Feed aggregator

SAVE $370: As of Jan. 9, the roborock Q5 Pro+ is on sale for $329.99 at Amazon. That's a 53% saving on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: roborock roborock Q5 Pro+ $329.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $370.00 Get Deal

If a robot vacuum has been on your wishlist for quite some time, we don't doubt you've been following the sales and tracking discounts. While they are fantastic products (no more manual vacuuming, what could be better?), they almost always come with a high price tag, so you want to get the most for your money. We get it, and that's why we're always on the hunt for great deals and bargains. And we love this latest Amazon deal on the roborock Q5 Pro+.

As of Jan. 9, you can grab a 53% discount on this popular model. Previously priced at $699.99, it is now down to just $329.99, saving you $370 on list price.

SEE ALSO: Our favorite (mostly weird) robots we saw at CES 2025

As the name suggests, this model is equipped with a DuoRoller system, meaning it can pick up dirt, dust, and pet hair easily, whether it's on carpet or hard floors. It boasts a 5500 Pa HyperForce suction power, meaning it can pick up pretty much all kinds of dirt.

The best part of this robot vacuum however is how low-maintenance it is — not only does it self-empty, but the dustbin has a 2.5-liter storage, so you'll only need to empty it around every seven weeks. The voice controls are also a big plus: Whether you use Alexa, Google Home, or Siri, it'll work for them all.

It even uses PreciSense LiDAR Navigation to map out paths in your home. The clever 3D mapping allows the vacuum to navigate its way around your home with no help, avoiding obstacles and convenient cleaning routes.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

SAVE $26: As of Jan. 9, Beats Studio 3 are on sale for $149.95 at Amazon, saving you 15% off the original price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio 3 $149.95 at Amazon
$175.95 Save $26.00 Get Deal

Beats headphones are some of the best out there. They've long been known for their incredible sound quality and punchy bass, and they're stylish look. With the holiday season and its correlating sales over, you may think you've missed your chance to snag a pair of new headphones, but think again. Amazon's Daily Deals saves the day with this great discount on Beats Studio 3.

As of Jan. 9, this model is reduced by 15% to $149.95. Not only that, this is the lowest they have ever been priced. This price is specific to the shadow gray color.

SEE ALSO: 12 new gadgets from CES 2025 that you can actually buy right now

Like most Beats products, these headphones benefit from pure adaptive noise canceling (Pure ANC) technology, a feature that helps to block out distractions while you enjoy your music, podcasts, or calls. The sound quality is powerful and immersive.

They're powered by the Apple W1 chip meaning you get seamless pairing with Apple devices and impressive battery life — up to 22 hours with noise canceling avtive. Plus, the Fast Fuel setting gives you three hours of playback from just a 10-minute charge.

Head to Amazon now to get this deal.

If you're on TikTok (or my FYP, anyway), you know Pilates is all the rage. Pilates is a full-body workout that can be done on a reformer machine to help with resistance, or on a mat with accessories like hand weights. Millions of videos showcasing women in aesthetically pleasing workout sets doing planks and squats with just as aesthetically pleasing equipment are across the internet. 

The lure of the "Pilates body" being too good to pass up, I started looking for classes in New York City — only to learn that I'd have to drop $30 per hour for the group fitness experience. Thankfully, there's a plethora of free Pilates workouts on YouTube that I can do in my living room.

SEE ALSO: A dozen products to help you kickstart your New Year's resolutions

I already had a yoga mat, which is all you need to work out at home. I've been doing home workouts long before COVID lockdown, as they're cost-effective and perfect for bad weather or low-effort days when I just want to roll out a mat and get some movement in. 

When wellness brand Stakt sent me its adjustable hand weights, it seemed like my TikTok-aesthetic home Pilates dreams were coming true. Stakt Weights have a two-pound base with two-pound ends that can twist off on either or both sides, so you can adjust (or "stack") them to be two-, four-, or six-pound dumbbells. Judging from Stakt's Instagram account, the weights are exactly for (aspiring) Pilates girlies.

Stakt Weights come in four colors: iron (gray), dune (beige), seafoam (pastel green), and rosewater (pastel pink), and are made of silicone on the outside and metal on the inside. A set of two six-pound weights retails for $98.00.

Stakt is a fitness company that started by producing its Stakt Mat, a foldable mat featured on Shark Tank in 2022. In September of last year, Stakt introduced Stakt Weights. 

I received my weights at the end of September and have been testing them for three months as I'm writing this review. I've been mostly doing Pilates workouts (shout out to the Move With Nicole YouTube channel) several times a week with Stakt Weights, but I've also done standard weight-lifting movements like squats and shoulder presses with them. Overall, I love using Stakt Weights, but there are some key issues — like screwing the weights and the material — that make me hesitate to recommend them. 

Stakt Weights make me want to work out

A huge pro — but not the only one — is that these weights are aesthetically pleasing. If you're one to post about working out, these will surely fit into your next fitness flatlay.

But these weights are also useful. They feel nice in my hand (something I will never say for metal dumbbells), and I love that I can adjust the weights. Altogether one weight is around 10 inches, a bit longer than my forearm, and the base by itself is around half of that. I've used both the base and the ends by themselves if I needed two-pound weights, and I enjoyed the experience of them both. I've also used the weights in four- and six-pound variations and feel the same about both. From weighted ab twists to tucking a weight behind my knee for donkey kicks, I've enjoyed using Stakt Weights.

A big plus is that I can use either the ends or the base weight (which is the longest and has the Stakt branding on it) as a two-pound weight. Sometimes I'm in the middle of a workout with just a two-pound weight and think I can go heavier, so I quickly screw an end onto the main one. Or, the opposite: By the end of the workout I need something lighter, so I screw an end off. 

All three Stakt Weight pieces. Credit: Anna Iovine / Mashable

Stakt Weights are compact and don't take up too much space in my one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment, which is more than I can say for other clunky non-adjustable dumbbells I own.

The two six-pound dumbbells are perfect for the kind of workouts I'm doing, and I find myself wanting to use them. I can psyche myself into wanting to work out with the "look good, feel good" mentality just like wearing cute workout clothes versus old sweats. I'll continue using my Stakt Weights long after this review — with a few caveats.

Screw-on problems with Stakt Weights

My biggest gripe about these weights is the screeching noise the ends make going in and out of the base. It's unavoidable. (I noticed that videos of Stakt Weights on the brand's Instagram have music playing over footage of folks screwing on the weights).

While my partner and my cat haven't expressed annoyance at this sound, evoking the New York City subway as it grinds to a halt during my workout isn't my favorite. When I made this video for the purpose of this review, I also managed to get one end stuck to one base. My partner and I both tried to free the end, but we couldn't. It might be stuck forever now…

Stakt? Stuck. Credit: Anna Iovine / Mashable

There is also one base and one end weight that simply won't fit in with each other. As I often take ends off during workouts and screw them back to store them, I swap bases and ends and can't figure out which one won't fit until it happens (I suppose I could mark them, but wouldn't that ruin the look?).

A lesser problem is that hair and dust stick to the weights' silicone. I store them on the floor of my living room and I have the aforementioned cat, so maybe this is just a "me problem," but I do find myself having to wipe the weights before I use them. 

Lint or cat hair stuck to Stakt Weight. Credit: Anna Iovine / Mashable Are Stakt Weights worth it?

Given these issues, it's difficult to justify the $98 price tag. You're mostly paying for style here. Granted, there isn't another product like Stakt Weights that I can easily find with a Google search. Many adjustable weights, like on Amazon for example, are for much heavier weight and look more utilitarian than Stakt. 

Most comparable to Stakt are these $33.24 light adjustable weights that come in several pastel colors and range from two to five pounds. I haven't used these or seen them in real life, but they seem a bit bulkier than Stakt. While Stakt Weights twist on and off in two-pound intervals, these weights have half-pound discs that snap on and off the base. While Stakt looks more sleek, they are also around three times the price. 

There is an option on the Stakt website to pay with an HSA/FSA (health savings account/flexible spending account), a pre-tax medical benefit, where you can apparently save up to 30 percent on Stakt Weights. If you have an HSA/FSA, that might be worth looking into. 

I use Stakt weights often and I really hope I can manage to get the stuck end off — but even if I can't, I can still use the other pieces for my workouts without too much of a disruption. I'm not sure if the pros would outweigh this con if I paid for these, however.

If you value looks over high-pitched metal and can swing $98, purchase Stakt Weights. If not, look elsewhere. It's not all about aesthetics. 

Airbnb is offering free temporary housing to people impacted by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Here's how to get help.

California's wildfires have been raging out of control this week, with at least five people dead, over 1000 buildings destroyed, and more than 100,000 residents ordered to evacuate. The fires remain largely uncontained despite local firefighters' best efforts, burning thousands of acres with no signs of slowing. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency while President Joe Biden has approved a Major Disaster declaration, and agencies across the country are sending assistance in fighting the flames.

SEE ALSO: How to protect your pets from wildfire smoke

However, with so many people evacuating, it raises the question of where they should go. Information on evacuation centers can be found on the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Los Angeles Fire Department's websites, with the Westwood Recreation Center, Pan Pacific Recreation Center, and Ritchie Valens Recreation Center a few of the options available. The Los Angeles Equestrian Center will temporarily house large animals.

Now Airbnb.org has partnered with non-profit 221 LA County to offer free temporary housing as well, helping more evacuees find a safe place to stay. A non-profit founded by short-term rental platform Airbnb, Airbnb.org coordinates discounted or free emergency housing during crises. It previously ran a similar program in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

"Stays are completely free for guests and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of Airbnb hosts — many of whom offer their home for free or at a discount through Airbnb.org," said Airbnb in its announcement on Wednesday. The company has also stated that it is waiving all service fees for both hosts and guests.

How to get free Airbnb housing if you're fleeing the L.A. wildfires Credit: Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images

To be eligible for Airbnb's free temporary housing, you must currently reside in an evacuation zone and have been displaced due to the current wildfires. This means that either your home has been destroyed, or you've been forced to evacuate. You must also be over 18 and have an Airbnb account. 

If you fulfill these requirements, you can apply for Airbnb's housing support by filling out a form on 211 LA County's website. As of writing, all available Airbnb locations have already been allocated. Nevertheless, 211 LA County is still encouraging people to sign up in case more space becomes available.

Airbnb's housing offer is currently focused on people in Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Sylmar areas, however the company states that it may expand to other areas as well.

Hosts can visit Airbnb.org if they would like to offer free or discounted stays to people impacted by the wildfires.

The Los Angeles Fire Department's map of evacuation areas as of Jan. 9, 1 a.m. EST / Jan. 8, 10 p.m. PST. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / The Los Angeles Fire Department

The announcement of this initiative coincided with notable criticism of Airbnb on social media, after the company reportedly told a user that her cancellation of a booking close to the ongoing Palisades Fire wasn't covered by its Major Disruptive Events Policy. 

"To clarify, I called Airbnb to request help with rebooking accommodations farther from the danger zone," wrote Ana Mostarac, providing further context to her widely-shared post on X. "As always, their policies failed to account for context."

The company later told CNN that it has since offered Mostarac a full refund.

Mashable has reached out to Airbnb for comment.