Mashable

The trailer for psychological thriller Trap has arrived, and in classic M. Night Shyamalan fashion, it comes with a twist.

Trap follows a father (Josh Hartnett) who accompanies his teen daughter (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert by pop singer Lady Raven (Shyamalan's own daughter Saleka). Noticing an outsized police presence at the venue, he soon finds out that the performance is actually a trap to catch a notorious serial killer who the authorities believe will be in attendance.

SEE ALSO: 'Knock at the Cabin' review: M. Night Shyamalan's latest is for believers

Learning that your child is in the same location as a brutal murderer would be a nightmare for the most parents. However, this particular dad is not most parents. In fact — spoiler alert — he may be the killer they're looking for.

Trap arrives in theatres Aug. 9.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for April 19'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.

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

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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:

A pay increase.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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 Wordle #1035 is...

RAISE.

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.

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

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 April 19'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 hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Gorilla glue something

• Green: Publishing

• Blue: Making diamonds

• Purple: Types of A's

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Attach with Adhesive

• Green: Published Lines

• Blue: Diamond Qualities

• Purple: A-___

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 Connections #313 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Attach with Adhesive: ADHERE, GLUE, PASTE, STICK

• Published Lines: COPY, TEXT, WORDS, WRITING

• Diamond Qualities: CARAT, CLARITY, COLOR, CUT

• A-___: LIST, OK, PLUS, ROD

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

How to watch 'The Jinx: Part Two' at a glance: BEST MAX DEAL FOR MOST PEOPLE Max With Ads annual subscription $99.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal BEST MAX DEAL WITH NO ADS Max Ad-Free annual subscription $149.99 per year (save 22%) Get Deal BEST FOR CRICKET CUSTOMERS Max (With Ads) Free for Cricket customers on the $60 per month unlimited plan (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal

The ethics of true crime may be questionable, but the documentaries, podcasts, and books keep on coming. One of the most compelling and popular true crime documentary shows, The Jinx, captivated audiences back in 2015, and now it's back for another round. That means more Robert Durst is on its way to a screen near you.

HBO's The Jinx: Part Two premieres on April 21. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch it.

What is The Jinx about?

Nearly a decade ago, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst unraveled the crimes of Robert Durst in an Emmy-winning HBO docuseries directed and produced by Andrew Jarecki. Now, in The Jinx: Part Two, the story continues.

The original series ended with Durst's bombshell admission, "Killed them all, of course." Part Two will tell the story of what happened after he muttered those five words, which led to his arrest in 2015 — just hours before the finale aired. The team behind The Jinx continued their investigation over the next eight years as Durst awaited and sat trial, and they uncovered new information as the case unfolded. The six-part series picks up right where the original series left off, and if the trailer is any indication, viewers can expect the same aesthetics and true crime cinema as the original.

When is The Jinx: Part Two streaming?

The first episode of The Jinx: Part Two premieres on HBO and Max simultaneously on April 21, 2024 at 10 p.m. ET. The HBO Original six-part documentary series will then air new episodes weekly on Sundays at the same time, with the finale falling on May 26.

Is there a Max free trial?

Unfortunately, there's currently no active free trial for Max through HBO or through third parties like Prime Video or Hulu. We do recommend keeping an eye out, as we've seen free trials pop up sporadically in the past (then disappear just as quickly). Max does offer limited free episodes through its Watch Free portal. You can check out single episodes of HBO originals like White Lotus, Succession, The Last of Us, and Euphoria before committing to a subscription.

The best Max streaming deals

Before you sign up for a Max subscription, you might want to double check that you don't already have access to Max through a previous subscription, a third party, or a cable, internet, or wireless provider. It's worth a shot, right? If you do still need to sign up for access, check out the two streaming deals below.

Best Max deal for most people: Save up to 20% on an annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max annual subscriptions Save up to 22% on Max Watch Now

Instead of paying a monthly fee, you can opt for a Max annual plan and save up to 22%. Max With Ads typically costs $9.99 per month, which adds up to about $119.88. You'll pay just $99.99 for a yearly plan — that's about 17% in savings. The Ad-Free annual plan goes for $149.99 per year, which saves you 22% on the regular price of $191.88 (the biggest savings of all three plans), and the Ultimate plan goes for $199.99 per year (regularly $239.88), which saves you about 17%. Sure, it's more to pay up front, but it'll keep more dollars in your wallet in the long run.

Best Max deal for Cricket customers: Free Max with ads for customers on the $60/month unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: Cricket / Max Max With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month plan Watch Now

If you're lucky enough to be a Cricket Wireless customer on the $60 per month unlimited plan, then you get access to Max With Ads for free (as long as your account remains in good standing). Head over to the Max app or navigate to Max on a browser, then sign in using Cricket as your provider. Your Cricket login details will unlock full access to Max With Ads (typically a $99.99 per year value) for free. If you're a Cricket customer, but on a different plan, you can upgrade or switch over to secure the deal at any time. Learn more about the terms and conditions on the Cricket website.

What are the different Max subscription tiers?

Just like the former HBO Max streaming service offered three tiers, Max offers three unique subscription plans: With Ads, Ad-Free, and Ultimate Ad-Free. Here's a breakdown of the different tiers.

Max With Ads — The most affordable tier, Max With Ads includes two concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, and 5.1 surround sound quality. You'll have to endure some light ads and there are no offline downloads. It costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max With Ads $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year Watch Now

Max Ad-Free — The middle tier cuts out the ads and offers 30 offline downloads, but otherwise features the same resolution and sound quality. It costs $15.99 per month or $149.99 per year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Ad-Free $15.99 per month or $149.99 per year Watch Now

Max Ultimate Ad-Free — The most expensive of the three tiers, Ultimate Ad-Free includes four concurrent streams, up to 4K UHD resolution, Dolby Atmos sound quality, 100 offline downloads, and of course, ad-free viewing. It'll run you $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max Ultimate Ad-Free $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year Watch Now

Alex Garland's much-debated Civil War continues to spark controversy, this time over the release of AI-generated promotional images.

SEE ALSO: 'Civil War' review: Alex Garland's latest is more 'Men,' less 'Ex Machina'

On April 17, Civil War distributor A24 released six posters to advertise the film, each depicting a different American city marked by war. New York City's Washington Square Park is overrun by military vehicles, the Las Vegas Sphere lies in ruins, and gunmen advance towards San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.

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However, viewers online were quick to note that these posters appeared to be AI-generated. Tells that these are AI include a car with three doors on the Miami poster and impossible architectural elements like missing or misshapen windows.

One of the most egregious giveaways lies in the Chicago poster, which shows a view of the Chicago River and the corncob-shaped towers that make up the Marina City apartment complex. In real life, the towers are next to each other. However the poster separates them, showing one on a (non-existent) island in the middle of the river.

The backlash to A24's Instagram post of the AI-generated posters was swift. "This sucks! AI sucks!" one commenter said. Another wrote, "For a company that seemingly values artistry, using AI-generated works for advertising is a real bummer."

A source close to Civil War confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the images were indeed AI-generated. "These are AI images inspired by the movie," they told The Hollywood Reporter. "The entire movie is a big 'what if' and so we wanted to continue that thought on social — powerful imagery of iconic landmarks with that dystopian realism." Mashable has reached out to A24 for further comment.

The Civil War posters are just the latest in a string of movie and TV-related AI controversies, including Late Night with the Devil's AI-generated interstitial images, True Detective: Night Country's allegedly AI-generated background posters, and Secret Invasion's opening credit sequence. Notably, Civil War's posters are marketing materials and not actually used in the film itself, meaning the decision to make them would not have fallen to Garland.

AI use in media has become a hot button topic among audiences, especially following 2023's WGA and SAG strikes, during which both unions fought for protections against AI being used to replace their work. The disappointed — and often angry — reactions to instances such as the Civil War posters point to a wider audience rejection of AI technology in film and TV overall.

Well, the time has come to delete your Tinder account. Maybe you're a lucky user who's found your person! Or maybe you're just sick of the fire emblem staring back at you every weekend night when you don't have a date.

Either way, here's how to do it.

How to delete your Tinder account

To permanently delete your Tinder account, you must be signed in either on the app or the browser site (Tinder.com). Tap on the profile icon, then go to Settings. Scroll down and click "Delete Account." This is the same thing as deleting your Tinder profile.

Tinder settings with option to delete your account at the bottom. Credit: Screenshot: Tinder

Deleting the app from your smartphone won't delete your account — nor will it delete your subscription if you're a paid user. If you bought a subscription with your Apple ID or Google Play ID, you must cancel the subscription separately. Here are instructions for how to cancel an Apple subscription and how to cancel a Google Play subscription.

There's good news if you purchased a Tinder subscription with a credit card through Tinder.com or Android, however: Deleting your account will automatically cancel your subscription.

Deleting your Tinder profile

Deleting your account as described above erases your profile, matches, and messages.

What if I just want a break from Tinder?

If you want a break from the app but don't want to permanently delete everything, you can hide your profile from the "card stack" (or pool of Tinder users in your area).

SEE ALSO: The best sex and dating apps for finding a hookup

On Tinder, tap on the profile icon. Go to Settings, and scroll to "Show me on Tinder." If you toggle it off, you won't be shown to anyone swiping.

"Show me on Tinder" toggle. Credit: Screenshot: Tinder

When this is turned off, you can still see and chat with your matches. As Tinder clarifies on their site, however, some people you may have swiped right on (or Liked) may still see you and Like back — so even when you're not in the card stack, you can get more matches.

Should you ever want to hop back on the popular dating app, you can create a new account. If not, today is the first day of your swipe-free life!

This article was first published in 2021 and republished in 2024.

The glorious thing about the specificity of Taylor Swift's storytelling is that it somehow becomes universal. You apply it to your life; her late-night phone calls, car rides, and whirlwind of emotions become your own. 

But lately, the billionaire songwriter and her immense fan base appear more concerned with Swift's narrative than the beauty and freedom of its interpretation. Where fans once envisioned their own flings and feelings, they now look for clues and identities. Instead of assigning songs to moments in their lives, fans now assign songs to often unsubstantiated celebrity gossip. 

SEE ALSO: What do we lose when influencers replace journalists on the red carpet?

Rather than listening to her lyrics in isolation, Swift has become the omnipresent "Songwriter." Listeners have likely already seen her post clues about the tracks on X / Twitter or directly explain her songwriting on TikTok. Her music is woven into her celebrity. And even if you don't engage with Swift directly, Swifties and their ongoing speculation over the concrete subject matter — as if a track can be neatly organized into one of her public relationships — are hard to avoid. Swift encourages this behavior, dropping clues and creating puzzles for her fans to decipher. (Currently, she has fans scouring cities for QR codes to reveal hidden messages.)

Equating her music with the public narrative of her life has always been a part of her brand and the center of much of her critique. In the past year, Swift won Album of the Year at the Grammys (and hijacked it to announce The Tortured Poets Department), became the poster child of the NFL, and put pressure on Ticketmaster after millions of fans were unable to purchase tickets to her Eras Tour due to high demand. Not to mention, The Eras Tour relies on rereleasing her older albums and, in doing so, her reexamination of those past eras, causing her celebrity to eclipse her songwriting. 

At its best, her obsession with the past allows us to relive those eras with her. At its worst, we are beholden to her narrative. There's no better example of this than Swifties crowning Taylor's Version villains: Joe Jonas for Fearless (Taylor's Version), Jake Gyllenhaal for Red (Taylor's Version), John Mayer for Speak Now (Taylor's Version), and Harry Styles for 1989 (Taylor's Version). Just look to the Grim Reaper meme as an example.

As Janessa Williams wrote for The Forty-Five, "We’re still feeling the ripples of the height of cancel culture, and so a 'call-out' anthem about a bad relationship or troubling experience tends to translate really well, especially when we know exactly who to aim our anger at. Even better is when they can be neatly lined up against paparazzi photos and cryptic Instagram posts, creating a metaverse of reality-soap madness."

Tweet may have been deleted Reclassifying old songs and the death of interpretation

A fortnight before the April 19 release of The Tortured Poets Department, the Midnights singer created five "stages of heartbreak" playlists for Apple Music — notice the sponsorship, a further dent in her artistic integrity — recategorizing her catalog to fit the themes of denial ("I Love You It's Ruining My Life"), anger ("You Don't Get To Tell Me About Sad"), bargaining ("Am I Allowed to Cry?"), depression ("Old Habits Die Screaming"), and acceptance ("I Can Do It With a Broken Heart "). 

This puppeteering, some would say rewriting, of her past music sent fans into a tizzy and led to a new target: her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. 

After releasing the "Stages of Heartbreak" playlists, fans immediately took her lead and began reexamining her songs through this new lens. They decided the heartbreak in question was her breakup with her longtime partner Alwyn and ran with it. 

Many were shocked to see "Lover" on the denial playlist, especially those who danced to it at their weddings. Fans tore through the lyrics, creating holes in its once-established romance. On the fan-favorite love song, she sings, "At every table, I'll save you a seat," and pleads, "Can I go where you go?" A TikTokker decided this meant she saved the seat "because he was absent at her most important events," and she wanted to follow him because "they weren't together often." The theory was reposted on X. 

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Some pushed back against the urge to rewrite the narrative of the songs. One fan wrote, "Idk I kinda wish Taylor didn't post those playlists, y'all are crazy." Another said, "If you only consume Taylor’s music through HER lens you gotta really reconsider, there’s so much beauty in her music because there’s so many interpretations."

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Fans took the playlists as a license to further scrutinize Alwyn — the "bad guy" to Swift's "good guy" — spreading unfounded rumors that he cheated on Swift with his Conversations with Friends co-star Alison Oliver. Fans went so far as to use scenes of him acting in the show as evidence of his baseless "affair" and harrassed Oliver in her Instagram comments section. 

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The promo move is reminiscent of when she made another set of playlists — again, in partnership with Apple Music — sorting her songs into the easy categories of "glitter gel pen" songs, "fountain pen" songs, and "quill pen" songs, about her songwriting principles. She has gone to lengths to ensure fans know exactly when an album was written (keep your eyes peeled, detectives) and explain whether or not a track is fictional.

Swift insists on keeping her music and its interpretation within her control. Despite an early career dedicated to honesty and relatability, Swift boxes her fans into these shallow delineations of her songs, rather than trusting her music to speak for itself. 

Her promo cycles incentivize fans to generate meaning before they hear any music. Would a painter provide museum attendees with a bunch of clues before seeing the art? No. Whatever happened to releasing a single ahead of an album release? Unlike cryptic messages and knowing winks, a single hints at what's to come. I previously explored how commercial the promo for Midnights felt, writing, "I connect with Swift the songwriter, not Swift the brand." But with The Tortured Poets Department, it feels like the songwriter is the brand. 

SEE ALSO: For Taylor Swift fans at The Eras Tour, the concert 'fit makes the whole experience shimmer

Similarly, Swift's tendency to lean into celebrity gossip readings of her music seems like a business choice, rather than an artistic one, because it sells. Just look at what her relationship with Travis Kelce has done for the NFL. 

Tavi Gevinson, former fashion blogger and founder of Rookie Mag, explored listeners' urge to search for Swift's life in her music. "We don’t need to be able to picture ourselves in the song because we can just picture what we are sure is her reality — which is so much realer than ours — and sublimate our own desire and frustration into the narrative of this ultimate, ideal protagonist." 

Swift's mastermind approach conflates her music's protagonist with her celebrity image and the fans and men wrapped up in it all, making it consumed less like art and more like fan fiction. Everything feels predetermined and stagnant if nothing is left up to interpretation, and you're only listening to something to fit your preconceived narrative. Isn't that boring?

Maybe Swift still has more tricks up her sleeve. Initial reports claim The Tortured Poets Department is mainly about Matty Healy, so the joke is on you!

A few years ago, the U.K. tech startup Nothing jumped into the AirPods competitor game with its first wireless earbuds. They weren't amazing, but it sounds like things have changed since then.

Reviews went up for the new Nothing Ear (a) earbuds on Thursday — and these new $100 earbuds have earned high marks from just about everyone. Between a swanky new colorway, surprisingly great sound quality, and that shockingly low price, critics are really liking Nothing Ear (a).

Here's what people are saying about these budget 'buds.

SEE ALSO: Don't buy Apple AirPods yet: 3 new models we're expecting in 2024 1. Great sound quality

Obviously, nothing is more important in a pair of headphones than how they sound. That seems to be a big win for Nothing's new earbuds. Parker Hall of Wired had very kind words about the sound quality in Nothing Ear (a):

These third-generation Nothing earbuds have a very open midrange that makes it super easy to hear things like layered acoustic guitars and piano, which is especially noticeable when compared to their predecessors. The sound is neutral, which is to say that these buds don't have a big scooped-out middle-frequency section to accommodate brighter highs and punchier lows; the sound is so much more clinical and robust than standard AirPods it's hard to compare them.

The comparison to Apple's baseline AirPods is noteworthy because those will run you $180 by default. For nearly half the price, Nothing's earbuds seem to deliver much better sound.

2. Effective noise cancelation

Speaking of AirPods, the entry-level ones don't have active noise cancelation at all. It's a big sore spot on Apple's earbuds lineup and has been for years. This isn't the case with Nothing Ear (a); not only do they have ANC, but it's apparently pretty good. Becky Scarrott of TechRadar mentioned that they were better at drowning out loud cooking noises than last year's Nothing Ear (2):

The quoted improvement is 45dB over 40dB of ambient noise nixing and if that's hard to quantify, let me tell you that when I sat down to do some work at home wearing Ear (a) with ANC on High, I didn't realize the oven extractor fan was on (my other half was making breakfast), but as soon as I switched to Ear (2) it became perceptible. 

Multiple reviews noted that it's not best-in-class ANC, but for $100, it's hard to ask for more than something that will reduce everyday noises in the home or the office.

3. Decent battery life

Battery is clearly another important factor when it comes to wireless earbuds. Nobody wants to be stuck on an airplane without enough juice to marathon a couple of podcasts.

While one shouldn't reasonably expect 10-hour battery life from $100 earbuds, it doesn't sound like the Ear (a) is a slouch in this regard. AndroidCentral's Tshaka Armstrong performed battery testing with every bell and whistle turned on and got around five hours of playback, putting it on par with other earbuds in (or above) the price range:

Rated for 5.5 hours of continuous playback with ANC on, I drained them in five hours with mixed-use. That included 13 minutes on a phone call, 45 minutes of transparency mode during my walk through the neighborhood, and every feature activated that warns you it will deplete the battery faster when you turn it on, including LDAC support and multipoint.

I should mention that my beloved Beats Fit Pro last about that long with ANC turned on, and those cost twice as much as Ear (a).

4. One missing feature

Alas, a $100 pair of earbuds can't be perfect. It's just not possible.

Multiple reviews, such as Samuel Gibbs' in The Guardian, made note of the lack of Qi wireless charging for the Ear (a) charging case. That said, Gibbs' take on the redesigned case in general was pretty positive:

Nothing has significantly improved the case for the Ear (a), too, shrinking it to roughly the size of the best in the business, such as Apple’s AirPods, slipping nicely into the watch pocket of a pair of jeans. It lacks Qi wireless charging, having only USB-C, which is a sacrifice well made for the size.

Overall, Nothing's Ear (a) earbuds seem to be among the best you can get for the measly price of $100. I'd by lying if I said reading all these reviews didn't have my finger hovering on the purchase button.

Google Maps will reportedly tap into satellite connectivity for instances when you cannot connect to Wi-Fi nor a cellular network.

How do we know? According to PiunikaWeb, new code references in Google Maps beta v11.125 indicate the app can determine users' location via satellite connectivity.

SEE ALSO: How to turn on 3D buildings in Google Maps navigation Google Maps' satellite connectivity could be 'life saving'

PiunikaWeb reported that the new strings hint that users will have the option to update their location in Google Maps every 15 minutes, up to five times a day, via satellite connectivity. This could be a life-saving feature if you're in an out-of-range area without a network.

Keep in mind, however, that this feature will only work on devices with satellite connectivity. There is scuttlebutt that the Google Pixel 9 series will have the feature, which can also be found on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models.

We're also seeing rumors that Android 15 will support satellite-enabled texting. As we reported in early April, this feature may offer a big leg up over iPhone. According to 9to5Google, with Android 15, you'll be able to text anyone with satellite-based texting, not just emergency services.

With chatter about satellite-based texting and navigation, it looks like Google may be diving in head first with satellite connectivity. The Mountain View-based tech giant is set to host its next big event, Google I/O, on May 14. Perhaps we'll get a sneak peek of Google's plans then.

Windows 11 has been out now for about two and a half years, but its predecessor, Windows 10, still dominates the operating system market.

It's pretty clear that when it comes to PCs, Windows 10 is the most popular operating system. That means many of you readers might very well know how annoying Microsoft's prompts are regarding getting you to upgrade to Windows 11. So far, we've been able to pass on that upgrade without too much trouble.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft is testing out start menu ad placement in Windows 11

Well, Microsoft is getting ready to annoy its faithful Windows 10 user base with yet another prompt. This time, Microsoft wants Windows 10 users to switch from using a local account to their online Microsoft account.

As noticed by the tech news outlet Neowin, the most recent Windows 10 update Release Preview includes some information about new notifications added to the operating system intended to make users switch from their local account to their Microsoft account.

"New! This update starts the [roll out] of account-related notifications for Microsoft accounts in Settings > Home," reads the update, originally from the official Windows blog, which then lays out its case for using a Microsoft account.

"A Microsoft account connects Windows to your Microsoft apps. The account also backs up all your data and helps you to manage your subscriptions. You can also add extra security steps to keep you from being locked out of your account. This feature displays notifications across the Start menu and Settings."

Some users may enjoy using a Microsoft account due to the positives of connecting with Microsoft's cloud features like backups. Others may prefer the privacy of having local accounts, where all their data stays on their personal devices. The point, though, is that it's your choice, and once you make that choice you shouldn't be hounded to use your Microsoft account anymore.

Here's how to disable the Microsoft account notification

As Elon Musk recently discovered, Windows 11 does not make it easy to use a local account instead of a Microsoft account. 

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However, Windows 10 still does!

Once you make the decision to use a local account over a Microsoft account, there's also a way to turn off those annoying banners and prompts trying to get you to use a Microsoft account:

In the Settings app, simply click on the Privacy option, then go to the General section.

Next, turn off the "Show me suggested content in the Settings app" option.

As Neowin points out, there's also a tiny little "X" icon next to the "Sign in now" button on the Microsoft accounts banner as well. Users can click that and remove the notification as well.

Amazon deals of the day at a glance: OUR TOP PICK 2023 MacBook Pro (M3 chip, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 at Amazon (save $199.01 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST SECURITY CAMERA DEAL Google Nest Indoor Cam $67.59 at Amazon (save $32.40) Get Deal BEST WINDOWS LAPTOP DEAL ASUS VivoBook 16 (AMD Ryzen 9, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $599.99 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal BEST UNLOCKED PHONE DEAL Google Pixel 7a (128GB) $349 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal

It's no surprise that we love hunting for good deals here at Mashable. We're regularly poking around on the web for the best discounts around, and Amazon regularly comes out on top in the oversaturated shopping market.

If deal hunting isn't your thing, we've got you covered. Here are the best Amazon deals of the day for April 18. And be sure to check out our picks from April 16 and April 17 — many of those deals are still live as well.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Amazon deal of the day: 2023 MacBook Pro (M3 chip, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 at Amazon
$1,599.00 Save $199.01 with on-page coupon Get Deal

The 2023 MacBook Pro, which packs Apple's M3 chip, is just 99 cents shy of its all-time low price at Amazon as of April 18. The M3 MacBook Pro features a familiar design you know and love with a whole lot of processing power under the hood. Apple claims the M3 chip is up to 15 percent faster than the previous M2 chip, but we actually found it to be even faster than that in our testing. Our reviewer was also highly impressed by its battery power and "dive" built-in speakers. The base model, which includes 8GB RAM and 512GB of storage, typically goes for $1,599, but if you tick the on-page coupon, it'll only run you $1,399.99 at checkout.

Read our full review of the M3 MacBook Pro.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Nest Security Cam (wired) $67.59 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $32.40 Get Deal

Want to keep tabs on your pets while you're at work? Or have an extra set of eyes inside your home while you're on vacation? The indoor version of the Google Nest Cam can be mounted to your wall or placed on a bookshelf and deliver a 24/7 live view of your home. It comes in a variety of colors to suit your style and can be set up in a matter of minutes. At $67.59, it's down to an all-time low price at Amazon. Save $32.40 as of April 18.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS VivoBook 16 (AMD Ryzen 9, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $599.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

If you're looking for a powerful laptop that won't break the bank, the ASUS VivoBook 16 has really solid specs and is currently on sale for under $600. That's $200 off its usual price and matches its all-time low. This particular configuration packs an AMD Ryzen 9 processor, 16GB of RAM, and an entire terabyte of storage. It also has a lay-flat 180-degree hinge, a webcam shield, a sleek NanoEdge display, and an array of ports (USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C with power delivery, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A, USB 2.0 Type A, 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, HDMI 1.4).

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 7a (unlocked, 128GB) $349.00 at Amazon
$499.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal

There's no reason you should be paying full price for a new phone — especially when deals like this exist. An unlocked Google Pixel 7a is on sale for just $349 at Amazon as of April 18. Already a budget-friendly version of the Pixel 7, this 30% discount brings the 7a to a new all-time low. "Announced during the 2023 Google I/O presentation, this is essentially a $100 cheaper Pixel 7 with a slightly smaller screen, but little else in the way of compromise," Mashable's Alex Perry noted in his review. It's worth noting that this deal is also available at Best Buy, if you prefer to shop there.

Read our full review of the Google Pixel 7a.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

SAVE 15%: A yearly membership to Instacart+ is on sale for $84.15 at Best Buy, down from the normal price of $99. That's a savings of $14.85.

Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart Instacart+ 12-month membership $84.15 at Best Buy
$99.00 Save $14.85 Get Deal

Need something ASAP but don't have time to leave home to pick it up? We're all blessed to live in a time when pretty much anything can arrive on our doorstep through delivery services. Sometimes within hours, we can get groceries, pharmacy goods, cosmetics, and electronics delivered. If you're one to take advantage of these services, Best Buy has a great deal in store.

As of April 18, a 12-month membership to Instacart+ is on sale for $84.15, marked down from the list price of $99. That's a 15% discount or a savings of $14.85.

Delivery service Instacart has major deals in store when you sign up for an Instacart+ membership. For starters, you'll get unlimited free delivery on orders over $35, which usually costs $3.99 for non-members. If you prefer to order through Instacart but pickup yourself, you'll get 5% credit back on all eligible orders. As if those savings weren't enough, you'll also get lower service fees on every order.

Instacart is partnered with a huge range of popular stores to order from, including Costco, Target, Sprouts, Safeway, CVS, H Mart, Best Buy, Petco, and plenty more.

To add to the deal, Instacart+ members get free access to streaming on Peacock, which typically costs $59.99 per year.

The Instacart+ membership deal at Best Buy is for digital access, which means Best Buy will email set-up instructions soon after you purchase. You can also choose the option to gift the year-long Instacart+ membership to a lucky recipient.

If you frequently use Instacart to get groceries delivered during busy weeks or you often forget to buy a new bag of dog food while out on your errands, you could probably see some serious savings with an Instacart+ membership. Usually $99 for a 12-month membership, you can currently grab all the benefits for just $84.15 through the deal at Best Buy. Your shopping budget will thank you later.

SAVE $30: As of April 18, get the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium at Amazon for $219.99. That's a discount of 12%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium $219.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

Feel like you're always too hot or too cold in your home? Solve that problem with a smart thermostat, which can learn your habits, adapt to them, and help streamline the energy usage in your home. If you're looking to get into the smart thermostat game, now's a great time to do so with a deal on a top-tier thermostat at Amazon.

As of April 18, you can get the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium for $219.99. That's $30 off its original price of $249.99 and a discount of 12%.

SEE ALSO: The best Earth Day deals in 2024 so far are from SodaStream, Bite, and Lomi

This model can handle all of your smart home's tasks: It can be controlled and adjusted via app and the unit can act as a smoke detector and even a home security hub if desired. Plus, it works to adjust the temperature of selected rooms to reduce hot and cold spots (or conserve energy in rooms you're not occupying), which can be a big problem for some homes.

The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium claims to be able to save you up to 26% per year on heating and cooling costs. Its smart sensor can automatically pause heating and cooling when it senses a door or window left open for over five minutes, plus there are plenty of other features meant to save energy and save you money.

The thermostat also has an air quality monitor alert so you can keep an eye on what you're breathing in every day. It gives tips on how to improve air quality and alerts you when you should swap out your air filter. Keep in mind that some features do require a subscription to the Ecobee Smart Security plan.

Summer's on the way, so be ready to tackle the heat with a thermostat that can do all the heavy lifting.

Apple debuted AirPlay, a feature that lets you stream media from your device to another, at IHG hotels today — and I'm one of the first to experience it in all of its glory.

I tested the new AirPlay availability in a swanky suite inside InterContinental New York Times Square, a 4-star IHG hotel. This is one of the 60+ hotels around the U.S., including in cities like Tampa and Atlanta, that support the new AirPlay integration.

But the question is, what's it like using it? And how does it benefit the average traveler?

SEE ALSO: iPhone 16: Every single thing we know so far Apple's AirPlay debut with IHG hotels: 5 ways it makes travel better

As Apple announced on Thursday, AirPlay made its way over to select IHG Hotels & Resorts, including Candlewood Suites, Hotel Indigo, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.

The partnership harnesses the beloved technology familiar to Apple users, elevating the hospitality experience to new heights.

As mentioned at the outset, I got a chance to try AirPlay on iPhone and iPad and already picked up on five ways it will enhance the travel and accommodation experience.

1. Tackle that backlog of Apple TV+ shows

Vacationing gives you a chance to finally cross off one of the many shows piling up on your "need to watch" list of things your friends have recommended to you. However, who wants to do that on a small screen?

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

AirPlay allowed me to stream Apple TV+, and other streaming apps, to the hotel TV. All I needed to do was scan a QR code on the TV. This prompted a "Connect" window to appear on my iPhone, and in just seconds, a giant green checkmark appeared to confirm that it paired with the TV.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Next, I fired up an episode of Palm Royale from Apple TV+ and it appeared on the TV in a flash. My iPhone doubled as a remote of sorts, allowing me to pause, rewind, and skip.

2. No more scrambling for Wi-Fi passwords

It's also worth noting that once you scan the QR code on the TV (and go through a few short prompts), your iPhone will be connected to the hotel Wi-Fi.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I found this process to be convenient and quick. I no longer need to dig around for my keycard, nor search high and low for information on how to secure the Wi-Fi passcode.

3. Stay active with the Fitness+ app

If you're spending more than a week on vacation or a business trip, and you're accustomed to exercising regularly, not having access to a gym or your kettlebells may be frustrating.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

AirPlay makes it easy to splash the Fitness+ app to the hotel TV. I was able to filter workouts to exclude work equipment, allowing me to follow fitness instructors determined to keep me in shape while I'm away from home.

4. Share your vacation photos with the room

After taking countless selfies and photos during a fun excursion, it's only a matter of time before you'll want to flip through these pictures and share your great captures with loved ones.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Instead of handing them your phone, you can use the screen mirroring feature to put your vacation photos on the big screen.

5. Showing presentations

As a tech journalist, I'm always finding myself in hotels with companies showing off their latest gadgets, products, and services. As such, I've seen several representatives struggling with presenting their decks — it's definitely not a seamless process.

Now, thanks to AirPlay, you can create a presentation via the Keynote app and easily mirror it to the TV with ease.

The new AirPlay availability works with iPhone and iPad — and you can start using it today at select locations. There's AirPlay support for more than 60 IHG hotels in the U.S., but Apple says that it plans to expand to more properties in the coming months.

Meta has a batch of generative AI updates that users will notice on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

On Thursday, Meta announced Llama 3, a new version of its open-source large language model (LLM) and further integrations and updates for Meta AI.

The generative AI chatbot, previously powered by Llama 2, will be updated to use Llama 3. Meta AI also has expanded to 12 new countries (Australia, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe) although still only in English for now.

SEE ALSO: Meta's new AI tools will get you shopping even more on Instagram

Meta unveiled Meta AI at its Meta Connect event last September. Previously users could tag Meta AI in a conversation for things like questions about sports stats or finding restaurants while planning a trip. They could also chat with Meta AI directly. According to Connor Hayes, VP of product for generative AI, the driving force behind developing Meta AI is "improving people's day to day life and making it easier for them to do the things that they're already coming to our apps for," said Hayes in a briefing. "So learning, getting things done creating content, getting them connected to the things that they're interested in or care about."

An existing feature lets users ask Meta AI questions on WhatsApp (as well as Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger). Credit: Meta

Users will now be able to invoke Meta AI through the search bar on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp and interact with Meta AI directly on posts in the Facebook feed. There's also a new standalone site for Meta.ai, so users can chat with the model like they would with OpenAI ChatGPT or Google Gemini.

The most noticeable updates are the addition of the Meta AI search bar and Meta AI integration in Facebook feeds. Users can ask Meta AI for, say, recipes, and the model will surface relevant Reels or Facebook pages. Through Meta partnerships with Google and Bing, it can also access real time information and provide summaries of search engine results.

Via Giphy

On your Facebook feed, there's a new Meta AI feature that shows up on posts. You can ask for more information about a certain post or click on recommended questions to learn more. Meta's example in the demo shows the ability to learn more about chords from an innocuous video of someone playing the guitar. But we're wondering how it will play into political rants from your elderly aunt or sketchy vaccine advice. As you may remember, Facebook and other social media apps has played a role in spreading inflammatory political and medical misinformation.

Via Giphy

In the accompanying announcement Meta shared its safety and responsibility approach in broad terms. Llama 3 has been stress-tested and refined to restrict discussing "risk areas like weapons, cyber attacks, and child exploitation" and refuse prompts like "How do I kill my neighbor" while allowing prompts like "How do I kill a computer program." Meta also said, "We share information within the features themselves to help people understand that AI might return inaccurate or inappropriate outputs, which is the same for all generative AI systems," as a disclaimer that generative AI doesn't always get it right and could further spread misinformation or entrench biases.

Another thorny issue in generative AI is training data. And yep, Meta may have used your data either via corpora of internet data or directly from the platform. The responsibility post said it excludes or removes data sources "known to contain a high volume of personal information about private individuals," although it doesn't get into specifics about what those sources are.

"Meta Llama models are trained on a combination of sources, including information that is publicly available online and annotated data," said a Meta spokesperson. "The model we use is fine tuned for Meta AI on information from our services along with data from your interactions with Meta AI," which also means your conversations with Meta AI might also be used to train the model.

In response to whether there's an ability to opt out of sharing your data with the model, the Meta spokesperson only pointed to the robots.txt protocol that blocks data scraping from certain websites. You can opt out of sharing training data with a paid version of ChatGPT. But given the fact that Meta AI is a free service, we're guessing your data is the price you pay for using it.

Meta also released a new image generator feature that creates an image in real time as your time. Different from the typical AI image generator which makes an image from your final prompt, this feature changes in real time as you continue typing. Hayes explained that starting from scratch with an image prompt can be intimidating and this is a more approachable way for people to understand how prompts work.

Via Giphy

25% OFF SITEWIDE: As of today, April 18, you can get up to 25% off all Solawave products! Plus, spend $150 and score a free gift.

Opens in a new window Credit: Solawave 25% off at Solawave Spend $150 and get a FREE gift Shop Now

If your skin's been looking a little tired (honestly, same), Solawave's range of skincare products might be able to help. The brand is known for its collection of celeb-approved beauty gadgets, serums, and moisturizers designed to rejuvenate and nourish the skin. And while these things are usually expensive, the company's been known to offer discounts on special occasions.

SEE ALSO: We tried the celeb-favorite Solawave skincare wand

Right now, Solawave is offering a special Mother's Day promotion way ahead of the holiday. So you can get your mom (or yourself) something nice and save some money in the process.

As of April 18, you can score up to 25% off all Solawave products with the promo code MOM25. Plus, if you spend $150, you'll automatically receive a free gift of the Solabiome Hydrating Gel Cleanser ($24 value).

This promotion includes the coveted 4-in-1 Advanced Skincare Wand, which, according to Mashable reviewer RJ Andersen, is totally worth the cost.

"Immediately after using the red light therapy wand, I was surprised to find that I noticed a slight improvement in my skin," writes Andersen. "By the end of my second week, my skin was definitely looking better: A few hormonal acne scars on my chin had faded, the redness in my cheeks went down, and I swore to my partner that a broken capillary on my cheek had completely disappeared."

The sitewide sale also includes the just-launched Neck & Chest Rejuvenating Mask, which is designed to target the delicate skin in those areas and provide hydration and anti-aging benefits. We haven't tried the mask yet, but it looks pretty intense and promising based on the brand's reputation for effective and innovative skincare products.

SAVE UP TO $400: Select configurations of the M2-powered Apple MacBook Airs (both 13- and 15-inch sizes) are on sale starting at just $849 as of April 18.

Quick links: 13-inch MacBook Air Apple MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo (save $150) Get Deal 15-inch MacBook Air Apple MacBook Air (M2, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499 at Best Buy (save $400) Get Deal

Apple's M2 MacBook Airs continue to be a hot buy for bargain hunters in the wake of its March M3 update.

As of April 18, two variants of the previous-generation laptops were marked down to record-low prices at third-party retailers (yet again). We spotted the base configuration of the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air on sale for just $849 at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo, which is $150 off its newly adjusted sticker price. Meanwhile, an upgraded 15-inch M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage was down to $1,499 at Best Buy — that's a whopping $400 off. (It's rare to encounter such big discounts on newer MacBook Airs, even on Black Friday; they usually go to beefed-up MacBook Pro models.)

SEE ALSO: The best time of year to buy a Mac, whether you want a MacBook or iMac

Note that Apple has technically discontinued the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air, meaning it no longer sells it in new condition through the Apple Store, but other authorized stores evidently still have some configurations left in their inventories — i.e., get it while you still can.

Older and slightly slower processor aside, the M2 MacBook Airs aren't dramatic downgrades from their newer M3 counterparts. Yes, they lack their successors' closed-lid dual external display and WiFi 6E support, and they don't come in a fingerprint-resistant midnight finish, but they're otherwise virtually identical: You get the same bright Liquid Retina displays, all-day battery lives, snappy backlit Magic Keyboards with Touch ID, port selections, and 1080p FaceTime cameras. If you're looking for a slick, reliable everyday laptop and trying to save a chunk of cash, they're extremely easy to recommend.

Between the 13- and 15-inch M2 models, the main difference there (not counting screen real estate) is their audio setup: The larger MacBook Air has six speakers instead of four.

SAVE $20: As of April 18, get the Nintendo Switch Lite Timmy & Tommy's Aloha Edition with a digital copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for $179 at Walmart. That's $20 off the normal price and a savings of $80 in total.

Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Nintendo Switch Lite Timmy & Tommy's Aloha Edition + "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" Bundle $179.00 at Walmart
$199.00 Save $20.00 Get Deal

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a smaller, more compact version of the popular handheld console, but don't count it out as one of the best ways to enjoy some of your favorite games on the go. Even better are the limited editions with special designs and artwork that make the Lite an even more fun console to own. If you're still looking to get a Switch, now's a good time to grab one thanks to a great deal at Walmart.

As of April 18, you can get the Nintendo Switch Lite Timmy & Tommy's Aloha Edition for just $179 at Walmart. That's $20 off its original price. It comes with a full digital download of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which means you're saving a total of $80 by not having to purchase the game separately.

SEE ALSO: These Nintendo Switch controllers with RGB lights are only $35

This Switch lite is a fun teal color with plenty of Animal Crossing accents. It has a brown leaf logo on the front of the system as well as a fun white leaf pattern on the back of the unit. Everything else is your standard Lite setup, perfectly sized to fit your hands while remaining lightweight and comfortable to game on. Keep in mind that this model is digital-only and does not play Nintendo Switch cartridges. It also cannot be docked to play on your TV.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of the most popular games on the Switch. Journey to a desert island and develop your own private space into a tropical getaway that welcomes anthropomorphic animal visitors and residents. You'll make friends, catch bugs, craft items, welcome merchants, and do much more as you grow your island into a bustling community. Share your space with friends, save up resources, and make an even bigger area. There's so much to do it might make your head spin.

Ready to get your game on? Nab this set and you'll be embedded with all your animal friends in no time.

SAVE 13%: The JLab JBuds Lux active noise cancellation over-ear headphones are on sale for $69.99 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $79.99. That's a savings of $10.

Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux active noise cancellation headphones $69.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal

It's hard to live without a solid pair of headphones these days. Between new music, podcasts, YouTube videos, and audiobooks, we're always tuned in thanks to our headphones. If you're not a huge fan of earbuds but don't want a massively bulky pair of over-the-ear headphones, today's deal at Amazon is perfect.

As of April 18, the JLab JBuds Lux active noise cancellation over-ear headphones are on sale for $69.99, marked down from the list price of $79.99. That's a 13% discount or a savings of $10. This is the first time we've seen these headphones on sale at Amazon since their release.

SEE ALSO: Our 8 favorite noise-cancelling headphones that actually work

With 40mm drivers, the JLab JBuds Lux headphones emphasize sound quality. If desired, switch on the active noise cancellation (ANC) and tune out external sounds up to 25 decibels, or you can switch on Be Aware mode to keep up with the sounds around you.

The JLab JBuds Lux ANC also focus on comfort, with an over-ear design and one-inch Cloud Foam cushioning that's designed to fit the natural shape of the ear. There are also adjustable hinges on the headband so you can get a more customized fit.

When it comes to storage, the JLab JBuds Lux ANC have rotating and foldable earcups, so they take up less space when tucked away into a backpack or work bag.

Expect to get at least 70 hours of playtime on a single charge with the JBuds Lux ANC, or 40 hours if you listen in ANC mode.

If your current headphones aren't cutting it in terms of comfort or sound quality, today's your chance to score the JLab JBuds Lux ANC at their first discounted price on Amazon for just $69.99.

SAVE $600: As of April 18, get the Google Pixel 7 Pro smartphone for $499.99 at Woot!. That's a 55% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot! Google Pixel 7 Pro (512GB) $499.99 at Woot!
$1,099.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal

Want a new phone, but aren't feeling an iPhone or Galaxy device? There are still tons of options out there, including Google's flagship Pixel series. If you haven't yet explored these powerful little devices, now might be a great time to defect from the two powerhouse manufacturers and give a Pixel phone a spin. You can save big if you plan to do just that right now by shopping at Woot!

As of April 18, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is just $499.99 at Woot!, which is $600 off its normal price and a discount of 55%. This sale price applies to the 512GB version in both Obsidian and Snow colorways.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 9 is rumored to steal this iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 feature

The Pixel 7 Pro may not be the newest smartphone in town, given that the Pixel 8 series is already available, but there's nothing wrong with going back a generation to save some cash. And this model is no slouch. Powered by Google's Tensor G2 processor, it's a zippy, reliable device with an impressive 24-hour battery life that can even stretch to 72 when using Extreme Battery Saver mode.

It boasts a 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5x telephoto lens and an upgraded ultrawide lens with powerful Macro Focus for detailed photos, and the Titan M2 security chip to help give you an additional layer of security. Of course, all this comes with all the usual features you'd expect out of an Android phone as well as support for Google Assistant and VPN by Google One. Plus, it's safe from drops, dust, and water with IP68 protection.

Now's a good time to get one of these powerful little phones at this great price. And if you like it, you can keep an eye out for the Google Pixel 9 to rear its head in the coming months.