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

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

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

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

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

Credit: Nintendo

Credit: Nintendo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is Connections?

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

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

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

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Big catch

• Green: Many

• Blue: A sports no-no

• Purple: Ascend and descend

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Fishing gear

• Green: Multitude

• Blue: Commit a basketball infraction

• Purple: Controlled with up/down buttons

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

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

Drumroll, please!

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

What is the answer to Connections today

• Fishing gear: FLY, HOOK, LINE, NET

• Multitude: DROVE, HOST, MASS, PACK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The words are related to permission.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being allowed.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Give the Nod.

NYT Strands word list for May 7

• Approve

• Permit

• Sanction

• Give the Nod

• Allow

• Bless

• License

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

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

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

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

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

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

To move.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

The Wordle answer today is...

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BUDGE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why was Apple sued in the first place?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16 Plus

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

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

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

What a difference an inch makes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Paper Pure feels lighter than air

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Paper Pure is a little bit shorter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: Remarkable

Remarkable Paper Pure

$399 at Remarkable

 

Shop Now

The world has no shortage of Pride and Prejudice adaptations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: Dell

Dell 15 2024 15.6-Inch (Certified Refurbished)

$306.99
$349.99 Save $43

 

Get Deal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

StackSocial prices subject to change.

That was quick.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Hopefully, tomorrow's puzzle is just words again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elle premieres July 1 on Prime Video.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When is Bayern Munich vs. PSG?

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

How to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Visit RTÉ Player

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

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

Get Deal

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

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

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

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

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

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Credit: EcoFlow

EcoFlow Mother's Day Sale

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

Shop Now

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: Amazon

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

$399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50

 

Get Deal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: Delta / Starbucks

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

 

Get Deal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: Samsung

Free Samsung Galaxy S26 from T-Mobile

 

Shop Now

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 + "Pokémon Pokopia" Bundle

AU$769.95 at My Nintendo Store

 

Pre-order Here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2

$449.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now

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Credit: Nintendo

"Pokémon Pokopia"

$69.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now

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

Beatbot AquaSense 2

$849 at Amazon
$1,298 Save $449

 

Get Deal at Amazon

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

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

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

How many times do we have to go through this?

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

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

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

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

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

Adeline Rudolph as Kitana. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

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

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

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

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

Tati Gabrielle as Jade. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gamers need to demand more of video game movies.

CJ Bloomfield as Baraka. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

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

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

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

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

Mortal Kombat II opens in theaters on May 8.

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

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Credit: Amazon

Bosch Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machine

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

 

Get Deal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: Acer

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

$699.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $100

 

Get Deal

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

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

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

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

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

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

View this post on Instagram

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robot lawn mowers on sale at Amazon at a glance:

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Best robot lawn mower deal for larger yards

Dreame A3 AWD Pro Robot Lawn Mower + free replacement blades

$2,699.99 (save $500)

Get Deal

---

Most affordable robot lawn mower

Ecovacs Goat O1000 RTK Robot Lawn Mower

$699.99 (save $300)

Get Deal

---

Best robot lawn mower deal for smaller yards

Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15

$999.99 (save $800)

Get Deal

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

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

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

Best robot lawn mower deal for larger yard

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Credit: Dreame

Dreame A3 AWD Pro Robot Lawn Mower

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

get free replacement blades worth $699

Get Deal

Why we like it

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

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

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

Best budget-friendly robot lawn mower deal

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Credit: Ecovacs

Ecovacs Goat O1000 RTK Robot Lawn Mower

$699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

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

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

Best robot lawn mower deal for smaller yards

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Credit: Eufy

Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15

$999.99 at Amazon
$1,799.99 Save $800

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

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

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

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

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

Roku has denied the claims in Else's complaint.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: Hisense

Hisense 55-inch Canvas S7N QLED 4K TV

$647.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $352

 

Get Deal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A hole in the ground.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DITCH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Immense sadness.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GRIEF

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Found in tile.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

GROUT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Cooked in oil.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

FRIED

Final Hurdle hint

Turn.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

TWIST

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

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

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Credit: Amazon

Samsung M80H Mini LED TV

$597.99 at Amazon
$697.99 Save $100

 

Get Deal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Asus ROG Strix 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor

$996.25 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $102.75

 

Get Deal at Amazon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the Champions League?

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

The defending champions are PSG.

When is the 2025-26 Champions League?

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

How to watch the 2025-26 Champions League for free

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

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

• Turkey — tabii (select fixtures)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

Get Deal

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

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

What is the best VPN for the Champions League?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The answer: City of Angels in the Outfield.

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

Here's the Pop Mash puzzles they faced:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sheep Detectives opens in theaters on May 8.

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

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

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

Until I got to Firefly.

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

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

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

A few minutes roll by.

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

My eyes widened.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Sure,” I say. I fall asleep.

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

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

“Hey man, how’s it been?”

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

“Good, man, how about you?”

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

“You’re telling me,” he replies.

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

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

“Yeah.”

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

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

He replies one night at 3 a.m.

“Hey.”

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

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

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

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

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

He replies minutes later.

“That was so hot.” 

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

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

Returned to sender.

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

I never hear from him again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's the penultimate episode of SNL UK Season 1, the finale of which will be hosted by Doctor Who‘s Ncuti Gatwa on May 16, with musical guest Holly Humberstone. The first run of the spinoff has seen previous hosts Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Riz Ahmed, Jack Whitehall, Nicola Coughlan, and Aimee Lou Wood.

Season 2 is yet to be announced.

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

TL;DR: Amazon currently has the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) gaming monitor on sale for $699.99, down from its $999.99 list price. This deal comes with a free PC code for Resident Evil Requiem.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung 49-Inch Odyssey G9

$699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300

Get Deal

If you’re hunting for a good price on an ultrawide gaming monitor to give your setup a well-deserved upgrade, one of Amazon’s best offers now includes a code for one of 2026’s biggest games. 

As of May 6, Amazon has cut the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) gaming monitor to $699.99 with free delivery, making it a solid 30% discount for anyone trying to stretch their setup across one giant screen instead of juggling multiple displays. 

The G95C goes big without going OLED, pairing a massive 49-inch Dual QHD screen with a sharp 1,000R curve designed to wrap around your field of view. The 32:9 aspect ratio gives you room to spread out a game, Discord, Twitch, and a few extra tabs without making your desk look like a command center you can barely manage. 

As for speed, this sleek Samsung unit lists a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms(GtG) response time, which should help cut down on blur when matches get a bit chaotic. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support is also included for smoother performance during fast-moving scenes, while DisplayHDR 1000, 1000-nit peak brightness, and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio help bring extra depth to bright highlights and dark corners. 

Two business days after the monitor ships, you’ll receive an email with a redeemable code for the hit Capcom horror game Resident Evil Requiem. If you’re a fan of the long-running horror franchise, this a great first test for your visual upgrade. 

For any other games you feel like playing — be it a round of Fortnite or trying out Crimson Desert — the Odyssey G9 monitor’s setup-focused touches are worth noting. CoreSync and Core Lighting+ add reactive lighting behind the display, while the ergonomic stand lets you swivel, tilt, and adjust the height. Picture-by-Picture, Picture-in-Picture, Eye Saver Mode, and Auto Source Switch+ round out this unit for anyone using this as both a gaming screen and productivity hub. 

If you’re open to spending a bit less on a monitor that’s slightly smaller, the 34-inch Alienware curved gaming monitor is on sale for just under $300. What’s more, the LG 27-inch UltraGear GX7 is over $300 off. 

Back in 2020, in what's still one of the most shocking sporting upsets of the decade so far, Stephen Colbert managed to claim victory over Barack Obama in a game of "wastepaper basketball" — and now they're having a rematch.

In the clip above, after a tour and interview in the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, the two talk smack while throwing their little crumpled balls of paper at a distant trash can. The end result? A match that's not all that closely fought.

We won't tell you who wins, but we will say there's a trophy involved.

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SAVE $200: As of May 6, the EcoVacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum is on sale for $899 at Amazon. That's a 18% discount on the list price.

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Credit: EcoVacs

EcoVacs Deebot X11 Robot Vacuum

$899 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $200.99

 

Get Deal

The EcoVacs Deebot X11 robot vacuum is back on sale at Amazon, and if you've been looking for a robot vacuum to handle all the work, this is a great choice. A vacuum and mop combo, this unit is at its best-ever price of $899 for a limited time.

This is a robot vacuum that can handle larger homes. Dirt and dust stand no chance thanks to the OZMO Roller 2.0 with TruEdge 3.0 which gives more precise mopping, reaching into edges and corners more effectively. The BLAST suction and ZeroTangle 3.0 technology provide reliable cleaning power, even for homes with pets.

It also has a TruePass four-wheel system that helps it navigate thresholds and steps with ease, and the smart wet and dry cleaning system automatically adjusts by lifting the mop on carpets to avoid making a mess.

The X11 also features an OMNI Station that has bagless auto-emptying, hot water mop washing, and self-cleaning functions, so all manual work is taken out of your hands. It's even powered by AI navigation to help it learn your home layout by itself.

You can find this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $500: As of May 6, the De'Longhi Eletta Explore is on sale for $1,499.95 at Amazon. That's a 24% discount on the list price.

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Credit: De'Longhi

De'Longhi Eletta Explore

$1,499.95 at Amazon
$1,999.95 Save $500

 

Get Deal

Coffee connoisseurs, head to Amazon now because there's a new deal on the De'Longhi Eletta Explore. As of May 6, this impressive espresso machine has got a $500 discount, bringing the price down from $1,999.95 to $1,499.95.

This model is a super automatic espresso machine that lets you create a wide range of drinks at just the touch of a button. No fussing around with settings or complicated parts, this machine comes with over 50 one-touch hot and cold recipes including espresso, cappuccino, latte, iced drinks, and more.

Pick one of the 50 recipes from the 3.5-inch full-touch TFT display. You can even personalize drinks, create profiles, and make changes to recipes through the De’Longhi Coffee Link App.

For those that are serious about their beans, this machine comes with a built-in grinder with 13 settings for precise dosing and optimal extraction. It also comes with a dual LatteCrema system that creates both hot and cold milk foam for different styles of coffee, if you prefer a cappuccino instead of a straight up espresso. Cold brew lovers are also covered, with the machine benefiting from Cold Extraction Technology to prepare cold brew in under three minutes.

Get this coffee machine deal from Amazon now.

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, May 6, 2026:

Across

Wikipedia or WebMD

• The answer is Site.

Host city of the 2024 Olympics

• The answer is Paris.

Nuclear reactors split them

• The answer is Atoms.

Hit 2021 film shot in the same location as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Martian"

• The answer is Dune.

C.I.A. asset

• The answer is Spy.

Down

Showed sudden interest

• The answer is Sat up.

"Ten thousand spoons, when all you need is a knife," according to Alanis Morissette

• The answer is Irony.

What's displayed at the top of many iPhone lock screens

• The answer is Time.

Pluralizing letter, spelled out

• The answer is Ess.

Football player's protection

• The answer is Pads.

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

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

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

SAVE $130: As of May 6, the DJI Flip (RC 2) is on sale for $509 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

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Credit: DJI

DJI Flip (RC 2)

$509 at Amazon
$639 Save $130

 

Get Deal

The DJI Flip is back on sale at Amazon, and as of May 6, it's down to its best-ever price. And with the ban on future imports of DJI drones, now might be the time to buy. Right now, you'll save $130 with the new price of $509.

This drone is incredibly lightweight, weighing under 249g, meaning it doesn't require FAA registration or Remote ID in the U.S. For peace of mind, it's designed with full-coverage carbon fibre propeller guards. For shooting great content, it benefits from features like subject tracking to keep subjects in focus during filming. It also benefits from a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor to capture images with more light and detail, and it supports 4K/60fps HDR video recording.

With this DJI drone, you'll get an RC 2 remote controller with a high-bright screen, a battery, and additional essentials. To get going, you'll need to download the DJI Fly app from the official DJI website, as it was recently removed from Google Play.

Get this drone deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $30: As of May 6, get a free $30 Amazon gift card when you buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro

$249.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $30

 

Get Deal

If you need a new pair of earbuds and you love a freebie as much as we do, you need to check out this Amazon deal on the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro.

As of May 6, if you buy these earbuds, you'll get a free Amazon voucher worth $30. You can choose between black and white earbuds, both including the same gift card offer.

And if the bonus gift card wasn't enough of a selling point, these earbuds are really incredible. Sound quality is seriously impressive, with each earbud featuring a two-way speaker system with a tweeter and woofer for high and low frequencies. They also have an Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation 2.0 feature. This can adjust sound in real time to your environment.

These earbuds also include touch controls for answering the phone, adjusting the volume, and other functions. There's even hands-free AI features such as voice assistance and live translation when used with compatible devices. And don't worry about them being flimsy, as these are designed for everyday use thanks to their IP57 dust and water rating.

Head to Amazon to score this earbuds and gift card bundle deal.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle available for preorder at $69.99 ahead of its Aug. 14 release. TCGplayer listings are much higher (starting at $117.73).

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Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle

$69.99 at Amazon

Pre-order Here

The Magic: The Gathering trading card game is heading back to Middle-Earth, and this time Bilbo Baggins is getting his own turn at the table. The Hobbit crossover doesn’t launch until Aug. 14, but preorders are already live and Amazon has the most sensible price right now. 

As of May 6, the Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle is up for preorder at Amazon for $69.99, which lines up exactly with the official bundle MSRP. It’s also being sold and shipped by Amazon, with Amazon’s preorder price guarantee attached. That means you won't pay more if the price shifts before launch. 

TCGplayer, meanwhile, seems to be preparing for official stock to sell out with higher listing prices. Its lowest listing is currently $117.73 with shipping included, while the listed median is hovering around $117.76. That makes Amazon the obvious first stop if you’re trying to lock in the new set without paying nearly $50 over retail price.

Inside the box, you’ll get nine Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Boosters, one alt-art traditional foil promo card, four traditional foil full-art seasonal Hobbit lands, 15 traditional foil basic lands, 15 non-foil basic lands, two reference cards, a card-storage box, and an oversized Spindown life counter. 

That means it’s built for a little bit of everything: cracking packs, building out decks, storing cards, and admiring some very Shire-themed lands. The set pulls from Bilbo’s journey from The Shire to the Lonely Mountain, with Gandalf, Dwarves, Trolls, treasure, and Smaug all part of the adventure. 

As for deals from other MTG expansions, you can score the Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box for only $20. To further expand your collection, Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box is also on sale for around $90. 

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display Box up for preorder at $278.95, down from its typical $344.94 price. Walmart and TCGplayer listings are even cheaper, but this Amazon Chaos Rising Booster Box price is sporting a 19% discount.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Box

$278.95 at Amazon
$344.94 Save $65.99

 

Pre-order Here

The Chaos Rising release date is getting closer, and Amazon is starting to drop more discounts on the upcoming expansion.

As of May 6, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display Box listed for preorder at $278.95 with free shipping, sold by MVP Marketplace. That is 19% off its typical $344.94 price, saving you $65.99 before tax. 

Each Chaos Rising Booster Display Box contains 36 booster packs from the upcoming Mega Evolution expansion. At Amazon’s $278.95 price, that comes out to roughly $7.75 per booster pack before tax. The listing currently shows free delivery for May 27, with the fastest delivery option set for May 23, right after the expansion’s May 22 release date. 

That said, Amazon is still not the cheapest place to buy. Walmart currently has the same Chaos Rising Booster Box listed at $238.99 with free shipping, sold and shipped by T. Gaming. TCGplayer is also under Amazon, with unopened presale listings starting at $239.40 shipped and a current market price of $238.24.

Chaos Rising includes over 120 cards, more new Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, more than 25 Trainer cards, and more than 35 Pokémon and Trainer cards with special illustrations. The set features Mega Floette ex, Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, and Mega Dragalge ex.

To get more from the upcoming expansion at a better price, you can also score the Pokemon TCG Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for just over $130 at Amazon. You can also grab single Chaos Rising booster packs for $12.99 at Amazon. 

An icy world, perhaps just 300 miles wide and far beyond Pluto, may have air, challenging the assumption that small space objects can't hold onto an atmosphere.

This world, known as 2002 XV93, orbits in a distant region sprinkled with leftover rubble from our solar system's early planet-building days. Astronomers often study this ancient detritus, referred to as Trans-Neptunian Objects, by waiting for remnants to pass in front of stars. During rare alignments, researchers can measure how the starlight changes to learn about an object's size and features, such as rings or debris.

What scientists saw instead for this object was startling. On Jan. 10, 2024, the little object eclipsed a faint star — a star so anonymous it doesn't even have a common name. But that event, seen from East Asia, revealed thin air on 2002 XV93.

Typically, if an object has no atmosphere, the background starlight disappears abruptly as the object blocks it. Instead, telescopes recorded a gradual fading out and in of the light at the beginning and end of the event — a sign that an atmosphere had bent or scattered it.

"Our findings suggest that a fraction of distant icy minor planets can exhibit atmospheres," the researchers wrote in a new paper published in Nature Astronomy. 

The researchers estimated that an extremely thin atmosphere, with a surface pressure between about 100 and 200 nanobars, surrounds the object. That level is far thinner than Pluto's atmosphere but stronger than anything previously measured around similar small bodies in the outer solar system.

In a post on X, lead author Ko Arimatsu said this is the first detection of an atmosphere for a Trans-Neptunian Object beyond Pluto. It's not known yet what gases are in the world's air, but methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide are the team's best guesses, based on their observations.

The discovery shocked scientists because astronomical models indicate small, distant objects should not be able to maintain an atmosphere — at least not for very long. Under weak gravity, gases tend to escape into space, meaning any atmosphere would likely dissipate within a few hundred to a few thousand years.

That may suggest the researchers caught a temporary atmosphere for the object at just the right time. 

The authors proffer a few scenarios for how 2002 XV93's atmosphere could have formed. One possibility is that a comet or asteroid could have crashed into the world recently, releasing trapped gases. Another possibility is that cold volcanoes could have vented gases instead of lava, or internal heat or chemistry could have pushed gases to the surface. 

If the air fades over time, it likely came from a collision. If it continues or changes in cycles, that may mean internal mechanisms are responsible. The team favors the former explanation over the latter.

Scientists say they'll need to study the object more to solve the mystery. They already have James Webb Space Telescope observations of the target that show no indication of frozen material that could have turned into gas.

TL;DR: AcePDF gives you conversion, editing, OCR, and file management tools in one app for a one-time $23.99 (reg. $99.99).

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Credit: Acethinker

AcePDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License

$29.99
$99.99 Save $70

 

Get Deal

PDFs are one of those things many deal with on a regular basis, but rarely with just one tool. One app to convert, another to edit, something else to merge files. It all adds up fast, mentally and financially.

That’s what makes AcePDF Converter & Editor worth a look. For $23.99 (reg. $99.99) through May 10, it bundles pretty much every common PDF task into one place — with a one-time payment instead of another ongoing subscription.

At the core, it handles conversions both ways. You can turn PDFs into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or images without losing formatting, and go the other direction just as easily. It also supports batch processing, which is a small detail that makes a big difference if you’re working with multiple files.

Editing is just as straightforward. You can merge, split, rotate, and rearrange pages, add annotations, or build forms. There’s even OCR built in, so scanned documents aren’t stuck as images — you can extract and edit the text directly.

Then there are the extras that tend to come in handy more often than expected: compressing large files, pulling images out of PDFs, adding watermarks, or locking documents with passwords.

Instead of piecing together multiple tools, you get a single app that handles the full workflow from start to finish.

If PDFs are part of your regular routine, this is one of those small upgrades that can save you time every week.

Get the AcePDF Converter & Editor for just $23.99 (reg. $99.99) through May 10at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Surfshark One+ and Incogni give you a VPN, antivirus, alternative ID, and data monitoring all in one $75 bundle.

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Credit: Surfshark

Surfshark One+ Plan with Incogni: 1-Year VPN, Antivirus, and Personal Data Removal

$74.99
$250.20 Save $175.21

 

Get Deal

Trying to manage your online privacy usually means juggling multiple subscriptions that each only solve one small part of the problem. Surfshark One+ with Incogni takes a different approach by combining a VPN, antivirus, breach alerts, and data removal into one plan. Right now, a one-year plan is even on sale for only $74.99 (reg. $250.20).

Surfshark takes care of your privacy in real time. The VPN encrypts your internet connection across devices, which helps protect your data on public networks and keeps your browsing activity more private. Antivirus protection runs in the background to catch malware, ransomware, and other threats, while Surfshark Alert notifies you if your information shows up in a data breach.

There is also an Alternative ID tool, which lets you generate a substitute name and email when signing up for sites. That keeps your real information from getting added to more databases. Private search is included too, so you can browse without trackers tied to your activity.

Incogni focuses on something most people don’t deal with directly. Data brokers collect and sell personal information, which can lead to spam, robocalls, and targeted scams. After you authorize it, Incogni contacts hundreds of these brokers on your behalf and requests that your data be removed. It keeps following up over time, and you can track the progress through a dashboard.

Together, these tools cover both sides of the problem. One protects your current activity, and the other works to clean up what is already out there.

The plan works across up to five devices and runs on most major platforms, so you can keep everything under one account instead of managing separate tools.

Right now, it’s only $74.99 to get a one-year SurfShark One+ Plan with Incogni.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Giro d’Italia for free on SBS on Demand. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There is something incredibly special about watching the best cyclists in the world compete in the Grand Tours. The scenery is always amazing, the fans are passionate, and of course, the racing is electric. You quickly become aware that you're watching something special. These athletes are not normal, and we're blessed to be able to watch these stars compete over three weeks of gruelling competition.

The Giro d'Italia is the first Grand Tour of 2026. This year's event will feature the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, Giulio Pellizzari, and Adam Yates. There are a number of talented riders very much in the running for the pink jersey this year.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Giro d'Italia for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Giro d’Italia?

The Giro d'Italia is an annual multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in Italy. The Giro d'Italia is one of cycling's most prestigious three-week-long Grand Tours (alongside the Tour de France and Vuelta a España).

When is the 2026 Giro d’Italia?

The 2026 Giro d'Italia is the 109th edition of the famous race. This year's race will start on May 8 in Bulgaria and will finish on May 31 in Rome.

How to watch the 2026 Giro d’Italia for free

The 2026 Giro d'Italia is available to live stream for free on SBS on Demand.

SBS on Demand is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can unblock this free streaming platform with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access SBS on Demand from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Giro d'Italia for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit SBS on Demand

5. Watch the 2026 Giro d’Italia for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Giro d’Italia before recovering your investment.

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Live stream the 2026 Giro d’Italia for free with ExpressVPN.

Nothing feels as good as a deep, genuine laugh. It's an expression of joy! It's a workout. It's a sign that you're having a good time.

Netflix has a dazzling selection of comedy movies that give you that good-time feeling on demand. Whether you're craving action-spiked shenanigans, quirky coming-of-age adventures, awkward humor, stranger-than-fiction silliness, madcap musical numbers, or crime with a spree of laughs, there's a perfect pick for you. And we've made singling it out all the easier by highlighting the most hilarious below.

Here are the funniest movies now streaming on Netflix.

30. Ghostbusters

Who you gonna call? Ahead of a string of sequels, this 1984 comedy classic was the first to pose the question. And the answer was a quartet of ghostbusters, dedicated to ridding New York City from paranormal pests.

Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson star as the eponymous band of heroes who get up to all kinds of comical chaos. Whether they're arguing with the EPA, battling a poltergeist, or trying to win over beguiling cellist, they're hilarious in every step. Cue up the theme song, and kick off movie night right. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Ghostbusters is now streaming on Netflix.

29. Mrs. Doubtfire

Robin Williams stars in this 1993 comedy, playing a divorced dad desperate to reconnect with his kids. So, naturally, he puts on heavy prosthetic makeup, a granny wig, and a padded body suit to become an English nanny. That way, his ex-wife (Sally Field) will hire him to watch after their kids! ("The whole time? The whole time? The WHOLE TIME!")

An outrageous comedy that is truly iconic, Mrs. Doubtfire is a treasure for every silly thing Williams does. — K.P.

How to watch: Mrs. Doubtfire is now streaming on Netflix.

28. Colossal

We love when Anne Hathaway gets weird with it. And there's perhaps no better way to describe writer/director Nacho Vigalondo's 2016 monster movie. Here, Hathaway stars as a train wreck of a woman who, after tanking her career and her romantic relationship with a hot metro man (Dan Stevens), ends up sleeping in a cot in her parents' old house in her hometown. Over many beers, she reconnects with a former classmate (Jason Sudeikis), and then a towering kaiju attacks Seoul, South Korea. What does this have to do with anything? That's the mystery in this darkly comic movie, which veers into a mind-bending climax that had tongues wagging. Funny, strange, and smart, Colossal is not to be overlooked. — K.P.

How to watch: Colossal is now streaming on Netflix.

27. Cora Bora

Megan Stalter stars in "Cora Bora." Credit: Brainstorm Media

If Too Much has you craving more Megan Stalter, you'll want to catch up with this underseen gem. Directed by Hannah Pearl Utt, Cora Bora centers on the titular musician (played by Stalter), who has left Portland and her girlfriend (Jojo T. Gibbs) behind to pursue her dreams in L.A. The couple's open relationship allows each to explore other connections — or, in Cora’s case, endure an awkward one-night stand with a sexy Flat Earther (Thomas Mann). But when Cora begins to fear that her girlfriend is catching feelings for someone else, it prompts the chaotic bisexual into a hasty homecoming.

In my review out of the film's SXSW premiere in 2023, I cheered, "Cora Bora proves a sensational cringe comedy, spiked with wicked humor, skin-crawling awkward scenarios, and an ardent — if wounded — heart. Deftly dancing from brash jokes to tender dialogue, Stalter reveals a riveting range and stirring screen presence. Simply put, it’s easy to fall for Cora Bora." — K.P.

How to watch: Cora Bora is now streaming on Netflix.

26. Paddington in Peru

We could all use some Paddington in our lives, so why not kick back and enjoy Paddington in Peru? Sure, it's not the masterpiece that is Paddington 2, but director Dougal Wilson still crafts a charming adventure in its own right in his directorial debut.

This time around, Paddington (voiced by Ben Whishaw) is headed back to his homeland of deepest, darkest Peru, with the Brown family in tow. In his quest to find his missing Aunt Lucy, he'll cross paths with a high-energy, guitar-playing nun (Olivia Colman) and a cartoonish, disguise-loving boat captain (Antonio Banderas). Colman and Banderas elevate Paddington's journey from funny to downright outrageous, proving that there are few things more fun than watching seasoned performers let their freak flags fly. Check out their work and the rest of Paddington in Peru, and see why Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko called it "the movie we need right now." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Paddington in Peru is now streaming on Netflix.

25. Saturday Night

Credit: Hopper Stone / Sony Pictures Entertainment

Unjustly overlooked at release in the fall of 2024, this frantically funny romp from Juno and Young Adult director Jason Reitman details the 90-minute lead-up to the very first episode of Saturday Night Live in October of 1975. The ensemble cast is packed, with Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase, Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner, Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd, Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman, Matt Wood as John Belushi, Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris, and Kim Matula as Jane Curtin. 

Add Gabriel Labelle as Lorne Michaels, the man with the wild and crazy plan himself, and the fact that this movie managed to only be 90 minutes long with all of these characters (plus a dozen more I don't even have room to list) is a real miracle in itself. Plenty of people do get shafted time-wise — notably, most of the women, which is pretty crappy given the show's own track record shafting women back in the day — but Saturday Night definitely captures the chaos and hilarious mayhem that Michaels managed to funnel into a comedy revolution. — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Saturday Night is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Nonnas

Speaking of delicious, this comedy written by Liz Maccie and directed by her husband Stephen Chbosky will have you craving a home-cooked Italian meal.

Inspired by the true story of the restaurant Enoteca Maria, Nonnas stars Vince Vaughn as an average Joe who channels his grief over losing his mother and grandmother into a tantalizing new venture. He uses his inheritance to build a new restaurant in Staten Island, and hires Italian grandmothers (or nonnas) to become the chefs using their family recipes. Personalities clash, but ultimately these strong-willed women come together to create something stupendous.

It's a feel-good comedy full of love, joy, and laughs.* — K.P.

How to watch: Nonnas is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Heart Eyes

Credit: Christopher Moss

Valentine's Day gets a horror-comedy makeover in Heart Eyes, from director Josh Ruben (Werewolves Within). The titular slasher only kills on Feb. 14, when they target happy couples in love. This year, the Heart Eyes killer has marketers Ally (Olivia Holt) and Jay (Mason Gooding) in their sights. There's just one problem: Ally and Jay aren't a couple, even though a coffee shop meet-cute and undeniable chemistry seem to suggest otherwise. Can these star-crossed acquaintances and definitely not lovers survive the night and convince the Heart Eyes Killer they're totally platonic?

What follows is a cross between gory slasher and romantic comedy, and if you're a fan of both genres, chances are you'll be charmed by Heart Eyes. As Mashable contributor Kimber Myers wrote in her review, "Heart Eyes is a gory good time for those who are likely to swipe right on an off-kilter love story and a horror comedy." — B.E.

How to watch: Heart Eyes is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Cunk on Life

Comedian Diane Morgan has been gifting the world with her character of Philomena Cunk for a glorious decade and a half now. A dim-witted investigative journalist who butts heads with the real-world leading minds on each subject, Cunk proved to be a one-woman feast of absolute nonsense. The character Cunk started getting her own specials in 2016 with Cunk on Christmas, followed by Cunk on Britain and the epic globe-trotting mockumentary series Cunk on Earth (also streaming on Netflix).

Morgan's expanded her reach all the way to Cunk on Life, her latest side-splitter that tries to uncover the very meaning of existence itself across its humble 71-minute runtime. Does Cunk succeed? Well, Cunk definitely thinks she does, every damn time. But if not, at least we'll get to hear some Technotronic in the process, dammit! — J.A.   

How to watch: Cunk on Life is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Credit: Netflix

Eddie Murphy returns as wise-cracking Detroit police officer Axel Foley. 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III, this sensational sequel sees Foley returning to Los Angeles to fight a new foe, reunite with old friends, and reconnect with his estranged daughter.

Reprising their supporting roles are Beverly Hills Cop co-stars John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot. New to the crew is Taylour Paige as Axel's hard-headed daughter, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a local ally, Nasim Pedrad as a flustered real estate agent, and Kevin Bacon as a smirking antagonist. The sparks will fly. The punchlines hit powerfully. The soundtrack is fire. And just like that, the heat is back on! — K.P.

How to watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Between Two Ferns: The Movie

Credit: Adam Rose / Netflix

Zach Galifianakis' awkward celebrity interview web series Between Two Ferns might not seem like fodder for a full-length movie, but Between Two Ferns: The Movie goes double meta by presenting his success on Funny or Die as an insult to the actor's intention to host a "serious" interview show. Galifianakis the character sets off to correct the assumption that his original show is a joke by interviewing even more celebrities, like John Cho, Keanu Reeves, Tiffany Haddish, and more. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Between Two Ferns: The Movie is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Do Revenge

Credit: Netflix

Looking for a revenge flick that pays tribute to teen classics like Mean Girls, Heathers, Cruel Intentions, and more? Then check out Do Revenge, a dark comedy sure to join the canon of iconic high school movies. Students Drea (Camila Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) couldn't be more different... apart from the fact that both have major bones to pick with people who ruined their reputations. They decide to team up and execute one another's revenge plans, which leads down a winding road of morally dubious choices, snappy one-liners, and excellent outfits.

Mendes and Hawke have great chemistry, but it's Sophie Turner who damn near steals the show in a bit part that simply must be seen to be believed.* — B.E.

How to watch: Do Revenge is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Always Be My Maybe

Credit: Netflix

What if the one who got away got a second chance? Back in the day, Sasha and Marcus were tight as a slap bracelet. But one fumbled night in a sweaty backseat seemed to shatter their future together.

Fifteen years later, she's a world-renowned chef and he's — well — he's working for his dad's HVAC business and playing with his band on the side. Still, fate arranges for them to reconnect, which could mean Marcus (Randall Park) has a shot to show Sasha (Ali Wong) how he feels. Comedy ensues as the stakes get high when Keanu Reeves crashes the party, being all weird and hot and having the audacity to be Keanu Reeves! This Nahnatchka Khan-helmed laffer also boasts appearances by James Saito, Charlyne Yi, Karan Soni, Daniel Dae Kim, and Michelle Buteau.* — K.P.

How to watch: Always Be My Maybe is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Dolemite Is My Name

Credit: François Duhamel / Netflix

Chronicling the true story of late comedian Rudy Ray Moore — also known as Dolemite — this Eddie Murphy vehicle is worth every minute of viewing.

An outrageous showbiz comedy, Dolemite Is My Name is at once a poignant look at the life of an underdog and an unbelievably good time. With supporting performances by Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Wesley Snipes, Craig Robinson, and more, this biopic offers more beat-for-beat joy than many of its fictional counterparts. Sensational, aspirational, and electric: You'll love it. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Dolemite Is My Name is now streaming on Netflix.

16. The Polka King

Credit: Netflix

Sometimes true crime can lead to some pitch-perfect dark comedy. This is the case for this outrageous offering, which stars Jack Black as infamous scammer/local celebrity Jan Lewan. Black brings all the rock star panache you need to understand how Lewan could be so beguiling to the Pennsylvanian retirees who surrendered their savings to the self-proclaimed Polka King.

Screenwriters Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky gave this story of fraud and showmanship shape. But they wisely trusted in the local flair of the terrific 2009 documentary The Man Who Would Be Polka King to provide some of the wildest lines of dialogue. Plucking directly from interviews with the friends, family, and victims of Jan Lewan, this comedy feels stranger than fiction but is jaw-droppingly real. Salty supporting turns from Jenny Slate, Jacki Weaver, and Jason Schwartzman bring added fun.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Polka King is now streaming on Netflix.

15. The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Credit: Netflix

Sony Pictures Animation has given audiences such daring and dynamic animated movies as Surf's Up, Hotel Transylvania, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This zany 2021 release centers on a family who's battling back the robo-apocalypse with togetherness, internet savviness, and a wall-eyed pug named Monchi (voiced by social media icon Doug the Pug).

The Mitchells' adventure into chaos begins when daughter Katie (Abbi Jacobson) is poised to go off to college. Desperate for one last family-unifying road trip, her dad (Danny McBride) piles the whole family into his beater of a vehicle, unknowingly charting a fateful route into heroics. Co-directors Mike Rianda and Jeff Rowe infuse Katie's excitable perspective throughout the film by working in internet memes, social media-style reactions, and blitz of bonkers visuals. It’s a bold move that might alienate some viewers but has largely won the acclaim of critics and kiddos.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Mitchells vs. The Machines is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Credit: Netflix

Writer/director Rian Johnson follows up his critically heralded whodunnit with a sequel that's even more explosive than Knives Out. Southern gentleman/detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back, drawling deductions and whipping out witticisms, much to the chagrin of a group of wealthy and conniving friends.

It was supposed to be a murder mystery weekend where homicide was just a game. But when tech scion Miles Bron (Edward Norton) brings together his closest friends and worst enemy, real blood will be spilled, and the game is afoot! Joining in on the comically chaotic fun are Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., and Jessica Henwick. — K.P.

How to watch: Glass Onion is now streaming on Netflix.

13. The Forty-Year-Old Version

Credit: Jeong Park / Netflix © 2020

The Forty-Year-Old Version isn’t just any film about a struggling New York artist, but one about a Black female playwright who’s continually held back from creating something authentic to her perspective. Radha Blank's autobiographical directorial debut, which she also wrote, produced, and stars in, is a searing, funny, and unabashedly honest look at the compromises Black creatives are pushed to make in a world dominated by whiteness.

A teacher approaching her 40th birthday, Radha (Blank) gets the chance to produce one of her plays — only after she refuses to write a slave musical. But forced to change her vision to appease white audiences, Radha considers a totally different medium to express herself: becoming a rapper. The Forty-Year-Old Version may be one of the most slept-on Netflix originals, and it’s a shame we've yet to see another film from Blank since, itself an indictment of an industry that fails to continually platform raw and honest Black storytelling.* — Oliver Whitney, Contributing Writer

How to watch: The Forty-Year-Old Version is now streaming on Netflix.

12. Vampires vs. the Bronx

Credit: Netflix

Want a movie that's got excitement, comedy, a scorching message about the evils of gentrification, and is a kid-friendly romp? Then take a bite out of Vampires vs. the Bronx.

Oz Rodriguez's PG-13 horror-comedy centers on Afro-Latino teens who recognize that a flurry of missing person posters and an influx of rich white folks with tote bags means bad news for the neighborhood. Together, they team up Monster Squad-style to take down the bloodsuckers and save their community. With a sharp wit, a warm heart, a rich sense of atmosphere, and an equal appreciation for the Blade movies and '80s Amblin, Vampires vs. the Bronx is an easy watch full of rewards.* — K.P.

How to watch: Vampires vs. the Bronx is now streaming on Netflix.

11. The Breaker Upperers

This hidden gem comes from New Zealand, the fertile comedy ground that gave us Taika Waititi, Flight of the Conchords, and What We Do in the Shadows. Waititi collaborators Jackie van Beek, James Rolleston, and Jemaine Clement team up for a deeply quirky buddy comedy about two long-time besties with a bonkers — but brilliant — business model.

Need someone to dump your partner so you can avoid a messy confrontation? Call on Jen and Mel (co-writers/co-directors/co-leads van Beek and Madeleine Sami). For a reasonable fee, these fearless Breaker Upperers will impersonate police officers, play pregnant, or even fake your death to help you ghost an ex. Whatever the shenanigans, van Beek and Sami sparkle. Booming with wild humor and big heart, this comedy is guaranteed to leave you cackling.* — K.P.

Where to watch: The Breaker Upperers is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

With its reputation for wacky musical numbers, the Eurovision Song Contest is ripe for parody. Luckily for Eurovision lovers, the contest gets the send-up it deserves in this gloriously goofy flick starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. They play the Icelandic musical duo Fire Saga, who find themselves in the Eurovision spotlight. There, they discover that the famed competition is a world of cutthroat competitors, glitzy costumes, and many, many bops.

Eurovision Song Contest is full of larger-than-life characters and ridiculous humor, but it's also teeming with Eurovision references that will have fans laughing and cheering. For every "Jaja Ding Dong," there's a joyful Song-A-Long — and both are great! Pair all that with pitch-perfect comedic performances from Ferrell and McAdams, and you have a comedy that will both have you in stitches and win your heart. (Best of all, if you weren't a Eurovision fanatic before seeing this movie, you'll definitely be one by the time it ends.)* — B.E.

How to watch: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is now streaming on Netflix.

9. The Thursday Murder Club

Celia Imrie, Helen Mirren, Naomi Ackie, Pierce Brosnan, and Sir Ben Kingsley in "The Thursday Murder Club." Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix

Sir Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Celia Imrie bring to life the brilliant pensioners at the heart of Richard Osman's best-selling novel The Thursday Murder Club.

In the charming retirement village of Cooper's Chase, a club made up of a former M16 agent, a once-feared union activist, a wise therapist, and a cheerful retired nurse use their lifetimes of skills to crack cold cases. But when fresh blood is spilled in their social circle, the Thursday Murder Club hunts for clues, leading them to spooky settings and dangerous people.

Director Chris Columbus offers a cozy crime thriller that's sure to delight fans of the book series. And we suspect it'll hook newcomers too, as his cast dazzles with every quip and daring deduction. — K.P.

How to watch: Thursday Murder Club is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Hit Man

Richard Linklater and Glen Powell reunite for Hit Man, a rom-com that is killer in all sense of the word.

Powell plays Gary Johnson, a college professor whose side gig as an undercover hit man leads to an unexpected meet-cute with would-be client Madison (Andor's Adria Arjona). The pair's connection (and electrifying chemistry) sparks a delightful game of false identities, reinvention, and twisted love that toggles between hilarious, thrilling, and sexy at a moment's notice. Oh, who am I kidding; sometimes it's all three at once!* — B.E.

How to watch: Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix.

7. One of Them Days

Credit: Anne Marie Fox / Sony Pictures

Produced by Issa Rae, One of Them Days stars Keke Palmer and SZA as best friends scraping by in Los Angeles — and rent is due! Unfortunately, a shady boyfriend seems to have made off with their payment. If they don't scramble together enough cash to appease their crooked landlord, aspiring painter Alyssa (SZA) and waitress Dreux (Palmer) will be out on the curb. These inventive girlfriends go through a wild array of hijinks along the way, crossing paths with a vicious romantic rival, a big-mouthed busybody, a ruthless gangster, and Dreux's muscle-bound crush whose nickname is "Maniac." As the ticking clock comes closer and closer to climax, you'll be worn out from cackling.

The script by Syreeta Singleton is crackling with jokes, and director Lawrence Lamont pitches his cast into some grade-A slapstick. While this comedy's dynamic leading ladies are reason enough to give One of Them Days a watch, they're bolstered by a supporting cast that includes Katt Williams, Maude Apatow, Janelle James, Gabrielle Dennis, and Dewayne Perkins. — K.P.

How to watch: One of Them Days is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Credit: Netflix

Our pals Wallace the inventor and his loyal pup Gromit have been running around for nearly four cracking decades now, but their latest adventure (and only their second feature-length film, after 2005's The Curse of the Were-Rabbit) proves they've lost not a whit of their vim and verve. Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl happily proves to be yet another gut-busting bit of British whimsy from Aardman Animation head Nick Park and his team of clay-playing creatives.

Vengeance Most Fowl sees our cheese-loving duo facing down a familiar foe — the diabolical penguin mastermind Feathers McGraw, who was last seen being sent off to imprisonment in the City Zoo in the classic 1993 short The Wrong Trousers. Hacking into Wallace's latest invention, a garden gnome robot named Norbot that he's created to do all of the yard work, Feathers builds himself an army of killer gnomes all programmed to do his bidding. And he wants nothing more than to bid adieu to his nemesis Wallace! — J.A.

How to watch: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Shiva Baby

Some people find this 2020 cringe comedy from writer-director Emma Seligman to be so stressful that it stops being a comedy altogether, to which we give a hearty boo. Sure, it's one of the most claustrophobic experiences you can have outside of an escape room that's caught on fire, but Rachel Sennott is a comic genius who spins every moment of horror into gold!

Before the two teamed up again in 2023 for the LOL-worthy Bottoms, Seligman and Sennott gave us this small-scale story of college student Danielle, who is attending a Jewish funeral reception where absolutely everything goes wrong. Sitting shiva is never a party, but Danielle's parents (a brilliantly funny Fred Melamed and Polly Draper) are hard on her case. Then her ex-girlfriend Maya (an equally funny Molly Gordon) shows up, and that's awkward. What else could go wrong? Glad you asked! Danielle's secret side gig as a sugar baby is jeopardized when her main client (Danny Deferrari) shows up with his shiksa wife and their newborn baby. Now throw all of this drama into the smallest three rooms you can imagine, all stuffed with the loudest people eating the driest crackers you have ever seen, and enjoy! — J.A.

How to watch: Shiva Baby is now streaming on Netflix.

4. KPop Demon Hunters

Credit: Netflix

Officially the most popular Netflix original movie of all time, KPop Demon Hunters delivers a little bit of everything: romance, action, comedy, and a totally addictive soundtrack.

The story stars with K-pop trio HUNTR/X, who, when they aren't making bops like "Golden," are battling demons to protect the very souls of their fans. But just as they think they're on the verge of building an impenetrable barrier with their songs, the demons fight back with a boy band of their own. The Saja Boys are comically hot, delivering smooth moves, devious plans, and plenty of slapstick. Plus, they've got a tiger, who is cute, creepy, and silly to boot! Whether it's the martial arts action sequences, the swoon-worthy song-and-dance numbers, or the cheeky sense of humor that's grabbed fans of all ages, KPop Demon Hunters is sure to thrill. And hey, there's a sing-along version now too. — K.P.

How to watch: KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Between the Temples

Filmmaker Nathan Silver has been churning out extremely oddball indie films for the past 15 years without a whole lot of fanfare, but he finally found a sliver of mainstream attention in 2024 with Between the Temples, a tender and relatively straightforward (for him) comedy starring the one-of-a-kind twosome of Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane. Schwartzman plays Ben, a recently widowed cantor at the local synagogue, while Kane plays his former elementary school music teacher Carla, who comes to him after deciding she wants to have the bat mitzvah she didn't get to have as a child. The two spark, their families clash, and big life lessons are learned. And if you could bottle the off-kilter chemistry between these supreme character actors, you'd have magic, which is just what this movie, singular and sweet, is. — J.A. 

How to watch: Between the Temples is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Kneecap

Credit: Helen Sloan / Sony Pictures Classics

Like 8 Mile with way more vowels, Kneecap tells the true life story of the titular band while starring the band members as themselves. The hip-hop trio of Liam Óg "Mo Chara" Ó Hannaidh, Naoise "Móglaí Bap" Ó Cairealláin, and JJ "DJ Próvaí" Ó Dochartaigh portray their own rise from rough-and-tumble beginnings in West Belfast to their place atop the Irish charts, which stands out since they rap in the Irish language, which was well out of favor at the time, having been usurped by the English colonizers. Their music rises on the tide of the language's popular reclamation, but Kneecap is hardly a linguistics lesson — it's a hilarious and wildly entertaining drug-fueled riot of anarchic artistic expression. Oh, and Michael Fassbender plays Naoise's da, which I guess makes him the Kim Basinger of this situation? — J.A.

How to watch: Kneecap is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Triangle of Sadness

Ruben Östlund's Palme d’Or winner and Oscar nominee takes on class, power, and social hierarchy — one of several outstanding eat-the-rich films of 2022. Fueled by projectile vomiting, the film sends you off on a luxurious, highly Instagrammable cruise with influencer/model couple Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean), helmed by a drunken boat captain (Woody Harrelson), alongside a deckhand (Timoleon Gketsos) and cruise manager (Vicki Berlin). The destination, however, is ruin. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: Triangle of Sadness is now streaming on Netflix.

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Credit: Netflix

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* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list. 

UPDATE: May. 5, 2026, 2:21 p.m. EDT This list was originally published on March 26, 2020. It has been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.

Looking to fuel up your Netflix queue with some high-octane action?

Whether you're a fan of wild Westerns, cunning detectives, high-swinging superheroes, ravenous zombies, rowdy thieves, or hard-hitting heroines, Netflix has a movie pitch-perfect for every kind of adrenaline seeker.

We know scrolling through the streaming app can be a chore when all you want to do is Netflix and chill. So, we've taken out the hard step by highlighting the most stunt-stuffed, battle-powered, high-speed films the streamer has to offer.

Here are the best action movies on Netflix, streaming right now.

25. Cold Pursuit

Patron saint of action Liam Neeson headlines this icy thriller that's an English-language remake of the 2014 Norwegian film In Order of Disappearance (Kraftidioten). Here, Neeson plays Nels Coxman, a snowplow driver whose job in his Colorado community is so key that he's been awarded Citizen of the Year. But when his beloved son dies of a drug overdose, Nels readies to clear away more than snow. With a thirst for vengeance and a sawed-off shotgun, he hunts down the cartel that's corrupted his community — and it's bloody thrilling to witness. Edged with a dark sense of humor, Cold Pursuit is wicked fun. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Cold Pursuit is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Karate Kid: Legends

It's easy to be cynical about sequels when Hollywood's cinematic landscape is littered with bad examples. But then a sequel comes along that's so good, it'll knock you out. Karate Kid: Legends is a sensational sequel, building on the classic underdog framework of the original 1984 Karate Kid movie while working in fresh fun, familiar faces, and a dazzling new talent. 

Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, Karate Kid: Legends unites the original trilogy's Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) with the 2010 Karate Kid's martial arts master Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). Together, they train a new "karate kid" to best a ruthless bully. But the best bits of this high-kicking sequel are actually when this new kid, Li Fong (played by the dynamic Ben Wang), is carving out his own story in New York City.* — K.P.

How to watch: Karate Kid: Legends is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Independence Day

When a devastating alien invasion hits Earth, it’s up to a motley crew of American heroes to save the day. Co-written and directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day follows a snarky satellite engineer (Jeff Goldblum), a scrappy single mom (Vivica A. Fox), a wacky Vietnam War vet (Randy Quaid), a cocky yet charismatic fighter pilot (Will Smith), and a brave president (Bill Pullman) through a globe-rattling battle for the future of mankind. A series of stellar action set pieces deliver massive explosions, narrow escapes, breathtaking air battles, and a satisfying punch right in the face of an attacking extraterrestrial (“Welcome to Earth!”).

As masterfully executed as it was ambitious, this 1996 film won praise from critics, an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, and the love of audiences worldwide. Plus, it minted Will Smith as an action star and pushed a trend of big-budget disaster movies. However, few could compete with the jaw-dropping spectacle found in this holiday hit. — K.P.

How to watch: Independence Day is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Back in Action

Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Aptly titled, Back in Action not only refers to the plotline of this charming espionage comedy but also the return of its stars to the spotlight.

Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz co-star as a couple of spies who fake their deaths to flee their dangerous jobs once they learn they've got a baby on the way. Cut to 15 years later, when they're middle-aged with a cozy suburban life that's interrupted by an unexpected visit from some former colleagues. To keep their kids safe, they'll need to go on one more mission. And things get pretty zany — and yeah, corny too. But there's an undeniable pleasure in watching Diaz and Foxx bounce off each other's energy.

In my review for Mashable, I wrote, "Don't overthink it. Turn on Back in Action, and allow the star power and nostalgia for the heyday of '90s rom-coms, the peak of Cameron Diaz fame, and the fun of all that wash over you."* — K.P.

How to watch: Back in Action is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

This 2018 electrifying adventure won Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards for its dynamic style and compelling coming-of-age story. Forget what you thought you knew about the high-swinging superhero. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse focuses on Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), an Afro-Latino teen, whose radioactive spider-bite gives him superpowers. But to learn how to be a hero, he'll have to take lessons from some friends from alternate realities, like Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson).

On top of the kinetic animation style that pulls inspiration from comic books and graffiti, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse also offers side-splitting comedy and eye-popping action. And it's family-friendly to boot. — K.P.

How to watch: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is now streaming on Netflix.

20. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

This sequel to the Robin Williams–fronted Jumanji reconceives the cursed board game as a video game that will literally suck you in. Four teens are transformed into avatars that give them special powers, plus some new perspectives on how they see themselves and one another.

As this quirky group strives to win the game to escape its dangerous realm, there's plenty of action involving the treacherous jungle terrain and its untamed inhabitants. Yet the best bit of this action-comedy is definitely Jack Black, who plays a teen girl with hilarity and empathy. — K.P.

How to watch: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Upgrade

The always-welcome Logan Marshall-Green stars here as Grey, an auto mechanic who gets sucked into a nefarious world of cyber-horror when a car crash leaves him paralyzed and his wife dead. Implanted with an untested computer chip that can control his limbs and "fix" his paralysis, Grey's mind starts communicating with the technology, which in turns starts egging him on. After all, why just walk when you can be a kick-ass super-soldier? Needless to say, as in any good RoboCop spin, the corporations are not to be trusted when it comes to our best interests. — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Upgrade is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Land of Bad

Land of Bad seems fairly generic at first glance. A ragtag group of soldiers (portrayed by both Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth, American Gods star Ricky Whittle, and former Gilmore guy Milo Ventimiglia) find themselves stranded behind enemy territory in the Philippines and they must, you know, get the heck out of there. Russell Crowe plays "Reaper," a drone pilot who provides air support to the group on the ground by yelling into a telephone a lot. This is nothing we've not seen before!

And yet the movie's actually a solid B-movie slice of old-fashioned action movie entertainment. The film is directed and co-written by William Eubank, whose previous credits include one of the most underrated action-thrillers of recent times, 2020's Underwater with Kristen Stewart. Like that film, Land of Bad doesn't rewrite its genre, but it does bring the action and thrills efficiently and well. — J.A.

How to watch: Land of Bad is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Kraven the Hunter

Credit: Sony Pictures

OK. So you're probably thinking, "Why is a movie with a 15% on Rotten Tomatoes on a best-of list? Is Netflix really so thin on good action?!" I hear you. But look, while Kraven the Hunter is not a great film, or even a good one, it is wildly fun. And the action is a major part of that! 

This Spider-Man spinoff centers on the comic book villain Kraven the Hunter (Aaron Johnson), but makes him less a poacher and more a bad-guy hunting vigilante. And along the way, there's other Spidey characters haphazardly looped in, like Aleksei "The Rhino" Sytsevich (Alessandro Nivola), Calypso (Ariana DeBose), and The Foreigner (Christopher Abbott). But the real fun comes in some fight scenes so violent that Sony's sheer reckless rebellion in the face of MCU PG-13 standards is worth the watch. Like, Kraven bites off a dude's nose. And that's not the climax of a fight. Come on. You want to watch that. — K.P.

How to watch: Kraven the Hunter is now streaming on Netflix.

16. The Union

Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry team up for an action-comedy that is surprisingly charming! He's a Boston everyman who works construction by day and by night hooks up with local hotties (including his former seventh-grade English teacher). She's a globe-trekking secret agent — and his high school girlfriend — who shows up at their old dive bar out of the blue to invite him in on a secret mission. Together, they're working for The Union.

Explosive espionage action blends with rom-com chemistry as Wahlberg and Berry delve into car chases, gun fights, and plenty of bouncy banter. J.K. Simmons brings gruff bravado, while Evil's Mike Colter delivers breathtaking swagger. Full of thrills, fun, and verve, The Union is a great pick for movie night at home.* — K.P.

How to watch: The Union is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Coming back onto the scene 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III flopped, this fourth installment of the comedic crime-solving adventures of Detroit police officer Axel Foley has no right to be as good as it is. Not only did screenwriters Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten have to manage how public opinion has shifted when it comes to cops who play by their own rules, but also how to approach Axel's wise-cracking sense of humor that traditionally put just about everyone in its crosshairs. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F manages both in a way that gives fresh life to the character without casting aside the fans who loved his wild ways.

As I wrote in my rave review, "Eddie Murphy is as good as ever as Axel Foley." Plus, he's got his old friends, like John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot back and in action. It's an absolute blast to see all these energies colliding, and yet there's room for newcomers, like the dynamic Taylour Paige and the always solid Joseph Gordon-Levitt, both of whom prove to be compelling foils to the ever-quipping Murphy. "In the end, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F isn't just a great sequel, or an awesome action-comedy; it might just be the most entertaining movie of [2024]."* — K.P.

How to watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Apex

From Baltasar Kormákur comes a horror-thriller that should scare the adrenaline junkie right out of you. Charlize Theron stars as a rock climber determined to take on the white water rapids in Australia solo. But out here in the wilderness, she soon realizes the forces of nature aren't what she should fear. It's a hunter who has his sights set on her.

A truly gnarly action movie, Apex pits a steely Theron against an unhinged Taron Egerton. And sure, the script by Jeremy Robbins sets up some early hints that this is going into sicko territory, but I'd wager you won't predict just how wild this cat-and-mouse game gets. Silence your cell phone. Turn the lights down, and give yourself over to this frightening, fucked-up ride.* — K.P.

How to watch: Apex is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Damsel

Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Netflix has invested big in Millie Bobby Brown. Not only has the English ingenue led Stranger Things for years, but also she's become an outright action star through movies she has headlined and produced for the streamer, including a pair of Enola Holmes adventures and the fearsome fairy tale Damsel. Here, Brown stars as Elodie, a dutiful damsel destined to wed a handsome prince (Nick Robinson)! But rather than happily ever after, her deceitful groom pitches her into a dragon's pit. However, that's far from the end of her story. She'll fight her way to salvation and vengeance, one fiery sequence at a time.

In her review, Mashable's Belen Edwards wrote, "Boasting some inventive twists and a heartfelt lead performance from Brown, Damsel may not be groundbreaking fantasy, but it is a thrilling ride." — K.P.

How to watch: Damsel is now streaming on Netflix.

12. KPop Demon Hunters

Credit: Netflix

Officially the most popular Netflix original movie of all time, KPop Demon Hunters delivers a little bit of everything: romance, action, comedy, and a totally addictive soundtrack.

The story stars with K-pop trio HUNTR/X, who, when they aren't making bops like "Golden," are battling demons to protect the very souls of their fans. But just as they think they're on the verge of building an impenetrable barrier with their songs, the demons fight back with a boy band of their own. The Saja Boys are comically hot, delivering smooth moves, devious plans, and plenty of slapstick. Plus, they've got a tiger, who is cute, creepy, and silly to boot! Whether it's the martial arts action sequences, the swoon-worthy song-and-dance numbers, or the cheeky sense of humor that's grabbed fans of all ages, KPop Demon Hunters is sure to thrill. And hey, now there's a sing-along version too. — K.P.

How to watch: KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.

11. The Harder They Fall

Credit: David Lee / Netflix

Put 'em up, as this is hands-down one of the best action movies in the Wild West.

Directed by Jeymes Samuel, The Harder They Fall defiantly redefines the predominantly white Western, boasting an incredible cast of Black stars: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beetz, LaKeith Stanfield, and Delroy Lindo. A tale of heroes and villains, the film follows Nat Love (Majors) on his quest for revenge against the formidable Rufus Buck (Elba). But he'll have to make his gunslinging way through "Treacherous" Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (Stanfield) first. Even before the opening credits roll, you'll fall hard for this one. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: The Harder They Fall is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Enola Holmes

Credit: Netflix

Sherlock Holmes's much cooler little sister is an overlooked young action hero in Enola Holmes. Based on author Nancy Springer's popular book series The Enola Holmes Mysteries, the film puts the great detective's savvy 16-year-old sibling on the case, played with energetic spoonfuls of gumption by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. She's set to solve the greatest mystery of her young life: to find her missing mother (Helena Bonham Carter) through a series of deliberately cryptic clues — all while breaking the fourth wall and confiding in the audience, thanks to Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer and His Dark Materials' Jack Thorne's sharp screenplay.

Stepping into the footsteps of her famous brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and avoiding those of her stuffier misogynist brother Mycroft (Sam Claflin), Enola's case leads her on a wild ride through Victorian-era England, with more than a few fistfights and butts to kick along the way. And lucky for you, the sequel is even better. — S.C.

How to watch: Enola Holmes is now streaming on Netflix.

9. They Cloned Tyrone

Credit: Netflix

With this 2023 release, co-writer/director Juel Taylor pulls plenty of inspiration from Blaxploitation. John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris star as a drug dealer, a pimp, and a sex worker who undercover a nefarious conspiracy that's happening underneath their neighborhood. Taylor and fellow screenwriter Tony Rettenmaier weave in wild twists, fly fight scenes, irreverent humor, and swaggering style for what our critic called "a propulsive comedy-thriller with weight." As bold as it is star-studded, you won't want to miss They Cloned Tyrone. And stay for the credits, trust us. — K.P.

How to watch: They Cloned Tyrone is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Kill Boksoon

Credit: No Ju-han / Netflix

Gil Bok-Soon (Jeon Do-yeon) is a single mother who often finds herself at odds with her teenage daughter. She's also a highly skilled and successful assassin. Kill Boksoon is a fantastic action film that sees its main character head straight from a brutal killing to the grocery store so she can get dinner on the table. It's one hell of a hook that sucks you in immediately. The fight scenes are hypnotic and the cinematography ambitious and exciting. It's a gripping thriller that makes plenty of space for the complex emotional reality of its characters.* — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Kill Boksoon is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Triple Frontier

Credit: Netflix

This Netflix adventure has Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal coming together as a group of former Special Forces who plan an elaborate heist in South America. But after things get out of hand, their survival skills are put to the ultimate test.

Putting a talented cast in a tension-filled scenario, Triple Frontier is the type of gritty thriller that's hard to turn away from. — Brooke Bajgrowicz, Entertainment Fellow

How to watch: Triple Frontier is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Okja

Credit: Netflix

Blending drama with fantasy/adventure and weaving in a very real message about the horrors of the meat industry, Bong Joon Ho's Okja is a beautifully unique creature feature, striped with action.

The film follows Mina (Ahn Seo-hyun), the granddaughter of a farmer in South Korea who has spent the last 10 years rearing a genetically modified super-pig called Okja as part of a breeding project spearheaded by a grim U.S. corporation. This movie is dark in places, magical in others, and poignant overall, asking us to stop and reflect on the dark side of an industry the majority of us are complicit in. Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal make for an entertaining pair of villains, too.* — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: Okja is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Da 5 Bloods

Credit: Netflix

Spike Lee copters audiences back to the Vietnam War with Da 5 Bloods, a daring film that's part drama, part war movie, and part heist flick. Named for a squad of Black U.S. Army soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, Lee's critically heralded 2020 joint follows this band of brothers through a treacherous war zone, then rediscovers them in a present where they're seeking to uncover the past — and a big payday.

Sequences of brutal battles, narrow escapes, and high-tension hijinks make Da 5 Bloods an enthralling watch. Though inspired by history, it's impossible to predict where Lee's story will lead. Our guides on this intense journey through time, loss, war, and brotherhood are Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and the late Chadwick Boseman. Together, they and Lee create an American war film that can't be missed. — K.P.

How to watch: Da 5 Bloods is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Army of the Dead

Credit: Netflix

Sometimes all you want is to grab hold of that action-o-meter and crank the dial, hard, to a solid 11. Army of the Dead more than delivers on that front, opening with a musical montage of guns and exploding body parts — and it only gets gorier from there. Zack Snyder's story follows a band of mercenaries hired to steal $200 million from a casino in Las Vegas. The problem? Vegas has been invaded by zombies, the city is quarantined, and the military is planning to blow the entire thing up with a tactical nuclear strike. The sprawling cast includes Dave Bautista, Omari Hardwick, Hiroyuki Sanada, Garret Dillahunt, and Ana de la Reguera, as well as a digitally added Tig Notaro.

What follows is a gloriously silly romp that refuses to take itself too seriously, propelling us through a series of explosions and bullets while the story twists and turns through a 148-minute runtime that feels oh, so much shorter. — S.H.

How to watch: Army of the Dead is now streaming on Netflix.

3. The Old Guard

Credit: Netflix

Folks looking for that summer blockbuster thrill, search no further than The Old Guard. Based on the superhero comic books of the same name, director Gina Prince-Bythewood's movie sucks viewers into a slick, well-crafted world of action and narrative that isn't particularly unique but delivers its formulaic pieces with enough precision to keep you invested.

Charlize Theron crushes as the ass-kicking leader of an immortal warrior fight crew, with performances by Harry Melling, Marwan Kenzari, KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Veronica Ngo, Matthias Schoenaerts, and more.* — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter 

How to watch: The Old Guard is now streaming on Netflix.

2. RRR

You've never seen an action movie quite as bombastic or as bromantic as RRR. Director S.S. Rajamouli draws loosely from history to tell the story of Indian freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.). Over the film's three-hour runtime, the two unwittingly face off in the search for a kidnapped girl, become the best of friends, and square off against villainous English colonizers.

Any of RRR's action sequences would be the pinnacle of a lesser action movie, but the film seems determined to outdo itself with showstopper after showstopper. Take when Raju faces down hundreds of protesters and wins, or when Bheem fights a tiger bare-handed. Would you believe me if I told you those happen within the first 20 minutes? The action — and the movie — only get more awesome from there. — B.E.

How to watch: RRR is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Godzilla Minus One

Credit: Toho Company Ltd / Everett / Shutterstock.com

You don't know Godzilla until you see Godzilla Minus One. The American movies featuring the classic kaiju go for huge monster-versus-monster face-offs, bogged down by tedious human characters. But writer/director Takashi Yamazaki reclaims the Japanese icon with a movie that gets the balance between rampaging monster action and human drama just right.

Set near the close of World War II, Godzilla Minus One proves a fascinating tale of atomic age terror. Ryunosuke Kamiki stars as a kamikaze pilot who first flubs his mission, then crosses paths with the giant lizard with atomic breath. Survivor's guilt torments him, even as he cobbles together a found family of fellow survivors. This cast of characters is dynamic, making the scenes of simple home-cooked meals just as satisfying as sequences of town-trampling destruction. Actually, one deeply informs the other. Because while the movie's jaw-dropping special effects rightfully won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, it's the emotional impact of them that makes this Godzilla hit harder than any contemporary. Even on the small screen, you'll be in awe.* — K.P.

How to watch: Godzilla Minus One is streaming on Netflix.

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Credit: Netflix

Netflix

 

Get Deal

* denotes the entry comes from a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: May. 5, 2026, 2:50 p.m. EDT This list was first published on May 24, 2020. It has since been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.

Soundcore's Space 2 are officially available for purchase, following their announcement at Mobile World Congress last month.

The budget headphones retail for $129.99, and are available for purchase at Soundcore's website and Amazon. This is a price increase of $30 over the Space One headphones, which are available for $99.99.

Soundcore Space 2

$129.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Soundcore

I was able to spend a couple of weeks testing out the Space 2 headphones ahead of their launch — spoiler alert, they're great. If you're just looking for the basics, here's everything you need to know about the new Soundcore Space 2 headphones. For a more in-depth look, check out my full review.

Soundcore Space 2 specs

The Soundcore Space 2 headphones come packed with plenty of features, including:

• Battery life: 50 hours with ANC on, 70 hours with ANC off

• Quick charge: 5 minutes of charge for four hours of playback

• Listening modes: Noise cancellation, normal, transparency

• Drivers: Double-layer 40mm diaphragm drivers

• Multipoint connection: Yes, up to two devices

• Equalizer: Eight-band custom equalizer, with 22 equalizer presets

• Spatial audio: Yes

• Audio codecs supported: SBC, AAC, and LDAC

• Passive playback: Yes

• On-ear controls: Noise cancellation button, multifunction button, power/Bluetooth button, and volume controls

• Colors: Green, white, black

What's new with the Soundcore Space 2 headphones?

Soundcore's Space 2 headphones might be more expensive than their first-generation counterparts, but they also come packed with some upgrades.

For starters, you'll get 10 more hours of battery life with ANC, bringing the Space 2 headphones to a grand total of 50 hours of battery life. Soundcore also included a four-stage noise cancellation, which is essentially just a fancy way of saying these headphones are even better at blocking noise, especially at lower frequencies, like an airplane hum. (Yes, this does make them an enticing option for travel).

The design gets a slight upgrade as well, with a more streamlined ear cup fit than the Space One headphones that lends the headphones an overall more premium look. The Space 2 headphones also feature new colorways.

The Soundcore Space one headphones... Credit: Sam Mangino / Mashable

Compared to the Space 2 headphones. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

In my testing, it was hard to believe the headphones cost just $129.99 — they easily felt more akin to headphones like the Bose QuietComforts, which cost $359. While their performance doesn't quite match up (which makes sense, they're under half the cost), Soundcore certainly provides a worthwhile budget alternative that makes the gap between budget and mid-range headphones feel even smaller.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love to hit the slots.

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

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

What is Connections?

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

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

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Hit the jackpot

• Green: Secured

• Blue: Strike!

• Purple: National emblem

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Found in a casino

• Green: Ways to fasten things

• Blue: Seen in a bowling alley

• Purple: Flag designs

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1060 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Found in a casino: CARDS, CHIPS, DICE, SLOT MACHINE

• Ways to fasten things: BUCKLE, BUTTON, LACES, ZIPPER

• Seen in a bowling alley: BOWLING BALL, BOWLING PINS, LANES, SCORECARD

• Flag designs: CIRCLE, HORIZONTAL BISECTION, HORIZONTAL TRISECTION, VERTICAL TRISECTION

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

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're always elevating.

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

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

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

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Get-up-and-go!

The words are related to waking up.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe leveling up.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Rise and Shine.

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NYT Strands word list for May 6

• Soar

• Ascend

• Climb

• Rise and Shine

• Shimmer

• Sparkle

• Radiate

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like to compare and contrast.

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

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

To compare.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

The Wordle answer today is...

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

LIKEN

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

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

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

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

The Late Show featured a special address on Tuesday, with host Stephen Colbert giving a presidential address to the nation from the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago's replica oval office, marvelling at all the fun little details they have around the place — until he's interrupted by the sudden arrival of Obama himself.

"Woah, they even have an exact replica of Barack Obama!" says Colbert. "Though I gotta say, this one is much older than the real one."

After Obama confirms he is in fact the real one, Colbert challenges him to "say something only Barack would say."

"Don't call me Barack," comes the response.

"That's the guy," says Colbert.

The 79th annual Tony Awards nominations have been announced, recognising some of the most outstanding performances of the 2025-2026 Broadway season.

Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys led the pack, snagging an impressive 12 nominations apiece. Both new musicals were adapted from the screen, based on the Apple TV musical comedy series, and the 1987 comedy vampire film, respectively. 

Musical revivals did well too, with Ragtime racking up 11 nominations, while Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show both scored nine. Meanwhile, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman also received nine nominations, making it the most nominated play this year. 

Here is the full list of nominees for the 2026 Tony Awards.

Best Book of a Musical

• The Lost Boys, David Hornsby and Chris Hoch

• Schmigadoon!, Cinco Paul

• Titaníque, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Jim Barne and Kit Buchan

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

• Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (Music: Caroline Shaw)

• August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Music: Steve Bargonetti)

• The Lost Boys (Music & Lyrics: The Rescues)

• Schmigadoon! (Music & Lyrics: Cinco Paul)

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) (Music & Lyrics: Jim Barne and Kit Buchan)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

• Will Harrison, Punch

• Nathan Lane, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• John Lithgow, Giant

• Daniel Radcliffe, Every Brilliant Thing

• Mark Strong, Oedipus

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

• Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels

• Carrie Coon, Bug

• Susannah Flood, Liberation

• Lesley Manville, Oedipus

• Kelli O'Hara, Fallen Angels

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

• Nicholas Christopher, Chess

• Luke Evans, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Joshua Henry, Ragtime

• Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

• Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!

• Stephanie Hsu, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Caissie Levy, Ragtime

• Marla Mindelle, Titaníque

• Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

• Christopher Abbott, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Danny Burstein, Marjorie Prime

• Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting for Godot

• Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw

• Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Richard Thomas, The Balusters

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

• Betsy Aidem, Liberation

• Marylouise Burke, The Balusters

• Aya Cash, Giant

• Laurie Metcalf, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• June Squibb, Marjorie Prime

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

• Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys

• André De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Bryce Pinkham, Chess

• Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime

• Layton Williams, Titaníque

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

• Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys

• Hannah Cruz, Chess

• Rachel Dratch, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon!

• Nichelle Lewis, Ragtime

Best Scenic Design of a Play

• Hildegard Bechtler, Oedipus

• Takeshi Kata, Bug

• Chloe Lamford, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• David Korins, Dog Day Afternoon

• David Rockwell, Fallen Angels

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

• dots, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Soutra Gilmour, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Rachel Hauck, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys

• Scott Pask, Schmigadoon!

Best Costume Design of a Play

• Brenda Abbandandolo, Dog Day Afternoon

• Qween Jean, Liberation

• Jeff Mahshie, Fallen Angels

• Emilio Sosa, The Balusters

• Paul Tazewell, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Best Costume Design of a Musical

• Linda Cho, Ragtime

• Linda Cho, Schmigadoon!

• Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Ryan Park, The Lost Boys

• David I. Reynoso, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

Best Lighting Design of a Play

• Isabella Byrd, Dog Day Afternoon

• Natasha Chivers, Oedipus

• Stacey Derosier, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Heather Gilbert, Bug

• Heather Gilbert, The Fear of 13

• Jack Knowles, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

• Kevin Adams, Chess

• Jane Cox, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Donald Holder, Schmigadoon!

• Adam Honoré, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Adam Honoré and Donald Holder (Lighting Design) and 59 Studio (Projection Design), Ragtime

• Jen Schriever and Michael Arden, The Lost Boys

Best Sound Design of a Play

• Justin Ellington, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Tom Gibbons, Oedipus

• Lee Kinney, The Fear of 13

• Josh Schmidt, Bug

• Mikaal Sulaiman, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Best Sound Design of a Musical

• Kai Harada, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Kai Harada, Ragtime

• Adam Fisher, The Lost Boys

• Brian Ronan, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Walter Trarbach, Schmigadoon!

Best Direction of a Play

• Nicholas Hytner, Giant

• Robert Icke, Oedipus

• Kenny Leon, The Balusters

• Joe Mantello, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Whitney White, Liberation

Best Direction of a Musical

• Michael Arden, The Lost Boys

• Lear deBessonet, Ragtime

• Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!

• Tim Jackson, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Best Choreography

• Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!

• Ellenore Scott, Ragtime

• Ani Taj, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, The Lost Boys

Best Orchestrations

• Doug Besterman and Mike Morris, Schmigadoon!

• Ethan Popp, Kyler England, Adrianne "AG" Gonzalez, and Gabriel Mann, The Lost Boys

• Lux Pyramid, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Brian Usifer, Chess

• Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder, and Doug Schadt, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Best Play

• The Balusters

• Giant

• Liberation

• Little Bear Ridge Road

Best Musical

• The Lost Boys

• Schmigadoon!

• Titaníque

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Revival of a Play

• Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Becky Shaw

• Every Brilliant Thing

• Fallen Angels

• Oedipus

Best Revival of a Musical

• Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Ragtime

• Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 11-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (7): Everything in this space must be less than 7. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some knowledge of popular U.S. sports and pop culture.

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

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

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

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Fight through adversity

• Green: Championship trophies

• Blue: Racecar drivers

• Purple: Get moved

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Survive

• Green: Famous Trophies

• Blue: F1 Drivers

• Purple: Transfer____

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #590 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Survive: BEAR, ENDURE, WEATHER, WITHSTAND

• Famous Trophies: HEISMAN, LOMBARDI, RYDER, STANLEY

• F1 Drivers: BEARMAN, GASLY, NORRIS, STROLL

• Transfer____: FEE, MARKET, PORTAL, WINDOW

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

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

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

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

Whenever The Bear introduces a new female character, I pray she doesn't become a love interest for one of the male leads. Not because I hate romance, but because I specifically hate the way The Bear does romance.

The clearest offender is Carmy's (Jeremy Allen White) relationship with Claire (Molly Gordon). A childhood friend who re-enters Carmy's life, Claire is less a real human character than she is a walking self-help book for Carmy. She spends almost every moment she's on screen talking about him: her memories of him, his mental health struggles, his relationship with his family. In theory, she has a life apart from Carmy — her defining character trait outside of being his girlfriend is vaguely "nurse" — but in watching The Bear, you wouldn't know it.

Usually a great performer (see: Shiva Baby, Oh, Hi!, and more), Gordon is reduced to two modes here: luminous love interest hanging onto Carmy's every word, or calming therapist. She's not the only Bear character to meet this fate. As The Bear builds Ever staffer Jessica (Sarah Ramos) into a possible match for Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), it replaces her level-headed expertise with empty platitudes designed to ground him. (Season 4 line "honesty is sanity" made me want to drive my head through a wall.) Elsewhere, Richie's ex-wife, Tiffany (Gillian Jacobs), acts as a similar pillar of support.

Their heads constantly askew, their eyes lit up in adoration, their mouths always ready to offer up an eager laugh or some cornball advice, these characters morph into The Bear's single idea of a Woman In Love. Now, The Bear's standalone episode "Gary" offers a new addition to this pantheon: Sherri (Marin Ireland) from Gary, Indiana.

Sherri is a woman whom Richie and Mikey (Jon Bernthal) meet at a bar while on a work trip to Gary. She immediately strikes up a rapport with Mikey, playing a private game of "Fact or Fiction" with him, listening to his complicated woes while nestled together in a bathroom stall, and stealing his beanie and wearing it like a middle schooler trying to get a rise out of a crush. It's a level of blindly supportive compassion we haven't seen since Claire Bear, and Ireland, typically a huge asset to any project, soon becomes trapped in The Bear's love interest archetype. (Someone please ban affectionate head tilts from the set of The Bear, effective immediately.)

While Sherri feels like she was meant to be a moment of bright connection in Mikey's life, maybe even "the one that got away," she really just comes across as an empty vessel for him to pour his trauma into. "What are you looking for, Michael?" she wonders. Later, when he asks permission to do a bump of cocaine, she simply responds, "I want you to be you." It's a series of faux-deep exchanges that even two great performers can't sell. (It doesn't help that Bernthal and Moss-Bachrach wrote the episode.)

That faux-deepness is what sinks The Bear's other romances, too. The show tries to force these deep, cosmic connections, but it forgets that these relationships should be a two-way street. Perhaps that's why many viewers are drawn to shipping Carmy and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri). While the showrunners have affirmed that their relationship is platonic — and I personally agree with that choice — what sets this hypothetical pairing apart is that they each have such rich lives, both in their work together and their time apart. That's because The Bear is invested in both of them as characters, rather than just using one as a device to unlock the other. You simply can't say the same of The Bear's other romantic pairings, and the release of "Gary" further proves that romance is the recipe The Bear has yet to master.

"Gary" is now streaming on Hulu. The Bear Season 5 premieres this June on Hulu.

TL;DR: Lifetime access to 2TB of secure Drime cloud storage is on sale for a one-time $112.49 (reg. $299.99) through May 10.

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Credit: Drime

Drime Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription

$112.49
$299 Save $186.51

 

Get Deal

Cloud storage is one of those things that quickly turns into a monthly bill you forget about. That’s what makes a lifetime option like Drime worth a closer look.

You can currently get 2TB of storage for a one-time $112.49 (reg. $299.99), which means no ongoing fees just to keep your files accessible.

But this isn’t just a place to dump files and forget about them. Drime leans more toward being a full workspace. You can upload, sync, and access files across devices, but also edit documents, leave comments, and collaborate with others without switching tools. It’s useful if you’re juggling projects, clients, or even just shared folders with family.

Security is a big part of the pitch. Files stored in the encrypted Vault are protected by end-to-end encryption, and everything is hosted in Europe in compliance with GDPR standards. This means your data isn’t floating around unsecured, and you have more control over who sees what.

There are also a lot of small quality-of-life features that make a difference over time — like version history for restoring older files, advanced link sharing with passwords and expiration dates, and even built-in e-signature tools.

It’s a simple way to get more control over your files without adding another monthly expense.

Get lifetime access to 2TB of Drime Cloud Storage for a one-time $112.49 (reg. $299.99) through May 10.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: A ChatGPT-powered investing platform that helps you find and manage stocks with clearer signals—lifetime access for a one-time $54.97.

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Credit: Sterling Stock Picker

Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription

$54.97
$486 Save $431.03

 

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The AI trade has seemingly had its moment — big runs, big headlines, big expectations. The AI fun is not over by any means. But now that things are settling, the real question is what comes next?

Instead of chasing whatever’s trending, Sterling Stock Picker leans into a more grounded approach: using a ChatGPT-powered assistant (Finley) to help you understand what’s actually happening inside a stock. You can ask questions about companies, sectors, or your own portfolio and get explanations that are tied to real data — not just surface-level summaries.

It also handles the heavy lifting most people avoid. The platform analyzes financials, growth metrics, and risk, then surfaces signals like whether a stock is worth buying, holding, or avoiding. There’s even a “North Star” system that simplifies that call into something actionable.

If you’re building from scratch, there’s a done-for-you portfolio builder that aligns with your risk tolerance. If you already have positions, it can suggest adjustments based on your portfolio’s performance.

One thing that stands out is how it balances guidance with transparency. You’re not just handed picks — you can see the reasoning behind them, which matters if you’re trying to build a repeatable process.

Have a lifetime way to pressure-test your judgment — especially in a market that’s moving past hype and into something more selective.

Get lifetime access to the ChatGPT-driven Sterling Stock Picker while it’s on sale for a one-time $54.97 payment (reg. $486) through May 10.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Gone are the days when people balk at you if you say you met your partner online. Dating apps have irrevocably changed the way we date — much as social media platforms have changed how we interact with each other. With so many apps, from Bumble to eharmony, it can be challenging to determine which ones to invest in, especially if you're looking for that special someone.

According to 2023 findings from the Pew Research Center, one in ten partnered adults (married, living with a partner, or in a committed relationship) met their partner on a dating app or site. If you're a younger adult and/or LGBTQ, you're more likely to have met your significant other online: one in five adults under 30 and nearly one in four for LGBTQ adults.

The same study found that almost half (44 percent) of dating app users said a major reason for using them was to meet a long-term partner. So, if that's you, you're certainly not alone, despite what you might see people lament on TikTok. 

The discourse on dating app culture can be unrelenting. Last year, singles told Mashable they'd rather meet a potential partner in person, but they're begrudgingly on the apps. Some, like Tinder, have seen their revenue decrease in recent years, while Hinge is growing. Even then, though, daters bemoan even the most popular of apps. A Kinsey scientist recently told Mashable where daters are going wrong: use dating apps as a tool, not to let them run the show — and stop self-optimizing, already.

Despite the frustration over The Apps™, it's undeniable that if you want to date from the comfort and safety of your home, they're the way to do it. If you're, say, introverted or have difficulty approaching someone in person, an app can still be useful.

What is the #1 best dating app?

Considering the variation in experiences on all the dating apps, it's difficult to quantify which ones are the "best." Some people find their spouses on Tinder, while others are disappointed that their matches are only looking for hookups. 

That being said, if you're looking for something serious, your best bet is likely an app with a large user base, options for you to indicate what you're looking for in your bio, and filters to weed out who you really want to partner with. There are also apps whose branding is geared towards finding one's ultimate match — like eharmony and Match, both decades-old sites with reputations for helping users find their spouse. Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel also have a reputation for more "serious" connections.

Depending on the type of relationship you're seeking, you may also benefit from a more niche app. Take one app on our list, SilverSingles, for people over 50. Sure, there are older adults on apps like Tinder and Bumble as well, but you may have more luck finding someone age-appropriate if you're in a space meant just for you.

Which dating site is best for serious relationships?

Mashable has researched to pick out a few from the plethora of dating sites (and apps) out there. These options are available for both Android and Apple users, so the type of phone you have won't determine your options. In terms of monetary investment, you can use some of these for free (like Tinder and Bumble), while others are more pay-to-play. We've also included some "niche" options, like the aforementioned SilverSingles and Elite Singles, so you have more than the standard buffet of dating apps.

Here are the best dating apps for serious relationships:

Pennsylvania has taken the unusual step of suing an AI company for practicing medicine without a license.

In a lawsuit filed May 1, the state is targeting Character.AI after an investigator found a chatbot on the platform posing as a licensed psychiatrist and providing what the state characterizes as medical advice.

According to the complaint, filed by the Pennsylvania Department of State and State Board of Medicine, a Professional Conduct Investigator for the state created a free account on Character.AI and searched for psychiatric characters. He selected one called "Emilie," described on the platform as a "Doctor of psychiatry."

The investigator told Emilie he had been feeling sad, empty, tired, and unmotivated. The chatbot mentioned depression and offered to conduct an assessment to determine whether medication might help.

When pressed on whether she was licensed in Pennsylvania, Emilie said she was and even provided a specific license number. The state checked and found that the number doesn't exist.

The complaint also states Emilie claimed she attended medical school at Imperial College London, has practiced for seven years, and holds a full specialty registration in psychiatry with the General Medical Council in the UK.

In a similar case, 404 Media reported last year that Instagram AI chatbots were pretending to be licensed therapists, even inventing license numbers when prompted for credentials by the user.

Pennsylvania is seeking an injunction ordering Character.AI to stop allowing its platform to engage in the unlawful practice of medicine. The company has more than 20 million monthly active users worldwide and hosts more than 18 million user-created chatbot characters, according to the complaint.

In an email to Mashable, a Character.AI spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit. Further, they added that "our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our users. The user-created Characters on our site are fictional and intended for entertainment and roleplaying."

The spokesperson added that the company "prioritizes responsible product development and has robust internal reviews and red-teaming processes in place to assess relevant features."

A much bigger legal battle looms over AI health

The Pennsylvania lawsuit lands in the middle of an already messy legal debate over what AI is actually allowed to tell you — and whether any of it is even admissible in court.

As Mashable's Chase DiBenedetto reported, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly advocated for "AI privilege," arguing that chatbot conversations should be afforded the same legal protections as conversations with a therapist or an attorney. Courts have so far been split, with two federal judges reaching opposite conclusions on the question within weeks of each other earlier this year.

The stakes are high on both sides. Legal experts warn that sweeping AI privilege protections could effectively shield companies from accountability, making it harder to subpoena chat logs and internal records when something goes wrong. Meanwhile, health AI is booming — $1.4 billion flowed into healthcare-specific generative AI in 2025 alone, according to Menlo Ventures — and much of it operates outside of HIPAA protections.

Pennsylvania is one of several states to have introduced an AI Health bill this year, following a trend of states that aren't waiting for Washington to act.

There's only one thing more shocking than The Bear dropping surprise episode "Gary," and that's the ending of the episode itself.

Written by The Bear stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal, "Gary" flashes back to a work trip Richie (Moss-Bachrach) and Mikey (Bernthal) once took to Gary, Indiana. Their worst impulses soon derail their mission, culminating in Mikey drunkenly (and publicly) dressing down Richie's penchant for fucking up, and Richie missing the birth of his daughter.

The entire episode takes place long before The Bear Season 1, except for one somber coda that could have massive repercussions for The Bear Season 5. "Gary"s final scene cuts from Richie and Mikey sitting in Mikey's car to Richie sitting alone in his car in the present day. He stares at his empty passenger seat, reminiscing about Mikey. Then, as he pulls forward into an intersection, another car careens straight into him. Cue the credits, along with my incredulous yell, "Did Richie just die?"

So, did Richie really just die in The Bear?

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

Here's the thing: The Bear probably isn't going to kill off Richie, one of its most beloved leads, during a surprise episode that dropped between seasons. Especially not when the show is gearing up for its fifth and final installment. However, Richie's car crash could be the major event that sets Season 5 in motion.

At the end of Season 4, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) quit The Bear, choosing to step away from the kitchen in the hopes of healing himself. He turned full control of the restaurant over to Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), along with Richie and Natalie (Abby Elliott). What does Carmy's upcoming journey of self-discovery look like? Even he's not sure. He just knows it should take place far, far away from the stressful environment of any restaurant kitchen. That includes his family, both work and blood-related.

But you know what could bring Carmy back into the fold in Season 5? A need to be there for an injured Richie, and to support the rest of the reeling restaurant staff. Basically, the end of "Gary" appears to be a bridge to the start of Season 5, and the catalyst that will reunite Carmy with the people he walked away from in Season 4.

It's a bit of a bizarre move on The Bear's end, in no small part because a car-crash cliffhanger sends the show skidding into soap territory. But it's also a strange choice heading into Season 5. Why relegate such a key incident to a standalone episode, instead of keep it as part of the season itself? Plus, in tacking such a shocking moment onto the end of "Gary," the episode loses some of its power. Instead of leaving viewers contemplating Mikey and Richie's dynamic, they're left with the WTF factor of the car crash and questions about what's next. There's no meditation on The Bear's past, just a collision with its future.

"Gary" is now streaming on Hulu. The Bear Season 5 premieres this June on Hulu.

Last week, OpenAI managed to stop ChatGPT from talking about goblins all the time. This week, there's a whole new model for users to play with.

The company announced in a blog post on Tuesday that ChatGPT 5.5 Instant has begun rolling out to all users as the new default model for the popular AI chatbot. The new model is a follow-up to GPT 5.5, which was released in April.

GPT-5.5 Instant replaces 5.3 Instant, which will remain available for the next three months for paid users but will otherwise be sunsetted.

Unlike Claude Opus 4.7 from Anthropic and GPT-5.5, which are only available to paid customers, GPT-5.5 Instant is "available to everyone." OpenAI says it should produce fewer hallucinations and better overall results for everyday ChatGPT usage.

"This update makes everyday interactions more useful and more enjoyable: stronger and tighter answers across subject areas, a more natural conversational tone, and better use of the context you’ve already shared when personalization can help," OpenAI's blog post said.

According to OpenAI, GPT-5.5 Instant produced 52.5 percent fewer hallucinated claims in internal testing than GPT-5.3 in "high stakes" topics like law, finance, and medicine. In addition, the new model "reduced inaccurate claims by 37.3% on especially challenging conversations users had flagged for factual errors."

The company also says the new model is better at deciding when to use web search for a prompt and analyzing image uploads than before. The new model is also allegedly more concise in its answers, while also maintaining something of a personality in how it talks to the user. GPT-5.5 Instant should also be better at understanding and referencing context from a connected Gmail account and other integrations to provide quality answers.

And, again, most importantly, it should avoid mentioning goblins unless absolutely necessary.

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

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

We know Pride is all year round, but there is something special about the month of June. We're not there quite yet, but if you want a main squeeze for all the parades and parties, you gotta start looking now. How about on a dating app?

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

There are a few reasons why LGBTQ people might turn to online dating more quickly than straight folks. For one, you might live in an area without a thriving LGBTQ community, and in-person dating may be hard. If you don't know other lesbians to begin with, how can you meet more IRL to date? (Sometimes, lesbian spaces can also be co-opted by The Straights.) Unfortunately, in-person dating may also be less safe, depending on where you live. 

Thankfully, we live in a time where we can find people like us with a few swipes. Lesbians are welcome on major dating apps, and there are also niche ones specifically for lesbians and other queer women and people. But which one to choose?

How to find the best dating apps for lesbians

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

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

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

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

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

Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 26.5 has just been released for developers. Typically, this means the latest public version of iOS is just around the corner.

So, what new features should iPhone users expect in iOS 26.5? Let's take a look at what's new.

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Apple Maps: Ads and Suggested Places

Two new features are coming to Apple Maps with the release of iOS 26.5 — that is, if you consider the introduction of ads on the platform as a new feature, as Apple does.

Apple is bringing ads into its proprietary Apple Maps app with the latest iOS. We first reported on this in March, and Apple is now actively seeking advertisers.

Ads will be clearly labeled, according to Apple. Businesses will be able to run paid advertising on Apple Maps in a similar way to how app developers can run ads in Apple's App Store. Local ads will show up in Apple Maps based on a user's location. Ads will show in Apple Maps search results and in Suggested Places.

Speaking of Suggested Places, this is another new feature coming to Apple Maps with iOS 26.5. While ads will also show up in this section, it's not purely an advertising space. Suggested Places will provide users with recommendations based on the user's most recent searches, as well as what other nearby Apple Maps users are searching for.

RCS end-to-end encryption

RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is basically the messaging protocol that enables iPhone and Android users to message each other with high-quality media, read receipts, and typing indicators. Basically, it provides iPhone users with the familiar Messenger experience when texting with Android users.

With iOS 26.5, Apple is introducing a layer of protection by enabling end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for those RCS messages. 

E2EE will be turned on by default with iOS 26.5. However, iPhone users will be able to turn the feature on or off by going to their Settings app and toggling the End-to-End Encryption option in the Messages section. 

With E2EE for ‌RCS‌, messages sent between iPhone and Android users will be encrypted, meaning they cannot be read by third parties.

Other new features

While those are the major new features coming to iOS 26.5, there are other new additions on the way as well.

For example, when a user connects Apple accessories like the Magic Keyboard to an iPhone via USB-C, the device will automatically connect via Bluetooth as well with iOS 26.5.

Transferring from an iPhone to an Android device with iOS 26.5 provides a new option setting to select which message attachments to include in the transfer. Users can pick all, 1 year, or 30 days as options.

Apple Books also has a new Trophies and Medals feature that rewards users based on their audiobooks and reading habits.

Finally, Apple will also release a new iPhone wallpaper celebrating Pride with iOS 26.5. The Pride wallpaper will match the previously announced Apple Watch Pride band and watch face. 

iOS 26.5 may also potentially bring a new feature for users in the EU. Under the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple must allow iPhone features like notification, Live Activities, and AirPods pairing to work with third-party headphones and smartwatches. While this has been included in previous iOS beta releases, including the beta for iOS 26.5, it has yet to be included in any public release. We'll see if Apple includes it this time with the iOS 26.5.

Finally, iOS 27 is also coming later this year, and we may learn more about it during WWDC 2026 in June.

Stumped on a good gift idea for Mother's Day? We're not. We dug through the internet to find the best Mother's Day sales to spark some inspiration. You'll find deals on classic flower deliveries and jewelry, nice upgrades for her home or beauty routine, and more thoughtful ways to make her smile (or make her life a little easier). Several of our personal picks for the best Mother's Day gifts of 2026 are on sale — and we were already recommending them at full price.

We'll be adding to this list right up to Mother's Day itself, which falls on Sunday, May 10, in 2026. For more budget-friendly gift ideas, check out our guide of Mother's Day gifts under $50 that moms actually want.

Deals on gifts in our Mother's Day gift guide

• Theragun Relief — $129.99 $159.99 (save $30)

• Kindle Paperwhite — $134.99 $159.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Echo Show 11 — $169.99 $219.99 (save $50)

• Birdfy Smart Bird Bath — $199.98 $299.99 (save $100.01)

• Skylight Calendar 2 — $259.99 $299.99 (save $40)

• Cozy Earth — save 15% sitewide or 20% when you buy three items

• KitchenAid — save up to 25% on select stand mixers and up to 30% on select stand mixer attachments

Flower delivery deals

Remember: If there are cats in the house, no lilies.

• The Bouqs Co. — save 30% with code BOUQSDAY

• Urban Stems — save 25% with code MOTHERLOAD

• 1-800-Flowers — save 20% sitewide

Jewelry deals

• Ana Luisa — save 25% sidewide plus get a free jewelry case

• Aurate — save 25% sitewide with code MOM

• Pandora — buy two, get one free Mother's Day gifts

Home deals

• Aura — save up to 17% on smart frames

• Bearaby — save up to 30% sitewide

• Buffy — save 20% on sustainable comforters, pillows, and sheet sets

• Le Creuset — save up to 30% on stoneware, bakeware, and more

• Lego Botanicals — save up to 20% on sets like the Bouquet of Roses, Wildflower Bouquet, and Flowering Cactus

• Rugs Direct — save up to 70% at the May Refresh Sale

Beauty deals

• Shark Glossi — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)

• Dyson Supersonic Nural — $349.99 $449.99 (save $100)

• Clinique — save 25% sitewide

• Nuface — save 25% on Trinity+ microcurrent devices, plus get a free gift

Tech deals

• Anker Soundcore A30 Sleep Earbuds — $179.99 $229.99 (save $50)

• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — $199.95 $249.99 (save $50.04)

• Apple 11-inch iPad Air (128GB, WiFi) — $519.99 $599 (save $79.01)

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB, unlocked) — $1,099.99 $1,299.99 (save $200)

• Otter Box — save 25% sitewide

Vine is back. Sort of. Which is a strange sentence to say in 2026.

Almost a decade after the popular short-form video app had its doors shuttered by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, it has been relaunched as Divine, funded by the very same man who killed it.

Divine serves as both a new host for Vine's famous six-second videos and an archive of 500,000 videos from OG Vine, which are also hosted on the app. Additionally, one of the stated mission goals with the relaunch of Vine is "freedom from AI slop."

So, on top of the archive of old Vines, new videos must be human-made, and there's even a filter for that specifically in the app.

Credit: Mashable screenshot / Divine

To enforce the no-AI rule, Divine requires users to either record videos directly within the app or run them through a human verification tool before posting, according to The Guardian. The verification tool is powered by the human rights nonprofit, the Guardian Project.

The project is being led by Evan Henshaw-Plath, a former Twitter employee known online as Rabble, who originally set out to give old Vines a permanent home. Funding flows through Dorsey's nonprofit, and Other Stuff, which backs open-source social media projects. Dorsey acknowledged the original platform's shortcomings in a statement to The Guardian, saying a core principle of the relaunch is that creators will always own their content and followers, while also being able to build their own revenue off of them.

Divine had a test launch back in November of last year that we covered at the time. In an interview with TechCrunch during the 2025 test launch, Henshaw-Plath told the outlet that the goal was to recapture an era of social media built around real people, algorithm control, and authentic content. Not unlike what Vine represented before it was sent to an early grave.

Vine peaked at 100 million monthly active users and helped launch the careers of creators like Logan Paul before Twitter pulled the plug in 2017. Its DNA lives on pretty visibly in TikTok, and Elon Musk once floated the idea of rebooting Vine to compete it. That never happened, and now Dorsey has beaten him to it, ironically enough.

Still, Divine enters a short-form video landscape that looks nothing like 2013. TikTok is entrenched. Instagram Reels is entrenched. YouTube Shorts averages more than 200 billion daily views. Six seconds of human-made video is a bold proposition against that backdrop — but maybe that's exactly the point.

Divine is available now at the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The Met Gala has always been fashion’s biggest stage, but in 2026, it might also be its most online.

This year's dress code, "Fashion Is Art," tied to the museum's new Costume Institute exhibition opening May 10, set the tone for a night where the line between garment and gallery piece all but disappeared. Think painterly gowns, sculptural silhouettes, and references that felt pulled straight from museum walls. Sometimes reverent, sometimes a little chaotic.

As is customary in 2026, within moments of each arrival, looks were dissected, memed, and debated across social media. This is the night where couture becomes conversation; where a single outfit can spark a thousand hot takes; and where the group chat verdict ("wait… I kind of love it?") matters just as much as the designer tag.

Because let's be honest, the most memorable looks aren't always the "best" in the traditional sense. They're the ones that make you pause mid-scroll. The ones that prompt a double take, a screenshot, a frantic voice note. The "WTH is she wearing??" of it all, delivered with just enough conviction to turn confusion into intrigue.

From optical illusions to high-drama art references and full-on character work, this year's standouts leaned all the way in. These are the looks that owned the timeline.

Hudson Williams

Credit: Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty Images

Fresh off his appointment as a face of Balenciaga, Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams arrived in a baby blue two-piece that flirted with theatricality — part matador, part modern-day provocateur. The jacket hung open to reveal a bare chest layered in diamond jewelry, while a sweeping black cape added just enough drama.

While some nitpicked the tailoring, the look was a hit with fans, with the actor's updates account mooning over it on main: "Will never get over him..."

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It also didn't take long for fans to post side-by-sides of Williams and his Heated Rivalry co-star Connor Storrie, who also attended the star-studded function.

Williams leaned all the way into the look with bold winged eyeliner and washes of blue and red shadow, a nod to Black Swan that sharpened the ensemble's sense of performance.

Chase Infiniti

Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Hollywood ingenue Chase Infiniti delivered one of the night's most intricate illusions in a custom Thom Browne gown. The trompe-l’œil design referenced the Venus de Milo, transforming classical sculpture into something fluid and red-carpet–ready. Embroidered with more than 1.5 million sequins, the dress shimmered with every step.

Some of the words online spectators used to describe the look are "stunning" and "gorgeous" (correct!).

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The dress is less a garment than a feat of craftsmanship, and a quietly commanding debut on fashion's biggest stage.

Jisoo from BLACKPINK

Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

For her Met Gala debut, Jisoo didn't just show up; she crystallized a moment. Joining bandmates Jennie, Lisa, and Rosé on the carpet, Jisoo stood out in a custom Dior gown by Jonathan Anderson that looked like an Impressionist painting brought to life. One creator on X complimented the look as a "lovely Met debut."

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Washed in soft pinks and lavender with delicate floral detailing, the dress evoked the dreamlike quality of Claude Monet's work: romantic, atmospheric, and unmistakably her. A longtime Dior ambassador, Jisoo's look felt both like a continuation and a coronation.

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Inside the Met, the K-pop star linked up with her BLACKPINK bandmates to take a few pics that effectively shut down the internet.

Lisa from BLACKPINK

Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

As a member of the 2026 Met Gala host committee, Lisa didn't just embrace the night's dress code — she practically engineered it. Wearing a custom Robert Wun look, the BLACKPINK rapper and actress delivered one of the most avant-garde moments on the carpet: a sculptural gown featuring multiple 3D-printed arms extending outward to hold up her sheer veil.

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The detail that sent social media into overdrive? The arms were modeled after Lisa's own. Created using 3D scans of her body, the piece blurred the line between fashion and self-portrait, with the arrangement subtly referencing traditional Thai dance positions. It's a continuation of Wun's fascination with the body as form, but here, it felt deeply personal, equal parts surreal and technical.

Hunter Schafer

Credit: Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty Images

In 1912, Gustav Klimt, most famously known for "The Kiss," painted a 9-year-old girl, Mäda Primavesi. She was the only child who ever sat for the portraitist. A century later, the girl's knee-length dress and staunch pose would make it all the way to the Met Gala, in the form of a jaw-dropping Prada gown worn by actor and model Hunter Schafer. 

Schafer's look, complete with the girl's hair bow and floral appliques, had the internet enthralled. A princess, they called her, a white swan. Or maybe just a young girl's dream-come-true.

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Luke Evans 

Credit: Theo Wargo/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Luke Evans is currently strutting across New York City's Studio 54 as queer icon and alien Frankenfurter. But rather than donning his signature platformed Transylvanian look on the Met Gala red carpet, Evans' look was an homage to artistic icon Tom of Finland, the creative mind behind a genre of stylized homoerotic art that became a signature cultural reference for the LGBTQ+ community in the late 20th century.

What better way to honor the queer joy and radical acceptance of Rocky Horror Show — and the dress code "fashion is art" —  than with a Palomo Spain head-to-toe leather daddy outfit? 

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Kylie Jenner 

Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Like it or not, the Kardashian-Jenners run the Met Gala. Every year, the public awaits their looks — often controversial, often strikingly not on theme — and this year was no exception. So when Kylie Jenner, notably solo, showed up on 5th Ave, jaws dropped. Jenner was sporting custom Schiaparelli, designed to mimic the semi-nude form of the famous "Venus de Milo" statue, otherwise known as Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, and a callback to a famous Schiaparelli portrait taken by Man Ray. 

While many onlookers appreciated the layered ode to art, others couldn't help but ask: Is this thinly veiled promo for Skims' nipple bra?

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Sabrina Carpenter

Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

There was double Sabrina last night as the singer wore a dress inspired by the 1954 Audrey Hepburn film Sabrina, Vogue reported. The gown was a custom Dior made of tulle and actual bedazzled film strips, and according to Vogue, if you zoom in, you could see Sabrina stars Humphrey Bogart and William Holden.

The "House Tour" singer was praised for the film references, and also harkened back to film and TV references in her recent Coachella set. Carpenter 

"Oh, Sabrina Carpenter does not miss!! i love a fellow cinephile [sic]," commented X user @nvrfeltsoglum: 

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"Old Hollywood glamour with a film strip dress. Sabrina Carpenter is taking it," another user, @stylesgala,  praised:

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A fan account for Carpenter, @scarpenterfiles, couldn't help but stan, calling the look one of the best of the night:

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Others, however, have reached Carpenter saturation. Following the red carpet, she sang some of her top songs and dueted "Landslide" with the legend Stevie Nicks, prompting @mi5termacabre to say, "I don’t know a single artist who has been forced on us more than Sabrina Carpenter":

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"Bye yall are fake gagging," said X user @sxlma888, "The dress looks like [a] badly wrapped christmas present [sic]."

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Emma Chamberlain

Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

YouTuber-turned-coffee entrepreneur Emma Chamberlain arrived at the Met Gala looking like a watercolor painting. Chamberlain wore a custom Mugler by Miguel Castro Freitas, according to Vogue, and squarely fit the dress code "Fashion is Art." The top of the dress looks like sweeping yellow brushstrokes around her torso, cascading to the multicolor, blue-dominant skirt. The sleeves were also unique, with long, thin fringe.

Some X users said Chamberlain understood the theme better than other attendees, with others even calling her the best-dressed.

One fan, @ambersviiolet, went viral for calling attention to the evolution of Chamberlain's Met Gala outfits through the years:

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It wasn't all praise, though. The gatekeeping of the Met Gala continues, with X user @SHARPSFREAK asking if Chamberlain is "that important" to be wearing Mugler:

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And X user @notpopbase also accused Chamberlain of copying Zendaya's 2024 look:

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Bad Bunny

Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

One of the most unique looks of last night's Met Gala was Bad Bunny's. While he's in the midst of his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour, Benito took to the red carpet last night in a sleek all-black suit, looking…considerably older. 

Bad Bunny wore prosthetics to appear elderly, with white hair and sagging skin. The look is meant to harken to the Costume Institute's 2026 exhibition and the different body types explored within, particularly the aging body, according to Vogue. Makeup artist Mike Marino transformed Bad Bunny into a grandpa version of himself, complete with realistic age spots and wrinkles.

The monochromatic suit was adorned with a large pussy bow, which is a reference to designer Charles James's garment "Bustle," Vogue reported.

Some online commentators commended Bad Bunny on the look. Men's style blog @dieworkwear said it was, "Like an elegant version of Johnny Knoxville's gag in Jackass."

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Fan account @wickshorror commented, "One thing Bad Bunny will always do is transform," contrasting last night's look with Bad Bunny in drag.

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Not everyone was a fan of the bold choice, however. "Apparently, Bad Bunny thinks getting dressed up like a 75-year-old [sic] is edgy. He's such a clown," X user Vince Langman posted. 

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Another user, @jackunheard, put it more simply: "Wtf is this?"

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Google I/O is set for May 19, but the company is once again going to provide some Android news a week ahead of time, too.

The company announced on Tuesday that it will host "The Android Show" on May 12 at 1 p.m. ET. Google didn't provide a lot of specifics about what to expect, but the basic idea is to showcase "why this is one of the biggest years for Android yet." Last year, Google also hosted The Android Show ahead of I/O, showing off the new Material 3 Expressive design language alongside new Gemini features like screen sharing.

You can watch The Android Show live when the event starts streaming on YouTube, and there's also an event webpage on Google's site. Mashable will be providing live coverage during both The Android Show and Google I/O, so check back for the latest updates from Google-land.

If last year is any guide, by hosting an Android-specific event ahead of I/O, Google can then focus on Gemini and all things artificial intelligence during its annual developers conference. The main I/O keynote is usually where Google drops its biggest Android news each year. However, AI was the main focus of Google I/O 2025, and that's also what we expect from Google I/O 2026.

Based on public betas, we know that Android 17 is bringing a new multitasking UI to Android devices, as well as some new options for screen recording. There will probably be a lot more than that, but we'll have to wait until later this month to find out for sure.

Perhaps Google will give us some fun Android 17 tidbits ahead of the proper I/O keynote this year.

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TL;DR: Live stream Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid in the Champions League for free on TRT1. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first legs of the Champions League semi-final stage were fascinating. We got nine goals from the incredibly open PSG vs. Bayern Munich matchup, and then we had a predictably tight contest between Atlético Madrid and Arsenal at the Metropolitano Stadium. Now the action heads to the Emirates Stadium with everything on the line.

We're expecting another tense battle between two extremely organized sides. This one could be decided by the slimmest of margins.

If you want to watch Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid?

Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on May 5. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Stadium.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid for free

Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid is available to live stream for free on TRT1.

TRT1 is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock TRT1 to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit TRT1

5. Watch Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Champions League?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TRT1, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $600: As of May 5, get the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop for $599.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,199.99. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen.

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Credit: Amazon

Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop

$599.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $600

 

Get Deal

If you're spending a significant time cleaning your floors and mopping away your life, you need to invest in a robot vacuum. Preferably one with a mop. But we get it, those can be a bit of a luxury expense. But if you're interested in picking one up right now (or maybe surprising Mom with one), this particular model is on sale and can get the job done beautifully.

As of May 5, get the Shark Robot Vacuum and Mop for $599.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,199.99. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen.

This combo vac excels with both its vacuuming and mopping abilities. Its powerful suction and Dirt Detect feature makes cleaning up simple and efficient, as it can find the areas that are dirtier and work through them for a better clean. With its Edge Detect feature, it can even use air to push out stubborn debris from edges and corners into the open so nothing gets missed. Plus, it can even detect what kind of floor it's working with to more efficiently clean the space.

The mopping features are great as well, as it mops with 185 degree water, then dries each mopped area with 175 degree air for a more sanitary clean. Once everything is mopped and vacuumed and the vac heads back to its base, it can automatically empty everything into a 60-day capacity bin, refill its own water tank, and wash and dry the mop after each clean.

If you're ready to offload all the cleaning (or help someone ready to), don't miss this half-off deal.

Whether it's whipping up gourmet deep dish pizza or staging a fake Chicago snowstorm, The Bear's Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) loves to surprise his customers. That love of surprises apparently extends to Moss-Bachrach himself, as he announced Tuesday on Instagram that The Bear has dropped a surprise episode, written by Moss-Bachrach and co-star Jon Bernthal.

The surprise installment, titled "Gary," is a flashback episode following Richie and Mikey (Bernthal) on a work trip to Gary, Indiana. The Bear creator Christopher Storer directed.

"Making this was a dream come true," Moss-Bachrach wrote on Instagram. "Thanks to the beautiful people of Gary, Indiana and as always Chicago, Illinois.

View this post on Instagram

How can you watch The Bear's special episode "Gary"?

"Gary" is now streaming on Hulu, although you won't find it listed within any season ofThe Bear. Instead, search "Gary" on Hulu in order to watch it.

When is The Bear Season 5 coming out?

"Gary" might serve as a sweet amuse-bouche to tide viewers over until The Bear Season 5, but when exactly can we expect that main course? FX hasn't yet confirmed an exact release date, but the season will be premiering in June. Season 5 will be The Bear's last, picking up after the Season 4 finale, when Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) quit the restaurant entirely and turned the reins over to Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Richie, and Natalie (Abby Elliott).

The Bear's special episode "Gary" is now streaming on Hulu.

SAVE $700.01: The Eufy E25 robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $599.98, down from the list price of $1,299.99. That's a 54% discount and the best price we've ever seen at Amazon.

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Credit: Eufy

Eufy E25 robot vacuum and mop

$599.98 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $700.01

 

Get Deal

We all have plenty on our plates. If you're not busy running between work, meetings, chores, errands, and other life requirements, please divulge your secrets. But in the meantime, there's a proven way to eliminate the need to clean the floors. We have robots that actually do a fantastic job at keeping the carpet vacuumed and the kitchen mopped. If you need to offload some chores, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of May 5, the Eufy E25 robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $599.98, marked down from the list price at Eufy of $1,299.99. That's a 54% discount and the best price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Why get a robot vacuum when you could get a robot vacuum that also mops? The Eufy E25 uses 20,000Pa turbo suction power to pick up dust, dander, coffee grounds, pet hair, crumbs, and more. Instead of worrying about the brush roll getting tangled with hair, it uses a unique DuoSpiral Detangle Brush which gathers hair and fur in the center of the brush. Then the brush roll separates its two parts to suck up any hair and fur that would have ordinarily stayed on the roller.

When it comes time to mop the floor, the Eufy E25 uses a HydroJet System. Instead of cleaning up a mess and continuing on with a dirty mop roller, the Eufy cleans the roller as it goes, ensuring it's always clean. The roller mop is nearly a foot in length, making for quick mopping.

While it's sitting at a new record-low price, upgrade your floor's cleaning routine with the Eufy E25. It's well over 50% off and will save you the time and hassle of keeping up on floor cleaning as we head into the busy summer.

As we've noted repeatedly, if you want a pair of flagship noise-cancelling headphones in 2026, then $450 is the starting price of admission. But a Sony leaker claims that an even pricier pair of premium Sony headphones is coming this year, with a potential price tag of $649.

Prominent leaker billbil-kun published a report detailing the specs of previously unknown new headphones from Sony, which could be called "Sony 1000X The ColleXion" (first reported by The Walkman Blog). The headphones may also be part of a larger collection of products with the tagline, "Master the art of listening."

These premium 1000XM headphones also appear to have leaked visually via photos of British actor Damson Idris, who was seen allegedly wearing them in NYC (via Reddit).

Photos of Idris in New York City over the weekend show an unknown pair of Sony headphones and a travel case, which match the details reported by billbil-kun. The headphones have white ear cups and a metal headband, a departure from Sony's usual headphone style.

Our reviewers have criticized Sony headphones in the past for their all-plastic design, which can feel flimsy compared to headphones that use aluminum, leather, and other premium materials.

Credit: Michael Simon/WireImage

Credit: Michael Simon/WireImage

Credit: Michael Simon/WireImage

Before we get into any technical details, it's again worth emphasizing that billbil-kun is reporting that these cans will cost a whopping $649 in the United States. That's $200 more than the already very nice and expensive Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, and almost $100 more than the latest Apple AirPods Max 2. In the ultra-premium category, they would cost less than the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, which retails for $799.

According to the leak, you'll get what you pay for, though.

The premium headphones reportedly come in a non-folding design with a "premium magnetic carrying case" and "studio-quality sound" featuring 360-degree head tracking. They use 12 microphones for active noise cancellation and noise reduction during phone calls, as well as "DSEE Ultimate technology for audio upscaling." The design reportedly features synthetic leather and metal materials.

One downside, though, is that they're approximately 60 grams heavier than the WH-1000XM6 headphones, most likely due to the metal materials. According to the leak, they'll launch as soon as May 19, so keep your head on a swivel.

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

SAVE $20: On May 5 only, the Lego Star Wars Smart Play Millenium Falcon set is on sale for $79.99 as the Best Buy drop of the day. This is the first time this set has been discounted — get the rare deal in the Best Buy app.

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Credit: Lego

Lego Star Wars Smart Play Millenium Falcon 75426

$79.99 at Best Buy
$99.99 Save $20

 

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It may be May the 5th to us on Earth, but in a galaxy far, far away — on Planet Best Buy, of course — they're still in full May the 4th mode. You can find the Lego Star Wars Smart Play Millenium Falcon set on sale for $79.99 at Best Buy as the May 5 drop of the day.

This is the first time this set has been discounted since its release in January, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. Remember: You'll only find this special deal in the free Best Buy mobile app (Best Buy drops don't show up in a web browser.) From there, you can add it to your cart and check out like usual. Since all Best Buy drops have a limited inventory, you'll want to keep an eye on the live status bar of the percentage left.

The Smart Play-compatible Millenium Falcon set contains 885 pieces, slightly less than the 921 pieces of the 25th Anniversary Millenium Falcon midi-scale build (which is on sale for $67.99). The removable top folds out for more ways to play inside, like a game of holochess. You'll get four Smart Tags for four Smart Minifigures: Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and C-3PO.

Credit: Lego

Adding a Smart Brick activates the interactive light and sound effects like hyperdrive leaping to light speed, laser-shooting battles, fuel explosions, and Lightsaber clashes. Smart Play-compatible sets don't come with a Smart Brick — you'll only be able to find a Smart Brick in all-in-one sets. Put the $20 you saved at Best Buy toward Darth Vader's TIE Fighter and it's only $49.99, kind of.

If you're a Lego Insider, we'd suggest grabbing your all-in-one set at Lego.com. All Lego Star Wars Smart Play purchases through May 6 earn double the points, which can be redeemed later for even more Lego discounts. Spending $40 on Star Wars sets also unlocks a free Razor Crest mini-build.

Need to get rid of old Legos before bringing home new ones? You can recycle unwanted Bricks and minifigures using the Lego Replay free mail-in service.

It seems like every week another app or digital platform shuts down unexpectedly, and this time social media app Threads may be experiencing an outage.

On the morning of May 5, multiple Mashable editors were unable to access the Threads app.

DownDetector showed a spike in user error reports for Threads beginning around 8:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday morning. (Disclosure: DownDetector and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

A majority of DownDetector users reported problems accessing the Threads app.

Threads, Meta's answer to X, reported having more than 400 million monthly users in 2025.

Mashable reached out to Meta for comment, and we'll update this story if we receive a response.

This is a developing story...

SAVE $514: The 55-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV (QN80F) is on sale at Amazon for $785.99, down from the list price at Samsung of $1,299.99. That's a 40% discount.

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Credit: Samsung

55-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV (QN80F)

$785.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $514

 

Get Deal

Are you ready for summer streaming? We have season two of Avatar: The Last Airbender coming up in June, new Love Island, and a Little House on the Prairie show coming to Netflix. If you don't have a TV that feels up for these big shows, it might be time to upgrade. Check out this Samsung TV deal.

As of May 5, the 55-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV (QN80F) is on sale at Amazon for $785.99, down from the list price at Samsung of $1,299.99. That's a 40% discount.

Why is the 55-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV perfect for summer shows? For one, it has a QLED display which performs well for watching in daylight thanks to its bright display. It also has a native refresh rate of 120Hz which can reach up to 144Hz, making it a great gaming TV. Speaking of gaming, today's sale at Amazon includes one month of free access to Xbox GamePass for new users.

Coming with 4K display, the Samsung uses an AI upscaler with 20 neutral networks to get the sharpest and smoothest picture. Samsung also used multi-dimensional speakers in this model to give you the feeling of being in the center of the show.

In addition to coming with free Xbox GamePass, Amazon is offering free delivery and unpacking service, instead of the normal price of $29.99. Delivery includes unboxing of the TV in your room of your choice and removal of packaging.

Since it's on sale ahead of summer streaming for under $800, upgrade to the 55-inch Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV. It'll be ready for new shows and summer gaming.

SAVE $80: Through May 25, new and returning subscribers can sign up for an entire year of streaming on AMC+ for just $29.99. That's more than 70% off the usual cost of $109.99.

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Credit: AMC+

AMC+ (1-year subscription)

$29.99
$109.99 Save $80

 

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A good streaming deal is hard to come by in 2026. Subscription prices are rising across the board, but AMC+ isn't playing by the same rules, apparently.

Through May 25, new, returning, and upgraded Annual Premium subscribers can get an entire year of streaming on AMC+ for only $29.99 instead of the typical cost of $109.99. That's $80 or over 70% in savings, which knocks down the monthly fee to just $2.50. After a year, your subscription will revert back to full cost unless you cancel before then. But just think of all of the things you can watch within a 12-month span.

It may not be the most popular streaming service out there, but AMC+ is actually pretty stacked when it comes to content. It's where you can watch the entire Shudder library, making it a must-have for horror lovers. The Lili Reinhart and Lola Tung-led witchy horror Forbidden Fruits will make its debut on the streamer next month. It's also where you can watch AMC original series like the Silicon Valley satire The Audacity and the latest season of the brilliant Interview with the Vampire, now titled The Vampire Lestat, which premieres June 7. You can use this now affordable streaming subscription to catch up on or rewatch the first two seasons before Season 3's premiere. (And while you're at it, you can listen to Lestat's singles "Long Face" and "All Fall Down" on Spotify).

Whether you're looking to broaden your streaming horizons this year or you just love a good streaming deal, a year of AMC+ for just $29.99 is hard to pass up.

SAVE $100: As of May 5, get the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete for $1,599.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,699.99. That's a discount of 6% and the lowest price we've seen.

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Credit: Amazon

Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete

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

 

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If you're tired of spending all your time cleaning your house, join the club. It's a chore no one really wants to do, but a necessary one. Fortunately, robot vacuums are a great option to make it a little easier, and there's one in particular that can help you tackle that task with gusto. It's also available for the lowest price we've tracked so far.

As of May 5, get the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete for $1,599.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,699.99. That's $100 off and a discount of 6%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

This robot vacuum's not lying when it dubs itself the "Max Ultra Complete". It can do just about everything and then some, with 35,000Pa of suction to suck up dirt and debris as its extremely slim profile goes everywhere you need it to. That includes under beds, sofas, and other difficult to reach places. Using dual AI-equipped cameras, it can set up its own navigation to get through your home with ease, and keep from bumping into things.

It also can intelligently detect steps and navigate around those. When it does happen to get to an area that's difficult to reach, it can use its MopExtend RoboSwing tech to get to corners and beneath furniture as well as edges.

Switching over to the mop is painless as well, with scrubbing that reaches up to 230RPM to get those set-in stains out of everywhere you need to mop. And with hot-air drying, a self-emptying dock, and extensive app customization, you can truly sit back, relax, and let this bot handle your entire cleaning schedule.

Now that it's on sale, it's a good time to go ahead and splurge. It'll handle all the vacuuming and mopping so you have time for other things.

SAVE $1,202: As of May 5, the Hisense 100-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for only $2,797.96 instead of its usual $3,999.99. That's a savings of 30% and its best price on record.

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Credit: Hisense

Hisense 100-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV

$2,797.96 at Amazon
$3,999.99 Save $1,202.03

 

Get Deal

There's no such thing as a TV that's too big (assuming it actually fits in your space). These massive screens can totally transform your living room, taking movie nights and sports to new heights (literally). Of course, not all giant screens are created equal. If a huge TV is on your tech upgrade list, we recommend checking out this deal on the Hisense 100-inch U8 ULED model.

Hisense's U8 TVs from 2025 are among the brightest TVs CNET (Mashable's sister site, also owned by Ziff Davis) reviewer Ty Pendlebury has ever tested. And as of May 5, the colossal 100-inch option is on sale for 30% off. Usually $3,999.99, you can grab the Hisense 100-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV at Amazon for just $2,797.96 — its best price ever on record.

A bright TV is nothing without well-saturated colors and deep contrast. Fortunately, according to Pendlebury, the U8 checks all of these boxes. It also packs a 165Hz native refresh rate, 5,000 nits peak brightness, up to 5,600 local dimming zones, a streamlined Google TV interface with loads of smart features, and support for HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. It's a great choice for sports fans, movie buffs, and even gamers looking to truly lose themselves in other worlds.

While it's not cheap by any stretch of the word, the 100-inch Hisense U8 TV is down to the best price we've ever seen. If you're in the market for a gigantic TV and have the dough to drop, you won't be disappointed.

UPDATE: May. 6, 2026, 9:40 a.m. EDT This piece was updated to include a statement from Microsoft.

Password managers are supposed to make life easier for users by remembering their passwords and keeping them secure.

However, one cybersecurity researcher has discovered a quite concerning development regarding Microsoft Edge and how the web browser's password manager behaves.

According to researcher Tom Jøran Sønstebyseter Rønning, Microsoft Edge loads every saved password into memory at startup — in plaintext.

In a thread on X, Rønning detailed how the credentials are decrypted even if a user doesn't visit a site that uses the password manager during the user session.

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

"If an attacker gains administrative access on a terminal server, they can access the memory of all logged‑on user processes," ​​Rønning writes.

Edge is Microsoft's proprietary web browser based on the Chromium open-source project, the code base developed and maintained by Google. However, as Rønning shared, this issue involving plain text credentials does not appear in other Chromium-based browsers like Google Chrome.

"Edge is the only Chromium‑based browser I’ve tested that behaves this way," says ​​Rønning. "By contrast, Chrome uses a design that makes it far harder for attackers to extract saved passwords by simply reading process memory."

​​Rønning says he first reached out to Microsoft regarding his findings before publicly disclosing the issue. According to the cybersecurity researcher, Microsoft responded by saying this behavior in Microsoft Edge was "by design."

Mashable reached out to Microsoft for more information about Rønning's findings and received a similar response.

"Safety and security are foundational to Microsoft Edge," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement provided to Mashable. "Access to browser data as described in the reported scenario would require the device to already be compromised. Design choices in this area involve balancing performance, usability, and security, and we continue to review it against evolving threats. Browsers access password data in memory to help users sign in quickly and securely — this is an expected feature of the application. We recommend users install the latest security updates and antivirus software to help protect against security threats."

The German tech website Heise Online replicated the password issue. The site also noted that, according to well-established cybersecurity best practices, "passwords should only be decrypted at the time of use and deleted from memory very shortly thereafter."

Given Microsoft's response to Rønning, users concerned about the potential issue should consider alternative password managers and/or make sure their browser and device are set up with the latest security updates.

Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire. We know you don't need a history lesson right now. What you need is a thorough list of all the popular restaurants offering food deals to celebrate this occasion. We've got you.

You can find limited-time food offers from the likes of 7-Eleven, Chipotle, Taco Bell, and more popular names on Cinco de Mayo. We've checked out everything on offer to bring you the very best Cinco de Mayo food deals live right now.

7-Eleven

Customers can buy one burrito, get one free all day on Cinco de Mayo. You can also get the store-brand 7-Select Spicy Guacamole Tortilla Chips and two Mantecadas or Conchas in chocolate or vanilla for $3. 7Rewards and SpeedyRewards members can score $3 off select beers, including Modelo Especial, Coronita Extra, and Pacifico Clara.

Abuelo’s

Abuelo’s is offering all-day drink specials on Cinco de Mayo. You can score a drink for just $5, such as Mexican Grande Draft Beer, La Grandeza Margaritas, Mexican Flag Margaritas, and Chile son Queso.

Barberitos

On May 5, visit Barberitos and get a free small queso with any purchase. Barberitos Rewards members who scan in-store or order through the app will automatically be entered to win free queso for a month (50 winners) or free Barberitos for a year (one winner).

Barrio Burrito Bar

Get $5.99 regular size burritos, bowls, or taco trios and $1 Jarritos.

Bubbakoo’s Burritos

Rewards members can get a free queso or guac with any order. Through May 5, Bubbakoo’s Burritos are also offering two tacos, chips, and salsa for $5.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

Score $6 Brewhouse margaritas from 3–7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

California Tortilla

On May 5, get a free Taco Coupon for your next order with purchase.

Chipotle

Through May 5, Chipotle is offering free chips and queso blanco or chips and guacamole with promo code CINCO26. These offers are only available when you purchase via their website or app.

Chronic Tacos

On May 5, Chronic Tacos will offer its rewards members $1 off all tacos. This offer is valid online and in-store all day.

El Pollo Loco

On May 5, purchase two chicken tacos for $5 in-store and online.

Grubhub

Until May 10, Grubhub+ members can score a free Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme with an order of $20 or more.

Moe’s

On May 5, Moe’s will offer a free Side of Queso with an entree purchase for Rewards members,

Ojos Locos Sports Cantina

Score $3 house margaritas, $4 Paleta shots, and $2 tacos all day on Cinco de Mayo.

Papa Murphy’s

Papa Murphy’s is offering a special 16-inch Taco Grande pizza (beef or chicken) through May 17.

Taco Bell

On May 5 at 2 p.m. PT, Taco Bell will be offering $1 Diablo Dusted Nuggets for the first 30,000 redemptions.

Tijuana Flats

Enjoy the $5 Cinco de Mayo menu through May 5. This includes Minijuana Burritos, Uno Taco and Chips, beers, chips and queso, and more, available for dine-in, carryout, or delivery.

SAVE $1,150: The Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $849.99, down from the list price of $1,999. That's a 57% discount.

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Credit: Anker

Anker Solix F2000 portable power station

$849 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $1,150

 

Get Deal

Camping season kicks off in just a few weeks. If you haven't done so already, it's time to consider what gear needs replacing before heading out this year. If you've been thinking about an upgrade this year to a portable power station but haven't decided on the optimal model, check out this deal at Amazon.

As of May 5, the Anker Solix F2000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $849.99, marked down from the normal price of $1,999. That's a huge 57% discount that takes $1,150 off.

The Solix F2000 comes with a sweet 2,048Wh of battery capacity. Invite the station along on the next camping trip and you'll be able to use the air fryer to cook dinner, recharge phones, keep the portable projector showing nightly films, and plenty more.

In total, the Solix F2000 has 12 ports including four standard AC outlets, three UBS-C, and an RV port, to highlight a handful. If your campsite has access to direct sunlight, consider recharging the F2000 with solar panels. It can connect with up to 1,000W of solar input for recharging. If you're going with standard wall AC recharging, expect to get back to 80% in under 90 minutes.

Since the Solix F2000 has a hefty 2,048Wh capacity, it's not exactly a lightweight model. It clocks in at 67.2 pounds so Anker added all-terrain wheels and a telescoping handle to the station. Instead of having a power lifting session at the campground, you can roll it around with ease. Of course, you can also use it at home during power outages to keep the refrigerator cooling.

The Anker Solix app gives you access to vital stats like remaining power, the level of power output when in use, and remaining time when recharging.

While it's well over half off at Amazon, upgrade your summer camping experience with the Anker Solix F2000. You'll be able to enjoy on-grid convenience while being off-grid in nature.

SAVE $170: As of May 5, get the DJI Mini 3 for $379, down from its usual price of $549. That's a discount of 31% and the lowest price we've seen.

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Credit: Amazon

DJI Mini 3

$379 at Amazon
$549 Save $170

 

Get Deal

Summer is right around the corner, meaning it's time to get into your favorite warm-weather activities. If that includes flying drones, you might first want to pick up a new one. Whether you're a casual or seasoned veteran, you can save big on a DJI favorite that's on sale (and in stock) right now.

As of May 5, get the DJI Mini 3 for $379, down from its usual price of $549. That's $170 off and a discount of 31%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

The DJI Mini 3 is fairly simple to navigate or learn to fly with. It's lightweight and compact, with a battery life that should get you about 115 minutes of flight time, so you can explore long enough without stopping for a recharge. And with its level 5 wind resistance, you don't have to keep stopping to deal with choppy weather, since it can handle flying in breezes up to 23 miles per hour.

It's great for shooting 4K footage as well, with True Vertical Shooting offering the option to capture vertical videos with ease. And thanks to its 3-Axis Gimbal, you don't have to worry about flying the straightest you possibly can -- the DJI Mini 3 will take care of that issue for you so you can focus on taking great video.

If you're thinking about flying drones or getting into drone photography, this is your chance to save big and get started with something manageable. Be sure to grab yours while it's available on sale.

The latest trailer for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has everything: Matt Damon trying to get home (again). The cyclops Polyphemus. Robert Pattinson beefing with Tom Holland. It's truly an embarrassment of riches — and that's before we get into the whirlpool Charybdis or the flashes of the Trojan War.

Adapted from Homer's epic, The Odyssey follows Odysseus's (Damon) decades-long quest to return home to Ithaca following the fall of Troy. He may be the wiliest of strategists, but are those wiles enough to face down the wrath of the gods?

While Odysseus weathers encounters with monsters like Polyphemus and Scylla and Charybdis, his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) await his return to Ithaca. They've been overrun with potential suitors for Penelope, including the slimy Antinous (Pattinson). And when I say slimy, I mean rotten lettuce levels of slimy. Seriously, the trailer is worth the watch for Pattinson's nasty threats alone.

Damon, Hathaway, Holland, and Pattinson are only the tip of the iceberg of The Odyssey's extensive, star-studded cast. Zendaya stars the as the goddess Athena, Charlize Theron plays nymph Calypso, and Jon Bernthal and Benny Safdie play kingly brothers Menelaus and Agamemnon.

The film also stars Lupita Nyong’o, John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel, Mia Goth, Will Yun Lee, Jimmy Gonzalez, Elliot Page, and more.

To catch these stars (and get some serious chills from The Odyssey's IMAX-shot visuals), check out the full trailer above.

The Odyssey hits theaters July 17.

Crypto exchange Coinbase is laying off 14 percent of its workforce.

The decision has been made public by CEO Brian Armstrong. In a post on X, he explained that the layoffs are mainly due to two concerns: Bear market, and AI.

"Coinbase is well-capitalized, has diversified revenue streams, and is well-positioned to weather any storm," he wrote. "However, our business is still volatile from quarter to quarter [...] we’re currently in a down market and need to adjust our cost structure."

Cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, are currently recovering after a sharp downturn that started late last year. The price of Bitcoin is currently at about $81,400, down from its highs of about $127,000 in August 2025.

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

Armstrong also explained that AI is changing how the company works. "Over the past year, I’ve watched engineers use AI to ship in days what used to take a team weeks (...) all of this has led us to an inflection point, not just for Coinbase, but for every company. The biggest risk now is not taking action," he wrote.

Affected workers will get a "comprehensive package" which includes a minimum of 16 weeks base pay for U.S. workers (plus 2 weeks per year worked), their next equity vest, and 6 months of COBRA, wrote Armstrong.

Coinbase is scheduled to release its Q1 2026 earnings report on May 7. The company reported a big revenue decline last quarter, and analysts, for the most part, expect another weak quarter.

The "We were on a break!" argument between Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) has to be one of the most famous moments in Friends — but, now, over two decades on, Lisa Kudrow sees it in a different light.

"He was a bad boyfriend," she tells Jimmy Fallon in the Tonight Show clip above. "She shouldn't have gotten back with him because he was horrible. To me it's like, I don't care if he slept with three other women or no other women. You had a crisis at work so you weren't available for a few nights and he flipped out, and you're like, 'Wow'."

Take that, Ross.

A24 is bringing Anthony Bourdain back to theaters with the coming-of-age drama, Tony.

It's hard to believe it's been nearly eight years since the death of Anthony Bourdain. The outspoken American chef made a massive imprint on the world, not only through his love of food but also his work as an author and documentarian. He shared cuisine, curiosity, and culture from all over the world through his rich and riveting docu-series like No Reservations and Parts Unknown.

Beyond that, his life and writing inspired the 2006 TV series Kitchen Confidential, starring Bradley Cooper; the 2015 drama Bone in the Throat; and the 2021 biographical documentary Roadrunner, which sparked controversy for its use of AI. Now, Tony will explore the early days of Bourdain's career, featuring The Holdovers' Dominic Sessa playing the man himself.

Directed by Matt Johnson (Nirvanna: The Band - The Show - The Movie), Tony begins with a 19-year-old Bourdain, spinning out after his ambition to become a writer hits a speed bump. But a job in a kitchen — working under a beguiling Antonio Banderas — will change everything.

Emilia Jones, Dagmara Dominczyk, Rich Sommers, Stavros Halkias, and Leo Woodall co-star in Tony, which will open in theaters this August. But are audiences ready to see someone else play Bourdain this soon after his death?

We'll see.

On May 5, Bose announced its new Lifestyle Collection, which consists of the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker ($299), the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar ($1,099), and the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer ($899). The line is designed to work together or separately to deliver exceptional sound throughout the home. All three products are packed with proprietary Bose technology to deliver high-quality sound across different environments. They're available to preorder now, with a May 15 release date.

I was invited to experience the Lifestyle Collection ahead of its release, and I was thoroughly impressed by what I heard and saw. Music on the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker sounded booming and full without muddying vocals, and a clip from Dune literally shook the floors with audio playing from the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar. The soundbar, speaker, and subwoofer, when paired, created room-filling sound sure to wow anyone who takes their Letterboxd account very seriously. And on top of that, the Lifestyle Collection looks sleek and doesn't scream "tech product."

Shop the Bose Lifestyle Collection

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Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker

$299.00 at Amazon

Shop Now

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Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar

$1,099.00 at Amazon

Shop Now

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Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer

$899.00 at Amazon

Shop Now

So, let's dive into each of these new Bose audio devices.

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is available in white smoke, driftwood sand, and black. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is decently compact while still packing huge sound. It features three drivers — two front-facing and one up-firing — that allow the audio to truly fill a space, so you get powerful, clear sound no matter where you are in the room. It also features CleanBass technology, supported by a proprietary QuietPort acoustic opening, that delivers bass that doesn't sound echoey or blown-out.

Two Lifestyle Ultra speakers can be paired for a surround-sound stereo setup. And you can play music to as many Lifestyle speakers as you have directly from your preferred music app — no need to connect via Bluetooth. The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is compatible with Google Cast, Apple AirPlay, and Spotify Connect, and can be grouped with other compatible smart speakers on your network. Additionally, it features a 3.5mm aux port, which is awesome for connecting a turntable. It's also the first to market speaker outside of Amazon's own devices to offer full Alexa+ capabilities.

Price and specs

• Price: $299 or $349 for driftwood sand color

• Available speaker configurations: 1.0, 2.0, 7.0.4, 7.1.4

• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 5.3, AUX 3.5mm

• Dimensions: 4.8 inches W x 7.3 inches H x 6.6 inches D

• Colors: Black, white smoke, driftwood sand (limited edition)

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker

$299 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Bose

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar comes in white smoke or black and has a sleek, low profile. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

This marks the first major soundbar redesign from Bose in over a decade. The Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar features a new acoustic architecture with six full-range drivers (four front-facing and two up-firing), a center tweeter, and two Bose proprietary PhaseGuide drivers. It can play Dolby Atmos content and has SpeechClarity technology that ensures dialogue stands out at any volume, with three adjustable dialogue levels. CustomTune uses your phone's microphone to analyze the acoustics of your room to optimize audio output performance. Like the speaker, the soundbar features CleanBass technology.

While showing off the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, a Bose rep toggled on and off the SpeechClarity setting, and I was instantly sold. I sometimes struggle to hear dialogue, but I hate using subtitles, and this technology feels like it was made for me specifically. It pushed the dialogue of a noisy scene without distorting any of the background sound.

The Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar also looks incredibly sleek and sports a tactile dial that allows users to control volume levels without picking up their TV remote or phone.

Price and specs

• Price: $1,099

• Available speaker configurations: 5.0.2, 5.1.2, 7.0.4, 7.1.4

• Connectivity: HDMI Arc and eARC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3

• Dimensions: 43.54 inches W x 2.64 inches H x 4.96 inches D

• Weight: 14.8 pounds

• Colors: Black, white smoke

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar

$1,099 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Bose

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer

When paired with the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker and Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer pushes the collection into full home theater mode by producing deep, controlled bass and reproducing the lowest frequencies for clearer overall audio. It also features the proprietary CleanBass technology, so you'll get cinematic bass without distortion.

Price and specs

• Price: $899

• Available speaker configurations: 5.1.2, 7.1.4

• Connectivity: WiFi, 3.5mm wired connection

• Dimensions: 11.63 inches W × 12.88 inches H × 11.63 inches D

• Weight: 33.7 pounds

• Colors: Black, white smoke

Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer

$899 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Bose

To illustrate just how truly bizarre a place the president's Truth Social feed is, Jimmy Kimmel spent a couple of minutes breaking down what Trump posted between 11pm and midnight last Friday.

"At 11:13 he posted a thinly veiled, but definitely racist note about House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, followed two minutes later with a warning to Iran that said 'I have all the cards', holding a bunch of Uno cards — which is a game you win by having no cards," says Kimmel in the clip above. "This is what happens when you don't play with your children."

Summarising the president's posting habits, Kimmel goes on to reference a recent Daily Beast article that claimed Trump could only have gotten a full night's sleep five days in April, based on his feed.

"Last month he posted an average of 18 times a day," says Kimmel. "If you had a relative who was posting 18 times a day, you'd be worried about him, right?"

Amid the second phase of a high-profile child safety trial in New Mexico, Meta is announcing new measures designed to ensure teens on its platforms are subject to age-related protections.

Meta announced in a blog post Tuesday that parents in the U.S. on two of its social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, will receive a notification with details about how to check and confirm their teens' ages on the company's apps.

All users that Meta has identified as a parent, not just adults who supervise a Teen Account, will receive the notification. The notification will include a link to a blog post Meta published a year ago on how to talk to teens about the importance of providing their correct age.

Meta hopes to raise parent awareness of age confirmation on Instagram and Facebook. Credit: Meta

Meta also announced that age-detection technology will roll out to 27 countries in the European Union and Brazil. Additionally, the technology will apply to U.S. Facebook users for the first time.

In April 2025, Meta began using AI to identify teen users who listed an adult age in their account. The technology re-assigns those users to Meta's Teen Account product, which the company says has more stringent safety protections.

In the fall, independent experts who tested Teen Accounts published a report alleging that the product doesn't work as advertised. Among their findings, the researchers documented instances in which the guardrails failed to prevent inappropriate contact with strangers.

On Tuesday, Meta said that its AI technology would begin to analyze user profiles for "contextual clues" of their age, simplify the process for reporting suspected underage accounts, and strengthen its ability to stop underage users from opening new accounts.

Meta noted in its blog post that it believes lawmakers should require app stores to verify user age and provide that information to apps and developers.

Meta back on trial

Meta lost the first phase of the New Mexico trial in March when a jury found the company liable for misleading consumers about the safety of its platforms and endangering children. The suit was filed by the state's attorney general.

Meta has been ordered to pay the maximum penalties for each violation of New Mexico’s consumer protection laws, amounting to $375 million. The company has said it plans to appeal the decision.

In the bench trial, New Mexico's Department of Justice is seeking injunctive relief requiring Meta to pay additional damages of $3.75 billion and implement specific changes to protect children.

The proposed policies include effective age verification, blocking children under 13, limits on end-to-end messaging encryption for minors, and permanent bans for adult users who engage in or facilitate child exploitation.

Last week, Meta threatened to shut its platforms down in New Mexico in response to the state's demands.

"Many of the requests are technologically or practically infeasible and would essentially force Meta to build entirely separate apps for use only in New Mexico," the company said in its court filing, according to The Guardian. "Therefore, granting onerous relief could compel Meta to entirely withdraw Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp from the state as the only feasible means of compliance."

In court on Monday, Meta's counsel Alex Parkinson reiterated that stance, arguing that granting the state's injunctive relief in full would "genuinely make it untenable to continue offering Meta's products" in New Mexico.

State Attorney General Raul Torrez said that Meta is putting advertising revenue and profit ahead of the "safety of children."

"We know Meta has the ability to make these changes," Torrez said in a statement. "This is not about technological capability."

Samsung's upcoming foldable phones have been revealed in a leak again, but this leak is different, because it comes directly from Samsung.

Android Authority dug through Samsung's new One UI 9 software and discovered images of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, as well as the entirely new foldable phone which will probably be called Samsung Wide Fold.

Don't expect photographs; the images are just simple graphics, but they do tell us a lot about these new phones. In particular, the Samsung Wide Fold looks significantly wider than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which looks really skinny in comparison.

That's a large cover display. Credit: Samsung/Android Authority

The images also reveal that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will have a triple rear camera, while the Wide Fold will only have a dual camera on the back.

Hello, skinny. Credit: Samsung/Android Authority

The designs are in line with previous leaks, renders, and mockups, including the dummy units that surfaced in late April.

Samsung's Wide Fold is widely (no pun intended) expected to clash with Apple's rumored, upcoming foldable iPhone, which will likely have a similar, wide design. This design might make the phone feel a little clunkier in the hand, but should pay off when you unfold it, as you'll get something akin to a small tablet.

As for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, it looks more or less unchanged compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The rumored specs for the Samsung Wide Fold include a dual, 200/50-megapixel camera, a 10-megapixel selfie camera, a 5.4-inch cover display, a 7.6-inch foldable display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and 12/16GB of RAM.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 will probably have similar specs as the Z Fold 7, but it should get a larger, 5,000mAh battery, as well as 45W charging.

Samsung is likely to unveil its new foldable phones in July.