EcoVacs Deebot X11 Robot Vacuum

$899 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $200.99

 

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The EcoVacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum is back on sale at Amazon, and if you've been looking for a robot vacuum to handle all the work, this is a great choice. A vacuum and mop combo, this unit is at its best-ever price of $899 for a limited time.

This is a robot vacuum that can handle larger homes. Dirt and dust stand no chance thanks to the OZMO Roller 2.0 with TruEdge 3.0 which gives more precise mopping, reaching into edges and corners more effectively. The BLAST suction and ZeroTangle 3.0 technology provide reliable cleaning power, even for homes with pets.

It also has a TruePass four-wheel system that helps it navigate thresholds and steps with ease, and the smart wet and dry cleaning system automatically adjusts by lifting the mop on carpets to avoid making a mess.

The X11 also features an OMNI Station that has bagless auto-emptying, hot water mop washing, and self-cleaning functions, so all manual work is taken out of your hands. It's even powered by AI navigation to help it learn your home layout by itself.

You can find this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $500: As of May 6, the De'Longhi Eletta Explore is on sale for $1,499.95 at Amazon. That's a 24% discount on the list price.

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Credit: De'Longhi

De'Longhi Eletta Explore

$1,499.95 at Amazon
$1,999.95 Save $500

 

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Coffee connoisseurs, head to Amazon now because there's a new deal on the De'Longhi Eletta Explore. As of May 6, this impressive espresso machine has got a $500 discount, bringing the price down from $1,999.95 to $1,499.95.

This model is a super automatic espresso machine that lets you create a wide range of drinks at just the touch of a button. No fussing around with settings or complicated parts, this machine comes with over 50 one-touch hot and cold recipes including espresso, cappuccino, latte, iced drinks, and more.

Pick one of the 50 recipes from the 3.5-inch full-touch TFT display. You can even personalize drinks, create profiles, and make changes to recipes through the De’Longhi Coffee Link App.

For those that are serious about their beans, this machine comes with a built-in grinder with 13 settings for precise dosing and optimal extraction. It also comes with a dual LatteCrema system that creates both hot and cold milk foam for different styles of coffee, if you prefer a cappuccino instead of a straight up espresso. Cold brew lovers are also covered, with the machine benefiting from Cold Extraction Technology to prepare cold brew in under three minutes.

Get this coffee machine deal from Amazon now.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, May 6, 2026:

Across

Wikipedia or WebMD

• The answer is Site.

Host city of the 2024 Olympics

• The answer is Paris.

Nuclear reactors split them

• The answer is Atoms.

Hit 2021 film shot in the same location as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Martian"

• The answer is Dune.

C.I.A. asset

• The answer is Spy.

Down

Showed sudden interest

• The answer is Sat up.

"Ten thousand spoons, when all you need is a knife," according to Alanis Morissette

• The answer is Irony.

What's displayed at the top of many iPhone lock screens

• The answer is Time.

Pluralizing letter, spelled out

• The answer is Ess.

Football player's protection

• The answer is Pads.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

SAVE $130: As of May 6, the DJI Flip (RC 2) is on sale for $509 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

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Credit: DJI

DJI Flip (RC 2)

$509 at Amazon
$639 Save $130

 

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The DJI Flip is back on sale at Amazon, and as of May 6, it's down to its best-ever price. And with the ban on future imports of DJI drones, now might be the time to buy. Right now, you'll save $130 with the new price of $509.

This drone is incredibly lightweight, weighing under 249g, meaning it doesn't require FAA registration or Remote ID in the U.S. For peace of mind, it's designed with full-coverage carbon fibre propeller guards. For shooting great content, it benefits from features like subject tracking to keep subjects in focus during filming. It also benefits from a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor to capture images with more light and detail, and it supports 4K/60fps HDR video recording.

With this DJI drone, you'll get an RC 2 remote controller with a high-bright screen, a battery, and additional essentials. To get going, you'll need to download the DJI Fly app from the official DJI website, as it was recently removed from Google Play.

Get this drone deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $30: As of May 6, get a free $30 Amazon gift card when you buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

$249.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $30

 

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If you need a new pair of earbuds and you love a freebie as much as we do, you need to check out this Amazon deal on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.

As of May 6, if you buy these earbuds, you'll get a free Amazon voucher worth $30. You can choose between black and white earbuds, both including the same gift card offer.

And if the bonus gift card wasn't enough of a selling point, these earbuds are really incredible. Sound quality is seriously impressive, with each earbud featuring a two-way speaker system with a tweeter and woofer for high and low frequencies. They also have an Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation 2.0 feature. This can adjust sound in real time to your environment.

These earbuds also include touch controls for answering the phone, adjusting the volume, and other functions. There's even hands-free AI features such as voice assistance and live translation when used with compatible devices. And don't worry about them being flimsy, as these are designed for everyday use thanks to their IP57 dust and water rating.

Head to Amazon to score this earbuds and gift card bundle deal.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle available for preorder at $69.99 ahead of its Aug. 14 release. TCGplayer listings are much higher (starting at $117.73).

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Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle

$69.99 at Amazon

Pre-order Here

The Magic: The Gathering trading card game is heading back to Middle-Earth, and this time Bilbo Baggins is getting his own turn at the table. The Hobbit crossover doesn’t launch until Aug. 14, but preorders are already live and Amazon has the most sensible price right now. 

As of May 6, the Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle is up for preorder at Amazon for $69.99, which lines up exactly with the official bundle MSRP. It’s also being sold and shipped by Amazon, with Amazon’s preorder price guarantee attached. That means you won't pay more if the price shifts before launch. 

TCGplayer, meanwhile, seems to be preparing for official stock to sell out with higher listing prices. Its lowest listing is currently $117.73 with shipping included, while the listed median is hovering around $117.76. That makes Amazon the obvious first stop if you’re trying to lock in the new set without paying nearly $50 over retail price.

Inside the box, you’ll get nine Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Boosters, one alt-art traditional foil promo card, four traditional foil full-art seasonal Hobbit lands, 15 traditional foil basic lands, 15 non-foil basic lands, two reference cards, a card-storage box, and an oversized Spindown life counter. 

That means it’s built for a little bit of everything: cracking packs, building out decks, storing cards, and admiring some very Shire-themed lands. The set pulls from Bilbo’s journey from The Shire to the Lonely Mountain, with Gandalf, Dwarves, Trolls, treasure, and Smaug all part of the adventure. 

As for deals from other MTG expansions, you can score the Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box for only $20. To further expand your collection, Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box is also on sale for around $90. 

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display Box up for preorder at $278.95, down from its typical $344.94 price. Walmart and TCGplayer listings are even cheaper, but this Amazon Chaos Rising Booster Box price is sporting a 19% discount.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Box

$278.95 at Amazon
$344.94 Save $65.99

 

Pre-order Here

The Chaos Rising release date is getting closer, and Amazon is starting to drop more discounts on the upcoming expansion.

As of May 6, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display Box listed for preorder at $278.95 with free shipping, sold by MVP Marketplace. That is 19% off its typical $344.94 price, saving you $65.99 before tax. 

Each Chaos Rising Booster Display Box contains 36 booster packs from the upcoming Mega Evolution expansion. At Amazon’s $278.95 price, that comes out to roughly $7.75 per booster pack before tax. The listing currently shows free delivery for May 27, with the fastest delivery option set for May 23, right after the expansion’s May 22 release date. 

That said, Amazon is still not the cheapest place to buy. Walmart currently has the same Chaos Rising Booster Box listed at $238.99 with free shipping, sold and shipped by T. Gaming. TCGplayer is also under Amazon, with unopened presale listings starting at $239.40 shipped and a current market price of $238.24.

Chaos Rising includes over 120 cards, more new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, more than 25 Trainer cards, and more than 35 Pokémon and Trainer cards with special illustrations. The set features Mega Floette ex, Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, and Mega Dragalge ex.

To get more from the upcoming expansion at a better price, you can also score the Pokemon TCG Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for just over $130 at Amazon. You can also grab single Chaos Rising booster packs for $12.99 at Amazon. 

An icy world, perhaps just 300 miles wide and far beyond Pluto, may have air, challenging the assumption that small space objects can't hold onto an atmosphere.

This world, known as 2002 XV93, orbits in a distant region sprinkled with leftover rubble from our solar system's early planet-building days. Astronomers often study this ancient detritus, referred to as Trans-Neptunian Objects, by waiting for remnants to pass in front of stars. During rare alignments, researchers can measure how the starlight changes to learn about an object's size and features, such as rings or debris.

What scientists saw instead for this object was startling. On Jan. 10, 2024, the little object eclipsed a faint star — a star so anonymous it doesn't even have a common name. But that event, seen from East Asia, revealed thin air on 2002 XV93.

Typically, if an object has no atmosphere, the background starlight disappears abruptly as the object blocks it. Instead, telescopes recorded a gradual fading out and in of the light at the beginning and end of the event — a sign that an atmosphere had bent or scattered it.

"Our findings suggest that a fraction of distant icy minor planets can exhibit atmospheres," the researchers wrote in a new paper published in Nature Astronomy. 

The researchers estimated that an extremely thin atmosphere, with a surface pressure between about 100 and 200 nanobars, surrounds the object. That level is far thinner than Pluto's atmosphere but stronger than anything previously measured around similar small bodies in the outer solar system.

In a post on X, lead author Ko Arimatsu said this is the first detection of an atmosphere for a Trans-Neptunian Object beyond Pluto. It's not known yet what gases are in the world's air, but methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide are the team's best guesses, based on their observations.

The discovery shocked scientists because astronomical models indicate small, distant objects should not be able to maintain an atmosphere — at least not for very long. Under weak gravity, gases tend to escape into space, meaning any atmosphere would likely dissipate within a few hundred to a few thousand years.

That may suggest the researchers caught a temporary atmosphere for the object at just the right time. 

The authors proffer a few scenarios for how 2002 XV93's atmosphere could have formed. One possibility is that a comet or asteroid could have crashed into the world recently, releasing trapped gases. Another possibility is that cold volcanoes could have vented gases instead of lava, or internal heat or chemistry could have pushed gases to the surface. 

If the air fades over time, it likely came from a collision. If it continues or changes in cycles, that may mean internal mechanisms are responsible. The team favors the former explanation over the latter.

Scientists say they'll need to study the object more to solve the mystery. They already have James Webb Space Telescope observations of the target that show no indication of frozen material that could have turned into gas.

TL;DR: AcePDF gives you conversion, editing, OCR, and file management tools in one app for a one-time $23.99 (reg. $99.99).

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Credit: Acethinker

AcePDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License

$29.99
$99.99 Save $70

 

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PDFs are one of those things many deal with on a regular basis, but rarely with just one tool. One app to convert, another to edit, something else to merge files. It all adds up fast, mentally and financially.

That’s what makes AcePDF Converter & Editor worth a look. For $23.99 (reg. $99.99) through May 10, it bundles pretty much every common PDF task into one place — with a one-time payment instead of another ongoing subscription.

At the core, it handles conversions both ways. You can turn PDFs into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or images without losing formatting, and go the other direction just as easily. It also supports batch processing, which is a small detail that makes a big difference if you’re working with multiple files.

Editing is just as straightforward. You can merge, split, rotate, and rearrange pages, add annotations, or build forms. There’s even OCR built in, so scanned documents aren’t stuck as images — you can extract and edit the text directly.

Then there are the extras that tend to come in handy more often than expected: compressing large files, pulling images out of PDFs, adding watermarks, or locking documents with passwords.

Instead of piecing together multiple tools, you get a single app that handles the full workflow from start to finish.

If PDFs are part of your regular routine, this is one of those small upgrades that can save you time every week.

Get the AcePDF Converter & Editor for just $23.99 (reg. $99.99) through May 10at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Surfshark One+ and Incogni give you a VPN, antivirus, alternative ID, and data monitoring all in one $75 bundle.

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Credit: Surfshark

Surfshark One+ Plan with Incogni: 1-Year VPN, Antivirus, and Personal Data Removal

$74.99
$250.20 Save $175.21

 

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Trying to manage your online privacy usually means juggling multiple subscriptions that each only solve one small part of the problem. Surfshark One+ with Incogni takes a different approach by combining a VPN, antivirus, breach alerts, and data removal into one plan. Right now, a one-year plan is even on sale for only $74.99 (reg. $250.20).

Surfshark takes care of your privacy in real time. The VPN encrypts your internet connection across devices, which helps protect your data on public networks and keeps your browsing activity more private. Antivirus protection runs in the background to catch malware, ransomware, and other threats, while Surfshark Alert notifies you if your information shows up in a data breach.

There is also an Alternative ID tool, which lets you generate a substitute name and email when signing up for sites. That keeps your real information from getting added to more databases. Private search is included too, so you can browse without trackers tied to your activity.

Incogni focuses on something most people don’t deal with directly. Data brokers collect and sell personal information, which can lead to spam, robocalls, and targeted scams. After you authorize it, Incogni contacts hundreds of these brokers on your behalf and requests that your data be removed. It keeps following up over time, and you can track the progress through a dashboard.

Together, these tools cover both sides of the problem. One protects your current activity, and the other works to clean up what is already out there.

The plan works across up to five devices and runs on most major platforms, so you can keep everything under one account instead of managing separate tools.

Right now, it’s only $74.99 to get a one-year SurfShark One+ Plan with Incogni.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Giro d’Italia for free on SBS on Demand. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There is something incredibly special about watching the best cyclists in the world compete in the Grand Tours. The scenery is always amazing, the fans are passionate, and of course, the racing is electric. You quickly become aware that you're watching something special. These athletes are not normal, and we're blessed to be able to watch these stars compete over three weeks of gruelling competition.

The Giro d'Italia is the first Grand Tour of 2026. This year's event will feature the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, Giulio Pellizzari, and Adam Yates. There are a number of talented riders very much in the running for the pink jersey this year.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Giro d'Italia for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Giro d’Italia?

The Giro d'Italia is an annual multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in Italy. The Giro d'Italia is one of cycling's most prestigious three-week-long Grand Tours (alongside the Tour de France and Vuelta a España).

When is the 2026 Giro d’Italia?

The 2026 Giro d'Italia is the 109th edition of the famous race. This year's race will start on May 8 in Bulgaria and will finish on May 31 in Rome.

How to watch the 2026 Giro d’Italia for free

The 2026 Giro d'Italia is available to live stream for free on SBS on Demand.

SBS on Demand is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can unblock this free streaming platform with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access SBS on Demand from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Giro d'Italia for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit SBS on Demand

5. Watch the 2026 Giro d’Italia for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Giro d’Italia before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for SBS on Demand?

ExpressVPN is the best service for live streaming top sporting events from around the world, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Giro d’Italia for free with ExpressVPN.

Nothing feels as good as a deep, genuine laugh. It's an expression of joy! It's a workout. It's a sign that you're having a good time.

Netflix has a dazzling selection of comedy movies that give you that good-time feeling on demand. Whether you're craving action-spiked shenanigans, quirky coming-of-age adventures, awkward humor, stranger-than-fiction silliness, madcap musical numbers, or crime with a spree of laughs, there's a perfect pick for you. And we've made singling it out all the easier by highlighting the most hilarious below.

Here are the funniest movies now streaming on Netflix.

30. Ghostbusters

Who you gonna call? Ahead of a string of sequels, this 1984 comedy classic was the first to pose the question. And the answer was a quartet of ghostbusters, dedicated to ridding New York City from paranormal pests.

Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson star as the eponymous band of heroes who get up to all kinds of comical chaos. Whether they're arguing with the EPA, battling a poltergeist, or trying to win over beguiling cellist, they're hilarious in every step. Cue up the theme song, and kick off movie night right. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Ghostbusters is now streaming on Netflix.

29. Mrs. Doubtfire

Robin Williams stars in this 1993 comedy, playing a divorced dad desperate to reconnect with his kids. So, naturally, he puts on heavy prosthetic makeup, a granny wig, and a padded body suit to become an English nanny. That way, his ex-wife (Sally Field) will hire him to watch after their kids! ("The whole time? The whole time? The WHOLE TIME!")

An outrageous comedy that is truly iconic, Mrs. Doubtfire is a treasure for every silly thing Williams does. — K.P.

How to watch: Mrs. Doubtfire is now streaming on Netflix.

28. Colossal

We love when Anne Hathaway gets weird with it. And there's perhaps no better way to describe writer/director Nacho Vigalondo's 2016 monster movie. Here, Hathaway stars as a train wreck of a woman who, after tanking her career and her romantic relationship with a hot metro man (Dan Stevens), ends up sleeping in a cot in her parents' old house in her hometown. Over many beers, she reconnects with a former classmate (Jason Sudeikis), and then a towering kaiju attacks Seoul, South Korea. What does this have to do with anything? That's the mystery in this darkly comic movie, which veers into a mind-bending climax that had tongues wagging. Funny, strange, and smart, Colossal is not to be overlooked. — K.P.

How to watch: Colossal is now streaming on Netflix.

27. Cora Bora

Megan Stalter stars in "Cora Bora." Credit: Brainstorm Media

If Too Much has you craving more Megan Stalter, you'll want to catch up with this underseen gem. Directed by Hannah Pearl Utt, Cora Bora centers on the titular musician (played by Stalter), who has left Portland and her girlfriend (Jojo T. Gibbs) behind to pursue her dreams in L.A. The couple's open relationship allows each to explore other connections — or, in Cora’s case, endure an awkward one-night stand with a sexy Flat Earther (Thomas Mann). But when Cora begins to fear that her girlfriend is catching feelings for someone else, it prompts the chaotic bisexual into a hasty homecoming.

In my review out of the film's SXSW premiere in 2023, I cheered, "Cora Bora proves a sensational cringe comedy, spiked with wicked humor, skin-crawling awkward scenarios, and an ardent — if wounded — heart. Deftly dancing from brash jokes to tender dialogue, Stalter reveals a riveting range and stirring screen presence. Simply put, it’s easy to fall for Cora Bora." — K.P.

How to watch: Cora Bora is now streaming on Netflix.

26. Paddington in Peru

We could all use some Paddington in our lives, so why not kick back and enjoy Paddington in Peru? Sure, it's not the masterpiece that is Paddington 2, but director Dougal Wilson still crafts a charming adventure in its own right in his directorial debut.

This time around, Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) is headed back to his homeland of deepest, darkest Peru, with the Brown family in tow. In his quest to find his missing Aunt Lucy, he'll cross paths with a high-energy, guitar-playing nun (Olivia Colman) and a cartoonish, disguise-loving boat captain (Antonio Banderas). Colman and Banderas elevate Paddington's journey from funny to downright outrageous, proving that there are few things more fun than watching seasoned performers let their freak flags fly. Check out their work and the rest of Paddington in Peru, and see why Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko called it "the movie we need right now." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Paddington in Peru is now streaming on Netflix.

25. Saturday Night

Credit: Hopper Stone / Sony Pictures Entertainment

Unjustly overlooked at release in the fall of 2024, this frantically funny romp from Juno and Young Adult director Jason Reitman details the 90-minute lead-up to the very first episode of Saturday Night Live in October of 1975. The ensemble cast is packed, with Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase, Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner, Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd, Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman, Matt Wood as John Belushi, Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris, and Kim Matula as Jane Curtin. 

Add Gabriel Labelle as Lorne Michaels, the man with the wild and crazy plan himself, and the fact that this movie managed to only be 90 minutes long with all of these characters (plus a dozen more I don't even have room to list) is a real miracle in itself. Plenty of people do get shafted time-wise — notably, most of the women, which is pretty crappy given the show's own track record shafting women back in the day — but Saturday Night definitely captures the chaos and hilarious mayhem that Michaels managed to funnel into a comedy revolution. — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Saturday Night is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Nonnas

Speaking of delicious, this comedy written by Liz Maccie and directed by her husband Stephen Chbosky will have you craving a home-cooked Italian meal.

Inspired by the true story of the restaurant Enoteca Maria, Nonnas stars Vince Vaughn as an average Joe who channels his grief over losing his mother and grandmother into a tantalizing new venture. He uses his inheritance to build a new restaurant in Staten Island, and hires Italian grandmothers (or nonnas) to become the chefs using their family recipes. Personalities clash, but ultimately these strong-willed women come together to create something stupendous.

It's a feel-good comedy full of love, joy, and laughs.* — K.P.

How to watch: Nonnas is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Heart Eyes

Credit: Christopher Moss

Valentine's Day gets a horror-comedy makeover in Heart Eyes, from director Josh Ruben (Werewolves Within). The titular slasher only kills on Feb. 14, when they target happy couples in love. This year, the Heart Eyes killer has marketers Ally (Olivia Holt) and Jay (Mason Gooding) in their sights. There's just one problem: Ally and Jay aren't a couple, even though a coffee shop meet-cute and undeniable chemistry seem to suggest otherwise. Can these star-crossed acquaintances and definitely not lovers survive the night and convince the Heart Eyes Killer they're totally platonic?

What follows is a cross between gory slasher and romantic comedy, and if you're a fan of both genres, chances are you'll be charmed by Heart Eyes. As Mashable contributor Kimber Myers wrote in her review, "Heart Eyes is a gory good time for those who are likely to swipe right on an off-kilter love story and a horror comedy." — B.E.

How to watch: Heart Eyes is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Cunk on Life

Comedian Diane Morgan has been gifting the world with her character of Philomena Cunk for a glorious decade and a half now. A dim-witted investigative journalist who butts heads with the real-world leading minds on each subject, Cunk proved to be a one-woman feast of absolute nonsense. The character Cunk started getting her own specials in 2016 with Cunk on Christmas, followed by Cunk on Britain and the epic globe-trotting mockumentary series Cunk on Earth (also streaming on Netflix).

Morgan's expanded her reach all the way to Cunk on Life, her latest side-splitter that tries to uncover the very meaning of existence itself across its humble 71-minute runtime. Does Cunk succeed? Well, Cunk definitely thinks she does, every damn time. But if not, at least we'll get to hear some Technotronic in the process, dammit! — J.A.   

How to watch: Cunk on Life is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Credit: Netflix

Eddie Murphy returns as wise-cracking Detroit police officer Axel Foley. 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III, this sensational sequel sees Foley returning to Los Angeles to fight a new foe, reunite with old friends, and reconnect with his estranged daughter.

Reprising their supporting roles are Beverly Hills Cop co-stars John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot. New to the crew is Taylour Paige as Axel's hard-headed daughter, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a local ally, Nasim Pedrad as a flustered real estate agent, and Kevin Bacon as a smirking antagonist. The sparks will fly. The punchlines hit powerfully. The soundtrack is fire. And just like that, the heat is back on! — K.P.

How to watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Between Two Ferns: The Movie

Credit: Adam Rose / Netflix

Zach Galifianakis' awkward celebrity interview web series Between Two Ferns might not seem like fodder for a full-length movie, but Between Two Ferns: The Movie goes double meta by presenting his success on Funny or Die as an insult to the actor's intention to host a "serious" interview show. Galifianakis the character sets off to correct the assumption that his original show is a joke by interviewing even more celebrities, like John Cho, Keanu Reeves, Tiffany Haddish, and more. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Between Two Ferns: The Movie is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Do Revenge

Credit: Netflix

Looking for a revenge flick that pays tribute to teen classics like Mean Girls, Heathers, Cruel Intentions, and more? Then check out Do Revenge, a dark comedy sure to join the canon of iconic high school movies. Students Drea (Camila Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) couldn't be more different... apart from the fact that both have major bones to pick with people who ruined their reputations. They decide to team up and execute one another's revenge plans, which leads down a winding road of morally dubious choices, snappy one-liners, and excellent outfits.

Mendes and Hawke have great chemistry, but it's Sophie Turner who damn near steals the show in a bit part that simply must be seen to be believed.* — B.E.

How to watch: Do Revenge is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Always Be My Maybe

Credit: Netflix

What if the one who got away got a second chance? Back in the day, Sasha and Marcus were tight as a slap bracelet. But one fumbled night in a sweaty backseat seemed to shatter their future together.

Fifteen years later, she's a world-renowned chef and he's — well — he's working for his dad's HVAC business and playing with his band on the side. Still, fate arranges for them to reconnect, which could mean Marcus (Randall Park) has a shot to show Sasha (Ali Wong) how he feels. Comedy ensues as the stakes get high when Keanu Reeves crashes the party, being all weird and hot and having the audacity to be Keanu Reeves! This Nahnatchka Khan-helmed laffer also boasts appearances by James Saito, Charlyne Yi, Karan Soni, Daniel Dae Kim, and Michelle Buteau.* — K.P.

How to watch: Always Be My Maybe is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Dolemite Is My Name

Credit: François Duhamel / Netflix

Chronicling the true story of late comedian Rudy Ray Moore — also known as Dolemite — this Eddie Murphy vehicle is worth every minute of viewing.

An outrageous showbiz comedy, Dolemite Is My Name is at once a poignant look at the life of an underdog and an unbelievably good time. With supporting performances by Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, and more, this biopic offers more beat-for-beat joy than many of its fictional counterparts. Sensational, aspirational, and electric: You'll love it. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Dolemite Is My Name is now streaming on Netflix.

16. The Polka King

Credit: Netflix

Sometimes true crime can lead to some pitch-perfect dark comedy. This is the case for this outrageous offering, which stars Jack Black as infamous scammer/local celebrity Jan Lewan. Black brings all the rock star panache you need to understand how Lewan could be so beguiling to the Pennsylvanian retirees who surrendered their savings to the self-proclaimed Polka King.

Screenwriters Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky gave this story of fraud and showmanship shape. But they wisely trusted in the local flair of the terrific 2009 documentary The Man Who Would Be Polka King to provide some of the wildest lines of dialogue. Plucking directly from interviews with the friends, family, and victims of Jan Lewan, this comedy feels stranger than fiction but is jaw-droppingly real. Salty supporting turns from Jenny Slate, Jacki Weaver, and Jason Schwartzman bring added fun.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Polka King is now streaming on Netflix.

15. The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Credit: Netflix

Sony Pictures Animation has given audiences such daring and dynamic animated movies as Surf's Up, Hotel Transylvania, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This zany 2021 release centers on a family who's battling back the robo-apocalypse with togetherness, internet savviness, and a wall-eyed pug named Monchi (voiced by social media icon Doug the Pug).

The Mitchells' adventure into chaos begins when daughter Katie (Abbi Jacobson) is poised to go off to college. Desperate for one last family-unifying road trip, her dad (Danny McBride) piles the whole family into his beater of a vehicle, unknowingly charting a fateful route into heroics. Co-directors Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe infuse Katie's excitable perspective throughout the film by working in internet memes, social media-style reactions, and blitz of bonkers visuals. It’s a bold move that might alienate some viewers but has largely won the acclaim of critics and kiddos.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Mitchells vs. The Machines is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Credit: Netflix

Writer/director Rian Johnson follows up his critically heralded whodunnit with a sequel that's even more explosive than Knives Out. Southern gentleman/detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back, drawling deductions and whipping out witticisms, much to the chagrin of a group of wealthy and conniving friends.

It was supposed to be a murder mystery weekend where homicide was just a game. But when tech scion Miles Bron (Edward Norton) brings together his closest friends and worst enemy, real blood will be spilled, and the game is afoot! Joining in on the comically chaotic fun are Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., and Jessica Henwick. — K.P.

How to watch: Glass Onion is now streaming on Netflix.

13. The Forty-Year-Old Version

Credit: Jeong Park / Netflix © 2020

The Forty-Year-Old Version isn’t just any film about a struggling New York artist, but one about a Black female playwright who’s continually held back from creating something authentic to her perspective. Radha Blank's autobiographical directorial debut, which she also wrote, produced, and stars in, is a searing, funny, and unabashedly honest look at the compromises Black creatives are pushed to make in a world dominated by whiteness.

A teacher approaching her 40th birthday, Radha (Blank) gets the chance to produce one of her plays — only after she refuses to write a slave musical. But forced to change her vision to appease white audiences, Radha considers a totally different medium to express herself: becoming a rapper. The Forty-Year-Old Version may be one of the most slept-on Netflix originals, and it’s a shame we've yet to see another film from Blank since, itself an indictment of an industry that fails to continually platform raw and honest Black storytelling.* — Oliver Whitney, Contributing Writer

How to watch: The Forty-Year-Old Version is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Vampires vs. the Bronx

Credit: Netflix

Want a movie that's got excitement, comedy, a scorching message about the evils of gentrification, and is a kid-friendly romp? Then take a bite out of Vampires vs. the Bronx.

Oz Rodriguez's PG-13 horror-comedy centers on Afro-Latino teens who recognize that a flurry of missing person posters and an influx of rich white folks with tote bags means bad news for the neighborhood. Together, they team up Monster Squad-style to take down the bloodsuckers and save their community. With a sharp wit, a warm heart, a rich sense of atmosphere, and an equal appreciation for the Blade movies and '80s Amblin, Vampires vs. the Bronx is an easy watch full of rewards.* — K.P.

How to watch: Vampires vs. the Bronx is now streaming on Netflix.

11. The Breaker Upperers

This hidden gem comes from New Zealand, the fertile comedy ground that gave us Taika Waititi, Flight of the Conchords, and What We Do in the Shadows. Waititi collaborators Jackie van Beek, James Rolleston, and Jemaine Clement team up for a deeply quirky buddy comedy about two long-time besties with a bonkers — but brilliant — business model.

Need someone to dump your partner so you can avoid a messy confrontation? Call on Jen and Mel (co-writers/co-directors/co-leads van Beek and Madeleine Sami). For a reasonable fee, these fearless Breaker Upperers will impersonate police officers, play pregnant, or even fake your death to help you ghost an ex. Whatever the shenanigans, van Beek and Sami sparkle. Booming with wild humor and big heart, this comedy is guaranteed to leave you cackling.* — K.P.

Where to watch: The Breaker Upperers is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

With its reputation for wacky musical numbers, the Eurovision Song Contest is ripe for parody. Luckily for Eurovision lovers, the contest gets the send-up it deserves in this gloriously goofy flick starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. They play the Icelandic musical duo Fire Saga, who find themselves in the Eurovision spotlight. There, they discover that the famed competition is a world of cutthroat competitors, glitzy costumes, and many, many bops.

Eurovision Song Contest is full of larger-than-life characters and ridiculous humor, but it's also teeming with Eurovision references that will have fans laughing and cheering. For every "Jaja Ding Dong," there's a joyful Song-A-Long — and both are great! Pair all that with pitch-perfect comedic performances from Ferrell and McAdams, and you have a comedy that will both have you in stitches and win your heart. (Best of all, if you weren't a Eurovision fanatic before seeing this movie, you'll definitely be one by the time it ends.)* — B.E.

How to watch: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is now streaming on Netflix.

9. The Thursday Murder Club

Celia Imrie, Helen Mirren, Naomi Ackie, Pierce Brosnan, and Sir Ben Kingsley in "The Thursday Murder Club." Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix

Sir Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Celia Imrie bring to life the brilliant pensioners at the heart of Richard Osman's best-selling novel The Thursday Murder Club.

In the charming retirement village of Cooper's Chase, a club made up of a former M16 agent, a once-feared union activist, a wise therapist, and a cheerful retired nurse use their lifetimes of skills to crack cold cases. But when fresh blood is spilled in their social circle, the Thursday Murder Club hunts for clues, leading them to spooky settings and dangerous people.

Director Chris Columbus offers a cozy crime thriller that's sure to delight fans of the book series. And we suspect it'll hook newcomers too, as his cast dazzles with every quip and daring deduction. — K.P.

How to watch: Thursday Murder Club is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Hit Man

Richard Linklater and Glen Powell reunite for Hit Man, a rom-com that is killer in all sense of the word.

Powell plays Gary Johnson, a college professor whose side gig as an undercover hit man leads to an unexpected meet-cute with would-be client Madison (Andor's Adria Arjona). The pair's connection (and electrifying chemistry) sparks a delightful game of false identities, reinvention, and twisted love that toggles between hilarious, thrilling, and sexy at a moment's notice. Oh, who am I kidding; sometimes it's all three at once!* — B.E.

How to watch: Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix.

7. One of Them Days

Credit: Anne Marie Fox / Sony Pictures

Produced by Issa Rae, One of Them Days stars Keke Palmer and SZA as best friends scraping by in Los Angeles — and rent is due! Unfortunately, a shady boyfriend seems to have made off with their payment. If they don't scramble together enough cash to appease their crooked landlord, aspiring painter Alyssa (SZA) and waitress Dreux (Palmer) will be out on the curb. These inventive girlfriends go through a wild array of hijinks along the way, crossing paths with a vicious romantic rival, a big-mouthed busybody, a ruthless gangster, and Dreux's muscle-bound crush whose nickname is "Maniac." As the ticking clock comes closer and closer to climax, you'll be worn out from cackling.

The script by Syreeta Singleton is crackling with jokes, and director Lawrence Lamont pitches his cast into some grade-A slapstick. While this comedy's dynamic leading ladies are reason enough to give One of Them Days a watch, they're bolstered by a supporting cast that includes Katt Williams, Maude Apatow, Janelle James, Gabrielle Dennis, and Dewayne Perkins. — K.P.

How to watch: One of Them Days is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Credit: Netflix

Our pals Wallace the inventor and his loyal pup Gromit have been running around for nearly four cracking decades now, but their latest adventure (and only their second feature-length film, after 2005's The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) proves they've lost not a whit of their vim and verve. Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl happily proves to be yet another gut-busting bit of British whimsy from Aardman Animation head Nick Park and his team of clay-playing creatives.

Vengeance Most Fowl sees our cheese-loving duo facing down a familiar foe — the diabolical penguin mastermind Feathers McGraw, who was last seen being sent off to imprisonment in the City Zoo in the classic 1993 short The Wrong Trousers. Hacking into Wallace's latest invention, a garden gnome robot named Norbot that he's created to do all of the yard work, Feathers builds himself an army of killer gnomes all programmed to do his bidding. And he wants nothing more than to bid adieu to his nemesis Wallace! — J.A.

How to watch: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Shiva Baby

Some people find this 2020 cringe comedy from writer-director Emma Seligman to be so stressful that it stops being a comedy altogether, to which we give a hearty boo. Sure, it's one of the most claustrophobic experiences you can have outside of an escape room that's caught on fire, but Rachel Sennott is a comic genius who spins every moment of horror into gold!

Before the two teamed up again in 2023 for the LOL-worthy Bottoms, Seligman and Sennott gave us this small-scale story of college student Danielle, who is attending a Jewish funeral reception where absolutely everything goes wrong. Sitting shiva is never a party, but Danielle's parents (a brilliantly funny Fred Melamed and Polly Draper) are hard on her case. Then her ex-girlfriend Maya (an equally funny Molly Gordon) shows up, and that's awkward. What else could go wrong? Glad you asked! Danielle's secret side gig as a sugar baby is jeopardized when her main client (Danny Deferrari) shows up with his shiksa wife and their newborn baby. Now throw all of this drama into the smallest three rooms you can imagine, all stuffed with the loudest people eating the driest crackers you have ever seen, and enjoy! — J.A.

How to watch: Shiva Baby is now streaming on Netflix.

4. KPop Demon Hunters

Credit: Netflix

Officially the most popular Netflix original movie of all time, KPop Demon Hunters delivers a little bit of everything: romance, action, comedy, and a totally addictive soundtrack.

The story stars with K-pop trio HUNTR/X, who, when they aren't making bops like "Golden," are battling demons to protect the very souls of their fans. But just as they think they're on the verge of building an impenetrable barrier with their songs, the demons fight back with a boy band of their own. The Saja Boys are comically hot, delivering smooth moves, devious plans, and plenty of slapstick. Plus, they've got a tiger, who is cute, creepy, and silly to boot! Whether it's the martial arts action sequences, the swoon-worthy song-and-dance numbers, or the cheeky sense of humor that's grabbed fans of all ages, KPop Demon Hunters is sure to thrill. And hey, there's a sing-along version now too. — K.P.

How to watch: KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Between the Temples

Filmmaker Nathan Silver has been churning out extremely oddball indie films for the past 15 years without a whole lot of fanfare, but he finally found a sliver of mainstream attention in 2024 with Between the Temples, a tender and relatively straightforward (for him) comedy starring the one-of-a-kind twosome of Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane. Schwartzman plays Ben, a recently widowed cantor at the local synagogue, while Kane plays his former elementary school music teacher Carla, who comes to him after deciding she wants to have the bat mitzvah she didn't get to have as a child. The two spark, their families clash, and big life lessons are learned. And if you could bottle the off-kilter chemistry between these supreme character actors, you'd have magic, which is just what this movie, singular and sweet, is. — J.A. 

How to watch: Between the Temples is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Kneecap

Credit: Helen Sloan / Sony Pictures Classics

Like 8 Mile with way more vowels, Kneecap tells the true life story of the titular band while starring the band members as themselves. The hip-hop trio of Liam Óg "Mo Chara" Ó Hannaidh, Naoise "Móglaí Bap" Ó Cairealláin, and JJ "DJ Próvaí" Ó Dochartaigh portray their own rise from rough-and-tumble beginnings in West Belfast to their place atop the Irish charts, which stands out since they rap in the Irish language, which was well out of favor at the time, having been usurped by the English colonizers. Their music rises on the tide of the language's popular reclamation, but Kneecap is hardly a linguistics lesson — it's a hilarious and wildly entertaining drug-fueled riot of anarchic artistic expression. Oh, and Michael Fassbender plays Naoise's da, which I guess makes him the Kim Basinger of this situation? — J.A.

How to watch: Kneecap is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Triangle of Sadness

Ruben Östlund's Palme d’Or winner and Oscar nominee takes on class, power, and social hierarchy — one of several outstanding eat-the-rich films of 2022. Fueled by projectile vomiting, the film sends you off on a luxurious, highly Instagrammable cruise with influencer/model couple Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean), helmed by a drunken boat captain (Woody Harrelson), alongside a deckhand (Timoleon Gketsos) and cruise manager (Vicki Berlin). The destination, however, is ruin. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: Triangle of Sadness is now streaming on Netflix.

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Credit: Netflix

Netflix

 

Get Deal

* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list. 

UPDATE: May. 5, 2026, 2:21 p.m. EDT This list was originally published on March 26, 2020. It has been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.

Looking to fuel up your Netflix queue with some high-octane action?

Whether you're a fan of wild Westerns, cunning detectives, high-swinging superheroes, ravenous zombies, rowdy thieves, or hard-hitting heroines, Netflix has a movie pitch-perfect for every kind of adrenaline seeker.

We know scrolling through the streaming app can be a chore when all you want to do is Netflix and chill. So, we've taken out the hard step by highlighting the most stunt-stuffed, battle-powered, high-speed films the streamer has to offer.

Here are the best action movies on Netflix, streaming right now.

25. Cold Pursuit

Patron saint of action Liam Neeson headlines this icy thriller that's an English-language remake of the 2014 Norwegian film In Order of Disappearance (Kraftidioten). Here, Neeson plays Nels Coxman, a snowplow driver whose job in his Colorado community is so key that he's been awarded Citizen of the Year. But when his beloved son dies of a drug overdose, Nels readies to clear away more than snow. With a thirst for vengeance and a sawed-off shotgun, he hunts down the cartel that's corrupted his community — and it's bloody thrilling to witness. Edged with a dark sense of humor, Cold Pursuit is wicked fun. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Cold Pursuit is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Karate Kid: Legends

It's easy to be cynical about sequels when Hollywood's cinematic landscape is littered with bad examples. But then a sequel comes along that's so good, it'll knock you out. Karate Kid: Legends is a sensational sequel, building on the classic underdog framework of the original 1984 Karate Kid movie while working in fresh fun, familiar faces, and a dazzling new talent. 

Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, Karate Kid: Legends unites the original trilogy's Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) with the 2010 Karate Kid's martial arts master Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). Together, they train a new "karate kid" to best a ruthless bully. But the best bits of this high-kicking sequel are actually when this new kid, Li Fong (played by the dynamic Ben Wang), is carving out his own story in New York City.* — K.P.

How to watch: Karate Kid: Legends is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Independence Day

When a devastating alien invasion hits Earth, it’s up to a motley crew of American heroes to save the day. Co-written and directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day follows a snarky satellite engineer (Jeff Goldblum), a scrappy single mom (Vivica A. Fox), a wacky Vietnam War vet (Randy Quaid), a cocky yet charismatic fighter pilot (Will Smith), and a brave president (Bill Pullman) through a globe-rattling battle for the future of mankind. A series of stellar action set pieces deliver massive explosions, narrow escapes, breathtaking air battles, and a satisfying punch right in the face of an attacking extraterrestrial (“Welcome to Earth!”).

As masterfully executed as it was ambitious, this 1996 film won praise from critics, an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, and the love of audiences worldwide. Plus, it minted Will Smith as an action star and pushed a trend of big-budget disaster movies. However, few could compete with the jaw-dropping spectacle found in this holiday hit. — K.P.

How to watch: Independence Day is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Back in Action

Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Aptly titled, Back in Action not only refers to the plotline of this charming espionage comedy but also the return of its stars to the spotlight.

Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz co-star as a couple of spies who fake their deaths to flee their dangerous jobs once they learn they've got a baby on the way. Cut to 15 years later, when they're middle-aged with a cozy suburban life that's interrupted by an unexpected visit from some former colleagues. To keep their kids safe, they'll need to go on one more mission. And things get pretty zany — and yeah, corny too. But there's an undeniable pleasure in watching Diaz and Foxx bounce off each other's energy.

In my review for Mashable, I wrote, "Don't overthink it. Turn on Back in Action, and allow the star power and nostalgia for the heyday of '90s rom-coms, the peak of Cameron Diaz fame, and the fun of all that wash over you."* — K.P.

How to watch: Back in Action is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

This 2018 electrifying adventure won Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards for its dynamic style and compelling coming-of-age story. Forget what you thought you knew about the high-swinging superhero. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse focuses on Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), an Afro-Latino teen, whose radioactive spider-bite gives him superpowers. But to learn how to be a hero, he'll have to take lessons from some friends from alternate realities, like Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson).

On top of the kinetic animation style that pulls inspiration from comic books and graffiti, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse also offers side-splitting comedy and eye-popping action. And it's family-friendly to boot. — K.P.

How to watch: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

This sequel to the Robin Williams–fronted Jumanji reconceives the cursed board game as a video game that will literally suck you in. Four teens are transformed into avatars that give them special powers, plus some new perspectives on how they see themselves and one another.

As this quirky group strives to win the game to escape its dangerous realm, there's plenty of action involving the treacherous jungle terrain and its untamed inhabitants. Yet the best bit of this action-comedy is definitely Jack Black, who plays a teen girl with hilarity and empathy. — K.P.

How to watch: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Upgrade

The always-welcome Logan Marshall-Green stars here as Grey, an auto mechanic who gets sucked into a nefarious world of cyber-horror when a car crash leaves him paralyzed and his wife dead. Implanted with an untested computer chip that can control his limbs and "fix" his paralysis, Grey's mind starts communicating with the technology, which in turns starts egging him on. After all, why just walk when you can be a kick-ass super-soldier? Needless to say, as in any good RoboCop spin, the corporations are not to be trusted when it comes to our best interests. — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Upgrade is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Land of Bad

Land of Bad seems fairly generic at first glance. A ragtag group of soldiers (portrayed by both Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth, American Gods star Ricky Whittle, and former Gilmore guy Milo Ventimiglia) find themselves stranded behind enemy territory in the Philippines and they must, you know, get the heck out of there. Russell Crowe plays "Reaper," a drone pilot who provides air support to the group on the ground by yelling into a telephone a lot. This is nothing we've not seen before!

And yet the movie's actually a solid B-movie slice of old-fashioned action movie entertainment. The film is directed and co-written by William Eubank, whose previous credits include one of the most underrated action-thrillers of recent times, 2020's Underwater with Kristen Stewart. Like that film, Land of Bad doesn't rewrite its genre, but it does bring the action and thrills efficiently and well. — J.A.

How to watch: Land of Bad is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Kraven the Hunter

Credit: Sony Pictures

OK. So you're probably thinking, "Why is a movie with a 15% on Rotten Tomatoes on a best-of list? Is Netflix really so thin on good action?!" I hear you. But look, while Kraven the Hunter is not a great film, or even a good one, it is wildly fun. And the action is a major part of that! 

This Spider-Man spinoff centers on the comic book villain Kraven the Hunter (Aaron Johnson), but makes him less a poacher and more a bad-guy hunting vigilante. And along the way, there's other Spidey characters haphazardly looped in, like Aleksei "The Rhino" Sytsevich (Alessandro Nivola), Calypso (Ariana DeBose), and The Foreigner (Christopher Abbott). But the real fun comes in some fight scenes so violent that Sony's sheer reckless rebellion in the face of MCU PG-13 standards is worth the watch. Like, Kraven bites off a dude's nose. And that's not the climax of a fight. Come on. You want to watch that. — K.P.

How to watch: Kraven the Hunter is now streaming on Netflix.

16. The Union

Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry team up for an action-comedy that is surprisingly charming! He's a Boston everyman who works construction by day and by night hooks up with local hotties (including his former seventh-grade English teacher). She's a globe-trekking secret agent — and his high school girlfriend — who shows up at their old dive bar out of the blue to invite him in on a secret mission. Together, they're working for The Union.

Explosive espionage action blends with rom-com chemistry as Wahlberg and Berry delve into car chases, gun fights, and plenty of bouncy banter. J.K. Simmons brings gruff bravado, while Evil's Mike Colter delivers breathtaking swagger. Full of thrills, fun, and verve, The Union is a great pick for movie night at home.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Union is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Coming back onto the scene 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III flopped, this fourth installment of the comedic crime-solving adventures of Detroit police officer Axel Foley has no right to be as good as it is. Not only did screenwriters Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten have to manage how public opinion has shifted when it comes to cops who play by their own rules, but also how to approach Axel's wise-cracking sense of humor that traditionally put just about everyone in its crosshairs. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F manages both in a way that gives fresh life to the character without casting aside the fans who loved his wild ways.

As I wrote in my rave review, "Eddie Murphy is as good as ever as Axel Foley." Plus, he's got his old friends, like John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot back and in action. It's an absolute blast to see all these energies colliding, and yet there's room for newcomers, like the dynamic Taylour Paige and the always solid Joseph Gordon-Levitt, both of whom prove to be compelling foils to the ever-quipping Murphy. "In the end, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F isn't just a great sequel, or an awesome action-comedy; it might just be the most entertaining movie of [2024]."* — K.P.

How to watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Apex

From Baltasar Kormákur comes a horror-thriller that should scare the adrenaline junkie right out of you. Charlize Theron stars as a rock climber determined to take on the white water rapids in Australia solo. But out here in the wilderness, she soon realizes the forces of nature aren't what she should fear. It's a hunter who has his sights set on her.

A truly gnarly action movie, Apex pits a steely Theron against an unhinged Taron Egerton. And sure, the script by Jeremy Robbins sets up some early hints that this is going into sicko territory, but I'd wager you won't predict just how wild this cat-and-mouse game gets. Silence your cell phone. Turn the lights down, and give yourself over to this frightening, fucked-up ride.* — K.P.

How to watch: Apex is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Damsel

Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Netflix has invested big in Millie Bobby Brown. Not only has the English ingenue led Stranger Things for years, but also she's become an outright action star through movies she has headlined and produced for the streamer, including a pair of Enola Holmes adventures and the fearsome fairy tale Damsel. Here, Brown stars as Elodie, a dutiful damsel destined to wed a handsome prince (Nick Robinson)! But rather than happily ever after, her deceitful groom pitches her into a dragon's pit. However, that's far from the end of her story. She'll fight her way to salvation and vengeance, one fiery sequence at a time.

In her review, Mashable's Belen Edwards wrote, "Boasting some inventive twists and a heartfelt lead performance from Brown, Damsel may not be groundbreaking fantasy, but it is a thrilling ride." — K.P.

How to watch: Damsel is now streaming on Netflix.

12. KPop Demon Hunters

Credit: Netflix

Officially the most popular Netflix original movie of all time, KPop Demon Hunters delivers a little bit of everything: romance, action, comedy, and a totally addictive soundtrack.

The story stars with K-pop trio HUNTR/X, who, when they aren't making bops like "Golden," are battling demons to protect the very souls of their fans. But just as they think they're on the verge of building an impenetrable barrier with their songs, the demons fight back with a boy band of their own. The Saja Boys are comically hot, delivering smooth moves, devious plans, and plenty of slapstick. Plus, they've got a tiger, who is cute, creepy, and silly to boot! Whether it's the martial arts action sequences, the swoon-worthy song-and-dance numbers, or the cheeky sense of humor that's grabbed fans of all ages, KPop Demon Hunters is sure to thrill. And hey, now there's a sing-along version too. — K.P.

How to watch: KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.

11. The Harder They Fall

Credit: David Lee / Netflix

Put 'em up, as this is hands-down one of the best action movies in the Wild West.

Directed by Jeymes Samuel, The Harder They Fall defiantly redefines the predominantly white Western, boasting an incredible cast of Black stars: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beetz, LaKeith Stanfield, and Delroy Lindo. A tale of heroes and villains, the film follows Nat Love (Majors) on his quest for revenge against the formidable Rufus Buck (Elba). But he'll have to make his gunslinging way through "Treacherous" Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (Stanfield) first. Even before the opening credits roll, you'll fall hard for this one. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: The Harder They Fall is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Enola Holmes

Credit: Netflix

Sherlock Holmes's much cooler little sister is an overlooked young action hero in Enola Holmes. Based on author Nancy Springer's popular book series The Enola Holmes Mysteries, the film puts the great detective's savvy 16-year-old sibling on the case, played with energetic spoonfuls of gumption by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. She's set to solve the greatest mystery of her young life: to find her missing mother (Helena Bonham Carter) through a series of deliberately cryptic clues — all while breaking the fourth wall and confiding in the audience, thanks to Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer and His Dark Materials' Jack Thorne's sharp screenplay.

Stepping into the footsteps of her famous brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and avoiding those of her stuffier misogynist brother Mycroft (Sam Claflin), Enola's case leads her on a wild ride through Victorian-era England, with more than a few fistfights and butts to kick along the way. And lucky for you, the sequel is even better. — S.C.

How to watch: Enola Holmes is now streaming on Netflix.

9. They Cloned Tyrone

Credit: Netflix

With this 2023 release, co-writer/director Juel Taylor pulls plenty of inspiration from Blaxploitation. John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris star as a drug dealer, a pimp, and a sex worker who undercover a nefarious conspiracy that's happening underneath their neighborhood. Taylor and fellow screenwriter Tony Rettenmaier weave in wild twists, fly fight scenes, irreverent humor, and swaggering style for what our critic called "a propulsive comedy-thriller with weight." As bold as it is star-studded, you won't want to miss They Cloned Tyrone. And stay for the credits, trust us. — K.P.

How to watch: They Cloned Tyrone is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Kill Boksoon

Credit: No Ju-han / Netflix

Gil Bok-Soon (Jeon Do-yeon) is a single mother who often finds herself at odds with her teenage daughter. She's also a highly skilled and successful assassin. Kill Boksoon is a fantastic action film that sees its main character head straight from a brutal killing to the grocery store so she can get dinner on the table. It's one hell of a hook that sucks you in immediately. The fight scenes are hypnotic and the cinematography ambitious and exciting. It's a gripping thriller that makes plenty of space for the complex emotional reality of its characters.* — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Kill Boksoon is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Triple Frontier

Credit: Netflix

This Netflix adventure has Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal coming together as a group of former Special Forces who plan an elaborate heist in South America. But after things get out of hand, their survival skills are put to the ultimate test.

Putting a talented cast in a tension-filled scenario, Triple Frontier is the type of gritty thriller that's hard to turn away from. — Brooke Bajgrowicz, Entertainment Fellow

How to watch: Triple Frontier is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Okja

Credit: Netflix

Blending drama with fantasy/adventure and weaving in a very real message about the horrors of the meat industry, Bong Joon Ho's Okja is a beautifully unique creature feature, striped with action.

The film follows Mina (Ahn Seo-hyun), the granddaughter of a farmer in South Korea who has spent the last 10 years rearing a genetically modified super-pig called Okja as part of a breeding project spearheaded by a grim U.S. corporation. This movie is dark in places, magical in others, and poignant overall, asking us to stop and reflect on the dark side of an industry the majority of us are complicit in. Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal make for an entertaining pair of villains, too.* — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: Okja is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Da 5 Bloods

Credit: Netflix

Spike Lee copters audiences back to the Vietnam War with Da 5 Bloods, a daring film that's part drama, part war movie, and part heist flick. Named for a squad of Black U.S. Army soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, Lee's critically heralded 2020 joint follows this band of brothers through a treacherous war zone, then rediscovers them in a present where they're seeking to uncover the past — and a big payday.

Sequences of brutal battles, narrow escapes, and high-tension hijinks make Da 5 Bloods an enthralling watch. Though inspired by history, it's impossible to predict where Lee's story will lead. Our guides on this intense journey through time, loss, war, and brotherhood are Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and the late Chadwick Boseman. Together, they and Lee create an American war film that can't be missed. — K.P.

How to watch: Da 5 Bloods is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Army of the Dead

Credit: Netflix

Sometimes all you want is to grab hold of that action-o-meter and crank the dial, hard, to a solid 11. Army of the Dead more than delivers on that front, opening with a musical montage of guns and exploding body parts — and it only gets gorier from there. Zack Snyder's story follows a band of mercenaries hired to steal $200 million from a casino in Las Vegas. The problem? Vegas has been invaded by zombies, the city is quarantined, and the military is planning to blow the entire thing up with a tactical nuclear strike. The sprawling cast includes Dave Bautista, Omari Hardwick, Hiroyuki Sanada, Garret Dillahunt, and Ana de la Reguera, as well as a digitally added Tig Notaro.

What follows is a gloriously silly romp that refuses to take itself too seriously, propelling us through a series of explosions and bullets while the story twists and turns through a 148-minute runtime that feels oh, so much shorter. — S.H.

How to watch: Army of the Dead is now streaming on Netflix.

3. The Old Guard

Credit: Netflix

Folks looking for that summer blockbuster thrill, search no further than The Old Guard. Based on the superhero comic books of the same name, director Gina Prince-Bythewood's movie sucks viewers into a slick, well-crafted world of action and narrative that isn't particularly unique but delivers its formulaic pieces with enough precision to keep you invested.

Charlize Theron crushes as the ass-kicking leader of an immortal warrior fight crew, with performances by Harry Melling, Marwan Kenzari, KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Veronica Ngo, Matthias Schoenaerts, and more.* — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter 

How to watch: The Old Guard is now streaming on Netflix.

2. RRR

You've never seen an action movie quite as bombastic or as bromantic as RRR. Director S.S. Rajamouli draws loosely from history to tell the story of Indian freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.). Over the film's three-hour runtime, the two unwittingly face off in the search for a kidnapped girl, become the best of friends, and square off against villainous English colonizers.

Any of RRR's action sequences would be the pinnacle of a lesser action movie, but the film seems determined to outdo itself with showstopper after showstopper. Take when Raju faces down hundreds of protesters and wins, or when Bheem fights a tiger bare-handed. Would you believe me if I told you those happen within the first 20 minutes? The action — and the movie — only get more awesome from there. — B.E.

How to watch: RRR is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Godzilla Minus One

Credit: Toho Company Ltd / Everett / Shutterstock.com

You don't know Godzilla until you see Godzilla Minus One. The American movies featuring the classic kaiju go for huge monster-versus-monster face-offs, bogged down by tedious human characters. But writer/director Takashi Yamazaki reclaims the Japanese icon with a movie that gets the balance between rampaging monster action and human drama just right.

Set near the close of World War II, Godzilla Minus One proves a fascinating tale of atomic age terror. Ryunosuke Kamiki stars as a kamikaze pilot who first flubs his mission, then crosses paths with the giant lizard with atomic breath. Survivor's guilt torments him, even as he cobbles together a found family of fellow survivors. This cast of characters is dynamic, making the scenes of simple home-cooked meals just as satisfying as sequences of town-trampling destruction. Actually, one deeply informs the other. Because while the movie's jaw-dropping special effects rightfully won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, it's the emotional impact of them that makes this Godzilla hit harder than any contemporary. Even on the small screen, you'll be in awe.* — K.P.

How to watch: Godzilla Minus One is streaming on Netflix.

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Credit: Netflix

Netflix

 

Get Deal

* denotes the entry comes from a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: May. 5, 2026, 2:50 p.m. EDT This list was first published on May 24, 2020. It has since been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.

Soundcore's Space 2 are officially available for purchase, following their announcement at Mobile World Congress last month.

The budget headphones retail for $129.99, and are available for purchase at Soundcore's website and Amazon. This is a price increase of $30 over the Space One headphones, which are available for $99.99.

Soundcore Space 2

$129.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Soundcore

I was able to spend a couple of weeks testing out the Space 2 headphones ahead of their launch — spoiler alert, they're great. If you're just looking for the basics, here's everything you need to know about the new Soundcore Space 2 headphones. For a more in-depth look, check out my full review.

Soundcore Space 2 specs

The Soundcore Space 2 headphones come packed with plenty of features, including:

• Battery life: 50 hours with ANC on, 70 hours with ANC off

• Quick charge: 5 minutes of charge for four hours of playback

• Listening modes: Noise cancellation, normal, transparency

• Drivers: Double-layer 40mm diaphragm drivers

• Multipoint connection: Yes, up to two devices

• Equalizer: Eight-band custom equalizer, with 22 equalizer presets

• Spatial audio: Yes

• Audio codecs supported: SBC, AAC, and LDAC

• Passive playback: Yes

• On-ear controls: Noise cancellation button, multifunction button, power/Bluetooth button, and volume controls

• Colors: Green, white, black

What's new with the Soundcore Space 2 headphones?

Soundcore's Space 2 headphones might be more expensive than their first-generation counterparts, but they also come packed with some upgrades.

For starters, you'll get 10 more hours of battery life with ANC, bringing the Space 2 headphones to a grand total of 50 hours of battery life. Soundcore also included a four-stage noise cancellation, which is essentially just a fancy way of saying these headphones are even better at blocking noise, especially at lower frequencies, like an airplane hum. (Yes, this does make them an enticing option for travel).

The design gets a slight upgrade as well, with a more streamlined ear cup fit than the Space One headphones that lends the headphones an overall more premium look. The Space 2 headphones also feature new colorways.

The Soundcore Space one headphones... Credit: Sam Mangino / Mashable

Compared to the Space 2 headphones. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

In my testing, it was hard to believe the headphones cost just $129.99 — they easily felt more akin to headphones like the Bose QuietComforts, which cost $359. While their performance doesn't quite match up (which makes sense, they're under half the cost), Soundcore certainly provides a worthwhile budget alternative that makes the gap between budget and mid-range headphones feel even smaller.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love to hit the slots.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Hit the jackpot

• Green: Secured

• Blue: Strike!

• Purple: National emblem

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Found in a casino

• Green: Ways to fasten things

• Blue: Seen in a bowling alley

• Purple: Flag designs

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1060 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Found in a casino: CARDS, CHIPS, DICE, SLOT MACHINE

• Ways to fasten things: BUCKLE, BUTTON, LACES, ZIPPER

• Seen in a bowling alley: BOWLING BALL, BOWLING PINS, LANES, SCORECARD

• Flag designs: CIRCLE, HORIZONTAL BISECTION, HORIZONTAL TRISECTION, VERTICAL TRISECTION

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always elevating.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Get-up-and-go!

The words are related to waking up.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe leveling up.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Rise and Shine.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for May 6

• Soar

• Ascend

• Climb

• Rise and Shine

• Shimmer

• Sparkle

• Radiate

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like to compare and contrast.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To compare.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

LIKEN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

The Late Show featured a special address on Tuesday, with host Stephen Colbert giving a presidential address to the nation from the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago's replica oval office, marvelling at all the fun little details they have around the place — until he's interrupted by the sudden arrival of Obama himself.

"Woah, they even have an exact replica of Barack Obama!" says Colbert. "Though I gotta say, this one is much older than the real one."

After Obama confirms he is in fact the real one, Colbert challenges him to "say something only Barack would say."

"Don't call me Barack," comes the response.

"That's the guy," says Colbert.

The 79th annual Tony Awards nominations have been announced, recognising some of the most outstanding performances of the 2025-2026 Broadway season.

Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys led the pack, snagging an impressive 12 nominations apiece. Both new musicals were adapted from the screen, based on the Apple TV musical comedy series, and the 1987 comedy vampire film, respectively. 

Musical revivals did well too, with Ragtime racking up 11 nominations, while Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show both scored nine. Meanwhile, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman also received nine nominations, making it the most nominated play this year. 

Here is the full list of nominees for the 2026 Tony Awards.

Best Book of a Musical

• The Lost Boys, David Hornsby and Chris Hoch

• Schmigadoon!, Cinco Paul

• Titaníque, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Jim Barne and Kit Buchan

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

• Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (Music: Caroline Shaw)

• August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Music: Steve Bargonetti)

• The Lost Boys (Music & Lyrics: The Rescues)

• Schmigadoon! (Music & Lyrics: Cinco Paul)

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) (Music & Lyrics: Jim Barne and Kit Buchan)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

• Will Harrison, Punch

• Nathan Lane, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• John Lithgow, Giant

• Daniel Radcliffe, Every Brilliant Thing

• Mark Strong, Oedipus

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

• Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels

• Carrie Coon, Bug

• Susannah Flood, Liberation

• Lesley Manville, Oedipus

• Kelli O'Hara, Fallen Angels

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

• Nicholas Christopher, Chess

• Luke Evans, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Joshua Henry, Ragtime

• Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

• Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!

• Stephanie Hsu, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Caissie Levy, Ragtime

• Marla Mindelle, Titaníque

• Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

• Christopher Abbott, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Danny Burstein, Marjorie Prime

• Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting for Godot

• Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw

• Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Richard Thomas, The Balusters

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

• Betsy Aidem, Liberation

• Marylouise Burke, The Balusters

• Aya Cash, Giant

• Laurie Metcalf, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• June Squibb, Marjorie Prime

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

• Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys

• André De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Bryce Pinkham, Chess

• Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime

• Layton Williams, Titaníque

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

• Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys

• Hannah Cruz, Chess

• Rachel Dratch, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon!

• Nichelle Lewis, Ragtime

Best Scenic Design of a Play

• Hildegard Bechtler, Oedipus

• Takeshi Kata, Bug

• Chloe Lamford, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• David Korins, Dog Day Afternoon

• David Rockwell, Fallen Angels

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

• dots, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Soutra Gilmour, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Rachel Hauck, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys

• Scott Pask, Schmigadoon!

Best Costume Design of a Play

• Brenda Abbandandolo, Dog Day Afternoon

• Qween Jean, Liberation

• Jeff Mahshie, Fallen Angels

• Emilio Sosa, The Balusters

• Paul Tazewell, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Best Costume Design of a Musical

• Linda Cho, Ragtime

• Linda Cho, Schmigadoon!

• Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Ryan Park, The Lost Boys

• David I. Reynoso, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

Best Lighting Design of a Play

• Isabella Byrd, Dog Day Afternoon

• Natasha Chivers, Oedipus

• Stacey Derosier, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Heather Gilbert, Bug

• Heather Gilbert, The Fear of 13

• Jack Knowles, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

• Kevin Adams, Chess

• Jane Cox, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Donald Holder, Schmigadoon!

• Adam Honoré, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Adam Honoré and Donald Holder (Lighting Design) and 59 Studio (Projection Design), Ragtime

• Jen Schriever and Michael Arden, The Lost Boys

Best Sound Design of a Play

• Justin Ellington, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Tom Gibbons, Oedipus

• Lee Kinney, The Fear of 13

• Josh Schmidt, Bug

• Mikaal Sulaiman, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Best Sound Design of a Musical

• Kai Harada, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Kai Harada, Ragtime

• Adam Fisher, The Lost Boys

• Brian Ronan, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Walter Trarbach, Schmigadoon!

Best Direction of a Play

• Nicholas Hytner, Giant

• Robert Icke, Oedipus

• Kenny Leon, The Balusters

• Joe Mantello, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Whitney White, Liberation

Best Direction of a Musical

• Michael Arden, The Lost Boys

• Lear deBessonet, Ragtime

• Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!

• Tim Jackson, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Best Choreography

• Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!

• Ellenore Scott, Ragtime

• Ani Taj, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, The Lost Boys

Best Orchestrations

• Doug Besterman and Mike Morris, Schmigadoon!

• Ethan Popp, Kyler England, Adrianne "AG" Gonzalez, and Gabriel Mann, The Lost Boys

• Lux Pyramid, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Brian Usifer, Chess

• Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder, and Doug Schadt, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Best Play

• The Balusters

• Giant

• Liberation

• Little Bear Ridge Road

Best Musical

• The Lost Boys

• Schmigadoon!

• Titaníque

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Revival of a Play

• Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Becky Shaw

• Every Brilliant Thing

• Fallen Angels

• Oedipus

Best Revival of a Musical

• Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Ragtime

• Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 11-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.