Lifehacker

Territory (2024)

The spirit of the American West lives on in the Northern Territory of Australia, where the Lawson family has run the world's largest cattle station (apparently the size of Belgium) for generations. With hints of Succession, this beautifully photographed show becomes a twisty-turny fight for the survival of this family dynasty: butch patriarch Colin (Robert Taylor) passed the family business along to his younger son, Dan, who's...eaten by dingoes in the opening episode (I shit you not). Older, skipped-over son Graham (Michael Dorman) is suddenly in the spotlight as other families, criminals, and Aboriginal leaders all make plays for the land. At the center of these overlapping storms is Graham's wife, Emily (Anna Torv), the child of a rival clan and a big part of the reason that Graham never got a shot at the prize. Stream Territory on Netflix.

Territory (2024)

The Madison (2026 – )

A testament to the power of its creator and the inspired casting of Michelle Pfeiffer in the lead, The Madison was renewed for second and third seasons before it even premiered. Pfeiffer plays Stacy Clyburn, the matriarch of a rich New York family who decides to pick up stakes following a tragedy, reconnecting with what she's lost by visiting her late husband's isolated tract of land in Montana for a break from the show's horror-movie vision of NYC. In the process, she learns lessons about love, grief, and fishing in the folksy great outdoors. Stream The Madison on Paramount+.

The Madison (2026 – )

The Abandons (2025)

In the best tradition of Johnny Guitar (in which old west magnate and barkeep Joan Crawford faces off against vengeful rancher Mercedes McCambridge), The Abandons finds two indefatigable women duking it out in 1850 Washington. Lena Headey is Fiona Nolan, a devout single mother raising four orphans and struggling to survive, a situation not at all helped by greedy silver mine owner Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson), who wants Fiona's farm and isn't going to take no for an answer. There's nothing new here in terms of the show's western trappings, but who cares? Watching Lena Headey face down Gillian Anderson is more than enough reason to watch. Stream The Abandons on Netflix.

The Abandons (2025)

1883 (2021 – 2022)

The Yellowstone universe is increasingly sprawling, with a timeline complex enough to rival Star Wars. The first of the spin-offs, 1883 is also set earliest in the timeline, giving us a bit of Dutton family prehistory. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill play the first generation of the family to make the trip from Texas to Montana on a dangerous wagon train led by Sam Elliott. Isabel May's 17-year-old Elsa Dutton is at the heart of the story, starting as an adventurous young woman, before becoming hardened by her experiences. Sitting at the far opposite end of the chronology, the show effectively bookends Dutton Ranch. Stream 1883 on Paramount+.

1883 (2021 – 2022)

The English (2022)

It's the waning days of the American Old West (around 1890), and Lady Cornelia Locke (Emily Blunt) has left England with vengeance in mind: She's come to kill the man responsible for the death of her son. In Kansas, she encounters Mr. Watts (a chilling Ciarán Hinds), who's been instructed to stop her, but who's also in the process of torturing Eli Whipp, a Pawnee native and former U.S. Army scout. Eli is traveling to Nebraska to collect the land he's owed for his service, even though he knows that white men are unlikely to honor the debt. With something like common cause, Lady Cornelia and Eli escape and set out together, their fates becoming increasingly intertwined as the two build an unshakeable bond through their travels. Stream The English on Prime Video.

The English (2022)

Heartland (2007 – )

Based on a popular book series from Linda Chapman and Beth Chambers (who write under the pseudonym Lauren Brooke), this series follows the lives of a family of horse ranchers in western Canada led by sisters Amy and Lou (Amber Marshall and Michelle Morgan). This is more family drama than Dutton, with the stakes a bit closer to home, but it's very much got that western feel—even if we're talking about western Alberta. If you're new to the show, there's a lot to catch up on: It's coming up on its 20th season. Stream Heartland on Netflix.

Heartland (2007 – )

Ransom Canyon (2025 – )

Another neo-western that goes a little heavier on the personal drama, Ransom Canyon takes us to the center of a land dispute involving multiple overlapping family dynasties. Widowed Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel) is trying to hold on to his family's land while pursuing a course of vengeance against the man he blames for the death of his son. Into this drama steps Quinn O'Grady (Minka Kelly): family friend, dancehall owner, concert pianist—and very possibly the only person who can help Staten get his shit together. Stream Ransom Canyon on Netflix.

Ransom Canyon (2025 – )

Dark Winds (2022 – )

Adapted from a series of books by Tony Hillerman, Dark Winds takes us back to the 1970s and the Four Corners region of the American Southwest (where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet). Jessica Matten, Zahn McClarnon, and Kiowa Gordon lead the largely Indigenous American cast as three Navajo Tribal Police officers brought together when a bank robbery on the border of the Navajo Nation becomes entangled with the deaths of two Native residents. A blend of hardboiled crime show and police procedural, this one stands out for its exploration of the fraught history and relationships between these neighboring, interwoven communities. Stream Dark Winds on Netflix.

Dark Winds (2022 – )

1923 (2022 – 2025)

Finally, a return to the Dutton family of the 1920s, this one starring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, the two legends certainly representing a major casting coup (especially when you throw in Timothy Dalton as the baddie). In this mid-quel, set between the Yellowstone/Dutton Ranch era and the more western-themed 1883, the Duttons take on Prohibition, with the Great Depression looming in the background. Mirren is the strong-willed matriarch Cara Dutton, while Isabel May returns from 1883 to narrate the series as Elsa Dutton. Stream 1923 on Paramount+.

1923 (2022 – 2025)

DWMT 100PC MECHANICS TOOLS SET

I Figured Out How to Find Real Music Channels on YouTube Amid the AI Slop

David Nield — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Much of my day is spent sitting at a computer writing, and in recent years I've most often accompanied this by long (or live) YouTube videos that offer background sound without being too distracting. There are all kinds of options: scenic railway journeys, TV show tunes, piano instrumentals of songs I like, the sounds of forest rain, movie soundtracks, walks across game worlds, and more.

In recent months though, AI-generated mixes with AI-generated thumbnails have become much more prevalent. Run a quick search for study and chill-out music and you'll find plenty of videos where the artwork looks suspiciously like something ChatGPT would make and the audio track is what you'd expect to get out of an app such as Suno.

It's harder than ever to spot AI-made content, especially when it comes to simpler, more minimal creations—like illustration-style images or lo-fi chill-out music. I don't want to listen to AI music, so at the start of each day I'm now clicking around warily on YouTube trying to find something that has been composed and packaged by actual people. It's not easy anymore, but it's still possible.

The problems with AI music

AI content strikes again Credit: Lifehacker

I'm not completely against the idea of AI, though I think there are some major problems with it that we're not properly reckoning with. Gemini AI might give you a better search result for "the best restaurants in San Francisco for young kids" than a list of 10 blue links, but it still relies on human experience and writing. The AI has never had kids or been to San Francisco, so what happens to those results when actual people stop writing and publishing on the internet?

When it comes to music, I don't want to listen to tunes put together by machines, based on algorithms and the mashing together of real work done by real artists. You could argue that it doesn't really matter so much for background electronica that's being put on while working or studying, but the principle is the same.

There's a line in the Westworld TV show where one humanoid robot, virtually indistinguishable from a real person, asks the question: "If you can't tell, does it matter?" We're now at the stage where we often can't tell the difference between AI and human content, but I'd argue that the difference does still matter—and matters a lot.

Aside from all the considerations about energy use, environmental damage, and copyright infringement that come along with AI (and which would all take an entire article to cover), I think there are numerous ways that the tech can be helpful. When it comes to art and music, however, I want my clicks and listening time to support actual artists.

It's something that YouTube is aware of. On some videos you'll now see a How this content was made section, disclosing the use of AI. The problem is, this relies on either the content creator owning up to it, YouTube's own AI tools being used, or AI watermarks being included in the files. Based on what I see on the platform, I don't think much of the AI content is being flagged.

Finding music made by real artists

Welcome to Coulou's Vinyl Cafe Credit: Coulou / YouTube

So I'm left in a situation where I'd rather not listen to channels where the artwork or the music is AI-generated, but it's difficult to spot something that's made by AI. What I've started doing is looking for the channels that are definitely curated and produced by human beings, rather than trying to identify subtle signs of AI.

You'll actually see it a lot in channel titles and video descriptions now, so you could just search for "no AI" or "AI free." It's also worth digging into the descriptions to look for links to the actual music used and the artists who are being supported. Check up on the history of the channel, too—what other videos does it offer? How are they made? If there are real flesh-and-blood human performers in the video, then that's ideal.

As already mentioned, YouTube has its AI labels, but I wouldn't rely on them to any great extent. If you can't find evidence of how the music is being made or who's behind it, and there are no links to actual recordings or artists (or footage of the music being made), then at this point I think it's safer to assume it is AI rather than not.

My favorite non-AI Youtube music channels

One of the best and longest-running channels in the business in this category is Lofi Girl, which has been around since 2017, way before the generative AI boom. It was founded by a real record producer (Dimitri Somoguy), with an iconic character drawn by a real person (Juan Pablo Machado)—you can read about it on Wikipedia.

There are also now a growing number of channels that position themselves as containing no AI. One of my favorites is Yellow Cherry Jam: The videos here feature a man, a woman, a dog, and plenty of scenic backdrops. It's all very relaxing—and real.

I also like Coulou's Vinyl Cafe, where our man Coulou wanders around his apartment putting on one great record after another. The music is all listed and shown off in the video, and as good as AI video generation has become now, there's no way it could create an hour of this without a chair leg disappearing or a jumper changing color.

Judging by many of the comments under those videos I've linked, AI-free music and AI-free YouTube channels are something a lot of other people are looking out for too: They are there, if you look for them. I've now built up a long enough playlist that I'm confident of not running into AI anytime soon, and it sounds great.

Siri AI, 3D Safari, and More New Features Coming to visionOS 27

Stephen Johnson — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Apple Vision Pro might not be Apple's top priority these days, but you wouldn't know it from the visionOS announcements at WWDC on Monday. Along with the previously noted improvements to the VR headset's 3D photographs and environments, a slew of other upgrades are coming to visionOS, including a smarter Siri, 3D environments for Safari, and quicker connections to wifi.

Vision Pro users will get the best version of Siri AI

Maybe the biggest news at WWDC is the much-anticipated AI version of Siri. Siri AI will be available across Apple devices, but Vision Pro users get a couple of cool features that no one else will have: the ability to have Siri AI look where you're looking and answer your questions based on what it sees, and a Siri widget for your augmented home, so you can pin virtual Siri where it's needed most. You should still be able to say "Hey, Siri" whenever you like too, but Vision Pro users will be able to access Siri with their eyes. Welcome to the future.

The new, improved Siri is scheduled to hit Apple devices this fall, and you'll be able to switch from your phone or tablet to your headset without Siri missing a beat. No matter what device you use it on, Siri AI will be able to access (Apple) apps, and give answers based on conversational context, too. So you could say, "Hey, Siri, pull up pictures of that time I went to Yonkers," and they'll populate in front of your eyes. This will all be done in the form of casual conversation, naturally.

The refinements below weren't mentioned during the show, but they're on the way. They're not exactly life-changing, but a lot of small improvements add up. I'm personally psyched to check out Vision Pro's new ability to preview notifications just by looking at them. Another much-appreciated upgrade: Safari will support 3D environments. Developers can create 360° backgrounds that surround your physical space for more immersive browsing. I'll finally be able to move beyond web browsing on a flat plane like a caveman.

Below are even more improvements coming to visionOS.

Improved Control Center: I didn't have an issue with how Control Center worked before, but Apple splitting it into three new sections—Notifications and playback, core controls, and Environment—will definitely make it easier to find what I need.
Faster wifi: According to Apple, your Vision Pro will connect to wifi up to three times faster.
Improvements to Dwell Control: Apple is updating Dwell Control to make it easier to make selections with just your eyes. The new version of Dwell features a check mark you can glance at instead of waiting for a timer. Apple promises it will be more intuitive, faster, and more natural.
Reality Composer 3: For developers who are following the conference, Apple revealed Reality Composer 3, promising a tool that can "create game assets with advanced simulation, character animation, and dynamic lights...to build game logic without writing any code."
Smaller widgets and virtual display widget: Any customization option for AR is good, so yes, give me those extra-small widgets, please. There's also a new Mac Virtual Display widget that can connect to your Mac instantly, even when it’s closed.
Faster messages: Missed message notifications and unread counts sync more quickly across your Apple devices.

Siri AI, a Dynamic App Grid, and More New Features Coming to watchOS 27

Khamosh Pathak — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0000

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During its big WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple didn't spend much time on watchOS 27. In fact, Apple didn't spend much time on any specific OS at all. Instead, the event was about Apple Intelligence and how the new Siri AI is integrated throughout Apple's apps and platforms. While the Apple Watch had a few "blink and you'll miss it" moments, it got very little airtime, but that doesn't mean that the watch is left out in the dust: watchOS 27 comes with a new app layout, a brand new gesture, and yes, the updated Liquid Glass design is here too. Here's what's new, assuming your Apple Watch is supported.

Apple Watch Series 11

watchOS 27: Siri AI is front and center

Credit: Apple

As you might expect with this new set of updates, it's all about Siri and Siri AI. The Siri app will be available on the Apple Watch, so you can access all your Siri chats without using your phone. The watchOS Siri app supports the same conversational Siri as Apple's other products, so you can "chat" with Apple's assistant if you want. Siri AI for watchOS is not rolling out yet, though, and it's not a part of the current developer beta cycle. Apple says it's coming out in beta later this year.

watchOS 27: A new dynamic app grid

Finding the right app on your Apple Watch is a chore, whether you use the "Honeycomb" view or the List view. Now, when you press the Digital Crown, you'll see a dynamic view of six apps that watchOS will suggest based on your usage history. If the app you're looking for isn't here, you can tap "All Apps" to view all installed apps on your Apple Watch. I could see this feature being useful if it works well, but I could also see it adding one more layer of frustration to the mix. We will find out soon enough.

watchOS 27: More insights in Workout Buddy

Workout Buddy, the voice coach that shows up during workouts, is getting smarter. It will now motivate you using new data insights like pace, distance, and workout duration. It's also coming in Spanish, and now works without an iPhone nearby.

watchOS 27: A new single-tap gesture

watchOS already has some useful gestures: You can double-tap to do things like answer calls and reply to messages, and flick your wrist to dismiss notifications. In watchOS 27, there's now a single-tap gesture exclusively for the Smart Stack widgets. To try it, use the double-tap gesture to open and move between all the widgets in the Smart Stack. Then, tap once with your index finger and your thumb to quickly open the highlighted widget or app. That way, you can open apps from the watch face, without even touching the screen.

watchOS 27: An array of smaller changes

A couple of noteworthy features to talk about:

New mute button for notifications: When you open a notification on your Apple Watch and scroll down, you will see a new Mute button. You can use it to mute app notifications for an hour.
Redesigned Find My app: Apple redesigned Find My on watchOS to give you location updates for your family members (and devices) as soon as you open the app.
More Smart Stack suggestions: Your Apple Watch will provide more proactive suggestions in the Widget sections. Birthday updates, parked car location, and more will show up more frequently.
Some general improvements: Apple says that music playback on the Apple Watch now starts faster, and that the step count on the watch now syncs with the Health app on the iPhone.
QR code in the Wallet app: You can now create a custom pass for any membership or card that uses a QR code, and you can access the code from the Wallet app on your Apple Watch.

These Are the Best Early Prime Day Deals on Tools

Becca Lewis — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:00:40 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

If you have big DIY plans this summer, you might have noticed that gearing up for them can be expensive. But having the right tools is essential to DIY success. Amazon’s early Prime Day deals help you save some money if you know where to look. Here are a few of the best early Prime Day offers.

Best early Prime Day deals on tool sets

Hand tools are essential for DIY projects, whether you’re woodworking or doing maintenance on your appliances. Having the right size wrench or screwdriver when you need it will save you time and trips to the hardware store. Here are some early Prime Day deals on tool sets.

The DeWalt 100-piece mechanic’s tool set is on sale right now for $144.54, 34% off its regular price. The set includes a ⅜-inch ratchet, a ¼”-inch ratchet, sockets in a range of sizes, extension adapters, a set of box wrenches, a set of Allen keys in both metric and SEA sizes, and a hard-sided case. This set has most of the sizes of wrenches you would need to do basic maintenance tasks like changing an air filter.

The Craftsman 230-piece mechanic’s tool set is on sale for $129, 35% off its usual price. This set includes a ¼-inch, ⅜-inch, and ½-inch ratchet, a driver set, sockets in a range of sizes, screw-tip sockets, extension adapters, a set of Allen wrenches, a set of box wrenches, and a three-drawer tool box. This set has a wide variety of bits and can be used for many mechanical DIY projects as well as routine home maintenance.

The 8-piece Craftsman screwdriver set is on sale for $14.98, 49% off its typical price. It comes with four flathead and 4 Philip’s head drivers in a variety of sizes. This is a good quality basic driver set for DIY home maintenance.

Best early Prime Day deals on power tools

Power tools are a game-changer for DIYers, leveling up what you can accomplish by allowing you to drill holes and drive fasteners more quickly and through tougher materials. Whether you’re mounting a screen or carving wood, here are a couple of early Prime Day power tool deals for you.

The DeWalt 20-volt drill and impact driver combo set is on sale for $169, 32% off its regular price. This set includes a 20-volt DeWalt ½-inch chuck drill, a 20-volt DeWalt ¼-inch impact driver, two 2-amp-hour batteries, a charger, and a tool bag. I use this set every day at my shop where I build furniture, assemble shelving, and make repairs. A quality drill and driver set is the foundation of a DIY tool set because it allows you to drive screws and bolts, as well as drill holes for fasteners, so this is a good starter set.

The Dremel 4300 rotary tool is on sale for $89.10, 31% off its usual price. The tool comes with five attachments and 40 accessories for cutting, carving, sanding, and polishing. I use my Dremel tool for small metalworking projects, for finishing wood in tight corners, and for shaping specialty joints. This is an excellent tool for anyone who likes fine detail work.

The DeWalt 20-volt jig saw is on sale for $147.50, 38% off its typical price. This is a tool-only deal, so you’ll need a DeWalt 20-volt battery and charger to use it. This is a good deal if you want to add adaptability for woodworking projects because you can use a jigsaw to make specialty cuts to fit in corners, around molding, and cut curves.

DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill, Impact Driver Combo Kit, with 2 Batteries and Charger Included (DCK277D2)

Best early Prime Day deals on bits and accessories

Having the right bits when you’re working on a project is essential to get a polished finish and make sure everything goes together correctly. But bits can be expensive, especially if you need multiple sizes. Here are some early Prime Day deals on bits for all your DIY projects.

The Bosch 41-piece drilling and driving bit set is on sale for $33.99, 33% off its regular price. This set includes drill bits for metal, wood, and masonry, and can drill holes between 1/16 and ¾ inches. The set also comes with a variety of driver bits and adapters. This bit set will work with a power drill, but not an impact driver unless you have an adapter.

The 14-piece Craftsman drill bit set is on sale for $9.98, 42% off its usual price. The set can drill through wood, plastic, and metal, so it’s a versatile choice for a home DIY tool set. These bits can be used with a drill but not an impact driver.

A 15-pack of Bosch T-25 star-tip bits is on sale for $11.69, 26% off its typical price. This drive type is my favorite, especially for beginners because this type of screw is hard to strip and is simple to line up. T-25 screws are becoming popular because of these features.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Apple's New AI Features Will Only Work on These MacBooks

Daniel Oropeza — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:30:00 +0000

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WWDC 2026 was Apple's chance to show how it plans to use AI to improve existing Apple products. If you have the right Mac, you'll be able to try new Apple Intelligence features this fall, including Apple's brand new Siri AI assistant. Unfortunately, though, not every MacBook will get Apple's latest and greatest features. If you want to try them, you'll need one of these machines first.

These MacBooks will get Apple Intelligence

While all of the Macs below will get the new macOS 27 "Golden Gate," some advanced AI features will work better on the most powerful models, which will require M3 chips and 12GB+ RAM.

MacBook Air

MacBook Pro

MacBook Neo

MacBook Neo (A18 Pro)

iMac

iMac 24-inch (M1, 2021)
All M3 and newer iMac models

Mac mini

Mac mini (M1, 2020)
All M2, M2 Pro, M4, and newer Mac mini models

Mac Studio

Mac Studio (M1 Max/Ultra, 2022)
All newer Mac Studio models

What's new with Apple Intelligence for Macs

MacOS 27 Golden Gate will bring updates across Spotlight, Safari, Photos, Shortcuts, and other apps. You will get a lot of the same upgrades from Siri AI that iPhones will get, like more conversational responses, context-aware follow-up questions, personalized assistance, cross-device conversation syncing, etc. The biggest upgrades on the MacOS will be coming from inside Spotlight, like asking questions about files, comparing documents, searching, and acting from one interface. There will also be Safari updates like AI tab management, page monitoring, AI-generated extensions, better integration with Passwords, and easier automations where you can describe what you want in plain English.

This Powerful Eero Mesh Wifi System Is $120 Off Right Now

Pradershika Sharma — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Mesh wifi systems aren't particularly exciting purchases, but they're often the most effective way to fix internet coverage across a larger home—and right now, the three-pack of Amazon Eero Pro 6E is down to $329.99 from its usual $449.99, marking its lowest price yet according to price trackers. For anyone considering a home-networking upgrade, this is one of the more notable deals we've spotted ahead of Prime Day 2026.

Amazon Eero Pro 6E (3-Pack)

This package includes three matching units that work together to spread a stronger signal throughout the house—Amazon says the three-pack can cover up to 6,000 square feet, making it suitable for larger homes or multi-story layouts. Setup happens through a mobile app that walks you through the process step by step, making it approachable even for people who don't know much about networking. Once installed, the system largely manages itself.

The Eero Pro 6E supports the Wi-Fi 6E standard, which helps deliver faster speeds and more capacity for households with lots of connected devices. In practical terms, that means streaming, gaming, video calls, and smart-home gadgets are less likely to compete with each other for bandwidth. Each unit also includes wired Ethernet ports, so devices like gaming consoles, desktop PCs, or streaming boxes can be connected directly for a more stable connection.

That said, the main drawback is the cost beyond the initial purchase—while basic network management is included, some features people expect, including advanced parental controls, content filtering, ad blocking, and additional security tools, require a subscription, notes this PCMag review. Those fees start from $9.99/month and add to the long-term cost of ownership. The system also lacks USB ports, so you can't connect printers or external storage drives directly to it. Still, for households dealing with weak wifi or inconsistent coverage across a larger property, this three-pack of Eero Pro 6E delivers, but if your home is smaller, then a single node or a two-pack would serve you just as well for less money.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

This Massive TCL Mini-LED TV Is $1,000 Off Right Now

Pradershika Sharma — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:30:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Large TVs have become much more affordable in recent years, but a 98-inch Mini-LED model below $2,000 still stands out. The TCL 98QM7K is currently selling for $1,997.99, down from its regular $2,999.99 price and the lowest price recorded so far, according to price trackers. It's also one of the more notable TV discounts we've seen as early Prime Day deals begin to appear—for more such deals and shopping advice, check out our Prime Day 2026 coverage.

98'' TCL QM7K Mini-LED TV

$1,997.99 at Amazon

$2,999.99 Save $1,002.00

$1,997.99 at Amazon

$2,999.99 Save $1,002.00

The QM7K has earned strong reviews, including an "Excellent" rating from PCMag, and our own testing of the smaller 65-inch model left a favorable impression as well. Now, as for the TV itself, it uses a Mini-LED backlight with full-array local dimming and supports major HDR formats, delivering the kind of brightness and contrast that helps large screens hold up in real-world living rooms—meaning, whether you're watching sports during the day or a movie at night, this TV has enough brightness to cut through ambient light while still maintaining solid black levels. The picture tends to run slightly warm out of the box, so you may want to spend a few minutes adjusting settings. Viewing angles are also typical for an LED-based panel, meaning contrast and color accuracy decrease when watching from the far sides of the room.

Still, the QM7K pulls double duty as both a home theater screen and a gaming display, with a native 144Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support, and very low input lag, helping fast-moving games feel responsive whether you're using a console or gaming PC. TCL includes four HDMI ports, two of which support 144Hz signals, along with an eARC connection for soundbars or AV receivers, though it lacks support for the newer ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard. Google TV handles the software experience and remains one of the easier smart TV platforms to live with. Streaming apps are readily available, Google Assistant is built in, and support for Chromecast and Apple AirPlay makes it simple to send content from phones, tablets, or laptops.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

iOS 27 Finally Lets You Set Separate Volume Levels for Alarms, Alerts, and Phone Calls

Pranay Parab — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:30:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

I keep my iPhone on silent all the time because I hate repeated alerts from messaging apps, but I worry I'll miss important phone calls in doing so. I'd love to keep my ringtone volume up to hear these, while lowering the volume for those annoying message notifications. That just hasn't been possible on iPhone—at least, until iOS 27. As spotted by eagle-eyed Reddit users, you can now set up custom volume levels for different types of alerts in Apple's upcoming iPhone update. Here's how.

How to set custom volume levels for notifications in iOS 27

Credit: Pranay Parab

To set this up right away, you're going to have to install the iOS 27 developer beta, as iOS 27 won't be out until the fall. I don't recommend this for most people, and instead suggest waiting until iOS 27 is released to the general public, or at least until Apple releases the public beta next month. If you proceed with installing the developer beta, be prepared to deal with an unstable version of iOS, and the risk of bricking your phone or losing all data. Once you're on iOS 27, however, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics on your iPhone.
Under "Alarms and Timers," turn off Match Ringtone Volume. This lets you set a custom volume level for alarms and timers.
Use the volume slider below this option to set your desired level. Note that moving the slider all the way to the left reduces the volume of alerts significantly, but it does not mute alerts entirely.
Next, under "Alerts and System Sounds," turn off Match Ringtone Volume. This will delink notification sounds from the system volume level.
Use the slider under this button to set your preferred volume level for notification sounds.
At the top of this page, you can use the slider to set a custom volume for your ringtone, too.

With these changes, you can set volume levels individually for the three types of alerts. Unfortunately, Apple hasn't yet introduced per-app volume controls in iOS 27. If you want to set a louder volume level specifically for YouTube or Netflix and a softer one for WhatsApp, you're out of luck. I hope Apple has per-app volume controls in the roadmap, as it's the next stage for the feature I've covered here.

The Biggest Announcements From Apple’s WWDC, From Siri AI to Visual Intelligence

Jake Peterson — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:30:00 +0000

This year's WWDC was a big one. Tim Cook took the virtual stage one last time to lead the company's announcements across all of its platforms. As expected, this year we're getting iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, among other updates, as well as new Apple Intelligence features and the long-awaited AI Siri, called, um, "Siri AI."

There was a lot covered in Apple's 75-minute keynote, but you don't have to watch the whole thing to catch up. Instead, follow along below, where I lay out every announcement Apple made at WWDC 2026:

WWDC 2026: macOS Golden Gate

Credit: Apple/YouTube

The first major announcement of the day was the much-anticipated (by Apple nerds) name of macOS 27. While Apple has standardized the naming schemes of its others OSes, it still gives macOS a special name, in keeping with tradition. With recent releases, those names have been California-based, and this year is no different: macOS 27 is macOS Golden Gate.

WWDC 2026: Design and performance

Apple made a number of design changes this year, across the board. Liquid Glass isn't going anywhere, but it's now more legible. In addition, Apple is finally rolling out a Liquid Glass slider so users can control how the effect looks on their devices. Toolbars are now more defined, to improve accessibility, and sidebars on macOS now extend to the edge of windows. Apple also made sure that all macOS windows have the same corner radius, so you shouldn't notice any inconsistencies with window edges. App icons are getting a makeover, too: Now, Apple is adding multiple layers of Liquid Glass to all icons.

Credit: Apple/YouTube

The company also touted general performance increases throughout all of its products. Animations should be smoother, iPhone and iPad apps should launch faster, new photos appear in the Photos app up to 70% quicker, and AirDrop works up to 80% faster now. Older iPhones, including the iPhone 11, can run iOS 27, and should run better than on iOS 26. iOS is also smarter when switching between wifi and cellular networks, and you can now send messages while a large image is still waiting to send. Indexing gets a big upgrade, too: new items should be indexed right away, so they should pop up in search. The software should be smarter, and should float more relevant results to the top of Mail, even if the email was sent a long time ago.

Apple took a moment to highlight some other new features in this section, like how shared iCloud albums are now available to Android and Windows users, with support for full resolution sharing. In the Health app, Cycle Tracking now supports perimenopause and menopause. You can now custom-tune the EQ of your AirPods, and you can turn panoramas into immersive environments on Vision Pro. In Maps, the Fly Over is highly detailed with full renderings of buildings and even trees, and definitely gives Google Maps a run for its money.

Credit: Apple/YouTube

WWDC 2026: Trust and safety

Apple spent a huge portion of WWDC 2026 talking about safety features for kids. The company says it's working with experts and researchers to promote healthy habits with its devices. Parents can now choose which websites kids can visit (kids can request permission to visit new sites), and parents can also control who kids can talk to on their Apple devices.

Parents can now control three broad categories on kids' devices: Entertainment, Games, Social Media. They get to choose how long kids have access to each, and on which days. You can have different schedules for games and social media on the weekend than you do during school days. Apple has a new website for parents, too, to learn more about what they can do to control their kids' experiences on Apple devices.

Credit: Apple/YouTube

WWDC 2026: Apple Intelligence and Siri AI

Apple partnered with Google to create its "next-generation" Apple Foundational Models. Apple says these new models are more powerful than ever, and can do a lot more across multiple modalities (text, images, speech, etc.) Apple is adamant that its AI is private: Private Cloud Compute processes your data without any middleman. Not even Apple can see your data. The company also runs AI processes on-device when possible.

Credit: Apple/YouTube

Of course, the biggest announcement today was Siri AI, Apple's second attempt to roll out a big Siri upgrade. Apple says that Siri is a much more capable assistant than before. You can ask Siri about a concert in your area; from that answer, you can ask it how to get tickets; once it tells you, you can ask it to set a reminder based on the context of its answer.

It's also aware of what's on your screen. If you see an image of a landmark online, you can ask Siri what it is; when it answers, you can ask how to get there, and Siri will open directions in Maps. You could also ask it to pull up images from your last family vacation; based on those results, you can ask it to add only photos of specific people to a family album.

Siri sounds more natural than before. What's more, you can customize how Siri sounds, controlling pace and expressiveness. (Though this requires a newer Apple device, like the iPhone 17 Pro or Air.) Dictation is also more contextually aware, understanding things like punctuation better. Apple says Siri is also more conversational, so you can simply chat with Siri no matter the context.

Credit: Apple/YouTube

There's a new dedicated Siri app, where you can access past conversations across all devices, but Siri also lives in the Dynamic Island, and you can access it from there anytime. If you ask Siri to send a message, you have the ability to review and edit the message before sending it.

On macOS, Siri lives in Spotlight. You don't have to pull up Siri to use it: You can start typing, and macOS should know it's a Siri request. You can use it to compare multiple files together, as well as anything else you'd use a chatbot for. If you have a Vision Pro, you can move Siri's icon anywhere in the room, and look at it to start a session.

Credit: Apple/YouTube

WWDC 2026: Visual Intelligence and Writing Tools

Visual Intelligence now lives in the Camera app as a new Siri button. The fundamentals are the same: You can use the feature to learn more about what's in your camera view. But the feature has new abilities: You can use Visual Intelligence to split a bill with friends by pointing the camera at a receipt, or point your camera at your meal to learn more about its nutrition. You can use the screenshot tool on macOS and iPadOS to learn more about a specific section of your screen. You can ask Siri about your windows on Vision Pro, as well as items in the room with you.

Credit: Apple/YouTube

Writing Tools is getting a couple of updates as well: You can describe a document you need to write in natural language to Siri, and it'll generate a first draft for you to review. When you use the feature in Mail and Messages, Siri will change the writing style based on how you usually talk to that contact.

WWDC 2026: AI in apps

Safari is getting some big AI upgrades: The app is getting AI tab management, which can organize tabs into topics and updates dynamically as you browse. Safari can also keep tabs on webpages to watch out for things like price drops. You can also use Apple Intelligence to create custom extensions for different functions you might need. The Passwords app will now update your compromised passwords for you, which works in Safari as well.

Credit: Apple/YouTube

Messages can understand the context of your chats, and may float recommendations for creating reminders and notes. If someone asks for a photo, iOS can help you find it. Mail may make suggestions based on what's going on in a message. In Calendar, you can describe a new event in natural language, and the app creates the event for you, including adding contacts, dates, times, and locations. The Phone app will be able to tap into other apps based on the call: If you call an airline, the Phone app can look in your email to find your flight number, in case the airline asks.

The Home app has a couple of new features too: Your accessory notifications will update dynamically as things change, rather than spam you with multiple alerts. The app also uses Apple Intelligence to analyze your security camera footage and offer descriptions of what happened in the clip. It makes it easier to search through your clips, even across multiple cameras.

Shortcuts now supports natural language creation: You can describe what you want in a shortcut, and it'll create one for you, without you needing to know how to build it yourself. Image Playground is also much more advanced, capable of generating photorealistic images. You can also shuffle the style of any photo. The app supports iterative edits too: You can keep issuing prompts, and Image Playground will build on top of what it has already generated. It supports generations for Contact Posters and Lock Screen wallpapers.

Credit: Apple/YouTube

Finally, the Photos app also gets some big updates. There are three new upgrades: Clean Up should now work better, with improved AI generating fill for removing unwanted elements. "Extend" expands the image around a subject, in case your original shot was too close-up. "Spatial Reframing" uses AI to let you reframe a photo, as if you were adjusting the framing when taking the photo originally. The background blurs as you do, indicating the area that will be filled in with generative AI.

One detail Apple breezed over that's worth noting: While Apple Intelligence is still free, some features, like image generation, now have daily usage limits. But most iCloud+ subscription plans support increased usage limits.

Credit: Apple/YouTube

10 Hacks Every Bitwarden User Should Know

Khamosh Pathak — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

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The built-in password managers from Google and Apple are quite good these days. But if you're switching between multiple devices and OSes, a dedicated cross-platform password manager like Bitwarden can really help. It's open-source, encrypted by default, and most of its features are free on all platforms. And you can even use it to sync passkeys and two-factor authentication codes between all your platforms. But just using the Bitwarden apps to store passwords and autofill them won't get you very far. Because you're dealing with extremely sensitive passwords and secure notes, you should take some extra steps to secure your data, and make the password management process a bit easier (without compromising your security).

Use a secondary authentication measure to protect your Bitwarden account

Credit: Bitwarden

Your Bitwarden account is valuable, and protecting it should be your priority. While you should set a long, yet memory-friendly master password, it's best to add a second layer of security as well. Bitwarden supports multiple two-factor authentication methods for your vault. Go to Settings > Security > Two-step login to get started. While you can set a simple email authentication, it's better to use something more complex. If you want to use a software-based method, set up two-factor authentication with a separate authenticator app (like Google Authenticator). For the most secure protection, use a hardware key like YubiKey—if you have Bitwarden Premium anyway. While 2FA via an authenticator app is very secure, a hardware key ensures that only someone with physical access to the key can access your Bitwarden vault.

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Use the Bitwarden button rather than autofill to boost your security

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Autofill is incredibly convenient. When you have the Bitwarden extension or app installed, it will prompt you to fill passwords with just a tap. In fact, Bitwarden also offers a feature called "Autofill on page load" that will fill in your password details without even waiting for you. It's convenient, but a security risk, since anyone with access to your device could log into your accounts right away. Thankfully, this is not enabled by default. In case it happens to be enabled, you can turn it off by going to Settings > Autofill.

To beef up your account's security, disable autofill altogether by going to Settings > Autofill > Show autofill suggestions on form fields. Instead, you should use the Bitwarden button in the extension bar. When you open the Bitwarden vault using the extension, it will first show you the available autofill options for the current websites, which you can click to autofill manually. This is a more secure route because, as you'll see below, it's possible to lock the Bitwarden vault using a PIN or biometrics—balancing the convenience of autofill with some added security.

Shorten the timeout window for the Bitwarden extension on browsers to prevent snooping

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Again, for convenience's sake, Bitwarden won't lock you out until you restart your browser or your PC, which can be on for weeks on end. However, there's an option that forces you to unlock your vault after a couple of minutes of inactivity (or with each use). Go to Settings > Account Security, and from the Session Timeout section, click the Timeout dropdown. Here, you can use the Immediately option to lock yourself out after each use, or 1 minute to give yourself a bit of breathing room. From the Timeout Action dropdown, you can choose between Lock and Logout. If you choose the Logout feature, you'll have to log in again with your master password. Lock is the better option for most, as it lets you unlock your vault with some easier (but safe) options.

Use biometrics to unlock your vault on trusted devices

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Bitwarden's desktop and mobile apps support biometric authentication so you can unlock using Face ID or Touch ID on Apple devices, or via fingerprint authentication on Android and Windows. To set it up, open the Bitwarden app and go to Settings > Security. Then, enable this feature in the browser extension if you use it. Go to Settings > Account Security, and from the Unlock Options section, enable the "Unlock with Biometrics" feature to enable biometric scanning. If you want to go old school, you can also use "Unlock with Pin" to open the vault using a unique pin.

Make Bitwarden the default for autofilling passwords and passkeys on iOS and Android

Credit: Bitwarden

Passkeys combine the convenience of passwords with the security of 2FA. These are cryptographically generated keys that are stored securely on your device or a passkey service. Authentication happens using your on-device biometrics, such as Face ID, Touch ID, or the fingerprint scanner. Traditionally, each device requires its own passkey and verification. But now, you can add a passkey to a service like Apple Passwords or Bitwarden, and the same key can be used across all your supported devices.

The next time you create a new account, use the Passkey option for authentication. As long as you're signed in to Bitwarden on your computer (with the app), you'll get an option to save passkeys to your vault. And Bitwarden supports native autofill for both iOS and Android. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > AutoFill and Passwords and make sure AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys is enabled. Then, enable the Bitwarden app and disable other autofill apps for a smoother experience. On Android, go to Settings > Autofill > Autofill services > Bitwarden.

Use Bitwarden for two-factor authentication codes and ditch your Authenticator app

Credit: Bitwarden.

If you use Bitwarden for password management, but something else for 2FA codes, you know it can be frustrating to log in to sites. Instead of two systems, you can add 2FA codes to the Bitwarden extension. This way, Bitwarden can generate and fill one-time passwords no matter where you are. This works in browsers and on desktops too. The setup for 2FA in Bitwarden is the same as any authentication service: scan the QR code or use the link to add the account to your Bitwarden vault. (The company has a detailed guide on it as well.)

Of course, by having everything in one system, you are compromising on security a bit. If someone has access to your Bitwarden vault, they now have access to your 2FA codes too. If you want to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket, you can also use Bitwarden's standalone Authenticator app, which doesn't actually require a login. It works similarly to Google Authenticator, is mobile-only, and won't be associated with your vault.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Sharing passwords in plaintext is downright risky. But sometimes, you need to share an account password with a friend or colleague who's working remotely. In this case, Bitwarden's Send feature can come in handy. You can share anything in plain text or upload a file (though this requires Bitwarden Premium). Go to the Send tab in the Bitwarden app or extension and click the New Send button to get started. Here, you can give the transfer a name and include additional details if you want. You can choose when to auto-delete the link and set up a password for it for extra security.

Add trusted contacts to your Bitwarden account for emergency access

Credit: Bitwarden

In case there's an emergency, and you can't access your own vault with all your secure notes, you can designate a trusted contact to do so on your behalf. Bitwarden's Emergency Access feature is highly customizable, and you can choose the level of access based on your personal needs. You can authorize trusted contacts to only view your data, or let them take over your entire account. To get started, head to Bitwarden's website, then go to Settings > Emergency Access.

Use autofill keyboard shortcuts to save time

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Don't sleep on Bitwarden's keyboard shortcuts. By default, simply using Command/Control + Shift + L will open Bitwarden and will autofill the last used password for the website you're on. If you have 2FA enabled, Bitwarden will also copy the two-factor code to your clipboard. All you have to do is press Control/Command + V to paste it in the text box. Press Enter, and you're logged in. If you go to the Extensions Shortcuts page in Chrome, you can also assign dedicated shortcuts for locking the vault, generating a new random password, and opening the Bitwarden extension.

Force master password reprompt when accessing secure notes and bank account passwords for added security

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

It's great that you've enabled a PIN lock and Face ID scan. But for extremely sensitive features, like accessing secure notes and entering bank account passwords, you might want to go one step further. Bitwarden has a feature that forces you to enter your master password again to access your secure data. Even if someone gets access to your Bitwarden account when your device is unlocked, they still won't be able to access the truly important data. To set this up, go to any item (secure note or login), click Edit, scroll down, and enable Master password re-prompt.

Apple's New AI Features Will Only Work on These iPhones

Daniel Oropeza — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:52:40 +0000

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Apple's WWDC 26 event today was heavily focused on how Apple is using AI, or Apple Intelligence, to upgrade its existing devices. Unfortunately, many iPhones didn't make the cut to get the upcoming Siri AI, which will be mainly focused on your privacy and working with you. However, if you already have a recent iPhone, starting this fall, you'll be enjoying some very cool new AI features on your iPhone. Here is the list of iPhones that made the cut for the AI upgrades.

Which iPhones Get Apple Intelligence?

While all of the iPhones below will get the new Apple Intelligence update, some features will work better on the "most powerful models," which likely points to the iPhone 17 family.

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iPhone Air

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An important thing to note is that while Apple will roll out iOS 27 support for the iPhone 11 and newer, Apple Intelligence remains limited to the newer hardware.

What is new with Apple Intelligence?

The new Siri AI brings upgrades to apps like Safari, Messages, Photos, Calendar, and Phone. There will be a standalone Siri app, more conversational interactions, better context awareness, an understanding of follow-up questions as well as what is on your iPhone's screen. It can also take actions across apps and can work with your personal content like your photos, files, calendar, and emails. This new Siri not just catches up to the competition like Gemini, but it does it in a very Apple way, keeping your privacy at the forefront and keeping things simple. You can read more about the features here.

These iPhones Are Getting a Big AI Camera Upgrade

Pranay Parab — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Your iPhone's camera is about to get smarter. During its WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple announced Siri's Visual Intelligence feature will be directly integrated into the Camera app on your iPhone in iOS 27. This will allow you to point your camera at real-world objects and get more information on them, similar to what Google Lens already does. To use it, you'll need a phone that supports Apple Intelligence—which means an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, including all devices in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 families.

The company also announced that Visual Intelligence is coming to Mac for the first time with macOS 27. It will let you draw a highlight around details in an image, so you can, say, identify a landmark and get more information about it, or figure out where to buy a piece of clothing. Again, you'll need a Mac that supports Apple Intelligence, which means an M-series laptop or iMac.

Visual Intelligence is getting a bunch of upgrades on iPhone and iPad

With iOS 27, Visual Intelligence will also be getting a few useful updates as a part of the Siri overhaul coming later this year. Apple is integrating Siri directly into the Camera app on your iPhone, so you'll be able to point your camera at an object and ask Siri to help you look up useful information about it. This feature will be available as a new "Siri mode" in the Camera app, currently nestled between the Photo and Portrait modes. You'll also be able to ask follow-up questions and view previously asked questions in the new Siri app that's shipping with iOS 27, so that these lookups are not lost after you've closed the Camera app, the company said.

Siri mode will also suggest relevant actions based on what you're pointing the camera at. Apple's demos showed Siri identifying a restaurant bill and making it easy to split the cost between a group of friends. On the iPad, Visual Intelligence is integrated into the screenshot experience, so you'll be able to use the feature to analyze what's onscreen every time you capture a screenshot.

It's also worth noting (for a little while, anyway) that Visual Intelligence is coming to visionOS, which is the operating system for the Apple Vision headset.

How Visual Intelligence works in macOS 27 Golden Gate

In explaining how Visual Intelligence will work on Mac in macOS 27 (dubbed "Golden Gate"), Apple said you'll be able to select any part of your screen to use Visual Intelligence. This looks like a great implementation in theory, because that's how I tend to clip and save things I'm interested in already—I use a keyboard shortcut to crop a part of the screen and drop it into reverse image search; Apple is integrating a similar workflow into macOS 27.

Once you use the keyboard shortcut to bring up Visual Intelligence, you'll see a few options next to the image. You can either ask Siri to tell you more about it, click a button to perform a reverse image search, or use the option that gives you more contextual information about the thing you're looking at. As an example, if you select an image of a pizza, macOS 27 will show you an option to look up the nutritional values of that specific type of pizza.

Visual Intelligence on the Mac should also be able to identify a music festival poster and add multiple events to your calendar in one go. As of this writing, this feature will only be available on Macs with their device language set to English.

How to Install the iOS 27 Beta Now (and Why You Probably Shouldn't)

Jake Peterson — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

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Apple's big WWDC keynote is officially over. After months of rumors and speculation, we now know what iOS 27 is all about: Apple Intelligence, a new AI-powered Siri, and more ways to customize Liquid Glass. (Apple finally added a slider, people.) Apple is also focused on performance updates this year: That means iOS 27 should run faster on your iPhone, and experience fewer bugs and glitches.

While iOS 27—and the rest of Apple's new updates—won't be out until the fall (likely September), you can try them out right now. That's because Apple is rolling out the first betas for each software update today. As long as you have a compatible iPhone, you can try iOS 27 right now, but here's the thing: You probably shouldn't.

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Why you shouldn't install the iOS 27 developer beta

If you've dabbled in beta software before, you probably already know my spiel: Betas are designed for software testers to trial upcoming updates and root out as many issues as possible before that software rolls out to the general public. As such, by installing beta software on your iPhone, you're opening yourself up to possible bugs and glitches Apple hasn't had a chance to patch. While the official build of iOS 27 won't be perfect either, with a beta, you might run into something that genuinely makes your device difficult to use, or that breaks it altogether. It's the risk of running a beta on a personal device.

While that's the case for virtually all betas, this beta is especially risky for the average iOS user. This is the first developer beta, which means two things: one, Apple has not tested iOS 27 with an outside pool of users yet, so the risk for bugs will never be higher than it is now; moreover, this beta is designed for developers to test iOS 27 with their apps and services, and as such, Apple isn't thinking much about how the update might run on your personal iPhone.

If something goes terribly wrong with the beta, like your iPhone suddenly stops responding, or you simply can't live with how buggy it is, you can uninstall it—but it's not easy to do, especially without losing any data. Unless you made a proper backup ahead of time, you'll have to wipe your iPhone and start from scratch with the latest official version of iOS. The risk for data loss is huge, and should not be ignored if you're thinking about installing the beta.

For the adventurous Apple users out there, I strongly recommend waiting until Apple releases the iOS 27 public beta next month. While no beta is risk free, that one is at least meant for general users, since Apple will have already gone through multiple rounds of testing with developers before then. The public beta likely won't have many of the bugs or glitches the developer beta will have, and certainly not as many as this first developer beta. Apple certainly won't stop you from installing iOS 27 developer beta 1 on your iPhone, but you shouldn't do so unless you consider the risks, and plan ahead.

Back up your iPhone to a local drive before you install the iOS 27 beta

If you're going ahead with the beta installation, make sure to back up your iPhone to your Mac or PC. It isn't enough to have an iCloud backup: If your iPhone backs up to iCloud while running the beta, it will overwrite your backup from the current version of iOS. As such, the safer bet is to back up your iPhone to a computer. If you need to downgrade, you can restore your iPhone from this backup and recover your data—minus anything generated after the backup was created. For more information, see Lifehacker's guide here.

Note that this backup is only good for as long as Apple signs (or supports) that version of iOS. Once Apple releases a new official version of iOS and stops signing the version your backup was made to, you won't be able to restore it. (This is me, once again, advising you not to install the developer beta.)

Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 27?

If you are going to install iOS 27 on your iPhone, you'll need one that's compatible with the update. Luckily, all iOS 26 devices can run iOS 27. They include:

iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone Air
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2nd generation and newer)

Note that only iPhone 15 Pro and newer can run Apple Intelligence features (including Siri AI), while only the iPhone 17 line (including the Air) can access Apple's best on-device models.

How to install the iOS 27 developer beta

In years past, installing a developer beta on your personal Apple device wasn't all that easy. Unless you paid the $99 fee to become an Apple developer, you needed to download an IPSW file from the internet—not the safest practice. As much as Apple probably doesn't want the average iPhone user installing developer betas, they also don't want these users infecting their devices with malware. As such, it's much more straightforward for anyone to get on the developer beta.

To start, head to this page on the Apple Developer Program website, then scroll down and click "Create your account" under "Become an Apple developer." (Don't choose "Enroll now" under "Join the Apple Developer Program," as this still costs $99). From here, log into your Apple Account and follow the on-screen instructions to become a developer.

Next, on your iPhone, head to Settings > General> Software Update > Beta Updates. Assuming your iPhone is connected to your Apple Account, you should see "iOS 27 Developer Beta" towards the top of the beta list. Tap this, then tap the back arrow in the top left. Once iOS loads "iOS 27 Beta, tap "Update Now."

The Apple Vision Pro Will Soon Be Able to Turn Your Photos Into Immersive Environments

Stephen Johnson — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:43:45 +0000

At WWDC today, Apple announced a new feature for its Apple Vision Pro VR/AR headsets: Users will soon be able to create their own environments from panoramic photos they take. The company also teased greater immersion for spatial photos. Both improvements are coming this fall.

Apple Vision Pro's environments—immersive, detailed 3D backdrops that can be toggled on and off from inside the Vision Pro—is one of the stand-out features on the headset. You can control the immersion level like you would a dimmer switch on a light, letting you blend reality and virtuality as you see fit, and you can use your cool-but-uncanny Vision avatar in chats with other Vision Pro users in shared environments. Presumably, all these features will be available in user-created environments.

But environments "work" because they're more than photographic backdrops. They're vision-encompassing 3D scenes that feature sound elements, too. Apple didn't offer specific details, but it seems that transforming panoramic photos into immersive environments goes hand-in-hand with Apple improving its spatial photos. Transforming snapshots into 3D pics is already a Vision Pro feature, but they're limited. The 3D isn't very "deep," and they can only be viewed from the angle they were taken. The gap between those photos and fully immersive environments (where you can see what's behind you, what's on the ground, what's in the sky, etc.) is wide. Even panoramic iOS photos, those landscape pictures you take by spinning in place, leave a lot of blanks to fill in, like the sky and the ground. That's where the AI bit comes in.

Spatial reframing could be Apple's step towards realistic 3D

While you can't create "real" 3D unless you capture object/places from different angles, Apple showed off its upcoming "spatial reframing" tech, which gives a hint as to how it's planning pull off more immersive 3D from flat photos and also how panoramic photos can become environments. During the presentation, Apple's selling point for spatial reframing was about the ability improve your snapshots—but using generative AI to fill in the parts of the photo that you didn't capture is no doubt how the company plans to create deeper 3D photos and 360° environments.

I liked the Vision Pro's instant 3D photos so much that I got into creating Gaussian Splats—scans that let you experience real 3D—that is, 3D objects you can see from any angle in virtual space. Experiencing immersive, realistic 3D versions of places you've been and people you know is the coolest thing you can do with a VR headset. But I have mixed feelings about letting AI "improve" it. The technology is mind-blowing, but the power of Gaussian Splats comes from how accurately they re-create the scenes you capture: my reaction is "yes, this is exactly what it was like to be there." An AI-filled creation just wouldn't be, and there's just something unsettling about letting AI change the record of your personal memories. But I'll still be first in line to try it out.

Apple Is Officially Dropping Support for Intel-Based Macs

Pranay Parab — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:37:43 +0000

In 2020, Apple announced that it would be transitioning from Intel's chips to Apple silicon on all Macs. Over the next couple years, Apple replaced all Intel Macs with those running its own M-series Apple silicon processors. The company then began slowly dropping software support for Intel Macs—and now, that process is complete. At WWDC, Apple announced that it won't be supporting any Intel Macs going forward, which means that none of those devices will get macOS 27 Golden Gate.

All the Macs that won't get macOS 27

Every single Apple silicon-powered Mac, including my humble MacBook Air (M1, 2020), will be getting macOS 27 Golden Gate, which is expected to release this fall. However, the following Intel Macs have been dropped for the upcoming version of macOS:

MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, with four Thunderbolt ports)
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020)
Mac Pro (2019)

The peculiar thing is that the 2020 MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt ports was already dropped from software support last year, but the version with four of those ports got updated to macOS 26 Tahoe. For macOS 27 Golden Gate, even that variant has been left behind. This marks the end of an era, as Apple's finally completed the transition from Intel Macs to Apple silicon.

These iPads won't get iPadOS 27

Apple's done well to bring iOS 27 to every iPhone that supports iOS 26, including the humble iPhone 11, which was unveiled in September 2019. However, the company isn't doing the same thing with all iPad models. The following iPads will not be getting the iPadOS 27 update:

iPad mini (5th Gen)
iPad (8th Gen)
iPad Air (3rd Gen)
iPad Pro (11-inch, 1st Gen)
iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 3rd Gen)

Your Apple Watch Probably Doesn't Support watchOS 27

Khamosh Pathak — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Apple's commitment to iPhone hardware support is truly impressive. During the WWDC 2026 keynote, the company announced that iOS 27 will work on all the devices that currently support iOS 26—all the way back to the iPhone 11, released in 2019. Apple even spent extra effort to customize and speed up the OS on older devices. But the news isn't nearly so good for Apple Watch owners.

During the same presentation, Apple showed off the watchOS 27 update, which features the new Siri AI experience, including the Siri app; a new dynamic apps screen, a new single-tap gesture, and more. But what Apple did not talk about at all is what devices will support this flashy new OS.

And it turns out Apple likely left that bit out because the news isn't great: a huge chunk of currently supported Apple Watches will not make it to the watchOS 27 update shipping this fall.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

In contrast to Apple's longstanding support for iPhones turning seven this year, much newer Apple Watches won't support the new OS. It seems watchOS 27 will only be supported on Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and 3, and the Apple Watch SE 3. That is it. Apple is dropping support for Apple Watch Series 6 all the way to Series 8. Even the first Apple Watch Ultra model won't be supported. The 2nd Generation SE model loses support as well. What's more, Apple originally left the Series 9 off the compatibility list, making it look like even fewer watches were supported this year.

While dropping support for older devices is understandable, the Ultra 1 is the hardest to swallow. The Ultra 1 is a high-end smartwatch that retailed for $800 back in September 2023. With the Apple Watch, hardware iterations are slow, and an Apple Watch from a couple of years ago remains fully capable and fast enough to perform all the tasks you're likely to ask of it.

How to Set Up Alexa Wishlist Alerts for Prime Day

Emily Long — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:30:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Amazon’s Prime Day sale officially starts June 23, and early Prime deals are already here—but keeping track of the best discounts yet to land and figuring out which deals are worthwhile can be a challenge. As an alternative, you can have Alexa give you a heads-up about deals on products you already know you want to purchase, so you don’t have to spend time sorting through the noise.

Amazon Prime subscribers in the United States who also have Echo smart speakers can enable deal alerts to receive notifications 24 hours before discounts go live and even have your Alexa purchase these items for you. First, open the Amazon Shopping app or go to Amazon’s website via browser and add products you want alerts for to your Wish List, your Shopping Cart, or a Saved for Later list.

Then head to the Alexa mobile app and go to More in the top left (the three horizontal lines) > Settings > Notifications > Amazon Shopping and toggle on Deal Recommendations under the Shopping Recommendations options. This ensures you’ll receive notifications for items that appear in your shopping activity.

If Alexa finds an upcoming deal on something in your Saved for Later, your Wish List, or in your Shopping Cart, you’ll receive a pop-up alert on your Echo Show display or see a yellow light ring on your Echo speaker. You can also ask, “Alexa, what are my notifications?” to hear a list of deals it has compiled thus far. You can also say "Alexa, let me know when [product name] goes on sale."

Alexa can detect deals up to 24 hours in advance, so you can either ask it to remind you again when a deal starts or request that it buy the item when the deal goes live. Simply say, “Alexa, buy it for me,” and it’ll charge the default payment and send the item to the default delivery address on your account.

Here are some Alexa smart speaker options:

Full sound compact smart speaker with Alexa

With bigger vibrant sound, helpful routines and Alexa

Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release)

$49.99 at Amazon

Smart display with 2x the bass and clearer sound

Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen, 2023 release)

$89.99 at Amazon

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Apple Just Announced 'Siri AI' (for Real This Time)

Eric Ravenscraft — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:13:18 +0000

Apple might be a bit behind in the AI arms race, but that might be for the best. Today, at WWDC, the company announced it's bringing Siri AI to its devices, and it looks to be one of the more refined, restrained implementations we've seen. Finally, there will be a dedicated Siri app with a conversational interface, on top of the usual ever-present Siri interface. And all of it is built on top of Google's Gemini models.

The Siri/Gemini combo doesn't come as a surprise, as the partnership was announced earlier this year. The implementation, however, is interesting. In the past, Siri has existed as an abstract layer you can invoke while using your device, but in iOS 27, you'll also be able to open the dedicated Siri app to start a conversation, similar to how most other AI assistants work.

Since Siri AI is built on top of Gemini, a lot of the functionality will look familiar if you've been keeping up with what Gemini can do. You can use it to look up directions, find specific photos in your camera roll, summarize documents, or generate event plans—with, of course, the usual caveats about the errors that generative AI can introduce.

On Macs, the new Siri AI will be built directly into Spotlight, which Apple says will be able to differentiate between typical searches and an AI request. How well this works could be crucial, since trying to find a particular file by name should have quick results, but generative AI responses tend to take quite a bit longer.

Siri will also be able to use your phone's camera to identify objects or look up information. For example, Apple demoed using Siri to find nutrition info by pointing the camera at food, or splitting a bill by looking at the receipt. Siri will also be able to help users write or proofread their own writing from anywhere you can enter text.

All this will roll out with iOS 27 when it launches later this year, though there are some pretty major exceptions. First, due to regulatory issues, Siri AI will not be available in the EU on iOS or iPad OS at launch. Similarly, regulatory hurdles prevent Siri AI from coming to any Apple devices in China at launch.

There's also the problem of usage limits. Specifics are still scant, but some Siri AI features will use on-device models, while others will rely on server-side models utilizing Apple's Private Cloud Compute. However, the latter can take a lot of computing power, so some features like image generation will be subject to daily usage limits.

Apple hasn't offered specifics about those daily usage limits, or a comprehensive list of which features might contribute to them. The company has said that iCloud+ subscribers will have "increased access," though. So, that's encouraging.

As it stands, this largely seems like a leap forward to reach rough parity with where most other AI-powered assistants are at. The key distinction is, as usual, how tightly integrated Apple's ecosystem is. Running visual searches through your camera roll, or adding events directly to your calendar from an image on your screen can work more seamlessly and with less server-side processing than other assistants are typically capable of.

Apple also seems to emphasize AI's semantic understanding much more than its generative capability. Amidst the flood of companies rushing to have AI write, create, and make art for us (even when we don't want them to), what often gets lost is how impressive it is that AI chatbots can generally understand what we say. Many of Siri's demos at WWDC today leaned more on this aspect of AI, employing it in a more supportive role to accomplish the tasks you want to do, rather than to try to guess what you want.

One of the best examples of this is allowing users to describe a common routine in plain English and turning that into a Shortcuts automation. Shortcuts is an interesting, if underutilized, feature that can make mundane tasks easier, and using AI to interpret what you want to accomplish is one of the better uses of AI, in my opinion.

There's still a lot to be seen about how well Siri AI works in practice once we get our hands on the beta later this year, but for now, you can explore all the new Apple Intelligence and Siri AI features coming soon here.

Safari's New AI Tab Organization Actually Looks Really Useful

Khamosh Pathak — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Apple Intelligence is coming to all of Apple's apps—and it's not just about Siri AI. During its WWDC 2026 keynote, Apple announced tons of prominent new Apple Intelligence-powered features in Safari so you can offload the work of tab management. Meanwhile, the Passwords app is getting a new feature that should make it a lot easier to update compromised passwords.

Safari will automatically organize your tabs

Apple is simplifying the task of tab management in Safari. If you're the kind of person who has dozens of tabs open at a time, you will empathize. In macOS 27, Apple will use Apple Intelligence to automatically sort and categorize all your tabs based on topics: Apple Intelligence analyzes the page's content using AI and groups it based on subject. As you browse, new tabs you open will automatically be sorted into the correct tab group. And Apple promises that your browsing data will remain private, and won't be used to train AI systems.

Credit: Apple

Monitor a website and receive a notification when it changes

There's also a really neat new feature called Notify Me. It can monitor a webpage in the background, on your behalf, and send you a notification when there's a change or an update. You just provide the context for what kind of update you're looking for (in plain text) and how often to check for updates. When the web page is updated with changes that match your request, you'll instantly get a notification—for example, when registration for an event opens, or when a product comes back in stock.

Vibe code your own Safari extensions

Most interestingly, Apple teased that you will be able to vibe-code your own Safari extensions, using a text prompt to add features to a web page, or to customize a page. It will be interesting to see how well this actually works in practice, but it sounds pretty cool.

Let Apple Intelligence update your compromised passwords

Credit: Apple

Safari will also integrate with the Passwords app to help you automatically update passwords for websites that might be compromised. Once the Passwords app flags an issue, you can hand over the task of actually doing the tedious part of resetting your passwords over to Apple Intelligence. Acting agentically, it will open the websites and change the password on your behalf, all in the background.

Apple Will Soon Let You Use AI to More Easily Create Automation Routines

Pranay Parab — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:32:16 +0000

The Shortcuts app is Apple's hub for all kinds of automation on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It allows you to create automation routines based on simple triggers, such as turning on the lights when you're near home at the end of your work day. While the Shortcuts app is incredibly powerful, it's always been a bit difficult to create shortcuts. If you're not technically inclined, it's not easy to learn how triggers work, why a particular step is breaking your automation, and so on. Apple is changing all of that with iOS 27, which is scheduled for release this Fall.

Apple will soon allow you to use Apple Intelligence, the company's spin on AI, to create shortcuts with simple text prompts. This means that you could ask Apple Intelligence to create a shortcut with a prompt as simple as: "Message my ETA to my partner when I'm leaving work." That will create a shortcut for you, and you can ask the app to run this every weekday. This makes Shortcuts much more accessible to people who find it intimidating to create multi-step automation workflows. You'll still have to check if the shortcut works correctly, adjust your prompts to fix errors, and go through a few iterations before the perfect automation is ready. This, however, is a lot easier than manually creating your own shortcuts.

To be honest, even I resist creating many shortcuts and automations because of the time it requires. I'd rather search the internet for great shortcuts created by the community, but with this upcoming Apple Intelligence integration, I'm looking forward to whipping up many more of my own shortcuts. The catch is that this feature will only work with devices that support Apple Intelligence, which means that you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer device to get this feature. Those of us with older devices won't be able to use new Apple Intelligence features.

The Biggest Apple Intelligence Upgrade Yet Is Focused on You and Your Privacy

David Nield — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:19:58 +0000

Apple has struggled to keep up with the likes of OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google with its AI technology, with the long-promised Siri upgrade repeatedly delayed. It's now trying to fix that: At WWDC 2026 today, we got details of the biggest Apple Intelligence upgrade since it launched, with a focus on understanding users and keeping data private.

The updates will roll out across iPhones, iPads, and Macs, and was announced by Apple's senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi—who started with a dig about some AI companies moving too fast and neglecting the priorities of users (not a bad way to reframe Apple's previous problems with AI development).

As we knew already, Apple has partnered with Google to develop its new Apple Foundation AI Models, though you won't see a Google logo or "powered by Gemini" message anywhere. Apple has tailored the Gemini models for its own purposes and says there's now improved understanding across text, voice, and images.

Apple's new AI models will understand you better. Credit: Apple

There are four central components to these new models: Personal context (knowing about you and your preferences), world knowledge (drawing in data from the web and other sources), actions (being able to complete tasks inside apps), and on-screen awareness (knowing what you're doing on your device).

Some of the examples Apple showed for personal context included knowing about upcoming birthdays, favorite recipes, and locations you've visited. All of this information could be pulled into AI responses or routines to make them smarter.

Different models will run on devices and in the cloud, and be kept fully private—so not even Apple will be able to see your data and AI interactions. As has always been the case since Apple Intelligence launched in 2024, Apple uses what it calls Private Cloud Compute to only process data in the cloud when it's absolutely necessary, and to delete the data right after the processing is done.

World knowledge has also been improved in the new models. Credit: Apple

These privacy protections are audited by third-party security specialists, Apple says, so you can be sure your data isn't being analyzed or kept. The company is clearly going to continue to lean on privacy as a way of differentiating itself from its competitors.

In terms of the specific benefits you'll see from these new AI models, you should get smarter, faster responses in apps and in the newly upgraded Siri app. These technologies are going to power Apple AI across all of its products—enhanced by a new System Orchestrator that was flagged up by Federighi—and will work everywhere from enhancing photos to dictating text.

Of course, this isn't the first time Apple has hyped up future upgrades coming to its Apple Intelligence technology—we won't be able to assess these changes fully until they're pushed out into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Here's How iOS 27's New Liquid Glass Slider Works

Khamosh Pathak — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:11:19 +0000

One of the biggest pain points for Apple's new "Liquid Design" aesthetic, introduced with iOS 26, was that it wasn't customizable. Many users thought the Liquid Design toolbars did not provide enough contrast or opacity, making labels and buttons almost illegible. Over the last year, Apple has tweaked the design slowly, but in iOS 27, Apple is finally letting users adjust the settings to their preferences.

On stage at WWDC 2026, Apple announced that in iOS 27, the Liquid Glass will now be less transparent by default. There will also be a slider that lets you increase or decrease the transparency. When the slider is all the way to the far end, it's possible to essentially disable Liquid Glass, making the toolbar opaque.

On the macOS front, Apple said that it's "reincorporating" elements of macOS design back into Liquid Glass. I don't have details on that yet, but as I install the betas, I'll report back. In the keynote, Apple gave a couple of examples: First, color is back to sidebar icons, making them easier to spot. Apple is also going to force all apps to have the same rounded corners now, even if the developer hasn't updated the code.

Apple is also changing how app icons are rendered. Apple's own icons will be layered with elements of Liquid Glass between objects or elements. This will add more depth to the icons, and it will be supported even when the app icons are in Tinted mode or Clear mode. Third-party developers will be able to take advantage of this new system as well.

You Will Finally Be Able to Share iCloud Photo Albums With Android and Windows Users

Pranay Parab — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:01:49 +0000

During the WWDC 2027 keynote, Apple announced that it's making iCloud Shared Albums more useful. This feature will now support Android and Windows, which was not the case until now. This means that Android and Windows users will be able to add photos to iCloud Shared Albums, starting with the release of iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate this fall.

This brings Apple's iCloud Photos on par with other photo-sharing services, such as Google Photos, where anyone can view and add photos easily. Once you're done with an event or back from a trip, you can now create a shared album and allow people outside the Apple ecosystem to join in. Up until now, Android users had no way to view or join shared albums, but there is limited support for viewing shared albums in the iCloud for Windows app. Once you enable iCloud Photos in the iCloud for Windows app, you'll see an option to enable shared albums too. When you enable iCloud Shared Albums, the app allows you to view shared albums that you have access to. On Android, a web link to iCloud Shared Albums lets you view albums in a browser.

The current limitation is that you can't add Windows or Android users to your shared albums—that is about to change with the release of iOS 27 and macOS 27. I think it's a game-changer, and it may actually force me to consider using iCloud Shared Albums, which is something I just ignore by default. It'll be interesting to see how this feature is implemented by Apple and how user-friendly it is.

I'd also be interested in learning more about how it handles iCloud storage. If it uses the storage of the person who created the album, that could prevent any issues with people running afoul of iCloud's measly 5GB of free storage. That's among the lowest free cloud storage tiers offered by anyone in the industry, and has not been increased in over a decade.

Apple AirPods Are Finally Getting the Equalizer Controls You Were Waiting For

Eric Ravenscraft — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:54:11 +0000

At today's WWDC event, Apple announced it's bringing custom equalizer controls to your AirPods with iOS 27. The company's earbuds have had their own adaptive EQ prior to now, but you haven't been able to set the EQ yourself.

Credit: Apple / YouTube

The new custom EQ feature will be found in the AirPods' settings once they roll out. In typical Apple fashion, the controls are relatively simple and easy to use. You'll see a graph of low, mid, and high tones, and you can drag simple handles to raise or lower these tones. It's not quite as robust as some other EQ interfaces, but it doesn't really need to be for most users.

The custom profile will live alongside Apple's recommended EQ profile. Unfortunately, it looks like you won't be able to set multiple custom profiles to swap between, but given how easy it looks to tweak them, this likely won't be much of an issue.

Six Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Hyrox Race

Meredith Dietz — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:30:00 +0000

A little over a week ago, my fellow Lifehacker writer Beth Skwarecki and I competed in the women’s doubles at Hyrox New York. Our final time was 01:36:48—not too shabby, considering the average time is 1:24:20 for women’s doubles, and we had pretty minimal training.

Still, upon seeing videos of myself at this race, I looked less like a sleek athlete (what I pictured in my head) and a little bit more like a floppy balloon man trying to wave you into a car dealership. Now that we’ve had some time to reflect on our experiences, here's what I wish I had known about Hyrox races going in.

Focus on proper form, not just overall fitness

Going into this, I was most scared of the feats of strength and coordination, while Beth was most afraid of the running. In the five weeks we had to train, I focused mostly on getting my strength up. What I wish I had understood better? This isn't CrossFit! In other words, you don't need to be professionally strong to finish.

By race day, the weight standards weren't as devastating as I feared. For women's doubles in the open division, the sled push comes in at 102 kg (around 225 lbs) including the sled. The sled pull is 78 kg (around 172 lbs) including the sled. Farmers carry uses 2 × 16 kg (around 35.2 lbs) kettlebells for 200 meters. The sandbag lunges are done with a 10 kg (22 lbs) bag for 100 meters. And wall balls use a 4 kg (8.8 lbs) ball thrown to a 2.70 m target for 100 reps.

What caught me off guard instead was form and coordination. Some of these were still unfamiliar movement patterns for me, and doing them on fatigued legs made everything feel more awkward. I wish I had focused more on specific movement patterns during my training, so that I didn’t waste so much time navigating basic mechanics mid-race.

View this post on Instagram

Each Hyrox station feels completely different during race day

There's a significant gap between practicing a wall ball in a fresh gym session and performing your 75th rep after you've already run several kilometers, pushed a sled, and done a farmers carry. Every station takes on a different character when it arrives in context.

Luckily, this isn't a reason to panic—just all the more reason to train with specificity. It’s not enough to just practice the movements in isolation. You need to practice them tired, and practice them in sequence when you can. The simulation experience (more on that in a moment) exists precisely for this reason. When you finally step onto the race floor, you want the movements to feel familiar even in their fatigued form, not just when you're fresh and focused in a 45-minute workout class.

Take a Hyrox-specific class—but don't stop there

The Hyrox-specific studio classes I took at F45 beforehand were completely necessary. A prep class gives you exposure to most of the Hyrox stations and, ideally, to the specific standards that Hyrox enforces. But one class can only take you so far, depending on the resources of your gym. For instance, I really wish I had been able to practice Hyrox-specific wall balls before showing up on race day.

Do a Hyrox simulation—but know the penalties before you walk in

A full Hyrox simulation is highly recommended. I did not do one. Beth did, however, and she learned something important: the people running your simulation may not enforce the penalty rules strictly, or may not know all of them.

Hyrox has specific penalties for standards violations—things like failing to hit the wall ball target, not reaching full depth on lunges, or spacing your hands and feet too far apart during burpees. In a simulation run by someone who isn't an official judge, you may breeze through movements that would have earned you penalty burpees on race day. So, walk into your simulation already knowing the standards and the consequences. Use it to practice pace and sequencing, and make sure you hold yourself to the real rules, even if no one else in the room is.

In doubles, transitions are a race within the race

If you're competing in doubles, you’ll quickly discover how transitions are a discipline unto themselves. In fact, Beth and I had a great time sharing Instagram reels focused solely on transition ideas throughout our training. The handoff between partners at each station, contingency plans for splitting the workload, the split-second decisions about whether your partner needs you to take an extra rep: all of this should be worked out in advance, and ideally practiced until it's automatic.

It’s also important to note that a strategy might feel obvious when you're fresh, but it will feel much less obvious when you're both gassed after running another kilometer and the sled is sitting there staring at you. Our tip would be to decide who leads on each one, what the signal is to swap, and what you do if one partner is struggling.

For instance, it often makes sense to have the stronger runner be the one who starts and finishes each station, so that the other athlete has more time to rest between the running portions. For Beth and myself, we ran a tad slower than my typical recovery pace, and that turned out to be the right call. It meant we arrived at each station with something left in the tank—which was the thing that allowed me, a person who had been terrified of the strength work, to move through it without falling apart.

View this post on Instagram

The takeaway here is that the more decisions you can make in advance, the fewer you'll have to make under duress.

Have an actual Hyrox race strategy, not just a workout plan

Ultimately, there's a big difference between training for Hyrox and racing Hyrox. A lot of first-timers (myself included) instinctively approach it like a really hard workout. You think to yourself that you’ll push when you can, you survive when you can't, and you see what time comes out. That works, but it certainly leaves time on the table.

A real race strategy means knowing how exactly to hack each station. Research is your best friend. Sometimes the most efficient movement won’t feel like the “proper form” you’ve practiced in a workout class, or it simply won’t be intuitive to you personally. At least, that was my experience with wall balls. And hey, I hope to put all this to the test and compete in another Hyrox race. Maybe in the singles division this time, to really put my money where my mouth is. Stay tuned.

How to Actually Get Good Videos at a Concert With the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Lifehacker BrandX for Samsung — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:35:16 +0000

The following content is brought to you by Lifehacker partners. If you buy a product featured here, we may earn an affiliate commission or other compensation.

TL;DR key takeaways:

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is built for the three things that trip up most phones at concerts: low-light scenes, distant performers, and a crowd that doesn’t stand still.
Turn on Super Steady[1] with Horizontal Lock before the lights go down so your footage stays level, even when the crowd starts moving.
Nightography[2] is cued up automatically in low-light photos (one tap to activate); in video mode, it runs from the moment you press record.
The 50-megapixel telephoto’s 5x optical zoom and 10x optical-quality zoom mean you can get close-ups of the performers from wherever you’re standing.

Anyone who’s been to a life-changing gig knows the stinging disappointment of attending the best concert of your life, only to get home, eagerly relive the set from your camera roll, and find nothing but distorted, blurry clips.

With the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, you can say goodbye to post-show letdown. The camera system in Samsung's latest flagship is built to perform under the pressure of dim venues and packed crowds, so you can stay present for the show and trust the footage will live up to your memories. A 200-megapixel main sensor paired with a wider F1.4 aperture pulls in more light to keep detail sharp after dark, and Galaxy AI tools[3] handle the rest once you've made it to the after-party.

Galaxy S26 Ultra

Capture the moment with up to 5x optical zoom and a 200-megapixel main sensor

at Samsung

Here's a how-to guide for shooting stable, detailed footage during the set and turning your highlights and stills into post-worthy content.

Step 1: Sort your settings before filming

Before the support act walks onstage:

Open the Camera app and switch to Video mode.
Tap the Super Steady[4] icon (a figure-in-motion symbol at the top of the screen) and select the Horizontal Lock option at the right-hand side of the menu.

Super Steady uses the phone’s gyroscope and accelerometer to counter unwanted movement; Horizontal Lock keeps the horizon flat even when you’re being knocked around by the crowd.

Step 2: Zoom in on the action without fighting the crowd

Standing tickets three rows from the back? The telephoto lens on the Galaxy S26 Ultra lets you get an up-close-and-personal perspective anyway. The 50-megapixel telephoto features 5x optical zoom, 10x optical-quality zoom, and up to 100x Space Zoom for photos, so you can frame tight shots of the performers from wherever you're posted up (even if that’s in the very back of an arena).

To use the feature:

Open the Camera app and frame your shot. The zoom controls sit along the bottom of the viewfinder as a row of shortcut buttons (0.6x, 2x, 5x, etc.).
For 5x optical zoom, tap the 5x shortcut button or pinch out with two fingers until the viewfinder lands on 5x. This zoom level uses the lens itself to magnify the subject, which means no quality loss in either Photo or Video mode.
For 10x optical-quality zoom, tap the 10x shortcut button or keep pinching out. This combines optical zoom with on-device processing to hold detail at longer distances; it works in both Photo and Video mode.
Space Zoom extends up to 100x for still photos and up to 25x for video. To activate, keep pinching out past 10x, or tap the zoom number and type a value. A small preview window will appear in the corner of the viewfinder to help you locate and frame your subject.

If you’re zooming beyond 10x, consider bracing your phone against a railing or seat-back, since the smallest hand movement at that level of magnification can affect the frame.

Step 3: Rely on Nightography once the house lights go down

Getting great media in less-than-ideal lighting is straightforward on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The wider F1.4 aperture on the phone’s main sensor takes in more light than the F1.8 sensor on the standard Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+, which makes a visible difference under a single spotlight or during a slow-tempo solo.

Here’s how to take advantage of one of the phone’s key features, Nightography[5]:

In low-lighting settings, Nightography is on standby by default.
For photos, a yellow moon icon will appear in the lower-right corner of your camera frame. Tap it, and the phone will offer a range of exposure lengths (longer durations for darker scenes).
Choose a number manually, or leave it on Auto and let the phone work it out.
In Video mode, Nightography runs continuously the moment you hit record.

Step 4: Tidy up post-show stills with Photo Assist

Whether you're screenshotting a frame from a highlight reel or pulling a still shot from your camera roll, Photo Assist[6] can help enhance your static images.

At a high-energy show, you'll invariably end up with a few unwanted extras in your frames, like that crowd-surfer who sailed through your shot mid-set. To salvage it:

Open your image in Gallery.
Tap the AI icon at the centre of the bottom toolbar (the sparkly stars icon).
Either type or dictate what you want to change.

Photo Assist can remove stray limbs in your shot, swap a background, shift the lighting to a different time of day, or even merge two images together. Edits save as copies, so your originals stay intact—which is handy if you later decide the slightly-blurry-but-emotive version was better than the perfectly crisp one.

Creative Studio[7] goes beyond photo editing to build custom, shareable assets from your best concert stills. A sticker set of the lead singer's best expressions tends to land well in the group chat; a custom invitation built from a shot of the venue works well for planning the pre-drinks for the next gig.

To start creating:

Open the Edge panel and tap Creative Studio.
Pick one of your concert photos, describe what you want (a sticker pack, a greeting card, or an invitation).
Hit Generate.

The tool draws from the photo and builds a styled asset you can send via email or a messaging app.

Galaxy S26 series camera specs at a glance

Here's how the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra compare across the camera features that matter most for live music.

The whole point of pulling your phone out at a concert is to relive the night later on. The Galaxy S26 Ultra makes sure the footage you come home with doesn’t disappoint.

See the full Galaxy S26 Series line-up at samsung.com.

Frequently asked questions about the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra camera:

Which model across the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series is best for taking videos at concerts?

The Galaxy S26 Ultra has the strongest camera hardware for low-light and long-range shots, with its 200-megapixel main sensor, wider F1.4 aperture, and 50-megapixel telephoto lens. That said, the AI tools (Photo Assist, Creative Studio, Nightography, Super Steady with Horizontal Lock) all work across the full line-up.

How do I stop my concert video from looking shaky?

The Galaxy S26 Ultra makes this simple. Just turn on Super Steady with Horizontal Lock before the show starts.

Will Nightography work for indoor venues with stage lights?

Yes. Nightography is built for low-light scenes, which covers most indoor concert venues. It's ready to go the moment you open the camera app; a yellow moon icon appears for photos when the scene is dim enough to benefit. For videos, the feature activates automatically.

[1] Super Steady results may vary depending on editing method and/or shooting conditions.
[2] Results may vary depending on light condition, subject and/or shooting conditions.
[3] Samsung account login is required for certain AI features. Galaxy AI features are provided for free. Future releases may include additional advanced features that are offered as part of a paid subscription plan. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties.
[4] Super Steady results may vary depending on editing method and/or shooting conditions.
[5] Results may vary depending on light condition, subject and/or shooting conditions.
[6] Requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.
[7] Requires network connection and Samsung account login. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.

This Powerful Google Floodlight Camera Is $100 Off Right Now

Pradershika Sharma — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:52:17 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

As early Prime Day deals begin rolling in, we're keeping track of discounts and offering shopping advice in our Prime Day 2026 coverage, and this Google Nest camera with floodlight is one of the more notable smart-home deals so far. Amazon has dropped the wired security camera to $179.99 from its usual $279.99 price, marking the lowest price recorded, according to price trackers. For homeowners already invested in Google's ecosystem, this is one of the company's more comprehensive outdoor security devices—instead of adding a camera and floodlights separately, it combines both into a single weather-resistant fixture that can monitor an area, illuminate it when motion is detected, and send alerts directly to your phone.

Google Nest Cam with Floodlight

The floodlight uses two adjustable LED lamps that produce up to 4,800 lumens (enough to illuminate areas like driveways, garages, and backyards), while the camera records 1080p HDR video with a 130-degree field of view, giving it broad coverage of outdoor spaces. It can also distinguish between people, vehicles, and animals to reduce unnecessary alerts, while two-way audio lets you speak to visitors remotely through the Google Home app—Google Assistant users can also view footage and control the lights with voice commands.

The bigger consideration is the subscription model. You can view recent footage and receive basic alerts for free, but some of the more advanced features, including face recognition, extended video history, and alerts for sounds such as breaking glass, smoke alarms, or carbon monoxide alarms, all require a subscription starting at $10 per month, notes this PCMag review. The camera is also firmly tied to Google's ecosystem—it works well with Google Assistant and other Nest devices, but it doesn't support Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or IFTTT. Still, if you're already using Google smart-home products and want a floodlight camera that combines bright lighting, reliable motion detection, and strong video quality in a single package, the current price makes it considerably easier to justify.

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50 of the Best LGBTQ Movies to Stream for Pride

Ross Johnson — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

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There are as many paths to exploring queer history as there are people who have lived it, and many queer legends who have been unjustly forgotten. Pride is a time to celebrate, honor, and remember all of it, whether you’re trans, bi, ace, poly, pan, intersex, nonbinary, or anywhere else on the gender and sexual identity and expression spectrum—or just proud to support your queer friends.

These movies all reflect elements of modern queer (LBGTQIA+) history—sometimes dramatized, sometimes documentary, and sometimes because the film itself made history. They reflect decades of love, sex, activism, and artistry. Some call for tolerance, while others throw a middle finger (or, better still, a brick) in response to narrow-minded bigotry.

I Saw the TV Glow (2024)

Jane Shoenbrun wrote I Saw the TV Glow, their trippy, psychological horror drama, in the midst of their own transition, using the film to explore the feelings that the process stirred: exhilaration, anticipation, and visceral horror at the choices laid before them. What does it mean to sacrifice stability and safety in favor of authenticity? While other trans coming-out narratives focus on the external threats or emphasize the positive aspects, Shoenbrun isn't afraid to acknowledge and confront the inherent terror in this story of two teen friends who bond over a TV show that seems to gradually be drawing them into itself, and which increasingly feels more real than real life. Queer cinema of the past often dealt with themes in highly metaphorical ways, because speaking openly was far more dangerous. Shoenbrun approaches transitioning through allegory, and without fear. Stream I Saw the TV Glow on Prime Video.

I Saw the TV Glow (2024)

Tangerine (2015)

Modern tech has opened up opportunities for filmmakers that they could only dream of back in the day. Imagine if queer directors of earlier generations had been able to shoot a movie on their phones with professional-looking results? The stories that could have been told? Director Sean Baker and company make a virtue of the intimacy and immediacy of that shooting on a couple of iPhones brings, and the results don’t feel shoddy nor cheap. It’s a girlfriend/buddy/revenge comedy about Sin-Dee Rella and Alexandra, two trans sex workers on the hunt for the man who did Sin-Dee wrong. It’s a ton of fun. Stream Tangerine on Disney+ and Hulu or rent it from Prime Video.

Tangerine (2015)

The Queen (1968)

Long out of circulation but recently restored by Kino Lorber, documentary The Queen follows the contestants of a New York City drag pageant overseen by queen, activist, and trans icon Flawless Sabrina. Crystal LaBeija memorably steals the show at its finale by calling out the racist undercurrents of a largely segregated community, a rallying cry that would lead to the growth of the Ball culture in subsequent decades. It's a mostly loose, joyful portrait of a distinct time in queer history, and includes appearances by luminaries of the era: Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick, and designer Dorian Corey. Stream The Queen on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video.

The Queen (1968)

BPM (Beats per Minute) (2017)

BPM (Beats per Minute) (2017)

Set amidst the AIDS crisis in the early 1990s, BPM focuses, to some extent, on HIV-positive ACT UP activist Sean (Nahuel Pérez Biscayart) and his developing relationship with newcomer Nathan (Arnaud Valois)—though the film is very much an ensemble piece in the aggregate, a fact that ties into its meaning and messaging. Shifting focus allows the movie to explore, dramatically and rather fearlessly, the changing nature of ACT UP's actions and activism. The messy internal battles over strategy, and questions as to how-far-is-too-far are part and parcel of every movement, and BPM beautifully dramatizes and personalizes those (still timely) struggles. Writer-director Robin Campillo and co-writer Philippe Mangeot brought their own ACT UP experiences to the film. Stream BPM (Beats per Minute) on Prime Video.

A Fantastic Woman (2017)

Trans lead Daniela Vega gives a brilliant, inspiring, gut-wrenching performance as Marina Vidal, a waitress and club singer in Santiago, Chile. When her boyfriend Orlando dies unexpectedly, she's subjected to a number of indignities—she's deadnamed and harassed by the police, who assume she must be a sex worker, and his family is after her to surrender all of Orlando's possessions and stay the hell away. Through all of it, Marina maintains a backbone of steel that doesn't detract from her believable struggle, but keeps the story from becoming a tragedy. In 2017, this Oscar-winner seemed like a story of a strong woman in a particularly intolerant country—but that was just before a global tide of transphobia swept away many of the advances made in even countries that once seemed more progressive. Rent A Fantastic Woman from Prime Video.

A Fantastic Woman (2017)

Nimona (2023)

Based on the graphic novel by ND Stevenson, Nimona traveled a rocky road to the screen, surviving delays, company shutdowns, the pandemic, and pressure from Disney to tone down its queer themes. Luckily, none of that drama is evident in the finished product, eventually brought to streaming by Netflix. It's a heartfelt, joyful, and funny fantasy set in a futuristic world full of medieval trappings. Ballister Boldheart, alongside his boyfriend Ambrosius Goldenloin, is about to be knighted by the queen, the first commoner ever to receive the honor. It's all good, until he’s framed for the queen’s murder and forced to flee, becoming the criminal that the snobs already took him for. Luckily (or not), he’s joined by Nimona, a teenager outcast shunned for her shapeshifting powers (she's primarily a she, but her powers mean her gender fluidity is baked in). The two work together to clear Ballister’s name, even as Nimona teaches Ballister what it measn to live authentically. Stream Nimona on Netflix.

Nimona (2023)

Salomé (1923)

In the roaring ‘20s, the rules governing depicting queerness in film were a bit looser than they would be later on. Germany produced a handful of queer-positive films, even as several American movies played fast and loose with gender and sexual roles. Case in point: Salome, a biblical epic produced by, and starring, queer provocateur Alla Nazimova.

Nazimova (usually referred to as just “Nazimova") was one of Hollywood’s early power players, and an accomplished artist with a take on Oscar Wilde’s play that included female characters played by men in drag, overt sexuality, and silver lamé loincloths. It’s all wonderfully campy and stylized, and it didn’t make a penny, but it’s a reminder that there were queer folx making movies that your great-grandparents may have enjoyed.

With the rise of the Hays Production Code in America, and the Nazi party in Germany, it would be decades before movies could again do much more than hint about unsanctioned relationships. Rent Salomé from Prime Video.

Salomé (1923)

Pillion (2025)

Is Pillion a romantic tragedy? A rom-com? Does it make a joke of sub-dom relationships, or treat them with the appropriate gravity? A lot of discourse about this one, but if you strip all of that away, this debut from director Harry Lighton is so breezy and elegantly constructed that it's hard not to fall in love. Harry Melling is Colin, a wee little fellow who runs up against Alexander Skarsgård's 6’4 Ray, who becomes his dom almost before he knows it, reveling in the discovery of a new kink even as he questions whether it's a life that's right for him. With a wry sense of humor that keeps it from turning into the more conventional psychodrama it might have been, Pillion reminds us that the "queer people are just like us!"-style of storytelling can be constricting, and it's OK to explore relationships that might make audiences a little uncomfortable. Stream Pillion on HBO Max.

Pillion (2025)

Paris is Burning (1990)

Like Faulkner said: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” It’s especially true when it comes to queer history, as Paris is Burning makes plain. Exploring New York’s drag ball culture in the late 1980s, director Jennie Livingston’s documentary shines a particular spotlight on the Black and Latinx gay, trans, and genderqueer experience, with aspects both joyous and heartbreaking. So much of what was transgressive here has worked its way into pop culture, for better and for worse: Madonna gets credit for voguing, but the style has roots in Harlem ballrooms. Much of the language and culture here will make perfect sense to RuPaul or Pose fans, and many of the doc’s darker elements will also be familiar: Racism, poverty, and anti-trans violence are all still very real parts of the queer BIPOC experience. All the more reason to appreciate authenticity and self-expression, and to throw up a middle finger to gender expectations. Stream Paris is Burning on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Apple TV.

Paris is Burning (1990)

The Living End (1992)

The Living End is almost certainly not the best film by New Queer Cinema auteur Gregg Araki (who received his best critical notices and the most mainstream attention for Mysterious Skin), but it's the angriest, with a "burn it all down" sensibility that feels approximately as alive today as it did during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Following a homophobic assault, depressed film critic Jon (Craig Gilmore) and drifter Luke (Mike Dytri) team up to go on a crime spree that includes beating a couple of Neo-Nazis to death and shooting a cop. As both are HIV+, they reason that nobody cares about them and they have nothing to lose, so they might as well go out with a bang. Think Thelma and Louise, but even gayer, or Natural Born Killers, but with an actual point. Stream The Living End on Kanopy and Mubi, or rent it from Prime Video.

The Living End (1992)

Mädchen in Uniform (1931)

Mädchen in Uniform (1931)

The story of troubled schoolgirl Manuela (Hertha Thiele) who quickly gets hot for teacher at her all-girls school, Mädchen in Uniform arrived at a pivotal moment in German history: Paragraph 175, outlawing homosexuality, had been received its first significant legal challenge a few years earlier, and what would later be seen as the “decadent” Weimar era was in full swing. With queer women behind the camera and plenty of lesbian longing, and snogging, onscreen, the movie was a hit in much of Europe, while lobbying by no less than Eleanor Roosevelt ensured that American audiences got to see the film (a detail I adore). It’s a beautifully realized film about romantic longing that never devolves into melodrama; it also invites us to imagine the kinds of female-centric movies we might have had if there had been more women behind the camera during the golden age of cinema—and also what might have been had the Nazis not made anti-queer crusading a centerpiece of their rise to power. Rent Mädchen in Uniform from Prime Video.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

Look, we’ve all had those nights. You get down. You feel had. So why not put on some makeup, turn up the tape deck, and pull that wig down from the shelf? There’s a fair chance you’re already singing along, but, if not, Hedwig’s about a musical about a genderqueer German rock singer whose botched gender reassignment surgery left them with the titular angry inch. Anticipating a much-needed cultural conversation about gender binaries by over two decades, it is also an old-school rock opera par excellence, of the kind they just don’t make anymore. Based on the stage musical of the same name, the movie made no money whatsoever, but has earned a well-deserved status as a cult classic. Rent Hedwig and the Angry Inch from Prime Video.

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Director James Whale (whose later life was dramatized in Gods and Monsters) followed up what would have been the greatest of the monster movies with one of the most impressive feats in American cinema history: something altogether funnier, weirder, and far more queer, with gay icon Ernest Thesiger prancing through the Gothic sets, offering bitchy rejoinders and seducing his old protegé into reanimating the dead just one more time. His Dr. Pretorius comes back into the life of Frankenstein (Colin Clive) just as the doctor is about to begin life married to Elizabeth—but, given the choice, runs off to make life with Pretorius, instead. That’s all before Elsa Lanchester trades her Mary Shelley outfit for the Bride’s wire-cage wig, giving birth to an icon. Stream Bride of Frankenstein on HBO Max or rent it from Prime Video.

Funeral Parade of Roses (1969)

Funeral Parade of Roses (1969)

At the peak of Japan’s New Wave, writer/director Toshio Matsumoto created this classic that blends ultra-realism with hauntingly beautiful, occasionally psychedelic imagery. The plot takes inspiration from, and flips, the story of Oedipus Rex, seamlessly blending the mythic with the mundane in following Eddie (Shinnosuke Ikehata) and other transgender women in the very swinging, very gay Tokyo of the 1960s ("Roses" being a sort of pun relating to pansies). At the time, the movie had no trouble securing a Japanese release, but struggled to get past American censors. Stream Funeral Parade of Roses on Kanopy and Night Flight.

at Kanopy

The Boys in the Band (1970)

William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist and, rather more notoriously, Cruising) directs the film adaptation of the controversial off-Broadway play—controversial for the fact that every character is gay or bisexual, and controversial among queer audiences for, often, portraying its characters as self-pitying. It’s not entirely an uplifting portrait of being a gay man in America, but it reflects something real, if not always pretty, as a pre-liberation period piece. And there are plenty of aspects here that still feel sadly relevant. Rent The Boys in the Band from Prime Video.

The Boys in the Band (1970)

Stranger by the Lake (2013)

Stranger by the Lake (2013)

This 2013 French film plays like an homage, in part, to the erotic thrillers of decades past, in much the same way that some of the better thrillers of the ‘80s paid tribute to film noir. Here, Pierre Deladonchamps plays Franck, a regular visitor to a nude beach and the surrounding woods, both popular cruising spots. Franck begins a passionate relationship (meaning: lots of sex in the woods) with Michel (Christophe Paou), who Franck later spots drowning someone in the lake. Which, OK: red flag. But the D is just that good. As the investigation into that event heats up, Franck finds himself struggling to give up a good thing, even in the face of murder. We're firmly entering an era when queer people can be both prey and predator, without resorting to exhausting tropes. Stream Stranger by the Lake on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video.

Querelle (1982)

Rainer Werner Fassbinder's dreamy queer film is about a handsome young sailor who finds himself caught up in a web of sex, sibling rivalry, and lightly sublimated lust at a French brothel. The plot here is almost entirely secondary, though: It's all horny vibes, full of sweat and completely shameless sexuality. Stream Querelle on Prime Video and HBO Max.

Querelle (1982)

Female Trouble (1974)

A lot of early queer-positive movies were aimed squarely at a straight audience—depicting gays as angelic figures or as poor victims of society’s cruelty. John Waters skipped all of that well-intentioned nonsense by creating films in which there’s no greater crime than being dull. Though Pink Flamingos (with its memorable climax set to the tune of “How Much Is That Doggy in the Window”) is more famous, Female Trouble refines the Waters style with its story of high school reprobate Dawn Davenport (played by the drag queen Divine), who turns to a life of crime when her totally square parents won’t get her what she really wants for Christmas: “Nice girls don’t wear cha-cha heels!” Their cruel denial of such an essential accessory sends Dawn on a spree of sex and crime that plays a bit like a tribute to Mildred Pierce—if Joan Crawford had conceived her daughter on camera.

On a rotted old mattress.

At the dump.

It’s all appropriately outrageous, and audiences were outraged—but only the dull ones. Rent Female Trouble from Fandango at Home or buy it from Prime Video.

Female Trouble (1974)

Un chant d’amour/A Song of Love (1950)

Two prisoners are tormented by a voyeuristic prison guard in Jean Genet’s short film, full of homoerotic imagery that might be less shocking now, but no less effective. The two never touch, except in a fantasy sequence, but seeing the two men share a bit of smoke from a single cigarette remains one of cinema’s hottest images. If you're searching under the film's English title, don't get confused by the slightly more straight 1947 Katherine Hepburn film of the same name. Stream A Song of Love on Kanopy, and it's widely available on YouTube and the Internet Archive.

A Song of Love (1950)

at Kanopy

Victim (1961)

It was sometimes called the “blackmailer’s charter.” Since 1885, English law had allowed for the criminal prosecution of homosexual acts, though by the 1960s, it was little enforced. Still, the mere threat of arrest, and the very public proceedings that would follow, made it distressingly common for blackmailers (gay and straight) to take advantage of well-off marks—in this case, a married London lawyer played by Dirk Bogarde. Approaching the social issue by way of neo noir thriller, Victim was an early instance of a major director and star taking a sympathetic approach to portraying gay characters, inevitably shocking audiences and censors by even acknowledging that such people even existed. It wasn’t a huge hit, but it came at a crucial moment: The ‘60s were well and truly underway, and attitudes were beginning to change. Stream Victim on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video.

Victim (1961)

Before Stonewall (1985)

If Stonewall occasionally seems like ancient history, it’s important to remember that queer history didn’t begin there—not even remotely. Greta Schiller and Robert Rosenberg’s 1985 documentary looks at the earlier part of the 20th century by interviewing activists and writers who help chart the evolution of what would become a movement among people who were fighting to live their lives authentically at a time when the broader culture preferred to pretend they weren’t there.

The film is an important document, having captured so many important voices while they were still with us, but it’s also inspiring, and often joyous. It’s hard not to smile thinking about what these legends were getting up to while the rest of America was sleeping. (It underwent an HD restoration a couple of years ago, so it’s a particularly good time to check it out.) Stream Before Stonewall on Kanopy and Dekkoo or rent it from Prime Video.

Before Stonewall (1985)

Happy Together (1997)

A beautifully dark triumph from Wong Kar-wai, Happy Together follows a stunningly mismatched couple (Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai) as their relationship falls apart during a trip to Argentina. The very hot but deeply codependent couple keep being drawn back into each other's orbits—and they make being young, gay, and in sweaty love look so cool that you can't help but hope they make it. The cinematography here is stunning, with every single frame feeling and looking like a mini work of art. There's also a lot of subtext here having to do with the handover of Honk Kong from the U.K. to China, occurring right around the time that the film was made—a reminder that queerness involves layers of identity. Stream Happy Together on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video.

Before Stonewall (1985)

Knife+Heart (2018)

Foul deeds are afoot on the set of a French gay erotic film shoot during this ultra-stylish, colorful, psychedelic tribute to not only Italian gialli of yore, but also to the golden age of 1970s porn. Director Yann Gonzalez crafted a film in which the queerness is far more than incidental: it's rather the whole point (starting with the opening's switchblade dildo), but it's nonetheless one of the most effective and beautiful horror movies of the past decade. Stream Knife+Heart on Tubi, Shudder, and AMC+ or rent it from Prime Video.

Knife+Heart (2018)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

I’ve seen Rocky at least a dozen times, and can recite every line, but I still couldn’t tell you a thing about the plot. (That might have less to do with the movie itself than the state in which one traditionally watches it... but let’s say it’s both.)

On one level, it’s a celebration of many, many forms of queerness, and offers even the very straightest straight people an excuse to do a little gender role-play. It’s weird, and a little sloppy, and doesn’t make a ton of sense—and it's more fun for all of that. Rent The Rocky Horror Picture Show from Prime Video.

Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria (2005)

Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria (2005)

Stonewall had been building for a long, long time. It might have been the explosion of the modern queer liberation movement, but there were sparks for decades—one of which was the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot in 1966. Transgender people in San Francisco had been largely barred from gay bars (transphobia has never been an exclusively cis, straight phenomenon), and the all-night Compton’s Cafeteria had been a gathering place, a cheap coffee stop, especially for trans sex workers. Their very presence, of course, also made it a convenient for the local police, who found ready targets of harassment among the cafeteria’s trans and cross-dressing patrons. The iconic image of Stonewall remains a brick through a window, and the Compton’s Riot has a similar bit of iconography: a cup of coffee in the face of a cop who grabbed and tried to arrest a patron. What followed was one of the first public queer protests in U.S. history, and the beginning of trans activism in San Francisco. Stream Screaming Queens on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video.

Desert Hearts (1985)

By the mid-1980s, the tropes were already beginning to solidify: We were beginning a long run of movies (many of them brilliant) about HIV/AIDS, and square in the middle of an era of major films (Dressed to Kill, Cruising, Silence of the Lambs, Basic Instinct) that associated queer identity with extreme violence. In the middle of all that, Desert Hearts was an absolute breath of fresh air: Vivian, an English professor in the middle of a divorce, meets Cay, an uninhibited sculptor, at a ranch in Reno. The course of true love never did run smooth (or, in this case, straight), and so Vivian struggles a bit with the unexpected lesbian attraction. This romantic drama never veers toward tragedy, and is all the better for it. Stream Desert Hearts on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video.

Desert Hearts (1985)

My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)

My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)

The best queer-themed movies understand that nobody is all one thing, and that any type of queer identity intersects with all of the other labels that we choose for ourselves (or that others choose for us). That’s why My Beautiful Laundrette isn’s just a great gay film, it’s also a great film about class, racism, and provides a vivid portrait of life in the Thatcher/Reagan-era 1980s. Buy My Beautiful Laundrette from Apple TV.

at Apple TV

Edward II (1991)

You want queer history? Fine. Let’s take it back to England in the 14th century for the story of Edward II, famously infatuated with courtier Piers Gaveston. Gay filmmaker, provocateur, and activist Derek Jarman removes any historical ambiguity from the relationship between the two and imagines medieval Europe as a postmodern fantasia, rife with intentional anachronisms and Annie Lennox on the soundtrack. Think Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, but much, much gayer. It also made a star of Tilda Swinton, who followed this up as the title character of another queer classic, Orlando. Stream Edward II on Prime Video.

Edward II (1991)

Rafiki (2018)

The first Kenyan film to be screened at Cannes was also banned in its own country, as it challenged Kenya's legal ban on gay sex. The romantic drama follows young women Kena and Ziki (Samantha Mugatsia and Sheila Munyiva) as they develop a romantic relationship among the pressures to conform from family and community. The love story is joyous and charming, but the movie doesn't shy away from the very real challenges. Stream Rafiki (sometimes The Friend) on Mubi and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video.

Rafiki (2018)

The Birdcage (1996)

A slick, funny, charming, and quotable bit of Hollywood entertainment starring some of the biggest names of the era, The Birdcage made real money selling a message of acceptance (in spite of a weird and entirely unnecessary R-rating). Unlike many of the earnest queer-adjacent films of the ‘90s, this one actually made it look like being gay could be kinda fun. And funny. And generally not tragic. Though the characters play into particular stereotypes, the movie makes clear that it’s way better (and totally OK) to be an outsized drama queen à la Robin Williams’ Armand than to be tedious and narrow-minded like the senator played by Gene Hackman. It’s all so scrupulously good-natured that it couldn’t help but draw in a broad audience, and thereby help pave the long, winding road to future queer-positive movies. Stream The Birdcage on Peacock and Prime Video.

The Birdcage (1996)

The Watermelon Woman (1996)

The Watermelon Woman (1996)

The mid ’90s saw a string of gay-themed Hollywood movies. These were movies with good intentions and big-name stars, even if they were largely male, straight, and white: the aforementioned The Birdcage, plus Philadelphia and In & Out, to name the biggies. But, even more significantly, it was a golden age for indie filmmakers who were beginning to make more personal, authentic, and idiosyncratic movies that move rejected heteronormativity—what came to be known as New Queer Cinema. Director/actor Cheryl Dunye plays Cheryl, who goes on the hunt for a fictional Black actress from Old Hollywood, exploring the life of someone who lived on the margins. Stream The Watermelon Woman on Kanopy and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video.

Bound (1996)

Bound announced major new directorial talents in Lily and Lana Wachowski, a pair of siblings who would go on to create The Matrix and other imaginative successes (along with some equally imaginative flops). The noir-inspired thriller mixes violence and humor in a story that also presents a lesbian relationship that feels real, and an unashamed sexuality that never feels gratuitous—the chemistry between leads Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly is off the freaking charts.

The directors remain among Hollywood’s highest-profile transgender filmmakers, and it all started with this instant classic. Rent Bound from Prime Video.

Bound (1996)

All About My Mother (1999)

All About My Mother (1999)

It’s not the queerest film in Pedro Almodóvar’s very queer filmography—that’s probably 1987’s Law of Desire, involving a complex love triangle between two cis gay characters and a trans woman. But All About My Mother solidified Almodóvar’s status as one of the world’s top filmmakers, blending his earlier, campier sensibilities with more dramatic material. When Manuela’s son is killed in a car accident, she sets out on a quest to find his other parent, a transgender woman named Lola whose identity Manuela had kept secret. On the way, she gets involved in the lives of other women, including scene-stealing trans sex worker Agrado and Rosa, an HIV+ nun also carrying Lola’s child. The movie was way, way ahead of its time in depicting queer themes, and it’s still a wildly entertaining and thoughtful movie about motherhood in all its forms. Rent All About My Mother from Prime Video.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

There are several films on this list that involve a bunch of straight people making queer-themed movies, with mixed results. While Brokeback Mountain leans a bit too heavily on tragic tropes (by 2005, we’d seen more than enough movies about gays doomed to die), there’s an undeniable well of talent both behind and in front of the camera—more than enough to make for an affecting experience. The movie’s place in queer history, though, rests as much on the backlash it inspired as on the acclaim it received. By the time the movie lost Best Picture at the Oscars to Crash (her?), the discussion was more about homophobia in Hollywood’s old guard and among movie audiences in general than about either film’s virtues. Brokeback started a discussion, and, just as significantly, reminded studio bosses that queer content could get mainstream attention and make major bank. Stream Brokeback Mountain Disney+, Hulu, and Peacock or rent it from Prime Video.

Bent (1997)

Set largely at at the Dachau concentration camp, Bent follows Max (Clive Owen), arrested by the Nazis in the wake of the Night of the Long Knives, and as part of the Nazi's targeted persecution of homosexuals. It's harrowing and heartbreaking, of course, but with moments of real beauty. it also received an NC-17 for no good reason, which has a lot to say about how we treat any film with queer content. Stream Bent on Dekkoo and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video.

Bent (1997)

Paragraph 175 (2000)

An essential documentary about the experience of queer Germans during the Nazi years, made just in time to capture interviews with survivors. There's joy in the recollections of a more open and liberal Berlin in the pre-war years, which naturally and horrifically turns to heartbreak as the Nazis move to target queer identities. It's very specific in its way, but feels timeless in its warning that progress can disappear with frightening ease. Stream Paragraph 175 on Kanopy and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video.

Paragraph 175 (2000)

Tropical Malady (2004)

This utterly unique Thai film bills itself as a "romantic psychological drama art film," and I suppose that gives you some ideas of its weird and wonderful nature. At the outset, we think we're in a romance involving Keng (Banlop Lomnoi), a soldier stationed in a quiet village who meets local Tong (Sakda Kaewbuadee), kicking off a love story. That's before the narrative splinters, and we're following a soldier searching the jungle in the face of a troublesome spirit. It was the first Thai film to debut in the main competition at Cannes, and the first to win the Jury Prize. Stream Tropical Malady on Kanopy.

Tropical Malady (2004)

at Kanopy

Pariah (2011)

It didn’t break out in a big big way, but Pariah still feels like the start of a new, more assured era in queer cinema. For one thing, it’s absolutely gorgeous, with stunning, expressionistic cinematography and confident, assured direction from Dee Rees. It’s a world you can get lost in. Pariah manages to tell a coming of age, coming out story that’s so deeply personal that it never feels like a queer message movie, even though it has plenty to say about identity through the journey of its young, black, lesbian lead Alike. Rent Pariah it from Prime Video.

Pariah (2011)

Pride (2014)

During the British mineworkers strike in the ‘80s, activist Mark Ashton and others realized that there existed a real opportunity to forge an alliance between the miners and the queer community, both of which had found themselves shafted (ahem) by Margaret Thatcher’s government. Pride reworks the story of the resulting movement (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) into a genuinely delightful comedy-drama (think The Full Monty) about the personalities behind the unlikely team-up that would ultimately bring queer issues to the forefront of British politics. Stream Pride on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video.

Pride (2014)

Go Fish (1994)

It may be more of a cult classic from our current perspective, but lesbian rom-com Go Fish made a couple million bucks (which was real money back in the day) on an extremely low budget, making it a bona fide mainstream hit. There was a minute or two during which people were talking about the viability of lesbian characters and queer themes in movies, and how director Rose Troche's film could open he gates for further representation. That didn't really come to pas, but the film offers up some verity-style New Queer Cinema swagger in the story of horny college student Max (co-writer Guinevere Turner) and her various romantic complications. The only tragedy here is Max's mixed-up love life. Stream Go Fish on Prime Video.

Go Fish (1994)

Drunktown’s Finest (2014)

Drunktown’s Finest (2014)

There’s much about Drunktown’s Finest that we’ve seen before: Set around a Navajo community near Gallup, New Mexico, it foregrounds poverty, alcoholism, and clashes between tradition and modern life. Rather than do away with those stereotypical themes, trans Navajo filmmaker Sydney Freeland explores their reality as part of the broader scope of the lives of three young Native Americans, including a transgender woman who dreams of becoming a model. It’s one of several successful films of the last few years to approach characters at the intersection of queer and Native identities. Stream Drunktown's Finest on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video.

Out in the Night (2014)

In 2006, seven out Black lesbian women were harassed and violently threatened in Greenwich Village. When they fought back, the ensuing brawl led to years-long prison sentences for four of the women, who were charged as though they were gang members. The press called them the “New Jersey Four,” and a “lesbian wolf pack.” One headline warned of an “Attack of the Killer Lesbians,” though, of course, no one was killed. The queer community has always had a fraught relationship with the American judicial system, as have women and people of color. The documentary speaks to the ways in which that long history lives on, especially where identities intersect. Rent Out in the Night from Prime Video.

Out in the Night (2014)

Moonlight (2016)

Two words: Best Picture. Moonlight actually won a ton of awards, but the most groundbreaking by far was that Oscar. And, yes, they did accidentally read the wrong card and make everyone think that La La Land won—but after 89 years of Academy Awards, it was worth an extra few seconds to learn that the first film with a lead queer character (as well as an all-Black cast) had claimed Hollywood’s biggest prize. Good movies don’t always make history (and this is a great one), but Oscar winners sure do. Stream Moonlight on HBO Max or rent it from Prime Video.

Moonlight (2016)

Kiki (2016)

Picking up where Paris is Burning left off, Kiki looks at the current state of the drag ball scene. It’s not a sequel, but in examining kiki culture in New York City more than a quarter century after that earlier doc, it provides a fascinating glimpse of everything that has, and hasn’t, changed for a community whose influence has only grown. Many of the same struggles remain: HIV/AIDS hasn’t gone away, especially for those without the money to pay for treatment, nor have over-policing and discrimination. But a broader cultural acceptance of queerness and the mainstreaming (to some extent) of drag have opened doors for many of the young, often trans people of color the film focuses on, who also manifest a fierce and inspiring strain of activism. Rent Kiki from Prime Video.

Kiki (2016)

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

There are as many perspectives on the Stonewall uprising as there were people who were there, but if you’re looking to educate yourself on those events, you could do worse than to start with a close look at Marsha P. Johnson. Coming into the spotlight during an era when labels were very much in flux, Johnson self-identified as gay and as a transvestite who generally used female pronouns. She was also a sex worker and a drag queen, as well as an activist, model, and mentor—a generally fascinating person who was on the frontline when Stonewall went up in flames in 1969. Director David France’s film explores not just Johnson’s life, but also a recent investigation into her tragic and mysterious death in 1992, which the NYPD ruled a suicide without much examination. Stream The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson on Netflix.

Happiest Season (2020)

They crank these things out by the dozens. There’s an entire, year-round industry dedicated to feeding an entire nation’s insatiable appetite for schmaltzy, made-for-TV holiday movies, very frequently involving a hard-driving career woman who discovers the true meaning of the season while visiting her hometown for Christmas. There’s comfort in conformity, and so there’s been surprisingly little variety to the form in spite of the sheer volume of these movies—at least until the last couple of years. Non-white faces have become just a bit more common, and 2020 saw the sudden appearance of not just one, but at least seven holiday movies centering queer romances (and queer actors). Which only makes sense—is there a better audience for campy, cheesy, over-the-top love stories than gay people? Hulu’s Happiest Season had better marketing, slightly bigger stars, and an overall better pedigree than some of the others, and therefore became the biggest focus of attention. If you’re asking if it’s any good, you’re missing the point entirely: It’s dorky TV comfort food, sure, but it’s dorky TV comfort food with and about lesbians—and damned if that doesn’t feel like progress. Stream Happiest Season on Hulu and Disney+.

Happiest Season (2020)

at Hulu

Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen (2020)

Representation on screen isn’t everything, but it matters. For most Americans, everything they know about transgender people comes from media representations, and that’s also true for trans youth, who may have no other role models than those they get from TV. Disclosure takes a look at over a century of transgender stories in film and on TV (going way back to A Florida Enchantment in 1914), an era of very, very, very slow progress that’s taken a giant leap forward in just the last few years with the rise of popular trans celebrities, many of whom are interviewed here. While focusing on celebrities, the film also acknowledges that added visibility carries dangers as well, and that the spotlight hasn’t necessarily made life safer. Disclosure investigates those generally problematic, often quite hurtful old movies and shows to figure out how they’ve tracked with the realities of trans lives, and how far we’ve come. Stream Disclosure on Netflix.

Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen (2020)

Queen Christina (1933)

The real-life Queen Christina of Sweden, like Greta Garbo who portrays her, enjoyed a well-earned reputation for gender ambiguity and queerness, some of which is on display in this pre-code film that sees her entertaining several suitors, both male and female. To some, she’s a weak-willed woman; to others, she’s unsuitably domineering. The old story: too horny for some; too frosty to others. This was 1933, before the Hays production code took a hammer to much of the sex and nearly all of the overt queerness in American movies, and it would be decades before we'd start to claw back some of what they stole from us. Rent Queen Christina from Prime Video.

Queen Christina (1933)

The Celluloid Closet (1996)

Passages (2023)

Smart and humane where it might have been salacious, director Ira Sachs crafts a lovely, moving portrait of the disintegrating marriage between Martin and Tomas (Ben Whishaw and Franz Rogowski). Though long in coming, the precipitating event is unexpected: Tomas meets Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos), with whom he develops an instant connection. Not only is it a brilliantly acted film, it's also a refreshing, matter-of-fact take on modern sexual fluidity. Stream Passages on Mubi or rent it from Apple TV.

Passages (2023)

at Apple TV

The Celluloid Closet (1996)

Once you've watched all of the films on this list, get some added context via the essential documentary about the history of queer Hollywood. The film examines the stereotypes, the hidden messages, the secret codes—everything that made the movies queer, in spite of the restrictions placed upon them. Rent The Celluloid Closet from Prime Video.

at Tubi

10 Hacks Every Cash App User Should Know

Emily Long — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Alongside Venmo, Cash App is among the most popular peer-to-peer payment platforms, though it does a whole lot more than just money transfers. You can use Cash App for things like automated investing, tax filing, and family accounts. If you use the app, here are 10 hacks for optimizing your finances.

Turn on "Round Ups" to automatically save or invest spare change

If you have a Cash App card, you can set it to round up transactions to the nearest dollar and add the difference to your savings or invest it in stocks or bitcoin. In exchange for a few cents here and then, you can start to build up your savings and investments over time. If your overall balance is too low, Cash App will stop round-ups, too. From the Money tab, tap your Cash App Card and toggle Round Ups on. Select from Stock, Bitcoin, or a Savings balance, choose the destination, add a Cash PIN, and follow the remaining prompts.

Deposit cash directly to Cash App at select retailers

If you have literal cash burning a hole in your pocket, you can deposit it to your Cash App balance instead of a bank. Cash App can receive cash deposits at dozens of participating retailers, such as grocery and convenience stores, as well as CVS and Walgreens. Note that there's a $1 transaction fee per deposit unless you qualify for Cash App Green (the platform's banking program).

Add an Offer to get discounts on spending

Cash App Card users can add Offers—formerly Boosts—to their card to save money on frequent transactions at select merchants, such as coffee shops and restaurants. Once added to your card, you get a discount at the point of sale (though there may be restrictions, such as a minimum spend or a maximum discount). You can have up to three offers active at once, and you can switch them out at any time. Go to the Money tab in your app, select your card, and tap Explore offers to see what's available.

Enable Security Lock to require verification for every transaction

To prevent someone with access to your device from opening Cash App or moving money from your account, enable Security Lock. This feature requires biometric authentication (such as your face or fingerprint) or a PIN each time you open the app or send a payment. Tap your profile icon and select Security > Security Lock. Select Opening Cash App or Sending payments (or both) and create your 4-digit code. You can also save your biometrics if your device supports it.

Hide your profile to prevent scammers from discovering your account or requesting money

Cash App requires you to use your legal first and last name to create an account and makes your profile name searchable by default. But you can turn this off to prevent just anyone from finding you—whether it's someone you know but don't want seeing your profile or scammers who may try to trick you into sending them money. Go to your profile and tap Privacy > How others find you and turn off Profile name.

Enable real-time alerts to quickly identify suspicious activity

Cash App has an instant alert setting that will send you a push notification, text, or email whenever your account sends, requests, or receives money. If a transaction is suspicious—someone gains unauthorized access, for example—you'll know immediately. Cash App also sends alerts when it detects unusual activity. You can update your notification settings by going to your profile > Notifications.

Set up a "Pool" to pay for shared expenses

Pools is Cash App's group payment feature for pooling funds for shared purchases, such as a vacation or group gift. Anyone added to the pool can contribute toward a funding goal. Instead of one person paying out of pocket and waiting for reimbursement, groups can collect the money beforehand and use it to fund the purchase once the target is met. Under the Money tab, tap Pool, enter a name, and set a goal amount. You can invite contributors, and if they don't have Cash App, they can still participate via Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Set up family accounts to teach kids to manage money

With a managed account (eligible for ages 6 through 12), parents can deposit an allowance, which kids can spend from Cash App—with oversight like a card lock, spending limits, and transaction alerts. Kids can also set savings goals and earn interest on their balance. Accounts for teens (ages 13–17) include access to a Cash App Card and investing tools, though the parent "sponsor" can still manage permissions and see account activity. Parents can create managed accounts for kids via Money > Family in the app, while teens can request approval from a parent or guardian to unlock a sponsored account.

Use your Cash App Card to get concert presale access

If you've bought concert tickets in recent years, you've likely experienced long queues, high prices, and a lot of stress. Cash App can't make tickets cheaper, but you may be able to get into popular shows through the platform's presale partnerships. Upcoming presales are announced on Instagram—to get in, add money to your Cash balance, use the first nine digits of your Cash App card as the presale code on the ticketing website, and check out with your Cash App card. That said, only a limited number of tickets are reserved for Cash App users, so this isn't a guarantee.

Use Cash App to file your taxes for free

There are only a few options for filing your taxes for free—and Cash App is one of them. Formerly Credit Karma Tax, Cash App Taxes is an authorized IRS e-file provider, which allows you to fill out and submit your federal and state returns at no cost. The guided filing process is built into the main Cash App interface, so you don't need a separate app or account. You can also file via your browser. Cash App Taxes can also handle more complex tax situations, such as gig income and crypto sales.

WWDC 2026 Live Blog: Announcements About iOS 27, AI Siri, Apple Intelligence, and More

Jake Peterson — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:55:09 +0000

We are now fewer than 24 hours away from WWDC 2026. On Monday, June 8, Apple will kick off its week-long developer conference with its famous WWDC keynote. If you've watched these events in the past, you already know a lot of what to expect: announcements regarding the next era of Apple's software, including iOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27, among others.

But this year is a bit different. Yes, Apple will almost assuredly announce these updates for its products. But for the first time since 2024, the focus will be almost entirely on AI, centered on Apple's big Siri upgrades—powered by AI, of course. The company originally announced the new Siri two years ago, advertising it as part of iOS 18, but delayed the assistant many times due to internal issues. Now, AI Siri is finally ready for the limelight—if the rumors are to be believed. Apple is also expected to launch a number of new AI features, as well, including AI-powered photo editing tools, AI-generated wallpapers, and the ability to ask Apple Intelligence to design shortcuts for you. This is a bit of a redemption opportunity for the company, which has been criticized for falling behind in the AI race.

All that said, Apple hasn't announced much of its own yet, so the above is based entirely on leaks and rumors. We'll have to wait until Apple's keynote to know what the company has planned for sure. To that point, below you'll find Lifehacker's live blog for WWDC 2026. Here, I'll be posting around the clock, updating the page with Apple news as we get it. In the lead-up to the event, I'll share rumors and speculation about what Apple may announce during the keynote. Once WWDC officially starts at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET), I'll be sharing live updates from the show.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Is Over $500 Off Right Now

Pradershika Sharma — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:00:14 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Woot is currently selling the unlocked Galaxy S25 Ultra with 1TB of storage and 12GB of RAM for $1,099.99, a substantial drop from its $1,659.99 launch price. The deal is expected to remain available for the next three weeks or until inventory runs out. Prime members get free shipping, while everyone else pays $6, though shipping is limited to the contiguous United States. For context, Amazon's 512GB model is currently sitting at $1,059.53 (as early Prime Day deals begin appearing, we're tracking more discounts and shopping advice in our Prime Day 2026 coverage)—so you're getting double the storage for just $40 more, which makes this the obvious pick for Android users looking for a phone that can realistically last for years.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 1TB

$1,099.99 at Woot

$1,659.99 Save $560.00

$1,099.99 at Woot

$1,659.99 Save $560.00

Performance-wise, its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip keeps everything feeling fast, whether you're editing photos, juggling multiple apps, playing demanding games, or experimenting with Samsung's AI features. Storage is unlikely to be a concern either—this model comes with 1TB of storage, which is enough room for years of photos, videos, apps, and downloads without constantly managing space. Samsung has also softened the phone's corners, making it a little more comfortable to hold than previous Ultra models, while the titanium frame, Gorilla Armor glass, and IP68 water-resistance rating add some reassurance if you're prone to the occasional drop or spill.

Samsung's AI features, including tools like live speech-to-text transcription, drawing assistance, and Google Gemini, are all built in and can potentially save time if you actually use them, but they don't fundamentally change how the phone works. More importantly, Samsung continues to promise years of software updates, which helps justify spending this much on a device. The bigger change is that the S Pen (while included) no longer supports Bluetooth shortcuts, such as remote camera controls. Still, this is a phone that earned strong marks from both PCMag and our own review team, and the generational improvements add up to a well-rounded, durable Android flagship.

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Meta Quietly Added Facial Recognition to Its Smart Glasses

Stephen Johnson — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000

According to a report from Wired, Meta has been quietly installing facial recognition in its Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses for the last few months. Internally called "NameTag", the feature, if activated, will use AI to identify people captured by Ray-Ban Meta's camera, alert the wearer when it recognizes someone, and store faceprints on users' phones.

How Meta's "NameTag" works

The software has not been switched on, but if it is, it will use Meta's AI app to transform images of anyone photographed with Meta glasses into a biometric faceprint, and check against a database of faceprints stored locally on the user's Meta AI mobile app. If it finds a match, the user will be notified. If it doesn't, the faceprint will be indexed into a folder named "pending." So everyone who the wearer encounters in public could become an unidentified target waiting for a name in a stranger's private databases.

“The feature is not yet exposed to consumers but seems nearly ready to go,” Cooper Quintin, a security researcher and senior public interest technologist with the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Threat Lab told Wired. “Despite the billions of reasons not to, Meta seems to have created the capacity to turn their customers into a distributed surveillance machine.”

Back in February, documents obtained by the New York Times revealed Meta was weighing the “safety and privacy risks" of adding facial recognition to its smart glasses. In April, the company said it was taking a "a very thoughtful approach" to the technology. But the first component of facial recognition software was installed in January, without consumers being aware of it (which seems less than thoughtful to me).

It goes deeper than that, though. According to the company memo leaked to the Times, Meta's potential strategy was to roll out facial recognition "during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns." In other words, Meta is well aware of the general disdain for facial recognition, but seems intent on developing the technology anyway.

The unpopularity of facial recognition software in smart glasses

In April 2026, in response to the New York Times' story, over 70 organizations, including advocates for domestic violence survivors, worker rights, bodily autonomy, consumer privacy, and civil rights, and the ACLU, demanded Meta halt its NameTag facial recognition plans. In an open letter, the coalition wrote: "Facial recognition technology built into inconspicuous consumer eyewear represents a serious threat to privacy and civil liberties for every member of our society, and particularly for historically marginalized and vulnerable groups."

Privacy advocates aren't the only people who hate the idea of facial recognition in smart glasses. According to a YouGov survey, nearly half of all adults are in favor of a total ban on all smart glasses in public places due to concerns over built-in cameras and internet connectivity.

Meta's long history with facial recognition technology

Despite being extremely unpopular with consumers, Meta/Facebook has been in a long-running relationship with the concept of using technology to capture and categorize people's faces. Facebook identified and tagged people on its social media sites as early as 2010, but the company pulled the feature in 2021, citing "many concerns about the place of facial recognition technology in society." The $650 million class-action settlement might have had something to do with it as well. Meta debated adding facial recognition to the first generation of its Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2021, but decided against it at the time, citing privacy concerns.

According to Meta, you don't have to worry about what Meta is doing. "Regardless of any sensational reporting, the facts are simple: We’ve said before we’re exploring these types of features, and what you’re seeing is just evidence of that exploration," Meta spokesperson Ryan Daniels said in statement. "Nothing has shipped to consumers and no final decision has been made on what to do here, if anything. If we do decide to roll something out, we will take a thoughtful approach and do so with full transparency. One decision we can be clear about—we are not building a central face database.” Meta is, however, installing the groundwork for millions of private face databases that it controls and administers.

While the dystopian possibilities of the widespread adoption of facial recognition software are immediately obvious, there are non-nefarious uses for the technology. Some advocates for the blind, like non-profit Vision Aid, argue that facial recognition is a matter of accessibility and social equity—being able to recognize people's faces is a privilege sighted people take for granted, and it shouldn't be denied to the blind over privacy concerns that could be handled through legislation.

Theoretically, the protection of personal information and the needs of blind people (and people like me, who don't like being embarrassed when they forget someone's name at a cocktail party) aren't mutually exclusive. In a perfect world, privacy protection guidelines and laws would be developed alongside technology, and companies that breach the public trust would suffer real consequences. But sadly, we live in the real world, where our privacy is often only protected by strongly worded letters and left in the hands of Meta, a company that paid $650 million to settle a lawsuit over a facial recognition scheme and then immediately started building the next one.

Why It Matters What Theater You See 'The Odyssey' In

Jake Peterson — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:30:00 +0000

Christopher Nolan's upcoming interpretation of The Odyssey is shaping up to be one of—if not the—biggest movie events of the year. Demand for tickets put such a strain on AMC Theaters' network that the company had to put all customers in a queue just to access the site or app—even if they weren't trying to buy tickets. Despite being one of the oldest stories in the world, The Odyssey is attracting a ton of buzz. Chances are, if you're headed to a movie theater this summer, you'll be checking this one out.

But while all movie theaters showing The Odyssey will show the same cut of the film, which theater you choose to watch it in makes a huge difference. Sure, you can see The Odyssey any number of times, and walk away having experienced the same story, with the same actors, speaking the same lines. But the experience will be very different.

The Odyssey was shot on IMAX

The Odyssey is the first major motion picture to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras. Many movies have incorporated IMAX cameras before, including most of Christopher Nolan's recent works. But The Odyssey marks the first time IMAX was the exclusive camera used in a film's photography.

You probably know IMAX as the specialized movie theater showcasing huge versions of movies. It won't surprise you, then, to learn that IMAX cameras shoot on a huge film format—and yes, they shoot on film, not digital. IMAX cameras record to 70mm film, which itself is already a large film format. But IMAX cameras do something different than typical 70mm setups: The cameras run the film horizontally, rather than vertically, which allows the cameras to capture way more of an image with each frame. This discussion definitely gets a bit technical, so check out Callum Vandenberg's excellent explanation below for a great visual breakdown:

Without getting too into the weeds, IMAX is the biggest and highest quality image format we currently have for shooting movies. Filmmakers don't tend to use it for a number of reasons: It's expensive, especially in our digital era, and the cameras are cumbersome. Large image formats mean large cameras, and they're very loud—though IMAX did develop a quieter version of its camera for Christopher Nolan's latest movie. But when IMAX is utilized, it allows for a frame that completely envelops the audience. When you're sitting in a true IMAX theater, watching a movie made for IMAX, you really can't see anything but the movie. The edges of the frame aren't in your direct line of sight; they take over your peripheral vision. It's a totally different experience than a traditional movie projection.

The Odyssey has many projection options

Most movie theaters cannot project IMAX this way. Even most IMAX theaters can't do it. Only IMAX 70mm theaters can, and they're rare. Eight IMAX 70mm theaters exist in the U.S., and if you want to see The Odyssey in its original film format, you'll need to visit one of them to do so.

Your local movie theater might offer a few different screenings of The Odyssey, even if IMAX 70mm is off the table: You might be offered an IMAX screening, 70mm, 35mm, Dolby Vision, or Premium Large Format, if not others. While each has its pluses and minuses, for this discussion, we'll focus on aspect ratio, which are as follows:

IMAX 70mm: 1.43:1
IMAX: 1.90:1
70mm: 2.20:1
35mm: 2.39:1
Dolby Vision: 1.85:1 or 2:39:1
Premium Large Format: 1.85:1 or 2:39:1

That's a lot of numbers, but here's a simplified explanation: 2.39:1 is the "standard" widescreen aspect ratio for most movies today. If you see a movie in a theater, especially if it's quite wide, chances are it's 2.39:1. The "smaller" the first number in that aspect ratio, the "larger" the frame becomes. As such, 70mm's 2.20:1 gets you slightly more image than 35mm's 2.39:1. Dolby Vision and Premium Large Format theaters can show the movie in 1.85:1, which gives you even more image, but they can also project 2.39:1, which matches 35mm's widescreen frame. IMAX (not IMAX 70mm) has a ratio of 1.90:1, which means you get the most image outside of IMAX 70mm.

In order to fit these different frames, filmmakers have to resize and crop their images. As such, you "lose" part of the image when you aren't seeing The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm, and you lose even more of the image the "smaller" the frame becomes. Depending on which format you see the movie in, you may miss out on small details—things that won't impact the overall story in any way, but elements that other viewers are seeing.

The Odyssey's website showcases the difference between each film format

These aspect ratios can be difficult to picture in your head, so a visual representation really comes in handy. If you want to quickly see the difference between each of the film formats theaters will show The Odyssey in, check out the movie's official website. Here, you'll find an interactive tool that lets you watch the trailer while adjusting the aspect ratio to fit each format.

You'll really notice the difference when jumping from IMAX 70mm to, well, any other option here. The frame really shrinks, cutting out much of the peripheral image. But the difference is stark even between some of the smaller formats. While IMAX is smaller than IMAX 70mm, it still shows more of the image than 70mm or 35mm. Dolby Vision and Premium Large Format come close, but only if they are projecting in 1.85:1. In a Dolby Vision theater showing the movie at 2.39:1, you'll see the same frame as a 35mm showing.

There's a lot more to the discussion here than simple aspect ratios. Not all IMAX theaters are created equal, and watching the movie on 35mm or 70mm film is going to look different than any other digital format. But speaking directly to the framing of the movie itself, which theater you choose is going to dictate how much of the movie you actually see. If you're so inclined, it might be worth seeing the movie more than once, in different formats, to compare how each appears. (And if you can somehow get into a IMAX 70mm showing, please let me know. I'll buy the popcorn.)

These DeWalt Cordless Tools Are Up to 60% Off Right Now at Lowe's

Becca Lewis — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:00:55 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

If you have some big DIY projects to tackle, or you just want to be prepared to hang a shelf or fix a door hinge, you will need some tools. Getting a good quality set of cordless tools will save some money in the long run on replacing batteries and tools, but more durable tools also tend to be more expensive. DeWalt has been making cordless tools for decades, and their batteries can last for several years without needing to be replaced. Here are some deals on DeWalt cordless tools at Lowe's for all your upcoming home maintenance chores.

Drill and driver set deals at Lowe's

A drill and driver are the core of a cordless tool set, and these tools will stand up to daily use for at least ten years. I use this drill and driver set to build and repair furniture and to hang shelving almost every day at my shop, and the batteries are still good after more than five years of use.

The DeWalt 12-volt ½-inch drill and ⅜-inch impact driver set is $229, and you can add a 12-volt impact wrench, a 12-volt circular saw, or a 12-volt reciprocating saw for free at checkout. With these tools added, you get 42% off the bundle, and it includes two 12-volt, 2-amp-hour batteries and a charger. This is a good deal for a basic home maintenance set because it comes with batteries and a charger, and you can pick which tool will be most useful to you for appliance maintenance, projects like hanging shelving or artwork, or swapping out hardware on drawers and cabinets.

To access this deal, just click on the drill and impact driver set; when you click “add to cart,” there will be a prompt to choose your free tool.

Free battery deals at Lowe's

Batteries can be the most expensive part of having a cordless tool set, and having enough of them to keep your tools running without needing to wait between charges can make your DIY projects go faster and more smoothly. Here are some deals on tools that come with free batteries.

The DeWalt 20-volt reciprocating saw is on sale for $349, already $30 off its regular price. The saw comes with a 20-volt, 8-amp-hour battery and a charger. Once you hit “add to cart,” the free 20-volt, 8-amp-hour battery will be added to your cart, adding another $229 in savings, 42% off the usual price for this combo. A sawsall can be used for rough cutting boards or branches for demolition, yard work, or trimming.

The DeWalt 20-volt angle grinder, which can be used for cutting metal, grinding off the tips of screws or nails that poke through, and polishing is also 42% off with the same deal.

The DeWalt 20-volt, 10-inch double bevel cordless chop saw is on sale for $399, and you can get the same free battery deal with this saw, saving you another $249. That makes this combo a 40% savings on its typical price. The saw is a tool-only deal, so even with the free battery, you’ll need a 20-volt DeWalt battery charger to use it. This saw is sized well for trim and moulding cuts, allowing you to cut doorframe moulding or trim for cabinets.

Buy one get two tools sale at Lowe's

Some of the best woodworking and DIY tools that DeWalt makes are included in a buy one, get two deal right now. To begin, you can choose a two-pack of DeWalt 20-volt, 5-amp-hour batteries that come with a charger for $299; when you click “add to cart,” you’ll be able to see a menu to choose your free items. Click “choose your free gifts” on the menu to the right, and you’ll be able to see your options.

My favorite tools on the list are a 20-volt cordless router for $249 and the 20-volt cordless hammer drill. I use my cordless router to cut moulding profiles and trim edges on facing, and I use my hammer drill for drilling into concrete and hard plaster. With these two tools selected, you can save 62% off the final price, but you can also choose a jig saw or a random orbital sander to go with your batteries. This is a good deal if you already own some DeWalt tools and are looking to expand because the variety of tools means you can choose tools for your particular project, and the extra batteries mean you can keep working without waiting for your batteries to charge.

These Anker Earbuds Are Great for Workouts, and They're on Sale for $40 Right Now

Naima Karp — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:30:48 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Using regular earbuds for workouts can end in disaster—sweat can wreak havoc on non-waterproof models, they can shift out of place or even fall out during intense activity, and they often lack earhooks or stabilizing fins to keep them in place. If you’re looking to upgrade your active listening sessions without spending too much, the Anker Soundcore Sport X10 earbuds are some of the best workout earbuds under $100. Right now, they’re even more affordable during an early Prime Day deal at 50%, bringing their price down to $39.99 (originally $79.99).

Anker Soundcore Sport X10 Earbuds

Earning an "excellent" rating from PCMag, these earbuds are known for their secure fit, bass-forward sound signature delivered by 10mm dynamic drivers, and reliable active noise cancellation. The earbuds come with powerful, sculpted sound, and they “substantially dial back powerful low-frequency rumble” with their ANC, according to the review. While they're not best-in-class, they’re hundreds of dollars cheaper than premium models, making them a smart option for those shopping in the $50 range. The companion app lets you switch listening modes and customize EQ settings, and offers fitness-focused features like guided breathing exercises for before or after workouts.

They have an IPX7 rating, meaning they’re built to withstand sweaty workouts, being rinsed under running water, and even underwater submersion for up to 30 minutes. The earbuds last around eight hours on battery, and the charging case gives you an extra 24 hours. Though the swiveling earhook design keeps them in place, pressing the physical buttons—rather than touch controls—lets you control volume, toggle between listening modes like ANC and Transparency Mode, and answer calls. One minor drawback is that while you can skip tracks forward, you can’t navigate back to the previous track.

If you want a comfortable, secure fit and a sweatproof design paired with a bass-forward sound and effective noise-cancellation without spending a fortune, the Anker Soundcore Sport X10 earbuds are a great workout companion for runners and gym-goers. And at a record-low $39.99, they're one of the better Early Prime Day fitness audio deals available right now.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Yes, You Can Put Your Watch and Fitbit Air on the Same Band (but You May Not Want To)

Beth Skwarecki — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

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One advantage of an unobtrusive fitness tracker like the Fitbit Air is that you can wear it at the same time as another watch without looking like you’re wearing two watches. Some Fitbit Air owners have taken this to another level by combining the Fitbit and a mechanical watch on the same band. Here’s how to do it—but be warned that you may not be happy with the result.

Google Fitbit Air

$99.99 at Amazon

How to fit a Fitbit Air and a watch onto the same band

Combinations of the Fitbit Air and a mechanical watch are all over forums like Reddit. Here are some examples so you can see how it looks on a few different watches. To do this maneuver, here’s what you’ll need:

A Fitbit Air in its standard nylon band (the one that comes in the box with it—no need to buy a different band). The Fitbit Air requires its own special strap, so you can’t do this trick with a regular leather watch band. I’m recommending the nylon band because the Active band is too thick to fit, and the Elevated Modern band is to stiff to be practical. (I tested all three.)

A watch with at least 18 millimeters between the lugs. This is because the Fitbit Air’s band is 18 mm. Most watch bands are at least 18 mm, but some are much larger—this is going to look silly on a 24-millimeter watch. Note that you need the standard type of lug that takes a spring-loaded pin. Unfortunately this will not work with specialty connectors like what’s on the Apple Watch.

Spring pins to fit the watch. Since you likely have a watch band already, in theory you can just pull the pins out of the band. This is easier to do on some bands than others, though. If you don’t want to mess with your good watch bands, you can buy pins or steal them from a spare band. Note that these need to match the size of your watch, not the 18-mm size of the Fitbit band.

I don’t have a mechanical watch on hand, but I have plenty of smartwatches, so I experimented on some Garmin Forerunners I had at hand. Here are the steps:

Remove the band from your watch.
Lay the Fitbit Air band across the back of the watch, making sure the outside of the band faces the back of the watch.
Install the spring pins into the holes in the watch lugs, making sure that the Fitbit Air band gets sandwiched in between the pin and watch.
Slide the Fitbit band as needed so that the Fitbit Air device will be on the bottom of your wrist when the watch is on top.

Why combining a Fitbit air with your watch may not work for you

After trying this with several watches, I’m honestly not impressed. This setup seems like it should work (a strap is a strap, after all) but there are some issues.

First is sizing: If you have a small wrist you may not have enough room for the watch, the Fitbit device, and the band’s closure to all be in appropriate places. Without a watch, my Fitbit Air’s band has several inches of contact between the two sides of the hook-and-loop closure. With a watch threaded onto the band, the watch takes up some of that space, leaving part of the strap as a loose-hanging flap.

What may work better—although I haven’t tried it—is a third-party adapter like this to position the Fitbit Air under your regular watch band. This option looks bulky and I can’t say it looks ideal, but perhaps worth trying.

Another problem is comfort and accuracy of the Fitbit when worn on the bottom of the wrist. I haven’t tested the Fitbit for accuracy in this position, but typically the bottom of the wrist is a less reliable place for optical heart rate sensors to read your pulse. And as thin and narrow as the Fitbit Air device is, it’s kind of long. I don’t find it particularly comfortable to wear on a watch band this way.

You’ll also have to forgo any sensor that might be on the back of your watch. This strap hack covers up the back, so you can’t wear a Fitbit and a Garmin together if you want the Garmin to be able to pick up your heart rate, HRV, or blood oxygen.

That’s a lot of caveats for a simple hack. I won’t be wearing my Fitbit Air this way. But if your wrist is just the right size relative to your strap, you find it comfortable, you don’t mind a gap if your lugs are more than 18 millimeters apart, and you don’t care about getting the very best accuracy from your Fitbit’s heart rate sensor, this may be a convenient way to keep from wearing a second wristband.

Claude Is Currently Down

Jake Peterson — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:50:57 +0000

If you tried using Claude this morning, you probably ran into issues. Whether you were talking to the chatbot or using Claude Code for a project, you may have experienced interruptions or a complete lack of response. It's not just you; Claude is currently down.

This doesn't appear to be an isolated event impacting a small group of users. According to Anthorpic's status page for Claude, there are "elevated errors on many Claude models." Anthropic issued the status update at 15:19 UTC (11:19 a.m. ET), confirming the company is currently investigating the situation. Scrolling through the list of Claude services, I can see that Claude Console and Claude for Government are "operational, " but claude.ai, Claude API, Claude Code, and Claude Cowork are all experiencing partial outages.

Users are feeling the pain. As of this article, Downdetector shows over 3,000 user reports about issues with Claude, and I only expect those to increase as the outage continues. (Disclosure: Lifehacker's parent company, Ziff Davis, owns Downdector.) Users in the Downdetector comments confirm their experiences with downtime, though many are making light of the situation. One user wrote, "Here we go again," implying they're a bit used to Claude's service interruptions. Indeed, I covered a Claude outage back in March.

In an update to the status page, Anthropic shared that it identified the issue and is now working on a fix. The company says both Opus 4.7 and Opus 4.8 are currently affected, while other models should be operational. Anthropic will likely get Claude back up and running shortly, though, depending on the cause of the issue, some of us may be without the AI and its tools for part of the workday.

'Record Club,' the Letterboxd for Music, Gets a Lot Right

David Nield — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:30:00 +0000

Letterboxd has created a cozy online space for film lovers to get together—those who truly appreciate the art form, and who want to compile lists, aggregate ratings, and share their movie opinions with others. Its success has led to other similar platforms appearing in its slipstream, such as Binge.

Record Club, which actually first opened its doors a couple of years ago, is continuing to grow and getting more attention as a potential Letterboxd for music enthusiasts. Music has been a major part of my life since my teens—across cassette tapes, CDs, MP3s, and streaming services—so I was keen to give it a try.

The snap verdict after a few days: It definitely gets a lot right, from the elegant look of the interface to the depth you can go down to when it comes to logging the details of your listening history. If you're looking for somewhere to share your music tastes and track your listening, it's worth a look.

Record Club is free to use with no ads, with a $4-per-month subscription available if you want to support the project. You get some extras such as better list management and the ability to choose preferred cover art in your library. You also get extensive personalized stats, and the ability to add personalized notes to releases.

Record Club is easy to navigate

When you first sign up for Record Club, you'll be given a quick tour of the interface and the features, and it's a well laid-out app on both web and mobile: There's lots of white space and text that's crisp and bold, and it's easy to read. Right away, you can see what's popular with other users, new releases coming up, and reviews that have been left on the platform.

Click through on any album, and you get a bunch of information about it. There's the track listing, plus details on how popular the album is on the Record Club network (its average rating and number of listeners, as well as reviews). You can see when it was originally released, and its total running time.

Everything is very clickable, searchable, and social. Follow a link to another user (you'll be given suggestions for who to follow as soon as you get started), and you get to see what they're currently listening to, their top five records, the reviews they've left on releases, and which upcoming releases they're planning to listen to.

You'll find all the music you listen to on Record Club. Credit: Lifehacker

Your own profile will be viewable by default: You can make changes to it by clicking on your avatar (top right), then choosing Settings > Profile. Switch to Preferences and you get to control some of the ways that Record Club works, and under Privacy you can choose what's shown on your profile, or make it private (so only people who know your username will be able to find you).

You can bring previous listening data over from Rate Your Music or Last.fm (which I'm a particular fan of), and imports from Spotify are apparently coming soon. Your Record Club data can be exported as and when needed, so you don't have to worry about your listening history staying trapped here forever.

The headers along the top of the web interface link to the key sections of the platform: Browse (for checking out new music), Community (for checking out what other listeners are up to), and Activity (for reviewing your own listening). It's really when you start to use the tracking and social features of Record Club that it really comes into its own though, and when the Letterboxd comparisons become most apt.

How to get started with Record Club

You can start sharing what you're listening to by heading to the Record Club home page and clicking Add release under Your rotation. Your rotation is where you log what you're currently listening to, and you can have five albums (or singles or EPs) here—if you try and add a sixth, something else will have to go.

Finding new music couldn't be any easier: Type the name of the artist and album, and it'll quickly pop up. You don't have to keep music titles in your rotation pile to tell Record Club that you've listened to them, as you can click the three dots on any cover art across the site and choose Listen to log it.

There's also Queue for music you want to listen to but haven't done yet, and the option to leave a rating or a review. I tend to leave ratings much more often than reviews, as they're easier: I'm usually agonizing over the right words to say in a review and the right tone to take, and then I end up not publishing it anyway.

List-making is one of the key features of Record Club. Credit: Lifehacker

It didn't take me long to log a lot of listening through the Record Club interface, as there were always related links and recommendations that took me where I wanted to go next. There's also the option to use tags if you want to be more specific in the way you're organizing your music collection.

If you head to your profile page by clicking your avatar (top right) and then Profile, you get your very own top five albums of all time to show off—just click Edit next to the relevant section to make your choices. One neat touch: If you click the three dots by the top five, you can save these picks as an image, so you can share them on other platforms as well.

I like making lists, too. Click Create up at the top of the web interface and you're able to choose List to start making some public or private lists. You can organize your favorite albums in a particular genre, a starter pack of songs for a specific band, the best double albums in history, or whatever it is you want to list.

Now There's a 'Brainrot' Monopoly Game

Stephen Johnson — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:00:09 +0000

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Just in time for 6/7, game-maker Hasbro has announced the imminent release of a brainrot version of Monopoly. Dubbed “Brainrot Billionaire,” the game features properties with names like “Unc Place” and “Cooked Courtyard” in place of Boardwalk and Vermont Avenue, and “Slop” and “Chat” cards to replace Chance and Community Chest, because kids love cardboard versions of TikTok trends.

More than a re-skinned version of an old game, Brainrot Billionaire features fewer spaces and simplified rules that even the most brain-rotted among us can comprehend. The game comes out in August and will retail for $19.95, but you can pre-order starting today through Walmart.

This is not the first generational Monopoly game

Hasbro has tried to meme itself into the wallets of the younger generation before. I'm sure you all still play "Monopoly for Millennials," the version of the game Hasbro released in 2018, where the goal is not to collect money and crush your rivals with the power of capitalism, but to collect experiences by doing Millennial things like going to a music festival or meditation retreat.

There are more versions of Monopoly than you know

Since the original game was released in 1935, countless versions of Monopoly have been released. Hasbro licenses the Monopoly name to external companies and prints custom versions for corporations, so there's no way to know how many variants of the game actually exist. The community-curated Monopoly Wiki's List of Monopoly Games documents well over 1,000 versions, including Monopoly Socialism Edition, if you want to work together for the common good, the David Bowie Edition, because it's what he would have wanted, and three distinct variants of Monopoly based on Garfield. If you only count Monopolies that alter the core rules of the game (like Monopoly Cheaters Edition), there are 200 to 300 official variants put out by Hasbro.

You Can Now Use iMessage on Windows (With Some Serious Limitations)

Emily Long — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:30:00 +0000

If you're entirely within either the Apple or Windows/Android ecosystem, it's pretty easy to sync your mobile and desktop experiences so you can get notifications, send messages, and access other content across devices. iOS and MacOS work seamlessly together, and Microsoft's Phone Link pairs Android with Windows.

Phone Link also works across platforms, so you can receive and send Apple Messages on your PC. There are some significant limitations—for example, you'll still need your iPhone handy to send group texts and share images. But Phone Link allows you to keep track of messages on your desktop while you're working without needing to constantly check your phone.

How to link your iPhone to your PC

Setting up Messages on your PC requires a few steps. First, you'll need three things to connect your Apple device to your Windows computer: a Microsoft account, the Phone Link app on your PC, and the Link to Windows app on your iPhone running iOS 16 or higher. (Phone Link comes preinstalled on Windows 11, or you can download it from the Microsoft Store.)

To get started, type Phone Link into the taskbar search and select the app to open it. Choose iPhone as your device. Scan the QR code on the next screen with your iPhone camera and tap Pair your devices. On the pop-up, tap Open > Continue > Allow followed by Pair to grant Windows necessary permissions and complete Bluetooth pairing. You may be asked to allow additional permissions, including notification and file sharing. Then, follow the prompts to link your iPhone to your Microsoft account.

You should also confirm a few things in your iPhone Settings > Bluetooth. Select your computer's name from the list of connected devices and toggle on Show Message Notifications. You can also enable Sync Contacts and Share System Notifications. When you open Phone Link on your PC, you can opt to have the app open when you sign into Windows. Then hit Get Started.

The limitations of using Apple Messages on your PC

The Messages window within Phone Link will show you a handful of recent conversations—which you can reply to—and suggested contacts, but you will not see your full inbox. You also can't start or reply to group chats or send attachments, photos, or GIFs (only emojis are supported). To start a new conversation, tap the New Message icon, enter your contact's name or phone number, compose the text, and hit Send.

Anything sent or received will also appear on your iPhone, so you can switch between devices at any point during the conversation. Note that because Phone Link uses Bluetooth, it does not break Apple Messages' end-to-end encryption.

This Blink 2K Outdoor Camera System Is 55% Off Right Now

Pradershika Sharma — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

The new Blink Outdoor 2K+ (5-Camera System) is currently $156.99 on Amazon, down from $349.99, and price trackers show this is the lowest price it has reached so far. Spread across five cameras, that works out to about $32 per camera, which is far cheaper than buying them individually. A five-camera kit like this generally makes the most sense for a typical single-family home or townhouse, where you might want coverage at the front door, backyard, garage, and a couple of side entrances. In a small apartment, it may be more cameras than you need, but for a house with multiple outdoor entry points, the bundle saves you from piecing together a system one device at a time.

Blink Outdoor 2K+ (Five-Camera)

The cameras themselves are small and easy to place almost anywhere. Each measures approximately 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.6 inches and features an IP65 weather-resistant design that is dust- and water-resistant. Setup is straightforward; the cameras run on two AA lithium batteries that Blink says can last up to two years, depending on how often motion is detected. The bundle comes with the required batteries, mounting hardware, and a Sync Module Core that connects everything to your home wifi. Once installed, the cameras record 2K video (2,560 × 1,440) with a 135-degree field of view, which is wide enough to capture most entryways or driveways without much repositioning. In real use, footage tends to look sharp, with enough detail to pick out faces or license plates at reasonable distances.

The cameras also offer two-way audio, motion alerts, night vision, and a temperature sensor that can send notifications if conditions cross a set threshold, according to this PCMag review. Plus, the Outdoor 2K+ adds new software features, including AI-generated descriptions of recorded events that summarize what the camera sees. Those tools are helpful, but they highlight the system's main trade-off: many advanced features require a Blink subscription plan, starting at $3.99 per month for one camera or $11.99 per month for unlimited cameras (to include AI features, the basic plan starts at $6.99 for a single camera). Without a subscription, you lose access to cloud-stored video clips. Another limitation is ecosystem support. The cameras work with Amazon Alexa and IFTTT, but they do not support Apple HomeKit or Google Home, which may matter if your smart home runs on those platforms.

We're tracking more early deals, discounts, and shopping advice in our Prime Day 2026 guide.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

This Microphone-Free Sonos Speaker Is at Its Lowest Price Ever Right Now

Pradershika Sharma — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:30:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

As early Prime Day deals start appearing (you can find more in our guide to Prime Day 2026), the Sonos Era 100 SL has dropped to $169 on Amazon from its usual $189 price, marking its lowest price yet, according to price trackers. The speaker is essentially a microphone-free version of the standard Era 100. You lose support for Alexa and other voice assistant features, but everything else remains the same, including the stereo sound, Bluetooth connectivity, room-correction technology, and access to the broader Sonos ecosystem.

Sonos Era 100 SL

Microphone-free speaker

Unlike the Sonos One SL, which is a mono speaker, the Era 100 (and its SL sibling) uses a stereo driver configuration that produces a noticeably wider soundstage and better instrument separation. In practice, that means instruments and vocals feel more separated rather than blending together in the center of the room, which makes a real difference in well-produced recordings. It also has room-correction tools that adjust the sound output based on your listening environment, plus manual bass and treble controls if you want to dial things in further. Bluetooth support is also included, which wasn't always a given with Sonos products, and makes it easier for guests to connect without joining your home network.

Another solid reason to consider this is the ecosystem—the Era 100 SL works with the Sonos app and can be grouped with other compatible Sonos speakers for whole-home audio. You can start with a single speaker and expand over time without replacing anything. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos music like the more expensive Era 300, and it isn't powerful enough to effortlessly fill very large spaces. Audio can also lose some composure when pushed to maximum volume. Still, if you're looking for a compact wireless speaker that prioritizes sound quality over smart-assistant features, the Era 100 SL offers much of what makes Sonos popular at its lowest price yet.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

How to Cancel Your Amazon Prime Membership After Prime Day Is Over

Emily Long — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:30:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

One of Amazon’s biggest sales of the year, Prime Day, is set to start June 23, but many early deals are already rolling in, as they have in the past. To take advantage of everything the sale has to offer, you’re going to need to be a Prime Member. If you sign up for an Amazon Prime account to take advantage of Prime Day but decide you don’t want to pay for an ongoing membership, you’ll need to cancel your subscription before the end of your free trial.

How to cancel your Amazon Prime membership

You can cancel your Prime subscription via browser by first logging into your Amazon account. Amazon has a Cancel Your Prime Membership button on its support page to launch the process, or you can follow the steps detailed on Amazon's page:

Head to Amazon.com in your web browser.
Hover over the Accounts & Lists menu on the top-right of the window, then select the Prime Membership option.
Click the Help tab.
Then tap the End Your Amazon Prime Membership button and finally click the Cancel Your Prime Membership orange button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed to canceling your Prime subscription.

Note that Amazon requires a bunch of clicks to finalize your cancellation, giving you lots of “opportunities” to change your mind.

How to cancel Amazon Prime via mobile app

Open the Amazon Shopping app on your mobile device.
Click the three horizontal lines on the bottom right.
Under Shop by Category, select Prime.
On the top bar, slide all the way to the end and select Help.
Then tap the End Your Amazon Prime Membership button and finally click the Cancel Your Prime Membership orange button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed to canceling your Prime subscription.

What to know when canceling your Prime membership

As mentioned, closing your account will immediately end your access. Amazon also offers you the option to pause your benefits and billing temporarily instead of canceling them completely. Either way, your Amazon account is still active—you simply won’t have Prime benefits.

Finally, if you have other subscriptions connected to your Prime account, those will end when your billing is up. And if you signed up for Prime through the Android mobile shopping app or the Prime Video Android app, you’ll have to go through Google Subscription to manage your membership.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Apple May Have Just Killed the Vision Pro

Stephen Johnson — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Pour one out for the Apple Vision Pro. According to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple has scrapped plans to release a new version of its VR/AR headset for the foreseeable future. Apple's CEO-in-waiting, John Ternus, reportedly signed off on the company's decision to focus only on smart glasses instead. The company has also supposedly canceled development on the Vision Air, a rumored lighter version of the Vision Pro.

Instead of new AR headsets, Apple is reportedly developing two different lines of smart glasses: audio- and AI-focused spectacles comparable to the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, and AR-focused smart glasses akin to the Meta Display glasses. According to Kuo, Apple's audio/AI glasses are expected to hit the market in 2027, while the wave-guide-powered display models won't arrive until 2029. That sounds like a long time to wait to me, given recent rapid developments in the market.

The long history Apple smart glasses rumors

Apple has never officially announced plans to develop any kind of eyewear, but according to sources with solid track records, releasing smart glasses is a major priority for the company, and has been for some time. This Bloomberg post from 2016 predicted Apple glasses that would wirelessly connect with iPhones, an initiative that has apparently been scrapped as well.

Apple Vision Pro: Too expensive, too limited, but extremely cool

As I'm a relatively recent adopter of the Apple Vision Pro, news that an improved version may never come out is a bummer for sure. At over $3,500 for the base model, it's obviously too expensive for most people (Apple lent me mine), and it doesn't actually do that much—a small pool of users offers little incentive for developers—but there's no denying the Vision Pro's tech is often jaw-droppingly impressive. There's so much possibility with this thing, even if it hasn't been fully realized.

As Kuo points out in his post announcing the Vision Pro's cancellation, Apple dropping the Vision Pro and shifting resources toward smart glasses makes sense (people actually seem to want smart glasses), but it's still a drag. Maybe the technology will eventually exist that can put Vision Pro-level experiences in a pair of sunglasses, but it probably won't be here in 2029.

What does this mean for the future of full VR/AR devices?

With both Meta and Apple pulling resources out of their flagship VR headsets—the former is also refocusing on smart glasses—the dream of mass adoption of VR seems dead. But that doesn't mean there's no future for the technology. Full-immersion virtual reality seems to be returning to its roots. Between 1989, when the very first VR gear hit the market, and 2021, when the Metaverse was announced, virtual reality was the domain of early adopters, hobbyists, futurists, and people with a real need for it. Maybe there aren't enough of them to make Apple or Meta money at scale, but I think there are enough niche uses for the technology to support smaller companies putting resources into VR. I hope so, anyway.

How Ticket Sales for 'The Odyssey' Threw AMC Theaters' App and Site Into Chaos

Jake Peterson — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:21:41 +0000

If you tried to access AMC Theaters' website or app this afternoon for any reason, you might have found yourself waiting in line. Maybe you're still in line. Whether you're trying to buy tickets, check on an existing reservation, or review future show times, AMC is forcing you to queue up. Why? Because of The Odyssey, of course.

AMC Theatres' services are currently in chaos

Tickets for Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey went on sale today, and it threw AMC's operation into chaos. If your goal was to acquire tickets, I wish you the best, as wait times hit as long as one hour during peak traffic today. Anyone who has attempted to buy presale tickets for anything particularly hyped—whether that be a movie or a concert—knows how cutthroat it can be (and how brutal those website queues are). Glitches and delays are par for the course.

It makes sense for users to wait in line if they're trying to buy tickets for The Odyssey. But, for some reason, AMC is making the rest of us wait in line, too, no matter what we're accessing the site for. I only opened the app this afternoon to cancel one of my evening reservations, but I found myself in line to do so. It was only after a quick Google search that I realized why AMC was acting so strange.

AMC doesn't make this clear on its own site or app, however. You just get dropped in a queue, with an ETA and a loading bar. And once you're "in," you're just presented with the home page of the app. I assumed that AMC would plop you first in a page for The Odyssey, but no: I had to go out seeking that movie myself. (I got tickets, by the way, so I guess waiting in line works.)

Getting around AMC's queue

If you're trying to do literally anything other than buy tickets for Christopher Nolan's next movie, you'll just need to wait in line. Eventually, you will get through, and you'll be able to use the app as you normally would. (I was able to cancel my reservation just fine.) If you're trying to pull up an existing ticket to present at the theater, you might want to check your email for it, since that'll be faster than waiting in the queue, or ask a rep at the theater to pull up the reservation on their end. (Though who knows what AMC's internal systems are like right now.)

I Upgraded From the Garmin Forerunner 165 to the 170, and Here's How to Decide If You Should Too

Meredith Dietz — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:30:24 +0000

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I love my Garmin Forerunner 165. So when Garmin announced its successor, the Forerunner 170, I had to find out: How much did Garmin really upgrade this model? After testing both and comparing them in-depth, here are my thoughts on which watch is actually a better value, depending on what kind of runner you are.

Garmin Forerunner 165

Garmin Forerunner 170

$299.99 at Amazon

Is the cost of the Garmin Forerunner 170 worth it?

The Forerunner 170 costs $299, compared to $249 for the 165 at full price. The music versions follow the same pattern, with the 170 Music landing at $349 versus $299 for the 165 Music.

On paper, that's a $50 difference. In practice, though, the gap is wider. The Forerunner 165 goes on sale constantly, and at the time of this writing, you can regularly get closer to a $100 difference between the two watches. Even if the 170 is technically the "better" watch, that doesn't necessarily make it a better value than the 165.

There's also a newer, cheaper option worth mentioning: the Garmin Forerunner 70, which launched alongside the 170 at $249. It covers most of the same ground as the 170, and I plan to write an in-depth comparison of the two watches soon.

What the Garmin Forerunner 165 and 170 have in common

Hold the two watches side by side and you'd be forgiven for struggling to tell them apart. Both have small plastic cases with 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen displays and five physical buttons. Both are lightweight and comfortable on the wrist. The main visual difference is cosmetic, where the Forerunner 170 has a colorful bezel rather than the 165's black one, and that can come in four color options.

Under the hood, both watches share the same GPS and optical heart rate sensors. If you were hoping for a major hardware leap, you’ll need to upgrade to a higher-end model. The one new sensor is a gyroscope, added to the 170 to improve movement tracking during activities.

How the Garmin Forerunner 170 improves upon the 165

Everything that makes the 170 worth the upgrade is in the software updates. The 170 brings analytics like Training Readiness, Training Status, and Acute Load to this tier of Forerunner: These metrics were previously reserved for pricier Garmin models, like the Forerunner 570 and 970. I’m a pretty big fan of Training Readiness, which gives you a daily score to help you decide how hard to push in a workout, and Training Status, which tells you whether your current training load is actually improving your fitness or just wearing you down. There's also a Quick Workout feature that lets you create a running session based purely on your desired effort level (easy, moderate, hard, or very hard) and duration. It's a handy tool for newer runners who want structure without building their own workouts.

There are also some smaller widget upgrades worth noting, like the calculator app, and features like Lifestyle Logging, Health Status, Evening Report, and Sleep Coach that aren’t on the 165.

The Forerunner 170 lasts approximately 10 days in smartwatch mode, while the Forerunner 165 stretches to 11–13 days, depending on use. Garmin frames this trade-off as the cost of a more expansive feature set. Still, if you're a runner who travels frequently or tends to forget to charge, the 165 has a modest edge.

Who should get the Garmin Forerunner 170, and who should get the 165?

Because I’m a fitness writer who loves to dive into my training analytics on the daily, the 170 is worth the (real-world) $100 upgrade. If you similarly place an emphasis on monitoring your recovery and fitness trends, then the Forerunner 170 is the better watch. On top of that, the 170 will continue to receive software updates and new features going forward, while the 165 has hit the end of its update road.

However, if you’re a more casual runner who doesn’t obsess over recovery scores, then I maintain the 165 is a better value—especially at its current discounted prices. The core tracking is accurate, the AMOLED screen looks great, and you'll save roughly $100.

Buying fresh today? Get the 170. Already own a 165 and training casually? Don’t bother. Already own a 165 and want to start chasing performance goals? Then the upgrade to the 170 is probably worth a closer look.

10 Shows Like 'Spider-Noir' You Should Watch Next

Ross Johnson — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

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I'm tempted to refer to Spider-Noir as the most unexpected Spider-Man spinoff, but given the franchise h includes live-action takes on Morbius and Madame Web, I'm not so sure it qualifies. Spider-Man Noir began as an alternate universe lark in the comics before graduating to a supporting role in the greatest Spider-movie of all, the animated Into the Spider-Verse, where he was voiced by Nicholas Cage. The actor reprises his role in the new live-action Prime Video series, to deliriously entertaining (if surprisingly serious) results.

Frankly, if we're going to continue to be inundated with Marvel content, more weird shit like this is fine by me, but I'm not too sure there are many other shows that completely align with "Nicholas Cage plays Spider-Man, but in the 1940s." Therefore, when it comes to recommending streamalikes, I'm offering up these 10 other franchise reboots and reimaginings that take the weirder path, offering off-the-wall versions of beloved characters and concepts.

Perry Mason (2020 – 2022)

With Widow's Bay signaling a full Matthew Rhys renaissance, it's worth going back to this addictive odd duck of a show that places the Perry Mason of print, film, and television into a dark and gritty Depression-era prequel (I'm not familiar with the Erle Stanley Gardner source novels, but gather they don't go nearly as hard as this show). Rhys is fabulous as the brilliant but hard-living defense lawyer, who is going through a divorce while still facing trauma from the Great War. He's hired to investigate the case of a kidnapped and mutilated child, one which ends up having ties to crooked cops, local business leaders, and politicians in 1932 LA. Juliet Rylance co-stars as no-nonsense legal secretary Della Street, with Tatiana Maslany as a creepy evangelist. Stream Perry Mason on HBO Max.

Perry Mason (2020 – 2022)

at HBO max

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018 – 2020)

Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) is an old-school witch living in a household that’s not at all unlike the Addams family: two witchy aunts (played by Miranda Otto and Lucy Davis) alongside her warlock cousin (Chance Perdomo) and her loyal familiar, Salem the cat, all of them living their supernatural lives just out of view of the local normies. Cannibalism, human sacrifice, and blood rituals abound, so while there's a Wednesday-esque sense of humor here, it goes quite a bit harder than the '90s show or the old-school Archie comics. Stream Sabrina on Netflix.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018 – 2020)

Titans (2018 – 2023)

This venerable DC franchise started out as the kid-oriented Teen Titans comics of the 1960s and evolved into a more mature concept by the 1980s, but it is best known via the long-running (nine seasons over 16 years, and counting) Teen Titans Go! animated series, aimed at younger teens. This reimagining takes the concept—former sidekick Robin leads a team of young heroes—ages up the characters, and adds sex, extra violence, and endless drama as the (reluctant) team battles demons, assassins, and daddy issues (Batman should not be allowed near children). Stream Titans on HBO Max.

Titans (2018 – 2023)

Fate: The Winx Saga (2021 – 2022)

Fate: The Winx Saga (2021 – 2022)

An update to the Winx Club Nickelodeon animated series, this show follows five fairies attending a prestigious boarding school for magical types. Not entirely unlike Percy Jackson, our lead fire fairy Bloom soon discovers that her parentage is more alien (literally) than she'd ever guessed. After a slow start, the show builds into an impressive coming-of-age story, and a rare fantasy series genuinely geared to its teenage target audience. It's not exactly The Dark Knight, but it tones down the color scheme of the original cartoons and introduces a whole lot of fairy-centric teen drama. It was cancelled after two seasons, but if you find yourself hooked, there are graphic novels that continue the story. Stream Fate: The Winx Saga on Netflix.

Watchmen (2019)

A standalone sequel to the groundbreaking Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins graphic novel from the '80s, this series plays in the sandbox of that book while moving the story forward. In an alternate Tulsa, Oklahoma, in a world where super-powered vigilantes exist and have been outlawed, the series starts, dramatically, with a depiction of the real-life massacre and destruction of Tulsa's Black Wall Street by white residents in 1921. Flashing forward from there, Regina King plays Angela Abar, a modern cop whose grandparents were killed during the attack, an event that echoes throughout the series as the plot proper focuses on the fallout from the climactic events of the original comic and the conspiracies that grew out of it. Stream Watchmen on HBO Max.

Watchmen (2019)

Constantine (2014)

The Keanu Reeves movie (also adapted from the Hellblazer comics) is fine, but not wildly faithful to the source material. This network series, on the other hand, cast an actual British person to play the famously British anti-hero, so that's a start. It's a lateral move in terms of its darkness, but a different take in most other ways. Matt Ryan brings just the right amount of world-weary cynicism and wry humor to the role of the exorcist and occult detective, who is trying to stop supernatural threats in order to make up for some dark deeds in his own past. Though the series was relatively short-lived, Matt Ryan's portrayal lasted for nearly a decade—through animated movies, various DC TV projects, and a regular role on Legends of Tomorrow. Buy Constantine from Prime Video and Apple TV.

Constantine (2014)

The Irregulars (2021)

What sounded like a desperately unnecessary Sherlock Holmes pastiche involving Arthur Conan Doyle's lovable scamps the Baker Street Irregulars (led here by Bad Sisters' Thaddea Graham) layered an unexpected exploration of grief into the dark supernatural mystery at its core. Here, Watson (Royce Pierreson) hires the damaged but resourceful urchins to aid in cases involving occult activity, as well as to help track down an aging Sherlock. Holmes angle aside, the show works as a darker, Victorian-era Stranger Things, one that actually acknowledges the ways in which being unhoused children in 19th century London might kinda suck. Stream The Irregulars on Netflix.

The Irregulars (2021)

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010 – 2013)

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010 – 2013)

While perhaps not the grittiest reboot, this show goes a bit more mature in revisiting the early days of the Scooby gang, building a serialized narrative across its 52 episodes (it's my favorite iteration of the long-running franchise). Mystery Incorporated places the gang in Crystal Cove, the "Most Hauntedest Place on Earth," and at odds with the local authorities—the town't history of disappearances and weird happenings forms the basis of its tourist industry, and, thus, debunking are not welcome. Dark secrets linked to the town's prehistory form the spine of the series. Stream Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated on Netflix.

Tom Swift (2022)

A spin-off of the similarly updated Nancy Drew series, this brief, but very fun show represents only the second time (following an ill-conceived 1980s TV special) that the character had come to the screen in any form. After 120 years and over 100 books, we finally got the young inventor in live action. He's played by Tian Richards as a headstrong and brilliant young billionaire whose pride and shamelessness work both for and against him: he's fully aware that he's smart, rich, and hot, which is enough, until it isn't: His equally talented father goes missing on an experimental space mission in the opening episode, forcing Tom to grow up more quickly than he would've liked. Stream Tom Swift on HBO Max.

Tom Swift (2022)

Bel-Air (2022 – 2025)

Over four seasons, Bel-Air came into its own as a riff on one of the essential sitcoms of the 1990s, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but it’s jarring for fans of the beloved original to tune in to find a straight drama with the same premise. Jabari Banks plays Will Smith, a 16-year-old from West Philadelphia who winds up movin’ with his auntie and uncle in Bel-Air after a gun charge and a run-in with a local drug lord. Banks is charismatic and believable, bringing a ton of personality to a show that frequently veers down dark alleys. Stream Bel-Air on Peacock.

Bel-Air (2022 – 2025)

The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal

Check Your Spam Folder for This Google Settlement Notice

Emily Long — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:30:00 +0000

If you have (or had) a device equipped with Google Assistant, you may be eligible for some cash as part of a recent $68 million settlement—but you'll need to check your spam folder to find the notice.

As Android Authority reports, settlement notices are seemingly being filtered into spam folders, so many users who are eligible to submit claims are likely to miss them. I, too, received this notice in my spam folder several days ago with the subject line "Google Assistant Privacy Litigation Settlement." It does look like spam, but the notice is legitimate.

What is the Google settlement for?

This specific Google settlement (as there have been others in recent months and years) stems from a lawsuit alleging that Google Assistant was activated and recording users' conversations without a spoken wake word or phrase like "Okay Google" (or manual activation by the user). Google Assistant could be pre-installed or downloaded on both Google-made devices (like Google Home and Google Nest Hub) as well as on third-party smartphones, smart speakers, smart displays, and smart TVs, so the affected user pool here could be quite large.

The email notices alert those who qualify to the submission deadline and contain a unique ID and PIN for making a claim. Note that according to the settlement website, it is still possible to submit a claim without these codes.

Who is eligible for a payout from the Google settlement?

There are two separate settlement classes whose members are eligible for payment:

Purchaser: You purchased a "Google-Made Device" that uses Google Assistant in the U.S. between May 18, 2016, and March 19, 2026.
Privacy: You used Google Assistant (or were a member of a user's household) between May 18, 2016, and March 19, 2026, and had your communications recorded due to a false accept, and disclosed to a third party.

At this time, no one knows how much each individual will receive from the settlement, though the funds will be distributed proportionally based on a points system. Users who are part of the "Purchaser" class can claim up to three devices and will receive four points for each. Those in the "Privacy" class receive a single point.

How to submit a claim for the Google Assistant settlement

Eligible users can submit claims online via the settlement website. Log in with your unique ID and PIN if you have it, or fill out the form to verify your information. Claims must be completed by Aug. 27, 2026. The final approval hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1, so payments will be sent out sometime after that date.

The Best Books, Movies, Video Games, and Podcasts to Check Out After Watching ‘For All Mankind'

Jeff Somers — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

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In a genre dominated by grim, dystopian visions of the future, For All Mankind is a powerful counterweight: an alternate history that imagines a timeline in which the Soviet Union beat America to the Moon, prolonging the space race and laying the foundation for a more egalitarian, tech-forward 20^th and 21^st centuries.

If you've finished the recently completed fifth season and need more of that kind of sci-fi positivity, you’re probably already excited about the spin-off series Star City, and you’ve probably already made your way through our list of shows with similar vibes to watch. Hence, it's time to explore other media. Here are the best movies, books, games, and podcasts with similarly starry-eyed vibes.

The best books like For All Mankind

For All Mankind is a dense, novelistic series with deep world-building and terrific character work—which means a good book is your best bet for filling that rocket-shaped void in your life.

The Right Stuff, by Tom Wolfe

The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson

Singer Distance, by Ethan Chatagnier

Atmosphere, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

$12.99 at Amazon

The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal

This award-winning novel, the start of a series, is the ideal book to read if you love For All Mankind. It’s an alternate history that imagines a devastating meteorite impact that almost ends civilization and sends the world careening toward environmental disaster. In the desperate effort to recover and save humanity, manpower shortages mean women step into roles they were traditionally barred from, including the race to the stars. Despite the cataclysm that opens the story, this is the kind of optimistic sci-fi that imagines humanity will rise to every occasion, and fans of the show will love it.

The Right Stuff, by Tom Wolfe

If your favorite parts of For All Mankind involved the terrifying training for, and experience of spaceflight, especially in the early seasons, this legendary work of “new journalism” is the ticket. It recounts the early work in the U.S. on rocket-powered aircraft, Project Mercury, and the first astronauts, detailing the incredibly challenging and dangerous work undertaken by these men. It also delves into the impact their careers had on their families, and offers real-world background that makes the experience of the show even richer.

The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson

If you loved the way Mars colonization is depicted in For All Mankind—that grounded, plausible approach that makes it all seem thrillingly possible—check out Robinson’s Nebula and Hugo award-winning series. It shares the same basic optimism, imagining a reality where the world, driven by looming ecological disaster, comes together to terraform and colonize Mars. It’s got a similar scope, spanning nearly two centuries of future history beginning in the year 2026,offering an intelligent view of what a project of that scale would involve.

Singer Distance, by Ethan Chatagnier

One thing missing from For All Mankind is alien life—unless you count the microscopic cells discovered on Saturn’s moon Titan. If you wished there were some E.T.s in the show to spice things up, Chatagnier’s novel will thrill you, revealing as it does in a world where humanity began a laborious communication with Martians in 1894, involving enormous glyphs carved into the Martian surface and some heavy-duty math. When humanity fails to solve the Martian equations, the red planet falls silent for decades, until a brilliant young student formulates a message that reopens the conversation, with world-changing consequences.

Atmosphere, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Part of the charm of For All Mankind is in the characters and their relationships. For more of that vibe, Atmosphere is the right choice. In the early 1980s, astrophysicist Joan Goodwin is thrilled when NASA announces an initiative to recruit female scientists into its space program. Training to be an astronaut is challenging and rewarding—and so are the relationships she forges with her fellow recruits. Not everyone is a friend and not everything is perfect—and a looming disaster in 1984 that puts a shadow on everything—but the story celebrates exceptional people and humanity’s enormous potential in a way fans of the show will recognize.

The best movies like For All Mankind

One of the great things about For All Mankind is the combination of small-scale human drama and the mind-blowing vistas of outer space. For big-screen versions of that, check out these films.

Apollo 13 (1995)

The thrills found in the early seasons of For All Mankind were typically centered on the incredibly dangerous initial attempts to blast off Earth and head to the Moon and beyond. Apollo 13 captures the real-world drama and tension of the 1970 Moon mission that went terribly wrong, stranding three astronauts in a disabled lunar module and prompting a desperate effort on Earth to solve a litany of physics challenges and get them home alive. It’s the perfect choice if you’re jonesing for space race pathos. Rent Apollo 13 on Prime Video.

Apollo 13 (1995)

The Martian (2015)

Space is a pretty dangerous place, as are the other planets in our solar system. The Martian captures both the wonder of exploration and the human drive to survive and triumph over adversity that marks For All Mankind as a special show, telling the story of astronaut Mark Watney, marooned on Mars with insufficient resources for long-term survival. It’s tense, thrilling, and ultimately a celebration of the human spirit, as the world puts aside political differences and comes together to mount a massive rescue mission. Stream The Martian on Fubo or rent it on Prime Video.

The Martian (2015)

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)

It’s entirely earthbound and has a very different aesthetic—not so much realistic as "computer-generated retrofuturism"—but Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow captures the gee-whiz, let’s do this energy of For All Mankind while also envisioning an alternate history where humanity develops technology along vastly different lines. There are airships, giant robots, and a flying legion of old-school fighter planes in this universe, which is deeply indebted to 1930s sci-fi aesthetics, but under all the CGI flash is a celebration of humanity’s courage and resilience that fans of the show will love. Stream Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow on Hoopla or rent it on Prime Video.

First Man (2018)

Another film exploring the incredible courage and determination of the early astronauts, First Man focuses on Neil Armstrong (played by Ryan Gosling), the first man on the Moon. In the early 1960s, Armstrong was reeling from the death of his young daughter and entered the Gemini program at a time when the Soviet Union was perceived to be beating the U.S. in the space race. The film explores the deep personal costs to all the men and women connected to the massive project, from lives lost to serious injury and emotional stress, while accurately depicting just how terrifyingly primitive the technology used to get to the Moon actually was. Rent First Man on Prime Video.

First Man (2018)

2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)

2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)

While Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey was trippy and very Kubrick, its 1984 sequel is a lot more grounded and informed by the Cold War. The result is a human-focused spacefaring story that fans of For All Mankind should enjoy. Nine years after the disaster that saw the U.S. lose astronaut David Bowman and the crew of the Discovery, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. are racing to get to Jupiter to find out what happened. The Soviets complete their ship first, but need American help to reactivate the computer HAL 9000 onboard the Discovery before the ship crashes into Jupiter’s moon Io, so a tense joint mission is formed. It’s a surprisingly hopeful story with little of the original film’s cold style. Rent 2010: The Year We Make Contact on Prime Video.

No Man's Sky (for Nintendo Switch)

The best video games like For All Mankind

Want a more hands-on, challenging experience similar to For All Mankind? Check out these video games that bring space to your console or computer in different, exciting ways.

No Man’s Sky

You want the stars? No Man’s Sky brings you the stars—a nearly infinite supply of them, procedurally generated and teeming with unexpected challenges and opportunities. You can explore, transact business, and get into existential fights with aliens, and you can keep doing it for as long as you like, as the game comes as close to mimicking the infinite nature of the universe as current consoles possibly can. If it’s the potential for humanity to explore the universe that makes you most excited about For All Mankind, this game is for you.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam

Kerbal Space Program

Love the detailed exploration of the resources, manpower, and problem-solving that goes into managing an enormous space program? Kerbal Space Program and its sequel are the right games for you. The Kerals live on the planet Kerbin, and have just constructed a spaceport. It’s up to you to design rockets and other craft, launch them, and complete missions in the nearby solar system. The physics and planets are modeled on our own and are surprisingly accurate, giving you the opportunity to discover just how hard it is to get a crew to the Moon and back in one piece.

Platforms: Steam

Kerbal Space Program 2

$49.99 at Steam

Elite Dangerous

Like No Man’s Sky, Elite Dangerous offers you the chance to explore and interact with the entire universe, fulfilling the implied promise of For All Mankind. Unlike that other game, the universe in Elite Dangerous is modeled on the real one we live in—although the systems you visit are procedurally generated, the data used to create them is taken from legitimate astronomical readings. That means you can explore planets and systems that might actually exist out there, using spaceships and equipment that have the same practical, industrial look and feel as the vessels on the show.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Steam

Elite Dangerous: The Legendary Edition - PlayStation 4

$76.27 at Amazon

Starfield

Starfield is another open-world space exploration game that mimics the grounded feel and courageous tone of For All Mankind, set in a universe based closely on real physics and known star systems. If you want all that and a tighter story ine than found in other open-world space games, this one will do it: You play as a member of a legendary team of explorers searching for ancient artifacts that may offer clues to one of the greatest discoveries in human history.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Steam

Starfield™ Standard Edition – PlayStation 5©

Surviving Mars

For many fans, the Mars settlement on For All Mankind is the most fascinating locale—a practical, grounded setting where humanity lives a fairly mundane existence despite the harsh conditions. If you want to dig in deeper to the logistical challenges of keeping humans alive on the red planet, check out Surviving Mars, where you play as an overseer in charge of designing, building, and maintaining a colony on Mars—and making sure the colonists survive their stay. The game throws a lot at you, including different colonist personality traits, disease, resource management, and even rebellions, but that’s what makes it so much fun.

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Steam

Surviving Mars - PlayStation 4

The best podcasts like For All Mankind

For All Mankind has developed a rich, complex fictional universe and cast of characters over the course of its five seasons. If you want a deep dive, more background, or a similar entertainment experience, check out these podcasts.

For All Mankind: The Official Podcast

Credit: Podcast logo

The official Apple TV+ podcast is the perfect spot to get all the background on every episode, the cast and crew, and the specific influences that shaped each storyline. Hearing about the real-life technology and projects that inspired the events depicted in the series is exciting, and getting all the behind-the-scenes tea is why podcasts were invented in the first place. You'll even hear interviews with actual astronauts and astrophysicists.

Happy Valley: A For All Mankind Podcast

Credit: Podcast logo

If you’d rather vibe with other fans instead of the corporate-sponsored podcast, check out Happy Valley, hosted by superfans Brian Chaney and Donnie Gordon. Listen in on their fascinating discussions of episode breakdowns, fan theories, and the real-world analogues hiding within the show.

Marsfall

Credit: Podcast logo

If you’re obsessed with the Mars-based story on For All Mankind, check out this tense, exciting narrative podcast that follows the adventures of colonists settling on the red planet in the year 2047. It doesn’t pull any punches, depicting the constant life-or-death struggle to survive on a planet that isn’t built for supporting human life.

ars PARADOXICA

Credit: Podcast logo

If you loved the early seasons of For All Mankind for the way they subvert history (and the gender and race attitudes of the times), check out ars PARADOXICA. This is the story of Dr. Sally Grissom, a scientist who is thrown backwards in time to 1943 and recruited by the Office of Developed Anomalous Resources (ODAR) to work on time travel and other technologies that can help America win World War II and defend itself against the Soviets in the Cold War and beyond, rewriting history in increasingly chaotic ways.

13 Minutes to the Moon

Credit: Podcast logo

Want to know more about the actual 1969 Moon mission and the immense effort required to mount it? This is the podcast for you. Produced by the BBC, it’s a detailed, engrossing delve into the social, political, economic, and technological challenges the effort posed, while illuminating the personalities of the people who fought for funding, developed key tech, or actually sat in the cockpits during dangerous tests and maiden flights during the decade-long, literal moonshot project.

The Best AirPods Are $200 During Amazon's Early Prime Day Sale

Daniel Oropeza — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:30:00 +0000

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The latest AirPods Pro are a big step up. The third iteration of Apple's iconic earbuds come with a number of quality-of-life and software improvements that make them worth the typical premium over the AirPods Pro 2—and right now, the AirPods Pro 3 are even cheaper than the previous generation. They're $199.99 on Amazon as an early Prime Day deal, down from $249.99 and matching their second-lowest price ever, according to price tracking tools.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds

The AirPods Pro 3 improve on already great earbuds with new features like a heart rate sensor, better automatic noise canceling (ANC), longer battery life for the buds (though the case's battery life is a bit worse), and an improved "Find My" experience. You'll get Personalized Spatial Audio (so you can hear sounds seemingly coming from different directions as you move your head) and the ability to use head gestures to tell Siri "yes" or "no" (this also works for answering or denying calls). Apple also added a live translation feature to both the second- and third-generation AirPods Pro when iOS 26 rolled out earlier this year.

Since these earbuds have rubber tips, they sealed your ear canal (as supposed to regular earbuds like the AirPods 4); consequently, the ANC is much better—but the ANC technology itself has also improved, as has the overall audio quality, thanks to the new H3 chip In its "exemplary" review, PCMag called them the best earbuds for your money—and now, you can spend 20% less of it.

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Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Nintendo Is Launching a New Version of the Switch 2, but Probably Not in the US

Jake Peterson — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +0000

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The Switch 2 has been out for just about one year now. In that time, we've had some new first-party titles, like Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World; upgrades for older Switch games, to take advantage of the more powerful hardware; and even a price hike, rather than a cut. Now, as we pass the console's first birthday, Nintendo has confirmed it's already working on a new version of the Switch 2. This won't be an OLED variant, mind you, nor will it come with an even faster processor. Instead, the new Switch 2 will bring a useful change to the console's battery—just not for those of us outside of Europe.

Nintendo Switch 2

$449.00 at Amazon

Nintendo is making the Switch 2's battery removable

In a statement on its website, Nintendo confirmed that a future version of the Switch 2 will come with a removable battery—an easily removable one, at that. The Switch 2 (and the Switch 1, for that matter) currently encloses the battery within the entire casing of the console, like many other current devices. If you wanted to access the battery, you'd have to take apart the whole handheld, which is far more complicated than it should be. As per iFixit's repair guide, you have to apply heat, remove the covers on each Joy-Con attachment, use picks to pry things open, and remove multiple components just to find the battery. That ignores even having to loosen the adhesive on the battery, remove it, and replace it with a new one, before having to reverse all of the above steps to reassemble your console. What a mess.

An easily removable battery would be a great quality-of-life update here. While unnecessary for the early days of Switch 2 ownership, eventually, the original battery will hold a noticeably smaller charge than it used to. Being able to simply pop out the battery, possibly via its own compartment, and replace it with a new one will go a long way to expanding the console's lifespan.

Nintendo will likely only offer removable Switch 2 batteries in Europe

The bad news is, this new console probably won't arrive for those of us in the U.S.—or outside Europe, for that matter. As it turns out, Nintendo isn't making these changes for the good of its users. Instead, the company is following EU regulations. In that original statement, Nintendo confirms that "batteries integrated into certain appliances and sold in the EU must be easily replaceable by end-users at any time during the lifetime of the product. Nintendo is implementing measures to comply with these requirements by preparing versions of products to meet the Regulation."

While it's possible Nintendo could roll out these new Switch 2's globally, it may make more sense to keep it localized. Since the EU is the only region that requires these changes, it may save the company money to continue selling the current design, and only roll out a limited batch of updated consoles to Europe. It wouldn't be the first to offer EU-specific features and devices to the region. iPhones in the EU, for example, can access alternative app stores, use dedicated third-party browsers, and access third-party NFC payments systems. They even have a dedicated SIM tray, while U.S. iPhones are all-in on eSIM.

That said, never say never. Nintendo could decide to streamline production and simply make these EU changes apply to all new Switch 2 units going forward. If you buy a Switch 2 after Nintendo switches over, you may just benefit from the new design—even if you live in another region. We'll need to see what Nintendo decides to do once it rolls out this new battery design.

When will the new Switch 2 launch?

We don't have a definitive date yet, but we do know the deadline: EU regulations require companies like Nintendo to offer these battery adjustments starting Feb. 18, 2027. Nintendo could launch the console sooner than that, but I imagine we'll know by February whether this new Switch 2 will ship globally, or just to Europe.

How to Talk to a Real Human in Customer Service (and Get What You Want)

Jeff Somers — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:30:00 +0000

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In a world that seems increasingly determined to keep us apart, we’re all still bound together by one universal experience: the frustration of trying to reach a real person on the phone at a customer service call center. Whether we want to complain, resolve a problem, or simply get information, call center interactions can be a maddening experience. Companies are increasingly hiding their customer service representatives behind phone menus and AI-driven tools, and even if you make contact, the experience is often less than ideal. With Prime Day around the corner, finding a method to get help from someone at Amazon can save you a lot of headaches, but the following strategies can work with most any company.

While different companies handle their call centers in different ways (and host them in different countries), there are some universal truths to keep in mind—and use to your advantage, if you know the secret ways to navigate them. These tips won’t guarantee you success in your quest for a refund, a return, or simply an explanation as to why you were shipped a Taylor Swift-branded body pillow instead of the winter coat you ordered. But they will increase your odds of emerging from the call with something to show for your efforts.

A good general piece of advice: Keep calm, and always be polite. Call center employees are human beings doing a difficult job, so remind yourself that your beef isn’t with them, it’s with their corporate overlords.

GetHuman

Your chances of customer service success increase dramatically when you get a human being on the line. Hitting a rigid phone menu is pretty common these days, and it’s frustrating: The automated options often aren’t flexible enough to cover your specific need, and they seem to be designed to stop all but the hardiest souls from actually reaching a customer service rep (CSR).

And that’s because they are. It costs money every time you connect with a CSR, so companies try to keep you away from them as much as possible. So, instead of tangling with their phone menu and hearing “I’m sorry, I didn’t understand that” fifteen times until you set your phone on fire in frustration, try a service like GetHuman. Type in the name of the company you’re trying to contact and see if there’s a direct phone number you can dial to get a person, or if they offer a set of easy instructions on how to break out of the phone menu. If you do get a human on the phone, ask for a direct number to call back if your problem needs to be addressed again.

The supervisor trick

It’s an oldie but a goodie—and it does work. If your CSR isn’t helpful, or you’re not getting the result you want, ask to speak to a supervisor. A slightly more polite and less combative way to do this is to ask to speak to “someone who can solve my problem” or similar language. In almost all situations, your CSR is obligated to transfer you upon request, and supervisors are often empowered to do things the common CSR can’t.

Hit zero—or say nothing

If you can’t get any information on how to connect to a human being, try pressing zero on your phone’s keypad. Many (though not all) call center phone menus will automatically dump you to a CSR if you press zero.

If that doesn’t work, have a little patience and simply do nothing. Most phone menus will time out if you don’t respond in any way to their prompts—and dump you to a human being by default. This might take a minute or two, but it often works.

Call during off-peak hours

As you might imagine, call centers experience busy times like any other business, and they tend to align with people’s waking hours. If the company you’re trying to reach offers 24-hour customer service, try calling very early in the morning or very late at night. Most sane, well-adjusted people will be asleep or enjoying their lives, so your chances of getting through quickly (and your chances the CSR will have extra time for you) will be better.

Exhaust the script

It’s important to understand that every single CSR you speak to is working from a script. Companies develop complex algorithms for dealing with customer complaints. These scripts are designed to shorten call lengths—and to avoid outcomes the company finds undesirable (like refunding your money).

But like all scripts, they’re limited. A few simple tricks can help you break free from the script—and that’s when you can really get something done. A few things to try:

Repeat your demands. CSR scripts usually have a limit on how often the CSR can refuse you—but they won’t tell you that. Most commonly, if you trigger the same script loop three times, the CSR is obliged to transfer you—or empowered to reveal another option they’ve yet to share. So if the CSR tells you they can’t refund you, don’t just accept it—ask again. And then again.
Stay on the line. CSRs are always on the clock. Every interaction costs the company money, and their job performance is often tied to how quickly they can resolve customer problems. The longer you refuse to end the interaction, the closer you get to being transferred to someone who can actually do what you want, or inspiring the CSR to use some of the power they do have just to get you off the line.
Jump the script. When trying to cancel an account or get a refund, CSR scripts are larded with alternatives, up-sells, and misdirections. (Ever tried to cancel your cable TV and somehow wound up with three months of free HBO instead? That’s the power of the script.) One trick is to start off by pre-refusing everything—tell the CSR you don’t want freebies, discounts, new services, or anything else, you want one very specific thing. This can short-circuit the script and get you where you want to go much faster.

Call back immediately

If your CSR refuses to see things your way, don’t get mad—change venues. Politely end the call, then call back immediately. You’ll almost certainly get a different CSR, and the experience can often be dizzyingly different. That’s because your call may be routed to an entirely different call center, or may be picked up by a CSR with more experience—and more authority.

Show them the money

If you’re having trouble getting a human being on the line no matter what you try, there’s one last trick to play: Choose the menu option that involves spending money. Upgrade your account, make a purchase, take on the optional insurance—whatever option results in your bill going up will almost certainly get an eager human being on the phone. They may not be the right person to speak to, but now you’re inside the phone menu, and they can transfer you to a more appropriate department.

Customer service often seems like a battle of wills. But it’s also a battle of wits, and these secrets will give you some extra ammo.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

This Samsung Gaming Monitor Is Over $100 Off in This Early Prime Day Deal

Naima Karp — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

The 2025 flat-panel 32” Samsung Odyssey G5 G50F gaming monitor is an affordable and versatile choice for gamers who also want some multi-purpose use for everyday usage and work. At 32 inches, it’s not as immersive as larger models, but for those looking for gamer-friendly features in a non-curved screen with an adjustable stand, it’s a speedy and visually vibrant choice. And right now it's down to a record-low $219.99, from $349.99.

Samsung 32” Odyssey G5 G50F Gaming Monitor

With an 180Hz refresh rate that delivers smoother gameplay than 144Hz displays, it’s a value-oriented monitor for competitive and FPS gaming, bolstered by the Virtual Aim Point to improve accuracy. It also has a 1ms GTG response time to reduce motion blur during fast-paced gameplay, and FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility help eliminate stuttering and tearing. QHD (2560×1440) resolution gives users sharper visuals than 1080p, while HDR10 delivers better shadow detail and contrast, further supported by a Black Equalizer.

It has a fast IPS panel with better color accuracy and a 178-degree viewing angle compared to older G5 models, making it suitable not just for gaming but also for media consumption, general office work, multitasking, or use as a multiplayer monitor. Additional gamer-friendly extras include Eye Saver Mode and Refresh Rate Optimizer.

While usually hovering at the $350 price point, at $219.99, this gaming monitor is a strong deal for competitive gamers, general PC gamers, and anyone looking for a larger, mixed-use monitor without stepping up to the much higher price point of an OLED display.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

This Blink Doorbell and Security Camera Bundle Is 67% Off Right Now

Pradershika Sharma — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Amazon has dropped the price of the Blink Video Doorbell + Outdoor 4 XR bundle to $156.99, down from $479.98—a 67% discount and the lowest price tracked to date, according to price tracking tools. For that price, you get a second-gen video doorbell, six Blink Outdoor 4 cameras, the Sync Module XR, and all the accessories needed to get started, including mounting hardware, batteries, cables, and installation tools.

Blink Video Doorbell + Outdoor 4 XR

All the cameras and the doorbell run on AA lithium batteries (so you don't need to worry about running power cables or hiring someone to install a wired system), and Blink estimates up to two years of life per set—though expect less if your doorbell sees heavy foot traffic or your cameras cover a high-activity area. As for the footage, the video doorbell captures a wider head-to-toe view, making package deliveries easier to monitor, while the Outdoor 4 cameras can watch over driveways, backyards, garages, or side entrances—the included Sync Module XR extends the system's range considerably, allowing the cameras to be placed farther from the home (up to 400 feet) than many competing battery-powered systems.

When motion is detected, you'll get an alert through the Blink app and can view live footage or communicate through the built-in two-way audio. While the cameras support motion detection out of the box, some of Blink's more advanced features, including person detection, require a Blink subscription (starts at $11.99/month) after the included 30-day trial expires. The cameras will continue to provide live viewing and basic motion alerts without a subscription, but the notifications become less informative. Video quality is also solid for checking in and reviewing basic motion events, but it doesn't match the level of detail you'll find from more expensive wired security systems. Still, for under $160, it's difficult to find another package that includes a video doorbell, six outdoor cameras, long battery life, and enough coverage to secure most homes right out of the box.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

This 250W Anker Charging Station Is 33% Off Right Now

Pradershika Sharma — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:30:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

The Anker Prime 250W Desktop Charging Station is one of those products that makes more sense the more devices you own. If your desk usually has a laptop charger, a phone charger, a tablet charger, and a few USB cables scattered around, consolidating everything into a single charging hub can be genuinely useful. With Prime Day 2026 approaching and many people looking to upgrade their desk setups, chargers are one category worth paying attention to. Right now, the Anker Prime Desktop Charging Station is on sale for $99.99, down from its regular $149.99 price.

Anker Prime 250W Desktop Charging Station

This charging station has six ports in total, including four USB-C and two USB-A ports, with up to 250W of combined output. That's enough power to charge a laptop, phone, tablet, earbuds, and a few other accessories at the same time without much compromise. Anker has also added a small display that shows how much power each connected device is drawing. It's a feature you probably don't think you need until you can actually see whether your laptop is charging at full speed or your phone is getting priority. Speaking of which, the charger lets you control how power is distributed. If your phone is nearly dead and you're heading out soon, you can prioritize that device while still charging everything else.

There are additional modes for charging two laptops at once, handling low-power accessories, or automatically managing power allocation without any manual adjustments. Through the Anker app, you can monitor charging activity, schedule when the station turns on or off, adjust display settings, and even add a clock screensaver to the built-in screen. None of that is essential, but it does make the charger feel more integrated into a workspace rather than just sitting there as another accessory.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Here's How Small the Oura Ring 5 Really Is

Beth Skwarecki — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

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I’ve been wearing the Oura Ring 5 for a few days now. My full review is coming soon, but so I have one major takeaway so far: The Oura Ring 5 is impressively thin, as was promised. It’s also the most comfortable smart ring I’ve ever worn.

Oura Ring 5 - Gold - Size 8

$499.00 at Amazon

The Oura Ring 5 is getting closer to the size of a non-smart ring

Left to right: regular rings, Oura Ring 5 in gold, Oura Ring 4 in black Credit: Beth Skwarecki

The photo above shows the size of the Oura Ring 5 (center, in gold) next to the previous generation, the Oura Ring 4 (right, in black). To the left are two regular jewelry rings for comparison. The latter rings are chunkier than a lot of people’s delicate little wedding rings (what can I say, I’ve always appreciated a sturdy titanium ring), but they've always looked tiny when placed next to a smart ring. Compared to the Oura Ring 5, though, the difference is a lot less dramatic than with any other smart ring I've worn.

The Oura Ring 5 is definitely the smallest smart ring I’ve ever seen

Left stack, top to bottom: Samsung Galaxy Ring, Ultrahuman Ring Air, RingConn Gen 3. Right stack, top to bottom: Oura Ring 5, Oura Ring 4, Oura Ring 3. Credit: Beth Skwarecki

Based on specs, I knew this ring would be the smallest one I’ve tried, and here’s the proof: In the photo above, the three rings on the right-hand stack are various generations of Oura rings, with the Oura Ring 5 on top. On the left stack, the rings are (top to bottom) the Samsung Galaxy Ring, the Ultrahuman Ring Air, and the RingConn Gen 3.

RingConn Gen 3, left; Oura Ring 5, right. Credit: Beth Skwarecki

And this photo offers a direct comparison between the Oura Ring 5 and the RingConn Gen 3, its closest competitor with regard to size. The Oura Ring 5 is in gold, the RingConn 3 in silver.

Here’s how the Oura Ring 5 compares to previous generations of Oura Rings

Left to right: Oura rings 3, 4, and 5. Note that the gen 3 ring is a larger finger size (size 9) than the other two (both size 8). Credit: Beth Skwarecki

In the photo above, you can see the last three generations of the Oura ring: the 3, 4, and 5, from left to right. You can see that the gen 3 had round sensor bumps on the inside, while the Oura Ring 4 flattened those out for a flush interior. The Oura Ring 5 brings back some low-profile bumps to improve skin contact.

Is the Oura Ring 5 worth the upgrade?

The Oura Ring 5 is definitely nicer-looking and more comfortable than the previous generations, and Oura says the finish is more scratch-resistant. Those are good reasons to go for the 5 over an earlier generation, all else being equal. That said, if you already have an Oura Ring 4, I'm less sure whether it's worth upgrading. From generation to generation, Oura’s rings have only offered minor hardware improvements over the years. They get a little more comfortable and a little more accurate with each iteration, but I’d have a hard time telling someone they should ditch their current ring, whatever generation they have. You just don’t gain much from keeping up with the times.

There’s a big caveat on my conclusion, though: battery longevity. My Oura rings keep dying right around the two-year mark, and from what I’ve seen from other Oura users, this seems to be a common issue. This happened with my gen 2 ring, then the gen 3 that replaced it, and the battery on my second gen 3 ring wasn’t doing well before I swapped it out for the Oura Ring 4 that I got as a review unit (I made that switch sometime last year). In recent weeks, I’ve noticed my Oura Ring 4 now only holds a charge for about three days at a time, down from about a week when it was new.

I asked Oura if it's doing any research on battery longevity or making the rings last longer, but the company didn’t share any specifics. I understand that it’s hard to build a long-lasting battery in such a small device, so I’m not faulting Oura for the limits of technology. But battery longevity being what it is, Oura customers need to know that these rings won't last forever. Interestingly, the batteries' lifespan seems to roughly coincide with the release cycle of new generations of the device. That's perfect timing if you're ready to upgrade, and more than disappointing if you're not.

Target Just Announced Its Answer to Prime Day

Daniel Oropeza — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000

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Target is the first major retailer to announce its own sale to compete with Amazon's Prime Day 2026. In a press release today, the company revealed that its "Circle Deal Days" will take place from June 23 to June 26, which happen to be the exact dates Amazon has staked out for its own major annual sale. Here is everything you need to know about Target's upcoming sale.

What is Target Circle Deal Days?

Circle Deal Days is Target’s new name for its biggest sales of the year. In 2025, its sales (held in July and October, again at the same time as a pair of Amazon events) were called Circle Week, but starting with this spring's sale (which happened around the same time as Amazon's Big Spring Sale), it seems Target has pivoted to calling the event "Circle Deal Days." Aside from the fact that it doesn't last a full week, it's the same concept as a Circle Week sale. Like Prime Day, this sale used to happen once a year, but, much to the dismay of Target workers, it now occurs multiple times a year.

When is Circle Deal Days for summer 2026?

This year, Circle Deal Days will take place from June 23 to June 26; however, Target Circle 360 members will get access to the sale a day early, on June 22. Prime Day, which has historically offered better deals, will also take place from June 23 to June 26.

Do you need to be a member to shop the sales during Circle Deal Days?

Like Amazon's Prime Day sale, you will need to be a Circle member to take part in the sale, but unlike a Prime membership, joining Target Circle is free. You can sign up for an account on the Target app or Target.com.

You can also pay for a Target Circle 360 membership, which grants you early access to the sale, plus other perks, like same-day delivery. If you're a teacher, college student, military member, or receive government assistance, you can save 50% on the one-year Circle 360 subscription; otherwise, it starts at $10.99 per month. But again, a paid membership isn't necessary to get all the best Circle Deal Days deals.

What deals can I expect during Circle Deal Days?

Circle Deal Days will focus on back-to-school items, outdoor products, and tech products. You can shop in person or online, and there will be a "Deal of the Day" for every day of the event.

Here is a list of deals you can expect:

Up to 45% off select kitchen items, including Cuisinart, Keurig and Ninja

Up to 45% off select floorcare, including Bissell, Hoover and Sharper Image

40% off back-to-school and college essentials, including: JanSport backpacks, select writing tools from BIC, Expo, Paper Mate and Sharpie, and Casaluna and Threshold bedding and bath items

40% off select women’s clothing, including A New Day and Universal Thread

40% off select beauty items, including KISS and Laifen

40% off Sun Squad outdoor gear and coolers

You can also get a pretty good idea from past Target sales. Here are some of the deals they had at the tail end of the Circle Week last fall.

What competitors are also hosting summer sales?

Amazon’s Prime Day will take place between June 23 and June 26, so all the other sales tend to revolve around these dates. Walmart hasn't announced its Walmart Deals sale yet, but it's likely coming soon. Best Buy is likely cooking something as well, and I'll update this article once it announces its own sale.

Why You Should Take a Hyrox Class Even If You Never Plan to Compete

Meredith Dietz — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Hyrox is all the rage, but I know that for a lot of gym-goers, it appears to have popped up out of nowhere. Maybe you noticed a class on your gym's schedule labeled "Hyrox" and wondered what on earth it was. Or maybe a video of an old friend appeared on your Instagram feed with a corny caption about how Hyrox has helped them push their limits. When I first started noticing Hyrox, I felt the same way I have about CrossFit, or Tough Mudders, or any other group fitness trend: a mix of skepticism, indifference, and a vague sense that it simply wasn’t for me.

Now that I’ve completed a Hyrox race, however, I gladly eat my words—or most of them, anyway. (I still think I’d rather run 20 miles than drag a weighted sled across a gym floor for 20 meters.) But even if I never compete in another Hyrox, I’ll definitely be returning to Hyrox-style workout classes. Here’s why I think Hyrox workouts are still worth your time, even if you have zero desire to compete in an official Hyrox race.

What exactly is Hyrox training?

Lifehacker senior health editor (and my doubles partner) Beth Skwarecki goes into more depth elsewhere, but here’s a quick primer on Hyrox: Launched in Germany in 2017, it is currently one of the fastest-growing competitive fitness events in the world. A lot of people will tell you Hyrox is short for “hybrid rockstar,” since “hybrid” is a term that athletes often use when they feel they exist somewhere between the extremes of endurance athletes and strength athletes. The company hasn’t confirmed this origin story, but it fits the bill.

The official race consists of eight one-kilometer runs, each followed by one of eight functional workout stations. It’s clearly designed to be accessible to everyday athletes—not just Olympic-level competitors—which is a big part of why it has caught on so quickly.

But Hyrox training, and the group classes that have sprouted up around it, do not require you to know anything about the race itself. Hyrox-style classes take familiar, functional movements and conditioning principles and repackage them into an intense, coached group workout.

What is included in a Hyrox workout?

The official race's eight workout stations include the ski erg, sled push, sled pull, burpee broad jumps, rowing, farmers carry, sandbag lunges, and wall balls. In a class setting, you'll encounter some of these movements, but it really depends on your gym’s resources. And as far as a regular workout goes, the Hyrox framing is a great way to target strength, endurance, and coordination.

In my experience with F45 Hyrox classes, we cycled through intervals or circuits designed to spike your heart rate and challenge your muscles in ways that combine the perks of both traditional cardio and standard strength training—hence the keyword “hybrid.” Classes tend to be around 45 minutes; for context, Beth and I finished our actual Hyrox race in about 97 minutes.

What are the benefits of a Hyrox workout?

Here's what I can tell you from personal experience: I did five weeks of weekly Hyrox classes at my local F45 gym in preparation for my first race. When I chatted with my fellow gym-goers, I learned I was the only one there with a race on the calendar. Everyone else was there simply because they thought the workout was a good one.

The main selling point of Hyrox training is that “hybrid” branding; your goal is to build aerobic capacity at the same time you're developing functional strength. For regular gym rats, any class setting is a great way to add structure to your workout, and Hyrox in particular is appealing to anyone craving variety.

As a runner with limited strength training, these classes were crucial to traching me Hyrox-specific movements before race day (namely sandbag lunges, sled pulls, sled pushes). My coaches broke down the basics in a way that made the movements feel achievable, even for someone with no background in these specific exercises. How “effective” the workout will be depends on a number of factors, but I can tell you that—anecdotally, subjectively, vibes-wise—I definitely feel stronger after my five weeks training for Hyrox.

Is Hyrox considered HIIT or CrossFit?

I’m not surprised by how many people have asked me if Hyrox is just rebranded CrossFit, or if it’s just a glorified HIIT workout. Now that I’ve completed an official Hyrox race, I can tell you that Hyrox is its own thing, while pulling elements from both.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) typically involves short, maximum-effort bursts followed by rest periods. This definition lines up with my experience in the Hyrox workout classes at F45. The race itself is more of an endurance event than you’ll find in a 45-minute class. As Beth and I discovered firsthand, Hyrox rewards pacing and efficiency over HIIT-style explosive bursts.

CrossFit is its own beast, in a league outside of Hyrox. They’re similar in their trendiness, and their communities certainly have some overlap, but that’s where the resemblance ends. CrossFit puts a much greater focus on lifting, which naturally requires more specialized training before you show up for a competition. Hyrox events are hard work, but they’re far more beginner-friendly. You won’t see barbell snatches like in Olympic weightlifting or handstand walks like in the CrossFit games. What seems to surprise most people (including Beth and me) is how much of Hyrox is straight-up running laps.

And if you’re not interested in racing at all, Hyrox classes tend to be more structured and approachable than CrossFit, with none of the technical lifting that sets CrossFit apart.

What to know before you try Hyrox

After racing, Beth and I agreed that our gym’s Hyrox classes alone weren't enough to prepare us for race day. There are mechanics, pacing strategies, and race-specific skills that a 45-minute group class simply doesn't have the time or resources to cover in depth.

For instance, I showed up to my race having never properly performed a wall ball. In my class, we did dumbbell thrusters as a substitute movement. That built some strength, but it gave me none of the technique required to hit the actual wall ball to race-day standards, and I suffered for that. The sled work was familiar because we had done it in class, but knowing how to pace yourself across eight rounds of running and eight different stations is another skill entirely.

None of this is a knock on Hyrox classes. It’s simply the reality of how much ground a group fitness format can cover in a session. If competing is your goal, you'll definitely want to supplement with additional race-specific preparation. But if your goal is simply to get fitter, stronger, and more capable in the gym, you can show up for a Hyrox class with no competitive ambitions and walk out having gotten a great workout.

Google’s ‘Dreambeans’ App Generates 'News Stories' Based on Your Life

Jake Peterson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:15:00 +0000

News aggregators are good at keeping you hooked. It's impossible to look at every story in your feed, so you continue to scroll until you can no longer stand looking at your phone. But it seems Google has an alternative pitch: an app that generates personalized "news" stories based on what's going on in your life—an app that's intended to curb your scrolling, not enable it.

How Google's new "Dreambeans" app works

Google Labs announced "Dreambeans" on Wednesday. The idea is this: You connect all your Google apps to Dreambeans—Gmail, Calendar, Photos, YouTube, or your account's Search history—and it pores over your messages, calendars, what have you, looking for events or activities that are important to you. From there, it generates faux articles that you can learn from, and which are directly tied to the happenings in your personal life. You only need to connect one app to get things working, but Google's pitch makes it seem like the more apps you connect, the better the article output will be.

Here's an example from Google: You receive an email confirming that your dog's training treat order is on the way. Dreambeans sees this when looking through your Gmail inbox, and generates a story featuring tips for using the treats to properly train your dog. In another example, Dreambeans taps into Google Calendar and sees you have a friend visiting town this weekend. Because Dreambeans knows you have a dog, it decides to generate a story highlighting dog-friendly restaurants near your house that you and your friend could try—along with your pet, of course.

If you decide you're interested in any particular Dreambeans story, you're able to "dive deeper." Google says Dreambeans will pull information from the internet to add more context to the story, similar to how AI Overviews or AI Mode work in Search—maybe a story about using the training treats also contains information about local dog parks or nearby puppy training camps. Google says you can save any story to Dreambeans' library. As with other AI products, you're able to give Dreambeans feedback, which may adjust the story you're looking at or impact future story generations.

Google says that each of these stories comes with a "unique illustration," generated using Nano Banana 2. Dreambeans may even pull from your Google Photos library for these AI illustrations, if the story involves you or someone you know.

Credit: Google

Why is it called Dreambeans?

The general concept makes sense: connect your apps and receive AI-generated stories about things that might matter to you. But what doesn't make much sense is the name: What does Dreambeans even mean?

Here's Google's explanation: Dreambeans is a combination of, you guessed it, "dream" and "beans." The "dream" part describes the way Dreambeans looks through your apps overnight to find things to "report" on. Those findings are then refined into "beans," the stories themselves. Sure Google.

Dreambeans isn't great for privacy

If you do decide to take Dreambeans for a spin, know that the app is not particularly focused on user privacy. The App Store listing's "App Privacy" page shows that Google collects the following data points from you and links them to your identity:

Purchases
Contact info
User Content
Identifiers
Diagnostics
Location
Contacts
Search History
Usage Data
Other Data

In addition, Dreambeans has access to any apps you connect to it. If you connect your Gmail, it can root through your inbox; if you connect YouTube, it sees your watch history. While Google says you can delete your Dreambeans data at any time, know what you're getting into. (Though, seeing as this is a Google product, the company already has much of this data across your other Google products.)

You can only try Dreambeans if you're a paid subscriber (for now)

As of this writing, Dreambeans is only available to AI Ultra subscribers who are 18 or older. As such, unless you're paying $100 per month for Google's most expensive AI subscription, you won't be able to use Dreambeans just yet.

Still, the rest of us will get the chance to try it sooner rather than later. Google's official Dreambeans website has a waitlist that all users with a Google Account can add their names to. The app itself is currently available to download on iOS and Android.

These Are the Best Price-Tracking Tools I Use As a Deals Writer

Daniel Oropeza — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

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If you’ve ever felt like you were duped by overpaying for something that was advertised as a “great deal,” you’re in the right place. It’s easy to get caught up in frenzied online shopping holidays— especially when retailers sometimes sneak price hikes before major sales (Amazon's upcoming Prime Day sale included) or deceive shoppers with tricks to get you to spend more than you intended to.

Figuring out the best time to buy something requires constantly watching ever-fluctuating online prices and some knowledge of how prices have changed in the past. As a shopping editor, that is what I do for a living, and I know how time-consuming it can be. Luckily, you don’t have to figure it all out yourself: Here are the best websites and extensions I've been using for years to check price history and track prices so that you can be sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

The best Amazon price tracker: Camelcamelcamel

Credit: Camelcamelcamel.com

CamelCamelCamel is among the best ways to track prices on Amazon products. You can install the browser extension (on Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Safari) to get access to the site’s features without leaving Amazon, or you can just copy and paste an Amazon link or product name to the website’s search bar. CamelCamelCamel shows you how the price of the item has gone up or down over time, how prices have changed through Amazon directly, and the fluctuations from third-party Amazon sellers who list new and used items.

If you sign up for a free account, you can set up alerts so the site can notify you by email when the price of an item drops below a certain amount, if you can get it used for a given price, or if it’s at an all-time low and now is a good time to buy. You can even see previous historic highs and lows and try to map out the best time to strike.

The best price tracker for most online retailers and to compare prices: Honey

Credit: Honey.com

You've probably already heard of the "Honey influencer scam" that blew up in December of 2024. Essentially, Honey hijacked affiliate links from influencers who were sponsoring them. Also, in many instances, it deliberately chose not to give the best coupons to users who used the extension (going completely against its business model). Honey is not alone in this behavior. Many coupon aggregator companies hijack affiliate links; Honey just happens to be in the spotlight because it's the biggest one. Use your own judgment if you choose to use any of its services.

The bad news for those looking for a price-tracking tool that can be used for most online retailers is that Honey is the only option. The good news is that Honey's price-tracking tool can't scam you or give you subpar coupons. The Honey browser extension compares prices from a whole bunch of retailers, not just Amazon. You can create a Droplist, which notifies you if the prices drop for an item on your list if you’re willing to wait for a deal. Here is what creating a Droplist can do for you:

First, it’ll keep the items you want to keep tabs on organized and easily accessible. Second, it’ll track the prices of those products and alert you when they go on sale at any major retailer. You can see how much those prices cost leading up to the sale to see if they are, in fact, good deals or a trick from retailers to take advantage of you, and even compare them with other major retailers to see who has the best deal. You can see how to set up your droplist here.

As long as you don't buy the products using a Honey link, you won't be giving money to the service. Until there's a better alternative, Honey is the only option that can instantly pull up price histories and track prices for multiple retailers with a browser extension (for now).

The best tool to compare prices: Capital One Shopping

Credit: Amazon.com

Capital One Shopping, previously known as Wikibuy, compares prices from other sellers when you shop on Amazon. You can simply type any product into the search bar on top and start analyzing it. If you choose to use the browser extension, it will notify you if a product you are looking at is cheaper somewhere else, and offer a summary of pricing history, estimated delivery time, and total price, including tax and shipping. If you can apply a coupon, it’ll add that as well. When the price drops for a product you’ve viewed, Capital One Shopping will notify you. When you shop, you can earn credits for your purchases at some websites, like Walmart and eBay, that Capital One Shopping has partnered with. You can trade that credit for gift cards or put it toward purchases through Capital One Shopping’s site.

The extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, and an iOS app allows you to scan barcodes and search products to do price comparisons from your phone.

The best price tracker tool for gamers: CheapShark

Credit: CheapShark.com

While most of the others in the roundup focus on products like electronics, apparel, household goods, and appliances, CheapShark is a great option for those looking to save money on video games. CheapShark combines all of the great places to get discounts on games in one place, one easily searchable directory and database of current prices from sites including Steam, GoG, Green Man Gaming, GameStop, Amazon, and more. Of course, it’s limited to video games, but you can search a game name not just to see how much it’ll cost you to buy, but even if you can buy it at all—and which retailer has it available. If you want, you can even filter by games currently on sale at their selected stores.

When you search for a specific game, CheapShark tells you what the cheapest-ever price was, when it hit that price, and gives you the choice to either go ahead and buy it from your choice of retailer or to sign up for a price notification if it drops again.

Honorable mentions

Amazon's own price history

Credit: Amazon Rufus AI

No need to download any extension or activate any application. Amazon's own price history is located right next to every item's list price, and opens a side window that shows you the price activity from the last 30 days. You can expand it up to 90 days as well. I've found this tool to be helpful when Camelcamelcamel or Keepa don't have information (which is rare). Amazon uses its AI technology, Rufus, to track these prices. It's disappointing that there are no details as to what prices are included in on-page coupons, since the only one with this information would be Amazon. But they wouldn't benefit much from telling you this, so it makes sense to keep it to itself.

Keepa: Practical price-tracking tool for Amazon and eBay

Credit: Amazon.com using the Keepa browser extension

Keepa works very similarly to Camelcamelcamel, but instead of clicking on the extension to see the price history, it'll be automatically displayed below the image of the product. This helps if clicking on the extension or installing is one click too much for you. Keepa also lets you track specific products and sends you notifications when they go below a specific price that you set. It also works on eBay. You can download the extension for Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Edge, and Safari.

SlickDeals: Great for finding deals and checking prices

SlickDeals is known for bringing you up-to-the-minute discounts, coupons, and other deals from around the web, but its web-based price tracker is also great for watching prices on just about any item on Amazon and on a ton of other popular shopping sites, like Newegg, Gamestop, Chewy, Home Depot, and others.

Credit: SlickDeals

The service doesn’t give you a detailed price history like some of the others in the roundup—it only shows a “deal history” under the “price intelligence” section for a few popular products. However, it will track the price of your item from when you create an alert and send you an email if the price drops below a threshold that you set. You can also return to the price tracker at any time, log in to your account, and see all of your tracked items on the same screen.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

This Blink Floodlight Camera Is 70% Off During an Early Prime Day Sale

Naima Karp — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:30:18 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Despite all the great smart security cameras on the market right now, floodlight cameras are still the best option if you want a healthy dose of intruder deterrence and bright lighting alongside your video surveillance to eliminate dark hiding spots around your property. While they’re generally a bit pricier than regular security cams, the Blink Wired Floodlight Camera is currently 70% off, down to a record-low price of $29.99 (originally $99.99) in an early Prime Day deal.

Blink Wired Floodlight Camera

This dual-LED wired model has 1080p video, color night vision, intelligent motion alerts, and a built-in siren. It’s compatible with third-party devices via IFTTT and Alexa voice controls, and is weather-resistant, though an IP rating isn’t stated. Along with a camera, the Blink Wired Floodlight features two LED floodlights with a combined brightness of 2,600 lumens (1,300 lumens each) with a 5,000K color temperature. This PCMag review, which gives it an "excellent" rating, notes that it's significantly brighter than the Blink Floodlight Mount, which doesn’t include a camera.

Both the lights and camera connect to the included fixture with mounting arms that give users a solid range of tilt and swivel adjustability, and a 143-degree field of view to minimize blind spots and capture broad areas. Users can view up to five minutes of live video at a time and receive motion notifications for free. To unlock more features, a paid subscription is required, and a hub (sold separately) is required for local video storage.

Like other Blink devices, the camera can be controlled through the Blink mobile app, allowing you to livestream footage, take snapshots, and arm or disarm the system remotely. When armed, the camera automatically records video and sends alerts when motion is detected. At just $29.99, the Blink Wired Floodlight Camera is one of the cheapest ways to add bright floodlighting, video surveillance, and a built-in siren to your home's security setup before Prime Day officially begins.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

I'm a Weightlifter, and I Admit It: Runners Are Better at Hyrox

Beth Skwarecki — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:00:26 +0000

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When Meredith and I began training for Hyrox back in April, we had one big question: Whose strengths will help more in the race, hers as a runner or mine as a weightlifter? We ran the 2026 Hyrox race in New York City this past weekend, and we definitely have our answer. You can see a few video clips and some of my thoughts in this wrap-up I posted on Instagram, but read on for the detailed breakdown. For the record, our finish time was 1:36:48.

View this post on Instagram

As a reminder, Hyrox is the fitness race where you do eight short runs, each followed by a different strength-based workout station. (I have a full explainer here.) It’s what you’d get if you asked runners to redesign Crossfit, which may be a bit of a spoiler for our results. Meredith and I did the race as a doubles team, meaning we had to do the runs together, but could divide the work any way we liked when we were at the strength stations.

How the Hyrox race felt for each of us

Heading into the race, Meredith said she was worried she would have to leave me with (literally) all the heavy lifting. I was worried I’d be too tired from the runs to be much help with the lifting at all. Unfortunately, I was right.

For me, the first few runs and stations felt good, as I was warming up and being careful not to go out too hard. But about halfway through the sled push (the second station), I realized I was too gassed to be a hero. From that point to the finish, I was just hanging on for dear life. I kept telling Meredith we had to slow down on the runs; I cherished every brief moment of rest I got during the stations when she was taking her turn.

Meredith had a very different experience. Since we had to stay together on the runs, and she’s a stronger runner, my “oh god this is as fast as I can go” pace was a relaxed jog for her. She says: “I did really get to recover on the runs, so I could be way more explosive / ‘full send’ at each station than I originally thought I would.”

Originally, I’d wanted to take more of the strength stations and expected we’d split the more cardio-heavy stations 50/50. Instead, we ended up splitting strength 50/50. Some of the cardio was still 50/50 (we each did 500 meters on the rower), but on other stations, like the burpees, Meredith had the energy to take on more.

What our Hyrox race heart rate data shows

Meredith (the runner) in dark purple, Beth (the weightlifter) in light blue. Credit: Beth Skwarecki

Meredith and I wore heart rate monitors so we could analyze our effort levels in a more-or-less objective way. She used the Garmin HRM 600 paired to a Forerunner 970; I had my trusty Coospo connected to the Coros Pace 4. Conveniently, despite the fact that I'm about 16 years older than her, we have similar max heart rates, so the graphs line up nicely. (Max heart rate doesn’t correlate with age the way you’ve probably been taught—more on that here.)

In this graph, Meredith is the darker purple line and I’m the lighter blue line. Both lines spike at the stations, but the run segments show why she had an easier time with this race: Whenever we left a station and took our running laps, Meredith’s heart rate dropped.

In other words, the runs were recovery time for her. But for me, the run after each station was just as hard as the station itself. I was pushing myself the whole way, while for her, the effort level varied like an interval or fartlek workout.

Why runners are better at Hyrox

Hyrox is, ultimately, an endurance race. The average finish time is around 90 minutes (we were a bit slower than average), and that means it’s a long aerobic effort no matter what.

To put that in exercise science terms, the main energy system you’re using during a Hyrox race is your aerobic system—the same as in a long running race like a marathon. When you do strength work in the gym, with heavy weights and complete rest between sets, that’s a different story. But the strength work in a Hyrox race uses light weights and little to no rest, so it’s really just more endurance work in disguise.

To look at it another way, let’s think about race strategy and timing. The heaviest station was the sled push, and it took us 1:55—just under two minutes. Pushing the sled a little faster wouldn’t affect our race time very much. According to Hyresult, the very fastest women’s doubles teams take about 1:00 flat on this event. If we worked to become one of the best sled-pushing teams in the world, we’d only save 55 seconds on our total race time.

Contrast that with the returns you can get from being good at running. Each of our runs averaged 7.5 minutes, and over the course of the race, we ran for a full hour. Runners in the top 10% of our division tend to get each run done in just four minutes. If we could run as fast as those ladies, we’d have finished in something like 1:09 instead of 1:36. That’s a drastic difference.

So, to summarize: runners do better than weightlifters at Hyrox because (1) running takes up most of the time in the race, (2) the demands on your body are endurance-focused; and (3) the weights aren’t heavy enough to be a serious barrier to runners. A heavy sled might slow you down, but it won’t make a huge difference to your race time.

What I (the weightlifter) would do differently next time

I’m already thinking about how I would improve for another Hyrox race. I’m not saying I want to do another one, but I can’t help thinking about this as a problem to solve. And the answer is painfully clear: run more. I’d need to have really good endurance—which I could build with any exercise, like running but also cycling—and ideally good running economy as well. In other words, I’d have to turn myself into a runner.

What Meredith (the runner) would do differently next time

I asked Meredith for her thoughts on improving, but before we get to that, there’s a really simple way Meredith could improve her time: Team up with someone who runs as fast as her! Not having to drag my tired ass around the track would get her a much better finish time regardless of how the stations go.

But she graciously did not say that, at least not to my face. Instead, she says: “I would do what I could to focus on strategy, finding as many simulations as possible, since I think my greatest challenge was a lack of familiarity. I think I lost a lot of brainpower trying to tap into a muscle memory [on the strength stations] that simply didn't exist.”

My advice for anyone thinking of tackling a Hyrox for the first time

So what does this all mean for you, dear reader, thinking about trying a Hyrox and assessing your strengths and weaknesses?

First of all, I think you should know you need to work on your running, or at least your endurance, no matter how good or bad you are in this department to start. Being a good runner means that, in any given moment of the race, you get to choose whether you want to push the pace and finish faster, or relax and recover while still moving forward. Us out-of-shape runners can only suffer or stop.

But that doesn’t mean that a Hyrox race is equivalent to, say, a half-marathon. (Meredith has more thoughts on that here.) The strength stations are quite a challenge if you’ve never done them before, and a Hyrox-themed class at a gym is not the same as proper race preparation. For example, Meredith’s classes had never gotten around to doing actual wall balls (the last and arguably most challenging exercise of the race) so I gave her a crash course in the warmup room before the race.

We also discovered that a strategy that came naturally for me, as a competitive weightlifter, was a mind-blowing new idea to Meredith, who only strength trains for the purpose of building strength (not showing it off). That’s the idea that in a competition, you want to use as little energy as possible on exercises, even if you’re used to doing the opposite in training. So we step up from our burpees instead of jumping, we run on the farmer’s carry so that our grip strength doesn’t have to last as long, and we pull the sled by walking rather than trying to get the sled pull to work our biceps.

Credit: Hyresult.com

It’s also worth taking the time to study the race: knowing what order the stations come in, and studying the venue map so you know where to find each of them. Besides station time and run time, your results also include your “roxzone time,” the roxzone being the transition area between segments. While we were slightly below average on workouts, and well below average on runs, we actually had a better-than-average roxzone time. That means our preparation helped us shave off a bit of time there—and every minute helps.

TikTok Is Launching a New App That Probably No One Will Use

Emily Long — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:30:00 +0000

TikTok users in the U.S. now have yet another way to engage with the TikTok ecosystem—this time through a new standalone app focused on live entertainment and "cultural milestones." TikTok Pro Events is centered on fan culture for events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, encouraging users to search for trending hashtags, visit the event hub, and share related content. Doing so earns you rewards—called Stars—which can be redeemed in-app for official merch, TikTok Shop coupons, or TikTok-funded charitable donations.

The new app is now available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, though exclusively for those in the U.S. If you don't want to download a separate app, you can still access World Cup event hubs in the main TikTok app by searching "FIFA World Cup," which raises the question of why this new app is necessary—and whether any U.S.-based TikTokkers will actually bother to use it in favor of the main TikTok app.

New under TikTok's new owners

Of course, it doesn't seem like the app is really for TikTok users as much as for the benefit of TikTok's new U.S. owners. As TechCrunch notes, TikTok Pro Events offers revenue opportunities for TikTok USDS Joint Venture, the new owner of the platform's U.S. operations arm, with sponsorships, partnerships, and advertising.

While this is the first standalone app introduced under TikTok's new ownership, it's not the first launch targeted at U.S. users. Local Feed, a feature designed to show you content from your immediate geographic area, rolled out to the main TikTok app in February (though exclusively in the U.S.). It's worth noting that Local Feed has opt-in GPS data sharing, which allows TikTok to see your precise location in order to deliver more specific content. If you don't enable this setting, the app will use "coarse location" data based on your IP address, network, and posting activity to customize your local feed.

In May, TikTok USDS JV also introduced TikTok GO, a travel-focused feature (similar to TikTok Shop) that helps users discover hotels, attractions, and tours, check availability, and complete their booking—all within the app. While the feature relies on partnerships with third-party engines like Booking.com, Expedia, and Viator, it does not require users to leave TikTok to complete their transaction.

You Can Choose New 'Thinking Levels' for Gemini

Jake Peterson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:00:00 +0000

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You need to use a lot of quotation when discussing AI. There's "intelligence," of course, but also "thinking," which these days usually refers to a specific type of model that breaks requests into multiple steps and takes longer to process (or "think through") them. Thinking models are nothing new, but if you use Gemini, you do have new thinking "levels" to choose from when using non-thinking models. Here's how it works.

When you open Gemini, you'll notice a new "Thinking level" option at the bottom of the model selector in Google's Gemini app for iOS and Android. 9to5Google first spotted the feature rolling out just ahead of Google I/O 2026, but the option should now be available to all Gemini users, per Android Authority. "Thinking level" appears when using either 3.1 Flash-Lite, 3.5 Flash, or 3.1 Pro. Free users will see two options here: "Standard" and "Extended." Google says that Standard is best for most problems, while Extended offers more time for "complex topics." Paid users will notice a third option when using 3.1 Pro, too: "Deep Think." This is Google's existing thinking model for Gemini, and is still locked away behind its AI Ultra subscription.

But even with Deep Think access, this is all good news for free users. If you're using the default "Standard" thinking option, for example, you might not get the answer (or the quality of answer) you're looking for, since the model is designed to produce a response as quickly as possible. Therefore, you may want to dive into the Thinking level menu to switch to Extended: It may take a bit longer than usual, but you may boost your chance of getting the response you're expecting—all without having to pay for Deep Think.

Google AI subscribers get exclusive Gemini features

Paid Gemini users, of course, continue to receive exclusive features for their money. For example, Gemini Omni, Google's new powerful multimodal video model, now powers a new feature that lets paid users generate videos featuring their own likeness. All you need to do is scan your face and say a few words, and Gemini can drop you in a 10-second video of your choosing. It's impressive (and frightening), and, of course, limited only to Google AI subscribers.

Gemini Made This Hyperrealistic Deepfake Video of Me in Just a Few Minutes

Khamosh Pathak — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:30:00 +0000

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During its big I/O 2026 keynote, Google announced Gemini Omni, an AI model that can generate videos from, well, just about anything. In the weeks since the announcement, paid subscribers have been able to use a mix of text, images, documents, and video clips to generate new AI videos. Now, Google is rolling out a new Omni feature, that lets you generate hyperrealistic avatars of yourself. It's limited to videos right now (no AI profile pictures yet), but it does a surprisingly good job of creating a talking-head video with only a couple of reference selfies—surpassing what the short-lived Sora app accomplished. With Omni, Google has unleashed a tool that lets you create deepfake videos of yourself (and only yourself) in mere minutes. Are we ready for it?

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You can create your own deepfake with Gemini Omni today

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Thankfully, you can't take a selfie and turn it into a deepfake video. You need to go through a verification process from Google that requires scanning your face. Once you have access to this Omni feature, go to the Gemini sidebar and tap on Videos. You'll see a pop-up here to create your own avatar. If you don't see it, click the Plus button from the Gemini prompt box, then tap Avatar. Gemini will direct you to a Google site to scan your face. Here, you take a couple of selfies and move your face from side to side. Then, you say a couple of numbers out loud, and you're done. You don't even have to speak any words or sentences. Once the process is done, the avatar is ready, and you can go back to Gemini.

Now, back in the "Videos" section, type "@[your name]" to use your own avatar in your videos. Generating a video takes a couple of minutes, and you'll get a notification when it's ready. You can play the video in the app, save it to your gallery, or share it via a link or with the video file itself. There are some further limitations here: Gemini's new avatar feature is only available AI Pro or AI Ultra subscribers using personal accounts. In addition, the feature is limited to users 18 or older, and it's not available in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. Right now, it can only generate audio in English. Each generation carries an obvious Gemini watermark, but is also coded with SynthID, Google's new industry standard for subtly watermarking AI videos and images using metadata that can be tracked even if the video is cropped.

Would you deepfake yourself?

After playing around with this feature all day and generating a series of videos, it's clear that this tool is shockingly good. We are not prepared for an era in which deepfake technologies are this prevalent and easy to access. You can see that in the example below: I asked Gemini to generate a video of me reviewing the iPhone 17 Pro, and requested that it include me saying a specific sentence. It did that.

Of course, there are limitations, and I can find plenty of faults as well. I asked for a review of the iPhone 17 Pro, but the video used an iPhone 16 Pro. At one point, something spontaneously appears above one of the many headphones in the background. And while the audio sounds like my real voice, there's no cadence to it. There's no personality, just a monotone delivery. And that extends to the videos themselves. It's me, a human, saying things, but the video feels quite lifeless. It's too clean, and too sharp, and my hair doesn't always look that good. If you know what to look out for, it's not necessarily difficult to tell that this is ultimately an AI deepfake (if the Gemini watermark and the AI label on YouTube didn't give it away). But the question is, how long will that be true for? And who will look deeply enough?

Videos are limited to 10 seconds right now, and you can't edit them, or make any changes, so the potential for abuse here is still quite small. That said, according to Google's announcements, they are currently gathering feedback. The company says, "in terms of editing videos to change audio and speech, we are still working to test this and better understand how we can bring this capability to users responsibly," so there's a possibility of an interactive editing interface down the line. Soon enough, users might place themselves in videos they can adjust to their exact specifications before sending them out into the wider internet. We might not be ready for that.

‘Lowkenuinely,’ ‘Bruzz,’ and Other Gen Z and Gen Alpha Slang You Might Need Help Decoding

Stephen Johnson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +0000

If constantly being mogged by sigmas has you feeling like a fuhuhluhtoogan, and you have no idea what any of that means, you've come to the right place. This glossary aims to define and explain popular slang words and phrases of Generation Z (usually defined as people born between 1997 and 2012) and Generation A (anyone born between 2012 and now) so you'll know what the hell people are talking about.

A word of warning: If you aren't of those generations, and/or you need an online list to know what slang words mean, you should not say them aloud, unless you're trying to be embarrassing.

New entries

Cheesin': The slang word "cheesin'" refers to smiling, particularly a big, goofy smile. It comes from the common exhortation to "say cheese!" before a photo is taken. The word "cheesing," with a "g" at the end, often means the same thing, but it can also refer to the trend of throwing slices of cheese at cars and/or people.

Lucky Scoops: Lucky Scoops are a kind of TikTok or Instagram video where buyers purchase a scoop that represents a chance to win merchandise. These videos are very popular with children; critics feel like they are a form of gambling.

Tweaking: In older slang, "tweaking" referred to the nervous and erratic actions of someone on drugs, specifically, speed. Generations A and Z have expanded the definition to refer to any actions that are erratic, or even just mildly energetic, not necessarily related to drug use.

304: Hoe. (Type "304" on a calculator and turn it upside down.)

4+4: Ate. Four plus four is eight, or "ate." (See "ate.")

6-7 (or 67): This piece of Generation Alpha brainrot slang doesn't mean anything. It's just funny to some people to say "6-7," especially in answer to any question involving numbers. Ex: "Q: What time is it? A: six-seveeen."

6-7 weekend: A weekend in which Saturday falls on the 6th day of the month and Sunday on the 7th.

7x7=49: Often refers to a man who is attractive in a self-evident way. Based on the belief that the equation 7x7=49 makes intuitive sense in a way other equations do not.

80/20 rule: An axiom in online incel spaces, the 80/20 is the idea that 80% of women only date the "top" 20% of men.

Algo speak: Coded language used to bypass online content moderation. Examples: "regarded" used instead of "retarded" and "unalive" instead of "kill."

Alpha male: Taken from animal ethology, an alpha male is the dominant member of a group of males, or just a male who is in charge. (See "beta male" and "sigma male.")

Alpine divorce: An alpine divorce is when a man takes his wife or girlfriend on a hike, usually in the mountains, and then just leaves her there to fend for herself.

ASAP (or A$AP): When a rapper has ASAP or A$AP in front of their name, it indicates affiliation with the ASAP Mob, a New York hip-hop collective.

Ate/eat: Done very well, often regarding clothing. e.g.: "You ate that outfit." See also: "serving."

Aura: Someone who is mysterious and cool is said to "have aura."

Aura farming: Depending on the context, “aura farming” can refer to a person who does something cool without trying or someone who is trying too hard to appear cool.

Baby Boo syndrome: A joking reference to people who are very into the Baby Boo memes popular on TikTok.

Baddie: A bad/wild girl. Meant as a compliment.

Baka: Japanese word meaning “crazy" or “foolish.” Used mainly in the anime community.

Based: Independent in a cool way.

Bed-rotting: Staying in bed all day. You may know it as “lazing around.” (See "Hurkle-durkle.")

Beez: Popularized in Nicki Minaj's 2012 track "Beez in the Trap," beez means something like "I am always." So "beez in the trap" means "I am always in the trap." (See "Trap.")

Beta male: A beta male, or just "beta," is a weaker, subservient male. (See "alpha male" and "sigma male.")

Boombayah: A euphemism for having sex. It’s used mostly online, often to defeat censorship algorithms.

Bop: A girl who sleeps around. Also: a great song.

Boy aquarium: TikTok slang that describes hockey games.

Boy kibble: The male response to "girl dinner," boy kibble is food boys eat. It usually consists of rice and ground beef, often served without spices or vegetables.

Boysober: Someone who has sworn off sex, relationships, and/or dating.

Brain-rot: A description of the overuse of stupid slang. See also: “Skibidi.” Also used to describe the effects of being overly online.

Brat: The contemporary meaning of "brat" is an adjective describing a person who is edgy, imperfect, and confident. It was coined by pop star Charli XCX who defined it as "that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown."

Bruzz: Bros. Part of the -uzz family of slang words. See "Huzz" and "-uzz."

Bubba truck: A lifted or otherwise modified pick-up truck.

Bussin': Very good or excellent.

Cap: A lie. Often used to say "no cap."

Cake: Butt, especially a nice butt.

Catch a fade: To have a fight. (See "fade.")

Chad: An attractive man; an “alpha male.” See "Giga-Chad."

Chat: A reference to streamers addressing their chat windows aloud. Saying “chat” in real life is an ironic joke.

Chopped: Ugly. Chopped is often applied to someone's face or outfit, but anything that isn't aesthetically pleasing could be called "chopped," as could anything that is generally not good, like an awkward situation.

Choppelganger: A portmanteau of "chopped" and "doppelgänger," a choppelganger is someone who looks like another person, but worse. (See "chopped.")

Chud: A physically unappealing person. Sometimes used for a man who holds right-wing views.

Clanker: A slur aimed at robots and AI agents pretending to be human.

Clock that: "I understand and agree." Not to be confused with older slang, where "clock" meant to see, or even older slang where "clock" meant "to hit or punch."

Coomer: A man who masturbates too often.

Corn: “Corn” is algo-speak that means “porn.” Used in online spaces where the word might cause your account to be flagged or banned.

Coworker-core: A catch-all description for things that are unfunny or uninteresting in a way that appeals to older people.

Cracked: This slang term has two meanings: to have sex, as in "I got cracked last night," and to be really good at something, like "he’s cracked at Fortnite."

Crash out: To have an intense emotional outburst, usually accompanied by impulsive behavior. Crashing out is often due to being overwhelmed or overly frustrated.

Dead: Past tense of having died laughing. If someone responds to a joke with "dead" or a skull emoji, they find it funny.

Deadass: Seriously. Used like, "I am deadass not lying."

Delulu: Delusional.

Deriod: A combination of "dick" and "period," deriod refers to men seeming to experience the mood swings commonly associated with women's menstrual cycles.

Dih: Algo speak for “dick.” (See "Algo speak.")

Doi doi doi: This piece of brain-rot slang doesn't mean anything. It's correctly pronounced by putting your hand up to your mouth and saying "doi doi doi" in a way that sounds funny.

Doomer: A person who is overly negative and/or cynical.

Drip: A fashionable or stylish look.

Dwerking: A male-centric variation of twerking. A sexually suggestive dancing characterized by rapid, repeated hip thrusts and shaking of the dick. Other variants include "pwerking" and "bwerking" where the "p" and "b" stand for pussy and boobs.

Edgar: A variation of the Caesar haircut worn especially among Hispanic males. Also refers to the kind of person who wears the haircut.

Fade: A fight. (See "catch a fade.")

Fambushing: A combination of "family" and "ambushing," fambushing refers to young people checking where their parents are on location-sharing apps so they can get free food—if you see mom at Chipotle, you ask for a burrito.

Fanum tax: The theft of food between friends. Named for streamer Fanum, known for “taxing” his friends by taking bites of their meals or stealing fries.

Fax, no printer: Telling the truth. Since "fax" and "facts" are pronounced the same, this is a colorful way of saying "facts, no cap."

Fent-fold: A description of the bent-over posture of people nodding on heavy drugs.

Fit: Short for "outfit."

Fuhuhluhtoogan: Supposedly from Baltimore slang, this is a nonsense word used so people will ask what it means but never receive an answer. Often paired with "Jittleyang."

Fujoshing: The verb form of the Japanese slang term "fujoshi," fujoshing describes women/girls enjoying media that depicts romantic relationships between men. This word is used almost exclusively in online fandom communities.

Gamer dent: The temporary indentation left on someone’s hair or skin after wearing headphones for too long.

Geeker: Someone who uses a lot of drugs.

Giga-Chad: A Chad among Chads.

Glaze: To overly praise someone, often insincerely, or with the hope of getting something in return.

Gleek: An older slang term that is gaining prominence lately, gleeking describes squirting saliva from under the tongue.

Glizzy: Hot dog. "Glizzy" was originally slang for Glock or gun, but came to mean hot dog based on the hot dog shape of a Glock's magazine.

Green fn: An interjection one might used when someone does something cool or impressive. Often used ironically.

Goonbait: (See "gooning") Goonbait is, essentially, media that exists to inspiring gooning.

Gooner: A man who goons. (See "gooning.")

Goonette: A woman who goons. (See "gooning.")

Gooning: Extended masturbation without orgasm done for the purpose of entering an altered state of consciousness. (See "gooner," "goonette.")

Gyatt or Gyat: Once an interjection used when seeing someone sexy, like “god-DAMN,” “gyatt” has come to mean “attractive booty.”

Heavy soda: Pop with extra syrup. Some gas station soda machines have settings that control the ratio of syrup to carbonated water. A heavy soda is a soda with the syrup level set very high.

Hewwo: An overly cute way of saying "hello." Usually used online, and often ironically.

HGS: Abbreviation for "home girls" used in comment sections.

Hozier yell: Named for singer/songwriter Andrew Hozier, a "Hozier yell" refers to the sound one makes when experiencing a peak, climactic, and/or awe-inspiring moment.

HTN: This acronym comes from the online incel community, where fairly good-looking men are described as "high-tier normies" or "HTN." (See "normie.")

Hurkle-durkle: Based on an archaic Scottish word, “hurkle-durkle” means to lounge in bed after it is time to get up. See also: “bed-rotting."

Huzz: -uzz slang for "hoes." See "bruzz" and "-uzz."

"It's giving": Used to convey that something has a specific vibe. Example: "That dude texts you every 10 minutes; it's giving desperate."

"It's so over": The situation is hopeless. The opposite of "we're so back." See also: "Doomer."

IWEL: This comment-section acronym is short for "I wouldn't even lie." Sometimes written as "IWL."

Jelqing: The use of stretching or weights in an attempt to increase penis size.

Jit: A kid. Used ironically online.

Jittleyang: Supposedly from Baltimore slang, this is a nonsense word used so people will ask what it means but never receive an answer. See also: "Fuhuhluhtoogan."

JOMO: A play on FOMO (fear of missing out) JOMO is an acronym that stands for “joy of missing out.”

Jugg: To grab quickly or to steal.

"Learn Chinese": Sports slang directed at failing players. They are in danger of being sent to play in China, so they should "learn Chinese."

Loaded water: Water enhanced with something—a flavor boost, fruit juice, electrolytes, carbonation, and even vitamins or prebiotics. The idea is to increase hydration by making water more palatable.

Looksmaxxing: Maximizing one’s physical attractiveness through personal grooming, working out, and dressing stylishly. See also: “-maxxing.”

🪫 (low battery emoji): The low battery emoji means "I am experiencing emotional depletion, heartbreak, or a general feeling of 'I can't anymore.'"

Lowkenuinely: This mash-up of "low key" and "genuinely" expresses sincerity but in a way that says "let's not make a big deal about it."

Mason (or Mason 6-7 kid): A "Mason 6-7 Kid" or "Mason" is a stereotypical male member of Generation Alpha. Mason kids are known for their love of baseball-inspired fashion (caps and shorts), their "ice cream" haircut, and for repeating brainrot slang like "6-7."

-maxxing: A suffix used with any word to indicate trying to improve. Seeing your friends could be called "friendmaxxing," working out could be called "gymmaxxing," making jokes could be called "jestermaxxing," etc.

Mid: Average, bland, expected.

Mewing: A facial exercise meant to strengthen the jawline.

Mirror sex: Using a mirror to watch yourself have sex.

Mog: To be more attractive than someone, usually in an intentional or aggressive way. Example: "I was rizzing up this girl, but he walked in and totally mogged me."

"My 90 in a 30": A song played while driving that inspires speeding.

"My steak is too juicy": The phrase "my steak is too juicy" and other variants like "my lobster is too buttery," are online insults that suggest someone is complaining about something they should be grateful for.

Neurospicy: A different way of saying “neuro-divergent.”

Normie: A person who is considered normal or average. It's sometimes an insult suggesting someone is boring and witless. (see also, "mid.")

NPC: Non-player character. Originally describing video game characters, NPC is now used on the internet to mean people who don't think for themselves.

Opp: Short for "opposition." Someone who is out to get you. An enemy.

Performative male: An insult for young men whose tastes, hobbies, and lifestyle are seen as a performance aimed at obtaining societal approval, especially the approval of young women.

Phonk: The word phonk can refer to one of two musical sub-genres. It originally referred to throwback '90s hip-hop categorized by slow-tempo "chopped and screwed" production and vintage Memphis rap vocals. It now more commonly describes the heavily distorted, up-tempo EDM used in brainrot videos.

Pink cocaine: Also known as "pink snow," pink cocaine is slang for a powdered drug mixture that usually contains some combination of ketamine, MDMA, meth, opioids, and other substances.

Pole: A gun. See "up pole."

"Press F for respect:" In 2014 video game Call of Duty: Advanced Warfighter, the player attends a funeral and a prompt is given that reads "Press F to pay respects." Now, a singular "F" in a chat window indicates respect. It's usually ironic.

Rawdogging boredom: Rawdogging is "doing something with no safeguards or support," so "rawdogging boredom" is consciously doing nothing.

Regarded: “Regarded” is algo-speak for “retarded."

RegencyCore: A fashion and design aesthetic that springs from the popularity of the fantasy-regency era look of the Netflix show Bridgerton, RegencyCore combines the opulent style of the British Regency era of the early 1800s with fantasy elements like pastel colors and gold accents.

"Reheating your own nachos:" This slang phrase comes from cultural critics in online fandom communities. It refers to performers and/or artists whose new works are seen as trying to recapture what was good about their previous artistic output. It's not always negative; it's possible to successfully reheat your own nachos.

Rizz: As a noun, "rizz" means charisma. As a verb, "rizz" or "rizz up" means attracting someone with your charisma.

Scientology speedrun: Young people running into a Scientology building and acting foolish until they are ejected.

Scorigami: A slang term among football fans for when the final score of an NFL game has never happened before in the league's history. The most recent scorigami was on September 28, 2025, when the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys tied 40 to 40.

SDIYBT: An acronym for "start digging in your butt, twin," this brainrot phrase doesn't mean anything. Some people just think it's funny to say.

Sendy and “Let’s get sendy": Sendy is an adjective based on the older rock-climbing and extreme sports slang phrase "send it." A shortened version of "ascend it," "send it" is said right before one is about to do something challenging. "Sendy" describes a person who is prone to doing bold things. "Let's get sendy" means something like "Let's get wild." It's been adopted by brainrot fans, so it's often repeated with no meaning meant to be attached.

Serve: Wearing a particularly stylish outfit. See also: "ate."

Serve cunt: To act in a powerfully and unapologetically feminine way; to slay.

Sharking: Looking for people to hook up with.

Sigma male: An internet-created male classification, a "sigma male" is as dominant as an alpha male, but is outside the male hierarchy, i.e.: a lone wolf. Originally used seriously, the concept was so widely derided it's now almost always used ironically. (See "Alpha male" and "Beta male.")

Skibidi: Named after “Skibidi Toilet,” a popular series of YouTube videos, “skibidi” itself has no specific meaning, beyond ridiculing the overuse of slang itself. See “brain-rot.”

Skrt: Onomatopoetic word for the sound of tires squealing upon acceleration.

Slopcore: This term describes the countless 100s of millions of cheesy-looking, unsettling, AI-generated images, videos, and songs that have hit the internet since AI was given to the masses a couple of years ago.

Slopper: Insult directed at people who use AI programs too much, people who takes conversations with LLMs too seriously, and people who have basically offloaded their thinking to an algorithm.

Snatched: Very attractive and/or flawlessly styled.

Spawn point: Mother. Based on the spot you start in a video game.

Spoopy: Spooky.

Striker: Stolen/no-title car.

Surf Dracula: A hyper-specific phrase that describes "prestige" television series. The joke is that if there were an older TV show called "Surf Dracula," Dracula would be surfing in every episode, but modern shows would make the whole first season about how Dracula got his surfboard.

Sweat: A person who tries too hard, usually used in reference to video games. The adjective form is "sweaty."

SYBAU: An online acronym that stands for “shut your bitch ass up.”

That's AI: "I don't believe you" or "I doubt it," even when not connected to artificial intelligence.

Tradwife: Believer in traditional married gender roles.

Trap: Once used to refer to a house where drugs are sold, trap has come to describe both a form of music and any place where one works or hustles.

Treatler (and Treatlerite): "Treatler" and "Treatlerite" are online insults that combine "treat" and "Hitler" to refer to entitled users of services like Doordash or Uber Eats who regard luxury delivery services as a human right, and don't consider the hardships of the people who do the work that makes "private taxis for burritos" possible.

TS: TS originally was AAVE shorthand for "this shit," but it is often used to just mean "this."

Turnt: Excited or intoxicated, or excitedly intoxicated.

Twelve: Police.

Twin: Best friend.

Unc: Short for "uncle," used to describe slightly older people. Example: "The class of 2024 are unc-status to the class of 2028." See "yunc."

-uzz: -uzz slang words use "uzz" at the end of any word, so "bros" becomes "bruzz," "hoes" becomes "huzz," "granny" becomes "gruzz," etc.

Up pole: To raise a gun.

"We're so back": Opposite of "it's so over."

Venus tummy: When a woman's belly is a little fat, but not too fat, she is said to have a Venus tummy. Named for ancient Greek statues of Venus and Aphrodite who were a little fleshy.

Wojack: The name of a style of internet drawings used to quickly stereotype someone. See this post for a full explanation of the Wojak universe.

Yapping: Describes a presentational style often seen on online streams of talking a lot and/or quickly while not saying anything worthwhile.

Yeet: To quickly and/or forcibly eject.

You the birthday: A phrase that means "you're awesome" or "you're great" in the way a birthday is great: fun, exciting, extra, etc.

Young ho: "Young ho" is both a reclamation of the word "ho" and an expression of youth-based solidarity. Young women are posting videos of themselves defining what makes them "young hos," noting things like "Getting up at 7:50 to be at work at 8," and air-frying chicken nuggets.

Yunc: Yunc is a variation of "unc." In AAVE, a "yn" is a "young n-word." So "yunc" means something like "young uncle," or a person who may be young but has uncle vibes or unc status.

Zoomer Perm: A curly on top, short on the sides haircut popular among young people.

Which Hyrox Stations Are the Hardest, According to a Runner and a Weightlifter

Meredith Dietz — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:30:28 +0000

Last Friday, my fellow Lifehacker writer Beth Skwarecki (a weightlifter) and I (a runner) completed a Hyrox race with far less than the recommended amount of training. We came out the other side with a final time of 01:36:48—and a lot of opinions about which stations nearly broke us. Let’s take a look at our personal rankings of the nine different movements that Hyrox demands.

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How we're analyzing our Hyrox performance

We tracked our heart rate data throughout the race, which gives us some data to back up what we intuitively felt like were our different strengths and weaknesses. A high average heart rate at a station means your cardiovascular system was working hard throughout. For a runner like me, a relatively lower average can mean I was pacing myself or recovering well during the runs. For Beth, her strength background means she can handle heavier loads, but the runs didn’t offer much recovery.

In the doubles format, we both had to do the runs together, but could divide the work at the stations any way we liked. That means that during the stations, we each got short rest breaks while the other worked. Our average heart rate for each station includes both the working and resting time.

Meredith in purple; Beth in blue. Credit: Beth Skwarecki

However, we know that heart rate alone doesn’t tell the full story. Beth and I have added our opinions about how each station felt to us personally in order to round out the picture. With that framing in mind, here's how each station shook out for us. All heart rate numbers are in beats per minute (bpm). Our full, numbered rankings are at the end.

Ski erg

Beth: Max 180, average 172

This was the easiest station for me. It comes early in the race, before you’re tired, and it’s quick enough to switch that we each did 125 meters (so, four turns each). This was over in no time and didn’t feel particularly hard.

What to watch out for: technique. There’s a way to use your hips and core to power the movement, rather than just yanking on the cords with your arms. This is definitely worth practicing. A cue I liked was: "Throw your chest to the floor.”

Meredith: Max 185, average 160

Beth and I are aligned on this one. Looking at our heart rate data, neither of us spiked dramatically, which puts the ski erg firmly in the “most survivable” category.

Sled push

Beth: Max 190, average 182

I liked this one and found it pretty easy.

What to watch out for: technique again. You want to lean way into the sled, ideally with your chin over the center post. The better athletes hook their elbows around the front posts of the sled, and I did that at first. I also took one length with my arms locked overhead, which feels very natural coming from a weightlifting background.

Meredith: Max 181, average 149

In our warm-ups before the race, I realized I didn’t have the proper grip or technique here—a theme that shows up across a few stations. Beth and I chatted it out, and we landed on sticking to how I trained (even if it’s technically less efficient), rather than trying to master something new in fifteen minutes. The sled push rewards leg drive and raw strength, and I simply don't have as much of either. Still, I felt fairly strong on this one, and I enjoy the movement itself.

Sled pull

Beth: Max 193, average 179

I wish we could have braced our feet and done it seated, but this was fine. Not too hard or heavy—it just takes finding a rhythm as you walk back and forth.

What to watch out for: rope management. You don’t want to give yourself a pile of rope to trip over, and you get a penalty if you impede someone else, so we carefully kept the rope at the side of our lane and spilling out the back. There was no divider between us and our neighbor, though, so it was always kind of in the way. Take time to practice how you’ll manage your rope.

Meredith: Max 185, average 171

I’m thanking my lucky stars I had Coach Beth here. This was the most daunting station in my training, but Beth’s strategy made it dramatically easier. To fellow runners who think this looks like a crazy bicep workout: It doesn’t have to be. You just need to learn how to power the movement from your lower body instead.

Burpee broad jumps

Beth: Max 189, average 181

This was the worst. If I could ban one station from all of Hyrox, it would be these damn burpees.

Meredith: Max 189, average 161

This one was so difficult that it became fun for me. I think that burpees are cardio-adjacent enough that I can settle into a rhythm, albeit a tough one. Burpees are widely considered one of the most dreaded Hyrox stations, and the numbers back that up for us. Plus, it’s hard to ignore the fact that this station is in the first half of the race. I felt completely gassed afterwards, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how much we had left.

What to watch out for: control. Aim for consistent, mid-sized jumps rather than massive, explosive leaps. What’s more, Hyrox burpees aren’t what you typically find in a workout class. You don’t need to do a push-up, but you do need to watch your hand and foot placement.

Rowing

Beth: Max 186, average 176

This wasn’t too bad because I prepared ahead of time to take this as an active rest. I had practiced my rowing technique, and that really paid off, since I was able to take long, smooth strokes and relax on the recovery.

What to watch out for: smart splits. In hindsight, I should have made Meredith take most (all?) of the rowing, since it’s cardio-heavy and I could have used more of a break.

Meredith: Max 182, average 149

With rowing, I got cocky during my training, and I paid for it on race day. I felt like my body wouldn’t adjust any of the form cues my brain was trying to send. My numbers suggest I was either under-pulling or pacing too conservatively.

Farmers carry

Beth: Max 192, average 187

My grip strength is solid, so I wanted this to be easy, but running with kettlebells is (again!) cardio. Technique-wise, it’s very simple: Keep your upper body steady and shuffle your feet as fast as they’ll go. If only my lungs could keep up!

What to watch out for: grip strength. So many people have trouble with their grip on this station. Actually train your grip on purpose, don’t just expect occasional farmer’s carries in training to be enough.

Meredith: Max 184, average 164

The farmers carry accumulates fatigue in your grip, shoulders, and legs in a way that seems to catch up with you fast—so I decided to “full send” and move my legs as quickly as I could. As a result, I performed better here than I was expecting. I also enjoy where this station falls in the race. With only two more runs and two more stations between us and the finish line, it was natural to push myself here.

Sandbag lunges

Beth: Max 183, average 179

These were tough, but nowhere near as bad as burpees.

What to watch out for: transitions. We practiced having the partner in the back grab the bag by the sides and scoop their head under. It’s a simple, smooth movement, but the front partner has to make sure to stay in place until the transition is completed.

Meredith: Max 186, average 173

Beth and I are aligned here, although I know this movement was tougher for me than it seemed to be for her. Both of us were working hard here, and the relatively similar heart rates suggested this was one of the more equalizing stations. Looking at my footage, I can see my knees bending inward in such a way that I’ve taken this whole week off running and am solely focusing on mobility work.

Wall balls

Beth: Max 194, average 187

I was happy to get to this station because the weight is light and I have no problem hitting depth on squats no matter how tired I am. I was, of course, completely gassed by this point.

Meredith: Max 189, average 168

Race day was the first time I attempted this movement, and, well, it showed. I look like I’m trying to shoot a free throw—another thing I have no idea how to do, actually! Thank you, Beth, for not making fun of me here. I didn’t know it was legal to have your boss watch you flail about like this.

What to watch out for: momentum. The most efficient movement here would get you called out by a fitness instructor for “cheating” with the momentum. (Beth here: I would just call it good timing! The catch should flow into the squat, which should naturally make the ball fly out of your arms when you stand up.)

So which Hyrox stations are actually the hardest?

Beth’s ranking, as a weightlifter, from easiest to hardest:

Ski erg
Rowing
Sled push
Sled pull
Farmers carry
Lunges
Wall balls
Running
Burpee broad jump

Meredith’s ranking, as a runner, from easiest to hardest:

Running
Farmers carry
Ski erg
Rowing
Sled push
Sled pull
Lunges
Burpee broad jump
Wall balls

It seems like Hyrox is specifically designed to find your weaknesses. If you're a runner, the strength stations will humble you. If you're a lifter, the 8 km of running between stations will find your limits. Luckily, Beth and I always knew that. And somehow, finishing together with a time of 1:36:48 felt like exactly the kind of thing you can only do when you've got someone next to you who's strong where you're weak.

I'm Reading a 900-Page Novel on an E-Reader the Size of My Library Card, and It's Going Great

Joel Cunningham — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:15:00 +0000

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The Xteink X4 is a wallet-sized e-reader from China that has attracted a cult following of tinkerers online for its no-frills charm and crisp 4.3-inch display. When I reviewed it last year, I had a few minor complaints, but "too big" definitely wasn't one of them—not surprising, given I was already an adherent of the phone-sized Boox Palma 2. But lately I've been doing most of my reading on the Xteink X3, the X4's even tinier brother, and I can't help but wonder if there exists an e-reader so small I won't prefer it.

The X3 has a 3.7-inch screen measured diagonally, which makes it about 14% smaller than the X4; including the bezels, it has an overall footprint that's roughly 20% smaller. When we're already talking about a device so small my wife rolled her eyes when I showed it to her, you'd think that downsizing would make it unusable—but after spending a few weeks using it to read one of the longest novels on my TBR (the 900-page 1985 western Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry), not only did I find myself preferring the X3 for being even less obtrusive to carry around with me, I didn't think the loss of screen space affected the reading experience at all. (Here's where I note that if the idea of reading on such a cramped screen makes you anxious, consider the possibility that this device is just not for you, or that the people who like it are nuts, or both.)

Credit: Joel Cunningham

A note on DRM-free e-books

Before I get more into the specifics of the X3, an important note: To ready anything on the X3 or the X4, you'll need e-book files that are free of digital rights management (DRM), which is software often included on media files that limits what devices they are usable on. I talk a bit more about this issue in my review of the X4; suffice it to say if you aren't willing to source DRM-free e-books or figure out how to remove the DRM yourself, this also isn't the device for you.

Sizing differences between the Xteink X3 and Xteink X4

The X4 measures 114 x 69 x 5.98 mm and weighs 74g, while the X3 is 98 x 64 x 4.98 mm and 55g. Both are small and light to be sure, but at about the size of a credit card, the X3 is so tiny, you might forget you're carrying it around. It's worth noting that while early images of the X4 advertised it could magnetically attach to the back of your phone (ostensibly so you'd flip your phone over to read instead of doomscrolling), it was too big to do so securely on my iPhone 14. The X3, on the other hand, is sized just right, though I still don't think I'd ever actually do this, as the connection is loose enough that the e-reader slides off the back of the phone when I take it out of my pocket.

Credit: Joel Cunningham

Readability differences between the Xteink X3 and Xteink X4

Compared to a Kindle Paperwhite's 6.8-inch screen, both the X3 and the X4 look pretty tiny, but I find them to be equally readable. Both offer 480x800 resolution, but because the screen on the X3 is smaller, the resolution is actually better, at 250ppi versus 220ppi for the X4. Unless you're about an inch from the screen, you probably won't be able to spot this difference with the naked eye (and even then)—text on both is nice and crisp.

I prefer to read in portrait mode, and find both devices show enough text that I don't feel like I'm turning pages too often. If you instead read in landscape mode, here's a comparison showing how much text fits on a page on each (with a large-print trade paperback for scale):

Credit: Joel Cunningham

Battery and charging differences between the Xteink X3 and Xteink X4

Both devices have the same 650 mAh battery, which will give you at least two weeks of regular use on one charge, but how you charge them is different: While the X4 uses a standard USB-C cable, to save on space, the X3 has pogo pins on the back that require a special charging cable. I charge it rarely enough that this doesn't bother me, but I don't love needing to remember where I put yet another proprietary cable. (Members of the Xteink Reddit suggest a fix for this—a USB-C-to-pogo adapter—but that kinda just seems like something else I'd lose.)

Differences in buttons between the Xteink X3 and Xteink X4

While both have physical buttons, the X3 has one extra, adding discreet up/down (or is that left/right?) buttons on either side of the device, rather than the X4's single dual-function rocker on the right-hand side. This improves usability somewhat, as every once in a while I would put pressure on the wrong side of the X4's page-turn button, and move back a page instead of forward a page. (Both devices have the same dual-purpose buttons on the bottom front bezel, however, and they will still take a little while to get used to.) I also like that the power/sleep button has been moved to the top, where I'm less likely to press it accidentally.

Gyroscope and NFC support on the Xteink X3

The X3 also adds a gyroscope that should allow you to turn pages by tilting the device, but in practice, it isn't very useful, as I found the amount of movement necessary to trigger a page turn inconsistent (you can toggle in the settings between more and less movement, but neither option worked well for me). The X3 also supports near-field communication (NFC) to enable wireless connection with your phone for file transfers, but I found it just as easy to use Bluetooth or wifi, which are supported on both. Both also work with the Xteink mobile app, which can be used to convert files and send them to the device.

Storage differences between the Xteink X3 and Xteink X4

Neither device has internal storage, opting instead for a card slot that accepts flash cards up to 512GB, which is enough to hold all of your books unless you are a major league digital hoarder. (A 32GB card is included with both of them.)

Price differences between the Xteink X3 and Xteink X4

While both e-readers are fairly inexpensive, at $69, the X4 is weirdly cheaper than the smaller X3, which costs $10 more (likely due to the added tech and inclusion of the pogo cable).

Installing the CrossPoint firmware is a must, whichever you choose

The big caveat for both of these e-readers is that the native software kind of sucks. Though the developers keep updating it, it's a real work in progress; as of the last time I checked it out, it only offered two font choices, couldn't reliably display images embedded in books, and lacked basic text styling like bold and italics. Luckily, a huge online community has sprung up around the device, and there are multiple crowdsourced options for replacing the firmware—and the process is so easy, anyone who can plug in a USB cable into their computer can do it.

The best known of these alternate operating systems is called CrossPoint, and once it's installed, these Xteink devices will do basically everything a reader could ask for. You can switch fonts, install new ones, change your lock screen wallpaper (or use the cover of the book you're reading), tweak your margins, remap the buttons, set a sleep timer, automate page turns, sync with the KOreader reading app, and more.

There are currently a bunch of CrossPoint variations ("forks") that offer slightly different features, so I suggest poking around the r/xteinkereader Reddit to find one that suits you—whether it's CrossPet, which adds a Tamagotchi-like virtual chicken game to your reader, or this one, which is loaded with options to track your reading stats.

Flashing your Xteink device with CrossPoint couldn't be simpler: You just plug it into your computer and point your browser at this website. Click the "Flash firmware" button and choose your device—either the X3 or the X4. It should automatically load the new operating system and reset itself. You might need to select your e-reader from a pop-up menu before it will install, and sometimes you have to repeat the procedure once or twice to get it to "take," but overall, it's a pretty painless experience.

Where to buy the Xteink X3

While the Xteink X4 has been available on Amazon for a few months, the X3 only popped up there in the past week. Ordering from Amazon is probably a better bet than buying directly from Xteink, as you'll benefit from Amazon's speedy delivery, and a more generous return policy should you run into any issues (Xteink's warranty is a mere 10 days, and customers on Reddit have reported long shipping delays).

If you want to save some cash, you can also pick up both devices from AliExpress, which is sort of like China's answer to Amazon Marketplace; you'll likely pay a bit less for your e-reader, whichever you prefer, and it's likely to ship with the Chinese version of the firmware installed (you can change the display language in the menu settings). However, there's a major downside here: There's a good chance these devices will ship in a "locked" state that prevents you from flashing different firmware without jumping through extra hoops. According to a statement from the company, all Xteink devices sold on the international market (i.e., not for use in China) will be "developer editions" and will not be locked—and this should include all X3s and X4s sold on Amazon.

30 Sweaty Movies to Watch This Summer

Ross Johnson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

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Whether it'll be the best summer ever remains to be seen, but 2026 will stand as the longest summer ever—from a certain point of view. Though the season won't officially start until June 21, the movable feasts of Memorial Day and Labor Day tend to serve as unofficial brackets to summer in the United States. Memorial Day this year fell on the earliest possible date, while Labor Day will fall on the latest possible date, Sept. 7. If summer's your season, that all adds up to at least a few extra days to enjoy the heat. And it will be hot—the spring has already seen unprecedented heat waves in much of the United States and western Europe, and the coming months aren't likely to let up.

In that spirit, it's time to get out of the heat for a couple of hours and stream a movie or two. It's often said that a hot beverage can be counterintuitively cooling on a sweltering day, so it stands to reason that a sweaty movie set in a sultry climate might be just the thing. (If not, bookmark this and come back when the cold weather blessedly returns.)

Sinners (2025)

The setting: Summer in the Mississippi Delta

I'm not sure that there'd be much call for a movie set in winter in the Mississippi Delta; that season tends to be short and damp, while the hot, sultry summers are a whole vibe—one probably best appreciated on the cinema screen. Sinners takes us to the Jim Crow deep south of 1932, when a couple of twins (both played by Oscar-winner Michael B. Jordan) with mob ties strive to get a new juke joint off the ground. Their summer will turn out to be hotter than usual (even after dark), with the Klan determined to shut down the new establishment and the lead attraction (Miles Caton) creating blues music so transcendent that it draws rather unexpected supernatural attention. Stream Sinners on Prime Video and HBO Max.

Sinners (2025)

Do the Right Thing (1989)

Do the Right Thing (1989)

The setting: Brooklyn, NY

The heat in Spike Lee's masterpiece Do the Right Thing isn't merely incidental: It's the trigger for an explosion—the factor that set a Brooklyn neighborhood's simmering racial tensions (largely between the Black residents and the Italian-American owners of a local pizzeria) to boil over on one particularly sultry summer day. Cinematographer Ernest Dickerson created a color scheme for the movie emphasizing reds and oranges, while the movie as a whole includes a memorable montage involving an opened fire hydrant, and an even more memorable bit involving Mookie (Spike Lee), Tina (Rosie Perez), and some rapidly melting ice cubes. Stream Do the Right Thing on Prime Video.

Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

The setting: New Mexico, 1989

Muscular, frenetic, and uncompromising, Love Lies Bleeding star Kristen Stewart plays small-town gym manager Lou; she's the daughter of the local crime boss (Ed Harris), with a sister (Jena Malone) who is suffering from the abuse of her no-good husband (Dave Franco). It's all quietly tolerated until bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O’Brian) stops off in town. She's 'roided up and ready for action, falling hard for Lou before the two of them get caught up in an act of violence that sends everything spiraling toward a truly wild final act. You can practically feel the grime and smell the sweat here and so, while it's not explicitly set during the summer season (it was filmed during the height of summer in New Mexico), it's as summer-in-the-west as it gets. Rent Love Lies Bleeding from Apple TV and Prime Video.

at Apple TV

Stray Dog (1949)

The setting: Tokyo during a heatwave

This essential noir from Akira Kurosawa finds Toshiro Mifune as Murakami, a rookie homicide detective who loses his gun on his very first day. The hunt for the sidearm (this is very much a forerunner to our modern police procedurals) leads him deep into the Tokyo underworld, and also into a reluctant partnership with veteran detective Satō (Takashi Shimura). There's a literal Tokyo heatwave going on, but the film is also suffused with postwar dread—the sweat that drenches our protagonists in this daylight noir is as tied to the unreasonably warm temperature as it is to the sense of a society nearing its breaking point. Stream Stray Dog on The Criterion Channel.

Stray Dog (1949)

at The Criterion Channel

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

The setting: North central Florida

Based on the the real-life account of one-time convict Donn Pearce, Cool Hand Luke tells the story of the title's Luke, a Korean vet sentenced to two years on a prison camp chain gang for some relatively mild drunken shenanigans. With the camp's cruel overseers and unforgiving fellow prisoners (led by George Kennedy's Dragline Slidell), the movie is nearly two full hours of hard labor in the blistering Florida sun. The film's most memorable heat-related moment, though, deals with the heat indirectly: Luke impresses his fellow prisoners by winning a bet that he can eat 50 hard boiled eggs in one hour. Rent Cool Hand Luke from Prime Video and Apple TV.

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Wuthering Heights (2026)

The setting: The Yorkshire Moors

The Yorkshire Moors aren't known for heat—windy, damp, and with summer temperatures that don't typically reach even 70ºF, it's not a place you'd expect to go for a good schvitz. None of that accounts for the legendary lusts of Emily Brontë's Catherine and Heathcliff (played here by Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi), their horniness cutting a swath of destruction through families and generations. Director Emerald Fennell and company (particularly production designer Suzie Davies) ensure that nearly every surface, every patch of skin, every article of clothing is damp, drenched, or otherwise mucid; by design, it's impossible to tell if we're looking at mist, sweat, or some other bodily fluids, and it's hard not to come away feeling like you're in the thick of it with them. Stream Wuthering Heights on HBO Max.

Wuthering Heights (2026)

Predator (1987)

The setting: An unnamed South American rainforest

Filmed mostly in Mexico, Predator finds a group of buff actions stars (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, etc.) fighting off an invisible hunter deep in some rainforest or other. You know it's hot because of the glistening biceps, and you can presume that it gets hotter as the film goes along as Arnold's outfit loses bits throughout, until it's so hot that he's wearing nothing but a thin layer of mud by the movie's final act. Stream Predator on Disney+ and Hulu.

Predator (1987)

Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

The setting: The Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range in northwest Mexico

The sweat and grime and dirt of John Huston's film isn't merely scene-setting: It feels like a look inside the soul of Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart), one of the most believably avaricious characters in American cinema. Dobbs and a small party head into the mountains on the hunt for the title's treasure, only to find themselves turning on each other in a dark spiral of greed. At least it's a dry heat. Rent The Treasure of the Sierra Madre from Prime Video.

Rear Window (1954)

The setting: A third-floor Greenwich Village apartment with a view

There's a heatwave in Greenwich Village, and the neighbors are struggling to keep cool. Less so Jeff Jeffries, a photojournalist recovering from a broken leg who's rather more interested in watching the antics of his (often scantily clad neighbors) than with his impossibly hot girlfriend, Lisa Fremont (Grace Kelly). As the heat rises, so do tempers and passions—not surprising—given that we're in a Hitchcock movie—there's also a murder witnessed by the largely helpless Jeffries; he's forced to rely on his resourceful girlfriend and sassy caretaker (played by the great Thelma Ritter) in order to find out what really happened while hoping that the killer doesn't catch on to the guy with the binoculars across the courtyard. Rent Rear Window from Prime Video.

Rear Window (1954)

In the Heights (2021)

The setting: Washington Heights, NYC

The phenomenal, wildly underrated musical follows several members of the largely Dominican-American community (at least in the movie) in Washington Heights during a summer building to the hottest day of the year. The movie's centerpiece number, "Carnaval del Barrio," brings most of the movie's characters together and sees Daniela (Daphne Rubin-Vega) exhorting her community to celebrate rather than mope. After all, she sings, "Since when are Latin people scared of heat?" Rent In the Heights from Prime Video and Apple TV.

In the Heights (2021)

Beau Travail (1999)

The setting: Republic of Djibouti

Claire Denis' gorgeous, hypnotic tone poem follows men of the French Foreign Legion to Djibouti, where a triangle of obsession and hate develops between Adjudant-Chef Galoup (Denis Lavant), new recruit Giles Sentain (Grégoire Colin), and the Commandant they both admire. Emotions run strong in the summer heat of the Horn of Africa. Stream Beau Travail on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel.

Beau Travail (1999)

Body Heat (1981)

The setting: South Florida

One of the cornerstones of the entire erotic thriller genre, Lawrence Kasdan's appropriately titled Body Heat made an instant superstar of Kathleen Turner, playing neo-noir femme fatale Matty Walker. She embroils weeny lawyer Ned Racine (William Hurt) in a plot to murder her rich husband—making him think, quite naturally, that it was his idea. Between the sunny setting and the various entangled bodies, everyone's sweaty pretty much all the time. Rent Body Heat from Prime Video and Apple TV.

Body Heat (1981)

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

The setting: Maycomb, Alabama

Fictional Maycomb, Ala. was based on Harper Lee's real-life hometown of Monroeville in that state, where the summer temperatures could reach somewhere in the neighborhood of 90 degrees (of course, that was before climate change really kicked in). This was also an era when white people of any social consequence—Gregory Peck's Atticus Finch, for example—wore three-piece suits as a matter of course. The movie doesn't go quite so far visually, but the sweltering heat of a city baking in its own racial violence makes you feel as though Atticus, Tom Robinson, and everyone else in that stifling courtroom are going to sweat through the trial and everything they're wearing. Rent To Kill a Mockingbird from Prime Video and Apple TV.

Challengers (2024)

The setting: Various tennis courts over several years; also beds

Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) brought us the horny bisexual romantic tennis drama of 2024, and we're all better for it. Zendaya stars as a former tennis pro turned coach who falls into a love triangle with her champion husband (Mike Faist) and her low-circuit boyfriend (Josh O'Connor). The chemistry among the three is impressive, with jealousy, rivalry, passion, and obsession all on full display—it's not just the intense tennis matches that are making everyone sweat. Stream Challengers on Disney+ and Hulu.

Challengers (2024)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

The setting: The fictional town of Newt, Muerto County, Texas

Horror can run cold, as in John Carpenter's arctic-set The Thing, but it very often runs hot. In Tobe Hooper's unintended franchise-opener, a group of five young road-trippers run out of gas at the worst possible spot: But who was to know that Leatherface lived right there? The heat of a Texas summer is palpable here, and it heightens the general nastiness of a filthy house full of bugs drawn to rotting flesh. And, though it's less gratuitous here than in later slashers, it also allows for our leads, particularly the women, to flee the killer wearing a bit less than they might otherwise. Stream The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on Peacock, Prime Video, Shudder, and Tubi.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

The setting: The Mississippi Delta

It's hard to watch nearly any Tennessee Williams play or adaptation without finding yourself craving a perfectly crafted mint julep, or a giant glass of sweet iced tea. The poster for this classic finds Elizabeth Taylor's Maggie Pollitt stretched out on a bed in a pose that's metaphorically hot, sure, but with actual flames rising off of her in a thematic, if not entirely necessary, artistic flourish. Dealing largely with the tempestuous marriage between Maggie and Paul Newman's Brick, the movie frequently finds its cast glistening in the summer heat, with a decaying plantation house as the setting. Rent Cat on a Hot Tin Roof from Prime Video and Apple TV.

A Time to Kill (1996)

The setting: Canton, Mississippi

Earlier legal dramas (To Kill a Mockingbird, for example) might have implied heat, but this John Grisham adaptation goes quite a bit further. Revolving around the defense of a Black father (Samuel L. Jackson) who murders the white men who attacked his daughter, the film finds pretty much everyone sweating all the time. It's probably not just the heat. Rent A Time to Kill from Prime Video and Apple TV.

A Time to Kill (1996)

Sorcerer (1977)

The setting: The fictional village Porvenir, somewhere in South America

This unjustly forgotten William Friedkin film stars Roy Scheider as one of four men from different parts of the world (he's the American) who wind up in Porvenir, a fictional and remote village somewhere in South America. Some people are needed, you see, to transport old and badly stored dynamite across 218 miles in rickety trucks. Did you know that nitroglycerin literally sweats? It's something these guys will quickly learn. Henri-Georges Clouzot's 1953 The Wages of Fear mines suspense from a similar setup. Rent Sorcerer from Prime Video and Apple TV.

Sorcerer (1977)

Y tu mamá también (2001)

The setting: A road trip across southern Mexico to Chiapas

Alfonso Cuarón's seminal coming-of-age movie finds a couple of teenagers (Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal) taking a road trip with an older woman (Maribel Verdú) who's facing a major upheaval in her own life. Jealousy, expectation, and sexual tension (both expected and unexpected) threaten the relationship among the three as they head to a paradisiacal and isolated beach with highly emotional stakes. What starts as a trip to the beach becomes something much more meaningful. Stream Y tu mamá también on Netflix.

Y tu mamá también (2001)

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

The setting: Northern Italy

In the summer of 1983, in northern Italy, the archaeologist dad of Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet) invites grad student Oliver (Armie Hammer ) to live with the family over the summer. While everything seems just peachy at first, the sweating begins in earnest shortly thereafter. Stream Call Me by Your Name on HBO Max.

Cruising (1980)

The setting: New York City's leather scene circa 1980

With the no-plot, all-vibes style of the best Italian gialli, William Friedkin and company fashioned this sweaty, horny, and wildly provocative thriller with some help from a leather-clad Al Pacino. He plays Detective Steve Burns who is, according to his bosses, perfectly suited to go undercover in the gay club scene in New York City of 1980. During the very hot summer, a serial killer has been targeting gay men in the leather scene—depicting a rather extreme subculture that pissed off gay and straight audiences alike. I get where they're coming from, but it's all very stylish and just a bit camp, working better as a trippy murder mystery than as a statement. And the scenes of sweaty, writing men (barely dressed, when they're not covered in leather) will have you feeling the summer heat. Rent Cruising from Prime Video and Apple TV.

Cruising (1980)

The Burning (1981)

The setting: A summer camp in upstate New York

This cult classic has had a bit of a renaissance in recent years, having been rediscovered both for its impressively nasty take on the Cropsey urban legend...and also for serving as the cinematic debuts of Jason Alexander, Fisher Stevens, and Holly Hunter. It's a summer camp slasher par excellence, with plenty of horny teens in the hot summer sun being killed in some particularly gut-wrenching ways. What sets the movie apart is some solid performances, smart direction, and gore effects from the great Tom Savini. Stream The Burning on Tubi.

The Burning (1981)

at Tubi

12 Angry Men (1957)

The setting: A jury room in New York City

Over the course of roughly 90 minutes, 12 jurors deliberate the conviction or acquittal of a teenager charged with murder. The stifling and oppressive heat of the small jury room, on an exceptionally hot summer day, adds to the already dramatic stakes: the uncomfortable climate turns the room into a pressure cooker, with emotions and nerves running extra hot. Stream 12 Angry Men on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video.

12 Angry Men (1957)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

The setting: A water- and petrol-starved near future

Any of the Mad Max movies, set in a parched, post-apocalyptic wasteland, will do here, but this 2015 film, the one that gave us Charlie Theron's Furiosa, is probably the best of the lot. Non-stop action in the desert as heroes and villains fight it out over incredibly scarce resources, with more personal stakes for Furiosa. Rent Mad Max: Fury Road from Prime Video and Apple TV.

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

The setting: New Orleans of 1937

This whackadoo Southern Gothic Mystery (from a Tennessee Williams play) involves a young man, the son of Katherine Hepburn’s memorably named Violet Venable, who dies under mysterious circumstances on a holiday in Spain. Though Violet had been happy to be his wingwoman in helping him meet other guys for sexual encounters, she’s less keen on the world finding out precisely how he died and, in that vein, is perfectly happy to lobotomize her niece (Elizabeth Taylor) just to make sure. The movie's focus shifts from a New Orleans mental institution, to an estate overrun with (literal) hothouse flowers, to the (fictional) Spanish island of Cabeza de Lobo during a particularly hot summer. You can rent Suddenly, Last Summer from Prime Video.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

The setting: Montego Bay, Jamaica

Successful, middle-aged stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett) throws caution to the wind when she heads off for Montego Bay, Jamaica. And when she spots Winston Shakespeare (Taye Diggs) on her first day there, it occurs to her that there’s more to the island’s appeal than just the natural scenery. People mostly don't sweat here, even given the Jamaica heat, but they absolutely glisten—and watching pretty people cavort in the sun isn't the worst way to spend two hours, especially when the cast is this talented. Rent How Stella Got Her Groove Back from Prime Video and Apple TV.

Anaconda (1997)

The setting: Somewhere in the Amazon

A brilliantly entertaining action/horror mash-up, Anaconda knows exactly what kind of movie it is and delivers everything you could want from a movie about a giant snake chasing J.Lo, Ice Cube, and Jon Voight through South America. Lopex plays a documentary film director looking to make a movie about a lost indigenous tribe in the Amazon basin when she and her team encounter hunter Paul Serone (Voight) who convinces them that he can lead them to the tribe—it turns out he's only after the biggest game of his life: a 25-foot-long green anaconda. That doesn't really want to be found. With the efficiency of cinema's best serial killers, the snake begins taking out members of our sweaty, nosy film crew. Stream Anaconda on Starz or rent it from Prime Video.

Anaconda (1997)

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

The setting: Sparta, Mississippi

When Philadelphia detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) becomes trapped in Sparta, Mississippi after sundown, his life is in danger—at least until the local sheriff (Rod Steiger) realizes that he needs help from Mister Tibbs on a murder investigation. Another film in which the southern heat runs side by side with bigotry and racial tension. Stream In the Heat of the Night on Prime Video and Tubi.

Fire Island (2022)

The setting: Refer to the title

A queer, contemporary take on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Fire Island also takes aim at the overabundance of fat/femme/Asian stereotypes in the gay community. Social commentary aside, it's a funny, smart romantic comedy with a great cast that includes Joel Kim Booster (in the Lizzy Bennett role—he also wrote the screenplay), Bowen Yang, Conrad Ricamora, and Margaret Cho as a group of friends who travel each summer to the titular island—but this summer proves more dramatic (and romantic) than most. A good summer-by-the-beach movie whether you've got abs, or if you're more of a shirt-in-the-pool type. Stream Fire Island on Hulu.

Fire Island (2022)

at Hulu

Eve's Bayou (1997)

The setting: Somewhere in the Louisiana Bayou

Eve’s Bayou, the debut of director Kasi Lemmons, conjures a world of Southern Gothic mystery and magic that never loses sight of the emotional realities of its main characters. Jurnee Smollett plays the title character, who begins the film with the story of the day she killed her father as a 10-year-old—the film exploring her story with the Rashômon-esque understanding of the mutability of memory. Stream Eve's Bayou on Peacock.

Eve's Bayou (1997)

GE 11,000 BTU Smart Heat/Cool With Heat Pump Electronic Window Air Conditioner (AWGP12)

The Indoor Person's Guide to Having a Perfectly Comfortable Summer

Stephen Johnson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:30:00 +0000

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There are two kinds of people: people who see summer as a time to hike, grill, tan, and experience “the world," and us indoor people, who would rather keep the AC and the TV cranked up all the way until September rolls around. If you’re the type who thinks summer is best when experienced through a window, you can still have an amazing season. With a few tweaks to your home decor, some indoor-friendly activities, and some comfort-enhancing gear, your summer can pass by blissfully (or at least tolerably).

How to prepare your home for summer

Start by cleaning and servicing your air conditioner. This summer is likely to be global-warming hot, so keeping your air conditioner performing at peak efficiency is vital to having a tolerable home. That starts with cleaning. You should clean your AC at least once a year; why not this weekend? Look up the owner's manual and get going. If you have central air, call a professional.

If you don't have an air conditioner, our sister site, PC Mag, recently posted a guide to the best smart air conditioners of 2026—so if you're shopping, start there.

$679.00 at Walmart

Dreo Portable Smart Air Conditioner AC516S

$599.99 at Amazon

Midea Duo Smart Inverter Portable Air Conditioner

$599.00 at The Home Depot

GE Profile Clearview PHNT10 Smart Air Conditioner

Hisense 10000-BTU Window AC Inverter WiFi

$449.00 at Lowe's

Windmill AC

$359.99 at The Home Depot

Zafro Smart Inverter Portable Air Conditioner

Midea U-Shaped 8000-BTU AC Window Air Conditioner (MAW08V1QWT)

$346.32 at Amazon

Friedrich Kuhl Series 12,500 BTU Smart Air Conditioner (KCVS12B10A)

$1,499.97 at P.C. Richard & Son

Create air flow. Air conditioning is king, but that doesn't mean you should hermetically seal your place until September. Open the windows and shades strategically during cooler summer mornings and evenings. Stick a fan in an upper window to suck the hot air out, while letting another fan circulate air inside. Nothing makes it feel like summer more than warm breezes blowing through.

Declutter. The beginning of summer is the perfect time to get rid of things you don't need anymore. So toss, donate, and store your junk and give yourself a clean summer slate. If you find it hard to organize and declutter, Lifehacker has laid out a ton of strategies to make it easier, so I won't belabor the point—but whether you use the Marie Kondo's famous KonMari method or the more indie rock ski-slope technique, it's the perfect time to rid yourself of Winter-You's possessions, so Summer-You can shine.

Deep cleaning: Now that's there's less stuff, it's easier to give everything a deep clean. A clean house is a necessary foundation for enjoying everything else about your indoor summer, so don't just straighten up—get in there and really do it. Clean the baseboards. Clean the oven. Be a civilized person. It's good for your mental health to have a clean place, and getting rid of dust, mold, and allergens is good for your physical health too. Check out our in-depth guide to spring cleaning for everything you could ever need to know about sprucing up your place.

Decorating tips for bringing a summertime vibe indoors

Now that your house is decluttered, cooled off, and clean, let's talk about how to make it look, feel, and smell summery, because even if you're suspicious of the whole “going outside” part of summer, the power of the season's breezy vibe can’t be denied.

Home Brilliant Yellow Throw Pillow Covers, Set of 2

Meekio Set of 2 Seafoam Green Pillow Covers

$13.99 at Amazon

Koufall Aqua Blackout Curtains

PrinceDeco Textured Linen Blackout Curtains

Feelyou Beach Duvet Cover Set

$42.99 at Amazon

Make your house smell like summer: Every season has a scent, so I asked perfumer Sarah Horowitz of Sarah Horowitz Parfums for some expert tips on making your house smell like summer. According to Horowitz, you can't beat a scented candle. “Look for notes like sea salt, tropical florals or fruits, or subtle coconut to bring the sun-kissed seaside straight to your space,” she suggests.

Another trick: Lightly spritz your favorite summer fragrance onto a cool light bulb before turning it on. “The warmth will gently diffuse the scent throughout the room,” Horowitz said.

Fresh flowers are another simple way to set the mood. “I love to weave sprigs of fresh mint into a bouquet—it adds a crisp, unexpected note that feels instantly refreshing. Plus, they look gorgeous,” Horowitz said.

Summer decor: You can create a summertime feeling in your home without a complete overhaul or surrendering to cheesy "life's a beach"-style decor. A few simple swaps—adding bright new throw pillows, switching out your drapes, or swapping your heavy duvet for something lighter—could turn your apartment into a Tahitian bungalow. (Maybe that's overstating it a bit.)

Bold patterns and sun-washed colors like ocean blue, jungle green, or golden yellow, are summer classics. But if you’re after something calming, go with airy linen fabrics and soft neutral tones for a breezy, upscale vibe. Or you can just go overboard and make it as ridiculous as possible; it's your summer.

Houseplants: Houseplants produce oxygen, improve your mood, and give your place an outdoorsy vibe, like a tiny organic oasis in your living room. You can't go wrong with summer classics like birds of paradise or spider plants—both of which are relatively easy to care for. If you want a hardier, even lower maintenance plant, you could stick with hard-to-kill succulents or flowering cacti, and still project a summer vibe. Plant them in colorful pots or by a sunny window for instant seasonal charm.

A guide to indoor summer entertainment

Being an indoor person doesn't (necessarily) mean being antisocial. Interacting with others is important even if you stay indoors. You have to get your friends to come to you, of course, but now that you have a clean, breezy house with a summer look and smell, you might find your outdoorsy friends are only too happy to spend a low-key summer Saturday in an air conditioned house watching Annette Funicello movies and drinking margaritas. Here are some ideas:

Movie night: Lifehacker's Ross Johnson has compiled a list of the ultimate summer movies. Watching any one of these movies with good friends is a perfect hot August night.

Board games: For a Summer board game night, you can't go wrong with easy-to-play classics like Uno or Sorry, but if you are feeling more ambitious, check out Daggerheart, a table-top RPG that plays like Dungeons and Dragons with less math.

Doing nothing: Themed parties and activities are great, but doing nothing can be the best thing about summer, so invite friends over to do as little as possible. Pick a summer Spotify list and sit around and scroll Instagram or trash talk about pals who didn't show up. No pressure is what summer is about. Oh, make sure you have refreshing drinks.

Summer cocktails: Whether you’re mixing drinks or pouring from a pitcher, these beverages bring the summer:

The classic margarita: The margarita is the drink most people associate with summer. It stands up to endless variations, so pick your favorite flavor and go to town.
Corona with lime: It's time we all admit that IPAs taste terrible. A light, refreshing Mexican pilsner like Corona with a wedge of lime in the bottle tastes great, and is quintessentially summer.
The blue Hawaiian: The blue Hawaiian looks ridiculous, but if it's mixed correctly it's a kitschy classic instead of a syrupy gross-out.
The cucumber Collins: A mixture of gin, seltzer, cucumber, lime, and mint, the cucumber Collins is a light, refreshing, sophisticated summer tipple.
Any cocktail made by the pitcher: What is summer if not the perfect time to mix up 10 drinks at once and share the pitcher until everyone is too sloppy to fill it up again?

All the Essential Camping Gear You Need This Summer (and Some Non-Essentials You'll Want)

Stephen Johnson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

If your idea of "going camping" involves a solo trek far off the beaten path to get in touch with primal survival, I'll see you when you get home. My camping vibe is the opposite of "roughing it"—life is rough enough. So I've put together this gear guide to making your next camping trip as comfortable as possible.

I recently took a comfort-focused camping trip and tested all the products recommended below, and it was a game-changer: I'm usually over camping after a couple of days, but with this gear, I could happily spend much more time in the woods.

The best tents for your camping adventure

Credit: Stephen Johnson

If you're a backpacker and/or adventurers, maybe you prefer a light survival tent like this OneTigris Backwoods Bushcraft Shelter. Have at it. Me, I like my tents as large as possible, and after testing out a 12-foot Teton Sports Canvas tent, I'm never going back to cramped nylon. This thing is like a portable hotel room—it sleeps 10 people. A tent this size is obviously too heavy for backpacking, but if you're loading it in the car, or going to a festival or something, I highly recommend it.

While it's not hard to set up a large tent like the Teton, it's fairly time-consuming—there are a lot of pegs to hammer into the ground. If you want something easier (and you have only a few people), check out this Gazelle T4. We timed the setup: It took 90 seconds to go from bag to finished tent, and another five minutes to hammer in a few pegs. Bonus: It's a tall tent, so no hunching over.

Another excellent choice is this Skydome Tent from Coleman (the portable stove people). It sets up easily and is six feet tall at its highest point. It's designed to block out 90% of light, so you can sleep in or take a nap in the middle of the day.

Check out these cots and sleeping pads for camping

Credit: Stephen Johnson

I need a frame and some support to sleep, so I was psyched to test out this Teton cot. Paired with a foam sleeping pad, it's nearly as comfortable as my actual bed, and the coldness from the ground doesn't seep into your bones like it would with an air mattress. No notes. My camping companion, David, swears by the Exped MegaMat. It's pricey but ridiculously comfortable, even when laid directly on the floor of your tent.

Hot take: The best sleeping bag for summertime camping is no sleeping bag. For car-camping, since and weight and space don't matter, opt for a cot or a mat. They're constricting, claustrophobic, and often too hot for summertime camping, so I just bring some old blankets from home. I'd rather be able to control the temperature and avoid feeling locked in.

Miscellaneous essentials you'll absolutely need for camping

You need a camp stove, and this UCO Flatpack Smokeless Firepit and Grill is a nice one. I have a battered old Coleman camp stove that suits all my needs, but I tested out this Jetboil Flash Camping Stove, and the thing boils water in less than two minutes. Amazing.

Next, bug repellent. Throw away your citronella candles and those horrible coil things; they don't really work. All you need for full mosquito protection is a Thermacell diffuser: It's the final word on keeping mosquitos away. As for personal bug protection, if you want a DEET-free insect spray, try the Tongo brand insect repellent—I tested it and highly recommend. Not only did it keep all bugs off my skin, it smells great.

And you must bring a first aid kit. You don't need anything fancy; this one, for instance, is lightweight, waterproof, and features hospital-grade first aid treatments for cuts, scrapes, fractures, headaches, and more.

That's not all. Here's a short list of items you wouldn't think are essential—but absolutely are:

Welding gloves: A pair of welding gloves are an essential part of my camping pack, because being able to manually rearrange hot logs leads to optimal campfires.
Flashlight gloves: These LED-powered gloves are better than a flashlight, because you don’t have to hold them. You’ll find them useful at home too, for all kinds of low-light, detail-oriented work.
Headlamp: Like LED gloves, headlamps are better than flashlights because they let you keep your hands free. I absolutely love this Biolite Range 400. It's waterproof, charges fast, and is very bright.
Booze: My favorite camping tipple is Hochstadter's Slow & Low Rock & Rye, a delicious mix of rye whiskey, rock candy, oranges, and honey that's strong enough to matter—but mellow, too.
Toilet paper tablets: These individually packaged, compact little “pills” contain disposable personal towels for all your business; throw some in the glovebox in case they didn’t refill the TP at the campground.
Guyline cord adjusters: Throw some cord adjusters in with the tent stakes. Whether you're setting up a tent or a hammock, cord adjusters will take the place of knots. They’re the kind of thing you never knew you always needed.

This camping gear is less essential but nice to have

The above equipment is all you need for basic survival, but who wants to settle for basic?

Body cleansing spray: Just because you're camping doesn't mean you have to be gross. I really like Pristine's body cleansing spray. It feels amazing going on, and the Oakmoss and Aloe scent is tops. The company also makes toilet paper spray, which also works great—even if the sharks on Shark Tank didn't see it that way.
Trail shoes: An old pair of Converse is perfectly acceptable for car camping, but if you're doing any hiking, consider trail shoes. These from Hoka aim for the sweet spot between heavy hiking boots and running shoes. They're a great solution for more casual hiking.
An e-bike: If you have a rack, throw a Lectric Peak X 2 e-bike on the back of the SUV so you can get around the campground in style, or even do a little all-terrain riding. Read my full review here.

Camping gear that's strictly for the glamping crowd

Credit: Stephen Johnson

So you've straightened out the basic survival, and you've got a way to clean and feed yourself. But is that enough? Don't you want to take your camping trip to a new level of comfort? If so, the gear below will turn your camping trip into a glamping trip.

Camping espresso maker: Just because you're outside doesn't mean your coffee should suck. I tested out a Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker, and waking up to high-end coffee is seriously the best.
An air conditioner/heater: Being able to control the temperature inside your tent is game-changing. This Ecoflow Wave 3 air conditioner/heater, paired with the add-on battery, kept my tent chilly during the day and warm at night— and my tent is huge.
Karaoke machine: If you want camping entertainment, you can't do better than karaoke. The Ikarao Break X2 karaoke machine is portable, with enough battery power to keep campers caterwauling into the campground's quiet hours. Check out my full review here.
Bass guitar and drum machines: Breaking out an acoustic guitar and singing "Kumbaya" is for hippies. Instead, turn your local KOA into Burning Man by plugging a Roland AIRA T-8 Beat Machine, a Yamaha Seqtrak, and a Fender bass into your karaoke machine, and make 1990s techno. (Seriously, do this. It was the most fun I've ever had on a camping trip.)

So this summer, if you see someone rolling up to the campsite on an e-bike, with espresso in hand, blaring techno, come say hi. I’ll be the one sleeping like a baby in a climate-controlled circus tent.

Everything You Should Pack for an Ultimate Day at the Beach

Stephen Johnson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

It's not summer to me unless I spend a lot of time on beaches. I crave the time-has-stopped feeling of spending all day in a place where it's impossible to do anything useful. A lifetime of hanging out on sand near water has taught me that it's easier to achieve beach zen if you plan ahead and bring the right gear—the difference between a great day at the beach and sandy headache often comes down to what you pack.

Bring these essentials to the beach

I'm from a beach town, so I used to roll up to the sand with just a ratty towel—even a pair of flip-flops was extra baggage. There's something to be said for minimalist beach-bum style, but these days, I like things to be more comfortable. Besides, I'm usually bringing the family, and that requires stuff.

First, instead of showing up with a bleached-out, threadbare number, consider a microfiber towel. They're more absorbent than regular towels, they dry faster, they're lighter, and they can be cheap: less than $10 for 71"x32" towel with a cool mandala design. This picnic blanket with an attached strap is a higher-end option, at $19.99. It's easy to carry, waterproof, and versatile.

If you're staking out a lot of ground, nylon beach mats are a great option. They're a bit thin, but you can get a 7' by 7' beach mat that packs up small and weighs little, then put your (generously sun-blocked) toddler in the middle of it and watch them crawl around.

Next, you'll need shade. I'm going to speak up against beach umbrellas: They're a bear to set up, and a sudden gust of wind can cause them to take flight, turning them into dangerous projectiles. For a better option, try the Shibumi Shade. This ultralight piece of fabric floats on the breeze as advertised—as long as you've got a little wind. If there's no breeze on your beach (lucky), pick up a canopy style sun shield.

Shibumi Shade®, World's Best Beach Shade, The Original Wind-Powered® Beach Canopy, Provides 150 Sq. Ft. of Shade, Compact & Easy to Carry, Sets up in 3 Minutes, Designed in America

$305.00 at Amazon

Speaking of shade, make sure your sun protection is locked down. Big straw hats like this one from Quiksilver have been a staple of Southern California surfers since the 1960s and absolutely can't be improved upon. As for sunglasses, I love my Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses, even after wearing them regularly for more than a year. They hover around $300, but they do a lot. Or consider a much less expensive, non-smart option in these oversized aviators from Quay.

I always use Banana Boat sunscreen because it's what they tend to have at the drug store—but this "Light as Air variety" is also much celebrated by dermatologists for being, well, light, with no white cast (so it's great for your face).

KoolMAX Cooler with Bluetooth Speaker System, 350W Boombox, 40 Qt Cooler, Rechargeable, USB 12V Car Cigarette Lighter Power Station, Guitar Amplifier, Radio, PA Machine, Karaoke, Blue

Finally, you need a cooler for snacks and drinks. If you want to go all-out, this KoolMAX cooler is a maximalist dream. It can chill your drinks like any cooler, but it also has a built in 350W Bluetooth-compatible sound system, a guitar amplifier, and it's karaoke-ready. These features won't come in handy that often, but there may come a time when you need to start an instant beach party, and you'll be ready. If you don't need a loudspeaker, you can't go wrong with a wheeled cooler, but if you're only bringing a few things, backpack-style coolers like this Miycoo are great and very inexpensive.

Have fun on the water with these beach gadgets

Over the last few years, electric hydrofoils have taken over the waves off Southern California (at least the beaches for people with disposable income), and whenever I see one, I think, "Yeah, humanity has reached its peak." This Waydoo Flyer EVO hydro-foil is one of the best electric hydrofoil for beginners, according to The Inertia.

Waydoo Flyer EVO Lite Electric Hydrofoil Board, 4000W Power, 22.4mph Max Speed, 100min Battery Life, 198lb Load Capacity, Complete Package with Remote Control

$5,899.00 at Amazon

If you're looking for the most fun thing you can do in water, I suggest snorkeling. An everything-you-need set up from industry leader Cressi is around $100. If you want to go bigger, try snorkeling with an underwater scooter. These things are amazing. They're about the size of a soda bottle, and can pull you along with over 14 pounds of thrust. You can even clip one on a paddle board and use it like a little outboard engine.

For less adrenaline-packed water fun, paddleboards—many (like our own Beth Skwarecki) say—are awesome. They've come down in price so much lately that you can get a nice inflatable paddle board for not too much.

The Surfer Dudes Wave Powered Mini-Surfer costs around $25, and it creates hours of fun for kids, as long as you're at a beach with any kind of waves. You can throw it into the surf at random and it will catch a wave, or you can get skillful with it and try to catch one just as it breaks, like real surfers.

Keep yourself entertained at the beach with these on-land gadgets

Doing nothing on the sand is the personal goal, but you don't want absolutely nothing to do. So pack these "almost nothing" things to do.

I used to always bring a book to the beach; now I pack a Kindle Paperwhite. These Kindles can stay immersed in (fresh) water for an hour and still work (try that with a copy of War and Peace). And they're Bluetooth-compatible for when you decide you'd rather listen to a podcast anyway. (The Kindle will be OK if you drop it in fresh water, but salt and sand is a different story, so get a screen protector.)

Next, don't forget to bring a camera. I love my GoPro. This small camera is rugged as hell, fully waterproof, mounts onto literally anything, and has almost no learning curve. Check out this glowing GoPro Hero 13 review for an in-depth look.

GoPro HERO13 (Hero 13) Black - Waterproof Action Camera with 5.3K HDR Video, 27MP Photos, 1/1.9" Image Sensor, Live Streaming, Webcam, Stabilization + 64GB Card & 50 Piece Accessory Kit - Bundle

$499.99 at Amazon

If you're feeling like a game of spades, I recommend these waterproof playing cards from Hoyle. They’re practically indestructible.

Bringing a guitar to the beach is like wearing sunglasses at night. Most people shouldn't do it, but some people should always do it. "The beach will damage my delicate guitar!" you might be saying. That's why you need a carbon fiber guitar, like this Klos Deluxe acoustic/electric. It can plug right into an amp and it's practically indestructible—a feature that will come in handy if you're playing "Wonderwall" through your cooler.

If you want music you're not playing yourself, pick up a beach-ready Go 4 from JBL. It's IP67 waterproof, so it can be fully immersed in water with no ill effects, and it's designed to resist outdoor threats like dust, sand, and UV light.

And don't forget an extra charger: I like this Poseidon Nano. It's small but packs eight hours of go-juice. Plus, it’s water-resistant.

Speaking of phones, they overheat at the beach—but not if you pack yours in a thermal phone case. Not only does this reflect sunlight and heat in the summer, they protect your phone from extreme cold in the winter too.

Finally, I have heard rumors that there are people who don't like the beach—who don't see the fun of doing nothing all day in the hot sun. Those people need to hang a personal air conditioner around their necks. It will keep them cool until they can convince everyone else it's time to leave.

10 Ways to Elevate Your Outdoor Sound System for Summer

Stephen Johnson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:30:42 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Picture this scene: It’s a summer backyard party. The weather's perfect, and everyone showed up. The blender’s full of rum and sugar water, tiki torches flicker in the breeze, and a full moon glows over the lawn. You cue up some old-school Chaka Khan, but the music that oozes out of that little Bluetooth speaker is weak. Tinny. Wind-compromised. It sounds like a party dying. Do not let this happen to you. Decent outdoor audio doesn’t just make music louder—it sets the vibe and saves the day.

How to choose between an outdoor wired sound system or simple Bluetooth

The first step when planning how you're going to rock that July 4 party is choosing whether you're hardwiring your yard or keeping it mobile. You probably already know what kind of person you are, but below is a case for each approach.

The case for a wired system: If you want pristine audiophile-style fidelity, run physical wires from your indoor system. It will sound better, you won't have to worry about batteries dying, and you can tinker with things like speaker placement and EQ all summer to get it set up perfectly.

The case for Bluetooth speakers: Yeah, a wired array of expensive speakers will provide better sound to your patio, but let’s be real: most of us just want some tunes to back up a summertime party, and a battery-powered, portable Bluetooth speaker playing straight from your phone is enough. It's cheaper, much less hassle, and you can take a Bluetooth speaker anywhere.

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 - Portable Party Speaker with Telescopic Handle & Wide, Sturdy Wheels, Powerful Pro Sound, Futuristic lightshow, Up to 18 Hours of Play time, Splash Proof (Black)

Now that you've decided that, here are suggestions for both setups.

Multiple speakers are a must for wired outdoor sound systems

A couple of cabinets and a sub are great for indoor listening, but outside, you're contending with wind, environmental weirdness, and a lack of sound reflective surfaces. Using multiple speakers will give you much better sound coverage without requiring you to blast the volume and anger your neighbors.

These are the best ways to position your outdoor wired speakers

Corners are good: For the best acoustic results, mount your speakers in corners where two walls (or a wall and a solid fence) meet. The surfaces will reflect the sound toward listeners, boosting volume and bass.

Elevate them to ear level: Speakers that are roughly the level of your listeners' ears will work better than leaving them on the ground. Speakers on the ground are sending some of their bass and mid frequencies into your lawn.

Account for the wind: The wind is fickle, but if there's a direction it usually blows in your backyard, position speakers upwind from listeners, so less music gets "blown away."

Keep the backyard aesthetic by hiding outdoor speakers

If you don't want bulky audio equipment clashing with your landscaping, you can always go with stealth gear. OSD Audio has a ton of outdoor speakers that look like rocks and tasteful design elements, speakers you can hang on trees, subwoofers you can bury in the ground, and other gear for a hidden set-up.

Choose "mono" over "stereo" when using outdoor wired speakers

Stereo separation—splitting different parts of a track between left and right channels—sounds great when you are centered between two speakers in a living room, but it usually falls apart outside, where guests are milling about and environmental factors might mute half of the mix. To fix this, switch your audio receiver/amplifier output to Mono, ensuring that every speaker in your yard plays all of the song.

The same "mono is better" rule applies if you're using multiple Bluetooth speakers, too. You can go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual and toggle on Mono Audio on iPhones, and do the same for Androids at Settings > Accessibility > Hearing enhancements.

Adjust the EQ on your outdoor wired speakers

The low-end frequencies are the first casualty of an open yard, leaving your music sounding hollow. Manually adjust your equalizer to account for the environment. Give the bass and treble a boost (or twiddle the knobs until you have the right mix for your outdoor audio situation).

For Bluetooth speakers, be sure to point the driver at the crowd

Some speakers, like the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 or The Disc: Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1, look like cylinders or discs that are designed to throw sound in all directions equally. But the drivers and tweeters actually face a specific direction. Which direction is "front" depends on the speaker, but there's almost always some indication. Point the front toward your guests.

Create a DIY amplifier for outdoor Bluetooth speakers

If you need more volume but your speaker is maxed out, look for a rigid container like an empty ceramic flower pot or a glass mixing bowl, and put your speaker into it. It acts like a megaphone and boosts the volume. (Try to ignore the pained sigh of your audiophile brother-in-law. Yes, this does muddy up the audio mix in a big way, but when you just need pure volume to carry across a loud backyard, it gets the job done.)

Take your Bluetooth playlist offline

To ensure the tunes don't end because of internet issues, save your playlist to your phone or laptop before the party.

Use a power station so your Bluetooth speakers keep playing well into the night

If things are going to go late, consider a portable power station like the Ecoflow 2 or the Jackery Explorer 300.

Use a "host device" to avoid Bluetooth signal drop

Bluetooth range gets significantly worse outdoors with open air and bodies blocking the signal. Instead of streaming from your personal phone, use an old, deactivated smartphone or a tablet as a dedicated "host" device. Leave it physically sitting near the speakers (or safely tucked in a ziplock bag nearby), and use Spotify or Apple Music's "Group Session" or "Remote Control" feature from your actual phone to change tracks from across the yard without moving the source.

Marshall Middleton Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Cream

$194.95 at Amazon

How to Optimize Your Smart Home for the Summer

Stephen Johnson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Optimizing your living space to seamlessly adapt to changing seasons is one of the best uses for a smart home, and also one of the coolest. A summer-tuned smart home will save you a ton of money and keep you more comfortable; plus, it's freaking awesome. Imagine the sci-fi satisfaction of watching your house independently prepare for a heatwave without you ever having to lift a finger.

Install a smart thermostat

If you are still controlling your home's climate with a dial, it's time for an upgrade. Something like this Ecobee smart thermostat plays nicely with Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa, and does way more than letting you change the temperature from your phone. It can be the brain of your summer optimization strategy: It actively tracks your habits, watches the local weather report, and learns how long your house takes to cool down. If you're into AI (or not into scheduling things manually), this Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) uses artificial intelligence to study your daily routines and automatically builds an energy-saving climate map for your home.

Installing a smart thermostat can seem intimidating, but it's often simpler than you'd think. Modern kits are largely designed for standard homes and come with straightforward guides to help you connect the right wires. Follow the directions closely, use your phone to snap a picture of your original setup before you disconnect anything, and you'll probably be fine, but if you have any doubts, hire a professional to knock it out for you.

Ecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced

$189.99 at ecobee

Google Nest 4th Gen Learning Thermostat With Temperature Sensor (Polished Obsidian)

Make the sunlight and darkness work for you

Computer controlled smart blinds are not just cool, they can also save you a ton of money. Limiting the amount of sunlight beaming through your windows means air conditioning doesn't have to work as hard, but you'll still be comfortable. Depending on your home setup and how deep you want to go, there are three approaches you can take.

The schedule option. Setting the blinds on the western side of the house to close at 2 pm and open at 6 pm is a blunt instrument, but it gets the job done, and it's easy. These Yoolax motorized blinds, for instance, work with major home automation systems from Amazon, Google, and more, and they come with a 15-channel timing remote, so you can schedule them right out of the package without even getting your smart home involved.

Light-sensing option: Instead of picking a static time, you can tether your blinds to the shifting solar schedule by giving your smart hub a programming rule like: "Close the shades exactly three hours after sunrise." These SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades can do all that through Matter-over-Thread or Homekit.

True-light sensing: Both of the above options work great, until there's a cloudy day. Illuminance sensors, either built directly into a smart blind's solar panel or stuck to a window sill, measure actual light intensity, then you can set a rule to tell your blinds to open when summer rains fall. Even relatively inexpensive products like these SwitchBot Blind Tilt Motorized Blinds have light sensors, plus, they work with your existing blinds.

Yoolax Motorized Blinds

$159.00 at Amazon

SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades

$169.99 at Amazon

SwitchBot Smart Motorized Blinds

Control the wind with ceiling fan and AC synchronization

You can keep yourself cool without having to cool all the air in your house with humble ceiling fans. They create a wind-chill effect on your skin, and if paired with a smart thermostat, you can trick your body into feeling comfortable without turning your home into a refrigerator. Here's how to do it:

Make sure your fans are spinning counterclockwise, so a column of air is pushing down.
Set your thermostat a little higher. Maybe go from 70 to 74.
Create a conditional rule in your smart home app, something like "IF the room temperature hits 74, THEN turn on the smart plug connected to your fan."

You'll perceive moving air in a warm room as cooler than still air, and it can be done with just a $15 smart plug.

Cure the open-door AC drain

My mom used to say "what are we, cooling the whole neighborhood?" if anyone left the door open in summer, but I still did, and it sometimes stayed open half the day. You can avoid AC waste and avoid becoming a nag with simple contact sensors. Something like this hooks up to your door and lets you know if it's opened or closed. You can connect them with your smart home software and create a rule that to turn your air conditioner off or to econ mode if a door is left open for three minutes, or just have an alert sent to your phone, so if a door is left open so you can yell about it.

Shift heat-heavy chores to off-peak hours

Anyone in a drought-plagued area is already aware that you shouldn't run power-draining appliances like dishwashers and clothes dryers during peak air conditioning hours; not only does it strain the grid, it heats up your house, so schedule your heavy appliances to run at night. If someone in your household insists on drying their clothing at noon, you can set a rule like "IF time is 11:30 PM THEN turn smart plug ON. IF time is 7 AM THEN turn smart plug OFF." If you're fancy, and you're rocking smart appliances like this GE dryer, you can skip the smart plugs and handle it directly from your smart home hub.

Keep your home safe during summer vacations

Scheduling lights to turn off and on while you're on vacation is burglary-deterrence 101, but a determined thief is going to see through it if they're really casing the place. Instead of a predictable schedule, use built-in algorithms to make your house look convincingly occupied. Philips Hue lights offer a free "Mimic Presence" feature, while Alexa smart speakers have an Away Lighting routine that comes with its Guard Plus service that costs $4.99 a month. When you change your system status to "Away," these programs analyze your historical habits and machine algorithms to randomize your smart bulbs, plugs, and switches. They turn things on and off in unpredictable patterns, periodically shift smart shades, and can even stream audio or ambient TV noise to different rooms until it looks like an invisible family is living in your house while you're partying at Busch Gardens.

These High-End Marshall Headphones Are $150 Off Right Now

Pradershika Sharma — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:45:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Marshall’s Monitor III ANC headphones have the kind of design that makes you want to show them off. The textured earcups and gold logo lean fully into the amp-inspired look, and at $229.99 (down from $379.99, and currently their lowest price ever, according to price trackers), they’re finally priced in a way that feels competitive.

Marshall Monitor III

ANC over-ear Bluetooth headphones

These are over-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation, and they’re clearly aimed at people cross-shopping Bose and Sony. The difference is that Marshall is selling a vibe along with the sound. The build feels sturdy, and small details like replaceable ear cushions and a swappable silicone headband strap suggest they’re made to last longer than most. They fold down neatly into a compact hard case (included), but they’re not water-resistant, so they’re better suited for travel and home listening than sweaty workouts.

Living with them day to day is mostly smooth. The small gold joystick handles volume and track controls in a way that feels intuitive after a few minutes. There’s a separate button to toggle noise cancellation and transparency, plus a customizable shortcut button you can set up in the Marshall app. The app itself is simple, with a five-band EQ and a few presets, though it’s not especially deep if you like fine-tuning every frequency. Bluetooth 5.3 keeps connections stable, but you’re limited to AAC and SBC codecs, so there’s no hi-res audio support. You also can’t charge and listen through a traditional 3.5mm cable at the same time, since the single USB-C port handles both charging and wired playback.

Battery life is where these headphones stand out. Up to 70 hours with ANC on is more than enough for long trips, and turning ANC off stretches that to an almost excessive 100 hours. As for sound, they deliver strong bass and crisp highs, with enough punch to make hip-hop and electronic tracks feel lively. Noise cancellation reduces plane engine rumble and city noise well, but it does not match leaders like Bose in blocking midrange chatter, notes this PCMag review.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

All the Ways You Can Rent a Luxury Summer Experience for Cheap

Stephen Johnson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:30:53 +0000

Here's a dream summer day in Los Angeles:

9 a.m.: Pick up your Jeep Wrangler with the top off, throw your bags and the dog in the back, and hit the road.

10:30 a.m.: You arrive at Malibu Beach, hop on your electric hydrofoil and spend the morning literally flying over the ocean waves.

3 p.m.: After a couple of hours chilling on the beach, you head inland to a private oasis where your dog can run around in complete privacy.

4:30 p.m.: While the doggy naps, you cool off swimming laps in a pristine, private pool complete with a manmade lagoon and waterfall.

8:30 p.m.: You drive up into the starlit canyons to pitch your tent on a stunning private coastal ranch or secluded farm plot, far from the crowds at the public parks.

If you bought all this stuff yourself, it would cost more than a million bucks—houses with nice pools aren't cheap around here—but you can experience that exact million-dollar summer itinerary for around $470. Welcome to your "asset-light luxury" summer: Thanks to the peer-to-peer rental economy, you can have a rich person's summer for very little money.

Where to rent a peer-to-peer boat

They say the two best days of a boater's life are the day they buy their boat and the day they sell it, but you can bypass the endless hassle and expense of boat ownership with boat rentership through Boatsetter. This P2P boat rental app lets you rent everything from a jet boat to a 106-foot yacht. Pro tip: Boatsetter allows renters to hire a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain as part of the rental, too; but if you're a DIY person, you can get a boating license here.

Where to rent a peer-to-peer dream car

If you're taking a road trip this summer, Turo is the spot for renting your summertime dream car. Whether you want to drive to the mountain in a new Jeep or cruise the beach in an old Mercury Meteor, you can probably find it on Turo. It's so much cooler than that beige, baseline minivan from Alamo. Pro tip: Scroll down to the "extras" section; some Turo hosts offer add-on packages with things like beach chairs and coolers.

Where to rent a peer-to-peer pool

I love the idea of Swimply. Swimming in someone else's pool is just better than the hassle of having your own. It's really easy to do: Just enter your address and check out what pools you can swim in for a fee. They have everything from above-ground pools in someone's backyard to exotic manmade lagoons with waterfalls. Pro Tip: Look for the "Instant Book" lightning bolt icon. Many hosts require up to 24 hours of notice to review your request, but "Instant Book" listings let you lock down a spot immediately. Perfect for "I gotta get in some water, now!" moments.

Where to rent a peer-to-peer recreational vehicle

Maybe you like camping but hate being uncomfortable. If so, you can have a recreational vehicle without dropping $60,000. RVShare connects you directly with local owners who are willing to hand over the keys to their luxury Class A motorhomes, nimble Class B campervans, or classic towable Airstreams. Pro-tip: If you want to skip the driving anxiety of piloting one of these barges, many hosts offer a delivery service so you can have your Winnebago dropped off at the campground.

Where to rent a peer-to-peer private campsite

If you've ever tried to rent a campsite from a state or national park, you've no doubt said, "There must be a better way;" enter, Hipcamp, the Airbnb of camping. Hipcamp connects you with people who own land and will rent it to you for camping, so you can pitch your tent on a coastal estate or just some dude's backyard. Pro-tip: Many Hipcamp hosts offer hyper-local add-ons like fresh eggs from their chicken coops.

Where to rent peer-to-peer adventure gear

If you're going on vacation and you need a bike, board, or scooter, don't bring it from home, and definitely don't ride those clunky cruisers that came with the Airbnb. Check out FriendWithA first. Along with power tools and cameras, you can "borrow" all kinds of fun things, like e-bikes, golf clubs, stand-up paddleboards, or a "high-performance" pogo stick. Pro-tip: Every rental on FriendWithA includes up to $10,000 in property protection (and up to $125,000 for higher-value gear) so you don't need to worry about wrecking that expensive gravel bike.

Where to rent a peer-to-peer dog park

"Airbnb for dogs" sounds like a joke about the glory days of Silicon Valley, but it's a real app where you can rent backyards, pools, and dog amusement parks, so your furry pal can enjoy some off-the-leash entertainment. Pro-tip: The more I think about Sniffspot, the less ridiculous it seems, especially if your doggy doesn't play well with other dogs.

Where to rent peer-to-peer fashion

The last time I rented clothing was my senior prom, but if you need the perfect outfit for a summer wedding or rooftop cocktail party, don't drop $400 on a new dress. Instead, check out Pickle, the breakout app for peer-to-peer clothing rentals. Pro-tip: If you're traveling to New York, Los Angeles, or Miami for a formal occasion, Pickle offers a courier service to have that designer dress dropped right at your hotel room.

These Bowers & Wilkins ANC Earbuds Are 60% Off Right Now

Pradershika Sharma — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:15:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Bowers & Wilkins isn't a brand you typically associate with budget audio gear. The company is better known for premium speakers and high-end headphones, which makes Woot's current sub-$100 deal on the Pi6 stand out. These wireless earbuds are down to $99.99 from their usual $249 price (the lowest price on record, according to price trackers). This deal is expected to remain available for the next three weeks or until inventory runs out, with Prime members getting free shipping while everyone else pays a $6 shipping fee.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 Wireless Earbuds

These IP54-rated earbuds support SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, and aptX Classic codecs, giving compatible devices access to higher-quality wireless audio than many mainstream earbuds offer. The result is a sound signature that feels detailed and balanced—vocals come through clearly, instruments have room to breathe, and the overall presentation feels more spacious than what you'd typically get from similarly priced wireless earbuds. Its 12mm drivers help deliver that experience, and they're backed by active noise cancellation that does a respectable job of reducing background distractions in offices, on public transit, or in busy cafes.

The earbuds are also surprisingly comfortable—despite lacking stabilizing hooks or fins, they stay secure enough for workouts and runs, while remaining light enough for longer listening sessions. Battery life is another plus, with up to eight hours of playback from the earbuds and roughly 24 additional hours from the charging case. That said, the Pi6 has no Spatial Audio support, no built-in feature for locating misplaced earbuds, and the companion app can occasionally feel rough around the edges. Those omissions are easier to accept at $99 than they are at $249, but they're worth knowing about before you buy.

Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

Apple iPad 11" A16 128GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Silver, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00)

Sonos Move 2 — $399.00 (List Price $499.00)

Sony WH1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $398.00 (List Price $459.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

Lifehacker Is Hosting a 'Big Guessing Game' for Apple's 2026 Announcements

Jake Peterson — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 03:59:00 +0000

Update: Round 1 of the Lifehacker Big Guessing Game has ended. Check back for new questions in Round 2, which begins July 7.

A few times each year, the tech community lights up with new theories and renewed speculation about what Apple might announce next. Those of us who scour the internet for the latest leaks and whispered rumors might try to guess what colors the next iPhone might come in, or what new features could ship with the next version of iOS, then watch Apple's keynote presentations live to see if we were right. If that sounds like you, listen up: This year, your guesses could win you a brand new Apple Watch.

Throughout 2026, Lifehacker is running a guessing game contest based on Apple's new announcements and releases. Here's how it works: The contest will unfold across three rounds.

Round 1, which ended on June 2. This round was focused on the scuttlebutt around Apple's software (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, etc.).
Round 2, which will run from July 7 through July 21, concerns Apple's devices (iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, Vision Pro, etc.).
Round 3, which will span Aug. 18 through Sept. 1, centers on Apple's fall event.

During each round, you'll answer five questions about what Apple might announce or reveal during its major keynote events. Each question you answer with a correct prediction earns you one entry into the grand-prize drawing, to be held at the conclusion of all three rounds. If you win the drawing, you'll walk away with the latest version of the Apple Watch.

To be eligible, an entrant must be at least 18 years old, and a resident of the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C. Lifehacker isn't throwing this event alone: The other CNET Group sites (CNET, Mashable, PCMag, ZDNET) are also hosting their own questions. That means there will be 75 possible questions to answer across all CNET Group sites and all three rounds. You're free to submit answers to any and all of the questionnaires on these sites during each round, but please note that each entrant is only eligible to win one prize. Each of the five websites will announce the winner of its contest shortly after Apple's fall event.

Once you've answered, you'll receive a copy of your responses at the email address you provide, so you can keep track of your predictions. Make sure to come back in July for Round 2 of Lifehacker's Big Guessing Game: Apple Edition.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win the "CNET Group Big Guessing Game" Giveaway. Open to legal U.S. residents in the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+ yrs of age. Other restrictions apply. Begins May 19, 2026 at 12:01 p.m. ET and ends Sept. 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules. Sponsor: Ziff Davis, LLC.

Apple is not a sponsor of, affiliated with, or endorser of this sweepstakes. Apple Watch is a trademark of Apple Inc.

10 Hacks Every Perplexity User Should Know

Khamosh Pathak — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:30:00 +0000

You probably use Perplexity as a quick answer machine. Instead of Google Search, you ask Perplexity questions, and it responds with citations you can check yourself. While Perplexity is good at this, the scope of what the service can do (especially in the paid tiers) goes way beyond. After integrating some built-in features, harnessing the power of Perplexity Computer's background processing, and adding the Comet AI browser to the mix, you can turn Perplexity from yet another AI service into a fully fledged research assistant to help you get things done quickly.

Set Perplexity as your default search engine for faster access

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

While Perplexity can now do extensive research, create mini-apps, and automate tasks, Perplexity's biggest advantage is being a search engine alternative to Google Search, one that is heavily focused on showing relevant sources. To that end, if you start using Perplexity more, you might want to make it your default search engine. But in most browsers, Perplexity isn't recognized as a search engine yet. You'll have to do so manually.

In Chrome (and Chromium-based browsers), go to Settings > Search Engine > Manage search engine and site search. Go to the Site Search section, and click the Add button. In the Search engine section, type in "Perplexity." In the Shortcut section, use the "perplexity.ai/search/" URL, and under "URL with % in place of query," add in this address: "https://www.perplexity.ai/search/?q=%s". Click the Add button. Then, find the Perplexity engine from the list, tap the three dots, and choose Make Default. Perplexity is now your default search engine.

Use multiple models to reduce hallucinations

Credit: Perplexity

Perplexity AI's whole thing is that you can use different models, like Gemini, GPT, and Claude, in one interface. And if you're paying for Perplexity, you can use "Model Council" to make AI models essentially cross-check each other's work. If Claude Sonnet has a pitfall somewhere, GPT-5 can try to catch it.

When you start a new query, choose "Model Council." The prompt will now run through the latest Claude Opus, ChatGPT, and Gemini models, respectively. A synthesizer model will then review the output and resolve any conflicts that come up. In the response, you'll see where a model agrees with an answer, and where they differ. Now, this isn't a cure for hallucinations: AI models hallucinate. They make things up; they get things wrong. While Model Council can reduce hallucinations, you're still relying on AI to fact-check here, so exercise caution with your results.

Stop Perplexity from training its AI models on your data

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

By default, Perplexity uses your chats and prompts to train its models. If you're not a fan, there is a way to disable this. Go to Perplexity Settings > Preferences and disable the AI data retention toggle.

Use Scheduled Tasks to run recurring tasks like morning briefs and trend reports

Instead of asking for updates on news, tasks, or emails manually, you can set up Scheduled Tasks to automate them based on your time preferences. You can do this in the regular Perplexity search, as well as in the "Computer" section—though if you plan on using interactive elements like dashboards, stick to the Computer section here. Start with a plain text query like "Send me a news digest with the latest AI headlines every morning at 8 a.m." You can make it as detailed as you like. Perplexity will display an interface for adding the task. Here, you can customize details such as which model to use, the frequency of updates, and more.

Use "spaces" to use your own trusted data for AI research

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

In Perplexity, a space is essentially a project folder. You can use a space to add custom instructions and data that only apply to the particular space and not to everything you ask in Perplexity. Here, you can also upload your own data, like your own PDFs, charts, database files, and more. You can also add links. When you do this, every question you ask will be answered using the data that you've fed in. And because this is Perplexity, you'll find a citation link for each claim in the answer. (Clicking it will take you directly to the reference point in the PDF or the document.)

Use search operators for more accurate AI answers

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Like Google Search, Perplexity AI supports search operators. They can help you narrow down the scope of your query and find relevant information faster. Let's say you're searching for a guide on how to solve a problem in software like Premiere Pro. Ask a question and add the "site:(website URL)" at the end. Now, the results will show pages from that site, with citations taking you directly to the relevant part of the webpage so you can check the answer for yourself. Similarly, you can use quote marks to search for specific text, and you can add a time window to surface only recent results. Adding "Last Week" or "This Year" to the end of a query will work just as well.

Connect your other accounts for richer data and automation

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Connectors can turn Perplexity from a chatbot into a personalized AI assistant. Perplexity has hundreds of connectors available, including for some apps and services you likely often use. That includes Gmail, Google Drive, Notion, Slack, among many others. Once you add connectors, you can ground the questions you ask in your personal data. For example, you can ask Perplexity to surface important conversations from your Gmail account, or bring up database changes made by your teammates in Notion.

When you use Perplexity Computer for automation, this also comes in handy. For example, you can ask it to search Gmail for new emails, turn them into tasks, and add them to a Notion dashboard for your team to review. Go to Settings > Connectors to get started. You can use the "@" mention tool to select a connector in the prompt box. Note that Connectors are available for Pro and Max subscribers.

Use Comet to simplify shopping and research across multiple browser tabs

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Perplexity Comet has a built-in research assistant that can maintain the same context window across multiple tabs. It can then execute actions, collect research, or cross-check information across all the open tabs. When you have multiple tabs open, open the Assistant sidebar, and use the "@tabs" action to choose the tabs you want to work with. You can now ask Comet questions to compare details across multiple pages, including specs and prices.

Use the Slash command to create shortcuts for frequently used prompts

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

If you find that you routinely ask Perplexity the same question when using Comet, you can turn those queries into shortcuts. In fact, any prompt can be turned into a shortcut, with the opportunity to apply more context after the fact. This works in Comet, and when you're using Perplexity Computer. To create a shortcut, go to the Perpleixty Computer Skills page in Comet, and click "Create a Skill" to get started. You can talk to Perplexity Computer in natural language to figure out what the skill should do. Once it's created, type "/" followed by the skill name to trigger it.

Use "visual data analysis" to track and learn more about the stock market

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Perplexity has a dedicated Finance tab, filled with financial analysis data and tools that you can access for free. Perplexity has cataloged financial results and live share price movement in its database. You can ask any question to dive deeper and perform a financial analysis. If you are new to all this, you can ask Perplexity Computer to build visual charts for a company's earnings report, or you can ask it to perform a deep comparison of earnings reports over the last five years, presenting the results only in graphs and interactive charts.

10 Tasker Hacks Every Android User Should Know

David Nield — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0000

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

As I've covered before, Tasker is the ultimate Android app for hacks, automations, and customizations. $3.99 from the Google Play Store, it gives you deep access into the settings and features of Android, so you can do more with Google's mobile operating system. It's actually not the easiest app to describe in just a few words—the best way to show off its capabilities is with examples of what it can do, like the ones I've collected here. They give you a small but carefully selected sample of ways to use Tasker, which you can use as inspiration for your own routines.

Admittedly, Tasker isn't the most straightforward app to get to grips with, but there is now an "easy mode" inside the app, as well as many preset tasks that you can load up without having to build anything yourself. There are also ideas available through the Tasker community online.

Change alarm sounds to match the weather

Sure, the default alarm sounds for Android are fine, but what if you could change the alarm sound based on what the weather is doing? You'd know from the moment you wake up what kind of day you were in for, in terms of the weather.

It's an example of the sort of tweaks Tasker can make that combine different features and data in useful ways. NotEnoughTech has a comprehensive tutorial you can work through in both video and written form to build this yourself, together with the necessary downloads.

Make your reminders smarter

The Smart Reminders and Alarms tool. Credit: Lifehacker

Something else Tasker works well for upgrading basic Android features so you can get more out of them—like the rather rudimentary reminder system that you get through Gemini, Google Calendar, or Google Tasks.

Redditor Blitzdroids has built a Smart Reminders and Alarms project that you can download to do much, much more with reminders through Tasker. It's almost a mini-app in itself and it shows off what's possible.

The many customization features available for your reminders cover fonts, colors, sounds, and vibrations. You can control if and when reminders recur, whether or not they can override Do Not Disturb, and set bespoke snooze options too.

Automatically connect to coffee shop wifi

If there are wifi hotspots you use regularly, like at the local coffee shop, then you can use Tasker to have wifi automatically switch on when they're in range. It saves you doing it manually, and means you won't use any cellular data if you don't need to.

You can find instructions for this one over at MakeUseOf—it's pretty straightforward in Tasker terms. You need to set up a profile for each location, and then an associated task that automatically enables (and disables) wifi based on location.

Enable auto-rotate only for certain apps

Choose your auto-rotating apps. Credit: Lifehacker

Auto-rotate certainly has its uses—say, for watching videos—but there might be certain times when you don't want your apps automatically swinging around from portrait to landscape (or vice versa). Tasker is able to help here, too.

There's a preset project for this inside Tasker: Tap the three dots (top right), then TaskerNet, then find Auto-Rotation Apps via the search box at the top. Tap Import and then Import again to get the project on your phone.

As soon as the project is enabled, you'll be given a list of apps installed on your phone. The apps you select here will auto-rotate without prompting while the others won't, and you can go back into Tasker to edit the list at any time.

Get your phone to keep you awake when you're sleepy

The best Tasker projects aren't always the most obvious ones: Take a look at ShakeWake, for example, which is designed to keep you alert when you're in danger of nodding off (during those long study or work sessions, maybe).

You get to set the necessary alarm interval for being pinged by your phone, and the pings can be accompanied by audible beeps or your phone's flashlight turning on. You can shake your phone to dismiss the alert, which is where the project name comes from.

Put app notifications as a "ticker" in the status bar

You can bring back the ticker affect at the top of Android. Credit: Lifehacker

You might remember all the way back to the days when Android used to have a ticker-style notification at the top, so the contents of your alerts would scroll along the top of the screen rather than popping up in a separate window. With Tasker, you can bring that functionality back.

This video shows how it works, and if you visit the Ticker project page on an Android device, you can load it on your phone. You can use it with some apps and not others, and it's able to display "now playing" information, too.

Disable any touch inputs when your phone is in your pocket

This is a Tasker project I was particularly happy to come across, because it affects me all the time: My phone often registers touchscreen inputs when it's in my pocket, I think because fingerprint or face detection input is somehow triggered.

That kind of problem should be solved by this Tasker idea, which uses the proximity sensor on your phone to detect that it's been pocketed, and switch to a custom lock screen. You can make certain exclusions too, to prevent accidental activation.

Only turn on GPS when using Google Maps

Tasker lets you control which apps have access to location data. Credit: Lifehacker

GPS access is useful for all kinds of apps—from checking the weather to tagging social media posts—but your phone's battery life can be significantly affected depending on whether GPS readings are being taken or not.

Tasker can help: This Reddit thread details the process of creating a simple Tasker project where opening a certain app turns GPS on, and closing it turns GPS off again. You could just have GPS enabled for Google Maps, for example.

As an added bonus, you know that multiple apps won't be accessing your location information—even if they have the necessary permissions inside Android, they won't be able to get at the data, as GPS won't be on.

Open the same app when you unlock your phone in the morning

Your mornings most likely follow the same sort of routine, except perhaps over the weekend. Tasker enables you to have the same app launch after the first unlock of the day, and even take actions on it (like pressing the play button).

From the Profiles screen, tap the three dots (top right), then TaskerNet. Search for "unlock" to find and import the project called Open App On First Unlock Of Day, and as soon as it's installed you can pick your app.

Launch different apps based on fingerprints

Tasker can get at fingerprint info through the Logcat event list. Credit: Lifehacker

This is another project that shows Tasker can be capable in ways you might not have thought of, based on Android's out-of-the-box settings: You can have different apps open up based on which fingerprint is used to unlock the phone.

You could use this yourself—maybe thumb for the camera, and index finger for your messaging app. Or if there's someone else you trust enough to give them access to your phone, you could have a specific app open just for them.

It does take a little bit of effort to get this working, but it's not too taxing, and is worth the investment. There's an official video explaining how to do it from Tasker's creator, plus another tutorial on Reddit that outlines the steps.

You Should Install the June Android Security Patch ASAP

Jake Peterson — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Google's June Android security patch isn't one to miss. The company may roll out a security update once a month, but this latest version is quite the update: As reported by BleepingComputer, the patch contains fixes for 124 security flaws. That in and of itself makes this a substantial update, but the reason to install it with haste comes down to one particular fix.

One of the 124 vulnerabilities, tracked as CVE-2025-48595, is an escalation of privilege vulnerability affecting Android Framework. Attackers can abuse it to escalate privileges—or force their way into an administrative position—and run their own code on the target device. According to Google, users don't even need to do anything in order for attackers to exploit the flaw, which is present on devices running Android 14 and newer. That impacts a huge number of devices. Worst of all, Google says that there is evidence that CVE-2025-48595 is under "limited, targeted exploitation," making it what's known as a zero-day.

What is a zero-day vulnerability?

Zero-day vulnerabilities are the most dangerous type of security flaw. They occur when a vulnerability is publicly exposed or exploited before the software developer has a chance to issue a patch to the general user base. That gap gives attackers an advantage, since they can learn how to exploit the flaw before users can install a fix. As such, CVE-2025-48595 opens the possibility of an attack for all users who don't have the June security patch installed.

The good news is that Google says the exploits so far have been limited and targeted. In all likelihood, attackers are using the exploit against high-profile targets like politicians or journalists. That being said, Google isn't disclosing much about this vulnerability other than its tracking ID and its general description, so we don't know much about the scope or danger involved.

This zero-day isn't the only reason to install the update: 18 of the 124 vulnerabilities identified here are labeled as "critical," and while they aren't zero-days (meaning the flaws did not have public disclosures or exploits when Google issued the update), it's only a matter of time before hackers learn how to take advantage of these flaws. Keeping an older version of Android running on your device may put you at risk.

How to install the June Android security update

Because Google issues these security updates, its own phone line, Pixel, is the first to receive them. As such, Pixel users can download and install the security updates today. If you have a different Android device, like a Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, or Motorola phone, you'll have to wait for your device manufacturer to issue the patch.

Once the update pushes to your phone, it may update automatically. But to check if the update is available on your end, open the Settings app, then head to About phone (or About tablet), then choose Android version. Here, you'll see if you have a pending security update.

Everything You Need to Know About Prime Day 2026

Daniel Oropeza — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:15:21 +0000

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This year, Prime Day got off to an unusual start with the news that one of the biggest online sales of the year would move to June, a month earlier than previous years. Now, Amazon has officially released the dates of the sale—it'll be from June 23-26, 2026. Here is everything else you need to know about the Prime Day sale kicking off later this month.

Why did Amazon move Prime Day to June this year?

As I originally covered in April when the news broke out, Amazon moved Prime Day from July to June this year. While Amazon didn't exactly give an explanation as to why, I have a pretty good guess: It seems the news of the move to June was released prematurely as a mistake, as reported by Mahsable. My suspicion is that Amazon meant to keep the June dates secret to catch competitors like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy off guard and have less competition during the sale. But only Amazon really knows why the sale was moved to June this year.

When is Prime Day 2026?

Last night, Amazon published a press release with the specific dates: Prime Day 2026 will run from June 23 to June 26. This is the second time Amazon has doubled the original length of the sale from two to four days, with last year being the first time, hinting this might be the new norm moving forward.

Can I get Amazon Prime for free?

Yes, Amazon offers a free 30-day trial, so you can shop all four days of the event before canceling without being charged. Here's how to sign up for a Prime account and all of the benefits that come with it.

You can absolutely share your Prime membership to shop during Prime Day with family or friends, even if you don't live together. This can be done through the Amazon Family program, which lets you share Prime benefits with another adult (aged 18 or older), up to four teens, and up to four children in your household. Just keep in mind that you will need to be a Prime member, and people with a free trial can't share Prime benefits.

What else does Prime Day get me?

There are a lot of Prime benefits, many of which are outside of shopping, like medical care, free e-books, gaming, etc. The best way to see if it's worth getting a membership is to understand everything it offers and consider how much of that you would realistically use. Remember that Prime has different costs depending on which plan you choose.

Are there early Prime Day deals I can shop right now?

Amazon has already been releasing early Prime Day deals. Here are several we've covered:

You will need to be a Prime Member to shop the exclusive sales during Amazon's Prime Day. Prime membership starts at $14.99 per month. Remember: You can always sign up and then cancel your Prime membership once the sale is over.

Can you return Prime Day purchases?

Yes, Prime Day deals have the same return policy as regular purchases on Amazon. Most products can be returned within 30 days of delivery, but to see a full breakdown, check out Amazon's complete list of products with their return policy.

How do I spot fake deals or track price drops?

Amazon is no stranger to artificially manipulating list prices and deals to fool you into thinking you're getting a bargain. Luckily, we've got the tools and knowledge to spot those fake deals. You can use the same tools I use when I vet the deals I choose to cover.

Is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days the same as Prime Day?

I know it feels like Amazon is having a "big sale" every season. That's because they basically are. During spring, Amazon has the Big Spring Sale, which, as the name implies, is a big online sale that Amazon has during the spring every year. In the fall, Amazon has October Prime Day. And during the summer, it's just plain old "Prime Day," which is the original and likely biggest sale they have all year. If you're wondering which sale to splurge on, Prime Day is it. It has consistently had the best deals throughout the year.

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The Top 10 Movies Right Now, According to Streaming Data

Stephen Johnson — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000

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In May, the streaming wars were won by Sam Raimi's Send Help, a bloody, funny, fast-moving thriller about office politics and revenge. The competition was stiff, including everything from all-time classics like The Devil Wears Prada, to an octopus movie starring Sally Field, to a new chapter in the story of comic book vigilante the Punisher. Settle in with some popcorn, people: Here are the most popular movies streaming last month.

Send Help (2026)

Horror-master Sam Raimi is the perfect director for this violent, unhinged, darkly funny thriller. Send Help stars Rachel McAdams as Linda, a dorky cubicle drone in an office full of well-dressed sharks. Her boss is Bradley (Dylan O’Brien), a nepo-baby executive with unlimited funds and no compassion. The pair end up stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, and while it turns out Bradley's skill at belittling people is no help in the jungle, Linda is something of a survivalist. But she might also be insane. It's a perfect set-up for a twisty plot that ends in a bloody showdown. All thumbs up! Send Help is streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

Send Help

Remarkably Bright Creatures

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

With the long-anticipated sequel cleaning up in theaters, people are flocking to stream the original classic. And luckily The Devil Wears Prada holds up. Meryl Streep earned an Oscar nod for her iconic turn as Miranda Priestly, ruthless editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, and Anne Hathaway is amazing as Andy Sachs, the young, idealistic journalist who's about to learn a lot about the fashion world. Stream The Devil Wears Prada on Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu.

The Devil Wears Prada

at Hulu

Remarkably Bright Creatures (2026)

In this feel-good woman-meets-octopus drama, Sally Field plays Tova, a widow who spends her days cleaning the tanks at the local aquarium and grieving the death of her son. Lewis Pullman plays Cameron, a drifter who needs a mentor and a mom. Alfred Molina voices Marcellus the Octopus, the cephalopod who brings them together. If you like smart, sensitive movies with amazing performances, it's a great pick. If you like calamari, maybe see something else. Stream Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix.

The Housemaid (2025)

Director Paul Feig's The Housemaid is a psychological thriller equally influenced by steamy suburban potboilers like Gone Girl and suspense classics like Vertigo. Based on Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel, The Housemaid has a classic setup: Millie (Sydney Sweeney), a young woman with a secret past, lands a job as a live-in housemaid for wealthy couple Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar). Millie soon discovers that the nice couple who hired her is hiding some very dangerous secrets. Great for fans of rising tension and killer plot twists. Stream The Housemaid on Starz.

The Housemaid

at Starz

Apex (2026)

This modern riff on The Most Dangerous Game stars Charlize Theron as Sasha, an elite rock climber looking for adventure in the wilderness of Australia. She gets way more than she bargained for when she meets Ben (Taron Egerton), a twisted predator whose favorite hobby is hunting and murdering strangers for sport. Stream Apex on Netflix.

Apex

Marty Supreme (2025)

Loosely based on the real life of ping-pong player Marty Reisman, Marty Supreme is a fast-paced sports drama set in the world of professional table tennis in the 1950s. Timothée Chalamet stars as Marty Mauser, a brash ping-pong prodigy who can't get out of his own way. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Kay Stone, a wealthy woman who becomes entangled in Marty's world. Marty Supreme has to be the most successful movie about ping-pong in history, earning nine academy award nominations and a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Stream Marty Supreme on HBO Max.

Marty Supreme

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War

Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War (2026)

John Krasinski continues in the guise of (John Clancy's) Jack Ryan in this espionage thriller, a feature-length follow-up to the Prime Video series. As it opens, Ryan is out of the spy game, but a disaster of an international covert mission brings him back into the fold. With the fate of millions at risk, Ryan teams up with old pals CIA allies Mike November (Michael Kelly) and James Greer (Wendell Pierce) and MI6 officer Emma Marlowe (Sienna Miller) to battle an intelligence unit that has gone rogue. Stream Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War on Prime Video.

Bugonia (2025)

I love it when a weirdo movie finds a big audience, and Bugonia is one of those movies. Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis play a couple of societal dregs who kidnap a high-powered pharmaceutical executive (Emma Stone) because they think she's an alien. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who helmed 2023's excellent Poor Things, the Best Picture Oscar nominee is a must-watch, even if you're only a little weird. (And if you want more weirdness, it's based on an even odder South Korean film called Save the Green Planet.) Stream Bugonia on Netflix.

Bugonia

The Running Man (2025)

Based on a 1982 novel by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) and directed by Edgar Wright, The Running Man is a dystopian near-future sci-fi action movie in which the most popular show on TV is a deadly reality competition with contestants who must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins. I hate to admit that I would totally watch that show, and you should totally watch this movie. Stream The Running Man on Prime Video, Paramount+, Roku, MGM+, and Fubo.

The Running Man

The Punisher: One Last Kill

The Punisher: One Last Kill (2026)

Marvel's relentless vigilante is back, and this time, it's personal. (Okay, it's pretty much always personal with the Punisher.) This one-hour "special presentation" begins with Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) out of the punishing game, having found meaning beyond revenge. But when an old enemy returns and threatens the fragile peace he's created, Castle straps the mask back on gets back to his true calling: kicking ass. Stream The Punisher: One Last Kill on Disney+.