The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off yesterday with an opening match between host country Mexico and South Africa. Mexico was able to pull out the W in front of a fiery home crowd. Fellow host nations United States and Canada start their World Cup campaigns today, June 12. Can they follow Mexico's lead? The pressure is on.

World Cup Matchday 2 is upon us, and live coverage of the tournament starts at 3 p.m. ET today as host country Canada welcomes opponent Bosnia-Herzegovina. With 48 teams in the mix, there's a lot to keep up with. So we've broken down everything you need to know to tune in live on June 12.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 12

• Group B: Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Toronto Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

• Group D: United States vs. Paraguay (Los Angeles Stadium) — kickoff at 9 p.m. ET

How to livestream FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina

Canada, one of the tournament's co-hosts, begins its World Cup campaign in Toronto today against Bosnia and Herzegovina, looking to take advantage of a home crowd. The Group B matchup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, and live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch United States vs. Paraguay

The United States is the last of the host nations to kick off its World Cup campaign. The U.S. Men's National Soccer team is hoping for a strong opening against Paraguay in front of a West Coast crowd. The Group D matchup will kick off at 9 p.m. ET at Los Angeles Stadium, and live coverage will be on Fox, Fox One, and Tubi. Peacock will also carry the Spanish-language coverage.

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Tubi (United States vs. Paraguay only)

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More live streaming options

Live TV cable replacement

If you'd rather get more bang for your buck, you can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. These options give you access to 100+ live channels via WiFi connection, including Fox and FS1, for a monthly fee. They can get pretty expensive, but most offer a free trial and introductory rate. Here are a few options to consider:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch for free on ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and more with a VPN

Don't want to sign up for another streaming service? I don't blame you. Instead, you might consider subscribing to a VPN and streaming the World Cup matches for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. We recommend ExpressVPN, an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, as our VPN of choice. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, fast connection speeds, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're a VPN newbie, our global World Cup watch guide will help you nail down the details.

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Nothing pairs better than food and football (er, soccer). So, now that the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off, why not indulge in some tasty treats to celebrate? Restaurant chains across the country are getting in on the global tournament with special food and drink items and even some deals.

Whether you're a dedicated soccer fan, new to the sport, or just like delicious food deals, here are all the spots you can score some World Cup food specials this summer.

Auntie Anne's

Auntine Anne's launched a Pitch Pack built for game day. Through July 31, customers can match up any two Pretzel Nugget flavors or Mini Dogs, along with two dips. Plus, it comes in a cute soccer-themed snack box.

The chain is also dropping some limited-edition World Cup merch online, called the Nug Cup Collection. Loyalty members can get $3 off plushies and scarves with the code PRETZELFAN.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Sports and wings are built for each other, and Buffalo Wild Wings knows it. Thus, it's serving up a limited-time Matchday menu inspired by global flavors. The lineup includes six new dipping sauces with flavors from around the world: Peri Peri (South Africa), Yuzu Wasabi (Asia), Maple Sweet Chili (Canada), Sweet Curry (Europe), Smoky Elote (Mexico), and Creamy Chimichurri (South America). The chain is also introducing two new signature cocktails (Red Card Punch and Yellow Card Margarita) and Michelob Ultra Beer Towers.

Chipotle

Chipotle released a limited-edition soccer jersey (there are only 53 available) that reward members have a chance to win. You'll have to use 10 of your rewards points for an entry into the raffle between June 10 and 24.

Crumbl

Through June 13, Crumbl is offering new flavors inspired by the international World Cup teams, including: Blue Raspberry Sports Drink Cookie, American Brownie Sundae Cookie, Mexican Tangy Mango Cookie ft. Tajín, Canadian Nanaimo Bar Cookie, Ultimate Peanut Butter Cookie, and Soccer Field Dubai-Style Cheesecake.

Grubhub

Grubhub is loaded with deals this summer in honor of the World Cup.

From June 29 through July 5, customers can take advantage of the following offers:

• BOGO 2-piece Chicken Combo from KFC, $15 minimum

• BOGO Whopper Jr. from Burger King, $15 minimum

• Free Bacon Cheeseburger from Shake Shack, $25 minimum

• $15 off orders over $50 from Primo Hoagies

From July 6 through 12, there's a new round of deals:

• BOGO 4-piece Signature Chicken or Chicken Sandwich from Popeyes, $15 minimum

• BOGO Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut, $35 minimum

• Free 10-piece wings from Wingstop, $30 minimum

• BOGO Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Wendy’s, $20 minimum

Finally, from July 13 through 19, the offers switch to:

• BOGO Chicken or Cheese Quesadilla from Taco Bell, $20 minimum

• Free 6-inch Tuna, Turkey, Spicy Italian, or Sweet Onion Teriyaki sub from Subway, $20 minimum

Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock Cafe is launching a new Messi Legendary Burger, alongside Lionel Messi, which consists of two smashed patties topped with provolone, tomato, chorizo jam, pickles, and roasted pepper aioli. It's only available for a limited time during the World Cup.

Stop in the Rock Shop for special Hard Rock x World Cup merch as well, including jerseys, hoodies, T-shirts, and more.

Insomnia Cookies

In honor of the World Cup, Insomnia Cookies introduced the Goal Game Pack, which gives fans 16 classic cookies for the price of a dozen. The offer is only available through June 30 at participating bakeries nationwide.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is keeping the deals rolling after National Donut Day with a new offer for the World Cup. Meet the Matchday Dozen, available between June 11 and June 14 at participating U.S. locations. It includes:

• Kickoff Donuts: unglazed, Cookies and Kreme-filled donut with green cookie dough icing, as well as soccer field lines and a soccer ball piece

• Soccer Rainbow Donuts: Original Glazed donut with vanilla icing, dipped in rainbow sprinkles with a soccer ball piece

• Fan favorites: Original Glazed and Iced Chocolate with sprinkles

Customers can also score a $2 Original Glazed dozen when they purchase another dozen or the 16-count Minis through June 14.

McDonald's

McDonald's launched a FIFA World Cup meal on June 4, which includes limited-edition collectible cups featuring Grimace or any of the following soccer stars: Christian Pulisic, David Beckham, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Thierry Henry, Son Heung-Min, Lamine Yamal, Alphonso Davies, and Santiago Gimenez. The meal costs between $10 and $12, depending on location, and customers can choose between a Big Mac and a 10-piece McNugget box for lunch/dinner or a Sausage Biscuit with egg or a Sausage McMuffin with egg for breakfast.

The chain is also letting kids get in on the action with a Happy Meal version. It includes 23 options of Squishmallow plushies, including World Cup mascots.

Subway

On the days the U.S. plays its Group Stage games (June 12, June 19, June 25), Subway is offering Sub Club members a 40% discount on any footlong if the U.S. wins. The offer will be added to Sub Club accounts the following day.

TGI Fridays

On the longest Friday of the year, June 19, TGI Fridays is offering Matchday Bites starting at $8.99, Matchday Platters starting at $14.99, Red and Yellow Card margaritas, $5 GOOOAL Shooters, $5 drafts, and $20 buckets.

Some of Meta's products had a hard time on Friday morning.

Services like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp all experienced temporary service outages to start the weekend. The cause is unknown at this point in time, but Meta's VP of communications, Andy Stone, acknowledged the outage on X.

Stone said Meta's engineers are working on it.

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

That's not good. Credit: Screenshot: Downdetector

In addition, the platform DownDetector recorded spikes in user error reports for Meta products on Friday. A peak of 10,000 users reported problems accessing Instagram, with the majority reporting problems with the app.

According to DownDetector users (Disclosure: Mashable and Down Detector have the same parent company, Ziff Davis), Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp all experienced problems starting in the late morning on Friday. On top of that, Meta's status page for its business applications also noted "High Disruptions" on Friday morning, too.

Anecdotally, multiple Mashable staff members have had a hard time posting or sending messages on Instagram during this outage. It's unclear exactly when the problem will be resolved, but at the very least, Meta is aware of it and is doing something about it.

This is a developing story...

A quick look at the best robot vacuum deals ahead of Prime Day

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Best robot vacuum on sale overall

Dreame L60 Ultra FE

$749.99 at Amazon (save $250 at Amazon)

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Best mid-range robot vacuum deal

Eufy C28

$529.99 at Amazon (save $270 at Amazon)

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Best budget robot vacuum deal

Roborock Q10 S5+

$329.99 at Amazon (save $270 at Amazon)

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Don't ask ChatGPT which robot vacuum you should buy on Prime Day — ask the person who has tested nearly 40 robot vacuums in their own home. Most of the best robot vacuums of the past few years, including new 2026 models, will be on sale for Prime Day between June 23 and June 26. But if your floors need automated cleaning earlier than the end of the month, I found a handful of worthwhile robot vacuums on sale to buy ahead of Prime Day.

That doesn't just refer to the models with the biggest discounts. I've further whittled down the list to the robot vacuums with the best ratio of cleaning specs and smart features compared to their sale price.

For example, the Roborock Saros 10R that I loved last year is $500 off, now back at its record-low price of $999.99. That sounds like a steal until I remind you that you can get significantly more suction power for $749.99 with the Dreame L60 Ultra FE. The self-emptying Shark Navigator for $246.95 sounds great until you realize that just $30 more can get you mopping and small obstacle avoidance with the Roborock Q10 S5+. (If you're shopping for a really high-end robot vacuum, I'd wait for the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete or Narwal Flow 2 to go on sale.)

So, here are the early Prime Day deals on robot vacuums that are worth your time so far:

Best Amazon robot vacuum deal ahead of Prime Day

Dreame L60 Ultra FE

$749.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $250

 

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Why we like it

Not to rope the Roborock Saros 10R back into it, but it really does make the Dreame L60 Ultra FE's value stand out. This model was just released at the end of April 2026, and its 30,000 Pa suction power isn't too far off from the 35,000 Pa of the most powerful Dreame robot vacuum. With accurate AI obstacle avoidance and heated self-washing mopping pads thrown in, this is a really solid vacuum for less than $800.

I can personally attest to the L60 Ultra FE's cleaning power for the price — it's currently sitting in my living room. I'm a sucker for the corner mopping of a spinning mopping pad, which still squeezes into 90-degree angles better than roller mop robot vacuums that can slide out to clean edges. This Dreame model has done a commendable job with cat litter, crumbs under the kitchen counter, and cat scratcher flecks stuck in the rug.

Deals on robot vacuum mop combos (+ self-washing mopping pads)

• Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2 — $379.92 $589.99 (save $210.07)

• Mova P10 Pro Ultra Gen 2 — $498.99 $599 (save $100.01)

• Eufy C28 — $529.99 $799.99 (save $270)

• Narwal Freo Z10 — $649.99 $899.99 (save $150)

• Ecovacs Deebot T90 Pro Omni — $699 $899.99 (save $200.99)

• Roborock Qrevo CurvX — $849.99 $1,499.99 (save $650)

• Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 — $949.99 $1,299.99 (save $350)

Budget robot vacuum and mop deals

• 3i G10+ — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Roborock Q7 M5+ — $249.99 $359.99 (save $90)

• Roborock Q10 S5+ — $279.99 $549.99 (save $270)

• Shark AI Ultra — $289.99 $599 (save $309.01)

Note: You don't need to be a Prime member to shop these early deals, but that will change come the official Prime Day kickoff on June 23.

For years, Spotify's New Music Friday has been one of the app's most influential playlists, helping millions of listeners discover new releases every week. But starting today, the platform is making a subtle change to one of its biggest products: It's putting the actual people responsible for curating it front and center.

Listeners in the U.S. will now find short-form videos from Spotify's editorial team embedded directly within New Music Friday. The clips feature editors explaining why they're excited about certain releases, highlighting emerging artists, and sharing the stories behind songs they think listeners should know about.

The new experience combines New Music Friday with The Drop Weekly, Spotify's editor-led video series that launched last year. According to the company, listeners have responded strongly to those more personal recommendations, generating more than double the engagement through saves and likes.

The move arrives at a moment when music discovery is increasingly shaped by algorithms. Streaming services like Spotify can instantly generate playlists based on listening habits, while AI tools promise increasingly personalized recommendations. According to Spotify's music editors, that's exactly why human perspectives matter more than ever.

"I would argue that they want that more and demand more of that," Alaysia Sierra, Spotify's head of R&B editorial, told Mashable when asked whether listeners still value hearing directly from human curators. "I think there's no better time to remind people that humans are here and still doing the work. Connection is something we're all deeply craving, and that's why humanizing recommendation and discovery feels especially important."

It may also be worth noting that human-curated playlists are less likely to surface AI-generated music, since editors tend to prioritize artists and stories they find meaningful and worth championing.

For Spotify's editorial team, the goal is bigger than simply recommending a song. It's providing the context that turns a casual listen into a lasting connection.

"We live in an era where anyone could listen to any song at any moment," said Cecilia Winter, editorial lead for Global Hits. "It's the act of both sifting through and actually finding the great stuff, but also moving into a space where we're sharing more context around it that's really going to create that stickier connection."

That idea came up repeatedly during Mashable's conversations with Spotify's editors. In their view, discovery isn't just about surfacing music; it's about helping listeners understand why a song matters. It's not so much about who you should be listening to but why. That's a role music media has traditionally filled. Publications like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork connect artists to larger cultural conversations and give audiences a framework for understanding what's worth paying attention to and why.

"The context is the discovery in a way," said Carla Turi, Spotify's senior editor for Folk & Indie. "Knowing that a song came out of a specific moment or that an artist was responding to something or someone in their lyrics, I think it completely changes how you experience music."

For Sierra, that work is especially important in R&B, a genre they describe as "cultural and rich and evolving" but one that can still be overlooked in broader music conversations. The challenge, they said, is identifying artists before everyone else catches on. While Spotify's editors have access to listener data and trend signals, Sierra often trusts a simpler metric: whether they can't stop replaying a song herself.

"If I keep going back to the song and wanting to replay it and it's making me feel this way, then I know that—or hope that—other people will feel the same way too," they said.

One of the biggest shifts they're watching right now is the globalization of R&B. Sierra pointed to a growing wave of artists emerging from the UK, including Cleo Sol, Elmiene, Sasha Keable, and Kwn, as evidence of the genre's continued evolution beyond traditional geographic boundaries.

"You just get these constant markers that something is obviously happening," they said. "All of these artists from this space are being loved and received and growing."

The new videos also pull back the curtain on a process most listeners never see. The New Music Friday playlist is assembled through a highly collaborative editorial process. Throughout the week, genre specialists and cultural experts from across Spotify meet to discuss upcoming releases, share songs they're excited about, and debate which should be included on the playlist.

Spotify isn't alone in this approach. Major streaming competitors, including Apple Music and Amazon Music, also employ editorial teams to curate playlists and shape music discovery. These videos offer a rare look at how that process works inside the world's largest music streaming service.

"When it comes to what makes it onto the list, there are many factors we balance," Winter said. "Obviously, we want to reflect the major news stories and moments that will be interesting to a broad audience. But we also want to showcase artists across genres that we’re especially excited about as editors and music experts."

That work extends well beyond listening sessions. Editors track audience behavior on Spotify, follow online communities, attend concerts, and maintain relationships with labels. They also regularly compare notes with colleagues around the world to identify emerging scenes before they reach the mainstream. The approach has more in common with traditional music journalism than the purely data-driven image often associated with streaming platforms.

Turi pointed to conversations with Spotify's international editorial teams as one example. A few years ago, editors in the Nordic region began highlighting a growing underground dream-pop and alt-pop scene emerging from Copenhagen. Before long, those sounds started spreading across markets and influencing artists elsewhere, and Spotify launched Cph+, its own dedicated playlist to the scene.

The example underscores how Spotify's editorial operation can function as more than a mirror of listener behavior. The company's biggest playlists—including New Music Friday, RapCaviar, mint, and Lorem—have become influential tastemakers in their own right, capable of introducing emerging artists to millions of listeners and helping shape what breaks into the mainstream.

Still, the editors insist there's no shortcut to discovering what's next.

"We're listening to music pretty much all day," Winter said. "There isn't really any shortcut to listening to music all day and identifying, OK, I'm starting to hear a lot of the same trend, or a lot of the same use of an instrument, or the same style in a way that I wasn't hearing six months ago."

The editors are also paying close attention to the next wave of sounds. Turi highlighted the post-hyperpop, alternative scene emerging around artists like 2hollis, MGNA Crrrta, and Ninajirachi, while Sierra said they're excited about the growing role music videos could play in music discovery on Spotify.

As for what they're listening to right now? Sierra recommends the rising artist nomi's "Sweet Talk"; Turi has Chanel Beads' "Song for the Messenger" on repeat; and Winter picked "L.U.C.K.Y" by New York duo Fcukers as one of her songs of the summer.

"It's a really nice song for walking around and feeling like the main character," Winter said.

Adding editor videos to New Music Friday won't fundamentally change how Spotify recommends music. But the feature speaks to something bigger.

More and more, platforms are realizing that people don't just follow recommendations; they follow people. It's why creators matter. It's why newsletters have become more personal. It's why publications increasingly ask reporters to step in front of the camera and build direct relationships with audiences, rather than hide behind the byline.

Spotify's editors aren't all that different. The recommendation itself still matters, but increasingly, so does knowing who's making it. The person behind the playlist becomes part of the discovery experience. And in the age of AI overviews and automated discovery, the value of a recommendation often comes down to the person making it.

As Sierra put it, it's a reminder that there are still humans behind the headphones.

Dell's revivified XPS 16 is a pricey, premium laptop for well-heeled shoppers. Its sleek chassis, peppy performance, and attractive extras (notably, an OLED touch screen) justify the expense if you're shopping for a high-end desktop replacement.

Netflix loves a twisty sci-fi in which regular folks get suddenly trapped inside their home with no means of escape. Brick blew our minds, and now another mysterious sci-fi snare is set to to arrive in The Last House, with a tense new trailer out today.

Greta Lee and Wagner Moura star in this thriller from director Louis Leterrier (Now You See Me), with the Past Lives and The Secret Agent stars playing couple Ann and Jason, who find themselves and their kids sealed inside their house. Like the Ultrahouse 3000 from The Simpsons, the house appears to have a mind of its own, pushing its inhabitants into survival mode within their own home.

Gabriel Barbosa, Emma Ho, Noah Alexander Sosnowski, and Riley Chung also star.

The Last House is streaming on Netflix on Aug. 7.

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Despite frequently bragging about his health, as Donald Trump nears his 80th birthday he certainly seems to be meeting with a lot of healthcare professionals — and Daily Show host Desi Lydic shared her thoughts on the matter.

"This weekend is his birthday, and he made it to 80 — with a little help," said Lydic during Thursday's show, before throwing to a Washington Post article about Trump reportedly being seen by 22 different medical specialists. "No wonder I can't get a doctor's appointment, half the medical profession is busy duct-taping together the world's healthiest man."

Ouch.

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Elon Musk, who has effectively admitted cheating at video games, may have found the ultimate cheat code that will turn him into the first trillionaire in the global game of capitalism.

That may well be the story of the SpaceX IPO, for which the company filed its SEC-mandated S1 form Thursday. The document was stuffed with eye-poppingly dubious claims about SpaceX's future as an AI company, as well as eye-wateringly embarrassing admissions about SpaceX, its new subsidiary xAI, and Grok.

And yet, none of these pokes in the eye seem to stop SpaceX from eyeing a record $1.75 trillion valuation.

What's in the SpaceX IPO?

SpaceX's Starship at Orbital Launch Pad 2 at Starbase, Texas, on May 21, 2026. Credit: Joe Marino / UPI / Shutterstock

To explain how bizarre the filing really is, and how deeply it might sink other offerings, let's first ignore the words Spacex xAI, Grok, Elon and Musk. Instead, just imagine you're telling your financial advisor you want shares in a new-to-market space launch company.

This company lost nearly $5 billion last year, on $18 billion of revenue. The revenue makes it look tiny, and its losses are increasing. But so is its revenue, so you have high hopes for its future.

OK, says your financial advisor, raising a quizzical eyebrow. A risky bet, but those can pay off big sometimes. What's the angle?

Well, you reply, the CEO is all in on AI. This space launch company is actually an AI company now, since it merged in a hurry earlier this year with one of the CEO's other companies, one he described as "the smallest" of the major AI players. The merger was a millstone, the cause of most of the combined company's losses.

Who's the creator you tell everyone to follow? Vote for them in Mashable's Fan Fav.

Still, AI's connection to the space launch business makes total sense. The CEO says he's going to launch AI data centers in space starting in 2028. And you totally believe that, despite this guy having a long history of making bold space-based predictions that don't come to pass.

Do space AI data centers even make sense? Who knows! "The conditions of space on such AI infrastructure have not been tested, by us or anyone else," notes the IPO. "Any component failures could result in permanent capacity loss" — since there are no IT guys up there to fix them.

But hey, what could make sensitive data center components fail in space? I mean, apart from the list in the company's S-1 filing: geomagnetic storms, solar flares, cosmic radiation, micrometeorites, orbital debris, as well as the vibration and thermal shock from launching them in the first place. Oh, and "the useful life of our satellites is inherently shorter than that of the information technology systems and infrastructure they host," the filing also says, but you're trying not to think about what that means in a data center business.

Eh, regulatory filings can be such Debbie Downers! What matters is this guy really believes in his AI product, right? So much so that SpaceX's IPO claims a $26.5 trillion addressable AI market (compared to the space launch and Starlink connectivity market, for which it only claims a total potential of $2 trillion). That AI product, by the way, comes in "Unhinged Voice mode" and "Spicy Imagine mode." The IPO notes its "heightened risks" of "reputational harm," not to mention regulatory and legal harm, thanks to "potentially explicit content ... misinformation ... exploitative imagery, intellectual property infringement," or "harmful, harassing, abusive, or discriminatory" content.

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, apart from the international investigations that have opened up into whether this company's product was used to make nonconsensual deepfakes of minors, as the IPO is also required to note. (You can almost hear the deep sighs of the lawyers who wrote this — but at least they didn't have to mention the whole MechaHitler thing.)

Speaking of legal harm, you also have no problem with the $3 billion in new data center gas turbine purchases revealed by the IPO, even though this is doubling down on harm for which the company already faces a huge lawsuit from environmental groups. After all, this guy has a history of winning most of his legal battles! Just pay no attention to the last one, where he flouted a court order by skipping off to China, and a jury found he had no right to bring the case in the first place.

Given all that information in the abstract, many financial advisors would advise you the company isn't worth the risk — if they don't advise you to get your head checked.

The cheat code at Tesla

Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide, Germany. Credit: Joko / imageBROKER / Shutterstock

In the case of SpaceX, however, your financial advisor may be rushing to invest before you do. The IPO sets 30 percent of shares aside for so-called "retail investors," an unusually high percentage; arguably they're more likely to bet on a name, a personality, a legend, than a company's fundamentals.

The reason, essentially, amounts to five words: "never bet against Elon Musk." First uttered by fellow Paypal billionaire and friend Peter Thiel, then SpaceX investor Peter Diamandis, this rallying cry has been taken up by the CEOs of Morgan Stanley and Breyer Capital. It is an article of faith — literally, in articles that use it to wave away Musk's more baffling moves, from the design of the Cybertruck to the overpriced Twitter purchase. (Which, given that Musk turned Twitter into the less popular X, then folded it into xAI, and then folded that into SpaceX, may go down as the most buried sunk cost in business history.)

Musk long ago mastered the razzle-dazzle of business showmanship. He has learned to dance on ever-higher tightropes of promised futures. At a crucial moment in the early days of Tesla, he offered preorders for the Model S when its prototype didn't even exist yet. That lesson has come in handy in Tesla's Cybertruck era, when the company has been saddled with an odd looking, low-selling EV that is becoming ever more of a joke with every wheels-could-fall-off recall and watery misdirection, dogged by cheaper Chinese rivals, and boycotted by much of Europe.

In response, Musk simply squeezed billions more out of the company for the honor of having him stay, then pivoted Tesla towards another, bigger promised future. That future — one filled with humanoid robots and robotaxis — is about as airy, as unproven, and as full of pitfalls (literally, the Optimus robots fall over) as AI data centers in space. But at this stage, Musk can simply insist it's going to happen, then sit back and dare Tesla investors to bet against him.

The Optimus robots, like the SpaceX data centers, "allow for near term demonstrations that look impressive but aren’t meaningfully revenue-generating, while allowing Musk to make long term projections of 'infinite' revenues that can be (nearly) infinitely postponed," noted Tim Farris, president of satellite and telecom industry research firm TMF Associates. The Rorschach test works for investors who want to believe in the "never bet against Musk" myth.

Never mind that "never bet against Musk" is far from literally true. In 2026, you can make money from short-selling (that is, betting against) Tesla stock, which is down just under 5 percent from where it was on Jan. 1. You could also have made a more than 30 percent return on the prediction markets in the past year, as one canny investor did, by predicting Musk's DOGE side quest would ultimately fail.

There are signs of cracks in Wall Street's wall of belief in Tesla. Last year was the company's first ever revenue decline on the books. Tesla investors are reportedly nervous that the SpaceX IPO is going to cost them — SpaceX, one major Tesla investor groused to Fortune, will become Musk's "new baby."

But Musk only has to dance ahead of the Tesla wave a little while longer. If all goes according to plan, and the AI bubble doesn't burst before he can bring his shiny new space AI baby to market next month, a Musk army of retail investors will help turn airy promises into a trillion dollars of net worth for their hero.

And then...we're boldly going where no economist has gone before. With access to that much capital and that much voting power — Musk will control 85 percent of the vote at SpaceX, making him virtually impossible to dislodge as CEO — there's no limit to the height of the tightrope he could dance on. It's not beyond the bounds of reason to imagine Musk folding a failing Tesla inside SpaceX, then dazzling investors by spinning ever more unproven plans for humanoid robots maintaining space data centers.

In the game of global capitalism, becoming a trillionaire may be the ultimate cheat code.

This article reflects the opinions of the author.

Sunny day! Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie came to Mashable's Say More studio for a visit with Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. Together, they talked about the importance of compromise when it comes to being a good roommate and ordering a pizza that can make everyone happy.

In this segment, which we're calling "Roommate Therapy," Mashable's Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards and Senior Editor Shannon Connellan called in with questions for Bert and Ernie. They've been roommates for ages. So, who better to ask about how to handle sharing space and the best way to ensure some quiet time to yourself?

Bert and Ernie were happy to help, as you can see for yourself.

For more from Bert and Ernie and the whole Sesame Street family, check out Sesame Street: Volume 2, now streaming on Netflix.

Nothing, the London-based brand behind retro-inspired tech like the Headphone (1) and Phone (4a) Pro, is making its way to brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S. Beginning June 12, the Phone (4a) Pro, Headphone (a), Phone (3), and Ear (3) are available in more than 500 Best Buy stores across the country.

According to data from Canalys, Nothing achieved a 120 percent boost in unit sales and a 175 percent revenue increase in the U.S. alone in 2025, making it one of the world's fastest-growing consumer technology brands. Nothing debuted in Best Buy Canada last year and has now made its way to the States.

We've tested Nothing's headphones, smartphones, and watches, and have come away impressed every time. Now, shoppers in the U.S. will be able to go hands-on with Nothing's products before purchasing.

"Nothing exists to challenge the status quo in consumer technology," said Carl Pei, Chief Executive Officer at Nothing, in a press release. "We’re here to remind people that tech can still be fun, rebellious, and different. As more U.S. consumers are drawn to this ethos, we are excited to make our products more accessible to show them first-hand what makes Nothing special."

Nothing products have distinctive designs that set them apart from other brands on the market. The Nothing Headphone (1) earned a spot on our list of the most stylish headphones. See Nothing's audio and mobile offerings for yourself in person at select Best Buy stores and online at BestBuy.com.

Shop Nothing at Best Buy

---

Nothing Headphone (a)

$299 at Best Buy

Shop Now

---

Nothing Ear (3)

$179 at Best Buy

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---

Nothing Ear (a)

$79 at Best Buy

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---

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro

Starting at $499.99 at Best Buy

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Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're good with essays.

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: Something to talk about

The words are related to making an argument.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are used to create a speech.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Parts of Speech.

NYT Strands word list for June 11

• Hook

• Body

• Conclusion

• Problem

• Topic

• Point

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like animals.

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: Spellcasting

• Green: Animals

• Blue: Over and over again

• Purple: Running water

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Starting with Incantations

• Green: Starting with Animal Group Names

• Blue: Starting with Synonyms for "Repeat"

• Purple: Starting with Parts of a River

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 #1096 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Starting with Incantations: CHARM BRACELET, CURSE WORD, HEX KEY, SPELL CHECKER

• Starting with Animal Group Names: MURDER MYSTERY, PACK RAT, PRIDE ROCK, SCHOOL DAYS

• Starting with Synonyms for "Repeat": COPY EDITOR, ECHO PARK, MIRROR SELFIE, QUOTE UNQUOTE

• Starting with Parts of a River: BANK TELLER, BED HEAD, DELTA AIRLINES, MOUTH GUARD

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

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like taking things apart.

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:

Separate in parts.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

The Wordle answer today is...

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BREAK

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

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

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

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

SAVE OVER $10: As of June 12, the Lego Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. set (#21357) is discounted to $55.99 at Amazon. This is $14 off its full price of $69.99.

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Credit: Lego

LEGO Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. (#21357)

$55.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $14.00

 

Get Deal

In what feels like perfect timing with Toy Story 5 coming out soon, the delightful Lego Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. set (#21357) has been discounted at Amazon before the retailer's big Prime Day sale. As of June 12, this Lego set is marked down to $55.99.

This saves $14 over its full price of $69.99, but it's also just pennies away from its lowest-ever price at the retailer. According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, it was $55.95, so why not take this opportunity to scoop it up for a Pixar fan in your life? Again, with Toy Story 5 releasing soon, the timing couldn't be better to build it.

This Lego set - comprised of 613 pieces and recommended for adults ages 18 and up - brings to brick-built life adorable Luxo Jr., the little lamp who first appeared in Disney Pixar's animated short of the same name, back in 1986. Luxo Jr. is fully poseable, too, so you can display it however you like once it's fully pieced together. You'll also piece together the ball that Luxo Jr. knocks around, which is a very fun touch.

If the Lego Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. set has been on your radar, now is a fantastic time to scoop it up at Amazon and save.

If you're curious what other Lego sets are worth picking up right now, check out our rundown of the 10 best Lego sets of 2026 so far to see some of our favorites.

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

A new gay dating app will soon enter the crowded landscape: Goose.

Its founder, Derek Chadwick, is a model, actor, and founder of Chaddy Cosmetics. He teased the app on his Instagram in May with a selfie video lamenting, "How come there's no cool gay dating apps in 2026?" Last week, he posted photos declaring that it's "Goose boys summer."

Goose proclaims to be an "anti-algorithm gay dating and lifestyle platform," according to information sent to Mashable. Its tagline is "for the boys," leaving no ambiguity about its target audience.

The app will be "intentionally social-first," offering something different than its hookup-focused competitors like Grindr and Sniffies. Goose also promises a "curated community" and will have an application-based membership, harking to "exclusive" dating apps like Raya.

"It's encouraging men to date how they actually live, sans swiping, born from the mind of someone who's been there, and wanted better," an email to Mashable states. Goose doesn't have matches; users can "wave" to each other, though, and if both people do it, they're connected. But you don't have to connect to match — users can match anyone, while waving signals interest.

Goose will have a live map that shows where people are, so users can discover who's around them. But they can also scroll to meet new people. Profiles will have photos, videos, and ongoing updates; you also won't have to say what you're looking for upfront. Chats can also disappear, as well, and screenshots will apparently be protected, though information sent to Mashable is vague.

Goose doesn't appear to be on the App Store yet, nor does it have a website, but an Instagram account has popped up and already has 12,000 followers at the time of publication.

The news of Goose's launch comes shortly after the announcement that Match Group's "intentional" gay dating app, Archer, will shut down on June 17.

SAVE $100: As of June 12, select colors of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are back to their lowest-ever price at Amazon of $199. This is $100 off their full price of $299.

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Credit: Bose

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

$199 at Amazon
$299 Save $100

 

Get Deal

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are among our favorite early Prime Day earbuds deals at Amazon right now. If you've had your eyes on them, there's no need to wait for the sale event to officially start to save. As of June 12, Amazon's slashed the price of most colors of these earbuds down to $199.

Compared to their list price of $299, this is a huge $100 discount and a return for some colors to their lowest price point so far at the retailer. If you're curious which colors have dropped to this price, you can save on the white smoke, black, desert gold, driftwood sand, midnight violet, and moonstone blue earbuds.

If you're someone who prefers to be aware of the world around you while listening to music rather than completely tuned out through noise-canceling, open earbuds like the Bose Ultra Open are worth looking into. Writer RJ Andersen gushed over these earbuds in Mashable's review, saying they're "extremely comfortable and score top marks for battery life, spatial audio, and sound quality."

To really emphasize how comfy the Bose Ultra Opens are, they've even landed as our top pick for comfort and sound in our overall roundup of the best open earbuds. Mashable's Bethany Allard notes that they "stood out as the most comfortable pair of open earbuds we tested." On top of that, "they simply sound way better than any pair of open earbuds has a right to."

With a battery that can last up to seven hours on a charge, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are great to have on-hand for a workout or commute in the day. If you've had your eyes on them, now is the time to pick them up while they're still on sale at Amazon.

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

SAVE $50: As of June 12, the Beats Pill speaker is on sale for $99.95 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Beats

Beats Pill

$99.95 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $50.00

 

Get Deal

If you’ve had your eye on the Beats Pill speaker, it’s just dropped back down to $99 on Amazon as of June 12, saving you nearly $50 off the usual $149.95. There are three colors to choose from too, including matte black, champagne gold, and statement red.

With this speaker you'll get an impressive battery life, with up to 24 hours of listening time on a single charge. It's a robust device, rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, so it's made for a range of outdoor situations. For portability, it even comes with a removable lanyard and soft-grip silicone backing.

Beats audio is always one you can rely on, and it's no different with the Beats Pill. It features a larger racetrack woofer that displaces 90% more air for deeper, fuller bass. It also benefits from high-resolution lossless audio, supported when connected via USB-C to compatible devices. And for a bigger sound, two Beats Pill speakers can be paired together in Amplify or Stereo mode.

It is also compatible with both Apple and Android devices, as well as Find My or Find My Device support, so you'll always be able to find it.

Get this speaker deal from Amazon now.

Are you using Waymo so much that you'd pay thirty bucks per month to get a 10 percent cashback and some fancy perks on top? If so, you're in luck.

On Thursday, the robotaxi company announced Waymo Premier, an invite-only membership program that Waymo says its users asked for.

The highlight perk of the program is the cashback, with users earning 10 percent Waymo Cash on every trip, and "even more during busy times."

Other perks include priority pickups that allow you to skip the waiting line, early access to Waymo in new cities as the company expands coverage, and up to five free ride cancellations per month.

The price is pretty steep: $29.99 per month. In comparison, Uber and Lyft have similar programs (Uber One and Lyft Pink), both of which cost $9.99 per month. Uber One cashback is only six percent, so the math favors Waymo Premier, but only if you ride very, very often.

Waymo Premier will initially be offered to "select riders" in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. The program will be expanded to more cities sometime in the future, the company said.

Elon Musk's SpaceX IPO has reportedly made him the world's first trillionaire (or at least very close — there are some mixed reports), and nobody's happier for him than Jimmy Kimmel.

"What makes that even more unsettling is that this man, our first trillionaire, the richest man in the world, is also one of the weirdest people we've ever seen on this planet. This obscenely wealthy weirdo has the ability and means to blow up the moon if he chooses," the host says in the clip above. "Wasn't he supposed to be going to Mars? Can't we chip in to help speed that up?"

Kimmel then uses a graphic to show exactly how much stuff Musk could buy with all his money, before going on to speak a little about the SpaceX CEO's personal history.

"Elon musk came to the United States from South Africa in 1995, the son of a humble emerald mine owner, and he is so grateful to this country that allowed him to become a trillionaire, Tesla paid almost no federal income tax over the past three years," says Kimmel. "You know, for a guy who has been openly cheering immigrants getting kicked out of the country for stealing from us, sure seems like an immigrant who's been stealing from us to me."

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

SAVE $30: As of June 12, the Apple AirPods 4 are on sale for $99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 23% on list price.

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Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods 4

$99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30

 

Get Deal

Looking for a new earbuds deal? As of June 12, the Apple AirPods 4 are back down to $99, saving you $30. And with Prime Day still over a week away, this is a nice little early deal if you need to upgrade now — especially as getting the timing right with Apple deals is a whole exercise. This price is for the earbuds without active noise cancellation, however these are available at a reduced price too, down from $179 to $148.99.

You'll get a great listening experience with these AirPods, which are powered by Apple's H2 chip. Both music and calls will sound great quality, and the Voice Isolation feature helps make sure you're heard nice and clearly too.

The earbuds include Siri support, so they make listening and hands-free tasks easy. You can use voice commands such as playing music or checking schedules, along with Siri Interactions that enable simple head gestures like nodding or shaking to respond. They also feature automatic pairing and in-ear detection for playback control.

They're also compatible with the Find My app, helping you locate both the earbuds and the case should you misplace them. Plus, the battery life gives you up to five hours of listening time per charge and up to 30 hours total with the case.

Head to Amazon to secure this Apple deal.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require soccer knowledge.

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

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

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

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

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

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: Same second word

• Green: Legendary players

• Blue: Legendary locales

• Purple: Legendary maneuvers

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Boards

• Green: Hall of Fame Spurs

• Blue: Locations of famous auto races

• Purple: Soccer skill moves

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 #627 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Boards: SKATE, SNOW, SURF, WAKE

• Hall of Fame Spurs: DUNCAN, GERVIN, GINOBILI, PARKER

• Locations of famous auto races: DAYTONA, INDIANAPOLIS, LE MANS, MONACO

• Soccer skill moves: NUTMEG, OLIMPICO, RABONA, STEPOVER

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 OVER $90: As of June 12, the Sony WH-CH720N headphones are on sale for $87.95 at Amazon. That's a 51% discount on list price.

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Credit: Sony

Sony WH-CH720N

$87.95 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $92.04

 

Get Deal

If you're looking for a quality pair of headphones, without needing to spend a fortune, this deal on the Sony WH-CH720N headphones is perfect for you. As of June 12, this Sony model is down to just $87.95 from $179.99, so you're saving over $90. Not only that, this is the best-ever price for these headphones, so you're really getting a great deal.

These also happen to be Sony’s lightest wireless noise-cancelling headphones, with whole thing weighing just 192 grams including the headband. This doesn't mean it sacrifices on performance, however. Dual Noise Sensor Technology and the Integrated Processor V1 work together to enhance noise cancellation for a more immersive listening experience. They also include adjustable Ambient Sound Mode and Adaptive Sound Control, which automatically tailor audio based on your environment.

The battery life can last up to 35 hours, and you'll also get a quick charging feature that provides an hour of playback from a three-minute charge. And for calls and voice notes, these headphones benefit from Precise Voice Pickup Technology with beamforming microphones that help make sure your voice is recorded nice and clearly.

Get this headphones deal online at Amazon now.

Having a clean and tidy home is a joy. Cleaning and tidying said home is less of a joy. Though there are some elevated beings among us who find scrubbing their stovetop a meditative experience, most people consider such tasks exhausting, reviled chores only undertaken with reluctance.

Fortunately, the steady march of technological advancement continues to lighten the burden of domestic labour. The popularisation of washing machines and dishwashers revolutionised everyday chores in the '50s, freeing up precious time for millions of people. New devices are now furthering the cause, seeking to become the next ubiquitous household cleaning essential.

Here are seven gadgets to help keep your home clean with minimal effort.

1. Roborock Saros 20 robot vacuum

Its threshold clearance just keeps getting better. Credit: Mashable composite: Roborock

Roborock's flagship Saros 20 robot vacuum is one of the most tricked out models in its current lineup (with the exception of the Roborock Saros Z70 and its robotic arm). Boasting 36,000 Pa, the Saros 20 has over 60 percent more suction power compared to the previous Saros 10, while its FlexiArm Design side brush can literally reach out to sweep up corners and under low furniture. 

The Saros 20's docking station offers all the features you'd expect from a premium robot vacuum, capable of automatically emptying its dust bin, refilling its water tank, topping up its detergent, and drying its dual spinning mops. These mops automatically detach in vacuum only mode as well, so you don't have to worry about it getting your bedroom carpet wet.

In addition to this, one of the Saros 20's most notable features is its improved threshold clearance. While the Saros 10 requires multiple steps to climb 1.57-inch (4-centimetre) thresholds, the Saros 20 is capable of clearing 1.77 inches (4.5 centimetres) in one go. If taking multiple steps, it can climb a further 1.69 inches (4.3 centimetres), for a total of 3.46 inches (8.8 centimetres). Of course, taking full advantage of this would require your home to include a threshold of two tiny ledges. However, the Saros 20's initial 1.77-inch clearance should be enough to let it navigate many homes.

All these features will cost you, as the Roborock Saros 20 is one of the pricier robot vacuums currently on the market. But if you have the cash to spend, a few small thresholds to navigate, and are after a set-and-forget floor cleaning solution that can both vacuum and mop, the Saros 20 may be an option to consider.

Roborock Saros 20 robot vacuum

$1,599.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

2. Wolfbox MegaFlow 200 compressed air duster

Blow away dust with ease. Credit: Wolfbox

Dusting off your electronics is one of those cleaning chores that you know you technically should do, but it's just so easy to overlook. There's never a compressed air canister on hand when you want to clean, and going to buy one feels like a hassle. The Wolfbox MegaFlow 200 compressed air duster makes it much easier to keep your electronics clean, turning dusting from an occasional chore to a regular part of your routine.

Blasting air at a maximum speed of over 190mph, the MegaFlow 200 weighs less than 1lb and charges by USB-C, making it easy to keep on hand for a quick clean at any time. While its four interchangeable nozzles are too wide to really reach into the nooks and crannies of electronics, the MegaFlow also comes with two brushes to help with that job, allowing you to dislodge debris while the powerful fan blasts it away. 

The MegaFlow 200 isn't just intended for dusting off electronics either. It can also tackle tasks such as clearing away sawdust in your workshop, helping light campfires, or blowing up inflatable mattresses — basically any job that requires a concentrated blast of air. Instead of handling a myriad of disposable air canisters and air pumps, you can do it all with just one gadget.

It is worth noting that the MegaFlow 200's considerable power does come with a drawback. The fan is incredibly loud, enough that it may hurt users' ears while in operation. Mashable's testing found that the noise from the MegaFlow 200 was over 100dB, as measured by Apple Watch Ultra's environmental noise detection. According to Apple, just a few minutes of sound at this volume per day can cause temporary hearing loss. As such, you'll definitely want to wear earplugs or noise-cancelling earphones while using the MegaFlow 200.

Wolfbox MegaFlow 200 compressed air duster

$85.49 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $44.50

 

Shop Now at Amazon

3. Kärcher SC 3 EasyFix steam cleaner

A powerful and versatile cleaning gadget. Credit: Mashable composite: Kärcher

Steam cleaners are severely underrated cleaning gadgets, sanitising surfaces and blasting away grime that would otherwise take extensive scrubbing to remove. If the grout in your bathroom is perpetually mouldy or you hate scouring your stovetop, you should seriously consider investing in a steam cleaner.

The Kärcher SC 3 EasyFix steam cleaner is a versatile household steam cleaner which heats up in less than a minute, so you can quickly get to cleaning before your motivation evaporates. Relatively compact at around 14 inches long, the SC 3 EasyFix has a 33 oz (1L) water tank which can easily be topped up even during operation, no stopping and depressurising required. Its replaceable descaling cartridge removes limescale from the water to lengthen the steam cleaner's lifespan as well.

The SC 3 EasyFix comes bundled with several attachments and accessories, including a floor nozzle, cleaning cloth, and extension tubes so you can steam clean your floor without getting on all fours. Kärcher also has various other accessories to expand your unit's versatility, such as a carpet glider, handy replacement brush sets, and a power nozzle for reaching into narrow areas.

It isn't entirely magic — you will still have to scrub a little. But scrubbing with a steam cleaner as opposed to without one is like pushing a tricycle instead of a truck.

Kärcher SC 3 EasyFix steam cleaner

$207.99 at Amazon
$259.99 Save $52

 

Shop Now at Amazon

4. Roborock F25 Ultra wet and dry vacuum cleaner

Roborock claims it can even steam wood floors. Credit: Roborock

While robot vacuums are great at maintaining general floor cleanliness, sometimes a deeper manual clean is required. The Roborock F25 Ultra wet and dry vacuum cleaner is a versatile option for such occasions, offering mopping, steam cleaning, 187°F (86°C) hot water cleaning, and sponge functionality all in a convenient upright cordless gadget. It can also lay completely flat, allowing you to reach those difficult spots underneath furniture for a satisfyingly thorough clean.

Boasting 22,000Pa suction power, the F25 Ultra features tight edge-to-edge cleaning on either side, mopping right up next to furniture and walls without missing spots. While its auto and sponge modes are suitable for standard cleaning and sucking up spills, the F25 Ultra's hot water and steam modes deal with oiler, more stubborn stains. The F25 Ultra also has a separate onboard compartment for detergent, which automatically dispenses in appropriate modes. This means you can switch between the steam and non-steam functions on the fly without having to worry about detergent interfering with the internal mechanisms.

Significantly, Roborock claims that the F25 Ultra's steam mode safely be safely used on wood floors. Many other wet and dry vacuums advise against such use due to fears that the hot steam may cause the wood to warp. In contrast, Roborock states that tests on the F25 Ultra included using its steam mode on a solid wood floor, which didn't result in any damage even after 18,000 strokes.

The F25 Ultra comes with a charging base and self-cleaning mode, which makes maintenance fairly simple. All you need to do run the self-clean, then empty out the dirty water tank and brush away the accumulated debris. While clearing out a dirty water tank is never an enjoyable task, the convenient lever handle on the F25 Ultra's tank helps make it as quick and easy as possible.

Roborock F25 Ultra wet and dry vacuum

$499.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $300

 

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5. Dremel Versa electric scrubber

Scrubbing made way easier. Credit: Dremel

Keeping a home clean unfortunately often necessitates scrubbing for hours on end until your fingers are permanently, painfully stuck in a clawed position. The Dremel Versa is an electric scrubbing device designed to make this chore much easier, replacing your elbow grease with 2,200 RPM.

The Versa has a slew of attachments available to suit a variety of scrubbing needs, whether you want to clean steel, grout, or glass. While its brushes screw in, the sponges adhere to the Versa via a Velcro-like pad, keeping them firmly attached while also making them ridiculously easy to swap out.

Dremel has a handy chart to help you determine the appropriate sponge for a variety of tasks, though it's still fairly nerve-wracking at first. As someone who has inadvertently scratched shower glass with a drill-powered scrubbing brush, you don't want to be applying such power unless you're absolutely sure you have the right attachment. You should consider wearing hearing protection as well, especially if you're using the Dremel Versa in an enclosed space such as a shower. After all, it is essentially a drill.

Though once you've figured it out, the Dremel Versa can go a long way to making home upkeep less taxing.

Dremel Versa electric scrubber

$59.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

6. Coway Airmega 200M air purifier

A good air purifier can be vital to the comfort of a home. Credit: Coway

As someone who lives in a fairly suburban area, I used to think air purifiers were largely unnecessary gadgets. Having now been through several dire bushfire seasons which smothered my home in smoke, I now know better.

Whether you're dealing with wildfire smoke or city smog, a good air purifier can be vital to the comfort of a home. After all, it's difficult to relax if you can't even get a lungful of good, clean air. The Coway Airmega 200M is a relatively unobtrusive workhorse that can maintain clean air in a 361 square foot area, whether you're binge-watching Netflix in your living room or optimising your sleep in your bedroom. The result is an environment that feels undeniably fresher and more peaceful.

The Airmega 200M has four stages of filtration: a pre-filter for larger particles such as hair and dust; a deodorisation filter to capture smells; a True HEPA filter for ultra fine particles like pollen, viruses, and germs; and a vital ioniser to catch any ultra fine particles the previous filters missed. 

Operating at a whisper-quiet volume, Coway's air purifier has a timer which can be set to one, four, or eight hours, as well as three different fan speeds. It also has an Eco Mode, which will save you energy by turning the fan off if the Airmega 200M doesn't detect pollution for half an hour, then turning it back on when it does.

Coway Airmega 200M air purifier

$161 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $68.99

 

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7. Bosch GlassVAC Solo Plus window vacuum

A gadget that aims to simplify window washing. Credit: Bosch

Having an abundance of windows can make a home feel refreshing and bright, allowing in natural light to transform an otherwise gloomy space. Unfortunately, these benefits are significantly diminished if you can't keep said windows clean.

Bosch's GlassVAC Solo Plus window vacuum aims to simplify this chore, squeegeeing and sucking up liquids for a tidy, streak-free finish. Bundled with a spray bottle affixed to a microfibre cloth head, this handheld gadget is designed to clean windows, mirrors, shower screens, tiles, and other such surfaces. Just turn it on, squeegee as usual, and watch as dirty water collects in its 100mL tank instead of on your window sill. 

The vacuum isn't quite as effective when running the GlassVAC Solo Plus horizontally across surfaces as opposed to vertically, and it may not get every last drop. Depending on how wet your window was, you may still need to give the sill a quick wipe. Even so, the GlassVAC Solo Plus does an excellent job of substantially minimising mess, and is particularly handy when dealing with morning condensation on bedroom windows.

The Bosch's GlassVAC Solo Plus also doesn't make that grating squeaking sound that most standard squeegees do, which is an undeniable bonus.

Bosch Glass VAC Battery Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

$89.90 at Walmart
$110 Save $20.10

 

Shop Now at Walmart

UPDATE: Dec. 8, 2025, 4:43 p.m. AEDT This article was originally published July 2024, and was most recently updated in June 2026.

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, June 12, 2026:

Across

Vertical post in a doorframe

• The answer is Jamb.

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

What "E" stands for in the musical mnemonic EGBDF

• The answer is Every.

6:7, e.g.

• The answer is Ratio.

Rap or tap

• The answer is Knock.

Quick puff on a joint

• The answer is Toke.

Down

Kind of seasoning for Jamaican-style chicken

• The answer is Jerk.

___-garde

• The answer is Avant.

"That makes two of us!"

• The answer is Me too.

Badly missed jump shot, in hoops slang

• The answer is Brick.

Oxen's harness

• The answer is Yoke.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Hurdle Word 1 hint

To ignite.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SPARK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An important part of diet.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

FIBER

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The hedgehog.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

SONIC

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Open.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

AGAPE

Final Hurdle hint

To squeeze.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

PINCH

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

SAVE $60: As of June 12, the Fitbit Charge 6 is on sale at Amazon for $99.95, marking a return to its lowest-ever price at the retailer. Overall, this is $60 off its full price of $159.95.

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Credit: Fitbit

Fitbit Charge 6

$99.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $60.00

 

Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day's next sale starts in just over a week on June 23, but there's already some exciting early deals available to shop. In the world of fitness trackers, Fitbits have been popping up with some excellent discounts at the retailer recently. This includes our favorite mid-range fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 6.

As of June 12, every available color of the Fitbit Charge 6 has been marked down to $99.95 at Amazon. This is $60 off its full price of $159.95, but it also marks a return to its lowest price point so far at the retailer. It's currently sitting as our favorite Fitbit deal ahead of Prime Day, so why wait to grab it?

From all-day activity tracking to 24/7 heart rate tracking to sleep tracking and more, the Charge 6 is a great option for those who want a variety of features for keeping an eye on health and fitness stats without a premium price tag. It's one we actually said is "a shining example of what a mid-budget fitness tracker can be" in Mashable's roundup of the best fitness trackers, where it landed as our favorite mid-range pick.

This is because, as Mashable's shopping team writes, the Charge 6 "offers fantastic value for what you pay, and packs in a lot of the features you'd expect from more high-end fitness trackers like a built-in GPS, 40 exercise modes to choose from, and heart rate connectivity with select exercise machines, just to name a few." However, if you're a trail runner, it is missing an altimeter. Mashable writer Lois Mackenzie wrote about this, but still expressed that the "Fitbit Charge 6 has many great qualities, and if tracking elevation isn't necessary for you, it's a fantastic option."

No need to wait for Prime Day. Don't miss out on this chance to save on the Fitbit Charge 6 at Amazon.

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

How to watch the Knicks vs. Spurs, Game 5 at a glance:

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ESPN Unlimited

$29.99/month

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YouTube TV

free 10-day trial

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Hulu + Live TV

free 3-day trial

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Fubo TV Pro

free 5-day trial

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Fortunately for New York fans, the alleged Trump curse was lifted for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, and the Knicks took a 3-1 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs after a historic comeback. I'm not even a basketball fan, and I thought the game was pretty dang electric. The teams will now head back to San Antonio for Game 5.

The Spurs are desperate for a win to stay in, but the Knicks could take it all this weekend for the first time in over 50 years. Even if you're not a huge fan of either team, Game 5 is sure to be epic. Here's everything you need to know to watch the action unfold live.

When is Game 5 of the NBA Finals?

Game 5 of the NBA Finals will take place Saturday, June 13, in San Antonio at Frost Bank Center, with tip-off scheduled at 8:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch Knicks vs. Spurs, Game 5 live

Game 5 will air live on ABC for cable subscribers on Saturday. For cord-cutters, you'll either need an ESPN Unlimited subscription, which gives you access to live sports on ABC, or you'll need a live TV cable replacement service like YouTube TV or Fubo.

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Credit: ESPN

ESPN Unlimited

$29.99/month

Learn More

ESPN Unlimited costs $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year (save $59.89/year), and unfortunately, there's no free trial. You can also bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu ($35.99/month for all three) or Fox One ($39.99/month for both) for the ultimate streaming package. The good news is that an ESPN Unlimited subscription will give you access to Game 5, plus any other games that may be necessary in the NBA Finals, as well as the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, NFL Monday Night Football, select college football games, and more.

ESPN Unlimited deals:

• ESPN Unlimited annual subscription — $299.99/year $359.88/year (save $59.89/year)

• Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle — $35.99/month $53.97/month (save $17.98/month)

• ESPN Unlimited and Fox One bundle — $39.99/month $49.98/month (save $9.99/month)

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Credit: YouTube TV

YouTube TV Sports plan

free 10-day trial, then $54.99/month for your first year

Learn More

We're big fans of YouTube TV's massive 100+ channel lineup, which includes all of the networks you'll need to tune into the Stanley Cup playoffs live. We're even bigger fans of the 10-day free trial offer. With 10 days of free streaming, you'll be able to watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals on ABC, as well as any other games necessary in the series, plus so much more across over 100 different channels.

Should you choose to keep your subscription going, it will cost you $67.99 per month for your first three months of the YouTube TV Base Plan ($82.99/month thereafter) or $54.99 per month for your first 12 months of the new YouTube TV Sports plan ($64.99/month thereafter).

YouTube TV deals:

• YouTube TV Sports — free 10-day trial, $54.99/month for your first year $64.99/month (save $120)

• YouTube TV Base — free 10-day trial, $67.99/month for your first 3 months $82.99/month (save $45)

Honorable mentions:

If you've already exhausted your YouTube TV free trial offer, check out one of these honorable mentions to watch the Knicks vs. Spurs Game 5 for free this weekend.

• Fubo TV Pro — free 5-day trial, then $58.99 for one month $73.99/month (save $15)

• Hulu + Live TV (includes ABC) — 3-day trial, then $82.99 per month

• DirecTV My Sports (includes ABC) — 5-day trial, then $44.99/month for two months $64.99/month (save $40)

The best robot vacuums of 2026 so far at a glance

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Most well-rounded robot vacuum of 2026 so far

Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete

$1,599.99 at Amazon

Shop Now

---

Best roller mop robot vacuum of 2026 so far

Narwal Flow 2

$1,499.99 at Amazon

Shop Now

---

Best budget robot vacuum of 2026 so far

Eufy C28

$499.99 with coupon at Eufy

Shop Now

---

Prettiest robot vacuum of 2026 so far

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Luxe Collection

$1,299.99 at SharkNinja

Shop Now

The pool of 2026 robot vacuums so far is significantly more diverse than it has been in years past.

Previously, it's been the same old battle of suction power or a corner cleaning competition between five or six bots with near-identical mopping functionality. This year, though, robot vacuum brands like Dreame, Shark, Roborock, Eufy, and Narwal seem to be more concerned with genuine yet realistic innovation. All of the biggest robot vacuums of the year have one or two cool cleaning features that are unique to that brand. We've seen three or four totally different mopping pad designs, AI mess detection and UV light-driven mess detection, and a refreshing variation in the aesthetics of dock designs.

This time a year ago, I had just wrapped up testing the flop of a robot vacuum with a mechanical arm. I then wrote a thinkpiece about how robot vacuum companies were losing the plot with half-baked high-tech features that aren't all that appealing to the average consumer. People just want a robot vacuum that works without intervention, and then maybe they'll be down to pay a more premium price. And that's just what we got this year: A robust selection of robot vacuum advancements at surprisingly generous price points. The most expensive robot vacuums in 2026 cost between $1,499.99 and $1,699.99 — the same price point as their weaker counterparts from 2025.

Since CES in January 2026, I've tested more than 10 of those 2026 robot vacuums in my own home. Here are the four robot vacuums that have impressed me the most so far this year:

Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete

I like the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete for its impressive suction power and hot-water mopping. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete is the most well-rounded robot vacuum of 2026 so far. Its 35,000 Pa of suction power is nearly the most powerful you'll find this year, and I appreciate the fact that it actually lives up to its specs. Cat hair pickup on multiple rug piles was consistently solid, and I found the X60 Max Ultra Complete to have more reliable debris pickup than the Roborock Saros 20's 36,000 Pa. Though it's a beast in terms of suction, it's quite humble in terms of presence in your home. It's pretty quiet and extremely slim at just 3.1 inches tall.

At $1,699.99, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete is also tied for the most expensive robot vacuum of 2026 so far with the Roborock Saros 20 Sonic. That's still steep in my eyes, but your money would be spent on premium features that actually improve the experience. Hot water is used during mopping (not just when washing the pads in the dock), and I think that helped a lot to prevent a greasy residue left behind after wiping up a liquid spill. The X60 Max Ultra Complete's AI cameras perform some of the most perceptive mess detection that I've seen this year — if it notices a spill during a casual clean, it automatically makes multiple passes over the extra-dirty area until the job is done.

Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete

$1,599.99 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $100

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Narwal Flow 2

The Narwal Flow 2's suction power and mess detection make it the best roller mop robot vacuum of 2026 so far. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Narwal Flow 2 is the best roller mop robot vacuum of 2026 so far. The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow is a close second here, but Narwal's latest pulls ahead with 31,000 Pa of suction power (compared to the Roborock's 20,000 Pa) and incredibly perceptive AI mess detection. The Narwal Flow 2 had a great track record of identifying large piles of debris or large spills bigger than a droplet or two. Its forward-facing camera snaps a before picture before conducting intensive spot cleaning on the area.

Roller mop robot vacuums are known for rinsing their mop as they clean, making them better at preventing smearing a spill or dragging dirty water across the floor. Narwal takes it a step further with heated mopping — and as I've learned over the past few months, hot water usage is a critical mopping feature that any flagship mopping robot vacuum should have by 2027. Hot water loosens the bonds that make grease slimy and tricky to lift off hard surfaces. Since roller mop robot vacuums are particularly geared toward soaking up liquids, they're bound to deal with a lot of greasy, oily, or just plain sticky kitchen spills. To keep hard floors residue-free, those stubborn consistencies need to be dissolved with heat (rather than relying on scrubbing alone). Despite some quirky settings, I'm wickedly impressed with the Narwal Flow 2, and would recommend it to any spill-prone household.

Eufy C28

The Eufy C28 is my favorite budget robot vacuum that I've tested in 2026 thus far. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Eufy C28 is the best budget robot vacuum of 2026 so far. The $799.99 MSRP isn't bad as it is, but the C28 can almost always be found on sale between $499.99 and $549.99. You won't find a robot vacuum in that price range that handles liquid spills as well as the C28's self-rinsing roller does. (In fact, you're unlikely to stumble across another roller mop robot vacuum this cheap at all.)

In my apartment, the C28's mop also came in handy for wiping up super-fine debris and dust, like kitty litter and pet hair, on hardwood. On rugs, the C28's 18,000 Pa suction power was far more effective on cat hair than I ever expected. I'm not sure that it's the best robot vacuum for homes with multiple shedders, but for one or two animals, the C28 would be more than enough. I appreciated how seriously the Eufy C28 took spot cleaning, especially when it came to straddling rug edges to get the debris that hides near the flaps. The dock and robot itself aren't the sleekest, but the C28 has too stacked a skillset to ignore.

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Credit: Eufy

Eufy C28

$499.99
$799.99 Save $300

 

Shop Now

Shark UV Reveal 2-in-1 Luxe Collection

The new Luxe Home Collection from Shark includes the most chic vacuums you can buy right now. Credit: Shark

I'm obsessed with Shark's UV stain detection. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The new Luxe Home Collection shades make the Shark UV Reveal 2-in-1 the prettiest robot vacuum of 2026 so far. Before these four earth tones came out, I tested the UV Reveal 2-in-1 at home and was floored by the blacklight detection of invisible dried stains on my hardwood floors. Now, this unique robot vacuum and mop comes in evergreen, ivory, espresso, and deep harbor (navy-ish blue). I haven't seen these colors in person, but I'm sure they're just as stunning as the green Shark PowerDetect Speed cordless vacuum that I'm testing at home.

If you want to automate sweeping and mopping at home, chances are that you're hoping for more frequent cleaning because you care about the state of your home. Ironically, that often means that you're forced to disrupt the state of a room's cohesiveness with a big plastic black or white box that simply looks cheap or too techy. Robot vacuums and their big self-empty docks aren't designed to be hidden under furniture anymore, so Shark's realization that robot vacuums have every right to be stylish is just as innovative as the cleaning itself.

It pains me to remember that the Shark UV Reveal's flat mopping pad isn't really built for dealing with large spills while they're still wet. However, Shark's innovative use of science-backed cleaning tech is refreshing amid the race to have the best AI stain detection cameras. I can see the UV Reveal inspiring a new wave of mopping robot vacuums that react to messes in real time more accurately than ever before, and for that, Shark deserves a spot in the best of 2026 list.

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Credit: Shark

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Luxe Collection

$1,299.99 at SharkNinja

 

Shop Now

Astronomers now have stronger evidence that mysterious "little red dots" found in the early universe could come from black holes wrapped in thick clouds of gas disguising their light.

Little red dots have puzzled astronomers since their discovery in 2022. Initially, some researchers thought they "broke cosmology," unsure how unusually mature galaxies could have formed so fast after the Big Bang, forcing scientists to rethink their understanding of the dawn of time. 

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has taken a deep look at one of these strange objects, a distant source called GLIMPSE-17775. It appears so small, so compact, and so red that it defies standard classification. By studying the space object's light, a team of researchers teased out more than 40 distinct chemical features. Taken together, they gave scientists a model for what the environment inside the object must look like. 

The verdict: GLIMPSE-17775 behaves like a voracious supermassive black hole, gobbling up a meal while encased in layers of gas. The team's study was published in The Astrophysical Journal. 

"Everything fits, nothing is broken, and I think that makes the puzzle that is our universe even better," said Vasily Kokorev, lead author of the paper, in a statement. "Looking ahead, I'm eager to dive deeper and learn about what is powering the central engines of little red dots." 

Earlier studies suggested perhaps these little red dots were ordinary galaxies, just heavily altered in appearance by surrounding dust. Others proposed something more radical: supermassive black holes feeding inside dense balls of gas. The concept became known as a "black hole star." 

Scientists based the idea on broad clues, like the objects' compact size and unusual hydrogen patterns. But those alone couldn't tell them what physical processes were occurring to shape their light.

The James Webb Space Telescope observes GLIMPSE-17775, south of the Abell S1063 galaxy cluster, the bright white light in the center of this image. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / V. Kokorev / A. Pagan

Kokorev's team created a spectrum of GLIMPSE-17775, which existed about 1.8 billion years after the Big Bang, by splitting its light into its component colors. The technique can reveal the presence and absence of different elements and conditions. These new observations allowed them to test the idea of a black hole star from several different angles. 

One of the clearest clues came from the way the little red dot's light behaves. Instead of traveling directly into space, it appears to have ricocheted. That only happens in a dense cocoon of gas — far denser than what astronomers would see in an ordinary galaxy. 

At the center of that gas shell likely sits an actively feeding black hole, aka a quasar, according to the paper. As matter falls toward it, it releases energy. But instead of making a clean getaway, much of that energy gets absorbed and recycled by the surrounding gas. 

That process would naturally explain why the object appears very red and very compact. The gas changes the light before it ever reaches us.

Some researchers think the "little red dots" in the early universe may be supermassive black holes, feeding inside dense balls of gas. Credit: T. Müller / A. de Graaff / Max Planck Institute for Astronomy illustration

"When we saw the spectrum for the first time, it was like having all the pieces of a puzzle scattered on the floor," said Kokorev, an astrophysicist at the University of Texas at Austin. "Maybe a few pieces looked like nothing at first, but then a couple of them came together, and we realized that there was something there."

The study also discusses the masses of these objects. Because earlier estimates relied on measuring how fast gas moves around the black hole, those figures may be unreliable, according to the paper. In an environment of dense gas such as this, the light could become extremely distorted before it reaches telescopes.  

If that's the case, then some early-universe black holes may be smaller than they seem — just growing very quickly and shrouded in gas. That could resolve one of the biggest problems with little red dots: how something so early in cosmic history could grow to be so seemingly large.

Whenever you play a game of Among Us, the Impostor's identity is completely random. Red could just as easily be the culprit as Blue, and there is no narrative reason why any character in particular gets chosen.

But when Among Us made its jump from video game to TV show, the choice of Impostor had to be intentional and character-driven. So, how did series creator Owen Dennis decide that the show's Impostors would be (spoiler!) eager unpaid intern Green (voiced by Elijah Wood) and overly peppy HR rep Orange (voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown)?

The answer was rooted in murder mystery tropes.

"If you think about the various tropes that come with murder mysteries, you end up with the classic: The butler did it," Dennis told Mashable in a video interview. "Why did the butler do it? Why is that the idea? It's because the butler is the person that's always there. At the time period that these sort of mysteries were written, they're basically the lowest on the totem pole."

Who, then, is the lowest person on the totem pole on Among Us' spaceship, The Skeld? None other than the unpaid intern.

While Green gets taken over by the Impostor alien parasite, Dennis views the harm as also coming from MIRA, the mining corporation behind the Crewmates' mission. After all, their nefarious pursuit of Ore+ — otherwise known as the alien eggs — is what caused this mess in the first place.

"The entire ship is just like this negligent corporation," Dennis said. "Who would the negligent corporation hurt first and hardest? It would be the person who has the least power, and that would be the intern."

The aliens' parasitic nature acts as a stand-in for MIRA and its wrongdoings, which is why Orange, the company's main presence on the ship, also wound up as an Impostor.

"The first person to turn in this [situation] would be the one who is the most pro-corporation, who, of course, would give themselves willingly to this horrible machine that they're a part of," Dennis explained.

Anti-corporate, anti-capitalist messaging was one of the last things I'd expect to see from an Among Us adaptation, but for Dennis, the idea jumped out at him from the sheer isolation of the game's Crewmates.

"Why isn't there anybody to help them?" Dennis asked. "There's so many systems that seem to fail them over and over again throughout this whole process. There's no government system that can help them. There's no corporate system that seems to help them. Even when they follow their own rules that are given to them by the corporation, where you have to do a vote, it's still an extremely imperfect system that can get a lot of innocent people killed."

Among Us' combination of murder mystery tropes and anti-corporate rhetoric became a potent fuel for its Impostor choices, and Dennis wouldn't have it any other way.

"If there's anything that I'm always happy to push out into the light of day, it's how shitty corporations are," Dennis said.

Among Us is now streaming on Paramount+.

Gather ‘round, witches and wizards. One of my favorite portable power station brands has made a hat for those who dabble in the dark arts. Jokes aside, there’s no denying the EcoFlow Power Hat looks like it’s something out of Harry Potter. But it’s actually a well-designed hat for anyone who spends time outside, and it might be the best way to keep your phone charged up when you’re adventuring off-grid.

The EcoFlow Power Hat uses eight mini solar panels on the brim. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

In my quest for the best way to keep devices online while outdoors, I knew I needed to test out the EcoFlow Power Hat, which is genuinely a solar panel you wear on your noggin. I spent days wearing the hat in my backyard, while out on walks, and generally while living out my life to see just how functional it was. My niece, who’s 16 months old, gave me a judgmental and unapproving look every time she saw me wearing the hat. She clearly didn’t like it, but did I? Here’s what I experienced while testing out the EcoFlow Power hat, which sells for $129.

EcoFlow Power Hat

$129 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Wearing a solar panel on my head recharged my phone at a surprising speed

We’ll talk about the looks of the hat later, but what matters most is that the EcoFlow Power Hat recharged my phone at a speed that I wasn’t expecting. To test the Power Hat’s abilities, I set it outside in direct Georgia summer sun for half an hour. I did my best to position the hat so all eight mini solar panels were getting full sun. It took my Google Pixel 8 from 83 percent to 93 percent charge. With those metrics, I was getting about 20 percent charge per hour, or five hours to get my phone from dead back to 100 percent charged. That’s not bad for a clothing accessory.

Testing the EcoFlow Power Hat to recharge my phone. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

I used a USB-C power meter to take a reading of the power input the hat was giving my phone. EcoFlow says the hat can get up to 12W of power, but I only reached a max of 7W, and it mostly hung out near the 6W range. Still, I was impressed that my phone recharged by 10 percent in just 30 minutes of full sun. Here's some useful technical info about the solar panel hat.

Spec teardown on the EcoFlow Power Hat

• Size options: M/L (22 to 22.8 inch head circumference), L/XL (23.2 to 24 inch circumference)

• Rated power output: 12W

• Hat weight (M/L): 13 ounces (0.8 pounds)

• Input options: 1 USB-C, 1 USB-A

• Includes: Solar-panel hat, adjustable hat strap, carrying case

A hat built for function, not fashion

Not that I thought wearing a solar panel on my head would be fashionable, but the hat has a distinctly unfashionable vibe going on. The upper part is a trucker hat design, with a structured front panel and a mesh back for breathability. The brim consists of eight mini solar panels. There’s also an adjustable chin strap you can add to the hat for extra functionality.

The solar panel brim is stiff and stays in a semi-bent-up position, no matter how long I set it on a flat surface to relax. Wearing it for more than half an hour at a time left indents on my forehead, presumably because it’s pretty heavy. The medium/large size I tested weighs about 0.8 pounds. Another downside I noted is that the solar panels get hot to the touch; hot enough that it was uncomfortable to touch for more than a few seconds when sitting in full sun. 

An underside view of the hat with the included strap. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The hat has one USB-C and one USB-A port. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

But looks aside, the hat serves its intended function very well. Wear it around during a day outside, and you’ll get power into your small electronics. In terms of sun protection, this hat is incredible. The brim is wide and offers 360-degree coverage. If you’re out on a multi-day hiking excursion, this is the exact type of sun protection you’ll want.

Who should own the EcoFlow Power Hat

After wearing the hat around for a few weeks, I’m convinced certain people will love the functionality of the Power Hat. If you head out on fishing trips, spend the day cruising on the boat, or love to spend the summer at festivals, recharging your phone via a hat is a genius move. Plus, you’re getting sun protection. 

It’s also a great idea for people who take multi-day backpacking trips and are trying to keep weight as low as possible. The hat removes the need to pack a power bank and a hat, combining the two. You could also wear the hat for a day at Disneyland, which is a notorious situation for dead phone batteries because you’re not gonna not take endless pictures of Minnie Mouse. 

Why the EcoFlow Power Hat might not be right for you

Despite being a cool gadget, I’m not convinced the EcoFlow Power Hat is right for most people. Consider this: The EcoFlow 45W Portable Solar Panel costs $99 at full price, making it cheaper than the Power Hat and significantly more powerful at recharging small devices. That hat maxes out at 12W, according to EcoFlow, but I never got that much.

While testing the hat, power output maxed out at about 7W. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The super portable EcoFlow 28W Ultra-Light Solar Panel is also less expensive than the Power Hat when both are at full price. The 28W solar panel sells for $119 and could easily hang on a hiking backpack or sit on a boat deck. Comparing those prices to how much solar power they can harness, the EcoFlow hat only makes sense if you prefer the hat design. Otherwise, you can get more power for less money. And not have to wear a solar panel on your head.

Where to buy the EcoFlow Power Hat

The EcoFlow Power Hat is listed at $129, but it’s currently on sale for $89.99 at Best Buy, and it’s gone as low as $79 at Amazon. If you don’t dig the hat design, I’ve included two solar panel options I’d consider to be solid alternatives.

Where to buy the EcoFlow Power hat and solar panel alternatives:

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EcoFlow Power Hat

$129 at Amazon

Get Deal

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EcoFlow Power Hat

$99 at EcoFlow (M/L) (save $30)

Get Deal

---

EcoFlow Power Hat (L/LX)

$89.99 at Best Buy (save $39.01)

Get Deal

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EcoFlow 45W solar panel

$99 at Amazon

Get Deal

---

EcoFlow 28W solar panel

$99 at Ecoflow (save $20)

Get Deal

You don't need to be a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race to enjoy Stop! That! Train!, but it certainly helps. 

The disaster spoof penned by Hazbin Hotel writers Christina Friel and Connor Wright is broadly funny in the way of The Naked Gun or Airplane!. The jokes are more about embracing sublime stupidity than references to the long-running drag queen competition. However, headlined by the queen of drag RuPaul Charles, and RuGirls like Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Symone, and Marcia Marcia Marcia (aka Marty Lauter), Stop! That! Train! has more to give to audiences who know the show, or at the very least embrace its zany brand of queer humor. 

Stop! That! Train! delivers Heathers, underdogs, and a "stormaganza."

Ginger Minj and Jujubee play Stank Rail attendants Tess and DeeDee Credit: Bleecker Street

For years on RuPaul's Drag Race, the eponymous host and her panel of distinguished judges have challenged drag queens to become actors in a cascade of outlandish scenarios. There have been spoofs of science fiction, horror, and Shakespeare, to varying degrees of hilarity. But few of these concepts felt capable of supporting a feature-length plotline. Stop! That! Train! solves this problem by creating a totally outlandish scenario that — like most disaster movies — depends on leaping from one batch of could-be survivors to another. In this case, that allows for a nonstop ride of rollicking silliness. 

Stop! That! Train! begins with an ad for Glamazonian Hyper Speed Rail, a big, long, pink (and yes, very phallic) bullet train that promises a luxury experience, complete with a trio of high-class attendants (Hytes, Symone, Lauter). To work on such an illustrious train line is the dream of the tragically unchic besties Tess (Minj) and DeeDee (Jujubee), who are attendants at the far less prestigious Stank Rail. 

That is, until Stank Rail pulls a Spirit Airlines and closes without warning. From there, a twist of fate and a little help from a friend named Barbra (Latrice Royale) gives Tess and DeeDee their chance to be Glamazonians. But head attendant Amber (Hytes) won't make it easy on them. 

Meanwhile, in a control room for trains nationwide, mousy and bespectacled Donna Dusk (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's Rachel Bloom) warns her boss that a collision of natural disasters called a "stormageddon" is set to collide with this big, pink bullet train! Not only could it endanger the lives of everyone on board, but a train wreck of this magnitude could also threaten a nuclear power plant, a children's hospital, and the home of beloved character actress (and recent Tony winner) Laurie Metcalf! 

So, on top of proving themselves to the haughty Heathers of Glamazonian Hyper Speed Rail, Tess and DeeDee will have to face their fears, and team up with President Judy Gagwell (RuPaul, of course) to save the day — and Laurie Metcalf's house! 

Stop! That! Train! is stuffed with celebrity cameos. 

RuPaul Charles as President Judy Gagwell in "Stop! That! Train!" Credit: Bleecker Street

In the tradition of spoofs, this one is bursting with famous faces playing deeply ridiculous roles. Comedians like Matt Rogers, Nicole Sullivan, Chris Parnell, Natasha Leggero, Drew Droege, Guy Branum, Missi Pyle, Joel McHale, and Riki Lindhome pop up, along with Drag Race alums like Monét X Change and Drag Race judge Michelle Visage. 

However, my favorite cameo was Sarah Michelle Gellar, who plays herself as a celebrity who keeps thinking people recognize her, only to be horrendously scoffed at for petty reasons. It's a runner that made me laugh in shock every time. (Imagine not recognizing SMG!) 

And yet, for all the big names in the ensemble, Minj and Jujubee prove a terrific double act. Minj shoulders the role of the smart bestie, blinded by ambition, and shows her growth from glamor toad to showgirl with a kicky dance number. By contrast, Jujubee is a divine as a ditzy blonde. As was the case on Dungeons and Drag Queens, she's radiant in her enthusiasm, even when she's utterly confused. And Stop! That! Train! gives her a romantic subplot that's funny and satisfyingly sexy. 

Stop! That! Train! is brilliant in its stupidity. 

Ginger Minj performs with Marcia Marcia Marcia and Symone in "Stop! That! Train!" Credit: Bleecker Street

Disenchanted director Adam Shankman helms this sensationally silly spoof, which is essentially a bunch of sketches stitched together with a manic pacing. In that way, Stop! That! Train! feels like a throwback to the '80s, when raunchy and unapologetically dumb comedies could thrive. 

Rather than making the film feel like an antique, this devotion to the audaciously goofy feels timeless. Whether it's fumbled flirting with a side of nosebleed, an overwrought flashback of a comically tragic backstory, or the reveal of some DIY Glamazonian uniforms, this movie understands its audience wants outrageous. And Stop! That! Train! delivers. 

Fans of Drag Race will also recognize callbacks to the show, like the catchphrase "Look over there!" — coined by Season 12 champion Jaida Essence Hall. But even if you're not versed on reading being fundamental, this movie is so stuffed with jokes, pratfalls, and visual gags that you'll have plenty of opportunity to laugh yourself silly.  

Stop! That! Train! was reviewed out of Newfest; the movie opens in theaters on June 12.

TL;DR: Babbel Language Learning is down to a one-time $159 through June 22 with the StackSocial code LEARN, giving you lifetime access to human-created lessons across 14 languages.

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Courses were developed by professional linguists, and it shows in the pacing. Each concept builds logically, then repeats through guided conversation and review sessions, so phrases stick long enough to use them on a real street, not just a quiz.

Speech recognition helps with pronunciation, while offline downloads let you practice mid-flight or during a commute. Progress syncs across phone and desktop, so learning doesn’t depend on one device. Instead of cramming a phrasebook before departure, you build familiarity over time — enough to understand replies, not just deliver rehearsed lines.

The result isn’t fluency overnight (though it’s pretty close). It’s language confidence in the moment.

Get lifetime access to all Babbel languages for just $159 (reg. $299) with the StackSocial code LEARN at checkout through June 22.

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2026 cinema has been a wild ride from the very start.

January gave us jaw-dropping action and musical mayhem with Greenland 2: Migration, The Rip, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. February brought spicy tales of love for better and worse with Pillion and "Wuthering Heights." March delivered a big hit with Project Hail Mary and the electrifying box office bomb The Bride! April presented provocative indies like Mother Mary and The Drama, as well as the tedious studio tentpole The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Then, came May with devils, witches, and Hutts in The Devil Wears Prada 2, Hokum, and The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Some of these are sensational. Some are major misfires. Below, we'll break down the must-sees of 2026. Whether you go wild for horror, live for comedy, thrive on sci-fi, or adore a genre mashup, this year has got something great for you.

Here's the best movies of 2026 so far.

15. The Bride!

As writer and director, Maggie Gyllenhaal took a big swing with The Bride!, a dizzying reimagining of the Universal monster from The Bride of Frankenstein. Critics were mixed on it, and despite starring Academy Award winners Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale as the Bride and her monster mate, this epic horror offering tanked at the box office.

But the world is wrong. Set in 1936 Chicago, The Bride! offers up a gangster's moll (Buckley) who is fatefully possessed by Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, who's long dead but still has things to say. So begins a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style crime spree with a besotted creature who loves movie musicals. The result is fitful, deranged, and uniquely beautiful.

Apparently, The Bride! is not for everyone. But to me, it was sensational. As I wrote in my review, "Gyllenhaal and her cast don't just dust off a classic tale for a safe money grab. (Looking at you, Disney live-action remakes!) They tear various Frankenstein iterations to bits, then create an exquisite corpse of the pieces, festooning it with elements from other films about violence, revolt, and violation. The result is a film that is utterly electrifying, sure to spark something in hearts young and old." — K.P.

Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz

How to watch: The Bride! is now streaming on HBO Max.

14. Sound of Falling

Director Mascha Schilinski weaves strands of girlhood across generations in Sound of Falling, a magnificent, quiet, and powerful epic. Co-written with Louise Peter, the German director's second feature takes us into the lives of four characters living in the same German farmhouse over a century: Alma (Hanna Heckt) in the 1910s, Erika (Lea Drinda) in the 1940s, Angelika (Lena Urzendowsky) in the 1980s, and Lenka (Laeni Geiseler) in the 2020s.

Each performance is interior and complex, with Schilinski giving these women and girls deserved agency in contexts that refuse to — and their experiences are framed by a magnificent production team. As I wrote in my review, "Capturing the unpredictable, complex tempest that is girlhood onscreen is a challenge many films have wrestled with, and Schilinski assembles a deeply talented production team to make Sound of Falling feel as intimate and private as a diary." — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Hanna Heckt, Lena Urzendowsky, Laeni Geiseler, Susanne Wuest, Luise Heyer, and Lea Drinda

How to watch: Sound of Falling is now streaming on MUBI.

13. Rose of Nevada

If you relished in the eccentricity of The Lighthouse and crave another salt-encrusted voyage into surrealism, get aboard Mark Jenkin's Rose of Nevada. In the third chapter of the filmmaker's Cornish trilogy (after Bait and Enys Men), time becomes a fickle friend for men of a small coastal village. When an enigmatic fishing trawler shows up 30 years after it disappeared, its sea-wisened captain (Francis Magee) is recruiting able (read: desperate) seamen. Valuing financial stability over a bit of folklore, locals Nick and Liam (George MacKay and Callum Turner) sign up as the Rose of Nevada's skeleton crew.

Not your average commercial fishing trip, the film takes the crew and the audience on a strange, harrowing ride. Jenkin weaves a captivating net that traverses time, all captured on a 1976 wind-up Bolex camera with 16mm film. It feels like something found in the trunk of an old seaside cottage, somewhat inexplicable at times but hypnotising all the same. — S.C.

Starring: George MacKay, Callum Turner, Rosalind Eleazar, Francis Magee, and Mary Woodvine

How to watch: Rose of Nevada opens in theaters on June 19.

12. Exit 8

Months after escaping from Exit 8, I remain ensnared in it. Genki Kawamura's haunting adaptation is more than an ode to Kotake Create's acclaimed 2023 game; it's an impeccable thriller that will have you actively participating in its labyrinthine puzzle. You'll genuinely root for Kazunari Ninomiya as a frantic man trapped in a nightmarish looping subway hallway beneath Tokyo, his only chance of escape being his ability to identify "anomalies" within this wretched corridor. A rare triumph among video game adaptations, Exit 8 is a masterpiece of production, from the meticulous sets to the dynamic cinematography and nerve-racking sound design.

As I wrote in my review, "While video game adaptations come in a range of sublime to mediocre, Exit 8 is a triumphant realisation and expansion of the original concept. Kawamura's punctilious direction and his incredibly talented cast and crew amplify this contained hallway in satisfying, chilling ways. You'll remain in this hallway long after you've left the cinema — we're all still staring blankly at that Exit 0 sign." — S.C.

Starring: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, and Nana Komatsu

How to watch: Exit 8 is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

11. Send Help

Some movies are just so weird that it feels like a miracle they exist at all. Send Help is such a wonder, as it pairs A-list actress Rachel McAdams with much, much, much, much glop.

Directed by Sam Raimi, Send Help is a genre mash-up that combines tropes from adventure and romance, horror comedies, and survival thrillers with an eat-the-rich edge. McAdams stars as a mousy office worker whose hotshot boss (Dylan O'Brien) treats like a pimple that needs to be popped. But when they end up stranded on a desert island, the power dynamics are dramatically flipped. There will be blood. And vomit, and muck, and more blood. And it will be hilarious. As I declared in my review, "It's also a rip-roaring, no-fucks-to-give good time." — K.P.

Starring: Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien

How to watch: Send Help is now on Hulu.

10. Disclosure Day

Steven Spielberg has brought audiences epic movies about extraterrestrial life touching down on Earth, from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to E.T. to War of the Worlds, and now Disclosure Day. With a screenplay from David Koepp, this sci-fi thriller stars Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor as two strangers who are united in their quest to get the truth about alien life out to the world.

As I celebrated in my review, "With Disclosure Day, I experienced the distinctive thrill of watching a master filmmaker do what he does best. The film, which focuses on a band of people's struggle to release secret information about extraterrestrial contact on Earth, is a dizzying mix of action, humor, adventure, sci-fi, and wonder. Naturally, I laughed, cried, and gasped. But more than that, Disclosure Day made me feel like I better understand the whole of Spielberg's work, and him as a person... On its surface, Disclosure Day is about aliens. But beneath that, it's about us — or more specifically, how Spielberg sees humanity itself. And while he has more faith in us than I do, I hope he's right." — K.P.

Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo

How to watch: Disclosure Day is now in theaters.

9. Mother Mary

Written and directed by David Lowery (The Green Knight, A Ghost Story), Mother Mary is a velvety journey of heartache, hauntings, and healing.

Anne Hathaway stars as a pop icon known as Mother Mary, who's fallen out of the spotlight — hard. Readying for her comeback, she reaches out to Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel), the fashion designer and friend who helped her craft her pop persona. While much of the film is a tense conversation in a crumbling barn repurposed as Sam's design studio, Lowery weaves in surreal flashbacks to reveal not only what came before but also how it hangs over both like a shroud they can't escape.

Rapturous visuals are bolstered by original music performed by Anne Hathaway and written and produced by Jack Antonoff, Charli XCX, and FKA twigs. But the best bit of all are the dueling performances of Hathaway and Coel, who are mesmerizing even in a simple scene of arguing over fabric. (The Devil Wears Prada, who?)

As I declared in my review, "Mother Mary is not only slippery, riveting, unnerving, and haunting, but also one of the most enthralling films 2026 is likely to reveal." — K.P.

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Isaura Barbé-Brown, Alba Baptista, Sian Clifford, and FKA twigs

How to watch: Mother Mary is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video or Apple TV.

8. Pillion

One of the most buzzed-about films of the year earned every minute of the attention. Based on Adam Mars-Jones' book Box Hill, Harry Lighton's tender, funny, and spicy debut Pillion sees Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling delivering formidable performances. Melling is a delight as demure and polite parking ticket officer Colin, who meets burly, stoic, and furiously handsome biker Ray (an outstanding Skarsgård) on Christmas Eve, of all eves.

Instantly connecting, Colin and Ray enter a Dom/sub relationship; we join them navigating kink and sexual boundaries — and attempting to explain it all to Colin's parents. Siddhant Adlakha writes for Mashable in his review, "Led by a pair of fine-tuned performances from Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, the movie walks a fragile tonal tightrope with remarkable flair." — S.C.

Starring: Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård

How to watch: Pillion is now streaming on HBO Max.

7. Hoppers

Who knew that one of the most bonkers movies of the year (complimentary) would come from Pixar? The animation studio's latest original, Hoppers, introduces technology that "hops" human consciousnesses into fake animal bodies, allowing scientists to study wildlife up close and personal. But when animal lover Mabel Tanaka (voiced by Piper Curda) uses hopping to try to save a glade near her house, she finds herself caught in an adventure wilder than she could have ever imagined.

How wild, you might ask? That would be spoiling the fun of Hoppers' third act, which is the most audacious thing Pixar's produced in years. Let's just say there's an assassination plot, a killer car chase, and a juicy riff on Invasion of the Body Snatchers that will have you thinking, "Man, they're really going for it!" (Again, complimentary.) Of course, there's some classic Pixar sprinkled in there, like a sob-worthy grandmother-granddaughter relationship and a sweet message about community. But it's Hoppers' riskiness and inventiveness that lingers, a welcome change after Pixar's last few films and sequel-heavy slate have too often played it safe. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, and Dave Franco

How to watch: Hoppers is now available for purchase on Prime Video.

6. I Love Boosters

Writer/director Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You and I'm A Virgo) is back with an unabashedly anti-capitalist satire that's star-studded and outrageously fun.

I Love Boosters centers on a clever quartet of shoplifters (aka boosters), known as the Velvet Gang. Let by aspiring fashion designer Corvette (Keke Palmer), they steal from the stores of fashion titan Christie Smith (Demi Moore) to sell the hot goods at low prices. But like his previous works, Riley brings much more to this Afro-surrealist wonder, including skin-crawling conspiracies, a sci-fi MacGuffin, and a sexy demon in the form of LaKeith Stanfield.

Out of the film's SXSW premiere, I enthused, "Like the fashion in the film, Riley blends whatever fits his vision without apology. By delivering something this messy and marvelous, Riley makes a statement about the glory to be found outside the box. And make no mistake: I Love Boosters is glorious." — K.P.

Starring: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, and Demi Moore

How to watch: I Love Boosters is now in theaters.

5. The Sheep Detectives

From the director of Minions: Rise of Gru and the creator of the hit TV drama The Last of Us comes a crime story about a slain shepherd (Hugh Jackman), whose homicide case must be cracked by his flock of fluffy and brave sheep, voiced by the likes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, and Chris O'Dowd.

This movie sounds like a 30 Rock joke, parodying the absurdity of Hollywood movies. However, this cozy crime thriller set in a quaint English village is not just a fun murder mystery, but also a feel-good family film and a mindful meditation about grief.

As I cheered in my review, "Incredibly, The Sheep Detectives is a real movie. Frankly, it could have been a deeply stupid movie with bad CGI animation and a predictable solution, and I still would have been pleased that it even existed at all. I just love a big swing for its bonkers ambition. But props to Balda and his kooky cast, because The Sheep Detectives is so much more than silly fun. It's a smart parody of the detective stories with a cheeky sense of humor, a sensational ensemble, and an ending so poignant that I actually teared up!" — K.P.

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Emma Thompson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, and Rhys Darby

How to watch: The Sheep Detectives is now in theaters.

4. Hokum

To date, the scariest movie of the year is Hokum. The latest from Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy (Caveat and Oddity) stars Adam Scott as a misanthropic American novelist who falls down a rabbit hole of folklore and horror.

You see, Ohm Bauman (Scott) has traveled to a remote hotel in Ireland for some grim business, including scattering the ashes of his deceased parents. But when a bartender who was kind to him goes missing, Ohm can't resist the urge to find her, even if he thinks the talk of a witch plaguing the hotel's honeymoon suite is "hokum."

In my review, I called Hokum "a seriously scary masterpiece," explaining, "It's a nerve-shredding, bone-rattling, scream-pulling good time, and an absolute blast to see in a theater." And in case you're on the fence, know this: This movie made me scream myself hoarse while watching it. —K.P.

Starring: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Michael Patric, Will O'Connell, Brendan Conroy, and Austin Amelio

How to watch: Hokum is now in theaters.

3. Is God Is

In a strong position to be the greatest feature directorial debut of 2026 is Is God Is. Playwright Aleshea Harris adapted her award-winning play of the same name into a scorching thriller about twin sisters (Kara Young and Mallori Johnson) on a vengeance-fueled road trip.

Tasked by their long-lost mother (Vivica A. Fox) to slay their vicious father (Sterling K. Brown), these sister set off on a violent journey, where they encounter wild character, horrid secrets, and an inner strength that could be the death of both of them. Beyond its engrossing story, Is God Is is swamped in rich visuals, blisteringly poetic dialogue, and performances so electric that you can feel them in your spine.

As I raved in my review, "Is God Is delivers filmmaking that is so mythic, mesmerizing, and menacing that it's easily one of the best movies of 2026." — K.P.

Starring: Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Janelle Monáe, Erika Alexander, Mykelti Williamson, Josiah Cross, Vivica A. Fox, and Sterling K. Brown

How to watch: Is God Is is now in theaters.

2. Project Hail Mary

When Ryan Gosling hosted Saturday Night Live in March to promote Project Hail Mary, he said, "People are saying it's like E.T. meets Interstellar, which is crazy, because those are like, what, two of the best films of all time? So they're kind of saying it’s like, what, double that?" 

While it might take a bit more time to determine Project Hail Mary's all-timer status, this sci-fi blockbuster absolutely earned its spot as one of the best movies of 2026, winning over crowds and critics alike. Based on the novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary lures you in with an apocalyptic premise: Earth is launching a last-ditch space mission to save our sun. Soon, though, it morphs into a rich, hopeful tale of friendship between middle school science teacher Dr. Ryland Grace (Gosling) and alien Rocky (voiced and puppeteered by James Ortiz). Thanks to their heartwarming connection, some epic set pieces, and even more epic sweaters, there's really only one word that can truly sum up Project Hail Mary: Amaze! — B.E.

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, and Lionel Boyce

How to watch: Project Hail Mary is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

1. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

One of the great crimes against cinema of 2026 is that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple flopped at the box office.

Critics went wild for Hedda director Nia DaCosta's bold and brilliant sequel to Danny Boyle's resurrected zombie thriller. But audiences didn't turn out in the droves this heady blend of horror, heart, and heavy metal deserved.

Picking up the story of runaway Spike (Alfie Williams), The Bone Temple plunged us deep into the cult of Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell), whose bizarre introduction at the end of the last film had fans freaking out with theories. A self-styled Satanist with a fixation on torture, Jimmy Savile, and the Teletubbies, Jimmy was an instant icon in horror. But even he was awed by the uncanny stage presence of Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes). The gentle doctor spent most of the movie getting stoned with the Alpha undead Sampson (Chi Lewis-Parry), in sequences that were tender and funny. But the climax of this movie had theaters cheering, as Kelson embraced his inner demons with a fiery performance of Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast." And it was one of the most riveting and surprising things I've seen in a movie, ever. It was magical, chaotic, and unforgettable.

As I cheered in my review, "This horror offering — like its prequel and also like 2025's other smash horror hit, Sinners — transcends the grimier aspects of the genre to unearth something gnarly and sublime." —K.P.

Starring: Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry

How to watch: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is now streaming on Netflix.

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The Monaco GP is obviously a special race weekend, but the actual racing can be lame. I'm glad we're returning to a circuit that actually allows for the occasional overtake.

The big question is whether any team can bridge the gap to Mercedes this season. Could we start to see the tide change at the Barcelona-Catalunya GP? I'm hoping we get some competitive performances from McLaren and Ferrari.

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 Barcelona-Catalunya GP?

The Barcelona-Catalunya GP is the seventh race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya:

• Practice 1 — 7:30-8:30 a.m. ET on June 12

• Practice 2 — 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET on June 12

• Practice 3 — 6:30-7:30 a.m. ET on June 13

• Qualifying — 10-11 a.m. ET on June 13

• Race — 9 a.m. ET on June 14

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

How to watch the Barcelona-Catalunya GP for free

I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I gladly hand over my cash for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. The access to Prime Video is not all that important to me. I occasionally watch the Champions League and NBA, but it's not a priority.

That was until I found out about F1 coming to Apple TV.

It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this automatic renewal at any time.

By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the Barcelona-Catalunya GP this weekend without spending anything.

I already pay for Amazon Prime, so I understand the argument that I'm not really watching for free. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.

Already used this hack to watch a race this season? It's not your only option right now.

My recommendation is you go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you're planning on upgrading to something from the Apple lineup in Memorial Day sales, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026

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TL;DR: Live stream USA vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Tournament Supporter of the event.

The USA is the last host nation to start its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, and it's probably got the toughest matchup. Mexico battled it out with South Africa in the opening game, Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina, and now USA meets Paraguay in Group D.

Australia and Turkey are the other sides competing in this group. It's a really difficult group to predict, but it feels like there's a genuine chance that the team doesn't even qualify for the knockout rounds. They'll need to be at their best to take anything from a decent Paraguay team.

If you want to watch USA vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is USA vs. Paraguay?

USA vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on June 12. This fixture takes place at the SoFi Stadium.

How to watch USA vs. Paraguay for free

Credit: ExpressVPN

USA vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

And luckily for World Cup viewers, ExpressVPN recently announced that it's an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Live stream USA vs. Paraguay for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch USA vs. Paraguay for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream USA vs. Paraguay (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sports on BBC iPlayer, 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 a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream USA vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is starting with a number of huge matchups, including Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.

All eyes will be on hosts Canada as they look to secure a positive result against a team that beat Italy to qualify for this competition. Qatar and Switzerland are the other sides in Group B. There isn't really a favorite to qualify for the knockout rounds, so every contest is absolutely vital for securing all-important points.

If you want to watch Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 12. This fixture takes place at the BMO Field.

How to watch Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina for free

Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, 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 a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE OVER $200: As of June 12, the Dreame L10s Ultra is on sale for $379.92 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Dreame

Dreame L10s Ultra

$379.93 at Amazon
$589.99 Save $210.06

 

Get Deal

Prime Day is still over a week away, but Amazon has already started releasing early deals and discounts on a number of products. Like this latest deal on the Dreame L10s Ultra, for example. As of June 12, this robot vacuum has dropped to its lowest-ever price, now priced at $379.92. This deal saves you over $200.

This robot vacuum is a powerful one, designed to clean hard-to-reach areas, including under furniture and in tight spaces. It delivers 10,000Pa Vormax suction for deep cleaning, and it also has a floating rubber brush that helps detangle hair. There’s also a pet care mode that identifies areas for more intensive cleaning. 

It comes with a mopping function too, with the DuoScrub mopping system using two high-speed rotary mops to apply pressure while cleaning, helping to lift stubborn dirt and spills. 

After cleaning your floors, the robot vacuum will return to its docking station where it will hold up to 75 days of dirt. It also washes and hot-air dries the mops, refills water, and automatically dispenses cleaning solution. 

And you won’t need to manually guide this vacuum either. It uses Smart Pathfinder and 3DAdapt technology to navigate and avoid obstacles.

Get this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once famously said a touchscreen MacBook was never going to happen, but that was a long time ago, and things are changing.

A leaker known as Instant Digital, known for some eerily accurate Apple-related predictions, seemed certain about it in a recent Weibo post (via MacRumors).

"It's 100% confirmed that the MacBook screen will be touch-enabled," he wrote.

The leaker did not add any other details, so we don't know which version of the MacBook is getting the touchscreen, nor when this is supposed to happen. But the post builds on previous reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, with both previously stating that Apple is working on a touchscreen variant of the MacBook.

Rumors about such a device have circulated for years, though, and nothing ever came to fruition. Gurman's report dates February 2026, and back then he said the initial batch of touch-enabled Macs are coming "this fall." Gurman said the company would be pretty lax about the touchscreen, allowing the users to use it as much or as little they'd like, instead of positioning the Mac as a better version of the iPad.

Apple is also rumored to launch a high-end "MacBook Ultra" later this year; this top-of-the-line device should come with Apple's most powerful chips, an OLED display, and it might be the first one to be touch-enabled.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 12 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (6): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 12 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 12 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and one of the loudest voices of the internet, made numerous X posts Wednesday and Thursday in support of deporting immigrants from the United Kingdom, perhaps under violent conditions.

His comments and reposts, shared on the eve of SpaceX's initial public offering, channeled outrage over a knife attack against an Irish man in Belfast on Monday evening. A 30-year-old Sudanese refugee and legal resident allegedly committed the stabbing and has been charged with attempted murder, according to officials.

What did Elon Musk say about the Belfast stabbing?

Among his posts, Musk amplified Rupert Lowe, a member of the British Parliament and founder of the anti-immigrant Restore Britain movement.

In one video clip Musk shared, Lowe calls for the deportation of migrants who can't financially support themselves. Musk reshared a post from Restore Britain announcing that the movement would "reverse the third-worldification of our country." Musk also replied "Yes" to an X post of Lowe's in which he declares, "Britain doesn't have a racism problem, it has an immigration problem."

Musk used the same single-word affirmation to reply to an X user's post quoting Lowe's support of "reverse mass migration" and adding the commentary, "Deport the invaders. Imprison the government." Lowe said on X earlier this week that "[m]illions and millions need to leave or be made to leave."

Anger over Monday's attack led to riots in Belfast and other locations in Northern Ireland. The protesters set cars, garbage cans, and a city bus on fire, according to the New York Times. They also appeared to target the homes of immigrants, the Times reported. Firefighters aided families when their homes were set on fire Tuesday night.

The victim, who was hospitalized with serious injuries, called for calm in a statement shared by his family, the New York Times said.

The UK regulator Ofcom will not reprimand X for surfacing or promoting posts that incited violence against immigrants for at least two months, according to the Guardian.

Musk denied that social media contributed to the riots and instead blamed "murderous migrants" as the source of people's anger.

Will Elon Musk's comments affect the SpaceX IPO?

When SpaceX filed for an IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, it acknowledged the chances that Musk's public commentary could influence the company's business.

"The actions and statements of Mr. Musk and his affiliated ventures, whether or not directly relating to us, may draw significant public attention and scrutiny to us and could potentially have a positive or negative impact on our business, relationships with customers and regulators, or stock price," the SpaceX filing read.

Musk's company xAI, which became part of SpaceX earlier this year, is also facing a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of plaintiffs whose real photographs were allegedly used to create child sexual abuse material via the AI chatbot Grok.

Ahead of the IPO, a 40-foot tall inflatable effigy of Musk appeared in New York City's Times Square as a reminder of those cases. The inflatable's torso had an unmissable message tying SpaceX and Grok to the creation of child sexual abuse material. It was placed there by Safe AI Now, or SANE, a coalition of groups concerned about AI safety, according to Wired.

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

SpaceX announced Thursday that it will make 555,555,555 shares available for purchase at $135 per share. The IPO is scheduled for Friday, June 12. SpaceX is on track for a $1.75 trillion valuation.

Musk's endorsement of forcibly removing millions of immigrants from the United Kingdom hasn't yet appeared to affect investor appetite for SpaceX stock. Retail traders have reportedly ordered $100 billion in SpaceX stock ahead of the public offering, according to Forbes.

The IPO is expected to make Musk the world's first trillionaire.

It's impossible to watch The Death of Robin Hood and not think of Logan. Both films star Hugh Jackman, and both mar his leading-man good looks with old age makeup, scars, and mangy facial hair. In each, he plays an anti-hero whose legend is one of noble heroism but whose reality is a trail of senseless carnage. And in both, his withered humanity is revived by protecting an orphaned girl. In this comparison, The Death of Robin Hood only suffers. 

Logan co-writer and director James Mangold created an emotionally rich drama, punctuated by breathtaking action sequences that showed new potential for superhero films viewed through a revisionist lens. The Death of Robin Hood's writer/director Michael Sarnoski, who has previously made the superb slow-burn thriller Pig and the awful horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One, pursues a similar goal in re-interpreting the folk legend renowned for robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. But his interpretation lacks complexity, offering in its place much brooding, after a first act overstuffed with truly repulsive onscreen violence. 

There is an attempt at balance, as Sarnoski introduces female characters meant to be a soft and compassionate foil to Robin and his not-so-merry men's brutality. But that feels frustratingly reductive and shallow. 

What is The Death of Robin Hood about?

Credit: Aidan Monaghan / A24

Set around 1247 A.D., this trudging drama begins on the side of a mountain, where cold winds roar across a treacherously frozen terrain. There, a haggard old man lives determinedly alone. This is Robin Hood (Jackman), an outlaw whose thievery has been praised because of the tales of how he redistributed the wealth to aid the poor. But — as the tagline for the film declares — he was no hero. 

Over and over, any chance this Robin Hood gets, he will grumble that those were lies. He and his Little John (an equally grumbly Bill Skarsgård) robbed, maimed, and murdered so many men, women, and children that he cannot remember their names or faces. So, now, he hides in isolation, apathetically fending off would-be killers who are seeking vengeance for crimes he cannot recall. It's a grim beginning, and it will only get grimmer. 

When Little John returns to him, asking for help in fighting off a family that has stolen his land and kidnapped his wife, Robin begrudgingly agrees, noting they both might die. His tone even suggests that's Robin's wish, to just be over with it all. Still, he'll battle hard for his friend, slaying not only the invading men but also employing his legendary archery skills to shoot a fleeing child through the back of his skull and left eye. 

The sound effects chosen for such moments of violence pull no punches, offering sharp cracks of bone, wretched tearing of flesh, and the squish of internal organs ripped asunder. It's stomach-churningly effective in hitting home how efficient Robin is at delivering carnage. By the end of the first act, not only have Little John's foes been felled but Robin himself has too, following a gross and grisly battle of blood, muck, and fire. To the credit of cinematographer Pat Scola, such scenes of violence are both beautiful and horrid. His shots make clear the agony and injury, but play these fights off a backdrop of blazing fire and night sky. The contrast is dizzying and exciting. But soon, this contrast and conflict will be moved to a far-off island, the colors shifting from brown and orange to grays and radiant blues. 

At an ancient priory, a gorgeous nun called Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer) offers aid to the ailing. She's taken in Robin Hood, unaware of his identity. (He tells her his name is Randolf). As his wounds heal, Little John's only child, Little Margaret (Faith Delaney), arrives on the island, orphaned and traumatized. Though at first Robin only wished to die, and failing that, to escape this blissful place of restoration, he is slowly enchanted by Brigid's compassion and by Little Margaret's thirst for a father figure. Reluctantly befriending a persistent leper (Murray Bartlett), Robin begins to consider if this might be "another life" for him — when yet another vengeance-seeking stranger turns up at the priory. 

The Death of Robin Hood is an unpleasant and cynical slog, despite a promising cast. 

Credit: Aidan Monaghan / A24

Like Logan, The Death of Robin Hood functions like a revisionist Western, wherein the lifelong gunslinger looks back on his journey and wonders if all the blood he's spilled can ever be washed clean. Put another way, can a man of violence ever become a man of peace? 

Intellectually, there's something interesting in this cliche. However, Jackman's portrayal in The Death of Robin Hood feels like an echo of his achingly poignant work in Logan, but with less rage and thus less energy. Plus, Sarnoski's approach is dull and episodic. Again and again, someone will ask Robin if he recalls a particular act of violence, and he shrugs his heavy shoulders in response, his expression world-weary. And then the person explains how Robin's actions hurt them personally, to which Robin gives an inscrutable stare in response, over and over. 

It's a tedious way to establish Robin's cruelty. More irksome, he only starts to care about the consequences of his actions once he falls for the lovely nun. While Comer is a critically acclaimed actress thanks to her bold and brilliant performances in Killing Eve, The Bikeriders, and The Last Duel, she — like Jackman — cannot elevate Sarnoski's shallow script, which reduces men and women to archaic archetypes. For instance, to illustrate that Sister Brigid has desires beyond being a loving nurse to the sick and mother to the orphaned, Sarnoski includes a bizarre scene where she sneaks off at night to a cave to masturbate by candlelight. How else could he possibly show a woman could be spiritual and sexual? 

Little Margaret is similarly underwritten, existing chiefly to follow Robin like a sullen shadow with the sad eyes of a Margaret Keane painting. Noah Jupe, who earned praise last year for playing Hamlet in Hamnet, is compelling in a brief role as a boy on the brink of a pivotal decision. To Bartlett's credit, he brings some levity as a leper who talks with fearless sass, even though he knows Robin's true identity and wickedness. But with much of his face covered by bandages and, later, rotting prosthetics, his charisma is almost completely swallowed. Essentially, though most of the other characters exist to balance Robin's unrelentingly grim brooding, the balance is off. So, much of the movie is a muck of unrelenting maudlin reflection, undercutting any attempt at hope of rising above. 

Most frustratingly, from beginning to end, I couldn't get a grip on the why of it all. Not why in terms of Robin Hood's cruelty or ruefulness, but why re-imagine a figure upheld as a rebel for fairness and community as one of careless violence, unchecked cruelty, and selfishness? 

Sarnoski's past films were a more successful mix of darkness and light, offering hardened heroes who fought for joy or love, even as they understood full well the world around them was merciless and cruel. Here, however, we start with a protagonist who is merciless and cruel, and the only reason we are given to follow him, to invest in his journey, is that he is played by Hugh Jackman. Beyond that, this deeply cynical spin on the legend of Robin Hood has no discernible message beyond some trite platitude of the power of second chances. Despite its star-studded cast, and a powerful blend of hard-hitting sound effects and jolting on-camera violence, The Death of Robin Hood feels politically, spiritually, and emotionally hollow. 

The Death of Robin Hood opens in theaters on June 19.

Best early Prime Day iPad deals

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Best iPad deal

Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi)

$299.99 (Save $49.01)

Get Deal

---

Best iPad Air deal

Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi)

$559 (Save $40)

Get Deal

---

Best iPad Pro deal

Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, 256GB, WiFi)

$936.50 (Save $62.50)

Get Deal

Is your summer travel booked? If you're getting ready to jet set or hit the road but don't want to lug your laptop around, then it might be time to consider a tablet. Our favorites for performance and overall value are Apple's iPads. So with Prime Day quickly approaching, running from June 23 to 26, we're looking for the best deals on Apple's tablets.

We're still about two weeks out from Prime Day, but iPads are already on sale. Don't get too excited, though. While we found deals on every single iPad model, the markdowns are pretty minor. The good news is, if you need an iPad before Prime Day, you don't need to buy one at full price. Bad news is, you should probably wait until Prime Day for the best savings.

But if you need an iPad now, here are the best deals to shop ahead of Prime Day.

Best early Prime Day iPad deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi)

$299.99 at Amazon
$349 Save $49.01

 

Get Deal

While we love the iPad Air and think it's the best tablet money can buy, the basic iPad with A16 chip is still a stellar tablet. The 11th-generation model is a speedy tablet perfect for streaming, internet browsing, reading, and gaming. It's a great value at full price and even better when on sale.

Right now, get the 11th-generation iPad with A16 chip for just $299.99, bringing the tablet under $300. It's not the best price on the iPad, but it is just $25.99 away from its lowest price, so not bad. Need something more advanced? Well, there are more iPad deals on the Air and Pro to explore, too.

iPad Mini deals

• Apple iPad Mini, 8.3-inch (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) — $474 $499 (save $25)

iPad Air deals

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi) — $559 $599 (save $40)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi) — $749 $799 (save $50)

iPad Pro deals

• Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, 256GB, WiFi) — $936.50 $999 (save $62.50)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, 256GB, WiFi) — $1,220 $1,299 (save $79)

An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal using their independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for the consumer, we wrote the content.

TL;DR: Mashable readers can get the HUANUO FlowLift Pro Monitor Arm for $15.89 after clipping the Amazon coupon and applying code OFORSXRF.

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Credit: HUANUO

HUANUO FlowLift Pro Monitor Arm

$15.89 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $34.10

Use code OFORSXRF

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Prime Day is rapidly approaching, and it's a great time to stock up on new tech. Level up your desk setup with a new monitor arm that's heavily discounted.

The HUANUO FlowLift Pro Monitor Arm typically retails for $49.99, but Mashable readers can snag it for just $15.89 by clipping the on-page Amazon coupon and using the code OFORSXRF at checkout.

The FlowLift Pro is compatible with 13-inch to 32-inch screens and has a max load of 19.8 pounds. It features smooth adjustment and positioning without any sagging. Find a view that's comfortable for you with a max height of 16.5 inches, 90-degree rotation, 90-degree swivel, and +85-degree/-25-degree tilt. It has a quick-release design, so popping your monitor into place is a breeze.

Do you prefer recording a quick video to writing a text? If so, you'll really like what Reddit just unveiled.

Reddit announced the launch of video comments for all of its users on Thursday. The feature allows any Redditor to upload or record a short-form video reply right in the comments of any post in Reddit communities or subreddits. 

Reddit users were already able to comment with text, images, and GIFs. Now, they can reply with video too.

“We are continually evolving Reddit to deliver a more immersive and authentic human experience," said Reddit's Chief Product Officer Maria Angelidou-Smith. "The ability to reply with video gives users more creative ways to engage in communities they love."

With the new feature, Reddit users will see a video icon alongside the existing image and GIF icon options in the comment box. Clicking on the video icon will allow users to either upload an existing video or record a new video right there in the comment box.

According to Reddit, videos in comments will not play automatically. Reddit's safety systems will also check video comments before they are posted.

The company says a community must be listed as public and "suitable-for-work (SFW)" to be eligible for video comments.

Unlike other social platforms, Reddit has a large number of users that prefer complete anonymity. However, there's no requirement that the video posted in a comment be created by a user — so the feature can easily become simply yet another way to post a meme response, this time in video form.

As an example, Reddit shared a link to a video AMA with Mel C. from the Spice Girls that was conducted two months ago on the platform. The AMA utilized the video in comments feature before it rolled out to all users. In other words, Reddit is promoting at least one way they hope the feature is used.

OpenAI is considering massive product-wide price cuts to address industry concerns and keep up with the rising popularity of competitor AI companies, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Speaking to anonymous insiders, the publication reported that the Sam Altman-led company is debating reducing subscription usage costs to retain its customer base — competitors like Anthropic are reportedly debating the same move.

According to those close to the company, this may include lowering costs for ‌highly sought after tokens, a response to an ebbing trend among tech companies known as "tokenmaxxing" or the burning out of processing tokens (and entire corporate budgets) in order to boost the productivity of their AI products.

According to the Wall Street Journal, business executives across the industry have criticized AI costs. Altman recently said that high prices are a "a huge issue" for the company, but the decision hasn't been finalized just yet, insiders told the Journal. Meanwhile, investors are also beginning to cool on AI, amid ebbing stock market numbers from major players like Nvidia.

Still, OpenAI is making moves to become a more profit-driven company. On Monday, OpenAI officially announced it was filing for an IPO, with a yet-undetermined timeline. Industry rumors suggest OpenAI could go public as early as September and could be valued at $1 trillion. Anthropic also recently filed for public status, suggesting the AI price wars are only just getting started.

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

For roughly two hours Wednesday night, Knicks fans collectively prepared for heartbreak.

By halftime of Game 4, Madison Square Garden was on edge, social media was melting down, and the Spurs looked poised to even out the score of the NBA Finals.

Then the Knicks pulled off the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

New York erased a 29-point deficit, beat San Antonio 107-106 on an OG Anunoby tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining, and moved one win away from its first championship since 1973.

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The result transformed social media from a digital wake into a rolling highlight reel of celebration, as videos of Knicks fans screaming in bars and on city streets flooded timelines.

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Here are some of the biggest moments from Game 4, both on the court and online.

OG Anunoby's game-winner instantly became the play of the night

For most of the fourth quarter, social media was busy trying to process how the Knicks had climbed back into the game. Then Anunoby gave everyone something else to talk about.

With seconds remaining, the Knicks forward tipped in the go-ahead basket, sending Madison Square Garden into a frenzy. Within minutes, timelines were full of every possible angle of the play, from television broadcasts and slow-motion replays to fan-shot footage captured from the upper deck — and Ben Stiller's courtside iPhone.

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Celebrities had their own viral moments

The Knicks' playoff run has turned Madison Square Garden into one of the internet's recurring characters, and Wednesday night was no exception.

As the comeback gained momentum, cameras repeatedly cut to celebrity fans sitting courtside, including Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Swift, Spike Lee, and Mariska Hargitay, who collectively lifted Donald Trump's curse. Their reactions quickly became viral content in their own right, with clips spreading across social media almost as quickly as game highlights. Who will ever be able to forget Taylor Swift's white-girl dancing to Jalen Brunson's three-pointer? Or Larry David's near heart attack over Josh Hart's missed layup in the fourth?

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Madison Square Garden completely lost its mind

MSG quickly became the center of the internet's attention. Fans posted videos from every level of the arena, capturing everything from the mounting stress before the Knicks' comeback to the chaos that followed Anunoby's game-winner. While television cameras focused on the court, fans documented the comeback from every imaginable angle, creating a crowdsourced record of the historic night.

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The celebrations spilled out into New York City

The final buzzer marked the beginning of another wave of viral content.

Videos posted throughout the night showed fans — like New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani — erupting inside bars, chanting in the streets, and celebrating well after the game ended. For a few hours, timelines became a live feed of New York City's collective joy.

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The memes arrived almost immediately

No major sports moment is complete without memes, and Game 4 produced plenty. Social media users compared Anunoby's game-winner to everything from classical works of art to scenes from the viral thriller Obsession, while others turned Victor Wembanyama's reaction into an instant meme format. Knicks fans also resurfaced years-old posts from Josh Hart to spur up some momentum.

In the hours after the final buzzer, timelines became a mix of celebration, disbelief, and attempts to explain the inexplicable through increasingly absurd references.

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The Knicks still need one more win to secure their first NBA championship in more than five decades. But regardless of what happens next, Game 4 already feels destined to live on as one of those rare internet moments that transcends sports.

Best early Prime Day deals

---

Best Apple Deal

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 (Save $70)

Get Deal

---

Best headphone deal

Sony WH-CH720N

$87.95 at Amazon (Save $92.04)

Get Deal

---

Best speaker deal

Sonos Era 300

$379 at Amazon (Save $100)

Get Deal

---

Best portable power station deal

Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station

$799.99 at Amazon (Save $699.01)

Get Deal

---

Best TV deal

Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV

$1,297.99 (Save $400)

Get Deal

---

Best robot vacuum deal

Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop

$529.99 (Save $270)

Get Deal

---

Best home and kitchen deal

Cuisinart 2.6-Quart Air Fryer

$59.95 (Save $30)

Get Deal

---

Best Lego deal

Lego Classic Large Creative Brick Box

$39.49 (Save $20.50)

Get Deal

No matter what type of shopper you are, whether you use sales to stock up on household essentials like dish soap and paper towels or as a time to splurge, the time is nigh because Prime Day is coming.

Usually taking place in early July, Amazon has decided to shake things up this year and run the sale in June. Amazon Prime Day 2026 runs from June 23 to 26, and while the timing may have changed, we're still expecting the same great savings.

Even though we still have about two weeks until the official start of Prime, the deals kicked off as soon as the sale was announced. Each day we get closer to the sale, more deals go live. Look for early savings on Amazon devices, toys and games, kitchen appliances, and gadgets from Sony, Sonos, and Apple.

So if you're eager to start saving, we rounded up the top early Prime Day deals to start shopping now — including the lowest price ever on the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

Best early Prime Day Apple deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70

 

Get Deal

Leading up to Prime Day, we're obviously hunting for the best Apple deals, and a major one just dropped. The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are down to $179, which saves you $70 off its $249 price tag. According to Camelcamelcamel, this is the new lowest price ever on the earbuds.

This is the type of deal we normally see during Prime Day, so the fact that it's coming two weeks early is something to celebrate.

Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $219 $249 (save $30)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $299 $399 (save $100)

AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499 $549 (save $50)

iPad deals

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi) — $299.99 $349 (save $49.01)

• Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) — $474 $499 (save $25)

Best early Prime Day headphone deal

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Credit: Sony

Sony WH-CH720N

$87.95 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $92.04

 

Get Deal

When Prime Day actually starts, our attention will be on the big names in headphones: the Sony WH-1000XM6s and the Bose QuietComfort Ultras. But leading up to it, those big brands still have lots of savings to give. Right now, the best deal on headphones is on the Sony WH-CH720N, an affordable pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. Normally $179.99, the WH-CH720N just dropped under $100 ahead of Prime Day. Snag them now for as low as $87.95 and save $92.04.

More headphone deals

• Sony WH-CH520 — $38 $69.99 (save $31.99)

• Soundcore Space Q45 — $139.99 $149.99 (save $10)

• Logitech G735 — $142.53 $259.99 (save $117.46)

• Sennheiser Momentum 4 — $219.99 $299.99 (save $80)

• Sony WH-1000XM5 — $278 $399.99 (save $121.99)

• Sonos Ace — $299 $399 (save $100)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra — $329 $429 (save $100)

• Sony WH-1000XM6 — $398 $459.99 (save $61.99)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499.99 $549 (save $49.01)

More earbud deals

• Soundcore V20i Open-Ear Headphones — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• Sony WF-C510 — $48 $69.99 (save $21.99)

• Technics AZ100 Earbuds — $234.99 $299.99 (save $65)

Best early Prime Day speaker deal

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Credit: Sonos

Sonos Era 300

$379 at Amazon
$479 Save $100

 

Get Deal

Whether you're hosting summer movie nights or dinner parties, if you want to upgrade your home's audio, early Prime Day deals are coming in clutch. The advanced Sonos Era 300 is equipped with Dolby Atmos and powered by six drivers for surround sound. Right now, grab it for just $379, saving you $100 off its $479 price tag.

More speaker deals

• Sonos Roam 2 — $134 $179 (save $45)

• Sonos Era 100 SL — $169 $189 (save $20)

• Sonos Era 100 — $189 $219 (save $30)

• Sonos Beam Gen 2 — $369 $499 (save $130)

• Sonos Move 2 — $399 $499 (save $100)

Best early Prime Day portable power station deal

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Credit: Anker

Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station

$799.99 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $699.01

 

Get Deal

Ready for summer adventures? If you're gearing up to pack the car and head into nature, don't forget to invest in a portable power station to keep your campsite powered. Plus, it can serve as an at-home power backup in an emergency.

Right now, there's an outstanding deal on the Anker Solix C2000, which is 50% off. That takes it from $1,499 all the way down to $749. Ahead of Prime Day, that saves you $750.

More portable power station deals

• Jackery Explorer 1000 — $449 $799 (save $350)

• Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 — $449.99 $799 (save $349.01)

• Bluetti Elite 200 V2 — $799 $1,070 (save $271)

• Anker Solix F3800 Plus — $2,299.99 $2,699.99 (save $400)

Best early Prime Day TV deal

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV

$1,297.99 at Amazon
$1,697.99 Save $400

 

Get Deal

Getting ready for the World Cup? If you want to watch every heart-racing moment in 4K and your TV isn't up to par, then shop the early Prime Day deal on the Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV. Normally $1,697.99, it's down to $1,297.99, saving you $400. That also means it's just $50 away from its lowest price ever. It's an exceptionally crisp TV with deep contrast and built-in AI.

More TV deals

• Google TV Streamer — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Roku 65-inch QLED 4K Smart TV — $399.99 $449.99 (save $50)

• TCL 75-inch T7 QLED 4K Google TV — $739.99 $899.99 (save $150)

• Hisense 65-inch U7 ULED 4K Google TV — $947.99 $1,499.99 (save $552)

Best early Prime Day vacuum deal

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Credit: Eufy

Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop

$529.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $270

 

Get Deal

Mashable in-house vacuum expert Leah Stodart named the Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop the best affordable vacuum-and-mop combo. Despite its budget price, Stodart says it's the most heavy-duty robot mop you'll find, and delivers spotless cleans. Ahead of Prime Day, get the Eufy C28 for just $529.99. That's just $30 above its lowest price ever, but still provides $270 in savings.

More robot vacuum deals

• iRobot Roomba 105 Robot Vacuum — $248.98 $449.99 (save $201)

• Shark AV2501AE AI Robot Vacuum — $289.99 $448 (save $158.01)

• Dream X50 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop — $849.99 $1,049.99 (save $200)

• Roborock Saros 10R Robot Vacuum and Mop — $999.99 $1,599.99 (save $600)

More vacuum deals

• Bissell Little Green Mini — $86.65 $99.99 (save $13.34)

• Shark HV343AMZ Rocket Corded Stick Vacuum — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)

• Shark IZ363HT Cordless Vacuum — $219.99 $349.99 (save $130)

• Bissell PowerClean FurGuard Cordless Vacuum — $229.99 $299.99 (save $70)

• Kenmore 600 Series Canister Vacuum — $284.99 $349.99 (save $65)

Best early Prime Day home and kitchen deal

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Credit: Cuisinart

Cuisinart 2.6-Quart Air Fryer

$59.95 at Amazon
$89.95 Save $30

 

Get Deal

Here's a summer hack to keep your house cool: Don't turn on the oven. That doesn't mean only eating cold salads all summer. What you really need is an air fryer. My air fryer has saved me countless times in the summer, letting me cook dinner without breaking a sweat. Ahead of Prime Day, grab the Cuisinart 2.6-Quart Air Fryer for just $59.95 and save $30.

More home deals

• Levoit 36-inch Tower Fan — $54.95 $74.99 (save $20.04)

• Dreo 36-inch Tower Fan — $69.96 $79.99 (save $10.03)

• Lasko 42-inch Tower Fan — $75.99 $88.99 (save $13)

More kitchen deals

• Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• Instant Pot 6-Quart Vortex Plus Air Fryer — $79.99 $149.99 (save $70)

• Ninja UltraCrush Professional Blender — $89.98 $109.99 (save $20.01)

• Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker — $89.99 $109.99 (save $20)

• Ninja Pod and Grounds Single Serve Coffee Maker — $99.98 $129.99 (save $30.01)

• Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker — $139.99 $159.99 (save $20)

Best early Prime Day Lego deal

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Credit: Lego

Lego Classic Large Creative Brick Box

$39.49 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.50

 

Get Deal

While novelty Lego sets are fun, there's something special about a set that gives you full creative control. The Lego Classic Large Brick Box has 790 pieces to build the neighborhood of your dreams. Just in time for summer break when kiddos need some entertainment, this box set is on sale for 34% off. Grab it now for under $40 ahead of Prime Day.

More Lego deals

• Lego Botanicals Happy Plants — $18.39 $22.99 (save $4.60)

• Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid — $23.95 $29.99 (save $6.04)

• Lego Botanicals Bonsai Tree — $39.98 $49.99 (save $10.01)

• Lego Botanicals Tiny Plants — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon — $67.99 $84.99 (save $17)

• Lego Art Mona Lisa — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)

• Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle — $136.99 $169.99 (save $33)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking over the airwaves this summer, and it all starts today, June 11. The 23rd and biggest edition of the global tournament to date is hosted by three different countries for the first time (United States, Mexico, Canada) and features more competing teams than ever (48 teams across 16 different host cities). It's going to be epic and you won't want to miss out on the action.

The first day of the tournament opens with live coverage of Group A starting at 1 p.m. ET today, as host country Mexico welcomes opponent South Africa. We've broken down everything you need to know to tune in live.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 11

• Group A: Mexico vs. South Africa (Mexico City Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

• Group A: South Korea vs. Czechia (Guadalajara Stadium) — kickoff at 10 p.m. ET

How to livestream FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Mexico vs. South Africa

Mexico welcomes South Africa to Mexico City today to start the entire tournament. While the game doesn't officially kick off until 3 p.m. ET, live coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET on Fox and Fox One. Tubi will also be streaming the match for free, and Peacock will have the Spanish-language coverage.

Watch South Korea vs. Czechia

South Korea will take on Czechia in what could prove to be an early switch match in Group A on June 11. It kicks off at 10 p.m. ET at Guadalajara Stadium, and live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will also carry the Spanish-language coverage.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-month subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

only for a limited time

Get Deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Tubi

Tubi (Mexico vs. South Africa only)

Watch for free

Get Deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish language coverage only)

Starting at $10.99/month

Get Deal

More live streaming options:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

• Watch for free on ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and more with a VPN

Is it too time-consuming for you to search for and buy products you need on the internet? ChatGPT and Visa have a solution.

OpenAI and Visa, the world's largest non-Chinese payment network, have worked to integrate Visa into ChatGPT, per the Associated Press. Thanks to this integration, users can now have ChatGPT operate as a shopping agent of sorts, scouring the internet for products based on natural-language queries and making purchases on the user's behalf.

“As AI agents become active participants in the economy, Visa's focus is to ensure transactions are trusted, secure, and seamless,” said Visa executive Jack Forestell.

To get an idea of how this works, one example given involved asking ChatGPT to find a new pair of headphones under a certain price threshold. Ideally, the chatbot would quickly search the internet for one, present options to the user, and complete the purchase if the user asks it to. According to Visa, some of the guardrails in place to prevent fraud or out-of-control spending include spending limits and a list of approved merchants, in addition to the basic requirement of user approval.

If you trust AI to make purchases for you, this could be a godsend. If you don't, well, nobody is making you use it.

SAVE $70: As of June 11, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 have dropped to a new best price ever of $179 at Amazon, Walmart, and Target — down from their usual $249. That's 28% or $70 in savings.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70

 

Get Deal

Just the mere mention of Amazon Prime Day has sent prices into a tailspin. Though the shopping event of the season doesn't officially kick off until June 23, we've already got mad deals to shout about. The Apple AirPods Pro 3, in particular, have never been this cheap.

As of June 11, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 are down to just $179 at Amazon, Walmart, and Target (mysteriously, Best Buy has them at full price). That's $70 or 28% off their list price of $249 and a new all-time low price.

"The AirPods Pro pop up on most best of lists, and though we've always been fans, the third generation takes these earbuds to a new level," writes Mashable's reviewer. The Pro 3's noise cancellation is twice as good as the Pro 2's. They have even better battery life at eight hours with ANC and 10 hours in transparency mode. Plus, they added the heart rate monitoring tech from the Powerbeats Pro 2 (our favorite workout earbuds), a live translation feature, and new foam-infused tips that come in various sizes for the right fit.

If you already own a pair of AirPods Pro 2, you probably don't need to upgrade to the 3s. But if you're buying AirPods for the first time or need to replace ones you lost, this price drop should seal the deal. There's always a chance they could get even cheaper for Prime Day, but $179 is already the cheapest they've ever been.

VidCon 2026 kicks off in less than two weeks in Anaheim on Thursday, June 25, with three days of panels, events, creator meetups, and festivities.

While some sessions are open to all VidCon attendees, most are organized by a ticket holder's track and pass level: the Fan track (VidCon pass), the Creator track (Creator pass), and the Industry track (Pro pass).

The Fan track focuses on more interactive events and IRL meet-ups, while the Creator and Industry track passes are geared towards networking events and informative sessions for creators and industry professionals.

Think of this as your guide to the events you need to keep on your radar heading into this year's VidCon.

The VidCon Hall of Fame

VidCon's second annual Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled for 6 pm on Thursday, June 25, and is open to all attendees, regardless of ticket tier. 

The 2026 Hall of Fame inductees include Markiplier, Philip DeFranco, Michelle Phan, and Blogilates founder Cassey Ho. 

"The objective is to recognize legacy and impact with creators that have sustained high-performance over time and continuously innovated to set new creative standards in our industry," VidCon said on its website.

GorillaCon

VidCon attendees need to purchase a separate ticket to attend GorillaCon, described by VidCon as the "first-ever official live event celebrating the world’s largest virtual reality game, Gorilla Tag."

GorillaCon attendees will have the opportunity to meet their favorite Gorilla Tag creators, purchase limited-edition merchandise, enjoy concerts and trivia, and more. 

GorillaCon is set to take place throughout all three days of VidCon.

Mentorship Series

VidCon's Mentorship Series, described as a "fast-track to insider knowledge," is open to Creator and Pro pass holders.

Top digital creators and industry leaders — including Mashable! — will lead small-group sessions on specific topics, such as how to turn AI into a creator system, building a sustainable career as a creator, and turning views into revenue. 

The sessions, scheduled throughout all three days of VidCon, have a maximum capacity of 19 people and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Featured hosts include senior vice president of Shorthand Studios, Jared Naylor; co-head of Community at Fixated, Kai Plunk; Evan Frasca and Sean Henderson of the Spotify Content Partnerships team; YouTube audience development and optimization expert Jamie Rawsthorne; and former lead vertical editor at MrBeast, Spencer Hileman.

Creator pass holders also have access to other sessions hosted by companies like Kineto and YouTube. 

Think Tank 20 and VidCon Speed Networking

Pro pass holders have exclusive access to Think Tank 20 sessions, the VidCon networking app, and VidCon speed networking. 

Think Tank 20 sessions are similar to the Mentorship Series sessions but are focused more on topics affecting the creator economy. 

There are two Think Tank 20 sessions scheduled for Thursday: one focusing on the new rules of music licensing and one on what it takes to build a business that attracts buyers. The sessions are led by Soundstripe CEO Jeff Perkins and RockWater founder Chris Erwin, respectively.

VidCon is also holding speed networking sessions on Thursday, June 25, and Friday, June 26, during which Pro pass holders can meet with fellow industry executives.

Pro pass holders also have access to other sessions hosted by companies like Chartbeat, iFLYTEK, Soundstripe, and Dots.

Opening Day Keynote presented by POP.STORE

Creator pass and Pro pass holders also have access to the Opening Day Keynote on Thursday, presented by POP.STORE.

Creator and journalist Jon Youshaei and POP.STORE CEO Gautam Goswami will discuss ECHO-ME, a new AI business tool for creators, and the use of AI in the creator industry.

Other events open to all VidCon attendees

All VidCon attendees have access to Meet-and-Greets with featured creators, Expo Hall events, VidCon's inaugural Pickleball Creator Tour, the Live Podcast Studio, and VidCon After Dark.

The weekend will conclude on Saturday with Creator Xplosion, a live art crossover event between FAN EXPO comic creators and VidCon artists, and the VidCon Street Fest, a festival full of food trucks and booths.

The full schedule and session details are available on the VidCon website. Here's how to purchase tickets.

Mashable will be on the ground at VidCon 2026 from June 25-27, covering the creators, trends, and conversations driving internet culture, from breaking news and creator interviews to industry insights and live updates.

Now that the Trump Mobile T1 phone is available for purchase, we finally have a chance to see what's it really made of. And, as suspected, it's not a very original device.

The folks at iFixit have torn down the Trump Phone (as it's colloquially known), and found that it's very similar to HTC's U24 Pro phone. Very, very similar. OK, they're the same phone, with some very minor differences.

If you're unfamiliar with HTC, it's a Taiwanese consumer electronics company that used to be a big smartphone player, but these days it's a company with shrinking revenues that focuses on VR and niche Android phones. The HTC U24 Pro came out in 2024; it's a 6.8-inch smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip, 12GB of RAM, 256/512GB of storage, a triple, 50/50/8-megapixel camera, and a 4,600mAh battery.

The similarities between HTC's phone from 2024 and the Trump Phone were apparent after the two devices were scanned with an industrial x-ray CT scanner (see image below).

They're the same picture. Credit: iFixit/Lumafield

Of course, the proper teardown, as well as the similarities between the two devices' specs confirmed the suspicions (the Trump Mobile T1's official specs are here). The visual changes between the two devices boil down to a slightly different chassis, the gold paint on the Trump Phone and the shape of the holes in the speaker grille.

Inside, the components are either the same or very similar, but there are certain differences, including a slightly larger battery on the Trump Phone. It also appears that several components of the Trump Phone were made in the Phillipines, in an apparent move to avoid components made in China (where phone batteries are typically made).

One of the key selling points of the Trump Phone was that it would be made in the U.S., though the wording was later changed to phrases including "designed with American values in mind," as well as "American teams helping guide design and quality." The fact that the phone was very likely made by HTC doesn't prove it wasn't at least partially assembled or designed in the U.S., but it's definitely not a phone that was made in the USA (the FTC standards on that are quite clear).

Oh, and by the way: the HTC U24 Pro was priced $469.99 when it launched two years ago. The Trump Mobile T1 is available now for $499.

Ever felt like social media sites don't really care about your interests anymore, instead showing you random stuff you don't even like? Instagram is taking some steps to change that.

Instagram chief Adam Mosseri announced the change on Threads on Wednesday, with Instagram adding a new feature called Your Algorithm.

"As software gets better at predicting what we want, our sense of agency gets smaller. The main feed on every major app is now mostly accounts you never decided to follow, surfaced by algorithms rather than your explicit choices," he wrote. No s***, Sherlock.

The way to remedy that is through the Your Algorithm tool, which allows you to choose which topics you want to see in your Instagram feed. While this sounds like the same thing you go through when signing up for a new social site, Your Algorithm is a welcome change as these topics previously weren't explicitly visible on Instagram. It also gives you the option to choose the topics you don't want to see.

When I checked my Instagram to see which topics the algorithm was serving me, I've found several that were off the mark. For example, a topic that was included for me was "Muay Thai," and while I have nothing against this type of content, it's not something I actively want to see more of in my feed.

Drum solos? OK, I'll allow it. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

How to personalize your algorithm on Instagram

The Your Algorithm feature is easy to tweak, but it is buried pretty deep in Instagram's settings. Here's how to access it on your iPhone:

1. Open the Instagram app and tap the profile icon in the lower right corner.

2. Tap the three lines icon in the top right corner, scroll down, and tap on "Content preferences".

3. From here, tap on Your Algorithm, and pick the topics you want or don't want to see.

4. You'll notice that Instagram is surfacing several suggestions for you, but you're also free to tap "+ Add" and pick any topic you want.

Mosseri says that this is "the start of something bigger than a feature," and that more features are coming in the future, including setting moods, vibes, content types, and more.

Insta360 has launched a Hello Kitty-themed action camera, collaborating with Sanrio to give the GO Ultra a cute new look.

The Insta360 GO Ultra x Hello Kitty Limited Edition's specifications are identical to the original GO Ultra action camera, boasting 1/1.28-inch sensor and 70-minute battery life (or 200 minutes when in its Action Pod), and weighing 53 grams (though the Action Pod adds another 109 grams). Its highest video resolution is 4K at 60fps, though its frame rate can reach 240fps at 1080p, and it uses microSD cards for storage. 

Like the original GO Ultra, the Hello Kitty version is a versatile little camera that's easy to throw in your bag, with a magnetic backing that significantly expands your mounting options. Insta360 has also added an exclusive Hello Kitty watermark that owners of this limited edition camera can apply when exporting their footage.

However, the real attraction of the Insta360 GO Ultra x Hello Kitty Limited Edition is its aesthetics. 

Credit: Insta360

While the Insta360 GO Ultra comes in either Midnight Black and Arctic White, the limited edition Hello Kitty collaboration gives it a pastel pink makeover. Miss Kitty White herself is printed on the camera's corner, peeking out curiously at whatever it is you're filming. She appears on the Action Pod as well, holding her own GO Ultra under the flippable screen, while the recording button is decorated with a picture of a pink spotted bow.

The Kitty-themed bundle comes with several Kitty-themed accessories as well. Insta360 has given its Mini 2-in-1 Tripod 2.0 and its GO Ultra Quick Release Safety Cord exclusive pink colourways, with the latter sporting an adjustment buckle in the shape of a cute Sanrio bow. Also pinkified are the included GO Ultra Magnet Pendant, Magnetic Easy Clip, Quick Release Mount, and even the USB-C charging cable.

Credit: Insta360

Despite these accessories, the Insta360 GO Ultra x Hello Kitty Limited Edition's most eye-catching inclusion is its pink padded Hello Kitty carry case. With its adjustable rope shoulder strap and magnetic flap covering its zip closure, the soft, structured case could almost double as a cute purse were it not for the collaboration's logo stamped on its front. Even with the logo, I'd still be tempted to use it for non-camera purposes anyway.

Credit: Insta360

Insta360 does introduce a few new features with the Hello Kitty camera, adding three new filters to its existing eight: Frosted CCD, Amber CCD, and Blue CCD. It also upgrades Portrait Mode to Portrait Mode 2.0, which lets users choose whether to minimise skin imperfections with the Smooth option or to Brighten their skin. 

However, these features aren't exclusive to the Hello Kitty collaboration, and will be available on all GO Ultra cameras. To get them, simply connect your GO Ultra to the Insta360 app and update its firmware.

The Insta360 GO Ultra x Hello Kitty Limited Edition is available now for $569.99. That's a $90 price bump compared to the un-Kittyfied version's $479.99 Snap & Shoot Bundle, which includes most of the same accessories but swaps out the carry case for three Sticky Tabs instead. 

Whether it's worth paying the extra for the Hello Kitty edition will depend on how much you value the aesthetic. For some, that cute pink bag may be more than enough.

Boox just dropped a new e-reader, and it looks pretty familiar, but not just because it's a second-generation model.

The Boox Go 6 (Gen 2) is here and available for preorder. Measuring six inches, the Go 6 is Boox's ideal travel e-reader, nearly pocket-sized but slightly larger than the brand's Palma 2. The Gen 2 comes in four new shades: custard, plum, shell, and stone. The Go 6 (Gen 2) is a familiar-looking e-reader, too, as it appears nearly identical to the Kindle Paperwhite.

The new Boox Go 6 (left) resembles the Kindle Paperwhite (right). Credit: Boox / Amazon

Both devices have screens flush to the exterior chassis, the main difference being that the Kindle comes in black while the Boox Go 6 (Gen 2) is white. The new Go 6 also has a ridged exterior for a suitcase-inspired look compared to the Kindle Paperwhite's smooth case.

The biggest upgrade coming to the Boox Go 6 (Gen 2) is its handwriting support. Now you can pair the e-reader with Boox's InkSense Plus stylus, and with a native notes app, you can mark up books, take notes, and journal. That definitely gives the Go 6 a leg up against the Paperwhite, which doesn't have notetaking abilities.

Supported by Android 11 with a built-in Google Play Store, the device has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of SSD. It has a front light with adjustable warmth and brightness and a max brightness of 300 ppi.

The Boox Go 6 (Gen 2) costs $199.99 and is now available for preorder and expected to ship on Wednesday, June 17.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Boox

Boox Go 6 (Gen 2)

$199.99 at Boox

 

Pre-order Here

Canada is set to ban social media for children under 16, in a move similar to Australia's historic law.

Announced by the Canadian government on Wednesday, the proposed Safe Social Media Act (Bill C-34) aims to reduce online harms to children and hold social media and AI chatbot companies responsible for addressing such harms, citing child sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, self-harm, and the impact on mental health.

The proposed law will see the Canadian government restricting users under 16 from holding social media accounts. This also means age verification for online services, and legally mandated safety requirements for social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, and companies with AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude.

"We have seen the very serious consequences that online harms can have. As technologies evolve, we must ensure our laws keep pace, because parents cannot face these challenges alone," reads a statement by Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, who introduced the bill.

"The safety of children cannot be an afterthought. This legislation will introduce stronger responsibilities for online platforms to ensure their services are safe by design and include appropriate measures to keep children safe."

The bill comes months after Australia made history last year with its unprecedented Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, which banned social media for kids under 16. Notably, Australian kids have found ways around it. In 2026, Brazil, Austria, and Indonesia have followed suit, with governments in the UK, France, Thailand, Spain, and more countries looking into their own initiatives.

Canada's proposed Safe Social Media Act will install a new digital safety commission that will require online services to "identify, mitigate and address the risks" on their platforms. They will also be required to take measures "to reduce children’s exposure to certain content and high-risk interactions," covering seven categories of "harmful content" identified as "content that sexually victimizes a child or revictimizes a survivor, intimate content communicated without consent, content that induces a child to self-harm, content used to bully a child, content that foments hatred, content that incites violence, and terrorism or violent extremism content."

Social media companies will also be required by law to adequately label AI-generated content, "be transparent in terms of their reporting thresholds in crisis situations," and AI chatbot services will be required to "mitigate the risk of the chatbot communicating harmful content" or the risk of it "engag[ing] in harmful behaviour."

Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi, president of the Canadian Medical Association, supported the bill in a press statement, saying, "Time's up. It’s unacceptable for foreign-owned platforms to continue to get rich at the expense of our children’s mental health, privacy and personal safety. This legislation makes Canada a global leader in digital safety and ensures Canadians, especially young people, are protected online and out of harm’s way."

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection also publicly backed the bill. "For over 20 years, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection has documented a steep and accelerating rise in online harms against children, including child sexual abuse and exploitation," said with executive director Lianna McDonald in a statement. "The tabling of the Digital Safety Act is a historic day that could turn the tide on this trajectory."

However, Canada's Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms noted Bill C-63 "goes far beyond targeting criminal conduct," and would "undermine freedom of expression, due process, and the rule of law in Canada."

"The Online Harms Act would dramatically expand government censorship powers, punish lawful expression online, and authorize preemptive restrictions on individual liberty," reads their statement. "In doing so, it would represent a fundamental departure from Canada’s long-standing commitment to freedom of expression and due process. Under Bill C-63, lawful speech could be subject to investigation, penalties, or removal based on vague and subjective standards. Individuals could face severe consequences not for committing crimes, but for expressing opinions that are later deemed unacceptable."

Notably, Canada's Safe Social Media Act will inside a larger legislative framework called the Digital Safety Act. This law will also cover "user-uploaded livestreaming and adult content services." This means minimum-age restrictions not only for social media services but also "for accessing pornographic content on regulated services."

The growing trend of age-verification bills, which require individuals to prove their age to access not only adult content but social media sites, has ramped over the last few years. That's despite, as Mashable's Anna Iovine has long reported, experts warning these bills pose threats to digital privacy and free speech.

SAVE OVER $20: As of June 11, the Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Tantive IV set (#75376) is on sale for $55.99 at Amazon. This is $24 off its full price of $79.99.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Lego

LEGO Star Wars: A New Hope Tantive IV (#75376)

$55.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $24.00

 

Get Deal

If you're searching for some good Lego deals, Amazon is worth a look right now. Even before Prime Day, the retailer is offering some great early deals on a wide variety of items, Lego sets included. For Star Wars fans, the Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Tantive IV set (#75376) is one build that's been marked down, dropping to $55.99 as of June 11.

Compared to the Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Tantive IV set's full price of $79.99, this deal saves you $24 overall. It may not stay discounted for long, though. Considering it's marked as a 'limited time deal', you'll want to make your move quick on this set before its price shoots back up.

This Lego Tantive IV set is recommended for adults aged 18 and over, as it's meant to be displayed as a model once you're done. It comes with 654 pieces in total that create the Tantive IV starship from A New Hope, including details like its 11 engines and turbolasers. It also comes with a buildable stand with a nameplate you can stick on the front alongside a Lego Star Wars 25th Anniversary brick.

If the Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Tantive IV set is one you've had your eyes on, now is a great time to pick it up and save at Amazon.

If you're still in the shopping mood and looking for more Lego sets to buy, have a look at our breakdown of the 10 best Lego sets of 2026 so far to see some of our top picks.

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Despite constantly bragging about his cognitive test scores, Donald Trump appears to struggle with the concept of percentages.

"Trump creates and inhabits his own reality with his own rules," Seth Meyers explains in the Late Night monologue above. "He even has his own math. In our world, you can only reduce the price of something by 100 percent max. Once you've reduced it 100 percent it's free. But in Trump's world, numbers work very differently."

Cue a montage of Trump saying he wants to reduce various things by various percentages well over 100, ending with the president explaining that with numbers, "It's all about the phrasing of the question."

"No!" says Meyers. "It's not! Math is math. There's no math problem where the answer is '500 or 600 or 80 or 75.' I don't remember that from my AP algebra days."

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SAVE OVER $100: As of June 11, the Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm, LTE) with a porcelain band is back at its lowest-ever price on Amazon at $396. This is $103.99 off its full price of $499.99.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Google

Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm)

$396 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $103.99

 

Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day is coming up fast, but before the sale starts, we've actually found quite a few early deals worth picking up from the retailer. If you're in the shopping mood and searching for a new smartwatch, the Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm, LTE) with a porcelain band is one item on sale that's caught our eye. As of June 11, it's dropped below $400.

Normally listed at $499.99, this Google Pixel Watch 4 model has dropped to $396 at Amazon. Not only is this a huge discount of just over $100, but it also marks a return to its lowest-ever price at the retailer, which is a nice bonus. Unfortunately, this offer applies only to the model with a porcelain band and a polished silver case, but if you've had your eye on this color, it's a great time to buy.

Fitted with a battery that lasts up to 30 hours per charge or up to 48 hours in Battery Saver mode, the Google Pixel Watch 4 is a smartwatch that can help you keep an eye on everything from workouts to your health throughout the day. Some of its features include heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, a high-precision dual-frequency GPS, and over 40 exercise modes, but that's just the beginning.

It's a smartwatch we consider the 'Best Android Smartwatch' in our roundup of the best smartwatches. Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth says this is because, "it's elegant enough to wear to the office, but comfortable and smart enough to monitor workouts."

And speaking of workouts, Christianna Silva, who reviewed it for Mashable, called it a "true runners' watch" and added that, as a marathon runner, "I want a smartwatch that can do two things: tell me what time it is and track my workouts. The Google Pixel Watch 4 can do a lot more than that, and I was pleased with Fitbit's integration for workouts."

Think it's the right fit for you? Don't miss out on this great deal on the Google Pixel Watch 4 (45mm, LTE) with a porcelain band at Amazon.

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

Six years after YouTube kicked direct messages to the curb, the platform is bringing them back.

Announced Wednesday after six months of testing, YouTube now allows users to share videos through a rebooted messaging feature. In Nov. 2025, platform owner Google described DMs as a "top feature request."

Direct messages will appear on YouTube's app as a new messaging icon, through which you can send an invite to friends to share videos. Users will be able to accept or decline the invite, in a move that'll hopefully tackle spam and creeps. The only catch is that you'll need to be over 18 with your age verified, and signed in to a personal YouTube channel with your Google Account to send them.

The new DMs icon sits next to "Cast". Credit: YouTube / Mashable edit

YouTube removed direct messages from the platform in 2019, two years after launching them in 2017. At the time Google said it was "reevaluating our priorities" and instead focusing on updates to public conversations like comments and posts.

Direct messages will now be rolled out on YouTube in the U.S., UK, Brazil, and Singapore, having already been available from March across European countries including Spain, Ireland, Croatia, France, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, Greece, Austria, Poland, Belgium, and more.

In its announcement, YouTube said its Community Guidelines will apply to all shared content and messages. As Mashable's Matt Binder reported during YouTube's testing phase, YouTube "will uphold its moderation policies for content sent via direct message as it would with public content, and will review flagged material."

It's a long overdue reissue for YouTube, considering practically every other social media and video platform, from TikTok to Instagram to Threads, has a DM feature.

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Melania Trump has been speaking about AI again, this time at a White House AI Challenge Awards event on Tuesday.

In the clip above, Daily Show host Desi Lydic plays a clip of Trump's speech, with the First Lady telling the audience to "use this chapter of your life to sail away with your dreams."

"What was the prompt to write that speech?" asks a confused Lydic. "ChatGPT, give me metaphor. No! Give me all metaphors."

Lydic goes on to play a compilation of Trump talking about AI and robots, finishing with the First Lady saying, "The robots are here."

"The robots are here, asking you to join us," says Lydic, in Melania impression mode. "I mean them. Them. Delete previous sentence."

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Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're good with computers.

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: Oozing

The words are related via rhymes.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words rhyme with ooze.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Rhymetime.

NYT Strands word list for June 11

• Fuse

• Blues

• Brews

• Rhymetime

• Shoes

• Choose

• Schmooze

• Cruise

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a drama kid.

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: Going to the gym

• Green: Horns

• Blue: Cars

• Purple: Spelled like an app

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Parts of a Workout Routine

• Green: Things with Horns

• Blue: Homophones of SUVs

• Purple: Payment Apps Minus A Letter

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 #1096 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Parts of a Workout Routine: BALANCE, CARDIO, STRETCHING, WEIGHTS

• Things with Horns: BRASS BAND, DEVIL, RHINO, VIKING HELMET

• Homophones of SUVs: BRONCHO, FORERUNNER, TROUPER, UCONN

• Payment Apps Minus A Letter: ELLE, PAPAL, STRIP, VENO

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

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're easily annoyed.

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:

Easily annoyed.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

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...

TESTY

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

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require soccer knowledge.

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

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

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

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

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

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: Game locations

• Green: Other club names

• Blue: Same player

• Purple: Teammates

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: 2026 World Cup host cities

• Green: Nicknames of World Cup Teams

• Blue: Christian Pulisic Teams

• Purple: Argentina World Cup Players

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 #626 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• 2026 World Cup host cities: ATLANTA, MEXICO CITY, PHILADELPHIA, TORONTO

• Nicknames of World Cup teams: LES ÉLÉPHANTS, ORANJE, SOCCEROOS, THREE LIONS

• Christian Pulisic: AC MILAN, BORUSSIA DORTMUND, CHELSEA, UNITED STATES

• Argentina World Cup Players: LO CELSO, MAC ALLISTER, MESSI, PAZ

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 today's Connections.

Another day, another piece of gold Trump merchandise for sale.

In the clip above Jimmy Kimmel talks about Donald Trump's commemorative gold coin, being sold for "the low, low price of only $11,999" to mark the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House.

"You can see though it's a beautiful coin — Julius UFCaesar is pictured," says Kimmel. "This is one ounce of pure PF70-rated gold. Just for comparison, an ounce of PF70-rated gold in coin form without his head on it goes for about $4,500, so this is a deal."

Jimmy Kimmel then goes through the site's fine print, pointing out that the coin is not intended for "investment purposes", is not "legal tender", and has "no face value".

"You really have to hand it to Trump, it takes a special kind of con man to sell your supporters money they cannot spend any place," says Kimmel.

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, June 11, 2026:

Across

Kindergarten basics

• The answer is ABCS.

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

Santa's "present" for naughty kids

• The answer is Coal.

With 2-Down, body parts that are a spoonerism of "bunny phones"

• The answer is Funny.

Cookie with blue-and-white packaging

• The answer is Oreo.

Acid's opposite

• The answer is Base.

Down

High-end division of Honda

• The answer is Acura.

See 6-Across

• The answer is Bones.

Something to paddle across a lake

• The answer is Canoe.

Sneaky

• The answer is Sly.

Electronic key

• The answer is Fob.

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

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

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

Online dating as a gay man is a rite of passage. From the Craigslist m4m era to today's endless scroll, it's been a part of gay culture since the early days of the web. But for all the high rewards, even the best dating apps come with a unique set of challenges for LGBTQ men: ghosting, catfishing, straight guys who shouldn't be in your feed, and even some not-so-subtle fetishization. It's a lot to take in when you're just trying to find a cute guy.

Yet, despite the BS, the best gay dating apps are still one of the main ways to meet new guys. In fact, a 2026 report by SSRS found that 63 percent of LGBTQ adults have used a dating app (and 14 percent are currently using one), compared to just 34 percent of non-LGBTQ adults. It makes sense when you consider that Pew Research found that about one in four lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults met their partner online — a significantly higher rate than straight couples.

We love to complain about the apps, but the reality is, we still need them.

We have to talk about Grindr

Of course, we can't talk about gay dating without talking about Grindr. It's still the undisputed king of gay dating apps, even if the user experience has been suffering of late. The free version of Grindr is now stuffed full of ads, leaving many guys longing for an alternative. Plus, because of its well-deserved reputation as a hookup app, it's not always the right place to make a love connection.

"Grindr is a tried and true app that many queer men gravitate toward to find partners or for relationships that require lesser commitment, so it’s easy to point to it as the No. 1 app," Michelle Herzog, LMFT, AASECT-certified sex therapist, tells Mashable. "However, like Tinder, it’s gained a reputation as a hookup app — but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t men looking for long-term commitments, either."

The good news is that the gay dating app landscape is bigger than Grindr. Mainstream apps like Hinge and OkCupid have made huge strides in inclusivity, while niche apps like Scruff and Feeld cater to specific communities, kinks, and desires. We're also seeing a major resurgence in map-based dating websites like Sniffies and Squirt for those who want to skip the small talk entirely.

The key is figuring out which dating apps are worth your time. So, here's our in-depth guide to the best gay dating apps for men in summer 2026.

What happened to Archer?

For a long time, Archer has been our go-to recommendation as the best dating app for LGBTQ guys looking for serious relationships. But no longer. The Match Group is shutting down Archer on June 17, 2026. Mashable Associate Editor Anna Iovine reported on the mid-Pride Month shutdown and talked to the Match Group about the decision.

Recent changes to this dating app guide include:

• Archer: As of June 17, 2026, the Match Group is shutting down Archer. Previously, this was our favorite gay dating app for finding serious relationships, and it will be missed.

• Feeld: As of October 2025, we've added Feeld to this guide as our top pick for "Best for Kink and Threesomes."

• Hinge: As of October 2025, we've added Hinge as another alternative to Archer, as it's also great for finding serious relationships. We've also selected it as the best gay dating app for younger guys due to its popularity with Gen Z.

• Squirt: As of early 2026, we've added Squirt to this guide. In an era of aggressive paywalls, Squirt makes a strong case for itself with a highly functional free tier that offers unlimited direct messaging to members worldwide.

Which gay dating apps didn't make the cut?

You'll notice a few well-known apps are missing from our main list. Here's why they didn't make our "best of" guide.

• Taimi: While Taimi markets itself heavily as a queer community space, we've opted to leave it off the list. The feedback from real users is frankly brutal. Redditors say the free version is "completely unusable"; you need a premium subscription just to view a basic profile. Worse, users reported feeling unsafe, noting the app is filled with scammers, "obvious homophobes," and "more straight cis-men and creeps than even Tinder or Bumble." Skip it.

• Raya: We know, Raya is the "celebrity dating app," but we're not recommending it. Why? Because, as our own Chance Townsend discovered, its exclusivity is "a bit overhyped." After shelling out $25 per month, he found the vibe "so Tinder-esque," and the user pool wasn't A-list celebs but "consultants, aspiring actors, medical professionals, recruiters, and even students." The consensus: Raya is basically "an expensive Tinder with a better PR team." Save your money.

• Recon: Recon has a reputation as the app for the kink community, but we've opted to leave it off the list. User reviews on Reddit are brutal. One thread described the app as "really buggy" and "not much activity on there anymore." Users in that thread complained that the app is a "waste of time," full of flakes, "catfish," and "fake doms wanting you to be their slave or boy." Other users noted that "a lot of kink/fetish guys have moved on to Instagram, Twitter/X, [or] OnlyFans" or that mainstream apps like Scruff are now "more open and welcoming spaces" for the community.

• Planet Romeo (now Romeo): Planet Romeo (which took over the old Guys4Men, or g4m, site ) is another legacy app we didn't include. While it was once a go-to for finding meaningful relationships, particularly in India and parts of Europe, it's now mostly seen as an app from a bygone era. Reddit threads on the topic are full of nostalgia for the "age of Planet Romeo" and the "slow communication" of the early 2000s.

SAVE $200: As of June 11, the Insignia 65-inch Class QF LED 4K QLED TV is back at its lowest-ever price on Amazon at $299.99. This is $200 off its full price of $499.99.

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Credit: Insignia

INSIGNIA 65-inch Class QF Series LED 4K UHD QLED Smart Fire TV with Alexa Voice Remote

$299.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $200

 

Get Deal

Between the World Cup and exciting new additions to streaming services this summer, it's worth having a TV that can deliver a high-quality picture to enjoy it all on. If you think it's time for an upgrade, now is an excellent time to shop. Ahead of Prime Day, we've spotted some early TV deals worth taking advantage of at Amazon, including a stellar offer on the Insignia 65-inch Class QF LED 4K QLED TV.

As of June 11, this Insignia TV has returned to its lowest-ever price at Amazon of $299.99. Considering it's normally priced at $499.99, now is the time to swoop in and save $200. It's quite a nice offer to take advantage of ahead of Prime Day's official start date.

Boasting a QLED display with 4K Ultra HD resolution, this Insignia TV will make the shows you're watching or the World Cup matches really shine with bright, detailed color. It also supports Dolby Atmos Audio, so you can enjoy spatial audio that makes you feel like you're at the center of the action as it unfolds, whether you're watching a movie or show or playing a game.

Plus, since it's a smart TV with Fire TV Smart OS, you can access your favorite streaming services directly from the home screen. With so many exciting shows to watch this summer, this is a great way to stay on top of them all.

Don't miss out on this great TV deal on the Insignia 65-inch Class QF LED 4K QLED TV at Amazon.

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

SAVE $60: As of June 11, the Insignia 32-inch Class F20 is on sale for $69.97. That's a 46% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Insignia

Insignia 32-inch Class F20

$69.97 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $60.02

 

Get Deal

If you’re looking for a new TV for watching the World Cup, you don’t need to commit to spending hundreds of dollars. In fact, you don’t even need to spend one hundred dollars. As of June 11, the Insignia 32-inch Class F20 TV is on sale at Amazon for just $69.99. Normally $129.99, this deal saves you $60. 

It’s a great TV, too. It offers 720p HD resolution for watching movies, shows, and matches in high definition. It also has DTS Virtual-X audio that creates a more immersive sound experience through the TV’s built-in speakers. It's also wall-mountable, making it easy to set up and taking up less space.

It runs on Fire TV, which means you have access to many streaming options, including movies and TV episodes across apps like Prime Video and Netflix. Plus, the Alexa Voice Remote lets you use voice control to search for content or launch apps. 

Connectivity options include HDMI, composite AV, optical audio, USB, headphone jack, coaxial input, and WiFi.

Get this TV deal at Amazon now in time for the World Cup kickoff.

SAVE $70: As of June 11, the Beats Solo 4 are on sale for $129.95 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Beats

Beats Solo 4

$129.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $70

 

Get Deal

Prime Day is still a couple of weeks away, but you don't need to wait if you want to score a deal on headphones now. As of June 11, the Beats Solo 4 have dropped in price again, and they're currently $70 off at $129.95. This discount applies to all colorways so that you can choose from matte black, black and gold, cloud pink, metallic pink, and slate blue.

As you'd expect from any Beats product, these headphones promise a stellar listening experience. They have a custom acoustic architecture with updated drivers designed to deliver powerful Beats sound. Plus, you'll get up to 50 hours of battery life, and a 10-minute charge will give you five hours of playback.

The headphones also support dual compatibility with one-touch pairing for both Apple and Android devices, and include built-in microphones for great-sounding calls and voice notes.

Plus, the design is created to be comfortable for all-day wear. They're ultralight and feature a flex-grip headband, adjustable ear cups, and UltraPlush ear cushions.

Get this headphone deal online at Amazon now.

SAVE $50: As of June 11, Beats Fit Pro are on sale for $149.99 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Beats

Beats Fit Pro

$149.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $49.96

 

Get Deal

Looking for new earbuds? The Beats Fit Pro are back on sale at Amazon, and as of June 11, you can save $50. Normally priced at $199.95, you can currently buy the 1st generation model of these earbuds for $149.99, saving you $50.

With these earbuds, you'll get three listening modes: Active Noise Canceling, Transparency Mode, and Adaptive EQ. These let you choose the level of noise cancellation you want, with options to fully remove background noise or keep it "transparent" so you stay aware of your surroundings.

For battery life, you'll get up to six hours of listening time. This extends to 24 hours with the included charging case. They are IPX4-rated for sweat and water resistance and feature built-in microphones for calls and voice note use.

And their standout design, the flexible wingtip, makes them an ideal choice for workouts. They give you a secure, comfortable fit that stays in place no matter the intensity of your exercise. They also come with three different ear tip sizes to ensure they fit perfectly.

Head to Amazon to score this Beats earbuds deal now.

Dyson just dropped a new flagship cordless vacuum for the first time in forever. Launched in the U.S. on June 2, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal is the first new flagship Dyson in three years. Even then, the 2023 flagship Gen5absolute and Gen5outsize vacuums didn't feel overly innovative compared to the existing Dyson V15.

The Dyson V16 finally picks up where the Dyson V15 left off, and there's more than one upgrade to discuss. Does it automatically shake up my list of the best cordless stick vacuums? Here's how my first week with the V16 has gone.

The classic Dyson chrome has been replaced with black, but we didn't ditch the turquoise and orange. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The new compressor lever creates room for 30 days' worth of dust before emptying. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

What's special about the Dyson V16 Piston?

People have been asking for years: Can a cordless vacuum replace a corded vacuum? I've always been a hard "yes" based on convenience alone. But with the V16, you wouldn't be settling for slightly weaker suction power just to free yourself from the wall. The V16 Piston Animal is the first cordless Dyson vacuum to surpass 300 AW (Air Watts) of suction power. This means that a cordless Dyson vacuum is finally the strongest Dyson vacuum across the board, even beating out the corded upright models that once felt unsurpassable. The reigning most powerful Dyson option, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra, maxes out at 290 AW.

The V16 Piston Animal also comes with the Fluffy Optic head for hard floors and two handheld attachments. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The V16 Piston Animal (right) is significantly beefier than the V12 Detect Slim (left). Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Other big changes include a new compressing dustbin that can hold up to 30 days' worth of dust and a new anti-tangle conical cleaning head. It's more rounded than the previous Dyson Motorbar, featuring two side-by-side cone-shaped rollers that suck long hair up the middle to prevent wrapping. The V16's All Floor Cones Sense cleaner head uses alternating strips of stiff bristles and soft fibers to pick up debris and hair on hard and soft floors. I'm strictly focusing on this new cleaning head for my initial testing, as I'm already familiar with the Fluffy Optic cleaning head after three years with my Dyson V12 Detect Slim.

In auto mode, the V16 senses which type of floor it's cleaning and the level of debris it's dealing with, automatically adjusting suction and brush roll speed accordingly — you can hear this happen while you're cleaning. You can manually switch to eco or boost mode with a button on the handle that looks way too similar to the on/off button.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal on carpet: Super strong, a little bit stubborn

I don't have any fully carpeted rooms, but the V16 Piston Animal has been dishing out some potent suction on my area rugs and runners: a flat printed Ruggable with a pad underneath, a faux fur Tumble rug, and two medium pile tufted rugs that feel like traditional carpet.

I can really feel the brush rolls digging into the rug fibers, and the amount of cat hair and gray fluff that accumulated in the dustbin after the first day was proof enough. I particularly enjoyed watching the V16 snatch up stubborn fuzzies and little balls of shedded rug fibers from the tufted rug in my bedroom, considering most robot vacuums I test struggle with those.

This pattern is really good at hiding cat hair, but the V16 found it. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I knew the V16 would ace its lint roller test when the rug lines were this crisp. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

For testing's sake, I also spilled panko bread crumbs and protein powder all over the flat kitchen runner and sprinkles on the plush fur rug. Almost all of the bread crumbs and sprinkles were picked up in a single forward pass. A few extra passes were needed to grab the breadcrumbs that the V16 blew out of its own cleaning path. The V16 only took a few passes to make the white powder spot disappear, which is impressive considering some of it probably fell down into the Ruggable's flatweave.

Going in, my biggest question about the V16's carpet cleaning wasn't even the pickup rate — it was whether or not it'd get stuck on rugs like the old Motorbar did. The V16 Piston Animal seems to get stuck less often than the previous four Dysons I've used. The new cleaning head must have an improved airflow system that better prevents the cyclonic power from creating that frustrating seal on the rug. The catch? This is only true if the V16 is in eco mode.

When I tried to vacuum a rug in auto or boost mode, the cone rollers almost immediately got jammed and stopped spinning. It's a bummer that you can't take full advantage of the 315 AW of suction power without running into this classic Dyson glitch. Even eco mode requires some elbow grease to push and pull the vac across a rug, though the glide is much smoother if I use my other hand to give the vacuum a bit of lift off the ground — this even went smoothly on my fluffy bath mats. Luckily, even the V16's weakest setting rarely leaves visible debris behind after the first pass or two.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal on hardwood: Highly efficient in a single pass

The V16 Piston Animal's performance on hardwood and tile has been pretty immaculate so far, specifically with the All Floor Cones Sense cleaning head. More times than not, the V16 Piston Animal's debris pickup on hard floors has been so thorough that a second pass after the first forward swipe technically isn't even necessary. I still do that back-and-forth motion out of habit, but it's usually not because the V16 keeps missing spots.

I dumped out more litter than my cats track out to really test the V16's power. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The trail behind the V16 was spotless after a single forward pass. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

On hard floors, you can really see what boost mode can do. It's been phenomenal for keeping up with different types of cat litter tracked out of two litter boxes, crumbs of all sorts lodged under the counter, and so much long hair that ends up on my bathroom floor every day. During the first week with the V16, someone in my household got a new fish tank and made a mess of aquarium substrate all over the hardwood kitchen floor. In boost mode, the V16 picked up the rocks so efficiently that cleanup took maybe a minute — that includes the tiny pieces that fell into the cracks of the hardwood.

I appreciate that Dyson added the green laser to the carpet-forward cleaning head. Basically every room in my apartment has both hard flooring and a rug, and my daily vacuuming routine is much faster without having to switch cleaning heads depending on floor type. With my Dyson V12 Detect Slim, I used the cleaning head with the laser 24/7 despite the fact that it's not ideal for deep rug cleaning. I didn't feel like digging the Motorbar out of the closet that badly, and emotionally, I needed access to LED dust detection at all times.

But the new cleaning head design isn't completely bulletproof. It's kind of bulky and doesn't fit as far under low-hanging dressers or credenzas as the Fluffy Optic head does. I'm most confused about why the front edge subtly comes to a point instead of being completely flat. It prevents the head from fully squeezing into a corner or up against a wall, where dust famously loves to gather. The Fluffy Optic head is elite for this exact reason, so thank goodness Dyson threw that in the box.

Why? Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Dyson V16 Piston Animal in handheld mode: Powerful but heavy

In terms of going handheld, the V16 Piston Animal isn't the most comfortable or the least comfortable stick vacuum I've ever had to hold in one hand. It makes the Dyson Gen5outsize feel like a brick and the Dyson V12 Detect Slim feel light enough that a toddler could use it.

The mini pet hair tool worked well on velvet upholstery and this fluffy material. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I swear the base of the cat tree and nearby windowsill spawn new fur and dander every hour. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

In one session with the mini hair screw tool, I went over the whole couch and each cat tree level with a cushion. My arm got a little tired toward the end of those five minutes, but I was also pausing to take pictures for this review. The cat tree cushions aren't attached to the perches, but I was pleasantly surprised that the V16 could be gently dragged across without sucking them up. The thick layer of cat fur on the chaise of the couch was basically gone in one swipe.

Switching to the crevice tool, I used boost mode to pull kitty litter out from awkward spots behind the toilet and sticky air conditioner gunk right out of the vents. Though I wish the V16 were lighter in handheld mode, it does get tasks done super quickly.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal

$979 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Dyson

The Crewmates in Paramount+'s Among Us series spend half the show running from Impostors, and the other half showing off their surprisingly nice butts.

According to series creator Owen Dennis, the deluge of butts in the show began with episode 1, appearing in a few shots of Crewmates walking out of the elevator, or a moment when Green (voiced by Elijah Wood) climbs into a chair.

"Butt was shown a few times," Dennis told Mashable in a video interview. "Because of this, what happened was that basically every artist on the show saw that I did not say no to the butt, and so from there on out they were like, 'Well, I'm gonna add some butt too.'"

(On Bluesky, Dennis posted: "Everyone agrees: We like them having little gumdrop booties.")

About midway through the season, the Among Us team received an email asking to tone down the number of butts in the show. (And looking at just how many butts are currently in the show, you can only imagine how many more were originally in it.)

"I was like, 'I'm not going to to be the one to say which butts to take out. I don't want to take them out!'" Dennis said.

Instead, he asked for a list of which butts could stay in the show and received a detailed, timestamped breakdown in return. From there, Dennis had to remove butts or find creative solutions to tone them down.

"There's one shot where it's a close up on Red's [(voiced by Randall Park)] butt as the camera zoomed out," Dennis explained. "In animation, you can't redo a shot. The shot exists as it exists, and we'd already gotten that shot back from animation. I couldn't redo the shot from the ground up, so instead what I did was I took out the butt, then I put the tiniest little upside-down V of the bottom of a butt cheek."

Upon seeing that solution, Dennis recalled Among Us co-executive producer and writer Madeline Queripel comparing Red's butt to another famed animated rear end: that of Hank Hill. So Among Us' Crewmates' butts (or lack thereof) are in good company.

Among Us is now streaming on Paramount+.

You can never just watch a whodunnit once. You have to go back and pick out all the clues you may have missed along the way and analyze the killer's every move.

The same goes for the TV adaptation of Among Us, which presents a horrifying space-set murder mystery.

For creator Owen Dennis, "pretty much everything" changes when you rewatch the show knowing that (spoiler!) the Impostors are none other than Green (voiced by Elijah Wood) and Orange (voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown).

"I have seen people online be like, 'I didn't see any foreshadowing on any of these characters,' and I'm just like, 'Watch it again!'" Dennis told Mashable in a video interview. "If you watch it again, you'll see that every single interaction that Green ever has has something upsetting behind it... Same with Orange, and I find that to be a joyful thing."

What Easter eggs can you spot when you rewatch Among Us?

Upon rewatch, viewers will be able to catch even the smallest of details that hint at how Orange and especially Green (because let's be real, he carried the Impostor team) pulled off their murders. Take a close look at where the pair sit. If they're on a vent, you'll spot a glimpse of parasitic alien tendrils creeping through the grates, revealing how the Impostors are able to pull off murders in different rooms.

"I was afraid nobody was ever gonna find that stuff, but they did," Dennis said of the vent tendrils. "I personally animated the tiniest little triangles of stuff in them, because I was like, 'It can't be that obvious.' I don't want anyone to see it on the first go, but I do want someone to see it on the second or third. That's what I was hoping."

Dennis notes that in the first episode, eagle-eyed viewers will also be able to see the exact moment Green and Orange get infected by the alien parasite. Later episodes feature further clues at the Impostors and their weaknesses.

"Somebody also found out that there's a shadow on a wall that shows up when Black [(voiced by Liv Hewson)] steps into a salt circle. When they do, the shadow disappears because it didn't want to deal with the salt," Dennis said. "I'm just very happy people are going through, frame by frame, and trying to find what the differences are. There's still a few that people haven't found yet, which I think is fun."

For Dennis, Among Us' rich rewatch factor is a testament to the larger team that built the show.

"I keep seeing people ask, 'How did you figure out all these little clues?' I'm like, 'I didn't!' I thought of a few of them, but I work on a crew with 30 to 100 people at any given moment," Dennis explained. "Because everybody else is working towards the same goal, everybody figures out how to make a billion different clues all over the show that no one catches until later."

Among Us is now streaming on Paramount+.

It's Amazon Prime Day season again, aka the best time of year to score excellent deals on Apple gadgets (outside of Black Friday, at least). Amazon typically offers extra-low prices on Apple Watches, AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks during its members-only sale, making it less painful to splurge on a new device.

Full disclosure: There are already tons of Apple deals available on Amazon ahead of the sale, which doesn't technically start until June 23, and a lot of them are tempting. Some devices, including the Apple Watch Series 11, are currently sitting at record-low prices.

Still, I wouldn't fill your cart just yet. Having covered Prime Day for Mashable for seven straight years now, I can tell you with 100 percent confidence that most of these offers will get even better in just a couple of weeks, once Prime Day formally begins. Amazon saves its very best deals for the main event.

I say "most of these offers," not "all," because there are two exceptional deals that I would in fact grab now. Based on past Prime Days, there's a very slim chance they'll get any cheaper in the coming weeks. Read on for my reasoning on both, plus the scoop on how low we expect prices to go on AirPods, MacBooks, iPads, and more Apple gadgets.

The only Apple deals I'd shop before Prime Day

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Credit: Apple

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 at Amazon
$249 Save $70

 

Get Deal

Why I like it

Apple's premium noise-canceling earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3, only just went on sale for $179 (normally $249). That's a 28% savings and their lowest price to date. The older AirPods Pro 2 fell to $149 last Prime Day, or $100 off, but they were much further along in their life cycle at that point.

Read our full review of the AirPods Pro 3.

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Credit: Apple

Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200

 

Get Deal

Why I like it

Last Prime Day, the M4 MacBook Airs only got discounts of $150 apiece. Ahead of this year's sale, the 15-inch M5 model is already a whopping $200 off. Its current record-low price of $1,099 (normally $1,299) is another seemingly unbeatable deal. The only reason you'd want to wait is if you prefer the sky blue, starlight, or silver finishes: This deal only applies to the midnight variant at the moment.

Read our full review of the M5 MacBook Air.

Prime Day AirPods deals to look for

• Apple AirPods 4: Apple's cheapest earbuds are now on sale for $99 (usually $129), but we've seen them hit $69 before. Dirt-cheap AirPods are a classic Prime Day sighting, so I'm expecting Amazon to revive that deal in the near future.

• Apple AirPods Max 2: These snazzy over-ear headphones have been hanging out at their record-low price of $499.99 since early June (normally $549). That's not bad, but the first-gen AirPods Max with USB-C charging were a full $100 off on their first Prime Day and $120 off last Black Friday. Let's see if Amazon can get these new ones down to around $449 at least.

Read our reviews of the AirPods 4 with ANC and the AirPods Max 2. Plus, see where they land on our guides to the best wireless earbuds and the best noise-canceling headphones.

The best early Prime Day AirPods deals for now:

---

Apple AirPods 4

$99 (save $30)

Get Deal

---

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC

$148.99 (save $30.01)

Get Deal

---

Apple AirPods Pro 3

$179 (save $70)

Get Deal

---

Apple AirPods Max 2

$499.99 (save $49.01)

Get Deal

Prime Day Apple Watch deals to look for

• Apple Watch Series 11: Apple's latest smartwatch is currently marked down to $299 (normally $399), which is its lowest price to date and a $100 savings. However, it's probably going to get even cheaper on Prime Day. Amazon has given flagship Apple Watches $120 discounts during past Prime events, so I can easily see it hitting $279 in the coming weeks.

• Apple Watch SE 3: Apple's budget wearable has hit $199 before, and its predecessor dipped down to $169 during last October's Prime Big Deal Days sale. It was on sale for $219 at the time of writing (typically $249), or only $30 off, so don't add it to your cart just yet.

• Apple Watch Ultra 3: This premium rugged smartwatch is only $20 off on Amazon right now, a measly discount that brings it down to $779 (normally $799). Wait for it to return or surpass its record-low Black Friday price of $679 come Prime Day.

Read our review of the Apple Watch Series 11. If you're not sure which model is right for you, check out our guide to the best smartwatches you can buy right now.

The best early Prime Day Apple Watch deals for now:

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Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm)

$299 (save $100)

Get Deal

---

Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm)

$219 (save $30)

Get Deal

---

Apple Watch Ultra 3 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm)

$779 (save $20)

Get Deal

Prime Day iPad deals to look for

• Apple iPad: Apple's entry-level tablet is on sale for $299 right now, down $50 from its usual sticker price of $349. I'm thinking Amazon will revive its Prime Day 2025 price of $279 later this month.

• Apple iPad Air: The 11- and 13-inch M4 iPad Airs weren't around last Prime Day, but they've previously hit record lows of $519 and $699, respectively — a savings of up to $100. Ahead of this year's sale, they're $559 and $749 apiece (or just $40 and $50 off); hold out for better deals.

• Apple iPad Pro: The 11- and 13-inch sizes of the ultralight M5 iPad Pro are both at least $27 away from their all-time lows right now. Don't hit the buy button until you see them drop to $799 and $1,149, respectively (or lower, ideally). Their regular retail prices are $999 and $1,299.

• Apple iPad mini: The most compact Apple tablet is on sale for $474 in the lead-up to Prime Day (usually $499) — a hard skip. I'd be happy if it returned to last year's Prime Day price of $379, but hope Amazon can match its best-ever Black Friday price of $349.

Read our reviews of the M4 iPad Air, the M5 iPad Pro, and the iPad mini. Plus, find out which iPad you should buy.

The best early Prime Day iPad deals for now:

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Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB)

$299 (save $50)

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Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB)

$559 (save $40)

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Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB)

$749 (save $50)

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Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB)

$937.76 (save $61.24)

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Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB)

$1,176 (save $123)

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Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB)

$474 (save $25)

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Prime Day MacBook deals to look for

• Apple MacBook Neo: Apple's new budget laptop has been enjoying a $9 discount on Amazon for a couple of months now (normally $599). It would be suuuper cool if the retailer managed to match Apple's $499 student pricing on Prime Day, but that's very wishful thinking. Realistically, it probably won't get any cheaper than $549, if it gets any cheaper at all. A sizable MacBook Neo discount is my white whale for Prime Day 2026.

• Apple MacBook Air: The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air is only $949 right now (normally $1,099), its lowest price yet. However, I'm thinking Amazon will give it the same $200 discount as its 15-inch sibling come Prime Day: They usually get matching deals during such sales. Hold steady until it hits $899.

• Apple MacBook Pro: The 14-inch base model with the vanilla M5 chip is going for $1,549 ahead of Prime Day (usually $1,699), but its record-low of $1,499 will probably return soon.

Read our reviews of the MacBook Neo, the M5 MacBook Air, and the M5 MacBook Pro. Plus, find out which MacBook is right for you.

The best early Prime Day MacBook deals for now:

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Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)

$589.99 (save $9.01)

Get Deal

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Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$949.99 (save $149.01)

Get Deal

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Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)

$1,099 (save $200)

Get Deal

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Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$1,549 (save $150)

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The aristocratic art of hosting a dinner party becomes a bloody, pustulant battleground in Savage House, a riveting dark comedy so rich it'll make you sick.

An ostentatious political commentary on 18th-century English profligacy written and directed by Peter Glanz (Captain America: Brave New World), Savage House presents two households, both alike in dignity, living within one household. However, this is no fairytale of upstairs/downstairs benevolence like Downtown Abbey or Bridgerton. Instead, it's a brutal, bombastic tale of class and social climbing, in which extravagance and overindulgence can't cover the cracks forever.

With majestic performances from a theatrical Richard E. Grant and deadpan Claire Foy, pristine production design that literally and figuratively rots from within, and over-the-top direction from Glanz, Savage House is a hilarious cautionary tale, a testament to status-seeking by any means necessary.

Savage House makes a lavish meal of 18th-century class politics and paranoia.

Political suspicion and health paranoia hang heavy in Britain when we meet the Savages, a near disgraced family of nobility only plagued thus far by reckless spending. Smallpox is decimating the population, while the Jacobite uprising is in full swing, with the exiled House of Stuart attempting to overthrow the ruling House of Hanover in the background. Trust is scarce; pestilence abounds. 

With most of the aristocracy's travel plans abandoned, there's little opportunity for the histrionic Sir Chauncey Savage (Grant) and pragmatic Lady Savage (Foy) to reach higher on the coveted social ladder. However, in a moment of pure pox-related luck, the still-traveling Duke and Duchess of Devonshire find themselves in need of accommodation — and they want to dine with the Savages.

But this is no casual soirée; this is a production. And they've only 10 days to see this "march of folly" done by the evening of the impending solar eclipse.

Pooling every last resource and rallying their skeleton crew of a house staff, the Savages will host the Duke and Duchess, and they will savor the spoils of such a lofty connection. But a dinner such as this could also cost them everything, as debt collectors circle, servants plot, and hired professionals (from tailors to providores) know that having money doesn't mean you know how to spend it. 

Richard E. Grant and Claire Foy are shining comedy jewels in Savage House.

Opportunists united, the Savages feel simply made for each other. As the heads of this noble family, Grant and Foy's unique chemistry renders their long relationship one of utter frankness and admiration. Marriage being "hard work" lies at the core of many a film, and here, it reaches more match points than a Wimbledon final. But nothing, not even inflammatory arthritis or in-house adultery, seems to be able to rattle these two, both adorned in Alex Bovaird's exquisite period costumes.

As the magniloquent, simply pestilential Sir Chauncey, Grant is an outsider in the ruling class, more terrified of returning to his working class roots than losing a limb. In his cavalier "everything's fine" manner and an increasingly large powdered wig, he scorns the Jacobites as "seditious imbeciles masquerading as revolutionaries" while performing his own ruse as an aristocrat, rehearsing speeches of feigned hospitality. A maniacal smile plastered on his starchily decorated face, Grant's Chauncey crawls to the end of Savage House, a gangrenous, gout-ridden husk of a networker who refuses to say "when" — especially if you're pouring him another drink. "Like an undercooked soufflé," the film's narrator tells us, "he was collapsing into himself."

Meanwhile, as Lady Savage, Foy is a formidably bemused force who flourishes in a rare comedic role for The Crown star. Having actually come from wealth, the lady of the house married for love rather than social ambition, her rogue romantic choice rewarded with an undeniably compelling but unfortunately spendthrift husband. Knowing the fiscal reality of the duke and duchess' visit and their lack of means to deliver such a production, Lady Savage salvages every last glimmer of possibility, with Foy's fierce performance one of determinedly keeping up appearances while secretly relishing in the madness of it all. 

Neither have much time for their sweet, astronomy-loving daughter Fanny (Kíla Lord Cassidy), whose obsession with the incoming lunar eclipse and her mouse mansion makes for a fitting parallel with the main storyline. However, they should really keep a closer eye on the marvelous Bel Powley and Jack Farthing as their long-suffering servants, maid Dorothy Neville and valet Reginald Halifax.

These are the imperturbable working class people who empty the Savages' stinking bedpans and catch their hungover projectile vomit while lavishing praise upon them and fantasising about their demise. Notably, they're also their employers' confidantes, assisting them in various scams. A thieving brigand borne of gambling addiction, Sir Chauncey requires Reginald's help in his casual chicanery to keep his purse full, with no respect awarded in turn. "I care for you like a son…or an affectionate dog," Sir Chauncey tells his valet. When Dorothy feeds Fanny's mice and hungrily feasts on their crumbs, it's clear these rodents live better than the servants. The Savages might regret that.

Savage House's production design is so opulent it'll make you sick.

Visually, Savage House is at once magnificent and horrific, a triumph of meticulous period detail and visceral juiciness that makes you feel like you can actually smell the film. Production designer Gary Williamson deploys overt visual metaphors of rotting fruit around the mansion, routinely rotated by servants to hide the decay. 

A pendulum of lush, symmetrical wide shots and unwelcome close-ups of beheaded fowl and chewing mouths by director of photography Adriano Goldman, the film brilliantly balances abundance with disgust. Glanz, who also edited the film, delivers furious montages and quick cuts to up the drama over seven parts. As the Savage purse empties and the opulence of the estate increases, the film's set decoration follows suit. Elaborate rehearsal dinner spreads, ludicrous family portraits, a stream of auditioning entertainers, and customised fashions appear edited alongside shots of bloody pheasant bodies, trodden piles of ambiguous shit, festering sores, and grisly 18th-century medical treatments.

It's a gruesome portrait of maintaining hierarchy and influence. And it's this constant contrast between pain and pleasure, effort and guise, that makes Savage House such a compelling depiction of class politics, with the film decrying "perception is everything, especially among the ruling class."

Savage House will inevitably find itself compared to Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite, as two 18th-century dark comedies featuring gout-ridden aristocrats and underlings jostling for a sliver of power. However, Glanz's film finds its own inflamed, leech-dotted footing, as a rambunctious cautionary tale of the cost and moral quandaries of "rattling the social ladder."

Savage House was reviewed out of SXSW London and is now showing in UK cinemas and U.S. theaters.

As a toy company, Lego is simply built different.

Whether you're a kid or an adult, there's probably a Lego set that appeals to you. And with sets including everything from F1 race cars and Star Wars to house plants and classic art, there's more than a decent chance a Lego set exists that matches up with at least one of your interests. That kind of widespread appeal is what brought the company record profits in 2025, as well as high demand across a variety of audiences.

The brand also refuses to rest on its plastic brick laurels, and this year has been especially exciting. Lego introduced the Smart Brick and broke its record for the largest Lego set of all time with the 12,060-piece Sagrada Família set (since it doesn't come out until November, we haven't included it here). The company is always coming out with new product lines and collabs, and no matter your level of Lego knowledge, it's an overwhelming catalog. So, as someone who's been tracking the best Lego releases for the better part the past year, I decided to round up the best new Lego sets of 2026 so far.

To narrow down the pool, I only included sets that are currently available for purchase (so that means no preorders). Below, find my top nine picks in no particular order, plus one honorable mention.

Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Darth Vader's TIE Fighter

Credit: Lego

Lego announced their first ever Smart Play series with three Star Wars sets at CES in January 2026. The sets brought a new level of interaction to Lego, working with smart bricks that prompt Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags to react to movement and positioning with sound and light. In other words, gone are the days of you having to create your own homegrown sound effects (though you can always add to the Smart Play symphony).

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Credit: Lego

Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter

$69.99 at Amazon

 

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Lego Art Claude Monet Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies

Credit: Lego

The Lego Art series isn't a 2026 release, but the plastic brick rendition of Claude Monet's impressionist Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies is, and it is, in fact, stunning. Given that it was created in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, that shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

Among the existing line of Lego paintings, which includes the Mona Lisa, van Gogh's Sunflowers, and Hokusai's Great Wave, it's the most expensive. That said, it's also the most impressive in size and scope, coming out to a whopping 3,179 pieces and 21 by 17 by two inches. The result is a burst of color that can be hung on your walls as legit art, which probably helped it earn its spot as one of the current bestsellers on Lego's website.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Art Claude Monet Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies

$249.99 at Amazon

 

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Lego Botanicals Magnolia Branches

Credit: Lego

The Lego Botanicals doesn't miss, and while it was a challenge to narrow down which 2026 release deserved a spot on this list (the peace lily is huge for cat owners everywhere), the Magnolia Branches set exemplifies the best Lego Botanicals has to offer.

Plastic flower that'll never die? Check. A tasteful design that provides a pop of color and personality to a space? Check. A 435-piece build that takes some effort, but not so much that it ruins an afternoon? Kind of specific, but check! To top it all off, I especially appreciate that (as the reviews of this set on the Lego website show) the branch design encourages the builder to find the vase that suits them best, allowing for a fun personal touch.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Magnolia Branches

$49.99 at Amazon

 

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Lego Pokémon Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise

Credit: Lego

How Lego made it to the big year of 2026 without a Pokémon collaboration is actually a mystery to me, but if it took the 30th anniversary of the trading card game to get this match made, then so be it.

Obviously, a $650 is nothing to scoff at — but then again, neither are the plastic brick replicas of three Kanto region icons. At 6,838 pieces, this set is a commitment, but I'm betting if you're committed enough to grind to build up a team in the games or buy the trading cards at retail price, these Legos should be no problem. If you're looking for something a little more lowkey, the Evee and Pikachu sets are also very cute.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Pokémon Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise

$649.99 at Amazon

 

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Lego Ideas Floating Sea Otters

This set unlocks my maternal instincts. Credit: Lego

When it comes to adorable animal sets, you really do get your pick of the lot with Lego, but even among the fantastic work the brand has already done, the Floating Sea Otters are a standout. If you're viewing the image above, you probably don't need me to describe why.

Still, I'll do my job and justify its place on this list. First, sea otters are probably one of the most adorable creatures on the planet, and this Lego set captures that. That's enough of a reason for me, but there's also something to be said for being able to pose the otter pup and mom, or swap in a clam with a pearl, to give you some options in how you display it. But ultimately — Lego otters. How can you not love it?

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Credit: Lego

Lego Ideas Floating Sea Otters

$119.99 at Amazon

 

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Lego Icons Project Hail Mary

Credit: Lego

Obviously, Project Hail Mary was delightful, and obviously, the appropriate reaction upon walking away from a viewing is knowing in your heart of hearts that you would die for Rocky.

What better way to hold on to that feeling of movie magic by recreating a model of the ship that serves as one of the major settings of the movie? Complete with a mini Ryland Grace and Rocky, this is a set that screams 2026 excellence.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Icons Project Hail Mary

$99.99 at Amazon

 

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Lego Technic McLaren MCL39 F1

Credit: Lego

Calling all Lando Norris, Drive to Survive, F1, and fast cars doing cool things fans: this is your Lego set. Fans probably clocked it already, but this Lego models the exact car that Norris won the 2025 season in.

Along with being a great reminder of the feat, the classic Lego attention to detail comes through strong here. The removable engine cover lets you get a closer look at the V6 engine, or you can opt to check out the steering, or push-rod and pull-rod suspension.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Technic McLaren MCL39 F1

$229.99 at Amazon

 

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Lego Minecraft The Fox

Credit: Lego

With the first Minecraft theme park in the works, clearly, there's an appetite for bringing one of the most popular games of all time into the real world. The virtual block world is a match made in heaven with the real blocks of Lego, and the design of The Fox set proves it.

Beyond this set looking like it came straight from the game, it has some pretty sweet functionality — the legs and head can move, so you can pose it however you prefer it, whether that be with a curious head tilt or fast asleep. At $39.99, it's one of the more affordable sets on this list and is sure to please any video game fan.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Minecraft The Fox

$39.99 at Amazon

 

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Lego Icons The Lord of the Rings: Minas Tirith

Credit: Lego

A quick glance at this set instantly tells you that it's not for casual fans of Lego or The Lord of the Rings. And that's before looking at the $649.99 price tag.

This set is one of the more recently released on this list, and as such, is currently sold out. LotR fans will want to set up that restock notification, though. With 10 minifigures and 8,278 pieces that make up the capital city of Gondor, this is one of the more jaw-dropping sets from J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic series.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Icons The Lord of the Rings: Minas Tirth

$649.99 at Lego

 

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Honorable mention: Lego Pokémon Smart Play

Credit: Shannon Connellan / Mashable

I know I said I wasn't going to include any Lego sets that weren't properly out yet, but it feels criminal to omit trainable Lego Pokémon. Hence, the Lego Pokémon Smart Play sets earned a spot as the somewhat unofficial, honorable mention, 10th best set of 2026 so far.

Lego announced the newest Smart Play line in early June at SXSW London, which includes 12 sets that allow you to battle IRL with Pokémon like Mewtwo, Garchomp, Bidoof, Gengar, and more. These sets are available for preorder now and will be available on August 1.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Pokémon Smart Play

Starting at $14.99 per set

Pre-order Here

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.

10. Find Your Friends

Embedded within writer/director Izabel Pakzad's Find Your Friends is an intriguing probing of the problem around demanding a "perfect victim" in order to believe women. But it takes nearly an hour to get to that point, and then the film does nothing all that interesting with it.

Instead, this grisly thriller focuses on a group of party girls who are so thinly developed they barely have personalities as they exchange gross sex stories and indulge in party drugs and drunken hook-ups. The protagonist Amber (Helena Howard) is defined by a sexual assault in the first act. She can't bear to tell her friends about it, so as she's acting out of trauma, they're annoyed she's bringing down the vibe of their girls trip. Then come dangerous men who only Amber sees for what they are.

Earnest while gory but thin and messy, Find Your Friends is more infuriating than thought-provoking or entertaining. And it's far from fun. — K.P.

Starring: Helena Howard, Bella Thorne, Zión Moreno, Chloe Cherry, and Sophia Ali

How to watch: Find Your Friends debuts on Shudder on June 12.

9. Michael

Upon its release in theaters, critics thrashed this Michael Jackson biopic. But it was a big hit at the box office. And now it's on digital, making it easier than ever to see for yourself what director Antoine Fuqua has created.

The late King of Pop's nephew Jaafar Jackson stars as his eponymous uncle. And the film offers Jackson's fans a chance to relive the big musical moments of his life — up until 1988. That's right, Michael cuts off 21 years before the death of the world-famous singer, so there's no mention of the child molestation allegations that came later. For that, you can look to Netflix's Michael Jackson: The Verdict. — K.P.

Starring: Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula, Mike Myers, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo

How to watch: Michael is now available for rent or purchase on digital.

8. Sweet Magnolias, Season 5

Netflix drama Sweet Magnolias is leaving the Southern town of Serenity. Not for good, but for some of Season 5, which sees trio Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), Helen (Heather Headley), and Maddie (Joanna Garcia Swisher) reuniting in New York City following Maddie's move there. A trip to the Big Apple isn't all that's on Season 5's docket. There's also Helen's wedding to Erik (Dion Johnstone) to look forward to. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott, Heather Headley, Justin Bruening, Dion Johnstone, Brandon Quinn, Logan Allen, Anneliese Judge, and Jamie Lynn Spears

How to watch: Sweet Magnolias Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Every Year After

The Summer I Turned Pretty may be over (until the film, that is), but Prime Video is not giving up its hold on summer-tinged YA romances. Enter Every Year After, based on Carley Fortune's bestselling 2022 novel Every Summer After. The series introduces Persephone "Percy" Fraser (Sadie Soverall) and Sam Florek (Matt Cornett), two friends who spent six summers growing inseparable, falling in love, then falling apart. Now, it's been years since they've seen one another, but when a tragedy brings them crashing back together, will they be able to rekindle the love they once shared? — B.E.

Starring: Sadie Soverall, Matt Cornett, Aurora Perrineau, Abigail Cowen, Michael Bradway, and Joseph Chiu

How to watch: Every Year After is now streaming on Prime Video.

6. The Listeners

What would you do if you were plagued by a constant humming noise that few others could hear? That's the question at the heart of STARZ's thriller miniseries The Listeners, in which English teacher Claire (Rebecca Hall) struggles to understand her mysterious auditory woes. Originally airing on BBC One in 2024, The Listeners earned critical acclaim from UK critics for its unsettling atmosphere and Hall's lead performance. — B.E.

Starring: Rebecca Hall

How to watch: The Listeners debuts June 12 on STARZ.

5. It's Dorothy!

Dorothy Gale is a character who's seen a wide range of incarnations, from Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz to Diana Ross in The Wiz, Fairuza Balk in Return to Oz, Ashanti in The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, and many, many more. What is it about Dorothy that makes her adventure with the Tin Man, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto get re-imagined again and again? What does she mean to us? What does it take to bring her to life onscreen? It's Dorothy! digs into that with a long list of celebrity interviews. — K.P.

Starring: Ashanti, Fairuza Balk, Danielle Hope, Nichelle Lewis, Shanice Shantay, Margaret Cho, Roxane Gay, Gregory Maguire, Walter Murch, Amber Ruffin, Lena Waithe, John Waters, and Rufus Wainwright

How to watch: It's Dorothy! comes to digital on June 12.

4. Maternal Instinct

This true crime documentary from director Jessica Dimmock is not for the faint of heart. It begins with a woman named Taylor Parker, who, when pulled over by police, claimed she'd given birth in her car and that the baby needed medical intervention. But something was off about her story: A doctor examined her and declared there was no way she'd given birth to the child. So what happened?

You could google to discover the heinous truth. Or you could watch Maternal Instinct, which begins with this question and then pulls back, talking to Parker's former friends, ex-boyfriend, and almost in-laws about who she was and what she did. This is a story of lies and manipulation that goes deep and deadly. And once it does, Dimmock gives space to the family of Parker's victims, to share who their loved one was beyond the shocking headlines.

In Netflix's library of true crime docs, Maternal Instinct is one with disturbing content that's respectfully uncovered. There'll be no "gotcha" twist, like in Don't F**k with Cats or Unknown Number: The High School Catfish. The story here is shocking enough without problematic theatrics. — K.P.

How to watch: Maternal Instinct debuts on Netflix on June 12.

3. I Am Frankelda

Looking for a dose of spooky stop-motion? Then check out the Mexican animated film I Am Frankelda, hitting Netflix this week. It tells the tale of aspiring Mexican horror writer Frankelda, who winds up as a nightmare maker in a world full of monsters. Based on the trailer alone, it's a feast for the eyes, bursting with lively, hand-crafted animation and a rogue's gallery of memorable creepy crawlies. — B.E.

Starring: Mireya Mendoza, Arturo Mercado Jr, Luis Leonardo Suárez, Fela Domínguez, Gabriela Cárdenas, and Beto Castillo

How to watch: I Am Frankelda is now streaming on Netflix.

2. My Adventures with Superman, Season 3

Sure, The Boys may have ended. But if you crave more super-powered action and comedy featuring Jack Quaid, you can take flight with My Adventures with Superman.

Now entering its third season, this animated series from Adult Swim follows the highs and lows of Clark Kent/Superman (voiced by Quaid). That includes his relationships with Lois Lane (Alice Lee), Jimmy Olsen (Ishmel Sahid), and Supergirl (Kiana Madeira) as well as his battles with villains like Primus Braniac, Lex Luthor, and more. We're not sure what's in store for Season 3. But ahead of the release of the Supergirl movie, it should satisfy your superhero craving. — K.P.

Starring: Jack Quaid, Alice Lee, Ishmel Sahid, Kiana Madeira

How to watch: My Adventures with Superman, Season 3 premieres June 13 at midnight on Toonami, then comes to HBO Max the next day.

Best of streaming this week: Alice and Steve

Brace yourselves for some sensational cringe comedy. Created by Sex Education's Sophie Goodhart and helmed by Tom Kingsley (UK's Ghosts), Alice and Steve asks what happens to 25 years of friendship when one friend starts sleeping with the other's daughter. ("Adult daughter!")

Nicola Walker stars as Alice, a 50-year-old mother of two. She may be married to a sweet younger fellow (Joel Fry), but her best friend has long been Steve (Jemaine Clement). A hair stylist to the stars, he's the person she can trust with her hottest takes and biggest secrets, and vice versa. That is, until Steve hooks up with Izzy (Yali Topol Margalith), Alice's 26-year-old daughter. From there, all bets are off. It's not enough to embarrass him in front of her daughter's Gen Z friends. Alice will burn Steve's life to the ground, and he'll do the same in exchange.

Over 6 episodes, this dark comedy plays like War of the Roses meets It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Which is to say that at first, the comedy might be so abrasive you cringe more than cackle. But by episode three, I assure you, you'll be hooked. By this season's fiery conclusion, you'll be giggling, aghast, and maybe thinking you need to call your bestie. Good news: It's all available now, so you can binge-watch in one go. But maybe have a glass of wine or a Xanax handy? Because Alice and Steve is anxiety-inducing. — K.P.

Starring: Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement

How to watch: Alice and Steve is now streaming on Hulu.

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

TL;DR: If you’re just learning to code, you need Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026, on sale now for $34.97 (reg. $499.99).

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026

$34.97
$499.99 Save $465.02

 

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Whether you’re new to coding or just looking for a more efficient way to get it done, Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 can help. This platform is a one-stop shop when it comes to coding, allowing you to build apps, create websites, and develop software in one spot.

Right now, you can get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for just $34.97.

Coding isn’t a walk in the park. If you’d like to avoid the headaches of snags and workflow bumps, it’s time to check out Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026. This tool comes packed with AI-powered features and advanced debugging tools that make coding more efficient and a whole lot easier.

From complicated projects to building a basic website, Visual Studio supports a range of languages and platforms so you can tackle your task. Build, debug, and test .NET and C++ apps targeting Windows, Linux, and containers. It also integrates with Azure, GitHub, and other DevOps workflows.

Visual Studio was built as a 64-bit IDE, too, so it’s ready to handle large solutions and complex workloads. Intellicode helps you type less and code more by understanding variable names, functions, and the type of code you’re trying to write.

As you type, Visual Studio surfaces ranked code suggestions, while AI-assisted refactoring tools help cut down on bugs and repetitive coding tasks.

Codelens lets you see recent changes, authors, tests, and history right in the editor, and you can see test status and references without ever having to leave your code. You can also collaborate more easily with real-time collab sessions that keep you and your coworkers on the same page.

Snag Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for just $34.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Learning can be fun with this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $44.97 (reg. $250) through June 14.

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Credit: Pok Pok

Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription

$44.98
$250 Save $205.02

 

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If you have a little one at home, you’re likely navigating the stresses of screen time. It’s a difficult topic to navigate, but Pok Pok makes it a little easier. This award-winning app provides educational games for kids ages 2 to 8, offering a guilt-free and ad-free option.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok is available for $44.97 (reg. $250) until June 14.

Pok Pok offers parents and caregivers a safe screen-time option for kiddos. It’s a Montessori-inspired learning app that takes a child-centered approach, offering hands-on learning and independence while focusing on a child’s natural development. Early childhood experts also weighed in on the app’s design to ensure the experience is enriching and supportive.

With Pok Pok, kids are in charge. Just open the app, tap a toy, and hand it over — your child can take over from there. There’s no winning or losing, and no rules, levels, or objectives, as it offers curiosity-driven learning that kids can discover on their own.

There are no ads, and Pok Pok was intentionally designed to offer a low-stimulation experience. There are hand-drawn animations, and the sound effects and music are made in-house, so the app offers a calm and gentle environment.

Let your kiddos pick from a playroom of possibilities — from space and dinosaurs to numbers, shapes, and dress-up. The open-ended play setup grows with your child, offering endless learning options for years.

This lifetime subscription includes access to regular updates, so there’s always something new and exciting to explore. You’ll also get family access across your household’s devices with a single account, and a gift will be mailed directly to your door for a fun surprise.

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Brennan Lee Mulligan is a fascinating figure on Dropout because of the comical duality he's cultivated across the subscription streaming platform's shows.

On Dimension 20, a tabletop role-playing show he created, he's the mighty Game Master, in charge of dreaming up the fantasy worlds his intrepid heroes — or, in this case, a gaggle of improv comedians — traverse. In this role, he plays villains, love interests, gods, and an army of NPCs, all to build out the stories of his co-stars in collaborative play. There is no winning or losing. And through his many characters, Mulligan has shown incredible patience and empathy toward everyone, from an angst-ridden tiefling to a grief-stricken candy king to a vampire who sees himself as a superhero.

However, on Game Changer, where the game changes every episode, Mulligan's competitive side shines like a sword's edge, ready to cut down his competition. As the series enters Season 8, Mashable interviewed Mulligan about his work at Dropout. And when it comes to his role on Game Changer, he explained his on-camera dynamic with host Sam Reich.

"The me I play in Game Changer is most often the Daffy Duck to Sam Reich's Bugs Bunny," Mulligan said. "I don't beat Sam, right? Sam beats me, even in the Brennan revenge episode. Spoilers: Sam wins, right? I know deep down, people, there is no hunger in the world for a Brennan Lee Mulligan victory."

How "Samalamadingdong" could bring a win for Mulligan.

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

The "Brennan revenge episode" is officially titled "Samalamadingdong." The finale of Game Changer Season 7, this episode saw the contestants turn the tables on Reich, who was pranked with a fake photo shoot, then hauled off to a castle where a variety of puzzles awaited him. The episode featured scads of callbacks to past Game Changer gags, including those tied to Mulligan's wildest moments on the show.

For instance, the episode "Yes or No" from Season 2 had only one rule to discover: Brennan cannot win. Once Mulligan realized this, he unleashed a monologue that included this epic phrase, "The minotaur's escaped, and you're going to get the horns, buddy."

"Samalamadingdong" delivered on this promise, pitching Reich into a complicated labyrinth that culminates in him facing down Mulligan, dressed as a minotaur. And the only way out was for Reich to recall the declaration that Mulligan made in the very first episode of Game Changer, "Lie Detector." There, Mulligan gave a juicy personal confession, then declared, "There is no corner of my heart I would not turn over to the world for five points."

Of course, in the end of "Samalamadingdong," Reich wins, defeating the mighty minotaur that is Mulligan. But Reich, in a separate interview, joked that "Samalamadingdong" could give Mulligan an unexpected victory.

How could Brennan Lee Mulligan beat Sam Reich at his own game?

Sam Reich on the set of Dropout's "Game Changer." Credit: Kate Elliott / Dropout

This Emmy season, Dropout has put forth several episodes of Game Changer and Very Important People for awards consideration. Reich spoke with Mashable about the difficulty of choosing which episodes to send to the nomination committee for consideration.

For Best Game Show, Reich was leaning toward "Rulette," where contestants had to improvise with ever-changing circumstances determined by a giant roulette wheel.

"'Rulette' is a pretty good bet," Reich said, "It's very funny, [a] very well-celebrated episode. It's very in the spirit of our show, despite even feeling a little bit basic for the show. It's like a great introduction to our show, and it's almost traditional enough that your average Emmy voter could look at it and go like, 'Oh, I understand how this is a game show like the game shows I'm used to, and how it's different.'"

In terms of production design, "Rulette" was considered, as was "Fool's Gold." For that Shark Tank parody, Dropout's team produced a string of aspiring viral videos that demanded a lot of creativity and craftsmanship, including the construction of tiny doll shoes for a video where Mulligan claims he's leaving the platform to become a cobbler for American Girl dolls.

"We did make those American Girl doll shoes," Reich noted, "Or is 'Rulette' [a better call] because, like, the big wheel and the Velcro costumes? The overall project feels a little bit more cohesive." 

Then, asked if "Samalamadingdong" might be submitted for consideration, Reich answered, "I think it's such a strong contender in so many categories. On the other hand, if Brennan gets nominated for this Emmy before I do, I am going to lose it. I am going to lose my mind."

Reich then clarified, "The truth is, he's an executive producer on the show as well. So when he wins, I win, and when I win, he wins. I'm just saying metaphorically, in terms of sheer symbolism: If the episode that I had nothing to do with before I showed up on set [wins]?"

Emmy nominations will be announced on July 8.

TL;DR: Live stream Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

After years of patiently waiting for this day, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here.

The most-watched sporting event in the world starts with an electric matchup between hosts Mexico and South Africa. The Estadio Azteca is going to be incredibly loud as Mexico aim to secure three points and take a step towards qualification from a tricky Group A. South Korea and Czechia will likely offer sterner tests than South Africa, so this opening game is abolutely vital for Javier Aguirre's side.

If you want to watch Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Mexico vs. South Africa?

Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 11. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Azteca.

How to watch Mexico vs. South Africa for free

Mexico vs. South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.