TL;DR: November delivers nine new Pokémon TCG drops, led by the Mega Evolution Delta Reign expansion and multiple 30th Celebration collector sets.

November is shaping up to be massive for Pokémon TCG fans, headlined by the worldwide arrival of the Mega Evolution Delta Reign expansion. The new set brings powerful Mega Evolution Pokémon ex into the mix, with over 35 special illustration Trainer and Pokémon cards for art collectors.

Pokémon is also rolling out a brand-new trio of nostalgic 30th Celebration boxes — including a monster 30-pack Ultra-Premium Collection — plus a tournament-ready Mega Greninja ex battle deck built for jumping straight into competitive play.

From massive booster displays to ready-to-play decks, here is every single set arriving this month.

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ditto Premium Collection

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ditto Premium Collection

 

Shop Now at TCGplayer

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ditto Premium Collection includes a colorful acrylic display stand made specifically to show off cards on a desk or shelf. It fits the exclusive foil Ditto promo card right away, or you can swap in your favorite chase card from your pulls.

Packing eight 30th Celebration booster packs, the Ditto Premium Collection is an easy, budget-friendly way to rip anniversary packs without shelling out for an Ultra-Premium Collection.

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Figure Collection

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokemon Company

30th Celebration Figure Collection Mew

 

Shop Now at TCGplayer

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokemon Company

30th Celebration Figure Collection Mewtwo

 

Shop Now at TCGplayer

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Figure Collection pairs two of Kanto's most iconic legends with detailed, sculpted desk figures that outshine typical cardboard and plastic promos. Paired with a matching foil promo and an oversize showcase card, the set gives Mew and Mewtwo fans a complete display piece right out of the box.

The box also bundles five booster packs of the milestone 30th Celebration expansion. Because anniversary packs are exclusive to collection boxes rather than individual retail blisters, the 30th Celebration Figure Collection serves as an easy, mid-tier entry point for pack-cracking without requiring a full booster bundle or a premium collection budget.

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokemon Company

Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day

 

Shop Now at TCGplayer

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night

 

Shop Now at TCGplayer

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection is the centerpiece of the entire anniversary lineup. Available in Day or Night versions starring Pikachu alongside Espeon ex or Umbreon ex, it trades junk filler for high-end gear like a custom playmat, matching deck box, standard sleeves, an acrylic display, and metal dice.

The pack count is the real draw. Stuffed with 29 30th Celebration booster packs plus an exclusive pack with three etched vintage reprints, the 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection offers your best single shot at pulling the anniversary's top chase cards.

Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Display Box

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokemon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Display Box

 

Shop Now at Amazon

The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Display Box delivers the best pure cost-per-pack value for anyone looking to rip packs in bulk. Packing 36 individual booster packs, totaling 360 cards, it completely skips promo accessories and collectible junk, focusing entirely on ripping cards.

With over 140 cards in the expansion, the Booster Display Box offers the most reliable shot at assembling competitive playsets. From three new Legendary Stadiums to the set's headline Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and full-art illustration chases, a full booster box maximizes your odds across an entire master display.

Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokemon Company

Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box

 

Shop Now at TCGplayer

The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box balances ripping packs with stocking up on tabletop essentials. It pairs nine booster packs with an exclusive full-art Kyogre promo card, matching sleeves, damage-counter dice, and a sturdy storage box to keep your deck sorted.

For players and collectors wanting to dive into the new set without shelling out for an entire booster display, the Elite Trainer Box gives you an accessible path to chase heavy hitters like Mega Rayquaza ex while securing everything you need to actually play the game.

Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Build and Battle Box

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokemon Company

Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Build and Battle Box

 

Shop Now at TCGplayer

The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Build and Battle Box is tailored for players who want to jump straight into matches without spending hours building a deck from scratch. It includes a 40-card ready-to-play deck featuring one of four unique foil promo cards, giving you a solid competitive core the minute you tear into the packaging.

With four booster packs tossed in to help you customize and beef up your lineup, it delivers a fast, low-cost way to test-drive the set’s new mechanics and chase heavy hitters like Mega Rayquaza ex in a quick-play prerelease format.

Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Bundle

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokemon Company

Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Bundle

 

Shop Now at TCGplayer

The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Bundle strips away oversized boxes, plastic coins, and promo cards so you only pay for packs. Packing six booster packs into a compact carton, it gives collectors the leanest, most budget-conscious way to rip cards from the new set without extra clutter.

It’s an easy grab if you want a casual pack-cracking session or a few quick chances at pulling Mega Rayquaza ex without investing in a full 36-pack booster box.

Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex League Battle Deck

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokemon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex League Battle Deck

 

Shop Now at TCGplayer

The Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex League Battle Deck is for anyone looking to bypass the grind of deck-building and dive straight into competitive tournament play. Centered around Mega Greninja ex, this 60-card deck delivers an engine optimized for tactical versatility and offensive pressure straight out of the box.

Rather than just serving as a starter deck, it comes fully loaded with tournament-ready accessories — including damage-counter dice, condition markers, a matching deck box, and a play sheet to master its combo lines.

OpenAI has launched GPT-6, a cybersecurity AI model that delivers "major gains" on key cybersecurity benchmarks over its predecessor, GPT-5.6 Cyber.

In an introductory blog post published on Thursday, OpenAI said that GPT-6 Cyber delivers a 51% improvement over GPT-5.6 Cyber on the ExploitGym cybersecurity benchmark.

GPT-6 Cyber is "already helping to secure real-world software, uncovering and validating thousands of exploits in security-critical codebases such as Linux and Firefox," said the post.

The news comes days after it was revealed that OpenAI's upcoming model (now confirmed to be GPT-6 Cyber by OpenAI) had found and patched 948 local privilege-escalation vulnerabilities in Linux. The model was also used to identify 81 previously unknown "high-severity" vulnerabilities in Firefox, "despite extensive prior testing with frontier models."

If this all sounds a little dangerous to be available to just anyone, you're right. This is why access to GPT-6 Cyber is part of Daybreak, OpenAI's cybersecurity program, which is only available to verified individuals and organizations.

In its blog post, however, OpenAI said its goal is to "dramatically" expand Daybreak, and bring "advanced security research to organizations of every size, independent researchers, and open-source maintainers."

Initially, GPT-6 Cyber is only available to a "select group" of approved Daybreak Red customers (Daybreak access is divided into two tiers: Daybreak Blue is for defensive work, while Daybreak Red is for advanced penetration testing and security research). Access will be progressively expanded to all Daybreak Red customers "soon."

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

The best deals from Ruggable's holiday hosting sale:

---

Best Hilton Holiday deal

The Hiltons Tartan & Floral Tufted Rug (6' x 9')

$419.30 (save $179.90)

Get Deal

---

Best autumn Ruggable deal

Autumn Harvest Tufted Rug (6' x 9')

$299.40 (save $199.60)

Get Deal

Black Friday sales are already well underway, and that's great news if you'll be hosting festive gatherings this year. Shop kitchen deals to help make meal prep easier and upgrade to a bigger TV, but when it comes to holiday decor, we have Ruggable's hosting sale to help out.

This year, Ruggable's holiday collection features a collab with Kathy and Nicky Hilton, adding a fun touch to any room. The sale also extends to some of the brand's most popular collabs like the Ruggable x Jonathan Adler collection and Morris & Co. You can also snag a 40% saving on great holiday options like the incredible Tidings & Trimming Rug.

Be sure to shop the sale and place orders by Nov. 11 to ensure delivery in time for hosting Thanksgiving. I've rounded up some of my favorite Ruggable deals below, perfect for holidays or giving rooms a refresh for the new year.

Best Hilton Holiday deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Ruggable

The Hiltons Tartan & Floral Tufted Rug (6' x 9')

$419.30 at Ruggable
$599 Save $179.70

 

Get Deal at Ruggable

Why we like it

You can't go wrong with a tartan pattern during the holidays. Add in candy canes, snowflakes, and holly, and it's a true celebration. The Hilton Tartan & Floral Flatwoven rug features a two-piece design with a removable cover that's safe to machine-wash. Plus, the rug pad means you can easily swap out the cover for new designs at Ruggable. The Hilton Holiday rug will look perfect near the Christmas tree this year.

Size options range from as small as two feet by three feet up to 10 feet by 14 feet. Runner sizes are also available.

Best autumn Ruggable deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Ruggable

Autumn Harvest Tufted Rug (6' x 9')

$299.40 at Ruggable
$499 Save $199.60

 

Get Deal at Ruggable

Why we like it

With pumpkins, acorns, maple leaves, and gourds, the Autumn Tufted Rug is a seasonal treat. The tufted all-in-one rug is softer than the original Ruggable options, and it has a cushioned feel. Plus, there's built-in non-slip backing. The waterproof barrier is also great for gathering, as is the stain-resistance.

Ruggable holiday options on sale for 40% off

• Let It Glow Tufted Rug

• Fall Botanicals Tufted Rug

• Festive Garland Tufted Rug

• Juniper Tufted Rug

• Starling Tufted Rug

• Spooky Purrsian Tufted Rug

• Pumpkin Patch Tufted Rug

• Merry Village Tufted Rug

• Garland Glow Tufted Rug

• Halloween Harlequin Tufted Rug

• Lydia Garland Flatwoven Rug

Dropout has built its brand on a string of sensational improvisational television shows, like Game Changer, Dimension 20, and Very Important People. Their latest, MP3, breaks from this formula, as it's the first scripted show the streaming platform has debuted in seven years.

Playing like a parody of MTV's long-canceled Total Request Live, MP3 — short for Music Presentation 3 — offers quirky VJs and three new music videos each episode. Saturday Night Live's Jeremy Culhane plays former boy bander/current MP3 host Dane Cartel, who's joined by newly minted VJs Dr. Muse-Tina (Skye Townsend) and Chia (Aparna Nancherla). And if he's got beef about sharing the spotlight, he'll have to take it up with his director/daddy, Thomas Cartel (Paul F. Tompkins)

As teased in the show's trailer, these music videos feature songs written by MP3 creators Zach Reino and Jess McKenna, and fictional bands like Truth Summons, Boys Who Read, Sheepish, and Every Place I Cry. Each band features familiar faces from Dropout's growing web of comedy stars, like Anna Garcia, Lily Du, Jacob Wysocki, Katie Marovitch, Sam Reich, and more.

This week on Say More, Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko sat down with Townsend, Nancherla, and Tompkins to learn how MP3 came together, how much improv does come into play, and if there's a chance for more Very Important People crossover. After all, Fanoli got a mention in episode 1, and the trailer teases the return of Princess Emily of Maroon 5? Could Tompkins reprise the role of midnight louse David Hoyle Jr.? The cast considers how!

How to watch: The first episode of MP3 is now streaming on Dropout. New episodes will roll out every two weeks through the season finale on Dec. 2.

It's time to start hatching a plan for Black Friday 2026. Most major retailers treat the entire month like one drawn-out holiday sale, and Best Buy is no exception. The electronics retailer has announced plans to roll out two waves of early Black Friday deals before a 10-day savings extravaganza around Black Friday proper (Nov. 27).

Having covered Black Friday sales for nearly a decade, Mashable's reporters and editors agree that Best Buy is the place to shop if you're looking for Black Friday deals on big-ticket items like large TVs, Windows laptops, gaming consoles, and espresso machines. This year, the pressure is on for it to combat price hikes related to the global memory crisis, which has made many popular tech gifts way more expensive than usual.

Here's everything you need to know about Best Buy's Black Friday sale before you start shopping.

When is Best Buy's Black Friday sale?

Credit: Best Buy

Best Buy's Black Friday sale will run from Thursday, Nov. 19 through Saturday, Nov. 28. Paid members of the My Best Buy program (Plus and Total tiers) will earn double points on their purchases from Nov. 19 to Dec. 6, the Sunday after Cyber Monday. Those points are redeemable for reward certificates.

Some of Best Buy's Black Friday deals will be available ahead of time. The retailer is releasing batches of Early Black Friday Deals and Doorbusters on Friday, Nov. 6 and Nov. 13 as a way of "giving shoppers an early jump on some of the season’s best offers," per a Best Buy blog post.

Should you wait until Black Friday to shop Best Buy's deals?

It's smart to shop Best Buy's Black Friday deals as early as possible: According to a company FAQ page, items marked with its "Black Friday Deal" badge are available in limited quantities and do not offer rainchecks. "When they are sold out, they may be sold out through Black Friday," it notes.

We expect high-demand, highly giftable items like Pokémon cards and gaming consoles (especially special-edition variants) to sell out the fastest.

What are Best Buy's Black Friday hours?

Best Buy hasn't announced its store hours for Black Friday 2026 yet, but last year it opened at 6 a.m. local time.

Will Best Buy be open on Thanksgiving?

No, Best Buy stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, which falls on Thursday, Nov. 26 this year. This has been its policy since 2020. (Same with Target, Walmart, and other major retailers.)

Is it worth going to Best Buy on Black Friday?

It might be worth trekking to your local Best Buy on Black Friday. According to some fine print on the company's Black Friday landing page, "there are usually a small handful of Black Friday deals that are only available for shoppers in a physical Best Buy store." We don't know exactly what those are yet, but we'll update Mashable readers as soon as we find out.

If you'd rather avoid the stress of navigating crowds and lines, you won't miss out on much by staying home. Most of Best Buy's Black Friday deals will be available on its website, it said.

Does Best Buy price match?

Best Buy normally price-matches competing retailers such as Amazon, Costco, The Home Depot, Target, and Walmart. However, it changes this policy during the holidays. It will not price-match any official Black Friday deals at other retailers, nor any items on sale elsewhere from the Thursday before Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday (whether they're called Black Friday deals or not).

So, if another retailer offers a better Black Friday deal on an item you've already purchased from Best Buy, you'll just have to return it and buy it again.

The only deals Best Buy will price-match on Black Friday are its own. If you buy something there sometime between now and Dec. 31, and it gets cheaper later on in the season, Best Buy will refund the difference. You can request price matches online and in stores.

Some items are excluded from Best Buy's Holiday Price Match Guarantee, including holiday decorations, "activatable" devices purchased under a third-party contract (such as phones), and non-returnable products like trading cards, gift cards, and e-bikes. Items sold by third-party sellers, aka "Marketplace Sellers," are also ineligible for price matches.

What is Best Buy's holiday return policy?

Almost anything you purchase at Best Buy now through Dec. 31 can be returned or exchanged until Jan. 15, 2027. (If you're a My Best Buy Plus or Total member, you've got until Jan. 31, 2027.)

Again, the main exceptions here are holiday decor and activatable devices. They have 14- and 15-day return windows, respectively.

When is Best Buy's Cyber Monday sale?

Best Buy is having a Cyber Sunday and Monday Sale Event on Nov. 29 and 30. It will then offer Cyber Week Deals from Dec. 1 to 6. 

To wrap up the holidays, Best Buy will have a Last-Minute Savings Event from Dec. 18 to 24.

TL;DR: As of Nov. 6, both the 55-inch and 65-inch Roku Pro Series LX OLED TVs are back in stock at Amazon.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Roku

Roku 55-Inch Pro Series LX Smart TV

$1,299.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Opens in a new window

Credit: Roku

Roku 65-Inch Pro Series LX Smart TV

$1,599.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

In exciting news for those shopping for a new TV this holiday season: Roku's new Pro Series LX OLED TVs are officially back in stock at Amazon after a very popular launch in late October.

Both the 55-inch and 65-inch models are up for grabs right now at the retailer, priced at $1,299.99 and $1,599.99, respectively. If these shiny new OLED displays have caught your attention, now is the time to make a move on them. There's every chance they could sell out again, so you'll want to be quick to click that 'add to cart' button.

There's a lot to love about Roku's latest launch. Its screen is a feast for the eyes, with a 4K OLED display that boosts colors, contrast, and brightness for a richer picture quality. It even has a system called Roku Smart Picture Max, which automatically adjusts your TV settings to fit what you're watching, plus Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos tech to further enhance picture and sound quality. On top of that, the screen features advanced glare reduction to keep reflections and lights at bay while you're using it.

Gamers can also enjoy a 144Hz refresh rate on this TV, which keeps gameplay smooth and responsive while you're immersed in the action. Even its rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro comes with helpful features: if you lose it, there's a remote finder button on the side of the TV that can help you track it down, even if it's lodged itself in between the couch cushions.

If you've had your eyes on the 55-inch or 65-inch Roku Pro Series LX OLED TVs, now is the time to grab them while they're still in stock at Amazon.

That light-up Apple logo in the MacBook Pro is pure whimsy as we learn to use Macs, iPhones and Apple Watch in new ways. Bridget Carey begins tinkering with all the new Apple products and software coming out now. She also goes behind the scenes at the Apple “Pro and Tell” MacBook event to show professional photographers, movie makers, musicians and artists tinkering with these new Mac machines. 

Read more about Apple's latest hardware lineup: I reviewed the new iPad mini: It’s the best Apple tablet, with a price to match
Let’s get touchy with Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro

Timecode chapters
0:00 Introduction: Gadget whimsy returns
1:47 Touchscreen MacBook Pro and the light-up logo
3:42 iPad mini OLED and M6 iMac updates
4:06 HomePod mini 2 first look
4:32 Apple Watch audio intelligence and Siri recap
6:21 Apple home view smart display
7:09 Behind the scenes: ILM Star Wars and pro creators
9:36 Conclusion and wrap up

Video credits
Host: Bridget Carey
Scripted by: Bridget Carey
Producer: John Schwartz
Camera: John Schwartz
Video editor: JD Christison
Thumbnail designer: Tharon Green

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $59.99 at Amazon. That's under TCGplayer's $108.42 market price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box

$59.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

After weeks of building excitement and preorder wars, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is out in the wild. And Amazon has marked the occasion by bringing back its stunning $59.99 deal.

As of Nov. 6, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is on sale for just $59.99 on Amazon. Everything is handled directly by Amazon, but Amazon is still routing orders through its "request invite" system. We can see these are selling fast, so it's clearly a system that's working for many shoppers. Don't be discouraged by the invitation process.

Amazon’s deal is way under TCGplayer’s $108 market price. We rarely see deals this far below market price, so we understand the hype.

The 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box contains nine 30th Celebration booster packs, an exclusive full-art foil Nidorina promo card, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 custom card sleeves, damage-counter dice, a condition marker, card dividers, a collector’s player guide, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Shop the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration ETB for $59.99 at Amazon, while supplies last.

In the wake of midterm elections that were catastrophic for Republicans, do those on the right agree with Donald Trump refusing to take any of the blame?

Apparently not. In the Daily Show monologue above, host Jordan Klepper plays some clips of key figures appearing to criticise or distance themselves from the president.

"This is your guy. This is your brand. You have a decade of merch and idolatry behind him. You don't want to turn on him just because of one, little generational collapse," Klepper says. "So, time to lock in. Right-wing media, hit that reframe!"

Cue a clip of pundits like Matt Walsh and Ben Shapiro also criticising Trump, followed by Megyn Kelly saying "eh" after talking about Trump sharing a post to remind America he's still president.

"Eh? Eh?" says Klepper. "Is she sassing the president? You don't sass the president unless you're Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin!"

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

It won't shock you that there's a superabundance of interview podcasts and internet series out there. You're probably subscribed to a bunch of content creators (perhaps those who made this year's Mashable 101) or maybe you depend on your feed to hand-deliver the most viral clips. But your time is precious, so we've rounded up the best on the internet this week.

Whether you're into deadpan showdowns, niche hot takes, or simply wholesome interviews between creative minds, here's what we reckon is worth your time (and of course, we'd never leave out Mashable's own Say More, what are you, nuts?).

1. Solid Air: Derrick Gee x Troye Sivan

Just a deeply satisfying listening session between two music nerds, Troye Sivan joined Derrick Gee to play his favourite tracks on Solid Air this week. Watching the pair connect while sharing and deconstructing songs from Madonna, Kelela, Groove Armada, The Avalanches, Cornelius, and more is the active listening I crave.

How to watch/listen: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram

2. Baby, This Is Keke Palmer: Lil Jon

In one of the most moving podcast interviews of the week, Keke Palmer's interview with Lil Jon is worth watching. In the episode, the rapper unpacks grief and faith in relation to his 27-year-old son Nathan's drowning in Feb. 2026, in a conversation that Palmer treats with space and respect.

How to watch/listen: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Instagram, TikTok

3. Handsome: Mae Martin, Tig Notaro, and Fortune Feimster x Alanis Morissette

And now, for Handsome's first ever in-person guest, it's Alanis Morissette! Comedians Mae Martin, Tig Notaro, and Fortune Feimster welcomed the iconic musician to their podcast studio for a chat about her latest concert residency Butterfly with a Machete, but also got deep about hard-to-access emotions, "wholeness" vs "wellness", and the power of community when it comes to tuning into who you are. Honestly, maybe Morissette could be the fourth Handsome host?

How to watch/listen: Hulu, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Instagram, TikTok

4. Say More: Mark Stetson x Jordan Klepper

For Mashable's Say More this week, executive producer Mark Stetson sat down with comedian and Daily Show host Jordan Klepper to unpack his new, lengthily-titled special, The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Red Flags. If you want to know how Klepper gets through Trump rallies unscathed and how he crafts his signature style of political comedy, settle in.

How to watch/listen: Mashable, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok

5. Mythical Kitchen: Josh Scherer x Uncle Roger

If there's one thing Uncle Roger can't abide, it's subpar egg fried rice (Jamie Oliver would know). Same goes for the man behind the beloved internet character, creator Nigel Ng, whose own restaurants across Malaysia and London serve it up daily — and yes, Uncle Roger himself has "tested" it.

On Tuesday, Ng joined Mythical Kitchen's Josh Scherer — both as himself and as Uncle Roger in a fitting judge role — to test expensive and cheap versions of fried rice, from Panda Express ("it kind of tastes like the box," Ng says) to the pricey lobster fried rice from Tao (a "rip-off according to Uncle Roger). And there's cooking afoot, as the two put their own spins on the dish — Ng's cookbook is quite literally titled Don't Mess Up Your Rice, so pay attention.*

How to watch/listen: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram

And here's a few more the internet loved this week:

• Hot Ones Versus: Sam Rockwell x Parker Posey

• Gaydar: Anania x Julio Torres

• Friends Keep Secrets: Colman Domingo

• Subway Takes: Tom Hiddleston

• The Comment Section with Drew Afualo: Peyton Dix and Hunter Harris

• Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend: Olivia Colman

• Criterion Closet: John Turturro

• Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster: Andi Osho

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices. 

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior Mashable article.

SAVE OVER $10: As of Nov. 6, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Commander Deck Bundle has returned to its lowest-ever price of $174.89 at Amazon. That's $10.06 off its typical price of $184.95.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Commander Deck Bundle

$174.89 at Amazon
$184.95 Save $10.06

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering fans don't have to wait for Black Friday to score trading card deals. Amazon has a few early drops available to shop now, including a price cut on the Marvel Super Heroes Commander Deck Bundle. As of Nov. 6, collectors can snag this bundle for $174.89, which marks a return to its lowest-ever price.

Overall, you're saving just over $10 with this deal compared to paying its typical price, but it's important to note that it's actually cheaper than its market price at TCG Player by a few dollars (it's listed for $178.25).

This MTG bundle is full of Marvel-themed cards to check out. The full set comes with four Commander Decks — Avengers Assemble, Wakanda Forever, The Fantastic Four, and Doom Prevails — with each holding 100 cards, including 30 Commander cards. Plus, the Avengers Assemble, Wakanda Forever, and Doom Prevails decks also come with a foil Borderless card included in the 100-card pack, while the Fantastic Four deck comes with four of them, one for each team member.

Alongside all of those cards, you'll also get 10 double-sided token cards, a deck box, a strategy guide, and a reference card. It's a truly stacked bundle, so don't miss out on this chance to save at Amazon.

If you're looking for even more MTG deals right now, Amazon's also discounted the Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box and Reality Fracture Play Booster Box.

TL;DR: Gopuff launched weekly limited-quantity Pokémon card drops starting Nov. 6, releasing collector packs and single-card deals delivered in as fast as 15 minutes every Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Gopuff Pokémon Card Drops

 

Learn More at Gopuff

Buying Pokémon cards at retail stores usually means dealing with picked-over shelves, strict box limits, or waiting days for an online delivery. Instant-delivery app Gopuff is trying something different: scheduled weekly hype drops delivered straight to your door in minutes.

Starting Nov. 6, Gopuff is running a six-week series of scheduled Pokémon Trading Card Game drops. Rather than restocking cards at random, the platform uses a dedicated in-app storefront where you can preview upcoming products, set alerts, and order packs delivered locally in as little as 15 minutes, alongside regular household items.

Why trading cards are hitting quick-delivery apps

The move comes as demand for physical collectibles spikes on rapid-delivery platforms. Gopuff says its trading card sales jumped 335% between Q4 2025 and Q3 2026, leading the company to treat card restocks as scheduled shopping events.

The weekly drops will feature sought-after items at competitive prices, including the Mega Evolution Pitch Black Elite Trainer Box and the 30th Celebration Poster Collection.

For collectors hunting singles, each drop also includes a "Hit of the Week" run in partnership with Card Vault by Tom Brady. Every Friday, Gopuff will offer a single high-value, graded card at a price below market value. With only one available each week, snagging it comes down to whoever checks out first.

How the weekly drop schedule works

To give shoppers a predictable window to buy before stock sells out, each week follows the same schedule in the Gopuff app and on its website:

• Monday: A homepage countdown timer goes live, signaling the start of a new batch without revealing the specific cards.

• Thursday at 3 p.m. ET: Exactly 24 hours before the sale, Gopuff reveals the products. You can preview the lineup, set push alerts, and pre-load items into your cart so you are ready at checkout.

• Friday at 3 p.m. ET: The drop unlocks and checkout opens. Orders are fulfilled from nearby micro-fulfillment hubs and delivered in as fast as 15 minutes.

All items are sold on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last, and local stock and purchase limits will vary by location.

Just make sure your internet connection is quick — when that clock hits 3 p.m. ET, it is every trainer for themselves. To check out upcoming products or set drop alerts, head to Gopuff's website or open the app on iOS or Android.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know your athletes.

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.

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

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.

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

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: Athletic wear

• Green: Football players

• Blue: Soccer players

• Purple: Similar games, different surfaces

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Types of shorts

• Green: NFC QBs, familiarly

• Blue: MLS stars

• Purple: ____ hockey

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 #774 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Types of shorts: BASKETBALL, BIKE, COMPRESSION, GYM

• NFC QBs, familiarly: BAKER, DAK, JORDAN, KYLER

• MLS stars: DE PAUL, LEWANDOWSKI, MESSI, SON

• ____ hockey: AIR, FIELD, FLOOR, ICE

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.

SAVE $20.10: As of Nov. 6, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Booster Bundle is on sale for $49.89 at Amazon. That's a 29% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Pokémon

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Booster Bundle

$49.98 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $20.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

If you're a Pokémon fan or a collector of trading cards, there's a new deal at Amazon on the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Booster Bundle. It includes a selection of booster packs to open, collect, and trade, and it's currently $20 off.

Normally $69.99, this booster bundle is now just $49.98 on Amazon. Whether you're stocking up on Christmas gifts or adding to your own collection, you can do it for less.

The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Pitch Black Booster Bundle contains six booster packs from the Pitch Black expansion, giving collectors and players alike the opportunity to discover new cards and add to their decks.

The set explores a darker side of the Pokémon world, with Mega Darkrai ex emerging from the shadows alongside Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, Mega Excadrill ex, and more. Suitable for ages six and up, the bundle is ideal for both newcomers and more experienced collectors.

Interested? Head to Amazon to grab this Pokémon deal while it's still available.

Donald Trump is fond of saying "promises made, promises kept", but how does that actually compare to the U.S. president's track record?

Jimmy Kimmel has the answer. "We put together a refresher of the 10 biggest promises the president has failed to fulfil so far," the host says in the monologue above.

Cue a countdown of 10 things Trump has said he'll do that haven't come to pass — from ending inflation and getting food prices down to settling the Russia/Ukraine war and paying down the national debt. Oh dear.

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

The best early Black Friday Pokémon DVD deals:

---

Pokémon: The Johto Journeys (DVD)

$15.49 (save $29.33)

Get Deal

---

Pokémon: Johto League Champions (DVD)

$19.49 (save $30.50)

Get Deal

---

Pokémon Advanced (DVD)

$19.99 (save $13.37)

Get Deal

---

Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl (DVD)

$19.99 (save $24.99)

Get Deal

---

Pokémon: Indigo League — Season 1 Limited Edition (Blu-ray)

$24.99 (save $3)

Get Deal

Amazon just rolled out early Pokémon Black Friday deals on a massive collection of Pokémon DVDs. If you want to lock down your favorite eras on physical discs before the holiday shopping rush kicks off, now is a great time to grab them while they're on discount.

If you were holding out for a stack of high-definition Blu-rays, standard HD releases never actually existed for the earlier seasons because of how the anime was originally created. The vast majority of the series remains strictly DVD-only, making the remastered Season 1 release the lone standout Blu-ray discount in the mix.

If you are ready to trade endless streaming app searches for a permanent spot on your media shelf, Amazon has marked down several fan-favorite generations to well under $20. We rounded up the best discounts from the sale.

'Pokémon: The Johto Journeys' (DVD)

Opens in a new window

Credit: Pokémon / VIZ Media

Pokémon: The Johto Journeys (DVD)

$15.49 at Amazon
$44.82 Save $29.33

 

Get Deal at Amazon

After wrapping up his initial Kanto adventures, Ash reunites with Misty and Brock to take on the Johto League. Pokémon: The Johto Journeys kicks off this fan-favorite era, following the trio as Ash tackles new gym leaders and catches beloved Gen 2 staples like Totodile, Chikorita, and Cyndaquil.

Across four discs and over 15 hours of runtime, this 41-episode collection captures the sweet spot of early-2000s Saturday-morning cartoons.

'Pokémon: Johto League Champions' (DVD)

Opens in a new window

Credit: Pokémon / VIZ Media

Pokémon: Johto League Champions (DVD)

$19.49 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $30.50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Picking up right after the introductory Johto arc, Pokémon: Johto League Champions tracks the heart of Ash, Misty, and Brock's travels through the region. From navigating the busy streets of Goldenrod City to taking on iconic gym challenges like Whitney's notoriously tough Miltank, Season 4 delivers some of the most memorable battles and classic encounters of the Gen 2 era.

The collection covers 52 episodes, giving you over 20 hours of vintage Pokémon animation that never made the jump to standard high-definition discs. If you are revisiting Ash's path toward the Silver Conference, this is the middle chapter that ties the Johto saga together.

'Pokémon Advanced' (DVD)

Opens in a new window

Credit: Pokémon / VIZ Media

Pokémon Advanced (DVD)

$19.99 at Amazon
$33.36 Save $13.37

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Season 6 marks a brand-new era for the anime, taking Ash and Pikachu far across the sea to the Hoenn region. Pokémon Advanced shakes up the classic travel dynamic by saying goodbye to Misty and introducing May, her little brother Max, and the ever-reliable Brock. It also brings Pokémon Contests into the spotlight for the first time, giving the story a dual focus as Ash works toward Hoenn Gym Badges while May learns the ropes of being a Pokémon Coordinator.

Spread across five discs with nearly 15 hours of runtime, this 40-episode collection captures the vibrant, tropical Gen 3 adventure in its original broadcast format. If you grew up exploring the Hoenn map or want to relive the early days of Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip, it's a nice nostalgic shelf piece.

'Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl' (DVD)

Opens in a new window

Credit: Pokémon / VIZ Media

Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl (DVD)

$19.99 at Amazon
$44.98 Save $24.99

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Season 10 takes the adventure up north as Ash and Pikachu head to Sinnoh, reuniting with Brock and teaming up with novice Pokémon Coordinator Dawn. Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl revitalizes the show's dual-protagonist dynamic, splitting screen time between Ash's quest for Sinnoh Gym Badges and Dawn's drive to match her mother's contest legacy, while introducing Gen 4 favorites like Piplup, Turtwig, and Chimchar.

Spanning seven discs and nearly 19 hours of runtime, this 51-episode collection delivers one of the most balanced, character-driven story arcs in the anime's long run. Between the classic Sinnoh gym battles and Ash's clash of philosophies with Paul, it is easily one of the most rewarding retro eras to own on physical media.

'Pokémon: Indigo League – Season 1 Limited Edition' (Blu-ray)

Opens in a new window

Credit: Pokémon / VIZ Media

Pokémon: Indigo League – Season 1 Limited Edition (Blu-ray)

$24.99 at Amazon
$27.99 Save $3

 

Get Deal at Amazon

This is where the entire cultural phenomenon started. Pokémon: Indigo League follows 10-year-old Ash Ketchum on his very first day as a Pokémon Trainer, oversleeping, missing out on the standard starter choices, and ending up stuck with an unruly, disobedient Pikachu. Alongside Brock and Misty, Ash battles gym leaders across Kanto, befriends classics like Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, and takes his first shot at the Pokémon League tournament.

Packed onto nine discs with nearly 31 hours of total runtime, this massive 78-episode box set gives you the complete initial journey. While the remastered Blu-ray edition offers sharper picture quality, it caps out at 52 episodes — making this comprehensive DVD release the only home video set that delivers the full Kanto arc from start to finish.

More Pokémon early Black Friday DVD deals

• Pokémon the Series: Black and White Complete Season (DVD) — $19.99 $23.54 (save $3.55)

• Pokémon the Series: Journeys (DVD) — $19.99 $43.39 (save $23.40)

Cybertruck, the pricey, gargantuan, angular, steel-plated pickup darling of Elon Musk's, never sold very well. And now, Tesla appears to be ready to accept that fact.

On Friday, CEO Musk said on X that the company will be "winding down production of the Cybertruck at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of next year to make room for increased Cybercab production."

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

Musk didn't say whether the Cybertruck production will move somewhere else, and he didn't explicitly say it's the end of the road for Tesla's pickup. But the clues are pretty clear. First of all, the Cybertruck is exclusively produced at Gigafactory Texas. If the company doesn't relocate somewhere else, which is unlikely given that the Cybertruck has a stainless steel body that presents unique manufacturing demands, then the Cybertruck has less than a year left.

Add to that the fact that Tesla recently canceled the Cybertruck launch in Australia and New Zealand, as well as continuous reports of poor sales ever since the Cybertruck went on sale in 2023, and it's pretty obvious that Tesla is giving up on the pickup.

The move also lines up with Musk's recent total focus on self-driving. When the company unveiled the new Tesla Roadster in October, he said it would be the last manually driven car that Tesla will ever produce.

It is no wonder, then, that the manufacturing capacities used for the Cybertruck will be repurposed for the Cybercab, Tesla's autonomous taxi car.

As for customers looking for a manually driven electric pickup, the choice is actually improving. Slate recently launched an affordable electric pickup, Ford is working on its own cheap electric pickup called Fathom, and Rivian is launching its mid-size pickup, the Rivian R2T, next year.

Want more tech news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts.

SAVE $130: As of Nov. 6, the Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 is on sale for $1,069 at Amazon. That's an 11% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Jackery

Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2

$1,069 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $130

 

Get Deal at Amazon

If you're looking for a portable power station, Jackery is one of the biggest names in the business. Its range includes options for powering everything from small devices to larger appliances, depending on your needs. If you're looking for the latter, the Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 is on sale at Amazon right now.

Usually priced at $1,199, it's now down to $1,069. This deal saves you $130.

With this portable power station, you'll get 2,400W of output and a 2,048Wh capacity, which can be expanded to 12kWh for longer-lasting home backup during power outages. Its Smart Energy Management system and Priority Routing feature help keep essentials running by directing available power to your most important appliances first.

It's built to last, with a long-life LFP battery rated for more than 6,000 charge cycles. Jackery states this equates to around 16 years of use. The system is also 34% lighter than the previous generation, so it's easier to move and set up than comparable expandable 2kWh units.

This unit is available at Amazon now, but only for a limited time.

SAVE OVER $150: As of Nov. 6, the Shark PowerPro Flex Reveal Plus cordless vacuum has hit its lowest-ever price of $199.98 at Amazon. That's $180.01 off its full price of $379.99.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Shark

Shark PowerPro Flex Reveal Plus Cordless Vacuum

$199.98 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $180.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

As the years go by, Black Friday sales start earlier and earlier, and this year is no different. Early deals are already dropping left and right, including on a wide variety of items for your home.

If a new vacuum is on your holiday wishlist, now is the time to check it off: Amazon has dropped the Shark PowerPro Flex Reveal Plus cordless vacuum to a new low price before Black Friday officially starts. As of Nov. 6, shoppers can scoop up this cordless cleaner for $199.98, down from its usual $379.99. That's a hefty 47% discount, saving you just over $180 in total.

The Shark PowerPro Flex Reveal Plus can cover quite a lot of ground in your home. With the help of its MultiFLEX wand, it can bend to clean underneath furniture so you don't have to worry about dust and debris collecting in spots you can't see. It also features FloorDetect Technology, which automatically adjusts the brushroll speed for different floor types as you're moving it around.

Its battery lasts up to 50 minutes, giving you plenty of time to scoot it around your home's floors. And for when you need more of a spot clean, it can even transform into a hand vacuum to reach places above the floor, with an included Crevice and Upholstery Tool to help you out.

This early Black Friday deal is a real treat for shoppers. Don't miss out on 47% off the Shark PowerPro Flex Reveal Plus cordless vacuum at Amazon.

GTA fans have waited 13 years for Grand Theft Auto VI. Finally, the next installment of the GTA series comes out on Nov. 19.

There's no early access for GTA 6. You simply have to wait until the release date.

But what if you could play GTA 6 on Nov. 18? Or, more accurately, roughly 18 hours before everyone else in the U.S.? Well, there's a way to do just that.

How to play GTA 6 a day early on Xbox

GTA 6 will have a global release date, dropping at midnight for each time zone. This means that New Zealand, which is 18 hours ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S., will get to play the long-awaited game before everyone else.

If you have an Xbox, there's long been a not-so-secret trick on Xbox consoles that lets U.S.-based gamers access games a little bit before everyone else in the country. 

As our friends at PCMag point out, gamers can simply go to their Xbox dashboard and do the following:

1. Go to Settings

2. Scroll to System

3. Select Language & Location on the right-hand side

4. Change your region to New Zealand

5. Hit Restart Now to restart your console and save the settings

This has previously worked to access other games early, as it tricks the console into thinking it's on New Zealand time. It's possible that Microsoft switches things up and closes the loophole before the launch of GTA 6. But, as of now, unless anything changes, it should work.

This is a quick and easy process, and you'll be able to change the settings back on your Xbox the same way.

Also, be sure to pre-order the digital version of GTA 6 as you'll be able to download the game on Nov. 10. While it won't be playable until the release, it'll be ready to go on your console as soon as it does release without having to wait for the game to download and install then.

How to play GTA 6 a day early on PlayStation

PlayStation 5 users, unfortunately, don't have it so simple. And there's no guarantee that this will work either. So, before we go any further, know that it just might not be worth the time and effort.

PlayStation accounts are region-locked, so Sony knows exactly where you're based when you're signed into your account. 

If you want to attempt to access GTA 6 early on your PS5, create a new PSN account while using a VPN with a New Zealand-based location. From there, you'll actually have to purchase the game under this new account in the New Zealand PlayStation Store. As PCMag points out, this might even cost more due to currency conversions.

And, again, there is no guarantee that this will work.

Worst case, you have to wait another 18 hours before you can play a game you've already waited 13 years for.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Europe's Hera spacecraft just took its first close-up picture of Didymos and Dimorphos, the asteroid pair NASA used for target practice in 2022. 

The European Space Agency mission is designed to do a sort of crash scene investigation following NASA's DART mission, the first planetary defense rehearsal. DART, which stands for Double Asteroid Redirection Test, involved sending a 1,300-pound, refrigerator-size spacecraft straight for Dimorphos, the smaller asteroid orbiting Didymos, to see if a strike could change its trajectory in space. 

The spacecraft's hip check to Dimorphos seems to have worked, lopping 33 minutes off its orbit. But the change was more significant than scientists predicted, leaving open questions on the extent of the impact and why it unfolded the way it did. 

The new black-and-white photo shows Didymos, which measures about a half-mile wide, from about 37 miles away. Shadow hides most of Dimorphos, its 500-foot-wide battered moonlet. 

Hera's view shows the side of Didymos that NASA's spacecraft never saw before the crash. The "backside" looks remarkably different, according to the team, with boulders, craters, and grooves. It also shows the continuation of a ridge that wraps around the asteroid's middle. 

"The first thing we said was 'Wow!'" said Patrick Michel, Hera's principal investigator, in a statement. "This feels like looking at a whole new world."

Some of these features may come from debris the crash blasted across the half-mile gap between Dimorphos and Didymos, said mission scientist Michael Kueppers. The space agency will release detailed images of both asteroids on Nov. 25.

The robotic spacecraft, about the size of a small car, flew for two years to reach the asteroids, which now sit about 122 million miles from Earth.

Scientists hope Hera's findings will help turn "kinetic impact" — ramming a spacecraft into an asteroid to nudge it — from a one-time experiment into a reliable planetary defense tool, if Earth ever needs it. 

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter today.

When DART hit, it blasted rock and dust into space, and that spray pushed the asteroid like a rocket's exhaust. Scientists call this extra kickback the "beta factor," and Hera will help measure it. That number could tell future mission planners how hard they'd need to punch a killer asteroid (unlike Dimorphos, which posed no threat) to move it out of Earth's way.

But before scientists can answer that, Hera has to see what DART left behind. The spacecraft will map the crash site to learn whether the collision caused a deep crater, left a shallow dent, or changed the asteroid's whole shape. 

Hera's small companion probe, Juventas, will scan the interior of Dimorphos. Credit: ESA illustration

Scientists also want to know if the impact knocked Dimorphos into a wobble. Before the crash, Dimorphos always kept the same face toward its larger partner, the way our moon does with Earth. Telescope data now hint that it may be tumbling.

Hera's small companion probe, Juventas, will scan the interior with radar, sort of like taking an X-ray, to look inside the asteroid. Meanwhile, Hera will measure the asteroid's mass and density to show how tightly it's packed. Dimorphos might be a single solid rock, or it might be a loose pile of boulders with empty gaps between them. 

Its composition could explain why it reacted the way it did during the collision. Gravity on Dimorphos is about 200,000 times weaker than on Earth, so even the tiny forces that make particles stick together could affect how the asteroid holds up under a hit. 

"We have an exciting work ahead of us to sort it out," Kueppers said. "We look forward to seeing much more of both bodies and systemically mapping all the changes we identify."

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the Brazil GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

Watch the Brazil GP for free with a 7-day trial

Shop Now

Kimi Antonelli was crowned the 2026 F1 champion last weekend in Mexico, so where does that leave us now? We still have four race weekends this season, and nothing is really decided except the actual winner. Reputations are on the line, so we can expect more thrilling racing from the best of the best.

The action heads to São Paulo this weekend. Can Verstappen win again to cement his place in second? Or will Hamilton bounce back from a frustrating weekend in Mexico to leapfrog his old rival?

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Brazil GP?

The Brazil GP is the 20th race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Autódromo José Carlos Pace:

• Practice 1 — 10:30-11:30 a.m. ET on Nov. 6

• Practice 2 — 2-3 p.m. ET on Nov. 6

• Practice 3 — 9:30-10:30 a.m. ET on Nov. 7

• Qualifying — 1-2 p.m. ET on Nov. 7

• Race — 12 p.m. ET on Nov. 8

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Brazil GP for free

Apple TV holds exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for F1, and you can now sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV directly through Prime Video Channels. That free trial gives you access to select races for free, including this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

The subscription rolls over to $12.99 per month after the seven-day trial, but you can disable the automatic renewal and still stream the entire race weekend for free. It's a sneaky hack, but it works.

If you're already paying for Amazon Prime, calling it "free" is a stretch. But if you don't have an active membership, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Stacking that Prime trial with the seven-day Apple TV channel trial means you're truly spending nothing to stream this weekend's race.

If you've already made use of this hack, you still have a few workarounds:

• Apple TV: New standalone subscribers qualify for a direct seven-day free trial through Apple's app.

• Apple One: If you want more than just streaming, the Apple One tier packages Apple TV alongside Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50GB of iCloud storage — and it comes with a full one-month free trial ($19.95 per month after the promotional period).

• Apple: The most generous Apple TV offer is tied to new hardware purchases. Buying an eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV grants new subscribers three months of free service. You obviously have to spend money on hardware, but if you were already planning an upgrade, it effectively unlocks a massive chunk of the F1 season for free.

TL;DR: Get a Babbel lifetime subscription and access to all language lessons for $159 with code LEARN.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Babbel

Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)

$159
$249 Save $90

 

Get Deal

Most language apps lean on vocab drills and matching games, and that kind of practice rarely prepares you to hold a conversation. If you’d rather learn the phrases people use when they travel, shop, or work, try a Babbel lifetime subscription on sale for $159 (reg. $299) with code LEARN.

What can you learn from Babbel?

Babbel gives you lifetime access to courses in 14 different languages, and the format is designed to fit into real life. Each lesson takes around 10 to 15 minutes, so you can actually stick with it whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just squeezing in some study time between meetings.

Here are a few of the included languages

• Spanish

• French

• German

• Italian

• Portuguese

• Swedish

And that’s just the beginning.

Unlike other apps that focus heavily on word games or repetitive matching drills, Babbel centers its content around practical conversation topics. You’ll get lessons on travel, shopping, business, culture, and more, all developed by expert linguists and backed by academic research. Speech recognition helps fine-tune your pronunciation, while the new AI-powered conversation partner lets you practice speaking in real time.

Lessons sync across devices, so you can start on your computer and finish on your phone. There’s also an offline mode if you want to download lessons ahead of time. You can move at your own pace, revisit review sessions, and jump between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels based on your comfort.

Use code LEARN through Nov. 8 to get Babbel on sale for $159.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR:  Leave Windows 10 behind and get a lifetime license for Windows 11 Pro for $12.97 (reg. $199).

Opens in a new window

Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro

$12.97
$199 Save $186.03

 

Get Deal

A new Windows license usually costs around $200, which is a lot to spend on a computer you already own. If you’d rather update your PC for less, try a Windows 11 Pro lifetime license on sale for $12.97 (reg. $199).

Microsoft extended Windows 10 support to Oct. 2027, but those Extended Security Updates only include security patches. You won’t get new features, non-security fixes, or technical support on an operating system near the end of its life.

Windows 11 Pro has a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and stronger security, and you pay for it once. Microsoft is also bringing back the movable taskbar and adding a resizable Start menu, with both changes rolling out in stages.

For professionals, creators, and power users, the Pro edition also includes Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker encryption, and Azure AD integration. Hyper-V lets you run virtual machines on the same computer, and Windows Sandbox opens a disposable desktop for testing apps you don’t trust. BitLocker encrypts your drive, so a lost laptop doesn’t expose your files. With Azure AD integration, IT teams can manage work accounts and sign-ins from one place.

Windows 11 also comes with Copilot, an AI assistant that can summarize pages, change settings, or help you write code as you work. You can ask it to turn on dark mode or find a file instead of digging through menus.

A one-time payment of $12.97 is the full cost, with no subscription or yearly renewal to track.

Give your PC a modern operating system for a one-time price. Through Nov. 8, you can get Windows 11 Pro for life for just $12.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

When Channel 4 released the first clip from its upcoming series It Get Worse, created by comedian Leo Reich, it sent the internet down a thirst spiral.

In the clip, taken from early on in It Gets Worse's first episode, angsty 24-year-old Ethan (Reich) sits down for a chat with a therapist (Andrew Scott). Talking at a mile a minute, he frets that his life is already over before it's had a chance to start. While Scott's therapist does listen attentively, it soon becomes clear that he is not Ethan's actual therapist. Rather, he's a match from a hookup app, and Ethan has stopped by his office between sessions to have sex. It's not long before Scott's character is dominating Ethan, telling him he's a "hole for daddy" and spitting in his mouth.

The scene was immediate catnip for anyone who ever experienced Fleabag's Hot Priest fever, but more than that, it established the bold tone of Reich's series, a combination of confessional vulnerability and frank sexuality that can flip from awkward to hot to eye-opening at a moment's notice. While Scott's memorable therapist doesn't return for the rest of the six-part season, that tone carries through, and It Gets Worse truly only gets better.

Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

What's It Gets Worse about?

Leo Reich and Emily Fairn in "It Gets Worse." Credit: Jack Barnes / A24 Films / Channel 4

It Gets Worse is the latest in a string of comedies by Gen Z/zillennial showrunners about people in their 20s struggling with what it means to be an adult. That puts it in conversation with shows like Rachel Sennott's I Love LA and Rebecca Shaw and Ben Kronengold's Adults. However, It Gets Worse shares more DNA with Lena Dunham's Girls, from its messy honesty to its central trio, who teeter on a knife's edge between absolutely imploding and hugging it out. (Dunham also guest stars as the world's worst boss.)

Our gateway into this trio is Ethan, who, according to a voiceover from author Zadie Smith, "had one of the easiest lives in recorded human history." He lives, unemployed, in London, where he receives money from his mother, enjoys the occasional no-strings hookup, and lives with his two closest friends from uni: Abi (Emily Fairn) and Sam (Olive Gray). The former wants nothing more than to prove to others that she's "made it" as an adult, curating a social media feed that screams "corporate girlboss." The latter is an aspiring writer who claims to reject society's monogamous norms, even though her seemingly blasé façade hides a deeper need for affection.

The three are in crisis, forced to leave the flat they share as their landlord looks to sell it. The move scatters them across London while they try to find new living situations. Ethan avoids returning home to his London-based parents, opting instead to crash at hookup partner Jesse's (Arian Nik) place. Abi moves in with her boyfriend of three years, Tom (Sean Delaney), who will cook elaborate miso lamb dishes for her but always avoids having sex. Sam joins her ex-girlfriend Zara's (India Mullen) anarchist commune, which hosts an awkward sex party and demands its members chip into the shared MUBI account.

Each situation forces Ethan, Abi, and Sam to take stock of their lives and their relationships, both platonic and romantic, all leading them to ask that most daunting of questions: What the hell am I going to do with my life? Surely, this can't be it.

It Gets Worse weaves a messy tale of early 20s friendships and screwups.

India Mullen, Safia Oakley-Green, and Olive Gray in "It Gets Worse." Credit: Ana Blumenkron / A24 Films / Channel 4

From callous bosses to awkward crushes, It Gets Worse conjures up a world of all too relatable worries. Even if you haven't experienced something like this yourself, you know someone who has, and you've almost certainly commiserated with them as they've vented.

That's almost what watching It Gets Worse feels like: a diaristic venting of anxieties about life in your early 20s. Some scenes felt so personal that I almost felt like I shouldn't be watching them. And no, I'm not just talking about the sex scenes, although there are many, and they all fall somewhere on the scale from "hot and mildly awkward" to "I'm watching through my fingers out of sheer pain for the characters involved." I'm also talking about the scenes where It Gets Worse truly gets in its trio's heads as they weather painful realities: Ethan hearing someone surgically pick apart how he uses humor as a defense mechanism. Abi realizing in real time that her promotion doesn't actually come with a pay raise. Sam trying to put on a brave face as her current hookup, Tess (Safia Oakley-Green), becomes far more interested in Zara. With each of these moments, It Gets Worse packs a gut punch.

Those gut punches extend to the fraught dynamic between Ethan, Abi, and Sam as well. These are people who know everything about one another and will tell each other to fight for what they deserve. These are also people who will shit talk something that's important to their friends, then turn around and tell them how great it is. Between the constant needling, you might be inclined to think that these three need nothing more than to get away from each other, much in the way you might have thought Girls' leads needed to take some serious time apart. Yet It Gets Worse also finds bittersweet ways to keep bringing them back together, and Reich, Fairn, and Gray's chemistry is so sharp and lived-in that you can't help but yearn for them to share the screen time and again.

Bittersweetness defines much of It Gets Worse, even as it often opts for a brash, of-the-moment aesthetic. You can tell it's an A24 production from the credits alone, whose flashing block letters recall the credits of Charli XCX satire The Moment or Halina Reijn's Gen Z slasher Bodies Bodies Bodies. (The latter even gets name-dropped.) Yet the core of It Gets Worse is the serious growing pains Ethan, Ali, and Sam experience. Reich treats these pains with an Ethan-like touch, covering them in quick one-liners and canny satire so the trio's traumas never turn into full-out tragedies. As he does, he extends a sympathizing hand to anyone in their early 20s (or anyone who's ever been in their early 20s), as if to say, no matter what generation you belong to, no matter your experience, we've all been at an uncomfortable crossroads. But maybe that discomfort is worth celebrating in all its messiness. It's certainly worth watching play out in It Gets Worse.

It Gets Worse is now streaming on Paramount+ and Channel 4.

From the sandwich-board ads outside neighborhood bodegas to campaigns by multimillion-dollar companies and midterm political races, AI-generated advertising is becoming part of our everyday scenery. But figuring out which images were photographed, which were prompted, and which fall somewhere in between is getting harder. In a September study of more than 500 consumers, only 17 percent correctly identified the AI-generated ad in a lineup of 10 — even though half initially felt confident they could spot it.

So what gives an AI ad away? Often, it’s something small that doesn’t hold up as well as the overall image. These six signs can offer clues.

1. The product looks plausible until its parts stop making sense

An ad can have a believable setting and a perfectly ordinary model, then fall apart around the product. For example, in June, an REI Instagram ad featured a bicycle with an extra set of handlebars growing out of its saddle.

Screenshot contains AI-generated image. Credit: Screenshot: Reddit/r/REI

According to the retailer, Meta's AI personalization tool altered a vendor-provided image, turning a real photograph into slop. REI said it took steps to unenroll from the tool.

"While a two-handled bike might be interesting, it is not something you will find in our assortment," REI told Fast Company.

Other advertisers have encountered similar changes. In July reporting by Business Insider, advertising consultant Jessica Gleim said Meta had suggested an image that turned a client's pajama dress into a shirt and pants. For another client, a women’s networking group in Montana, the tool proposed adding men. As Gleim told BI, "It’s not usable to help my clients grow their business," regarding AI-generation.

2. The same character or object looks different between shots

Sometimes, each shot looks plausible on its own. Put them together, though, and the main character — or main vehicle — doesn’t quite stay the same.

Coca-Cola's 2025 viral AI-generated "Holidays Are Coming" commercial drew criticism for its poor shot consistency, and its harshest critics called it "soulless, bland, and hard to even watch." Viewers and experts documented changing vehicle design across the truck scenes, including mechanically implausible configurations. (Of course, that didn't stop Coca-Cola from airing the commercial all winter long.)

The same sort of inconsistency appeared in Toys "R" Us's 2024 film, made with OpenAI's Sora (RIP). The film depicts the company's founder Charles Lazarus as a boy dreaming about a fantastical toy store. But the child's appearance varied throughout the video.

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

Similar inconsistencies can happen within a shot. Last year, UC Berkeley digital forensics expert Hany Farid told Mashable to look for "temporal inconsistencies," such as "the building added a story, or the car changed colors, things that are physically not possible." These changes can occur in the background, away from the main subject, making them easier to miss.

3. Movement doesn’t match the object — or the speech

Back to Coca-Cola. In their 2024 AI holiday advertisement, the trucks were moving along roads without their wheels even rotating. Very sloppy.

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

McDonald's Netherlands encountered its own visual problems in an AI-generated Christmas commercial from last year, with distorted faces and bodies, and the company pulled the ad after backlash. The Sweetshop CEO Melanie Bridge allegedly defended the production in a now-deleted statement, saying, "AI didn’t make this film. We did."

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

As for synthetic people, look for a mismatch between the face and the voice. Australia's national science agency identified poorly synchronized lip movements, flickering around the eyes, and expressions that don’t fit the emotional tone of speech as potential deepfake clues.

4. Lettering and details fall apart

Sometimes, the overall composition survives while the smaller elements look like nonsense. Product labels, objects on shelves, scenery, and body anatomy can look convincing at a glance but make no sense up close.

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

The promotional images for Glasgow's creepy Willy’s Chocolate Experience offered a memorable example in 2024. Amid the "nightmarish" scene, the AI-generated ads promoting the event initially promised "enchanting entertainment," "catchy tunes," and "exaggerated lollipops."

Those errors can also creep into real photographs when AI tools alter them. Photographer and marketer Abigail Hogue told Business Insider that a Valentine's Day campaign she photographed for Quite Literally Books began running with AI changes. Friends sent screenshots showing garbled product lettering and merchandise that resembled knockoffs. She disabled the AI creative enhancements and republished the campaign.

That unevenness makes lettering a useful clue, though an increasingly imperfect one. As the Global Investigative Journalism Network's guide explains, newer generators are much better at producing readable text and anatomically correct hands.

5. The action plays like a fantasy blockbuster

AI-GENERATED IMAGE Credit: Screenshot: NFL

Sometimes, AI-generated ads lean into the absurdity, turning a simple sales pitch into a Marvel-level spectacle. The drama keeps escalating, the scenes get stranger, and a soda commercial starts to feel like the trailer for an entire cinematic universe.

Fanta's latest Halloween campaign takes that approach. The ad features a vampire driving a sports car, a werewolf performing a DJ set, and a cyborg Frankenstein — all to promote soda. The brand spent a year and a half developing the world with AI-powered entertainment studio GRAiL, describing the technology in its announcement.

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

And Kalshi's deliberately chaotic commercial, which appeared in the YouTube TV stream of Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals, jumps through surreal scenes with the energy of an internet fever dream. Creator PJ Accetturo told NPR that he made it in two days using AI tools. See also: The NFL's larger-than-life "Ride the Float" commercial.

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

6. The typography looks familiar

Sometimes, it's the font itself that can be a dead giveaway. Unrelated ads often share the same chunky, rounded headings or vaguely handwritten type, creating the impression that they all came from the same AI generator. In one Reddit discussion, users noticed similar-looking lettering across generated images, even when the words themselves were nonsense.

One particular Brushstroke font is even being called "the new Comic Sans" by some graphic designers.

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.

Reporting on AI-generated flyers in Houston, Chron's Gwen Howerton described a recurring combination of bright lettering against dark backgrounds, boxed bullet points, and words circled or underlined for emphasis. Many also used type resembling marker scribbles. The repetition extended beyond Instagram to bar screens, banners, and neighborhood signs.

Meanwhile, AI companies have cultivated another recognizable style through their own branding. Claude and Perplexity have openly embraced serif fonts — letters with small strokes at their ends, familiar from printed books. Asked why, Monotype's senior executive creative director Charles Nix told Creative Bloq: "In order to seem more human." He also described the historical associations of serif typography as a way to convey authority and distinguish these brands from the sans serif lettering that has dominated technology branding.

Designer and type practitioner Keya Vadgama offered a similar explanation to WIRED: "Serifs have an origin in calligraphy. It connotes a very human, fluid way of making letterforms." Reporters added that Runway and Manus had also adopted serif typography in their interfaces and branding.

Some ads are starting to disclose AI use

Lately, the clearest answer to "is that ad AI?" may come from the ad itself. In a June update, Meta said it was rolling out an "About this ad" section containing AI labels for ads created or significantly edited with its generative tools. It also said it would begin labeling ads when it detected industry-standard signals from third-party AI tools.

That push for transparency is reaching state law, too. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the Artificial Intelligence Deceptive Advertising Act on Oct. 22. Taking effect Dec. 21, the law requires clear disclosures when AI-generated or significantly AI-altered content creates a false impression about the nature, origin, or authenticity of advertised goods or services. It won't put a label on every AI-assisted ad, though. The legislation exempts evidently fictional content, parody, satire, commentary, criticism, and text-only content.

As AI ads get better and better, the clues keep changing, which means that by the time we know what to look for, there may already be something new to catch.

Ever since I was a small Who, I have loved Dr. Seuss. 

His Sneetches, the Lorax, Horton — the joy they induce!

I gobbled up books, shorts, and feature films, too. 

I giggled, sang along, and even cried a boo-hoo! 

But one of his heroes had a movie fall flat, 

That rascally sharp dresser, the Cat in the Hat. 

In 2003, Mike Myers tried in live-action.

Audiences marveled at what the duck happened.  

Now comes an animated The Cat in the Hat. 

What am I, a critic, to say about that? 

Voiced by Bill Hader, this feline is fun. 

Lively and silly, with shenanigans. 

He brings with him his Things One, Two, and beyond, 

Plus a goldfish who wags a fin at things done wrong. 

But the focus of this kid's movie is odd: 

The Cat in the Hat might lose his job.

He works in the business of bringing kids joy, 

And is assigned to a girl and a boy. 

They've just moved and are feeling quite sad, 

But it's not enough to make them feel glad. 

The Cat must appease his bullying boss, 

Who worries about the collateral costs 

Of how the Cat brings mirth to kids near and far. 

The Cat's only ally is Sherri from HR. 

If that sounds convoluted, oh, just you wait. 

This story gets overcrowded to a terrible state. 

A mother-daughter squabble kicks off the action, 

Then a MacGuffin makes for a time-travel distraction. 

There's also a monster in hot pursuit, 

And a pesky landlady to boot! 

Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni direct and write. 

Their animation is warm, delicately textured, and bright. 

The voice cast has performers spirited and merry, 

Like Quinta Brunson, Xochitl Gomez, and Matt Berry. 

Sure, there's fun to be had in this Cat's appearance, 

But too many fart jokes hurt the experience. 

Dr. Seuss got silly and kooky indeed. 

But such potty humor is not his speed. 

With an overstuffed plot and action chaotic,

The movie's message feels half-assed and quixotic.

Hader's The Cat In The Hat is certainly better than Myers'. 

But so is plucking out my nose hairs with needle-nose pliers. 

In the end, I can't cheer this cartoon's feline joker. 

Best I can say is that this movie is mediocre.

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Cat in the Hat opens in theaters on Nov. 6.

Jordan Firstman has forged his reputation in comedy with a spiky and unapologetically queer sense of humor, as seen in his writing for Search Party, and his performances in Sebastián Silva's dark comedy Rotting in the Sun, and Rachel Sennott's chic satire I Love LA. Firstman stays strongly on brand with his directorial debut, Club Kid. But this New York City story is also a hopeful fairy tale about growing up and getting your shit together. 

Smartly cast and full of energy, Club Kid is a feel-good movie that doesn't fall into the trap of being overly sentimental. It's far less broad that Big Daddy, Mr. Mom, or Three Men and a Baby, and exponentially more queer. But reflective of the film itself, it's the throbbing heart at its core that suggests Firstman's perspective is growing as his hero is. 

Club Kid is a comedy for the fuck-ups.

Jordan Firstman and Reggie Absolom co-star in "Club Kid." Credit: A24

Imagine someone made a movie about your messiest friend. And if you are that friend, brace yourself to be seen. (We listen, and we do judge a little!) 

Written, helmed, and starring Firstman, Club Kid centers on Peter Green, a flailing party promoter who's spent the last decade or so doing hard drugs, staying out all night, and hooking up with untold men in Manhattan (and perhaps some of the cooler outer boroughs). 

Now in his thirties, this lifestyle isn't as cute as it used to be. Crashing on his couch is Nicky (Eldar Isgandarov), a surly twink who fancies himself a "low-key philosopher." Thrashing his business is his inability to resist the coke and ketamine that he's selling on the side of party planning. Showing up sloppy high to a sales meeting puts him on the outs with his ferocious business partner (Cara Delevingne), who feels smugly superior for being able to handle a bump before lunch. 

It's into all this chaos that Arlo (Reggie Absolom) is dropped. Kirby Howell-Baptiste, in an explosion of British party girl charisma and comedic outrageousness, turns up as Edison, who drops a bomb with a smile. Ten-year-old Arlo is Peter's son, spawned from a forgotten threesome a decade ago. His mom, a Brit he knew as "Innit babes," went back to London, had the kid, got abused by her boyfriend, and ultimately died by suicide. So, Edison reasons, Arlo belongs to his bio dad now. 

Peter is so bad at adulting he can't even begin to make sense of this. But he does give the kid a place to stay and begins to grow attached. They bond over music. And being raised by a mom addicted to the party scene, Arlo is familiar with Peter's world in some vague way, and so quickly wins over a clutch of overgrown club kids, including a beguiling trans DJ called Saffron (Saturn Risin9). 

Meanwhile, Peter sees himself in a new light through Arlo's eyes. Could he be more than a dealer and an aging addict? Could he be a responsible dad? Could he abstain from casual sex and hard partying and settle into a loving relationship with Arlo's therapist (Diego Calva)? Club Kid paves a path where this could be possible, but not without some logical bumps along the way. 

Club Kid shows Firstman has a distinctive vision as a director. 

Jordan Firstman directs "Club Kid." Credit: A24

As you might expect of a New York City-set movie premiering at NYFF, Club Kid depicts the city with an authentic intimacy. For starters, the film begins inside an Uber, where the stoic driver (Jamil Zraikat) speaks gently on the phone in a foreign language, before his car is overrun with tweaking club kids who crank up house music and sing along, while their bodies shimmy in feathers, sequins, sweat, and glitter.  

Cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra follows Peter from the cab into a club, where the lights are a bleeding purple neon, and the music blares so loud the theatrical audience might be tempted to cover their ears. Yet, it's clear from Firstman's onscreen thrall that Peter feels at home in this cacophony. Later, after Arlo becomes part of his life, the lights are red, blurring more features, and the handheld camera that once expressed enthusiasm turns panicked. A strobe light that bursts white in a relentless pulse throws the audience into a desperate search to make out what's on screen, reflecting Peter's panic as he seeks a missing Arlo. 

In calmer moments, the static camera captures everyday New York events with awe, like flipping through the bins of a vintage record shop, chatting on a park bench with a friend, or moving a gifted piano up an unwelcoming staircase. The use of 35mm enhances the romance of the city, imbuing each frame with the familiar grain distortion many generations still associate with cinema. Firstman and Newport-Berra create a terrific balance of the beauty and unpredictability of New York. So, when Arlo speaks simply of his affection for the city, there's a flush of comfort in knowing he gets it. 

Club Kid is brilliantly cast. 

Jordan Firstman writes, directs, and stars in "Club Kid." Credit: A24

First up, Firstman wrote a role for himself that's strategic and well-suited. He gets to deliver the kind of snarky jokes his fans might expect. But then, the plot probes deeper, giving him the chance to earnestly portray vulnerability, worry, adoration, and desperation. This is not a vanity project, as Peter is a bit of a clown. 

Beyond him, casting director Carmen Cuba has selected a superb array of supporting players to build out Peter's chosen family. Delevingne, who has her own reputation as an eccentric socialite, strides smoothly into the role of a party monster. Howell-Baptiste is a one-woman show as the human tornado that is Edison, beaming and enchanting while delivering darkly hilarious dialogue. Risin9 is a standout in the party posse, radiant, warm, and mischievous, like that cool cousin we all aspired to be. Isgandarov is terrific as Nicky, swiftly capturing a familiar queer archetype, then plunging in with jubilant spontaneity. He's perfectly paired with Colleen Camp (Clue), who plays Peter's downstairs neighbor Evelyn, a kind of chosen godmother who has money, scads of style, and a big heart exploding with tough love. 

And then there's Arlo. Absolom, who some might recognize from The Other Bennet Sister, is simply terrific. He offers a open stare that comes off not as naive but knowing. And in that, there's a bit of tragedy. But this child is fueled by hope, hope that tomorrow will be better than the yesterday he's seen. He hopes Peter can be his real dad. He hopes he can weave himself into the club scene, in part because he has a true love of it from his mom's influence, and in part — it seems — so he can ingratiate himself to his newly revealed father. In moments of tension, you see this façade of maturity crack as Absolom and Firstman make sure the audience sees past the precociousness to the simple truth: He's just a kid. He needs a security that he's never known. And the film grows slower and more meditative as Peter grapples with what that means. 

In the end, Club Kid gives an ending that is happy and earned. Firstman doesn't abandon the path in favor of a Hollywood ending that will have audiences cheering. Instead, he delivers something more realistic, but still hopeful and aspirational. It's a happy ending the way New York City understand them, and that's a hard-won gift. 

Club Kid was reviewed out of the New York Film Festival. It opens in theaters on Nov. 6. 

Rocky is such a truly iconic film that it's easy to forget its very existence is a miracle. I Play Rocky is the story of how that miracle was built by the blood, sweat, and tears of an unknown actor and aspiring screenwriter named Sylvester Stallone. 

Peter Gamble's screenplay begins with the future Hollywood star going by Mike Stallone (Anthony Ippolito), hitting auditions with his brawny shoulders and distinctive accent, and getting cast as thug #2 if he's lucky. At this point, he's living on the streets, finding comfort in a stray puppy he's taken in, and doing some light sex work to keep them both fed. But all he needs to start the path to Rocky is one person to believe in him. 

Enter Sasha Czack (AnnaSophia Robb), a smart and dedicated young woman who pushes Mike not only to write the roles he wants to play but to make a mark with his real name, Sylvester Stallone. Together, they move from the cold streets of New York to the sunny hills of Los Angeles. He writes out script after script by hand, then she types them up so he can hopefully sell them. When Rocky finally catches the attention of respected producers, it might seem like a happy ending. But there's one catch that Sly lays down: "I play Rocky." 

Stallone, as an unknown, fought tooth and nail to be the center of the movie he dreamed up to make him a star. But at every step, a new challenge presented itself. His underdog story reflects Rocky's — sometimes literally recreating scenes from the Oscar–winning sensation. But as successfully entertaining and heart-warming as I Play Rocky is, will it be able to stand out to the Academy in this year of extraordinary cinema?

What's I Play Rocky got in its corner? 

Anthony Ippolito plays Sylvester Stallone; Stephan James plays Carl Weathers in "I Play Rocky." Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

Well, for starters, director Peter Farrelly previously won over the Academy with Green Book, which scored Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali, Best Original Screenplay (for Farrelly and his co-writers), and Best Picture. That too was a feel-good film inspired by true events. And to its credit, I Play Rocky is less likely to earn the backlash that Green Book did, as it doesn't engage in problematic racial stereotypes. 

What I Play Rocky does offer is a cast that absolutely crackles onscreen. Ippolito takes on a difficult role as Stallone, because even a casual movie fan can recognize this A-lister's signature cadence and tone. To his credit, Ippolito is terrific in the role. Not only does his take on Stallone feel familiar, but he also avoids the trap of making it feel like an impression. This becomes clearer when he's tasked with re-enacting classic Rocky scenes, where the physicality of Stallone demands to be even more in sync with the man himself. 

Beyond getting the feel of Stallone right, Ippolito has an easy charisma that sparks chemistry with every scene partner, be it his onscreen lover Robb, a pair of bickering producers (P. J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell), his dynamic Rocky co-star Carl Weathers (Stephan James), or his lumbering dog, Butkus. Ippolito's Sly is radiant with life and determination, a screen presence that Stallone brought to Rocky. 

And around him, he's bolstered by terrific supporting players. Byrne and Kebbell prove a terrific comedy duo, turning exposition about movie deals into entertainment. Robb shines, despite being in a role that is an achingly cliched Supportive Wife with no complexity. (As presented here, Sasha has no desires beyond what makes Sly happy.) James is electric, an unapologetic scene-stealer who becomes Sly's ally. Tracy Letts is solidly sneering as an antagonistic studio exec, and Jay Duplass is brightly funny as self-proclaimed asshole director John G. Avildsen. 

Together, they craft a fish-out-of-water showbiz comedy slash underdog drama that is undeniably rousing and wonderful. So, why won't that be enough for I Play Rocky to be a contender? 

I Play Rocky will be an underdog at the Oscars. 

Anthony Ippolito plays Sylvester Stallone in "I Play Rocky." Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

On the ground at the Toronto International Film Festival, when I Play Rocky made its World Premiere, the buzz was thunderous and immediate. Following its first screening, the press lined up in a massive theater for the press-and-marketing-screening to see for themselves if this movie could live up to the hype. For those who've never been, that's a tough crowd, almost daring filmmakers to impress them. And adding to the difficulty, this screening was at 8:30 AM on a Sunday, when most sane people would prefer to be in bed. I was in that audience, and frankly dubious I'd enjoy Farrelly's latest, as I tend to think his best film is Dumb & Dumber. (I said what I said.) To my surprise and delight, I roared with laughter and cheers, as did the hundreds around me. Speculation sparked that this movie would win the festival's audience award, hands down. And the People's Choice Award out of TIFF can often be a bellwether for Oscar success. According to Awards Radar, since 2000, 33 People's Choice winners have gone on to become Best Picture nominees at the Academy Awards, with nine of them winning — including Green Book. But despite the buzz, I Play Rocky didn't win this honor.

The People's Choice Award went to La Bola Negra, a Spanish drama by directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi that explores queer identity over 85 years in Spain. That film, while extraordinary, is not a crowd-pleaser. It's 159 minutes long, interweaves multiple narratives, and is inspired by four pages of a play written by poet Federico García Lorca before he was assassinated by a fascist government. It's tragic, romantic, and cerebral. And it has all that in common with the International People's Choice winner, Elsinore, which focuses on Scottish actor Ian Charleson's performance of Hamlet as he was dying of AIDS. 

Where I Play Rocky had brilliant buzz on its debut, it was a runner-up at the end of the festival. And as award season heats up, there's a trend emerging, favoring tragedies over feel-good stories. Another example: TIFF opened with the inspiring docudrama Being Heumann, helmed by Sian Heder, director of the Best Picture winner CODA. While this follow-up has been praised for its representation of people with disabilities in telling the story of disability advocate Judith Heumann, the praise for the movie itself has been muted. 

Meanwhile, Calvo and Ambrossi are gathering buzz for the Best Director honor, and Andrew Scott seems a frontrunner for his heart-wrenching performance in Elsinore. And then of course, there's the big wooden horse in the room: The Odyssey. 

Being both an unadulterated hit with critics and a box office smash that not only brought audiences back to theaters, but also sold out IMAX theaters across the country, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is going to be hard to beat this Oscar season. He brought together a sprawling cast, shot on location, and used practical effects to extraordinary ends to reimagine Homer's Greek epic for a modern, mainstream audience. It is a collision of poetry, craftsmanship, and performance that is absolutely astounding. The Odyssey showed succinctly why movies still matter, connecting a story that's centuries old to contemporary politics without feeling like it was talking down to its audience. 

There, I Play Rocky falls short. While it is a movie about the importance of cinema, which the Academy loves, it's a look back that feels more a celebration of Stallone than it does a story urgent to now. And in the final act, Farrelly gets carried away in recreating Rocky, pulling in one scene after another to diminishing returns. While his film is still a sensational experience, its final act leans too heavily into the audience's presumed love of Rocky, instead of trusting in their interest of the story being told. And hey, in another year, that might not have been a fatal flaw; it might not even be one that will keep I Play Rocky from some big nominations. But even though I'd argue I Play Rocky is a better movie than Green Book, I wouldn't bet Farrelly's film has a fighting chance against its TIFF peers, much less Nolan's epic. 

I Play Rocky was reviewed out of the Toronto International Film Festival. It opens in limited release in the U.S. and UK on Nov. 6, before going nationwide in the U.S. on Nov. 20.

I have a confession and some good news. First, a confession: While watching Godzilla Minus Zero in a theater, I squealed and screamed in excitement loudly and repeatedly. I even threw my hands up at one point, as if I were going down the sharp hill of a rollercoaster ride. Now, good news: No one was any the wiser to my giddy noise. (And I wasn’t the only one whose hands took flight!) 

The sequel to the critically acclaimed and fan-revered Godzilla Minus One offers a soundscape so rich in roars, along with a booming score, that I could barely hear my own screams. And bonus good news: You will likely echo my enthralled reaction, because Godzilla Minus Zero is awesome, in the classical sense of the word. 

Godzilla Minus Zero is a sensational sequel. 

Hidetaka Yoshioka returns as Noda in "Godzilla Minus Zero." Credit: GKIDS

Godzilla Minus One writer/director Takashi Yamazaki returns, picking up his kaiju saga two years after the events of the last film. In Godzilla Minus Zero, Japanese pilot Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) is now a celebrated hero because of his ace flying in the final assault on Godzilla, which sent the massive monster back to the depths of the Pacific Ocean. His love, Noriko (Minami Hamabe), has healed from her wounds from Godzilla's attack, but wears a conspicuous eye patch. And their gleeful daughter, Akiko (Sae Nagatani), is the envy of a scrappy flock of war orphans cared for by their gruff but compassionate neighbor, Sumiko Ōta (Sakura Ando). 

Meanwhile, friend of the family and silver fox with gorgeous hair Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka) has been promoted to the head of a military unit dedicated to eliminating future kaiju threats. So, when a new creature rises, taking flight with a terrifying ferocity, Noda turns to some old friends for help. 

Harkening back to the early Godzilla movies, Yamazaki balances scenes of massive monster destruction with sequences of human drama. The post-World War II melodrama in the first film revolved around Shikishima, a disgraced kamikaze pilot who was at first too cowardly to sacrifice himself for the greater good. In the finale, he finally risked his life to topple Godzilla — and he survived! And this time, the public opinion on such an escape shifted in his favor. 

In its sequel, he is challenged to risk their safety to build a better future for Akiko. After the long battle for Shikishima to even acknowledge the love his family cobbled together in the ruins of war, it's a thrill to see him so openly affectionate with both — and a brutal blow to realize he is once again risking everything to preserve them. 

Godzilla Minus Zero goes harder than any Godzilla movie before. 

Noriko (Minami Hamabe) wears an eyepatch in "Godzilla Minus Zero." Credit: GKIDS

In the franchise's 70-year history, Godzilla Minus Zero is the first of these films to be rated R. Yamazaki uses this as an opportunity to turn jaded adult viewers into giddy kids again, freshly awed by the might of these monsters. 

As has been teased in advertising around the movie, Godzilla Minus Zero sees the rise of Ghidorah, an extraterrestrial dragon with wings and gravity beams that allow it to lift buildings from their foundations and drop them like bombs. Far from the clunky costumed actors of the original films, Yamazaki's crew has built a monster that is seamlessly realized and absolutely electrifying. 

First, Ghidorah attacks Matsumoto City, turning the daily lives of civilians into a waking nightmare. These scenes of devastation are exciting and disturbing, reconfiguring the gruesome realities of war with a sci-fi bend that makes them distinctly harrowing. But things get even more intense when Godzilla returns for a monster-versus-monster battle. In these sequences, the R rating allows Yamazaki to take the damage against these iconic creatures to a jaw-dropping extreme. The gore is shocking and exciting in these sequences. But elsewhere, graphic violence is used for a more humane purpose. 

Echoing the previous movie's message about the horrors of war, Godzilla Minus Zero introduces new character who is a hibakusha (a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing). Through his perspective, the graphic evisceration of atomic weaponry is made horrifyingly clear. Men, women, and children melted and scorched beyond recognition. It is soberingly horrendous. 

This is a brilliant balance of violence. With the monsters, the battles resurrect the wonder I experienced watching those original movies on battered VHS tapes, lying belly down on my friend’s fuzzy living room carpeting. Then, the toll taken on human bodies demands audiences recognize the difference between these fun fantasies of violence and the terrible truth of it in the name of war. 

Knitted together with outstanding visual effects and an earnest ensemble, Godzilla Minus Zero is truly epic. It demands to be seen in theaters, where its visuals can hit like an atomic breath and its soundscape can rattle your very bones. 

Let yourself be swallowed by that roar. You won't regret it. 

Godzilla Minus Zero was reviewed out of the New York Film Festival. The movie opens in theaters and IMAX on Nov. 6. 

As a comedy, Wild Horse Nine works fine. British-Irish playwright-turned-filmmaker Martin McDonagh imbues it with the blisteringly macabre sense of humor that he's forged in work like his 2003 play The Pillowman and his feature film debut In Bruges, as well as later movies like Seven Psychopaths; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; and The Banshees of Inisherin. As a Martin McDonagh comedy, it feels a bit redundant. But perhaps that's precisely the point?

From its premise, Wild Horse Nine echoes the plot of McDonagh's first feature film, In Bruges. Both films center on a pair of contract killers who have an uneasy friendship, and who travel to a lovely vacation spot with a potentially deadly outcome looming over them. This time, McDonagh has cast John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell in the roles of CIA agents who are chaotically compelling and lethally reckless.

Within these roles, Malkovich and Rockwell are invited to repeat themselves, creating echoes that actually bolsters the film's message about the mind-bending nature of looking back.

Wild Horse Nine is an oddball's elegy.

Credit: TIFF

Set shortly before 1973 Chilean coup d'etat, Wild Horse Nine begins in Santiago, where veteran operative Chris (Malkovich) and his protege Lee (Rockwell) have put things in motion to destabilize the newly democratically elected leader. Now it's time to kill some time with a getaway to Easter Island, because Chris wants to see "the big heads."

Loud and obnoxious, Chris is unapologetically an Ugly American. When tourists urge him to call Easter Island's giant stone statues "moai," the name the Indigenous people gave them, he scoffs. When two female college students express excitement over their women's rights march, he breezily reveals that all their efforts will be for naught because of a U.S. operation that will topple their beloved president. ("Your country is gonna get fucked.")

Chris' brazen insensitivity mirrors the racist cop Rockwell played in Three Billboards, with one exception. While both are caricatures making a mockery of Americans' lesser attributes, Chris is no fool. He is deeply cynical because he knows too much — so much, in fact, that his chief (Steve Buscemi) is ready to shut him up by any means necessary.

This trip will likely be his last, and both Chris and Lee know it. So within their half-hearted attempts at tourism, Chris reflects on his life and regrets, while seeking some fresh adventure. He becomes beguiled by the wild horses that roam freely across this lush, green landscape. And he attempts to flirt with one of the coeds he outraged in Act One. Within his meanderings and mumblings about many, many murders, there's not sadness, but a shrugging resignation that Malkovich sculpts into a darkly funny portrayal.

Wild Horse Nine is deepened by its repetition.

Credit: TIFF

Rockwell and Malkovich have been in so many movies, there are bound to be bits of repetition eventually, right? But some of the echoes in Wild Horse Nine are very specific. Like, yes, this is the third film Rockwell has made with McDonagh, following Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards. (He also starred in McDonagh's Broadway play A Behanding in Spokane in 2010). But more specifically, Rockwell has previously played a CIA operative with a lot of swagger and a penchant for gallows humor and insubordination in the George Clooney-directed Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

Beyond that, Malkovich has not just played a CIA employee before, but in both Wild Horse Nine and the Coen Bros' Burn After Reading, he plays one who is looking to turn his top-secret exploits into a memoir. Then, most joltingly perhaps, as Wild Horse Nine goes on, cinephiles watching Lee try to protect Chris from a world growing increasingly hostile towards him might be reminded of Of Mice and Men. Notably, Malkovich played Lennie in the 1992 film adaptation, directed by and co-starring Gary Sinise. And yes, that feels relevant too.

These are the connections I noticed watching Wild Horse Nine just once. I wonder what other ties might be noticed on a rewatch? Will Buscemi's furious CIA chief spark a memory of a far-off film where he was in a position of power but not to be trusted? Will Parker Posey, who plays Lee's glibly unfaithful wife, invoke an allusion to one of her fiery past roles? Perhaps Tom Waits, snarling from the depths of Monument Valley, will unlock a recollection about a long-forgotten Western that serves to bolster the meaning of the American singer/songwriter's brief but meaningful scene.

Or maybe I'm reaching. Maybe the rhythms of Wild Horse Nine felt so familiar, both in McDonagh's work and in American dark comedy, that I was looking for other ways to excite myself.

I hope not. After all, Wild Horse Nine has a lot going for it. The cinematography from Ben Davis is gorgeous, putting these gruff conquerers in an untamed surrounding that seems to mock their mundane ambitions for control.

Rockwell is greasy and suave in McDonagh's signature caustic and comical dialogue. Buscemi, Parker, and Waits all pop with crackling outrage. Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas bring a fresh-faced exuberance that proves a terrific foil to Malkovich's world-weariness. And as for Malkovich, he's wickedly compelling as this infuriatingly blasé killer. The bounce he brings the comedy is expertly executed. Chris' resignation is not expressed through a dull sullenness, but an intoxicating levity. It's as if he can feel the fall coming and is all too happy to lift his wings.

And in that, Chris looks back on his life, and Wild Horse Nine urges us to look back on the filmographies of its makers (intentionally or not). In that, we, like this film's anti-hero, are urged to understand how history can keep repeating, for better or mostly worse. But hey, there might still be something worthwhile in the present moment anyway.

Wild Horse Nine was reviewed out of the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie will open in theaters on Nov. 6.

If you've always been curious about joining AdultFriendFinder but nervous about handing over personal info, we get it. It's just common sense to be cautious with your data, especially on a well-known hookup site with a history of data breaches. But let us put your mind at rest: You can sign up to AFF with minimal personal info.

Here's a guide to all the info you need to provide to sign up for either a free or paid account on AdultFriendFinder.

Opens in a new window

Credit: AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder

 

Learn More

Free accounts

Because free accounts are extremely limited in what they can do on AFF, they don't require much information. You will need to provide AFF with your email address, date of birth, and location, as well as your marital status and sexual orientation. Other dating sites require a profile photo so other users can see you, but AFF allows you to browse the site anonymously. You can use AFF without uploading a single photo. 

If you're still nervous, you can use a burner email address, though if you want to earn verified status on AFF in the future, you will need to correct your email to match the contact information on any government-issued identification (which AFF requires for official verification). 

Paid accounts

If you enjoy your AdultFriendFinder experience and want more freedom to explore the site and connect with other users, there's no way around it: you'll need to upgrade to a paid premium membership, which means providing even more (and actually legitimate) personal information.

You need to provide a credit card number and an accurate address, including your country, city, state, and ZIP code. 

If you want the premium experience but you really don't want to share those credit card digits, you can use one of their alternative payment methods, like a mail-in check, digital gift card, or prepaid debit card. 

Not all of these payment options are available in every country, but if you prioritize anonymity and data security, the prepaid account option is the most secure.

SAVE $20: As of Nov. 6, the Waterpik Cordless Pulse is on sale for $29.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Waterpik

Waterpik Cordless Pulse

$29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00

 

Get Deal at Amazon

If flossing isn't already part of your daily routine, a water flosser could make it a whole lot easier.

A water flosser does exactly what it says on the tin: it flosses your teeth with water instead of dental floss. And as of Nov. 6, the Waterpik Cordless Pulse is currently discounted at Amazon, so you can give one a try without spending too much. Normally $49.99, it's now $29.99 (the lowest price ever).

The cordless design makes this Waterpik easy to handle and store, while the included accessories give you everything you need to get started. Inside the box, you'll find two jet tips, a removable 6oz water reservoir, and a lithium-ion battery that charges via USB. The whole unit is waterproof, so you can use it in the shower and rinse it clean after use.

It has different settings to make it comfortable to use, with two pressure levels to suit your preference. Waterpik says the flosser removes up to 99.9% of plaque bacteria from treated areas, helping support healthier gums and fresher breath. It also carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance for safety and effectiveness, and comes with a two-year warranty.

Head to Amazon to grab this deal now.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Star Trek Play Booster Box is on sale for $129.95 at Amazon, down from its $209.70 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Star Trek Play Booster Box

$129.95 at Amazon
$209.70 Save $79.75

Preorder at Amazon

Anyone who resisted picking up Magic: The Gathering's Star Trek Play Booster Box when it went on sale last month has had their patience rewarded, because now, with the sci-fi trading card crossover's release just seven days away, the expansion’s 30-pack box has had another price cut.

As of Nov. 6, the Magic: The Gathering Star Trek Play Booster Box has reached a new record-low preorder price of $129.95 at Amazon, a generous $79.75 below the $209.70 list price. At 38% off, you're effectively spending just $4.33 per pack.

For comparison, that's a $35.66 savings compared to when we covered the lowest preorder price of $165.61 on Oct. 5. As confirmed by the price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is indeed the cheapest the MTG box has been sold for on Amazon.

To be clear, this deal is coming from third-party seller NCC & Games rather than Amazon directly — with delivery set for as soon as Nov. 16, a few days after the set’s Nov. 13 release date. You can buy the listing, which is sold and shipped by Amazon, for a slightly more expensive $145.61, and it also comes with its handy preorder price guarantee.

Inside are 30 Play Boosters with 14 cards apiece, bringing together iconic Star Trek captains, spacecraft, and other favorites from the franchise's six decades. Each pack promises a Traditional Foil and one to four rare or higher-rarity cards, with special-border treatments and alternate artwork offering some extra surprises for collectors.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Bundle is on sale for $57.95 at Amazon, down from its $61.45 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Bundle

$57.95 at Amazon
$61.45 Save $3.50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

The wait for the Pokémon TCG's Delta Reign expansion is finally over, and Amazon has marked the Nov. 6 launch with another discount on its six-pack Booster Bundle.

As of Nov. 6, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Bundle is priced at just $57.95 at Amazon, shaving $3.50 off its regular $61.45 price. Sure, it’s a relatively modest 6% saving in the grand scheme of things, but this means you'll be spending about $9.66 per pack.

While this deal is supplied by third-party seller Toynado Alley rather than Amazon, it still has 100% positive feedback. Also keep in mind that delivery is estimated for Nov. 14, rather than dispatching today or arriving over the weekend. 

This new low price is only $5.31 above the Delta Reign Booster Bundle’s estimated $52.94 market price on TCGplayer. What’s more, this particular box has been steadily climbing in market price over the last week, and we expect that to go up even more during this launch period — so get yours while stocks last at this price point. 

For $57.95, the Booster Bundle offers 60 trading cards spread across six packs, each accompanied by a Basic Energy and Pokémon TCG Live code card. Delta Reign offers over 135 cards to pull, including Mega Rayquaza ex, Mega Malamar ex, Mega Golurk ex, and Mega Golisopod ex. 

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box is on sale for $103.23 at Amazon, down from its $137.95 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box

$103.23 at Amazon
$137.95 Save $34.72

 

Get Deal at Amazon

The Pokémon TCG's Delta Reign expansion has officially arrived, and Amazon sellers have marked the occasion by giving its Rayquaza-themed Elite Trainer Box the biggest price reduction we've ever seen.

As of Nov. 6, the Pokémon TCG’s Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box is available for just $103.23 at Amazon, chopping $34.72 off its typical $137.95 price. That's a huge saving compared to the $140 preorders we spotted in October. It is indeed the lowest price we’ve seen for this ETB (confirmed by our go-to price tracker, camelcamelcamel).

This new price by third-party seller Hero Collect means you’re only paying $11.47 per booster pack before factoring in the accessories. In addition to being $1.72 cheaper than Walmart’s lowest listing of $104.95, this heavily discounted price is only $4.23 above the estimated $99 market price on TCGplayer.

You get nine booster packs from the Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, an exclusive full-art foil Kyogre promo card, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, seven dice, a plastic coin, six dividers, a collector's box, a player's guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock:

---

Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Nintendo

Shop Now

---

Amazon

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Amazon

Shop Now

---

Walmart

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Walmart

Shop Now

---

Target

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Target

Shop Now

---

Best Buy

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Best Buy

Shop Now

---

GameStop

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at GameStop

Shop Now

If your current morning ritual involves violently hitting refresh on a dozen retail tabs, you already know the vibe: finding the Nintendo Switch 2: The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition is turning into an Olympic sport.

Between automated bot armies scooping digital drops, surprise order cancellations at Walmart, and inventory vanishing in seconds on Amazon, this custom black-and-gold console feels like a myth. But while digital storefronts look completely barren, stock is actively circulating behind the scenes.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock right now

Before getting into the restock details, bookmark these retailer pages to check for surprise drops:

• Nintendo Store — Out of stock right now, but you can add it to your wishlist to get pinged the second a restock hits.

• Amazon — Dropping tiny batches of consoles randomly throughout the day.

• Walmart — Out of stock, so make sure your in-stock email alerts are turned on.

• Target — Sold out online, but two drops are coming: in-store on Thursday, Nov. 5, and online on Friday, Nov. 6.

• Best Buy — Sold out online, but select stores are doing midnight openings on Nov. 5 with walk-in stock.

• GameStop — Online orders are off; you will have to walk into a store to find one.

Why is the console selling out so fast?

The feeding frenzy is being supercharged by Nintendo’s staggered release calendar. While the custom Zelda 40th Anniversary hardware dropped first on Oct. 29, the flagship game driving demand — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 — arrives this Thursday, Nov. 5.

The remake rebuilds the 1998 classic from the ground up with modernized controls, a fully orchestrated soundtrack, reworked dungeon puzzles, and expanded Hyrule environments. Since the $520 console doesn’t include the game, everyone is rushing to lock down a system before launch day.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2

$59.99 at Amazon

 

Preorder at Amazon

What comes with the Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2?

The package includes the special-edition Switch 2 system sporting a custom black-and-gold finish, themed Joy-Con 2 controllers, and a matching dock decorated with the gold Triforce emblem. It retains the platform's signature flexibility, letting you switch between TV, Tabletop, and Handheld modes whenever you want.

Inside the themed chassis, you get 256GB of built-in storage (expandable with microSD Express cards), a vivid display in handheld mode, faster load times, and support for up to 4K resolution on compatible TVs when the console sits in the dock.

The magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers add mouse-style tracking in supported games, while the new GameChat hub lets you voice chat and share your screen directly as you play. It also plays your older Switch games and supports standard multiplayer options.

How can you improve your chances of finding stock?

Landing limited-edition Nintendo hardware takes a little prep work, but these battle-tested habits will give you a real edge over the bots:

• Save your checkout details everywhere — Log in to Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and the Nintendo Store to save your shipping address and default card. Stopping to type a card number or billing zip code during a live drop is how you lose an order.

• Hands off the refresh button in Best Buy's queue — When an online drop goes live, Best Buy puts shoppers into a randomized waiting line to filter out scrapers. Touching the reload button resets your spot and boots you straight to the back.

• Watch for Walmart+ early-access paywalls — Walmart frequently locks headline console drops behind paid Walmart+ subscriptions for the first 30 to 60 minutes. If you have a membership, keep that tab signed in; if not, wait for the general public window to unlock.

• Dodge third-party sellers — Double-check the seller before buying. Marketplace scalpers frequently list units for jacked-up prices; make sure it says "Sold and shipped by [Retailer]" at the standard price.

• Skip the web wars and head to physical stores — Online checkout bots grab website stock in under 15 seconds. Showing up in person is easily your most reliable path to securing one without paying scalper markups.

Will the Zelda Switch 2 be restocked on Black Friday?

Most likely, yes.

Stores like Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy often hold onto popular gaming hardware to use as headline deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday week.

With that said, Black Friday restocks are usually the hardest ones to catch. You will be fighting website crashes, gift shoppers, and automated bots all at once. If you can grab a console during the Nov. 5 launch drops at Target or Best Buy, take it. Think of Black Friday as a backup plan, not your main bet.

Console hunting sucks right now, period. But between the surprise micro-drops and Thursday's physical store restocks, you still have real shots at retail price — just be ready to move the second that button turns yellow.

We're closing in on the biggest shopping day of the year. While most people will do the bulk of their shopping online for Black Friday 2026, some still prefer the in-store experience. There's something nostalgic about heading to a big box store at the crack of dawn to do some discount shopping.

If you're gearing up for that classic Black Friday in-store shopping experience, knowing when retailers open (and close) is key to planning your attack. We've noted the opening times on Black Friday for major retailers below, but there may be exceptions to these hours. It's always best to check the exact opening hours at your local store. The majority of stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Black Friday store hours

Best Buy

Black Friday 2026: Opens at 6 a.m. local time, closes at 10 p.m. local time

Feel free to camp out like old times if you're hoping to score a high-demand item. Just note that Best Buy may employ a ticketing system "for the safety and security of customers and employees."

Kohl's

Black Friday 2026: Opens at 5 a.m. local time, closing time varies by location

On Black Friday, the first 200 shoppers at every Kohl's store can receive $5 to $100 in instant Kohl's Cash. On Saturday, Nov. 28, the first 200 shoppers will receive an instant Sephora at Kohl's promotional gift valued from $5 to $100 to use that day.

Lowe's

Black Friday 2026: Opens at 6 a.m. local time, closes at 10 p.m. local time

Macy's

Black Friday 2026: Opens at 6 a.m. local time, closes at 10 p.m. local time

When you shop in Macy's stores on Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28, you can receive a free reusable tote bag with any $100+ purchase. The totes are limited to one per customer, while supplies last. 

Target

Black Friday 2026: Opens at 6 a.m. local time, closing time varies by location

In 2025, Target offered the first 100 guests in line a free limited-edition iridescent tote bag, some with gifts inside valued up to $350. We'll be on the lookout for an in-store shopping incentive this year as well.

The Home Depot

Black Friday 2026: Opens at 6 a.m. local time, closing time varies by location

Walmart

Black Friday 2026: Opens at 6 a.m. local time, closes at 11 p.m. local time

Airbnb is planning to launch an AI travel agent next year. The company shared details of the project during its Q3 2026 earnings call on Thursday, reiterating its intention to "build an AI-native Airbnb."

"AI is the best thing to ever happen to Airbnb. It's changing both how we develop products and how we operate," Airbnb said in a letter to shareholders. "AI is helping our teams move faster, and in Q3 alone, we shipped more than 50 products and features — nearly 70 percent more than a year ago."

Now Airbnb intends to add an AI travel agent to that collection. While still under development, the company says its new AI agent is being designed to help users research, plan, and book trips on its platform.

"We’re developing a custom-designed, AI-native experience that builds the interface around your question," said Airbnb. "Rather than a chat window, our agent draws on a library of hundreds of travel-specific interface elements — maps, photos, comparisons, calendars, itineraries — and composes them in real time to match what you’re looking for."

CEO Brian Chesky elaborated during Airbnb's earnings call, stating that the AI agent will "feel a little bit like generative AI" due to its ability to respond to users' requests with relevant custom interfaces for specific travel needs. Chesky further stated that the agent will have a "post-chat-based interface," being less text-focused, though it will still retain a "chat element."

"If you want a car rental, the agent generates this little UI of a car, and it's [presented] beautifully in a custom-generated interface," said Chesky. "If you want to invite co-travellers, the agent helps you."

Airbnb's AI agent will also help resolve issues once a booking has already been made, including changing reservations or assisting with refunds and rebookings. Interestingly, Airbnb states that the AI will provide 24-hour safety support as well, though did not elaborate on exactly what type of assistance it will offer.

"Our agent will help guests explore options, make decisions with the people they’re travelling with, and take action directly in Airbnb," Airbnb wrote. "Over time, we want our agent to help guests plan their entire trip in one place, across homes, hotels, services, experiences, and more."

This won't be restricted to bookings that are available on Airbnb either. Chesky stated that the AI agent will be able to go "outside the walls of Airbnb," though noted it will stay within the realm of travel.

"Today's AI agents, like [Meta's AI agent] Muse and [invite-only AI assistant] Instinct, are good at simple routine tasks like making a restaurant reservation or scheduling an appointment," Chesky said. "But planning a trip is different. Travel is aspirational. Discovering where to go and where to stay is part of the experience… I don't think the general-purpose agents are the best to do that. That is why we are building our own AI agent."

Airbnb's new AI travel agent is expected to be released in the first half of 2027.

This upcoming AI travel agent isn't to be confused with Airbnb's AI customer support assistant, which is already in operation. Airbnb states that its AI assistant resolved around 40 percent of all customer support issues without any human agents in Q3, an increase from approximately 30 percent last quarter. In Q2, Airbnb's AI agent resolved nearly 45 percent of issues that specifically began in the tool.

Airbnb reports that its revenue grew 19 percent to $4.9 billion in Q3, bringing in a net income of $1.9 billion.

TL;DR: Watch Ireland vs. Argentina in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Nations Championship is back this weekend with another batch of huge fixtures between elite international sides. We don't fully understand the significance of this new competition yet, but we're fully on board with more clashes between top sides. What's not to like?

Ireland host Argentina in the first fixture this weekend. The Aviva Stadium will be lively when these physical sides come together on Friday evening.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Ireland vs. Argentina?

Ireland vs. Argentina in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 3:10 p.m. ET on Nov. 6. This fixture takes place at the Aviva Stadium.

How to watch Ireland vs. Argentina for free

Ireland vs. Argentina in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream Ireland vs. Argentina in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Ireland vs. Argentina for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Ireland vs. Argentina in the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including the UK

• 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Ireland vs. Argentina in the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Don't repeat it!

Hurdle Word 1 answer

CYCLE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Cleanse.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

DETOX

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Evil.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

CRUEL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Terribly.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BADLY

Final Hurdle hint

Females.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

WOMEN

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

You'll need a good pair of binoculars or a telescope to get a closer look at what's on the Moon's surface tonight, and one of the last chances before the New Moon arrives.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Friday, Nov. 6, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Crescent phase, with 16% of its surface visible.

To see the Grimaldi Basin tonight, you'll need the assistance of either binoculars or a telescope.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on November 24.

What are Moon phases?

It takes the Moon around 29.5 days to pass through a complete lunar cycle. As it travels around Earth, the angle at which sunlight reaches its surface changes what we can see from here, producing the different phases, from the New Moon through to the Full Moon and back again. The cycle then starts over, as explained by NASA.

The eight phases are:

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.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

Backup meaning

To supply supporting information.

Pickup meaning

A type of truck.

Makeup meaning

Products used for aesthetics or costumes.

Hot rod meaning

A car modified for speed and aesthetics.

Flatbed meaning

A type of truck.

Fabric meaning

Material used for creating textiles or clothing.

Extra meaning

More of something.

Woolens meaning

Clothing made of wool.

Traffic cone meaning

A temporary traffic control device.

Semi meaning

A type of truck.

Constitution meaning

Rules or principles by which a government or organization operates.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Replacement meaning

Something that takes the place of something else.

Spare meaning

An extra of something.

Osiris meaning

Egyptian god of the underworld.

Structure meaning

How something is organized.

Tanker meaning

A type of truck.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you spend much time on the road.

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.

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

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.

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

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: How it all comes together

• Green: Unoriginal

• Blue: Vehicles

• Purple: Words within words

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Composition

• Green: Copy

• Blue: Kinds of trucks

• Purple: Ending in parts of the eye

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 #1244 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Composition: CONSTITUTION, FABRIC, MAKEUP, STRUCTURE

• Copy: BACKUP, EXTRA, REPLACEMENT, SPARE

• Kinds of trucks: FLATBED, PICKUP, SEMI, TANKER

• Ending in parts of the eye: HOT ROD, OSIRIS, TRAFFIC CONE, WOOLENS

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

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 will be easy if you work like the outdoors.

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: Autumn walk in the woods

The words are seasonal.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are things found in a forest.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical (diagonal).

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is forestfloor.

NYT Strands word list for November 6

• Husk

• Leaves

• Forestfloor

• Moss

• Pinecone

• Branch

• Acorn

• Twig

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

I love being scared in a theater. That ripple of goosebumps that travels up your arms and then seemingly across the body of the audience as a whole. In movie theaters this year, I was spoiled for choice with frightening and mind-bending films like The Bone Temple, Hokum, and Leviticus. But in playhouses, the pickings have been thinner.

Undeniably, I was giddy over The Lost Boys: A New Musical for its refreshing blend of fun and fright. However, after much buzz out of the West End, Paranormal Activity's transfer to Broadway left me underwhelmed. Sure, it had some solid jump scares. But the play as a whole wasn't as haunting as its playwright Levi Holloway's previous Broadway offering, 2023's chilling Grey House.

So, it was with some reluctance that I sat down for 2:22 A Ghost Story. Like Paranormal Activity, it's also a West End transfer, having debuted in London in 2021 with Lily Allen in a lead role. (IYKYK.) 2:22 A Ghost Story even earned a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play. But The Curious Case of Benjamin Button won the Olivier for Best New Musical from its West End debut, and yet its transfer to Off-Broadway left me more annoyed than moved.

All this to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how satisfying and scary 2:22 A Ghost Story is Off-Broadway. This spooky production offers way less in stage spectacle than The Lost Boys or Paranormal Activity. However, bolstered by a small and staunch cast, it's a terrifically chilling theatrical experience.

What does 2:22 A Ghost Story has in common with Paranormal Activity?

Finn Jones and Jasmine Cephas Jones in "2:22 A Ghost Story." Credit: Evan Zimmerman

Both plays center on a married couple dealing with a possible paranormal infestation in their home. Both are set entirely in these homes, which are in London, England. In each, the wife believes a ghost is among them, while the husband is the skeptic, who will endure some serious shocks on the path to believing. Plus, both plays employ jump scares.

What sets 2:22 A Ghost Story apart out the gate is a clever device. Writer Danny Robins takes tropes of a haunted house story, including mysterious noises, objects moving seemingly on their own, and activity tied to a particular time. And he sets them within the uniquely stressful situation of a dinner party.

The brilliance of 2:22 A Ghost Story begins with a dinner party.

Anna Camp, Finn Jones, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Martin Marquez consider the paranormal in "2:22 A Ghost Story." Credit: Evan Zimmerman

New mom Jenny (Jasmine Cephas Jones) and husband/co-parent Sam (Finn Jones) are eager to show off their new home and baby girl, Phoebe. So, they invite over Sam's best friend, Lauren (Anna Camp), and her boyfriend, Ben (Martin Marquez).

The simple set on the Off-Broadway stage is a living room/kitchen area, with exits to an offstage bathroom, a view to the stairs that lead to an unseen second floor, and glass doors that give a peek of a backyard that's often obscured by fog. This is a smaller setting than Paranormal Activity and The Lost Boys, which includes a view of the home's second story and bathroom. But 2:22 A Ghost Story is enhanced by what we can't see.

For instance, something sinister happens in the bathroom. A child's toy is sullied in a dangerous way. Because we the audience were not witness to how it happened, we are encouraged to join in the debate as the dinner party devolves into arguments about the possibility of paranormal involvement.

Within this discussion, playwright Danny Robins builds in tensions through personal relationships and class conflict. In Paranormal Activity, the play's commitment to sticking mostly with the husband and wife led to some gratingly repetitive couples arguments. 2:22 A Ghost Story adds heat and variety by complicating that dynamic through the dinner guests.

For starters, Sam and Lauren have been friends since college. Now, she's a successful therapist and he's an astronomer working on a kind of Idiot's Guide to the Stars. Yet, she fawns over him like a schoolgirl as he lectures on about stars, science, and logic. And Jenny's not blind to it, nor is Ben. More tension sparks as Sam snootily suggests that Ben, a blue-collar builder, is too lowbrow for the educated and elegant Lauren.

The tension of this class conflict is reflected in the set itself. Jenny and Sam admit they've moved into a gentrified area, purchasing the house from an old widow who'd lived there for decades with only the memory of her late husband to keep her company. The widow's gaudy wallpaper still lingers on some walls, marked by photo frames, while others are painted a modern white, inlaid with cold glass doors and dark gray kitchen cabinets. Beyond that, the layers of the house and its history are a part of the play from the moment the lights go up, notably on Jenny painting the walls in the middle of the night. And all of it matters.

2:22 A Ghost Story delivers scares and laughs.

Credit: Evan Zimmerman

The dinner party gets tense before the mention of ghosts. Soon, Jenny reveals she wants witnesses. For three nights in a row, while Sam was away for work, she's heard someone in their child's bedroom at 2:22 in the morning. Sam doesn't believe her, so she practically begs their guests to stick around and see for themselves. Lauren, a messy drunk giddy for a reason to linger near Sam, is quick to agree — with the caveat more wine be procured. And Ben is a big believer in the paranormal, unveiling a personal story of his own brush with a ghost.

Camp, who is perhaps best known for her comedic turns in the Pitch Perfect movies, is the comic relief for much of the play. She plays drunken Lauren perhaps a bit too broadly. But in the play, Lauren is the only American, so brashness and brazenness are baked into the role. However, between Sam and Ben's bickering, Marquez lands a few zingers that scored chuckles and even cheers from the audience.

The scares come in two forms. The first is an ear-piercingly loud sound design, which punctuates the play with screams and music (including Massive Attack's "Angel," which is always an ominous sign). Sometimes, it feels a bit of a cheap trick. Like when directors Matthew Dunster and Gabriel Vega Weissman need to establish a passage of time, the stage lights go black, so things might be arranged in the dark (the curtain open).

Accompanying the blackout is a blinding red light that rims the stage and a recording of a sharp scream that made the audience flinch communally every time. Other screams sound during the dinner scenes as well, explained away by horny foxes plaguing the new homeowners. The back porch light might kick on due to its motion sensor at any moment, and with it might be the horrid shriek of a wild animal. And over all of it hangs a digital clock with bright red letters, ticking ever closer to the haunting hour.

2:22 A Ghost Story has a frightfully great cast.

Jasmine Cephas Jones in "2:22 A Ghost Story." Credit: Evan Zimmerman

The more stirring scares came from the cast's performances. In an opening scene, the audience witnesses one of Jenny's potentially paranormal incidents. Then, we see her unravel as the hour grows late, closer to 2:22. As Jenny, Jones is riveting. She's not just scared, but furious. Something has invaded their home. AND her husband doesn't believe her about the danger. Her seething is not the soul of Jenny, but informs much of her behavior on this pivotal night. But so does love. Looking at Lauren flirting shamelessly with Sam, Jenny is not just angry, but also compassionate, because she loves him too — even when he's driving her mad.

To his credit, Finn Jones is perfectly infuriating as Sam. Costume designer Cindy Lin offers a shorthand that Sam is a bit of a self-aggrandizing prat by putting him in the self-imposed uniform of tech bros: jeans, long-sleeve t-shirt, and a puffer vest. But Jones, with a sneering smile and condescending tone, makes for a sensationally aggravating antagonist. As the others marvel and fret at the possibilities of the paranormal, Sam demands to be the voice of reason. But because his tone is so patronizing and elitist, it's deliciously easy to loathe him. If this were a murder mystery play, I'd be rooting for his death!

Then, there's Ben. The oldest and least educated in the group of young, wealthy, and privileged intellectuals, he is swiftly established as an outsider. But proud as he is, Ben doesn't balk at Sam's snide attacks. Instead, he is vulnerable, sharing his understanding of spirits and this very neighborhood in a way that is an earnest invitation. Whether he's revealing a story of a long-ago haunting, speculating on the ways of the dead, or hosting an impromptu séance, Ben grounds 2:22 A Ghost Story's reality, making anything feel possible as the clock ticks down.

I won't dare reveal what happens in the play's final moments. Instead, I'll share this: Minutes into 2:22 A Ghost Story, I was rattled. At intermission, my mind throbbed with possibilities and half-remembered ghost stories, both fictional and purportedly true. By the curtain call, my heart was pounding, rallied by the magic of theater and a terrific climax. So be warned, if you miss 2:22 A Ghost Story, you're missing out. (But if you do go, maybe consider some earplugs.)

2:22 A Ghost Story is now playing at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you don't care for high quality.

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:

Trash.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters appear twice.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

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...

DRECK

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.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

HBO and Sky's War is an addicting legal drama, but in its glorious sixth episode, it becomes a stealthy installment of The Traitors.

The traitor, naturally, is lawyer Johnny Warren (Archie Renaux), who's playing both sides of the divorce trial between actor Carla Duval (Sienna Miller) and tech magnate Morgan Henderson (Dominic West). Johnny officially works for the firm representing Carla, Taylor & Byrne, and has even developed a secret romantic relationship with Carla. However, he's been secretly feeding information to the firm representing Morgan, Cathcarts & Sons. It's the kind of underhanded trickery that could cost Johnny his career and Cathcarts their reputation.

So far, their game has gone off without a hitch — that is, until Johnny feeds Cathcarts an asset list including a Ferrari Testarossa, an item that is later stricken from Taylor & Byrne's records. When the Ferrari appears on a Cathcarts list, it becomes a smoking gun for training associate Molly Giordano (Emma Laird), who realizes Taylor & Byrne has a mole in its midst.

Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

From there, all of episode 6 becomes a mole hunt, with Johnny playing Molly and fellow associate Saeed Masood (Shaheen Jafargholi) against each other in the hopes of getting off scot-free. There's so much deception and backstabbing going on, you'd have expect Alan Cumming or Claudia Winkleman to pop out of a filing cabinet and feast on the proceedings.

Johnny plays a blinder throughout the episode, eventually framing Saeed and thoroughly convincing Serena Byrne (Phoebe Fox) and Nicholas Taylor (James McArdle) that he's a company man through and through. However, he makes a crucial error at the finish line. I'm talking tripping over your own feet with one meter left to go levels of bad.

Right before heading into court for the trial, he borrows a page from Cathcarts associate David Schill's (Miles Jupp) book and quotes Keanu Reeves, telling Serena, "The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way. You know who said that?"

Yet little does Johnny realize, former Cathcarts employee Serena has probably heard David's Keanu Reeves spiel more times than she can count. She responds to his question with a clipped "David Schill" and a growing anger in her eyes, realizing that she and Nicholas have been played for fools this whole time. It's an electrifying end to an electrifying episode, and it's a moment that Renaux and Fox couldn't wait to play.

"As an actor, you know, sometimes it's fun to soliloquize," Fox told Mashable in a junket interview alongside Renaux. "But often, it's fun to try and play a very complex emotion in two words. I think I say 'David Schill,' and that's it, and I have to play that landing on me and all the emotions that are coming up in that moment."

Phoebe Fox in "War." Credit: Justin Downing / Sky / HBO

While the discovery of Johnny's betrayal felt inevitable from the moment he took the job with Cathcarts, Renaux and Fox both praised the ridiculousness of Johnny's self-imposed downfall.

"You do not expect it all to come down to that Keanu Reeves quote," Fox said.

"It's the most stupid thing that Johnny could have done," Renaux told Mashable. "It's so small and seemingly insignificant in Johnny's mind. He's done all the hard stuff. Someone's taken the fall for him, and he thinks it's plain sailing, then that's the thing that gives him away. It's beautiful. So fun."

The Keanu Reeves slip takes Johnny from his highest high right to the depths of hell, and there's a certain amount of schadenfreude in watching how Johnny loses all cockiness in the blink of an eye.

"He thinks he's so slick," Renaux said. "And, in fact, he's nicked [the quote] from someone else. That's someone else's thing."

Johnny began the season accepting the Cathcarts mole job out of desperation, unable to find work elsewhere. But as Fox asked Renaux of the deception, "Do you think he ever enjoys it and finds it fun?"

"I think he might enjoy tiny bits where he manages to get out of things and style things out, on the rare occasions where that does happen," Renaux said. "I think he enjoys feeling useful, but I think it starts to eat at him."

Now that Serena's found Johnny out, his lies won't eat at him anymore. But what's next for him? Will he be banished from the proverbial roundtable of Taylor & Byrne and lose out on any hope of a law career? Or will he manage to squirm his way out of this one and nab a job at Cathcarts?

Whatever happens, it's clear Serena won't let Johnny's transgression go easily.

"It's not just anger," Fox said of Serena's reaction. "It's biblical, man."

War is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Cyberattacks targeted several European countries this week, including grocery stores across the UK and the European Union, as well as three cold storage facilities in France that house some of the nation's blood supply.

The blood facilities were targeted on Sunday and Monday, with the temperature of the remotely controlled containers raised to "very high levels," according to EFS, France's public blood, plasma, and platelets service. Technicians were alerted to the attack by alarms and moved the blood before the supplies were rendered unusable.

Not long after, supermarket freezers and refrigerators in the UK, Italy, Germany, Romania, Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, Holland, and Sweden reportedly malfunctioned, with some machines going into defrost mode. Temperatures in some of the cooling units soared to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, causing millions of euros in spoiled food, the Guardian reported.

The grocery store malfunctions were reminiscent of cyber-enabled attacks that hit hundreds of French grocery stores last month, which not only ruined food but sparked fires. Similarly, in August, commissaries at half a dozen US military bases reported that their freezers were remotely set to defrost overnight, ruining food supplies. An investigation into the incidents by the Defense Department is ongoing.

No individual or group has taken responsibility for the blood and grocery store incidents this week or earlier this year. Intelligence experts in Europe have posited that Russian officials are possibly recruiting people to commit sabotage in NATO nations.

Three of the biggest social media companies want to block a California law designed to reduce youth social media addiction from going into law.

On Wednesday, Google, Meta, and TikTok each filed lawsuits against California's attorney general, Rob Bonta.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2027, the bill (AB 1709) would prohibit platforms including Google, Meta, and TikTok from providing "an addictive feature" to users under 16. The law describes such features as "psychologically exploitative" and intended to maximize engagement in a way that leads to compulsive use. This includes infinite scroll, autoplay, and an "addictive" feed.

The law also requires platforms to "implement reasonable measures" so that young users aren't offered such features.

The companies argue that the law infringes on their free speech rights, as well as Section 230, a provision of a 1996 federal law designed to shield online platforms from liability related to user content. Critics of Section 230 say it wrongly provides online platforms with broad immunity.

Google claimed in its lawsuit that its subsidiary, YouTube, personalizes recommendations to ensure that young users receive content relevant to their interests and appropriate for their age and developmental needs. The company defended autoplay as helping users enjoy content uninterrupted and sequentially, like a playlist for educational videos.

"AB 1709's bans on personalized recommendations and autoplay would therefore frustrate YouTube's efforts to provide under-16 users with safe, responsible, and enriching experiences on the platform," the lawsuit said.

Meta said that its services "collectively enable billions of people around the world to share ideas, offer support, discuss important topics." Prohibiting personalized feeds and autoplay, would "make it unlawful for Meta to disseminate speech to minors altogether," the company argued.

Lennon Torres, director of movement partnerships at the advocacy organization Heat Initiative, rejected the companies' arguments. Torres, a former child influencer, worked with the bill's author to address First Amendment concerns.

"They're framing this as a free speech fight, but what's really at stake is a business model that profits from keeping kids scrolling, even when it puts them at risk," Torres said. (Torres is a Mashable contributor.)

California's Attorney General's office told Reuters that it was reviewing the filings.

"Our office is committed to defending California's commonsense laws to protect kids online," the office said in a statement to Reuters.

In August, Meta settled a youth social media safety and addiction case for $17 billion, though the company did not admit guilt or liability. As part of that settlement, Meta agreed to limit teens' daily time spent on Instagram and Facebook to two hours; block access to both platforms overnight and during school hours; give teens the option to create a default non-algorithmic feed; and allow teens to turn off autoplay.

Meta also issued a "call to action" to YouTube and TikTok to adopt what the company describes as a new "industry standard." Neither company joined the settlement terms.

Meta has a hit on its hands, and it knows it. The social media giant's new AI agent Muse quickly reached more than five million app downloads after its launch in September, and the Jolly mascot has become a common sight in Meta's branding lately.

On Thursday, the company announced it now offers voice support for Muse. That means users can talk to their agent to give instructions or ask questions. Muse users will also be able to customize the voice, with hundreds of options available.

"Starting today in the US, we’re rolling out voice and expressive avatars in the Muse app across mobile app, web and Mac app, giving you a new, natural way to interact with your Muse. Want New Yorker energy? Pirate flair? Pick from hundreds of voices and switch it up whenever your mood does."

In an announcement blog post, the company outlined potential use cases. "Some things are better rehearsed out loud. Prepare for a job interview, run through a presentation, or talk through a pitch — hearing a response and answering in the moment makes it feel more like the real thing."

Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg also teased the new update on X.

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

In addition to voice support, Muse now offers expressive avatars. That means users' Muse mascots will match facial expressions to match what they're saying.

Lately, the AI industry has learned that a cute little guy is a great way to anthropomorphize AI, making it seem cutesy rather than intimidating, for better or worse.

Of course, voice mode can quickly go sideways, as OpenAI learned when the online creator Husk repeatedly went viral for his videos showing ChatGPT's voice mode acting very, very dumb.

We'll have to see if Muse fares any better.

To Meta's credit, the company's latest AI models have caught up to the frontier, as its massive AI spending spree continues.

U.S. users can experiment with Muse's voices and expressive avatars starting today.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

TikTok has spent years making it easier to buy the products that appear in makeup tutorials, cooking videos, and creator recommendations in TikTok Shop. Now, it’s giving shoppers a separate app to open when they're in the mood to spend on a new lip gloss, a milk frother, or another pair of sneakers.

The company has (rather quietly) released a standalone TikTok Shop app in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines on iOS and Android, as social media consultant Matt Navarra first spotted on X. The launch gives TikTok's growing shopping business its own place on a phone's home screen.

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

According to its Apple App Store listing, the app offers personalized product recommendations, livestreams and short videos showing products in action, checkout, order tracking, and 24/7 customer support. Shoppers are also being offered app-exclusive deals, free shipping promotions, and first-order perks.

The Google Play listing shows more than 50,000 downloads, while the Singapore Apple App Store lists it at No. 71 in the shopping category, with a single five-star rating. Its latest iOS update, version 45.5.5, arrived just 13 hours before publication (at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 5).

Credit: Screenshot: Apple's App Store

The app's Singapore App Store listing names TikTok Pte. Ltd. as its provider, a separate company from TikTok USDS Joint Venture, which operates TikTok in the U.S. The majority-American-owned joint venture handles U.S. data security, recommendation algorithms, and content moderation, while TikTok's global business still manages commercial activities, including e-commerce.

It's unclear whether the standalone shopping app will launch in the U.S. TikTok has not yet responded to Mashable's request for comment.

Why is TikTok testing a shopping app?

Giving Shop a dedicated app could help TikTok compete for the moments when someone opens Amazon or Temu intending to browse or buy. Videos and livestreams remain part of the experience, according to the listings, but shopping becomes the reason to open the app in the first place.

That fits into a broader expansion Mashable has been following, as TikTok builds more services around the recommendations people encounter on its platform.

In May, TikTok launched TikTok GO's hotel-booking features, which let U.S. adults book accommodations, tours, and attractions through partners including Booking.com, Expedia, and Viator. Creators can also earn commissions through eligible content, giving a travel recommendation a more direct connection to a reservation.

TikTok's announcement describes a process that takes people from discovering a place in a video to checking availability and booking it. As CEO of TikTok USDS Joint Venture Adam Presser said at the time, the platform is "good for creators, good for local businesses, and good for communities."

And more recently, TikTok launched Must Eat, TikTok's restaurant guide for the areas around New York City, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Built from more than 40 million posts, reviews, and comments, it organizes food recommendations into searchable lists, with OpenTable reservations available for select restaurants. A video of a particularly good dinner can influence choosing and booking a future reservation.

TikTok has also been experimenting with giving specific kinds of entertainment their own apps. Its PineDrama service, launched earlier this year, puts short dramas into a separate app with personalized recommendations and tools for browsing series and episodes.

Taken together, those products suggest TikTok sees room to build entire services around habits that started in the feed. The standalone Shop app puts that idea to another test, asking whether people who discover products on TikTok will also choose it when shopping is what they came to do.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices. 

Finding love isn't for the weak. Dating app exhaustion is realer than ever, and while people want to branch out and meet in person, they're finding it difficult. 

One reason is that dating apps are a legitimate way to find a partner, not just a short-term one. Nearly 44 percent of adults say they use dating apps to find a long-term partner rather than just casual dating or hookups, according to the Pew Research Center. One in 10 partnered adults met their current partner through a dating app, and for younger adults and LGBTQ people, that number rises. 

Dating apps aren't going away, despite fatigue. And it is possible to make them work for you if you want to find your special someone.

Are dating apps worth it?

Even using the "right" app for you may still bring moments of uncertainty and frustration (you're dating, after all), but finding the app with features that most closely align with your dating style and the type of partnership you're looking for can still make online dating worth it.

If you've been using apps for a while and are experiencing serious burnout, it's always fair to take some time off and come back to them when you feel ready. Our guide will be here for you! Even the best app can feel exceptionally tedious when you simply don't have the energy.

Which dating app is best for serious relationships?

There are so many dating apps, but not all of them are created equal when it comes to finding a serious, committed relationship.

Some free dating apps are better suited for casual flings or hookups (e.g., Tinder, Grindr, etc.), while others have matching algorithms and profile features specifically designed to help users find meaningful connections (e.g., eharmony, OkCupid, Hinge, and Coffee Meets Bagel).

The good news is that we've done the research (and hands-on testing) to figure out which apps work best for long-term relationships, and Match Group isn't the only player in the game. Plus, all of these platforms are available via Google Play and the App Store, so having an Android or iPhone won't limit your options. Some old-school dating sites still maintain desktop versions.

To find your match, here are the best dating apps for serious relationships in 2026:

After a huge stock market rally on Wednesday following the decisive Democratic win in the U.S. midterms, stocks tumbled sharply on Thursday as investors feared a slowdown in data center construction and the AI industry as a whole.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,600 points on Thursday, about 3 percent of its value, according to CNBC. The S&P 500, a stock market index of large companies, and the tech-centered Nasdaq index, also dived on Thursday, with the latter dropping approximately 5 percent, the New York Times reported.

The massive drops in the stock market indexes even stoked fears of a Wall Street trading freeze. The S&P 500 drop reached 3.8 percent at one point on Thursday; at 7 percent, a market-mandated “circuit breaker” kicks in and forces a pause on all trading for 15 minutes.

The circuit breakers are intended to halt severe market crashes. A 13 percent drop in the S&P 500 leads to another forced freeze on trading, while a 20 percent crash ends trading for the day.

Chipmakers like Nvidia and Qualcomm took a big hit on Wall Street, as investors anticipated more regulation of the AI industry from Democratic legislators taking power in January.

An X post from Bernie Sanders may have contributed to the investor fears, with the Democratic senator calling for a national data center moratorium (in all caps) late on Wednesday.

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

Shares of Tesla and SpaceX, both run by Republican mega-donor Elon Musk, dropped on Thursday for the second day, with potential regulatory pressure — and investigations — on the horizon.

For tech companies, it may not just be the incoming Senate and House that will expose them to more scrutiny, but the wave of Democratic governors taking office in 2027. Many of those governors-elect have spoken out against data centers and will be key deciders on whether construction of Silicon Valley's mega-projects moves forward.

"In many ways, what happened in state-level races around the U.S. are arguably just as important," as the Senate and House elections, Kent Fung, vice president of market intelligence at Fundstrat, told the Times. "Not just to Americans, but to investors."

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Light Speed newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

A family is suing Google for alleged negligence in offering Gemini to student learners via school-issued Chromebooks, after the AI chatbot aided their teen daughter in planning her suicide.

The Chromebooks offered dangerous chatbot access, the lawsuit alleges.

The teen, referred to in the lawsuit as Emma, did not go through with the drafted plan. Her family was alerted to the concerning behavior by a former school staffer. Emma's mother was then able to observe discussion of suicide with the chatbot in real-time, the family claims.

According to the lawsuit, filed by the EdTech Law Center and Qureshi Law in California Superior Court this week, both Google and the school's third-party monitoring software failed to flag or warn Emma's parents about her chatbot use.

"Google has no right to use its stranglehold on public schools to force its dangerous Gemini chatbot on a captive audience of millions of kids," said EdTech Law Center founder Julie Liddell in a press release.

Emma was reportedly able to access Gemini, which is restricted to minors, via Google Search's AI Mode on her school Chromebook. The lawsuit states she began interacting with the chatbot intensely in December 2025, becoming convinced she had a host of psychological disorders. Gemini instructed her on how to conceal her self-harm, responded to questions about suicide methods, and provided help writing a eulogy, the lawsuit alleges.

"This is the sick new reality Google has created by forcing its AI products onto school-issued devices," Brendan Bouffard, Associate General Counsel for AI and Privacy at child safety nonprofit Fairplay, said in a statement. "Google claims its Chromebooks are there to help students learn, but in reality, the company was experimenting on kids like Emma by pushing them to use Gemini, a product the company knew was dangerous but rushed out anyway."

The lawsuit names Google CEO Sundar Pichai and cofounder Sergey Brin specifically, and accuses the company of "defective design, failure to warn, negligence, fraudulent concealment, and infliction of emotional distress." The family also claims the product violates California’s new Companion Chatbot Law.

A Google spokesperson told the New York Times that the company was reviewing the claims but had worked "extensively" with health experts to design features and emergency resources in the event of a mental health crisis.

AI is not yet safe for schools, advocates argue

Child safety groups — including parent-led coalitions in school districts nationwide — have advocated for AI moratoriums, which range from multi-year bans on all generative AI tools to age-based restrictions on AI and screens. Los Angeles and New York City public schools announced sweeping restrictions on AI use for the 2026-2027 school year following intense pressure from parent groups, and other states are following suit.

States have taken the lead on regulating minor access to chatbots. In September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a myriad of new child safety protections, including "Adam's Law," named after Adam Raine, a teen who died by suicide after consulting with ChatGPT. Just last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled a new chatbot safety law for the state of New York, imposing some of the strongest restrictions on minor chatbot use in the nation. Beyond state-level restrictions, many groups are spearheading federal legislation like the People-First Chatbot Bill and the GUARD Act.

The debate around chatbot safety and whether AI is beneficial to young minds is coming to a head in schools.

Earlier this week, Google announced a revision to its classroom technology policies, turning off access to its AI tools — including Gemini, Gemini Notebook, and Gemini in Classroom — by default for all education accounts.

Under the new policy, schools will have to actively opt-in to AI features in order for students and staff to access such tools on school devices. Because Google Search now has, and doesn't offer a version of its Search browser without Gemini, schools with AI bans would also be forced to choose between permitting access to Search and violating their own anti-AI guidelines.

A July report by safety nonprofit Common Sense Media found that Google Search's AI Overviews and AI Mode posed an "unacceptable risk" to young Googlers. Education advocates told Mashable at the time that Search was a "backdoor" to the company's Gemini model, and warned that continued access to the search engine without proper guardrails could pose risks for young learners.

"Let this be a reminder that ‘Google’ is not a verb," wrote Bouffard. "It’s the name of a surveillance and advertising company whose presence in schools has nothing to do with learning and everything to do with turning our kids into lifelong loyal customers."

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

The 2026 U.S. midterm elections delivered a decisive Democrat victory this week, with a blue wave taking control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. It also unexpectedly swept up a Democratic candidate from Iowa who'd dropped out of the race, putting him in office regardless — and prompting numerous jokes online.

In September, Democratic nominee Eric Armstrong suspended his campaign for Iowa House District 20 due to health issues. 

"Our District deserves a representative who can give 100 percent of their energy to this race," Armstrong wrote in a Sept. 7 Facebook post announcing his decision. "Right now, I must focus on healing so that I can continue to serve our community in other ways in the future."

With Armstrong no longer campaigning, Republican Keith Jones appeared to have a much clearer path to victory. But Armstrong's announcement came after Iowa's deadline for nominees to withdraw, meaning his name remained on the ballot when voters headed to the polls on Nov. 3.

As such, Iowans who took to the polls apparently looked at his announcement, looked at the ballot, looked back at Armstrong's withdrawal, and basically said, "Nah, we're not accepting that."

Despite having stopped campaigning in September, Armstrong defeated Jones with 55.2 percent of the vote, keeping the seat in Democratic hands. He will succeed fellow Democrat Josh Turek, who flipped a Republican-held U.S. Senate seat in Iowa.

The unexpected result has inspired jokes online imagining Iowa voters as particularly demanding bosses, unwilling to approve Armstrong's request for time off.

"Iowa said 'you are still going to work,'" wrote TikTok user @jalasherese. "We don’t care if we have to wheel you in there."

"Drink some ginger ale and we'll see you in January Eric," @mona_licia83 commented on TikTok.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For his part, Armstrong has indicated that he intends to serve, although his health remains a concern. In an interview with the New York Times, Armstrong said that he was still dealing with health issues but added, "I'm going to do my best to represent [the district]."

According to his campaign website, his priorities include expanding access to pre-K childcare, closing the minimum wage gap between Iowa and Nebraska, and improving benefits for Iowa educators to help schools recruit and retain staff.

After more than a decade of waiting, gamers will finally get to play Grand Theft Auto VI in just a few weeks. GTA 6 officially comes out on Nov. 19, 2026. 

However, that's still too far away for some. GTA fans want to play the game now, or at least as soon as possible. So, when is that? Is there early access for GTA 6?

If you're hoping to be among the first, unfortunately, it's too late for that. Some lucky video game reviewers are reportedly already playing the game in anticipation of their coverage being published alongside its release. The embargo for GTA 6 reviews lifts one day before the release date, on Nov. 18. Some reviewers received their codes late last month, and more are going out to gaming and tech news outlets now and over the next couple of weeks.

What about the average consumer? How can they play the game at the earliest possible date?

Unfortunately, there is no early access for GTA 6. However, if you pre-order the digital version of the game, you'll be able to download GTA 6 on Nov. 10, a full 9 days before its release.

Now, the pre-order won't let you play the game on Nov. 10. The game will remain locked until Nov. 19. But GTA 6 is a massive download. It's reportedly 212 GB. That could take hours to download and install based on your internet connection. By pre-ordering, the game will be ready to play on your gaming console at midnight local time on Nov. 19, giving you the ability to jump into the game the moment it's officially released.

Still not good enough for you? What if you could trick your console into thinking you're in a country where the GTA 6 release comes roughly 18 hours earlier? Well, you can. Change your console region settings to New Zealand and connect to the internet through a VPN, and you'll be able to play GTA 6 on Nov. 18. 

Or you can always hop on a flight and take a trip to New Zealand yourself.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Not to be overshadowed by recent smartphone launches from Google, Samsung, and Apple, Motorola formally announced its own new flagship Thursday: the Signature 27. It's a flex of a phone that's jam-packed with premium features like a ridiculously bright screen, a 200MP periscope lens, and Bang & Olufsen speakers — and its $1,599 starting price reflects that.

The Signature 27 has a slab-style design with a sloped camera bump and a roomy 6.8-inch "Extreme AMOLED Duo" tandem display. (It stacks two OLED panels on top of one another, just like Apple does in its iPad Pro and new touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro.) With a rated peak brightness of 12,000 nits (not a typo), the Signature 27's display should be the brightest we've ever seen on a smartphone by far.

The Motorola Signature 27 comes in two finishes: Pantone Coal Smoke (pictured) and Pantone Capulet Olive. Credit: Motorola

The Signature 27 will also probably be the longest-lasting smartphone we've encountered, too. It has a massive 7,000mAh battery, and Motorola rated it for up to 77 hours of use per charge. For comparison's sake, the new iPhone 18 Pro Max, the battery life champ among the best smartphones we've tested, has a 5,567mAh battery that lasts up to 45 hours.

Camera-wise, Motorola said the Signature 27 will have a 200MP Periscope Telephoto lens that can hit up to 100x zoom with its AI-powered "Super Zoom Pro" tool. There's also a 50MP wide lens, 50MP ultrawide lens, and 50MP front camera, which should make for some fabulous selfies. Notably, Motorola tacks on a dedicated EVS actor sensor that makes it easy to get shots of fast-moving subjects, which it describes as a first for a smartphone.

Motorola said the Signature 27 is the first smartphone with a dedicated EVS action sensor. Credit: Motorola

The Signature 27 boasts audio tuned by the luxury audio brand Bang & Olufsen. If you know anything about its speakers and headphones, you know this phone is going to sound amazing. (Motorola and Bang & Olufsen announced a multi-year partnership last month, so it should be the first of many.)

Here's a look at some very-zoomed-in shots taken by the Motorola Signature 27. Credit: Motorola

The Signature 27 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip, Qualcomm's most powerful mobile processor to date, which "accelerates AI... and brings immense power to gaming," Motorola said. It will support the latest Gemini Intelligence features, including Rambler and Create My Widget.

To prevent the Signature 27 from overheating, the company equipped it with an "ArcticMesh" cooling system featuring diamond-infused thermal gel and a large 3D vapor chamber.

Here's the Motorola Signature 27 in Patnone Capulet Olive. Credit: Motorola

Users can choose from two Pantone-approved finishes: Capulet Olive and Coal Smoke.

The Signature 27 starts at $1,599 with 512GB of storage, putting the Signature 27 on par with Samsung's high-end Galaxy S26 Ultra (Mashable's current favorite Android splurge). A Galaxy S26 Ultra with 512GB of storage goes for $1,599.99 as of early October, when Samsung bumped its price by $100 because of the ongoing memory crisis.

According to our sister site CNET, the Signature S27 will launch in the U.S. on Nov. 26. Preorders begin Nov. 19, so stay tuned for more.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

November means the holidays are on the way and cuffing season is in full swing. Hooking up might not sound as fun in the colder months. Instead, you might want to find someone to snuggle with through Valentine's Day — or beyond. Why not try a dating app?

As a lesbian, you probably know all about them. Lesbian Americans (along with bisexual and gay Americans) are far more likely to have ever used dating apps than straight Americans: 51 percent to 28 percent, according to the Pew Research Center.

​​Online dating as a lesbian can be a joyous experience, but it can also involve having your space invaded by straight people or seeing your ex-girlfriends (and your ex-girlfriends' ex-girlfriends) show up in your feed over and over. You might also be subject to lesbian vs. bi discourse, but that's not a prerequisite. Scroll on by and focus on doing you.

Over the decades, queer women have turned to personal ads, frequented bars, and relied on word of mouth to find love. These days, it's not too different. From trying to find a date on WLW TikTok to entrepreneurial lesbians creating new apps just for them, LGBTQ women are down to get creative to find their special someone.

Thankfully, in 2026, there are both niche and general apps where queer women can find a partner — whether for one night or for life. Which ones are the best dating apps for lesbians? We tested the most popular dating sites and apps and drew on insights from our Dating & Relationships writers to find out.

How to find the best dating apps for lesbians

Niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only option for finding love. Credit: Stacey Zhu / Mashable

In Mashable's recommendations below, you'll find both general dating apps and apps specifically for queer people. As the former appeals to the general population, you'll find more users in these spaces. The caveat, however, is that when you swipe on other women, you might find those coupled with men who are looking for another woman to have a threesome with (aka unicorn hunters). No judgment here, but that's probably not what you're looking for. Then again, people of all types are on dating apps like Tinder and Hinge. You never know who you may come across.

Then there are apps specifically for the community, like HER and Lex. If you yearn for a smaller dating scene, head for these apps. While there's no "Grindr for lesbians" — we go into why in the FAQ section — these apps are more so like stepping into your neighborhood lesbian bar than an app like Bumble. 

You can also try multiple dating apps, as each one below has a free version. You can filter by the gender you identify with and are looking for, and sometimes, as with OkCupid, there are many options to choose from.

Diving into the dating pool isn't easy, but the water's fine. Check out our guide below for the full rundown of our recommendations and dating app reviews.

Goodbye, GrubHub. Hello, Uber Eats.

That's what Amazon is saying in a Thursday announcement about its new partnership with Uber's popular food delivery service.

Amazon Prime subscribers will now be able to order from their favorite restaurants directly through Amazon's website thanks to a new deal between Uber Eats and Amazon.

There are additional bonuses for Amazon Prime users as well. For one, Amazon Prime subscribers won't even need an Uber Eats account in order to use the service, as the whole process will take place on Amazon's website. 

If you already have an Uber Eats account, that part of the partnership might not seem all that enticing. However, maybe this part will: Amazon Prime subscribers will also pay $0 on delivery fees for all orders of $25 or more as part of the partnership.

Amazon and Uber will also be providing Prime members with a limited-time offer to celebrate the partnership. Over the next two weeks, Prime subscribers can get $20 off their first two Uber Eats orders of $25 or more.

While the order receipt will come from Uber Eats, Amazon will handle everything else for Prime users ordering delivery. The order process and delivery alerts will also come from Amazon.

Amazon originally entered the food delivery business with Amazon Restaurants, which was an in-house service provided by the company. However, in 2019, Amazon shuttered Amazon Restaurants and opted to instead partner with food delivery companies.

In 2022, Amazon announced a new partnership with GrubHub, which provided Amazon Prime users with a free GrubHub+ subscription. Two years later, in 2024, Amazon and Grubhub extended their partnership, making the Grubhub+ membership an ongoing perk for Prime members.

With the UberEats deal, Amazon's relationship with GrubHub is coming to an end. Both Amazon and GrubHub have confirmed that the partnership between the two companies will end on Thursday.

Ditching GrubHub for UberEats makes sense for Amazon. Amazon Prime perks are there to encourage its customers to keep their paid subscription active. According to a report from Foodspark, Uber Eats has between 23 and 26 percent share of the U.S. food delivery market. GrubHub only captures between 6 and 8 percent. This makes the new Amazon Prime offering much more appealing to a larger portion of its customer base.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

After waiting 13 years for a new Grand Theft Auto game, Kai Cenat plans to take his time with it.

The streamer has clarified his plans for GTA 6, telling fans that his playthrough will leave plenty of room to explore rather than race through the story. In a post on X, Cenat said he wants to be "fully immersed" in the game and encouraged his audience to enjoy it at their own pace, too.

"Don't want you guys to think your [sic] about to see me try to beat the story fast as hell," he wrote. "Not happening."

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

Instead, Cenat said he'll combine story missions with "high-level exploration," discovering new features and enjoying the game fans have spent more than a decade waiting for. As for how long he'll be live, he's leaving that open.

"I ain't coming off stream until I feel like it’s the right time," he wrote.

The update follows Cenat's announcement of a separate GTA marathon ahead of the new game's release. As Mashable reported earlier this week, he plans to stream GTA 3, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA 4, and GTA 5 in one sitting, with the broadcast scheduled to begin Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. ET on Twitch and YouTube.

For GTA 6, though, his message goes beyond what viewers should expect from his stream. Cenat also urged fans to make time for their own playthroughs, saying the internet moves quickly and people don't always appreciate good games while they're playing.

"Take time and really have fun!" he wrote.

Grand Theft Auto VI launches Nov. 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

When Archive of Our Own (AO3) went offline on Oct. 29 for an extended maintenance period, millions of fanfiction readers suddenly found themselves with a lot more free time. But fandom doesn't simply disappear when its favorite website goes down. It finds somewhere else to congregate.

And apparently, that somewhere is Tumblr, an old familiar haunt for millennial fans.

According to data shared with Mashable by Tumblr, the blogging platform has seen a significant increase in new users since AO3 went offline. Between Oct. 29 and Nov. 2, new sign-ups increased 49 percent compared to the previous two weeks. Among users ages 18 to 25, that number jumped to 75 percent.

Tumblr also reported an increase in daily active users, though it did not provide a specific percentage. Meanwhile, the biggest increase in daily users joining Tumblr Communities, the platform's dedicated spaces for shared interests, reached 63 percent.

In other words, AO3's temporary absence appears to be giving one of fandom's longtime gathering places a boost.

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

"Fandom has always had a home on Tumblr, and we're glad to be a place fans can gather while AO3 recovers," Ari Levine, Tumblr's head of brand marketing and partnerships, said in a statement. "We've offered to help, and we're rooting for the OTW's volunteers and hope to see it back soon."

The numbers offer a glimpse into how fandom communities are navigating AO3's extended downtime. The fanfiction archive, which is operated by the nonprofit Organization for Transformative Works (OTW), has become an essential part of online fandom culture, housing millions of fan-created stories across thousands of fandoms. Its temporary shutdown has left readers scrambling for alternative ways to access their favorite works and writers figuring out where to reconnect with their audiences.

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

For some, that means returning to Tumblr. Of course, Tumblr and AO3 have long existed alongside each other in the fandom ecosystem. Where AO3 provides an archive for fanworks, Tumblr has historically served as a place to discuss them, share recommendations, post fan art, and build communities around shared obsessions. It's where a reader might discover a new ship, find a fic recommendation, or follow an author whose work they love.

That relationship makes Tumblr a natural gathering place during AO3's absence. According to Tumblr, fans have been sharing fanfiction recommendations, reconnecting through fandom Communities, and commiserating over the outage.

What's particularly notable is the increase in younger users. Tumblr has been a fixture of internet fandom for well over a decade, but its 75 percent increase in sign-ups among 18- to 25-year-olds suggests that the current disruption may also be introducing a new generation of fans to the platform.

Still, the numbers don't necessarily mean Tumblr is experiencing a permanent resurgence. The company shared percentage increases rather than raw sign-up figures, and it's too early to know whether these new users will stick around once AO3 returns. The timing also doesn't establish that every new account was created because of the outage.

But the surge illustrates something about how online fandom works. Fan communities aren't confined to a single website, even when that website becomes central to how they participate. They exist across platforms, held together by the people who create, recommend, discuss, and share the stories they love.

AO3 may be where fans go to read the fic. But while it's offline, Tumblr is reminding them that fandom has always been about more than the archive.

Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters, or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices.

Pornhub is one of the top-visited websites in the world. So, performing their civic duty on Election Day doesn't stop Americans from watching explicit content.

It seems that the U.S. (at least, half the states where Pornhub isn't blocked) woke up with an insatiable urge to watch porn, as traffic at 5 a.m. was 22 percent higher on Nov. 3 compared to an average day. (All visitor times are adjusted by local time, according to Pornhub.) The above-average numbers continued until around 4 p.m., before most polls closed.

Credit: Pornhub

For the next couple of hours, traffic dipped at most 10 percent below average. In the early evening, perhaps after many people voted, it rose up again to slightly above average. By 10 p.m., though, it was back down — maybe because they were watching Steve Kornacki deliver the election results instead.

Pornhub has blocked itself in many states due to age-verification laws, so there's no data on whether people in key battlegrounds like Georgia, Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas opted to watch porn on Tuesday.

But in Washington, D.C., Pornhub traffic was a staggering 43 percent higher than average in the morning and 25 percent in the afternoon, suggesting that political staffers may have had to let off a little steam. (It's less staggering than in 2022, however, when Pornhub traffic doubled in D.C.)

Wisconsin also saw a bigger-than-average day on Pornhub, with 20 percent higher traffic in the morning and 16 percent in the afternoon. Michigan and Ohio, with their highly-watched races, saw modest increases (8 percent and 5 percent, respectively).

See how other states fared on Election Day in Pornhub's blog post.

TL;DR: Burger King is launching its 2026 holiday advent calendar. Sold exclusively on BKAdventCalendar.com, 110 calendars will be available daily from Nov. 16-20, while supplies last.

Burger King announced that its limited-edition holiday advent calendar is returning for its third consecutive run. Unlike standard chocolate-filled boxes, the 2026 BK Advent Calendar lets buyers build a fully functional miniature Burger King restaurant over 12 days.

The box retails for $19.54 (a nod to the year the chain was founded in 1954). The catch? It is incredibly tough to actually get your hands on this viral product. Only 110 units will drop each day at 12 p.m. ET from Nov. 16-20, exclusively via BKAdventCalendar.com while supplies last.

The last two calendars sold out in under five minutes, so fans are encouraged to mark their calendars before this year's drop is gone for good. In fact, you can text “ADVENT” to 251-251 to get a reminder when the first drop goes live.  

Behind each of the calendar's 12 doors is a piece of the Burger King experience, just mini. From fan-favorite menu items like the Whopper to restaurant details like the King's Booth and a soda fountain, the calendar packs some of the brand's most recognizable elements into an extremely festive package. 

And on Day 12, the pieces combine to form a complete miniature storefront, accompanied by a $5 BK digital coupon code for Royal Perks members.

"We know Guests will be excited that for the third year in a row, the Advent Calendar is back, and it's the best one ever," said Joel Yashinsky, Chief Marketing Officer, Burger King US&C. "These limited-edition Advent Calendars sell out fast, and we know our Guests are always looking for more holiday fun from BK. So this year, fans can build their very own BK restaurant, complete with a mini-Whopper, nuggets, and other items that make BK feel like BK. It's our one-of-a-kind way to celebrate the season, and we can't wait for families to bring a little BK home for the holidays!"

Halloween may be over, but that isn't stopping Sony from performing their second resurrection in less than a month.

Following the rebirth of the Walkman (starting at an eye-watering $1,899.99), Sony is launching the Sony MDR-3R wired headphones. It's a modern take on the headphones that launched with the original Walkman. (You may also recognize them as the headphones Max wears in Stranger Things.) I got to try these new headphones ahead of their release, and they sound surprisingly good.

The new USB-C version of the retro headphones brings modern tech to the original Sony MDR-3 Walkman headphones, but the classic '80s design is the same. And unlike the Walkman 2.0, you won't have to shell out thousands if you want to live out your analog dreams: the headphones are available at Amazon and Sony for $59.99.

For this release, Sony's also rolling out an appropriate collaboration: a Stranger Things edition of the headphones will launch in honor of Stranger Things Day on Nov. 6. They feature an exclusive design with red and black ear cushions, plus a Stranger Things engraving on the headband. The price point is also slightly higher, at $79.99.

Where to buy the Sony MDR-3R headphones

Only the smartphone gives away the era. Credit: Sony

The retro Sony MDR-3R headphones are available at major retailers, including Amazon and Sony, for $59.99. Included with the headphones is two pairs of swappable ear cushions in blue and orange. Unlike the original version, they come with a USB-C connection and an in-line remote on the cable for playback controls, as well as a built-in mic for phone calls.

Headphones that easily fit in to Hawkins. Credit: Sony

The Stranger Things edition comes with red and black ear cushions, while the standard version comes with blue and orange.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Sony

Sony MDR-3R

$59.99 at Amazon and Sony

 

Shop Now at Amazon and Sony

Opens in a new window

Credit: Sony

Sony MDR-3R 'Stranger Things' edition

$79.99 at Amazon & Sony

 

Shop Now at Amazon & Sony

How the Sony MDR-3R headphones sound

First things first — I can confirm that listening to "Running Up That Hill" does hit different on these headphones.

Before I get into the sound, I also want to note that I was complimented on the look of these headphones three different times while testing them out. In the dozens of headphones I've tested, that's never happened before — and I've tried the Nothing headphones.

Credit: Sony

As for how they actually sound, Sony went for a similar profile to the OG version, using the same 23mm driver units found on the original headphones. Naturally, some re-engineering took place to give these headphones the benefits of modern audio tech. I will say — I was surprised by how clear the sound came through. Sure, it doesn't have the greatest depth, but I don't need that from these retro on-ear headphones.

The other huge benefit? While they can handle a range of genres, listening to music from the 70s and 80s on these just feels right. Never has Queen's "Cool Cat" felt so funky or has Billy Joel seemed so in a "New York State of Mind." Don't even get me started on the Talking Heads. I also discovered, while listening to Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," that these headphones can get really loud, so proceed with caution.

As expected, they did experience some sound leakage — my roommate sitting a few feet away from me could hear Pat wailing "fire away" clearly as I tested the limit of the headphones, but even at normal volumes, she could tell I was listening to something, even if she couldn't quite identify what. There were also some issues with sound leakage on calls. When FaceTiming my girlfriend, she said she heard herself speaking (even as I had the volume low), but she stipulated that it was an issue she experiences with AirPods-wearing friends, too.

All told, these aren't your premium headphones — but they're not trying to be. They're a fun way to lean into a very particular (very cool!) aesthetic, while getting a decent listening experience. They're certainly meant to be an eye-catching accessory. With no ability to fold or a carrying case, you better be ready to show them off wherever you go.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

TL;DR: Starbucks just dropped its 2026 holiday cups and a holiday pup cup. The collection lands in U.S. stores nationwide on Nov. 5.

Starbucks has revealed its official 2026 holiday cup lineup, landing in U.S. stores nationwide on Nov. 5.

The 2026 aesthetic pivots hard into retro nostalgia: layered ribbons, vintage gift bows, holiday tree silhouettes, and a festive palette pairing Starbucks green and red with mint, antique gold, and creamy eggshell white. We're fans.

Credit: Starbucks

Starbucks has also made a savvy viral play by creating a dedicated limited-edition holiday Pup Cup.

Available at participating U.S. stores while supplies last, the pint-sized paper cup features miniature evergreen boughs and tiny red bow detailing and is filled with the traditional complimentary dollop of whipped cream. It is a calculated social media play aimed straight at TikTok and Instagram Reels feeds — expect local drive-thru lanes to be completely backed up this weekend with pet owners. I'm tempted to bring my cats.

Credit: Starbucks

The cup drop accompanies the official launch of Starbucks' winter menu, headlined by an all-new Tiramisu Velvet beverage platform and a Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese.

It's important to note that this launch is different from the Red Cup Day giveaway taking place on Nov. 17. These holiday cups are made from single-use paper, unlike the free reusable cups set to launch at participating stores while supplies last.

AI agents aren't allowed on Tinder and Hinge, the CEO of their parent company, Match Group, Spencer Rascoff, wrote in a New York Times op-ed yesterday.

Rascoff argues that the initial purpose of dating apps was to remove friction, which is also the goal of AI agents, but that in some cases friction is necessary for a more meaningful experience.

"We want to ensure humans are reviewing other humans' dating profiles and sending messages to other users on our apps. That's why we have put in place guardrails meant to prevent the use of AI agents on our platforms, like Tinder and Hinge," Rascoff wrote.

Match Group figured that if users let AI agents message potential dates, there's a pretty low chance they'll connect authentically, Rascoff continued.

Daters themselves seem split on using AI when trying to find a partner. In Match's own Singles in America survey this year, half of singles said they wouldn't use AI for dating in the future. While 37 percent said AI wouldn't be helpful in early dating at all, the same number of participants wouldn't consider AI use in dating a dealbreaker.

While Match Group has banned AI agents among users, its apps use AI in features and feature creation. Tinder launched its AI matchmaker, Chemistry, earlier this year, and Hinge added AI-powered Convo Starters last Dec. And in Match Group's 2026 Q3 earnings call, the company stated that Tinder's upcoming Missed Connections feature is "a clear example of how we're using AI to accelerate the pace of product innovation."

TL;DR: Starbucks Red Cup Day 2026 takes place on Nov. 17. To get your free cup, buy any handcrafted holiday or seasonal beverage (hot, iced, or blended) in any size.

If your morning routine revolves around seasonal espresso shots and viral coffee tumblers, mark your calendar: Starbucks’ 2026 holiday menu officially launches on Nov. 5, bringing back fan favorites and fresh treats.

That's exciting news, but it's not the main draw for seasoned coffee lovers and cup collectors. The Peppermint Mocha is great and all, but it's not Red Cup Day. This is arguably the biggest day on the coffee lovers' calendar. Starbucks hands out a free, limited-edition red reusable cup with every qualifying handcrafted holiday beverage order on this special day. And you guessed it: fans and collectors go wild.

Starbucks has officially confirmed the date for Red Cup Day 2026: You can score a free reusable holiday cup on Nov. 17.

Credit: Starbucks

How to score a free reusable cup

Getting your hands on the free collectible cup is pretty straightforward, but we should note that supplies run out notoriously fast.

To get your free cup, buy any handcrafted holiday or seasonal beverage (hot, iced, or blended) in any size. The promo applies across in-cafe purchases, drive-thru orders, mobile orders on the Starbucks app, and delivery via Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub. Once you have your reusable red cup, bringing it back on future visits saves you $0.10 per drink.

Just be prepared for heavy app delays and long drive-thru lines on launch morning — mobile ordering at least 20 minutes ahead is non-negotiable if you want to dodge the rush.

Reviewing the new M6 MacBook Pro gave me a powerful feeling of déjà vu. It even uses the same artwork as the M5 MacBook Pro that came out last year. This laptop was also completely upstaged by the new MacBook Pro OLED announced at Apple's recent "Pro and Tell" event.

Apple has released another iterative update, equipping the 2026 MacBook Pro with the latest Apple silicon. And if you have a much older MacBook, the new model also runs macOS 27 Golden Gate and Siri AI, the latter of which is still a work in progress.

Last year, in my M5 MacBook Pro review, I wrote that "Apple is just showing off," and the new model offers even better performance, while keeping everything you already love about the MacBook Pro.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

MacBook Pro (M6) review: I've grown weary of iterative upgrades

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I'm not the first tech reviewer to complain about iterative updates. In recent years, many tech brands have been releasing new models on an annual release cycle. That means customers don't have to wait as long for new upgrades to come to market, but there are downsides, too.

In a world of iterative updates, your shiny new laptop or phone gets out of date much more quickly. I wish tech companies would focus more on making future-proofed models that stand the test of time. We already live in a world of overconsumption and high prices, and every annual release is another opportunity for trillion-dollar tech companies to increase prices even more.

The new $1,999 MacBook Pro is $300 more expensive than the 2025 version with M5 silicon. To be fair, Apple increased prices across the board in June due to the memory shortage, and this release doesn't include an additional price bump.

As I said in my latest MacBook Air review, I wish Apple had waited to release a new MacBook Air and stuck with the older, less expensive version a little longer, but that may not have been possible thanks to RAMageddon.

The M6 MacBook Pro is a highly capable laptop for the pros (obviously)

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Testing the new M6 is a bit tedious. I have already thoroughly stress-tested the M5 Pro, and the M6 will inevitably deliver the same results with some improvements. And that's exactly what I found.

Apple promises the new "12-core GPU delivers up to 30 percent faster graphics and up to 25 percent faster AI workloads when compared to M5." Unsurprisingly, that matches up with my results.

Because of a shipping delay, I'm still performing some of our standard benchmarks on the new MacBook Pro, and I'll update this review after spending more time testing the M6 chip and battery. I

M6 MacBook Pro: What about gaming?

If you loved 'Backrooms,' then try 'Pools' for some spooky fun. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Like the M5, the M6 MacBook Pro passes the Cyberpunk: 2077 test, with some compromises. I didn't notice significant improvement in performance this time around. I originally tried loading the game with a 60-frame-per-second target refresh rate and MetalFX and ray tracing turned up to the max. I had just enough time to wipe out a gang of Tiger Claws before the game crashed.

At 30 frames per second and with some graphic settings tuned down, I was able to play the game without problems, and Night City still looks gorgeous. However, I had more fun playing the backrooms-inspired game Pools, recently adapted from its original virtual reality format. The spooky, atmospheric visuals looked great on the Pro.

Siri AI is still a work in progress

Left: Siri AI tries, and fails, to answer a simple query. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Right: Notice anything wrong with this picture? Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Siri AI isn't unique to macOS 27 Golden Gate, and if you have a compatible Apple device, it's been available for a few months. I tried to use Siri AI on this new laptop, with mixed results. While Siri AI was able to answer many of my queries and draw on my personal data, it also struggled in disappointing ways.

At one point, I asked it to pull up photos from my time visiting Charleston, SC, a city I visit frequently. Siri told me it couldn't find any photos from Charleston. But look at the picture of this moment, and you'll notice the on-screen Photos widget is literally showing an album of photos from Charleston at the exact same time. Siri AI also struggled to find texts and emails from a contact with an oddly spelled name.

These are the kinds of frustrating and basic mistakes that make it hard to fully trust or recommend Siri AI yet.

MacBook Pro with M6: Design and build quality

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The latest MacBook Pro retains the high-end build and classic Apple design of recent MacBooks, but it only suffers in comparison to the just-released MacBook Pro OLED laptop, which has an OLED display and upgraded speaker system.

If you have an older MacBook, I think you'll be very impressed with the speakers on this model. While they're the same as last year's model, they still sound fantastic. Radiohead's "Everything in its Right Place" and Florence and the Machine's "Lungs" sound rich and well-balanced, though you can also plug in your favorite headphones in the 3.5mm headphone jack for true high-fidelity audio via Apple Music.

So far, I haven't had any overheating issues or any problems at all from a design standpoint. The keyboard, trackpad, webcam, and Liquid Retina display are still rock solid.

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

MacBook Pro with M5: The verdict

While the latest MacBook Pro doesn't rate very highly on the "Wow factor," it's still a powerful laptop that can support professional workloads. I suspect some professionals will want to hold out for the inevitable 16-inch model, or splurge on the reference-monitor-quality display on the new OLED model.

Hopefully, the PROLED XDR Display becomes available with the regular MacBook Pro in the near-ish future, and I think it eventually will. That would be a non-iterative upgrade and a welcome one for many techies.

You can buy the new MacBook Pro for $1,999 at Apple, Amazon, and wherever Apple laptops are sold; it will be released on Nov. 6 alongside the new touch MacBook Pro OLED.

Apple MacBook Pro, 14 inches (M6, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$1,999 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at B&H Photo Video

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

MacBook Pro M5: Specifications

• Processor: Apple M6 chip with a 12-core CPU (2 super cores, 4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores); 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators

• Memory: 16GB, 24GB, 32GB

• Storage: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB

• Colors: Space Black, Silver

• Dimensions: 0.61 inches × 12.31 inches × 8.71 inches;

• Weight: 3.4 pounds

• Ports: Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports with support for two external monitors; SDXC card slot; HDMI port; 3.5 mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 charging port

• Wireless Connectivity: Apple N1 chip supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0

• Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display

• Resolution: 3,024 x 1,964 resolution

• Brightness: Up to 1,000 nits sustained brightness; up to 1,600 nits peak brightness for HDR content

• Cameras: 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support

• Audio: Six-speakers with support for spatial audio; three-mic array

• Battery: Up to 24 hours of video streaming

MacBook users have been waiting a long time for this one: After many years, Apple has finally relented and released a touchscreen laptop. But what's really exciting about this new Apple machine is the incredible tandem OLED display, which Apple has dubbed the PROLED XDR Display. The internet is split on whether "PROLED" is cheesy or not, but what isn't the internet split about?

I'm still in the process of testing the new MacBook Pro, but I can tell you this: Apple has made an incredible laptop, and the company wasn't exaggerating when it promised a "groundbreaking" and "industry-leading" display.

Now, if you're a laptop nerd, you might be rolling your eyes. Touchscreen laptops have been around for ages, and virtually all of Apple's competitors have long offered a high-end OLED display. Well, it shouldn't surprise you that Apple's version of an OLED laptop goes hard in every possible way.

View this post on Instagram

I'm loving this laptop so far, and I think it's the first true slam-dunk of the John Ternus era.

MacBook Pro OLED review: Let's talk about the display

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Apple hasn't just made an OLED laptop; it's made a genuine reference-quality display, designed to meet industry standards for video editors, photographers, animators, 3D artists, and color graders. The PROLED XDR display is also the brightest laptop display ever made, with 2,000 nits of peak brightness for HDR content, racing past the MacBook Pro's Liquid Retina XDR display, which tops out at 1,600 nits. The top Windows competition maxes out at 1,300 nits. For non-HDR content, the PROLED offers up to 1,000 nits of sustained brightness.

After spending just 72 hours with the PROLED, my eyes are hurting, and I'm genuinely worried the screen is too bright for my own good.

I'm not going to waste time explaining exactly how tandem OLED technology works; instead, you'll have to trust me that it means a brighter display that lasts longer. The blacks on the display are deep, the colors pop, and the shadows and highlights provide incredibly detailed contrast.

Photo on display by Paul Reiffer Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Previously, Apple reserved tandem OLED for the iPad Pro, and the M4 and M5 iPad Pros are famous for reference-quality displays. The iPad Pros also introduced Apple's ProMotion technology, powering an adaptive refresh rate up to 120 Hz. Tandem OLED combined with ProMotion is unmatched, and you don't really know what you're missing until you try it.

Now, ProMotion and tandem OLED finally, finally, come to the MacBook Pro.

This laptop absolutely slaps, and the incredible PROLED XDR display is the headline. It's stunning.

Photo on display by Paul Reiffer Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The bad news? I do recommend paying $500 more for the 16-inch model. You'll want the extra screen space. This is a maximalist laptop, and I think size matters here.

MacBook Pro OLED: What about the touchscreen?

To be honest, I don't care about touchscreen. I think there's limited utility if your touchscreen laptop isn't a convertible that flips all the way around into tablet mode. The PROLED also lacks support for Apple Pencil and third-party styluses. So, after so many years talking smack about touchscreens, why has Apple given in?

Maybe it's because kids born today expect everything to be a touchscreen. There are also 3D artists and animators working in Blender who will be happy to pinch and zoom to their heart's content.

Pinch to zoom right on your MacBook's screen. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Expect more developers to make use of Apple's new Gesture API in the months ahead. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I tried out the touchscreen using software like Blender and Final Cut Pro. Some apps will have custom touchscreen interfaces and functionality, but it will take time for macOS developers to adapt to a touchscreen world. For now, anything you can do on the trackpad, you can do on the display. The touchscreen is responsive, and mostly works as you expect. I just don't really need or care about it.

If I were a betting man, I would wager that the touchscreen won't stick around forever. However, the OLED ProMotion display is going to make a lot of Mac users jealous. I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes available as an option, like the Nano Texture finish is with certain Apple products.

MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display: Performance

On-device AI generated perfectly accurate subtitles for my video files. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

I did my best to stress-test this laptop, which runs macOS 27 Golden Gate, with the limited time I've had with it. Due to a shipping delay, I've only had three days with this laptop, so I haven't been able to conduct battery rundown tests or some of our other standard benchmarks.

But when you have to condense a week's worth of testing into three days, you really appreciate just how much modern laptops have to do. I've been busy testing local AI performance, speakers, cameras, multitasking, file transfers, video and photo editing, Siri AI, the new touchscreen display, and the new OLED panel. So far, I'm impressed across the board.

Apple made stress-testing this machine difficult. My 16-inch review unit has 48GB of RAM and the M5 Pro chip, and it wasn't easy to slow it down. The high-powered M5 chips feature an 18-core CPU architecture, including six "super cores."

For my stress test, I opened complex Blender files. I made Final Cut Pro export large 4K video files while simultaneously applying local AI effects such as stabilization, color adjustment, and generating subtitles to an entire project. I watched 4K HDR YouTube videos, used Siri AI, opened a massive 15.5MB Excel spreadsheet (with 16,000 rows in some tabs), and asked Gemma 4 to compose a sonnet in iambic pentameter about the majestic manatee.* With my 48GB of RAM and the M5 Pro chip, I was able to run a large local AI model, Gemma 4 26B-A4B, and set it to coding applications and composing my sonnet.

Weirdly, the only task that really brought up the spinning wheel of death? That damn Numbers spreadsheet. Go figure.

I also ran the latest Geekbench 7 benchmark test, and it logged impressive results:

• Single-core: 3,736

• Multi-core: 34,492

Mashable has tested over 90 laptops in the last couple of years, and the PROLED is now the top multi-core scorer in our entire database, handily beating other Macs and Windows laptops with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite chipset.

If you're a superuser, you can also upgrade to the M5 Max chip and even more RAM. As we've noted before, a fully specced-out MacBook Pro PROLED will set you back $14,549.

MacBook Pro PROLED: Design and build quality

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

As you'd expect from a high-end Apple laptop, the design is both familiar and impeccable. There's a reason the Windows world has been copying the best MacBooks for decades. However, there are some key hardware and software changes on this laptop (it's the first to bring Dynamic Island from iOS to macOS), aside from the display. The laptop is also lighter and thinner than its forebears. The 14-inch version is half a pound lighter, the 16-inch model is 0.7 pounds lighter, and Apple shaved off half a millimeter and a full millimeter, respectively.

Apple has also famously brought back the glowing Apple logo on the top cover, which dims and brightens as you adjust the brightness settings. That glowing apple has been missing since 2015, and it's a nice touch. Otherwise, this laptop feels a lot like other Apple laptops, with a familiar keyboard, trackpad, and Touch ID key.

For super-super users, this laptop has three Thunderbolt 5 ports and supports up to three external displays.

The laptop supports three external displays with three Thunderbolt 5 ports. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The new touchscreen MacBook Pro OLED is thinner and lighter. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

The speakers sound incredible

I'm simultaneously testing the latest MacBook Pro with the M6 chip, and I was in the middle of writing a note about how much I love the speakers when I decided to do a side-by-side test with the MacBook Pro OLED.

Apple enhanced the speaker system to provide deeper bass and better clarity, and you can hear the difference. This MacBook doesn't get quite as loud as I expected, but the sound it produces is incredibly clear and rich (it supports Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, of course ). Compared to the regular MacBook Pro, the audio just has more space to it.

The opening chords of Radiohead's "Everything in its Right Place" have an otherworldly quality, as they should, and bass-heavy tracks like "Billie Jean" really hit you. I also queued up Master and Commander and Masters of the Air on Apple TV, and the combination of the display and audio quality should make other laptops tremble in their aluminum chassis.

The verdict: A laptop worth splurging on

The glowing Apple logo is back. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable

Unfortunately, I'm not enough of a "Pro" to require a laptop like this, but for creators, professionals, and early adopters who need (or just want) the best possible display in a laptop, I think this MacBook Pro justifies its high cost. I've done a lot of complaining about prices in my tech reviews this year, but I think Apple has put enough into this laptop to make it worth the investment. You can order it at Amazon, Apple, and other retailers.

The Apple touchscreen MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display launches on Nov. 6. The 14-inch model starts at $2,899, and the 16-inch model (the one I recommend for most people) starts at $3,399.

One last note: We're still testing this laptop — we haven't finished our standard battery of tests. So, if you want to wait for Black Friday and see if this laptop goes on sale, that's not a bad idea. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee this won't sell out like the iPhone Duo did.

Apple MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, 14.2 inches

$2,899 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Apple MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, 16.3 inches

$3,399 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Apple.com

The touch MacBook Pro OLED: By the numbers

Just looking for a spec sheet? I've got that, too:

• Processor: Apple M5 Pro (18-core CPU) or Apple M5 Max (18-core CPU; 16-core Neural Engine.

• Memory: 24GB, 48GB, 64GB, 128GB of unified memory.

• Storage: 1TB up to 16TB SSD

• Display Panel: 14.2-inch or 16.3-inch PROLED XDR display with tandem OLED

• Display Brightness: Up to 1,000 nits sustained brightness; up to 2,000 nits peak HDR brightness

• Refresh Rate: ProMotion adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz

• Color & Contrast: 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio; 1 billion+ colors; native support for P3 wide color and Adobe RGB gamuts

• Display Extras: Anti-reflective coating; optional nano-texture glass available

• Ports: 3 Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports; 1 HDMI port; 1 SDXC card slot; MagSafe 3 charging dock; 3.5mm headphone jack

• Wireless Connectivity: WiFi 7 with N1 wireless chip, Bluetooth 6

• Camera & Audio: 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support; six-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio

• Battery: Up to 22 to 24 hours of video streaming

• Weight & Dimensions: 14-inch is 3.0 pounds; 16-inch is 4.0 pounds.

• Colors: Space Black and Silver.

*I shared the manatee sonnet on my X profile.

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

TL;DR: Active smart beds pump conditioned air directly through your mattress on automated schedules to stop night sweats. Sleep Number's Black Friday sale takes up to 25% off its ClimateCool and Climate360 models through Dec. 7.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Sleep Number

Sleep Number

 

Learn More

Between breathable sheets, oscillating fans, and gel-infused mattress toppers, there is no shortage of sleep gear promising to keep you cool at night. The issue with most of them is simple physics: passive materials can only absorb so much heat before they reach your body temperature, and a desk fan does little to the heat trapped beneath your back.

That is why smart beds with active, motorized temperature control have started getting traction. Instead of relying on passive fibers, these systems circulate conditioned air straight through the mattress core, running on automated schedules that adjust throughout the night to match your body's circadian rhythm.

With holiday shopping underway, Sleep Number has launched its Black Friday sale through Dec. 7, knocking 10% to 25% off its lineup — including steep discounts on its Climate Collection. If you want to know what this actually feels like in practice, here is how the tech works.

Credit: Sleep Number

Active cooling vs. fans and mattress pads

To see how active temperature beds work, it helps to understand how typical bedroom cooling gear handles heat. Fans and "cooling" toppers have clear limits: a fan can't reach the heat trapped under your body, and "cooling" toppers only stay chilly until they absorb your body heat for an hour or two.

Active-temperature smart beds replace passive materials with built-in air channels and motors. Instead of simply absorbing heat, they constantly pull warm air away from your body and push conditioned air up through the surface so you never get a stagnant warm patch.

In beds with active temperature control — like the Sleep Number Climate Collection — the mattress is not simply circulating room-temperature air. It actively changes how warm or cool the bed feels around you. The ClimateCool can get each side up to 15 degrees cooler, while the Climate360 covers a full 30-degree range from cooling to warming. Because that airflow runs all night, hot spots never get the chance to settle in.

Temperature control is only half the battle

Motorized airflow is only part of the story, though. The real perk is how the bed handles comfort and support at the same time.

Inside the Sleep Number Climate Collection, the heating and cooling layers sit directly above adjustable air chambers rather than rigid springs or static foam blocks. Sleep Number uses internal sensors to monitor your movement while you sleep — so if you roll from your back over to your side at night, the air chambers automatically soften or firm up under your hips and shoulders to keep your spine aligned, without interrupting whatever cooling schedule is currently running.

Because the air chambers and airflow channels are split down the middle, you get independent dual zones on both sides of the mattress. So if one runs hot and likes sleeping on an ultra-firm slab and the other prefers a warm, plush mattress, neither person has to compromise on firmness or climate.

At the same time, embedded biometric sensors track metrics such as heart rate, breathing patterns, and restless movement without requiring you to wear a smartwatch to bed. Every morning, the app rolls all that data into a SleepIQ score from 1 to 100, giving you a quick snapshot of how restful your night was.

Is an active temperature smart bed worth it?

Dropping several thousand dollars on a mattress is a big commitment, even with holiday sales taking off a chunk of the price. Whether the investment is justified depends entirely on how severely temperature affects your sleep.

The people who get the most out of these beds are chronic hot sleepers. If you routinely wake up sweating in the middle of the night, passive cooling toppers usually cannot keep up, but steady, active airflow can.

It is also an easy fix for couples stuck in bedtime thermostat battles, since each side can run on completely independent temperature settings — or, on the Climate360, cool one side while warming the other. If you get into bed cold but wake up roasting, the Climate360 can also run automated schedules that warm your feet at bedtime, then kick on active cooling around your core later in the night.

On the other hand, if a regular room fan or breathable sheets keep you comfortable, or if you sleep alone and do not overheat, there is no need to spend the extra money on built-in airflow.

Sleep Number's Black Friday deals

Sleep Number is running its Black Friday sale through Dec. 7, taking up to 25% off select smart mattresses, bases, and bedding:

• Sleep Number ClimateCool (queen) — $4,311.75 $5,749 (save $1,437.25)

• Sleep Number Climate360 (queen) — $6,936.75 $9,249 (save $2,312.25)

A few quick things to know before buying: You cannot pick these up in a store, so you will have to pay for home delivery and setup, which is non-refundable. Sleep Number offers a 100-night trial to test the bed, along with a 10-year warranty, but you are on the hook for return pickup fees if you end up sending it back.

It is definitely an investment, but if it finally ends the nightly thermostat battles and gets you eight solid hours of sleep, it is money well spent.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Reality Fracture Play Booster Box is now on sale for as low as $128.93 at Amazon, down from its $142.83 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Reality Fracture Play Booster Box

$128.93 at Amazon
$142.83 Save $13.90

Get Deal at Amazon

Just days after its last discount, Magic: The Gathering's Reality Fracture expansion has received another price cut on Amazon, making it cheaper than ever for trading card lovers to pick up 30 packs.

As of Nov. 5, the Magic: The Gathering Reality Fracture Play Booster Box is available for just $128.93 at Amazon, knocking $13.90 off its typical $142.83 price. With this new all-time low price on Amazon (we confirmed with the price tracker camelcamelcamel), that's only $4.30 per pack.

This listing is from third-party seller Collectors Expedition. If you prefer to order directly from Amazon, the retailer’s official listing is also on sale at $129.94 — with faster delivery for as soon as Nov. 7 if you’re a Prime member.

You’ll get 30 Magic: The Gathering Reality Fracture Play Booster packs per box. Packs feature 14 cards apiece, with guaranteed Rare and Traditional Foil pulls, plus Legendary cards paired with their Echoverse alternatives.

The late night hosts spent Wednesday unpacking the midterm election results and major reactions, with Jimmy Kimmel roasting Donald Trump playing the blame game, and The Daily Show handing it to Elon Musk for his staggering donations.

Seth Meyers, meanwhile, broke down the reaction over at Fox News, sharing a clip of host Sean Hannity defending Trump by saying, "I think the hatred for this man is unprecedented."

"I'm with Sean on this point," says Meyers in the clip above. "Why do you nasty, radical socialists hate this man so much? Is it because he lies, and cheats, and steals? Is it because he calls some of you jihadists, or traitors, or scum, or vermin, or enemies of the people, or thugs? Is it because he threatens to jail you, or deport you, or take your money, or send you to war, or because when a person he doesn't like dies he says stuff like, 'Robert Mueller just died. Good, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!' Is that why you hate him? And OK, you know what? Now that I'm hearing myself say that, I get why you hate him."

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

SAVE OVER $9: As of Nov. 5, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box has hit a 90-day low of $117.21 at Amazon. That's $9.78 off its typical price of $126.99

Opens in a new window

Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box

$117.21 at Amazon
$126.99 Save $9.78

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Trading cards are among the many items we're keeping an eye out for during this Black Friday sale season, and some great discounts are already popping up. For Marvel fans, Magic: The Gathering's Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box is discounted at Amazon, hitting a 90-day low price of $117.21.

This deal saves you $9.78 compared to paying its typical cost of $126.99, but it's also just a couple of dollars away from its lowest-ever price of $114.94. It is a touch higher than the market price on TCGplayer (they've got it listed at $95.79).

This MTG Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box is chock-full of cards. In total, it includes 24 Jumpstart Boosters, each containing 20 Marvel Super Heroes-themed cards. Each pack comes with 1 of 51 Marvel Super Heroes themes. Plus, what better time to jump into the Marvel universe than with Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon?

There's every chance this MTG Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box could sell out fast, so be quick to scoop it up while it's still discounted at Amazon.

For even more from the world of Magic: The Gathering and Marvel, you can also save on the MTG Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box at Amazon.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Display Box is on sale for $242.99 at Amazon, down from its $254.99 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Display Box

$242.99 at Amazon
$254.99 Save $12

 

Preorder at Amazon

Pokémon TCG's Delta Reign expansion finally launches tomorrow, but Amazon has managed to squeeze in one last preorder discount on its 36-pack Booster Display Box. As of Nov. 5, the Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Display Box is down to just $242.99 at Amazon, cutting $12 off its $254.99 list price.

That's $7 cheaper than the $249.99 preorder deal we covered on Nov. 3, and $27 less than Amazon's original preorder price of $269.95.

Now at its lowest-ever price on Amazon (confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel), this latest deal comes from third-party seller BetterShopping4You, with free delivery currently scheduled for Nov. 12. That's six days after Delta Reign's Nov. 6 release, so keep in mind that you won't actually be opening your packs on launch day.

At Amazon's reduced rate, you're spending roughly $6.75 per booster, with 360 random Pokémon cards to unpack across all 36 packs, excluding Energy and code cards.

Delta Reign is about to bring over 140 cards to the TCG, including new iterations of Mega Rayquaza ex, Mega Golurk ex, Mega Malamar ex, and Mega Golisopod ex, alongside three new Legendary Stadiums and plenty of high-rarity trading cards for collectors to chase.

SAVE OVER $100: As of Nov. 5, the Shark FlexStyle Next-Gen IonCurl 5-in-1 Hair Styler is back to its lowest-ever price of $249 at Amazon. That's $100.99 off its full price of $349.99.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Shark

Shark FlexStyle Next-Gen IonCurl 5-in-1 Hair Styler, Curler & Dryer

$249 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $100.99

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Seasonal sale events are kicking off, and if beauty products and tech are on your holiday wishlist, it's a great time to shop.

With early Black Friday deals dropping and events like Sephora's fall Savings Event kicking off, there's already plenty to browse. One item that's caught our eye is the Shark FlexStyle Next-Gen IonCurl, which is back to its lowest-ever price of $249 at Amazon.

This is just over $100 off its full price at the retailer and matches Sephora's discount as part of its Savings Event. If you're part of the latter's Beauty Insider rewards program, you can save even more on this device right now, but if you're not signed up or not interested, this base offer is definitely worth jumping on. Amazon's deal is only available for a limited time, so act fast to scoop it up.

This is an exciting offer to see for a device that was released just a few months ago. It's an impressive model, allowing you to get defined curls without any heat damage thanks to Coanda auto-wrap curlers, plus drying with ion-powered airflow and general hair styling. For the latter, it comes with extra attachments, including a FrizzFighter high-shine polisher, an oval brush, and a styling concentrator, alongside the curlers.

Another highlight of the Shark FlexStyle Next-Gen IonCurl is its Scalp Shield Mode, which can be activated during drying to help regulate temperature and protect your hair. It also has an AirSet button that can pause airflow or deliver a cool burst of air to hold your style in place.

This limited-time offer won't be available for long, so act fast to save on the Shark FlexStyle Next-Gen IonCurl at Amazon.

The Daily Show's Michael Kosta had a lot to unpack from this week's midterm elections, but he made sure to spend a moment roasting Elon Musk, whose large spending on the election failed to get him any of the results he wanted.

"Poor Elon. Half a billion dollars and absolutely nothing to show for it. That could have been three whole days of child support for him," says Kosta in the clip above.

"Although I'd like to thank him for making the rest of us look great with money, right? Now when my wife is mad that I bought that new WaveRunner I can be like, 'Well at least I didn't spend $500 million trying to get a sloppy pervert elected in Texas.'"

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

SAVE $4.08: As of Nov. 5, the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Collectible Cards are on sale for $43.80 at Amazon. That's a 9% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Kayou

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Collectible Cards

$43.80 at Amazon
$47.88 Save $4.08

 

Get Deal at Amazon

If you're a fan of Demon Slayer or know someone who is, these collectible trading cards could be a fun addition to a collection.

The Infinity Castle Edition Series 1 box contains 12 packs, with three cards in each, giving you 36 cards to open, collect, and trade. Normally priced at $47.88, as of Nov. 5, you can get a $4.08 discount on this set, bringing the cost down to $43.80. According to camelcamelcamel, this is the best-ever price for these trading cards.

This booster box is a trading card collection featuring artwork inspired by the popular anime show, including iconic characters and key moments from the Infinity Castle story arc. There are multiple rarity levels to discover, with character cards and rarer pulls randomly assorted, so it's worth noting that specific cards aren't guaranteed.

Every box also includes one random PR Promo card. With Christmas fast approaching, it's a great addition to a Demon Slayer collection or a gift for anime and trading card fans.

You can find this deal at Amazon right now.

You may have heard by now that Nintendo has remade mighty '90s classic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The reimagining of this 1998 Nintendo 64 adventure game for Switch 2 includes many major and minor changes, not all of them created equal.

With the Ocarina remake on shelves now, I wanted to highlight a handful of differences that stood out to me while playing. Some of them are fun, others are frustrating, and some defy that sort of categorization entirely. Without wasting any more time, let's dive in.

A good change: Some boss fights are different

Stop looking at me like that. Credit: Nintendo

I'm not going to be too specific about this change because the game literally just came out and I don't want to ruin the experience for folks.

That said, you should know going in that Nintendo chose to alter several of Ocarina's legendary boss fights with new attacks, animations, and more. It's one of the most exciting elements of the new game for me, as it adds a sense of novelty to the adventure that is otherwise lacking, owing to the game's status as a remake. Every time a well-known boss fight swerved and surprised me, I had a huge grin on my face.

A bad change: They nerfed the hookshot

Hookshot targets generally look like this now. Credit: Nintendo

One of the best puzzle-solving items in the entire Zelda series is the hookshot, a straight-shooting grapple gun that can easily zip Link between points. Ocarina was not the first game to incorporate the hookshot, but it did expand the tool's usefulness with an extended targeting range and a wide variety of surfaces to which the hookshot can attach, such as wooden treasure chests and the rooftops of Kakariko Village.

Unfortunately, that philosophy has not been entirely maintained in the Switch 2 remake. Most grapple points remain intact, but many have been changed from natural-feeling features like tree branches to clearly marked targets. I don't mind that change so much as I mind the fact that the hookshot can no longer grapple onto Kakariko's rooftops. This greatly reduces Link's ability to move around the village and just makes the game less fun for no discernible reason.

A weird change: You can't aim in first-person anymore

In 2005, Resident Evil 4 set a template for third-person, over-the-shoulder aiming cameras that pretty much every mainstream video game nowadays deploys, including the Ocarina remake. When aiming items like the hookshot, bow, or boomerang in the new Switch 2 release, the camera sits behind Link, slightly offset so his character model doesn't get in the way. You can also aim using gyro controls as a nice bonus.

This point of view works just fine and may be more familiar to younger Zelda fans used to the aiming functionality in 2017's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, however, I do miss being able to zoom in with a first-person lens to examine Link's surroundings up close. It's kind of a bummer in the opening Kokiri Forest area, where you can no longer get a good look at the stick drawing on the trunk of Link's treehouse.

A good change: Rupees are way more important now

Pleased to meet you! Credit: Nintendo

I wouldn't say that rupees (the currency in every Zelda game) are totally superfluous in the original Ocarina of Time. After all, you need 40 of them to bypass an early-game obstacle, and some important mini-games require small sums in order to participate. You can also use them to stock up on supplies like arrows and health potions, but frankly, the original version doled out those things generously enough to render that unnecessary.

While I would say Ocarina on Switch 2 is easier overall, the developers did add some new incentives to hoard rupees and collect Gold Skulltula tokens in order to expand the size of Link's wallet. Specifically, the Great Fairies who provide Link with game-changing upgrades now ask for sizable monetary donations before they'll hand over the good stuff. In the original game, the upgrades were free, but some of them cost hundreds of rupees in the remake.

I like this change because it gives players a reason to more fully engage with optional content and wring as much fun out of the reimagined game as possible.

A bad change: Cutscenes are voiced and too long

Some sequences just go on a bit too long. Credit: Nintendo

I talked about this in my review, so I'll keep it brief here, but major story cutscenes in the Ocarina remake have been expanded with full voice acting for every character except for Link. The acting itself is a little cartoonish, which adequately fits the vibe, but also comes across as slightly cheesy at times.

More importantly, though, this makes some cutscenes last longer than they might have if they were broken up by text boxes, as they were in the original. Maybe someone can do a proper stopwatch comparison, but it at least felt like the Ocarina remake seized cutscene control for lengthier periods of time than the N64 version did.

A weird change: The day/night cycle works differently

Nighttime looks great, though. Credit: Nintendo

Lastly, Nintendo has opted to lengthen the day/night cycle in the Ocarina remake. It was very short in the N64 original, as you could hardly cross Hyrule Field on foot without the sun going down and horrible skeleton monsters emerging to ruin your travels.

In the Switch 2 remake, it takes much longer for the sun to rise and set, which has benefits and drawbacks. On the plus side, you get more time to enjoy each distinct atmosphere, which gives music lead and sound director Masato Ohashi an excuse to craft new, chilled out nighttime versions of some of Zelda composer Koji Kondo's iconic area themes. Some downsides, however, are that the Hyrule Field drawbridge no longer goes up at night, and it's somewhat more tedious to wait for certain times of day in the few situations where that's necessary.

One last note is that the day/night cycle is now universal, rather than turning off in towns and cities like it did in the original game. That means you get to see NPCs actively move from their daytime positions to their nighttime states in real-time, which is pretty neat.

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

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collections are back at Amazon: Shop the Day Box for $585 and the Night Box for $649.99.

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon)

$585 at Amazon

 

Preorder at Amazon

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon)

$649.99 at Amazon

 

Preorder at Amazon

After stock quickly disappeared for the Pokémon TCG’s 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collections on Amazon last week, units have finally reappeared ahead of the Nov. 6 release date. 

As of Nov. 5, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (featuring Espeon) is available for $585 at Amazon. The Night Box (featuring Umbreon) has returned for $649.99. Full disclaimer: both are still coming from third-party sellers, with the Day Box from San Diego Cards and free delivery expected on Nov. 13. The Night Box is sold by House of Cards and Games, with free shipping currently scheduled for Nov. 16.

Compared to the preorder prices we first saw at Amazon ($694.88 for the Day edition and $682.88 for the Night), these are price drops of $109.88 and $32.89, respectively. Of course, that means these are the lowest prices we’ve seen for both boxes — confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.

Both of the Ultra-Premium Collections pack a lot into their 30th anniversary-themed packaging. Along with 29 30th Celebration booster packs, you’ll get a Classic Collection booster pack containing three nostalgic etched cards, plus exclusive foil promos featuring Pikachu ex alongside either Espeon (Day) ex or Umbreon ex (Night).

You'll also get a themed playmat, 65 card sleeves, a deck box, a metal coin, damage-counter dice, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. The Day and Night versions come with their own unique designs, except for the code card. 

SAVE $200: As of Nov. 5, the Google Pixel 10 is on sale for $599 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Google

Google Pixel 10

$599
$799 Save $200

 

Get Deal

When the time comes to upgrade your smartphone, you shouldn't have to choose between being locked in a two-year contract and paying an arm and a leg upfront. If you're looking for a new model, Amazon has a great deal on an unlocked Google Pixel 10. Normally $799, it's been discounted by $200 for a limited time, so you can upgrade for just $599. This deal applies to two colorways: indigo and frost.

The new Tensor G5 processor makes this a great smartphone, handling everyday tasks with speed and efficiency while also supporting Google's AI tools. Gemini is built into the phone, giving you an assistant that can answer questions, help you work, and take some of the legwork out of everyday tasks.

The camera is worth shouting about, too. Its triple rear camera system now includes a dedicated 5x telephoto lens, with Super Res Zoom extending magnification up to 20x. Night Sight helps brighten photos taken in darker settings, and Camera Coach offers guidance to help you frame and capture better shots.

And if your phone has a habit of taking the occasional tumble, the Pixel 10 has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to help protect it from scratches, and the IP68 rating means it's protected against dust and water.

This Google Pixel deal is available at Amazon now, but only for a limited time.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 5, the Ninja Luxe Café Mini has hit its lowest-ever price of $399.99 at Amazon. That's $50 off its full price of $449.99.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Ninja

Ninja Luxe Café Mini

$399.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

It may be the first week of November, but early Black Friday deals are already popping up. If you're hoping to use this seasonal sale to grab some Ninja appliances for your kitchen, why wait for official sales to start? Amazon already has plenty of deals live. Among them is the Ninja Luxe Café Mini, which can brew you up a warm cup of coffee or espresso this winter for less.

As of Nov. 5, this mini espresso and coffee machine has dropped from its list price of $449.99 to $399.99. That saves you $50 overall, but more importantly, it's the lowest price we've seen at Amazon. So why wait for Black Friday to pick it up? There's no guarantee that we'll see anything better.

The Ninja Luxe Café Mini is a particularly good pickup if you live in a smaller place. While many espresso machines have bulkier builds, this model is more compact. It's actually 30% smaller than the Ninja Luxe Café Pro Series, according to the store page, measuring 10.2 inches deep, 12.2 inches wide, and 13.4 inches high. You'll be able to enjoy a variety of drinks, including drip coffee, latte, macchiato, cappuccino, plain espresso, or even iced coffee.

The machine also automatically calibrates settings such as grind size, dose, temperature, and pressure through its Barista Assist Technology, making brewing your favorite drinks a little easier. And on top of that, the steam wand helps add the finishing touch to your espresso drinks, allowing you to texture milk for a foamy finish.

If the Ninja Luxe Café Mini has caught your attention, don't miss out on this chance to save at Amazon.

The midterms are over, and the results were pretty decisive.

Jimmy Kimmel has already reacted to the Democrats winning big, but in the clip above he turns his attention to the fallout — including Donald Trump's reaction both online and off.

"He's still our president, and in the face of defeat he is doing what he does best: blaming everyone other than him," says Kimmel in the clip above. "He took shots at the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, he called him a RINO [Republican in Name Only], he went after Fox News for their coverage, and then he resolved himself of all responsibility. He wrote: 'I wasn't on the ballot. And if I was, we would have won in a landslide.'

"Oh shut up, just shut up, please. Give us a break for one day and shut that ridiculous mouth. You are such a spoiled child."

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

The best early Black Friday EcoFlow deals:

---

Best budget grab-and-go battery

EcoFlow River 3

$249 (Save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best for road trips

EcoFlow Glacier Classic 55L Portable Fridge Freezer

$849 (Save $150)

Get Deal

---

Best high-capacity power station

EcoFlow Delta 3 Max

$878.99 (Save $320.01)

Get Deal

---

Best value solar bundle

EcoFlow Delta 3 Max + 220W Solar Panel

$1,148.99 (Save $570.01)

Get Deal

---

Best for whole-home emergency backup

EcoFlow Titan 5000 Plus

$3,699 (Save $1,300)

Get Deal

Black Friday is creeping up earlier every year, and if keeping the lights on through winter storms is on your seasonal checklist, you are in luck.

Early EcoFlow Black Friday deals have officially landed at Amazon and EcoFlow, knocking up to 33% off portable power stations, solar generator bundles, and whole-home battery backup systems through Nov. 18.

Whether you need a compact battery to keep laptops and phones humming on weekend camping trips or a massive multi-kilowatt rig that can run a refrigerator through a prolonged power outage, battery gear rarely comes cheap. EcoFlow's early holiday promotion slashes prices across its entire ecosystem — including deep discounts on flagship heavyweights like the Titan 5000 Plus and versatile workhorses like the Delta 3 Max.

If you are looking to secure backup power before winter arrives, here are our favorite EcoFlow deals worth checking out right now:

Best budget grab-and-go battery

Opens in a new window

Credit: EcoFlow

EcoFlow River 3

$249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Weighing just 7.8 pounds and 30% smaller than typical alternatives, the EcoFlow River 3 easily fits into a car trunk or closet. Its GaN tech doubles the runtime for sub-100W devices while keeping noise levels under 30 dB, and a 20 ms auto-switch UPS keeps routers and essential devices running during sudden blackouts.

When drained, X-Stream charging tops off the LiFePO4 battery to 100% in 1 hour via a standard wall outlet — no bulky external adapter needed — or in 2.6 hours using solar. Rated for 3,000 cycles across 10 years of use, it is a practical grab-and-go pick for camping trips, tailgates, or stormy weekends.

Best for road trips

Opens in a new window

Credit: EcoFlow

EcoFlow Glacier Classic 55L Portable Fridge Freezer

$849 at EcoFlow
$999 Save $150

 

Get Deal at EcoFlow

Packing a 55-liter storage capacity that holds up to 90 soda cans, the EcoFlow Glacier Classic 55L eliminates the hassle of melting ice and soggy food containers entirely. A true dual-zone compartment lets you set independent temperatures across fresh and frozen sides with up to a 39.6-degree difference, while dense 2-inch foam insulation and superior sealing keep internal conditions steady within 1.8 degrees.

An efficient copper-wire compressor chills contents quickly while drawing low power, and pairing the unit with an optional 298Wh plug-in battery keeps essentials cooled at 39 degrees for up to 39 hours off-grid.

Best high-capacity power station

Opens in a new window

Credit: EcoFlow

EcoFlow Delta 3 Max

$878.99 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $320.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Packing a 2,048Wh capacity and 2,400W base output, the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max handles heavy-draw essentials like refrigerators, microwaves, and power tools without tripping overloads. For home backup, an ultra-quiet design and a rapid sub-10 ms switchover time protect sensitive desktop electronics and medical gear from sudden outages without missing a beat.

When drained, X-Stream charging powers the long-lasting LiFePO4 battery from empty to 80% in 1.13 hours, getting you road-trip or storm-ready with minimal downtime. Paired with companion app controls to automate charging schedules and monitor output, it offers durable, decade-long power for off-grid cabins, RV travel, or extended household blackouts.

Best value solar bundle

Opens in a new window

Credit: EcoFlow

EcoFlow Delta 3 Max + 220W Solar Panel

$1,148.99 at Amazon
$1,719 Save $570.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Pairing a hefty 2,048Wh capacity with a 220W bifacial solar panel, the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max bundle provides a reliable, self-refilling power setup for long blackouts or camping trips. It delivers up to 3,400W in X-Boost mode to easily power heavy gear like fridges, microwaves, and coffee makers, while an ultra-quiet design and a rapid 10 ms automatic switchover keep essential electronics running without interruption.

Plugging into a regular wall outlet gets the LiFePO4 battery from empty to 80% in 1.13 hours. Off-grid, the two-sided solar panel pulls light from both directions to speed up charging, giving you a simple, phone-monitored power station that can run for days.

Best for whole-home emergency backup

Opens in a new window

Credit: EcoFlow

EcoFlow Titan 5000 Plus

$3,699 at Amazon
$4,999 Save $1,300

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Delivering 7,200W of continuous output and true 120V/240V power, the EcoFlow Titan 5000 Plus can run heavy appliances like a central air unit, a sump pump, and a refrigerator all at once. Its massive 5,017Wh capacity is expandable up to 30kWh with extra batteries, and it carries UL 9540 certification for safe indoor use.

Between storms, it can charge up overnight when electricity rates are lowest, then run your home during expensive peak hours to save you money on your power bill. When storms knock out the grid, it recharges quickly via wall outlets, generators, or up to 8kW of solar, giving you clean, quiet power without gas fumes.

More early Black Friday EcoFlow deals

• EcoFlow Glacier Classic 35L Portable Fridge Freezer — $699 $799 (save $100)

• EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus with 220W Bifacial Solar Panel — $919 $1,189 (save $270)

• EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Portable Power Station — $1,599 $2,199 (save $600)

• EcoFlow Titan Classic Portable Power Station — $2,499 $3,299 (save $800)

• EcoFlow Titan Plus Portable Power Station — $3,699 $4,999 (save $1,300)

TL;DR: The Motorola Razr and Motorola Razr+ are available for free with T-Mobile. You do not need to trade in anything to qualify for these deals.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Motorola

Motorola Razr

Free when you activate a new line on a qualifying T-Mix plan.

Shop Now

Opens in a new window

Credit: Motorola

Motorola Razr+

Free when you activate a new line on a qualifying T-Mix plan.

Shop Now

Apple recently launched the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Duo, so why on earth are we talking about anything else? Brace yourself for this shocking news: There are people out there shopping for foldable tech from other brands. That's right. Foldable tech isn't something reserved for Apple fanatics.

And it has never been easier to invest in this tech thanks to T-Mobile. You can pick up Motorola's latest handsets for absolutely nothing. And the process of claiming these free phones is straightforward. You don't even need to trade anything in to qualify:

• Motorola Razr — free when you activate a new line on a qualifying T-Mix plan.

• Motorola Razr+ — free when you activate a new line on a qualifying T-Mix plan.

The total cost is covered via 36 monthly bill credits. If you cancel or switch carriers before the three-year promotional period, you’ll owe the remaining balance on the phone’s full retail price. You will also need to pay taxes and a one-time $35 connection charge. That's a minor inconvenience when you consider that you're getting a 2026 phone for "free."

T-Mobile has you sorted with free Motorola Razr deals this week.

SAVE $450: As of Nov. 5, the Hisense 65-inch E7 Cinema Series is on sale for $549.99 at Amazon. That's a 45% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Hisense

Hisense 65-inch E7 Cinema Series

$549.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $450

 

Get Deal at Amazon

A big-screen upgrade doesn't have to mean spending a fortune, especially with Amazon deals like the steep discount on the Hisense 65-inch E7 Cinema Series TV.

It gives you a more immersive way to watch your favorite films, shows, sports, and games, and for $450 less than usual. As of Nov. 5, this TV has dropped in price from $999.99 to $549.99. So if you're looking for a new TV, you don't need to wait for Black Friday to get a bargain.

Picture quality is a major selling point for this TV, with its combination of 4K Ultra HD resolution and AI 4K upscaling. It works by bringing out finer details, so older films and TV shows look sharper and more polished. And if you plan to watch a lot of movies, Filmmaker Mode is a feature you'll love. It keeps key elements such as the original aspect ratio, color, and frame rate intact, so you get a viewing experience closer to the director's original vision.

And if you're a gamer or sports fan, there's plenty to impress. A native 144Hz refresh rate works alongside Game Mode and AI Smooth Motion with MEMC technology to keep fast-moving action looking clearer and reduce motion blur.

Get this TV deal from Amazon now.

I like Samsung. The global electronics brand sells great products that can compete with the best. That includes its true wireless Galaxy Buds line. 

But if I’m being honest — which is my main responsibility as a tech reviewer — Samsung has dropped the ball big time with its wireless earbuds.

There was a time when the Galaxy Buds were as popular as Galaxy smartphones. You couldn’t buy one without owning the other, much like AirPods and iPhones. Then the wireless audio market grew. Rivals like Bose, Beats, and Sony started releasing superior Android-compatible alternatives. The exclusive features and effortless connectivity that once made Galaxy Buds a compelling companion to Samsung phones were no longer enough to excite consumers.

Where did it all go wrong for Samsung’s wireless earbuds franchise? To answer that question, we must revisit the past and work our way to the present. All roads lead to the Galaxy Buds 5, Samsung's highly anticipated (and currently rumored) flagship release, with the future of the entire series hanging in the balance.

A peak never repeated

I absolutely love the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. No other entry in the series has matched their overall performance and value. These buds introduced several innovations, including a custom coaxial two-way speaker system, a ridiculously small wireless charging case, and 24-bit Hi-Fi sound via the Samsung Scalable Codec (SSC). They still hold up well against today’s latest releases. 

My Galaxy Buds 2 Pro still hold up. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

That was the last time we saw a pair of Galaxy Buds make serious noise. Sales were solid, reviews were at an all-time high, and Galaxy smartphone users were committed to the company’s expanding wireless audio ecosystem. The future of the Galaxy Buds looked bright.

Then came the series’ Howard Dean moment…

The redesign that ruined everything

Changing the Galaxy Buds’ design from oval to long stem is what put the series on life support. This was the biggest complaint about the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro, among several other issues. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro had a distinctive look that was universally praised. And they didn’t just look attractive. Samsung’s touch-sensitive controls and strong mic performance were major highlights, too.

Why reshape the Galaxy Buds’ identity to resemble the Apple AirPods? Your biggest competitor, and one that practically every other wireless earbud maker has copied time and again? Talk about fumbling the ball in your own end zone. 

Let's talk about a downgrade. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Clearly, Samsung has its reasons for this decision, which I’m sure made financial sense. However, the redesign made functionality worse on the Galaxy Buds 3. The triangular “blade” stems were difficult to grip and made pinch and swipe gestures harder to execute. On top of that, you had to pinch them hard to get tactile feedback, and that left your fingers hurting after a while. The transparent-lid charging case did little to earn the product any cool points, either.

It wasn’t surprising to see Samsung rush out the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro a year later. The company wanted everyone to forget the Galaxy Buds 3’s failures. More importantly, Samsung wanted another shot at proving that its previous decisions were justified. That’s why the Galaxy Buds 4 carried over and improved several performance features, including AI functionality, controls, noise cancellation, sound, and voice calling.

To their credit, the Galaxy Buds 4 are a significant upgrade from their predecessor, especially the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, which are arguably among the most underrated wireless earbuds on the market. My peers and other tech experts would likely agree.

Even so, critical acclaim and commendable AI integration weren’t enough to erase the bad taste the Galaxy Buds 3 left in our mouths. The fourth-gen models are occasionally brought into the true wireless conversation; some of the “several months later with the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro” op-eds have kept the series relevant.  

When all else fails, go open-ear?

Releasing open earbuds seems like the natural next move for any wireless earbuds brand. The category is hot, and everyone wants a piece of the pie. On paper, the all-new Samsung Galaxy Buds On look impressive. They promise AI-powered features, SSC and SSC UHQ codec support, up to 38 hours of battery life, and a minimalist clip-on design that shares a similar aesthetic to the Galaxy Buds Pro 2.

Was this the right move? Most analysts will say yes. I’m saying no, and not because I don’t have any faith in them. Mashable will test the buds soon and determine whether they’re worth $229. 

The real conversation starter would have been a pair of Samsung wireless headphones. From an ecosystem standpoint, it makes perfect sense. Galaxy Buds models are already integrated with Samsung phones, TVs, and other smart home devices. Design and hi-fi sound could have been provided by Harman, which Samsung owns. Clever home audio features, such as seamlessly transferring sound from a Samsung soundbar to Galaxy headphones, could have made these a top contender. It worked for Sonos (read our Ace Ultra review).

That didn’t happen, and it probably never will. Samsung already owns a headphone brand: JBL. 

Fifth time must be the charm

Our wish list for the Galaxy Buds 5 is stacked with new features and upgrades. However, Samsung is likely to do what it always does: double down on what’s already there. Expect more AI integration, along with the latest wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth 6.3 and LE Audio. Enhancements to adaptive noise cancellation and sound quality are guaranteed. Hopefully, battery life gets a boost, too. 

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Now, does any of that sound compelling? Not for today’s wireless audio consumers. It sounds like a rinse-and-repeat of the past two Galaxy Buds generations. I’m not saying this is what the Galaxy Buds 5 will deliver. These are simply predictions based on the Galaxy Buds release history. 

Either way, it’s do-or-die for the Galaxy Buds series. If the Galaxy Buds 5 aren’t groundbreaking — or at least innovatively appealing — Samsung needs to reconsider its place in the true wireless market because its buds are not resonating enough with the buying public. The company is nowhere near Apple, Bose, or Sony in the category, nor is it competing with popular budget brands like Anker and EarFun. Throw JBL into the mix, and brand recognition alone gives Samsung’s subsidiary an advantage.

Even if it takes two years to develop, the Galaxy Buds 5 must be treated with care and the utmost urgency. More ingenuity, less novelty. Otherwise, it’s time to close up shop.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4

$179.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

$244 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

TL;DR: New users can get memoryOS Student Plan lifetime access for $109.97 (reg. $198) through Nov. 8, including 52 micro-lessons, virtual Mind Palaces, and unlimited practice attempts.

Opens in a new window

Credit: memoryOS

memoryOS Student Plan: Lifetime Subscription

$109.97
$198 Save $88.03

 

Get Deal

You remember an ad jingle from 1996, but the info you read yesterday? Gone. The memoryOS Student Plan Lifetime Subscription is only $109.97 (reg. $198) through Nov. 8, offering new users bite-sized training to help them organize and remember information.

The app combines time-tested memory techniques with gamified lessons and virtual Mind Palaces. Instead of treating information as a pile of disconnected facts, its visual approach gives you structured places to organize what you want to recall. Think of it as a mental filing system.

The Student Plan includes 52 interactive micro-lessons and 11 lifelong memory skills, with guidance from a World Memory Champion throughout the learning path. That step-by-step format gives your spare minutes a purpose beyond finding out what everyone on the internet is annoyed about today.

You also get 140 loci — structured mind storage spaces — plus 40 unlockable loci rewards as you progress. A library of HD virtual Mind Palaces provides the visual environments behind the system, giving you a framework for practicing organized recall.

Practice doesn’t come with a limited number of attempts. Infinite Hearts lets you keep working on the techniques, while Ad Immunity keeps the learning experience free of advertising distractions. The plan also includes access to an Early Adopters private group.

If you’re interested in knowledge retention, you get an actual practice method. Short lessons make it an easy alternative to another round of doomscrolling.

Get the memoryOS Student Plan Lifetime Subscription for $109.97 through Nov. 8.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pay $79 once for lifetime ChatPlayground AI Unlimited access, with 20+ models, side-by-side comparisons, file chat, and unlimited monthly messages.

Opens in a new window

Credit: ChatPlayground AI

ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan)

$79
$619 Save $540

 

Get Deal

Asking three AI tools the same question shouldn’t require three tabs and a copy-and-paste routine. ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan puts multiple models in one desktop workspace, with a lifetime subscription available for $79 (reg. $619) through Nov. 8. Pay once, then compare responses without the tab-hopping.

The main attraction is side-by-side comparison. Enter a single prompt and view answers from different models, including options such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and DeepSeek. With more than 20 models available, you can compare approaches instead of settling on whichever answer arrived first.

That’s useful when you’re exploring a coding problem, refining a prompt, or looking for a different creative direction. One response might offer a clearer explanation; another might suggest an approach worth investigating. Seeing them together makes those differences easier to assess.

ChatPlayground also lets you upload PDFs and images to ask questions about your files, generate AI images, and save chat history for ongoing projects. Prompt-engineering tools help you refine your requests, while priority customer support provides faster assistance when you need it.

The Unlimited Plan includes unlimited monthly messages, subject to a fair use policy, plus priority access to new features and future models. Updates are included, and desktop access supports unlimited devices.

ChatPlayground is also an independent platform, rather than an OpenAI product. Both new and existing users can purchase this offer, and the code must be redeemed within 30 days of purchase.

Get ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan lifetime subscription for $79 (reg. $619) through Nov. 8.

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.

24. Taken: Natalee Holloway

In 2005, the missing persons case of Natalee Holloway became national news when the 18-year-old from Tennessee vanished in Aruba. She was last seen with Dutchman Joran van der Sloot, who was an early person of interest and over the years has told conflicting stories of what came next.

Netflix's newest true crime doc series reexamines the case, offering interviews with authorities and Holloway's mother and friends, as well as previously unreleased footage. Directors Dani Sloane and Matthew Galkin teamed with Story Syndicate (Maternal Instinct, Titan: The Oceangate Disaster) for this three-part documentary series about a mother's quest to getting justice for her daughter. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Taken: Natalee Holloway is now streaming on Netflix.

23. A Dog's Perfect Christmas

Look, I love a Netflix Christmas movie, but to be honest, this one looks outstandingly average. And I love dog movies. If you saw the 2017 Dennis Quaid-fronted drama A Dog’s Purpose or its sequel, 2019's A Dog's Journey, this is pretty much the same deal but set at Christmas. And that makes sense since all three movies (as well as A Dog's Way Home) are based on novels by W. Bruce Cameron, who has screenwriting credits on each movie. The rumply basset hound and pristine corgi puppy who are seemingly tasked with bringing a family together in yuletide unity are cute, but the trailer is not. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Milo Ventimiglia, Brooke Lena Johnson, Thomas Haden Church, Mary Steenburgen, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Jennifer Tilly, Ethan Loomis, and Marissa Jaret Winokur

How to watch: A Dog's Perfect Christmas is now streaming on Netflix.

22. The Institute, Season 2

Psychic children abducted by the government and held in a brutal secure facility? It's a classic Stephen King formula, and The Institute — based on the horror author's novel of the same name — did well enough to bag itself a second outing. While the first season focused on new recruit Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman) surviving in his strange new prison, Season 2 looks set to widen its scope, with the main cast struggling to find evidence that'll expose the facility's corrupt practices. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Joe Freeman, Ben Barnes, Mary-Louise Parker, Alfie Allen, Simone Miller, Fionn Laird, Arlen So, Robert Joy, and Hannah Galway

How to watch: The Institute Season 2 premieres Nov. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on MGM+.

21. The 12 Dates of Christmas

I'm sorry, but isn't The 12 Dates of Christmas already a movie? The cheeseball 2011 Groundhog Day scenario starring Amy Smart as a Scroogey woman stuck in a time loop of dates to teach her a lesson about being nicer to people? Well, this isn't that.

Hulu's identically named film reunites Pretty Little Liars stars Lucy Hale and Ian Harding in another romantic scenario, this time much less problematic than that show's student-teacher relationship. Will I be settling in to see Hale's character determined to thwart her own singlehood by going on 12 dates in 12 days at the busiest time of the year? As sure as a partridge in a pear tree. — S.C.

Starring: Lucy Hale and Ian Harding

How to watch: The 12 Dates of Christmas premieres Nov. 6 on Hulu.

20. Super Troopers 3

Vermont's finest return in Super Troopers 3, a madcap sequel from comedy troupe Broken Lizard. The film sees Farva (Kevin Heffernan) about to marry Thorny's (Jay Chandrasekhar) sister Sarita (Hannah Simone). Of course, all hell breaks loose thanks to a rowdy bachelor party and a new drug known as "Canadian Crystal." Can the troopers save this wedding (and make way for a new sequel in the process)? You'll have to stream to find out. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Hannah Simone, Nat Faxon, Chace Crawford, Andrew Dismukes, Marisa Coughlan, Jon Rudnitsky, Lisa Gilroy, Sakina Jaffrey, Iqbal Theba, Lynda Carter, and Brian Cox

How to watch: Super Troopers 3 is now streaming on Hulu.

19. New Group

Almost anything can be scary in the right circumstances. That, at least, seems to be what writer/director Yûta Shimotsu is going for in New Group, a horror comedy largely centered around human pyramids. These start to pop at Ai's (Anna Yamada) new high school, and it soon becomes clear that the phenomenon is more disturbing than simple gymnastics. — S.H.

Starring: Anna Yamada, Yuzu Aoki, Arisa Sasaki, and Pierre Taki

How to watch: New Group debuts on Shudder on Nov. 6.

18. The Uprising

Andrew Garfield says "no kings" in The Uprising, the latest from director Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy). The film tells the story of England's 1381 Peasants' Revolt, with Garfield playing a fictionalized farmer at the center of it all.

While The Uprising's tale of standing up to tyranny is timely, critics found the film's execution lacking. As Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review, "Greengrass gives us a bland, muddy slog with a black-and-white hero and villain, and an ending that is sure to satisfy no one."* — B.E.

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Jamie Bell, Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, Woody Norman, and Katherine Waterston

How to watch: The Uprising premieres Nov. 6 on Peacock.

17. Charlie Harper

Romantic drama Charlie Harper hits digital this week — and no, it is not about someone named Charlie Harper, but rather about the love story between Charlie (Nick Robinson) and Harper (Emilia Jones). The film uses a nonlinear approach to tell the story of this pair's relationship, from their sweetest moments to their most tumultuous. Critics didn't fall completely in love with Charlie Harper, but if you're looking for some onscreen romance, it's definitely worth a shot. — B.E.

Starring: Emilia Jones and Nick Robinson

How to watch: Charlie Harper is now available on digital.

16. The Remarried Empress

Yes, there is a new Korean romantic epic streaming this week, and yes, it does come with a heap of buzz from this year's Busan International Film Festival. Based on the hugely popular Naver WEBTOON, The Remarried Empress sees a royal relationship in peril, that of the Eastern Empire's Empress Navier (Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha's Shin Min-a) and Emperor Sovieshu (Kingdom's Ju Ji-hoon). When the emperor's affections stray elsewhere, the empress makes one hell of a deal: She wants to remarry. And not just anyone; she's got her eye on Heinrey, the rival Western Kingdom's dreamy crown prince (Law and the City's Lee Jong-suk). The very future of the kingdoms are at stake! — S.C.

Starring: Shin Min-a, Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk, and Lee Se-young

How to watch: The Remarried Empress is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

15. Bass X Machina

If you're after a steampunk anime western from Yasuke creator LeSean Thomas, Netflix's Bass X Machina will fit your wanted poster. In the six-episode animated series, Oscar-nominated Causeway star Brian Tyree Henry voices Bass Reeves, a character based on the real American frontier icon who was one of the first Black U.S. Deputy Marshals west of the Mississippi. Expect a world of ruthless outlaws, desert machines, and otherworldly forces as one man tries to protect his family and deliver justice. — S.C.

Starring: Brian Tyree Henry, Janelle Monáe, Tati Gabrielle, Cree Summer, Chaske Spencer, Currie Graham, and Starletta DuPois

How to watch: Bass X Machina is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Stick, Season 2

Owen Wilson's sports comedy Stick made a sweet splash in its first season, telling a story of golf redemption and found family. Now, Wilson returns as ex-golfer Pryce Cahill, who's coaching 17-year-old golf prodigy Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager). As Santi continues his pro golfing career, Pryce makes the game-changing decision to mount a comeback and try to become the oldest golfer to win a major championship. To accomplish that feat, he'll need some help, and Apple has recruited Pluribus Emmy winner Rhea Seehorn for the job. She plays Coach Amanda, a "swing doctor" who might just take Pryce back to his glory days. — B.E.

Starring: Owen Wilson, Peter Dager, Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, Lilli Kay, Judy Greer, Timothy Olyphant, Rhea Seehorn, John Higgins, Billy Zane, Rex Linn, Sasha Alexander, and Missi Pyle

How to watch: The first two episodes of Stick Season 2 are now streaming on AppleTV, with new episodes every Wednesday.

13. The Walsh Sisters

Thirty years after Marian Keyes' first Walsh sisters book was published, the BBC finally brought the lives of Rachel, Anna, Claire, Maggie, and Helen Walsh to UK screens in February. Now, The Walsh Sisters is streaming in the U.S. through Roku. From Stefanie Preissner (Can't Cope, Won't Cope) and Kefi Chadwick (Rivals) comes a deeply moving adaptation that weaves several Keyes' books together — and boasts an incredible cast. As I wrote in my review, "A raw, authentic portrayal of sisterhood, addiction, grief, and mental health, The Walsh Sisters feels well overdue on our screens." — S.C.

Starring: Caroline Menton, Danielle Galligan, Stefanie Preissner, Máiread Tyers, and Louisa Harland

How to watch: The Walsh Sisters is now streaming on Roku.

12. Beware Boiúna

An ancient serpentine predator lies in slumber, deep in the Amazon, in this Anaconda-style creature survival horror from director Mike P. Nelson (V/H/S/85; Silent Night, Deadly Night). 

Beware Boiúna sees a group on a medical mission into the South American rainforest hunted by a mythical semiaquatic reptile who's recently been rudely awakened. Kiana Madeira (Fear Street), Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day), and Logan Marshall-Green (Upgrade) disturb the slumber of Boiúna, whose bite is way worse than her non-existent bark. Written by Nelson with his Wrong Turn collaborator Alan B. McElroy and Doom: Annihilation's Tony Giglio, this film feels meant to be bravely watched in cinemas behind an enormous popcorn bucket — but now you can watch it from the comfort of your sofa.* — S.C.

Starring: Kiana Madeira, Jessica Rothe, and Logan Marshall-Green

How to watch: Beware Boiúna is now available on digital.

11. Black Doves, Season 2

Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw return for spy shenanigans in Season 2 of Black Doves, and the stakes (and suspense) have never been higher.

Helen (Knightley) is still giving up England's secrets to the Black Doves, even as her husband, Wallace (Andrew Buchan), gets ready to take on the role of Prime Minister. Meanwhile, triggerman Sam (Whishaw) is stuck taking smaller hit jobs. However, the two reunite when a sinister plot to undermine Reed's (Sarah Lancashire) position in the Black Doves emerges. It's not long before the two are sucked back into a web of espionage, violence, and most importantly of all, friendship.* — B.E.

Starring: Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, Sarah Lancashire, Andrew Buchan, Kathryn Hunter, Ella Lily Hyland, Gabrielle Creevy, Agnes O’Casey, and Molly Chesworth

How to watch: Black Doves Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Sense and Sensibility

Director Georgia Oakley (Blue Jean) and screenwriter Diana Reid adapt Jane Austen's 1811 novel about two very different sisters seeking a match in Regency-era England.

After the death of their father, the rigorously rational Elinor Dashwood (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her impulsive younger sister Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles) are eager to find husbands. But they're looking for something more rare than financial security. They're looking for love in a world of infuriatingly righteous gentlemen and unfortunately sexy rogues.* — K.P.

Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Frank Dillane, Herbert Nordrum, George MacKay, and Fiona Shaw

How to watch: Sense and Sensibility is now available for rental or purchase on digital.

9. Primetime

Before Lance Oppenheim blew our minds with You Can See Everything, he dropped Primetime, a docudrama exploring Chris Hansen's problematic news special series To Catch a Predator.

Robert Pattinson is chilling and uncomfortably funny in the lead role of Hansen, reimagining the real-life newsman as a creepy clown with a dangerous blind ambition. And while Oppenheim and a talented cast make a movie that is thought-provoking, this critic hoped it'd go harder. As I wrote in my review, "I was left wishing Primetime had the guts to follow the dark path this heightened Hansen charted to somewhere deranged, perhaps providing a more satisfying ending than real life (and reality TV) has. Chase those midnight movie vibes that Pattinson has coursing through his final act into something damning and daring! Or, don't, I guess.

"While Primetime is exhilarating and disturbing thanks to its sensational cast, a flimsy conclusion has this film end with a whimper instead of a bang." — K.P.

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, and Phoebe Bridgers

How to watch: Primetime is now available on digital.

8. The History of Concrete

Director John Wilson, of HBO's How To with John Wilson, makes his feature directorial debut with documentary The History of Concrete. Don't be fooled by the seemingly dry title. The History of Concrete is an absurd deep dive into the gray material that surrounds us, one that involves everything from Hallmark movies to gum-busting machines. If you enjoyed How To with John Wilson or want another meta-documentary after seeing You Can See Everything, this should scratch that itch. — B.E.

How to watch: The History of Concrete is now available on digital.

7. Musk

Alex Gibney's Musk documentary had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it theatrical run, being pulled from cinemas after just two weeks. But if you didn't get chance to see the nearly four-hour doc — which charts the rise to power of the world's richest man, featuring interviews with family members and former colleagues — you can catch it on digital this week. Mashable's Matt Binder described it as "brutal and accurate" in his review for Mashable. It struggled at the box office, but had its marketing campaign hampered due to ads being restricted on multiple social networks. — S.H.

How to watch: Musk is now available on digital.

6. MP3

Jess McKenna and Zach Reino have made their mark on Dropout with improvised musical numbers on Play It By Ear and Game Changer, including the finale "Last Talent Standing." Now, they're bringing their song-writing skills to the comedy streamer's first scripted series in seven years, MP3.

Seemingly inspired by the TRL days of MTV, MP3 focuses on a TV show where host Dane Cartel (Jeremy Culhane) offers up music videos alongside his new co-hosts Chia (Aparna Nancherla) and Dr. Muse-Tina (Skye Townsend). This setup allows Dropout's wide ensemble of comedians to pop up for kooky cameos, singing and dancing in a variety of bizarre music videos. Plus, based on the trailer, this show shares a universe with Very Important People. So, watch out for the epic return of Princess Emily. — K.P.

Starring: Jeremy Culhane, Paul F. Tompkins, Zach Reino, Aparna Nancherla, Skye Townsend, and Jess McKenna

How to watch: MP3 is now streaming on Dropout.

5. Bad Apples

Teachers deserve better. Our underpaid educators put up with everything from disruptive students to micromanaging parents. And in Jonatan Etzler's dark comedy thriller Bad Apples, one (Saoirse Ronan) takes matters into her own hands. Written by Jess O'Kane as an adaptation of Rasmus Andersson's novel De Oönskade, the film sees Ronan as Somerset-based primary school teacher Maria. She loves teaching, despite the underfunded education system testing her daily. When troubled student Danny (newcomer Eddie Waller) constantly disrupts her class, Maria makes some choices.

As I wrote in my review, "With Ronan's always-impeccable talents supported by a sublime young cast, Bad Apples leans into unethical impulses, all the while exposing home truths about the under-resourced education system and social disdain toward children with behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties. Plus, it's really funny."* — S.C.

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Eddie Waller, Jacob Anderson, Rakie Ayola, Robert Emms, Sean Gilder, and Kerry Howard

How to watch: Bad Apples is now available on digital.

4. North of North, Season 2

One of 2025's best TV surprises was Canadian comedy North of North, a small town sitcom set in the Arctic Circle. Young Inuk mother Siaja (Anna Lambe) decides to blow up her unhappy marriage and start fresh, embarking on a warm, moving journey of self-discovery. That journey continues in Season 2, which will see Siaja try to keep leveling up her life, professionally and personally, even if it means making some big mistakes in the process. Wherever your new road takes you, Siaja, we can't wait to keep supporting you!* — B.E.

Starring: Anna Lambe, Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Jay Ryan, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Zorga Qaunaq, Bailey Poching, Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds, Keira Belle Cooper, and Bruce McCulloch

How to watch: North of North Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

3. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, Season 2

If you're on the hunt for surgically precise joke writing and an impeccable ensemble, I've got one name for you: Reggie. Dinkins.

Created by 30 Rock's Robert Carlock and Sam Means, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins cemented itself as one of the year's best comedies when it premiered this January. Now, it's back and bound to deliver more riotous one-liners and pop culture references. The series follows disgraced New York Jets star Reggie Dinkins (Tracy Morgan) and documentarian Arthur Tobin (Daniel Radcliffe), who's making a film about Reggie's life. Morgan and Radcliffe are a duo to die for, and Erika Alexander and Bobby Moynihan are riots in their supporting roles. Buy into the ridiculousness and have the best time.* — B.E.

Starring: Tracy Morgan, Daniel Radcliffe, Erika Alexander, Bobby Moynihan, Precious Way, and Jalyn Hall

How to watch: The first episode of The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins Season 2 is now streaming on Peacock. New episodes premiere Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with episodes available on Peacock the next day.

2. Resident Evil

Good news, everyone! You can watch Weapons director Zach Cregger's Resident Evil reboot at home this week. The adaptation of Capcom's popular horror game franchise was co-written by Cregger with John Wick: Chapter 4's Shay Hatten, with horror and action through the roof. Except this time the Resident Evil chaos is happening to a regular Raccoon City resident (Austin Abrams) who just can't seem to figure out those damn locks. — S.C.

Starring: Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser

How to watch: Resident Evil is now available on digital.

Best of streaming this week: It Gets Worse

Leo Reich's new comedy It Gets Worse set the internet ablaze when Channel 4 released an NSFW clip involving Andrew Scott as a therapist. And while that's certainly a great hook, especially for everyone who's still not over Scott's role in Fleabag, it's far from the best thing about this beautifully messy series.

Reich stars as 24-year-old Ethan, who's going through the catastrophic double whammy of a quarter life crisis and eviction from the London apartment he shares with his two best friends from university, Abi (Emily Fairn) and Sam (Olive Gray). As the three try to find a new place, they split up across the city, where they each face a harrowing question familiar to anyone in their early 20s: What the hell am I going to do with my life? To find answers (if there are any), Reich spins a tale of fraught friendships, awkward hookups, and hard truths sure to make any young 20-something at a crossroads feel seen. — B.E.

Starring: Leo Reich, Emily Fairn, Olive Gray, Sean Delaney, Dane Williams, India Mullen, John Tothill, Andrew Scott, Lena Dunham, and Amelia Dimoldenberg

How to watch: All episodes of It Gets Worse premiere Nov. 6 on Paramount+.

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

In the age of on-demand everything, it’s no surprise that we can get "dates" (and I use that term loosely) with the tap of a button. Thanks to classic hookup apps like Tinder and newcomers like Pure, finding a sexy new friend can be as straightforward as ordering a pizza. As for the quality? That’s about the same as your pizza — hit or miss, depending on the time of day, where you're located, and how hungry you are.

Fortunately, you’ve got your resident dating app expert here (though I prefer modern-day Carrie Bradshaw) to guide you to the promised land, aka the best hookup apps.

I’ve spent the past four years (yes, years) testing dozens of the top dating apps for Mashable, from discreet sexting apps to dating sites for serious relationships. My goal is simple: to find the best apps for every kind of dater, including the one-night-stand crowd. I also consulted a panel of sex and relationship experts to make sure my picks are solid.

The short answer: Tinder is still the best hookup app for most people, thanks to its massive user base and new IRL features like Group Hangouts and Events. If you want total anonymity, try Pure. Hinge is best for regular FWBs, and Feeld is the go-to for kink, ethical non-monogamy, and exploring your sexuality. Queer men should start with Grindr (or Sniffies for cruising), and queer women should download HER.

How to get the most out of hookup apps

My first rule: be brutally honest about what you want. Are you here for a good time? Own it. That means staying in your lane; don't go looking for a one-night stand on an app like eharmony. "Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, sex/couples therapist and resident sexologist for Erojoy, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."

And here's a little secret I picked up from Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai: Timing is everything. He found that people messaging on Tinder's "Free Tonight" feature after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher chance of hooking up.

Once you've matched, reach out, be honest, and follow through! "Plan dates within the first conversation or else you'll get tired out from having a bunch of conversations that aren't going anywhere," Weiss says.

Recent updates to this guide

• OkCupid (removed October 2026): OkCupid is still a solid pick for inclusive, values-driven dating, but it's a relationship app at heart. Feeld, HUD, and HER all do inclusivity better for no-strings fun. And after OkCupid's 2026 FTC settlement over sharing nearly 3 million users' photos with a facial recognition company, I'm not comfortable recommending it for something as private as hookups.

• Hily (added August 2026): I’ve added Hily to our top picks because its free tier is surprisingly generous (up to 100 likes a day!) and its AI safety tech (like Consent Guard) makes it a standout option for casual, blunt daters looking for a fresh alternative to the Big Three.

• Hinge (moved up October 2025): Hinge just keeps getting better, so I’ve bumped it up higher on my list. It still earns its spot for casual dating with personality; its user base is growing, and my recent tests have been surprisingly positive.

Why some popular hookup apps didn't make the cut

You might notice a few apps that pop up in ads or other lists are missing here. That’s intentional. I swipe through the good, the bad, and the downright sketchy so you don’t have to. For an app to make my list, it has to be effective, safe, and worth your time.

Here's a shortlist of apps that didn't make the cut:

• Plenty of Fish: POF's rebrand didn't do it any favors. My last round of testing showed it removed key features like free messaging with non-matches, and I kept running into the same old profiles. (Removed January 2025.)

• Match: Some people swear they've found casual hookups on Match, but that's not what it's for. It's still one of my top picks for a long-term relationship. For a hookup? You're fishing in the wrong pond. (Removed August 2025.)

• Wild: You’ve probably seen ads for this one. On paper, Wild sounds like the perfect casual dating app. In practice, the paywalls are aggressive, the distance filter doesn't work, and you have to pay for anything that's even remotely useful. Unless you're willing to spend serious cash upfront (and hope for the best), the experience feels more limited than with more generous free options like Tinder or Hily.

• DOWN: This app (formerly "Bang With Friends") is known for its simple "Get Down" vs. "Get Date" feature. It sounds clever, but in reality, the experience is messy at best. Many users report feeling scammed by subscriptions that don't deliver matches, or finding that the few real people on there are... let's say "odd." It’s hard to recommend an app when the main user complaint is "Is anyone real?" Hard pass.

• Facebook Dating: Yes, Facebook has a dating section, and it’s surprisingly massive (and completely free, which is huge). While it's a decent option for casual dating, the vibe tends to be a bit more "friends of friends" and "relationship-focused" than the anonymous, no-strings energy you get from apps like Pure or Feeld. (For Mashable's Chance Townsend, signing up was "the most uneventful dating experience" of his life.) It's also added an AI dating assistant and "Meet Cute," which sends you one surprise match a week. It's worth a shot if you're already on Facebook, but it didn't quite crack my top tier for no-strings-attached hookups specifically.

SAVE $200: As of Nov. 5, the Ecovacs Deebot T90S Pro is on sale for $699 at Amazon. That's a 22% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Ecovacs

Ecovacs Deebot T90s Pro

$699 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $200.99

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Vacuuming isn't exactly anyone's idea of a fun way to spend their free time. Fortunately, vacuums have come a long way from bulky devices dragged across your floors that still manage to miss awkward corners. Robot vacuums can now do the hard work for you, navigating your floors, avoiding obstacles, and tackling everyday dirt while you get on with something else.

As of Nov. 5, there's a deal on the Ecovacs Deebot T90S Pro that saves you $200 on the list price, now down to $699. It vacuums, it mops, and it even manages its own maintenance.

This truly is a great robot vacuum if you want floor cleaning gone from your mind. It combines powerful vacuuming with continuous fresh-water mopping to tackle everything from everyday dust and pet hair to sticky kitchen spills. It has an OZMO ROLLER 3.0 system that uses 32-way pressurized water flow to rinse the roller as it cleans, and a scraper that removes dirty water to help prevent smearing and the spread of grime across hard floors.

For vacuuming, it delivers up to 40,000Pa of suction and features anti-tangle brushes designed to reduce hair wrap. Plus, the OMNI Station handles maintenance, including automatic dust removal, hot-water roller washing, hot-air drying, and cleaning-solution dispensing.

You can find this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: Daily Red is a free, daily Pokémon battle game where everyone gets one chance a day to defeat Red on Mt. Silver. Red's team stays the same, but your lineup is randomly generated every 24 hours — forcing you to win with whatever random squad you're dealt.

If your morning browser routine already includes Wordle or the Mini Crossword, there is a new fan-made puzzle game making the rounds among Pokémon fans. Daily Red takes the most legendary boss encounter in franchise history and reimagines it as a fast-paced, tactical puzzle you can solve in under five minutes.

Instead of spending dozens of hours training a competitive squad, the game puts you right on top of Mt. Silver for a Level 100 showdown against Red. The catch? You do not get to pick your party. Every 24 hours, every player worldwide is handed the exact same randomly generated lineup of six Pokémon. Your job is to figure out how to pilot whatever unusual, bench-warming team you've been dealt to victory.

Is Daily Red an official Pokémon game?

No. Daily Red is an unofficial, free-to-play fan project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company. It runs entirely in your browser with no microtransactions, ads, or sign-ups required.

How to play Daily Red

Getting started takes zero downloads and no account registration. Here is the step-by-step breakdown:

1. Head to the site — Go to daily-red.com on your mobile device or desktop browser.

2. Inspect your squad — Click to begin your daily match at the peak of Mt. Silver. Once the fight starts, inspect your six assigned Level 100 Pokémon — checking their movesets, abilities, and type coverage — before locking in your first move against Red's lead Pikachu.

3. Outsmart Red — Defeat all six of Red's classic Level 100 Pokémon before he wipes your party out.

4. Share and track — Copy your spoiler-free results grid to share with friends, then return the next day to protect your streak.

Your win streaks and battle stats are saved directly to your browser's local cache. If you want to keep a long streak going, stick to the same device and browser for your daily battles. 

Daily Red relies on the same viral mechanics that made Wordle a massive hit: every player tackles the same daily puzzle, your wins are tracked through an ongoing streak, and you can share a color-coded grid of your results without spoiling the winning moves for others.

Knowing your enemy: Red's fixed team

While your party changes every single night, Red's team remains completely static. Knowing who he brings to the fight lets you plan your strategy before making your first move:

• Pikachu (Level 100 — always his starting lead)

• Espeon (Level 100)

• Snorlax (Level 100)

• Venusaur (Level 100)

• Charizard (Level 100)

• Blastoise (Level 100)

Because Red always leads with Pikachu, your first big tactical decision happens the second the match loads. Check your six assigned Pokémon to see who has the best matchup or immunity against an electric lead, then plan how you'll handle his bulkier threats like Snorlax later in the match.

The daily battle resets every night at midnight in your local time zone. A live countdown timer at the top of the site tracks how much time remains in the current window. Once the clock strikes midnight, everyone receives a brand-new randomized party to take on Red all over again.

Whether you get handed an overpowered legendary or find yourself trying to defeat a Level 100 Snorlax using a Luvdisc, it’s easy to see why Daily Red is blowing up across the Pokémon community right now.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock:

---

Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Nintendo

Shop Now

---

Amazon

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Amazon

Shop Now

---

Walmart

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Walmart

Shop Now

---

Target

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Target

Shop Now

---

Best Buy

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at Best Buy

Shop Now

---

GameStop

Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition

$519.99 at GameStop

Shop Now

If your current morning ritual involves violently hitting refresh on a dozen retail tabs, you already know the vibe: finding the Nintendo Switch 2: The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition is turning into an Olympic sport.

Between automated bot armies scooping digital drops, surprise order cancellations at Walmart, and inventory vanishing in seconds on Amazon, this custom black-and-gold console feels like a myth. But while digital storefronts look completely barren, stock is actively circulating behind the scenes.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock right now

Before getting into the restock details, bookmark these retailer pages to check for surprise drops:

• Nintendo Store — Out of stock right now, but you can add it to your wishlist to get pinged the second a restock hits.

• Amazon — Dropping tiny batches of consoles randomly throughout the day.

• Walmart — Out of stock, so make sure your in-stock email alerts are turned on.

• Target — Sold out online, but two drops are coming: in-store on Thursday, Nov. 5, and online on Friday, Nov. 6.

• Best Buy — Sold out online, but select stores are doing midnight openings on Nov. 5 with walk-in stock.

• GameStop — Online orders are off; you will have to walk into a store to find one.

Why is the console selling out so fast?

The feeding frenzy is being supercharged by Nintendo’s staggered release calendar. While the custom Zelda 40th Anniversary hardware dropped first on Oct. 29, the flagship game driving demand — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 — arrives this Thursday, Nov. 5.

The remake rebuilds the 1998 classic from the ground up with modernized controls, a fully orchestrated soundtrack, reworked dungeon puzzles, and expanded Hyrule environments. Since the $520 console doesn’t include the game, everyone is rushing to lock down a system before launch day.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2

$59.99 at Amazon

 

Preorder at Amazon

What comes with the Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2?

The package includes the special-edition Switch 2 system sporting a custom black-and-gold finish, themed Joy-Con 2 controllers, and a matching dock decorated with the gold Triforce emblem. It retains the platform's signature flexibility, letting you switch between TV, Tabletop, and Handheld modes whenever you want.

Inside the themed chassis, you get 256GB of built-in storage (expandable with microSD Express cards), a vivid display in handheld mode, faster load times, and support for up to 4K resolution on compatible TVs when the console sits in the dock.

The magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers add mouse-style tracking in supported games, while the new GameChat hub lets you voice chat and share your screen directly as you play. It also plays your older Switch games and supports standard multiplayer options.

How can you improve your chances of finding stock?

Landing limited-edition Nintendo hardware takes a little prep work, but these battle-tested habits will give you a real edge over the bots:

• Save your checkout details everywhere — Log in to Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and the Nintendo Store to save your shipping address and default card. Stopping to type a card number or billing zip code during a live drop is how you lose an order.

• Hands off the refresh button in Best Buy's queue — When an online drop goes live, Best Buy puts shoppers into a randomized waiting line to filter out scrapers. Touching the reload button resets your spot and boots you straight to the back.

• Watch for Walmart+ early-access paywalls — Walmart frequently locks headline console drops behind paid Walmart+ subscriptions for the first 30 to 60 minutes. If you have a membership, keep that tab signed in; if not, wait for the general public window to unlock.

• Dodge third-party sellers — Double-check the seller before buying. Marketplace scalpers frequently list units for jacked-up prices; make sure it says "Sold and shipped by [Retailer]" at the standard price.

• Skip the web wars and head to physical stores — Online checkout bots grab website stock in under 15 seconds. Showing up in person is easily your most reliable path to securing one without paying scalper markups.

Will the Zelda Switch 2 be restocked on Black Friday?

Most likely, yes.

Stores like Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy often hold onto popular gaming hardware to use as headline deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday week.

With that said, Black Friday restocks are usually the hardest ones to catch. You will be fighting website crashes, gift shoppers, and automated bots all at once. If you can grab a console during the Nov. 5 launch drops at Target or Best Buy, take it. Think of Black Friday as a backup plan, not your main bet.

Console hunting sucks right now, period. But between the surprise micro-drops and Thursday's physical store restocks, you still have real shots at retail price — just be ready to move the second that button turns yellow.

TL;DR: The Lego Group has launched its 2026 holiday campaign and film, directed by Michael Gracey and set to Daft Punk's hit "One More Time." You can stream the short and shop every featured set directly at Lego.

Holiday shopping season has officially arrived, and Lego is getting into the spirit with a star-studded workshop and a classic French touch. The brand dropped its 2026 holiday campaign ad, a chaotic, joyful 74-second short directed by The Greatest Showman filmmaker Michael Gracey and set to Daft Punk’s iconic track "One More Time."

The film follows a single red 2x4 Lego brick on a journey through the Lego Holiday Workshop, where it gets assembled, energized by superheroes, and sent out the door to a family living room.

If you found yourself eyeballing the sets on screen, you don't have to wait until December to start building. Lego launched a dedicated storefront allowing viewers to shop the models and characters that make cameos in the ad.

Here are some of our favorites featured in the film that make epic holiday gifts:

Lego Speed Champions F1 Academy Lego Race Car

Opens in a new window

Credit: Speed Champions / Lego

Lego Speed Champions F1 Academy Lego Race Car

$27.99 at Lego

 

Shop Now at Lego

The Lego holiday ad opens with a high-speed dash through the snow, pairing Daft Punk minifigures with real-life Dutch driver Esmee Kosterman in her liveried racer. You can park the exact track action on your desk with the Lego Speed Champions F1 Academy Lego Race Car. Clocking in at 201 pieces, the build celebrates the all-female racing series with sharp, authentic details — from the aerodynamic rear wing and halo safety system right down to the Pirelli-branded tires and an included driver minifigure complete with helmet and wrench.

Avengers: Doomsday Quinjet

Opens in a new window

Credit: Marvel / Lego

Avengers: Doomsday Quinjet

$59.99 at Lego

 

Shop Now at Lego

Doctor Doom stealing the spotlight in the holiday workshop ad is just a preview of the chaos in store here. The 433-piece Lego Marvel Avengers: Doomsday Quinjet spans over 13 inches wide and features accessible fold-out top and rear panels, dual front stud shooters, and a cockpit built for hands-on play. What really makes the set, though, is the minifigure lineup: you get Captain America with folding wings, Cyclops, a bulky The Thing with oversized fists, and Doctor Doom complete with his fabric cape and translucent blasters.

Credit: Lego

Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird

Opens in a new window

Credit: Lego

Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird

$69.99 at Lego

 

Shop Now at Lego

The goofy creature waving a tearful goodbye near the end of the holiday workshop film is straight out of K-Pop Demon Hunters. The 825-piece Lego Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird set turns the animated sidekicks into vibrant desk decor, featuring posable limbs and two swappable facial expressions — including a tongue that holds tiny love notes. Sussie the magpie perches on Derpy's head, and there is even a secret storage compartment hidden inside the tiger's skull to stash the letters and an included mini flowerpot.

Lionel Messi — Soccer Legend

Opens in a new window

Credit: Lego Editions

Lionel Messi — Soccer Legend

$79.99 at Lego

 

Shop Now at Lego

While race cars and superheroes zip through the workshop ad, soccer fans get their own headline moment with the 958-piece Lego Editions Lionel Messi – Soccer Legend build. The display figure offers two distinct pose options: Messi dribbling downfield with an included soccer ball, or his iconic victory celebration with both arms raised toward the sky. Standing over 10.5 inches tall, the finished tribute comes complete with his legendary number 10, a bold 'MESSI' base lettering plate, and an official printed name plaque that looks right at home on an office desk or bedroom bookshelf.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Opens in a new window

Credit: Lego Ideas

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

$139.99 at Lego

 

Shop Now at Lego

Nobody in the holiday workshop looks more heartbroken to say goodbye to their bricks than Spielberg's beloved alien. Designed specifically for adult collectors, the 1,226-piece Lego Ideas E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial set captures the character's wrinkled features with fully posable arms, an opening mouth, and a head that rotates 360 degrees. You can point his iconic forefinger to signal home, set a pot of revived sunflowers in his hands, or hit the rear switch to activate an authentic glowing chest light brick.

Credit: Lego

Didn't see your specific fandom on our list? Shop the complete lineup over at Lego's official holiday workshop hub.

TL;DR: Lifetime 1min.AI Advanced Business access is on sale for just $69.97 (reg. $540) through Nov. 8.

Opens in a new window

Credit: 1minAI

1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription

$69.97
$540 Save $470.03

 

Get Deal

AI subscriptions aren’t cheap, but they’re manageable if you only use one model like ChatGPT. However, if you need tools for generating images, writing copy, analyzing documents, or translating between languages, a platform like 1min.AI is a more viable option.

1min.AI gives you lifetime access to some of the most popular AI tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral, and many others. It’s also only $69.97 for a lifetime subscription (reg. $540) through Nov. 8.

1min.AI runs in your browser and pulls a ton of everyday work into one place. You can research keywords, draft blog posts, rewrite and shorten text, generate social posts, and keep a consistent brand voice across projects. There are tools to summarize or translate documents, chat with multiple PDFs at once, and spin up slide presentations. For visuals, you can generate images from prompts, upscale low-resolution pictures, remove backgrounds, extend edges, or turn rough sketches into cleaner artwork.

Here’s a small sample of the AI models you’ll get access to:

• GPT-5.5 Pro

• Claude 4.1 Opus, Claude 4.5 Sonnet

• Gemini 2.5 Flash, Gemini 3.1 Pro

• Llama 3

• Mistral models

The Advanced Business Plan includes 4,000,000 credits each month, plus the chance to earn up to 450,000 more through daily logins and other tasks. Credits are shared across writing, images, audio, and video, so you can lean harder on whichever tools you need that month. The plan supports up to 20 members, with shared workspaces, an unlimited prompt library, unlimited storage, and unlimited brand voices. If you don’t use all your credits, they just roll over, so you aren’t missing out if you have a lighter month.

It’s only $69.97 to get a 1min.AI lifetime subscription through Nov. 8.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Apple's rumored "anniversary iPhone" might not have an uninterrupted display after all.

The "iPhone 20" is allegedly slated to launch in 2027, with Apple skipping the iPhone 19 altogether to mark the iPhone's 20th birthday. Old rumors claimed that this will be the first iPhone with a completely uninterrupted display, with no bezels, no camera cutouts, just a perfect slab of glass on the front.

Now, leaker Digital Chat Station, in a sort of Q&A session underneath a Weibo post on iPhone 18, said that the display on the anniversary iPhone will definitely have holes.

This isn't new. We've heard it from Digital Chat Station and Ice Universe before, and by now, we mostly expect the anniversary iPhone to have a new type of bezel-less, "quad-curved" display but with a small dynamic island on top.

But the rumor is worth revisiting in light of iPhone Duo, which actually already has a fully uninterrupted inner display, with the FaceTime camera hidden underneath it. Having tested the iPhone Duo, I can say that having such a display is pretty great. But it comes with two major caveats: There's no Face ID (the iPhone Duo instead has a Touch ID on the side), and the FaceTime camera has low, 4-megapixel resolution and cannot take great selfies.

While it's possible (indeed, probable) that Apple is already working on upgrading that camera, it's hard to imagine the company making it as good as the "regular" selfie camera on its recent phones. It just doesn't seem likely that Apple could achieve such a drastic leap by next year; not to mention the separate issue of hiding Face ID sensors under the display as well.

In his post, Digital Chat Station also addressed the iPhone 18e, iPhone 18, and iPhone Air 2, which he says are coming in the first half of next year.

The iPhone 18 will reportedly have a 6.3-inch 1.5K 120Hz OLED display with a Dynamic Island, Apple's 2nm A20 chip, Face ID, a dual 48-megapixel camera setup, and a larger battery. Unfortunately, the price of the phone will also increase, though we don't know by how much.

Starbucks announced plans for its holiday merch weeks ago. That was a blessing and a curse. It's good to get an insight into what's to come, but the wait is painful. We want that Bearista merch without delay.

We've all had to be incredibly patient, but the wait is over: Starbucks is launching the first wave of its holiday merch from Nov. 5.

Credit: Starbucks

The lineup spans seven core drinkware and lifestyle items priced between $14.95 and $29.95. And in a major brand win for Mashable readers, it includes a limited-edition 24-ounce Owala FreeSip bottle for under $20 (we know you absolutely love these viral bottles).

Starbucks could print some standard red-and-green stripes on generic plastic cups and sell out by the early hours of launch day. Fortunately, they've gone incredibly hard with this initial drop. This year’s capsule features genuine design standouts that work surprisingly well for home offices and seasonal gifting:

• Owala Bearista FreeSip ($19.95): The undisputed hero of the entire drop, and something we expect to sell out quickly. Why? A standard 24-ounce Owala FreeSip retails for somewhere between $25 and $30 at Amazon, so scoring an official co-branded Starbucks edition for $19.95 is a wild promo.

• Bearista Bow Tumbler ($29.95): An insulated stainless-steel travel cup crowned with a sculpted dimensional gift bow lid.

• Double-Wall Bearista Glass Mug ($16.95): Clear borosilicate glass with an insulated interior silhouette.

• Bearista Espresso Mug and Snowglobe Gift Set ($22.95): A bundle that includes a miniature espresso demitasse cup and a matching Bearista desktop snow globe.

• Bearista Holiday Ceramic Mug ($19.95): A classic mug featuring the mascot dressed in winter gear.

• Glass Bearista Ornament ($16.95): A miniature glass ornament modeled after the iconic Glass Bearista Cold Cup.

• Plush Bag Charm ($14.95): A mini plush Bearista donning the signature Starbucks green apron.

Credit: Starbucks

This Nov. 5 drop is substantial, but Starbucks is holding back the Glass Bearista Cold Cup (Surprise Box Edition) until Nov. 10. That's followed by the Red Cup Day free reusable cup giveaway on Nov. 17.

There's a lot to come from Starbucks this season.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Go get it!

Hurdle Word 1 answer

FETCH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

There's a possibility.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MIGHT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Bring it down.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

LOWER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Vapor.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

STEAM

Final Hurdle hint

Growl.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

GRUNT

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

The Moon is now approaching the end of its current lunar cycle, with less than 20% of its surface illuminated. This puts it near the end of the Waning Crescent phase, when just a thin sliver of the Moon remains visible before the New Moon.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Friday, Nov. 5, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Crescent phase, with 16% of its surface visible.

Tonight, without the use of visual aids you should be able to spot the Aristarchus Plateau and that's all. With binoculars or a telescope, you'll be able to see this and the Grimaldi Basin.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on November 24.

What are Moon phases?

It takes the Moon around 29.5 days to pass through a complete lunar cycle. As it travels around Earth, the angle at which sunlight reaches its surface changes what we can see from here, producing the different phases, from the New Moon through to the Full Moon and back again. The cycle then starts over, as explained by NASA.

The eight phases are:

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.