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Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable 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. 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 Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Found on the court

• Green: To throw

• Blue: CEOs

• Purple: They share a second word

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

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

• Yellow: Parts of a basketball hoop

• Green: Propel a ball

• Blue: League Commissioners

• Purple: Home ___

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 #216 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Parts of a basketball hoop - BASE, GLASS, NET, RIM

• Propel a ball - BOWL, FLING, HURL, ROLL

• League Commissioners - BETTMAN, GOODELL, MANFRED, SILVER

• Home ___ - FIELD, PLATE, RUN, TEAM

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? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 29 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 29 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I've got you covered!

The words are things with coverings.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are things with a protective case.

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 Shells.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 28

• Taco

• Nautilus

• Shells

• Tortoise

• Nucleus

• Walnut

• Armadillo

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.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 29 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: Used in baking

• Green: You'd see them at a restaurant

• Blue: You scale these

• Purple: A popular jewel

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: Cooking concoctions

• Green: Seen on a table at a dinner party

• Blue: Things to climb

• Purple: What "Diamond" can refer to

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 #685 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Cooking concoctions: BATTER, DOUGH, MIXTURE, PASTE

• Seen on a table at a dinner party: CANDLESTICK, PITCHER, PLACEMAT, PLATE

• Things to climb: LADDER, MOUNTAIN, ROPE, TREE

• What "Diamond" can refer to: GEMSTONE, INFIELD, RHOMBUS, SUIT

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 29

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

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

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

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 today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for April 29 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 29, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Pleasure.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter S appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

BLISS.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 29

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.

The Take It Down Act, which united a coalition of conservative and liberal lawmakers, criminalizes the nonconsensual sharing of sexually explicit images of others and requires companies to remove them.

Today, the alternative tech brand Nothing unveiled its newest budget-friendly Android phone — the CMF Phone 2 Pro.

The next evolution in the CMF Phone series (CMF is Nothing's budget-friendly line) is already available to preorder for just $279, and will ship out on May 7. Getting your hands on one in the U.S. may be a bit trickier than you're used to, however. U.S. preorders are only available to people signed up for the Nothing Beta Program, though it seems easy enough to join the club. All you need to do is add one of the devices to your cart, and you should be able to get in to order one of the new phones.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro is available in three colors — orange, black, and white — and comes with 256GB of storage. However, the ultra-thin, ultra-affordable new Android phone also has some nifty features, including swappable camera lenses and modular accessories.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro $279 at Nothing
Pre-order Here Meet the new Nothing phone, the CMF Phone 2 Pro

Nothing says the CMF Phone 2 Pro is the thinnest and lightest smartphone the company has ever made. It's just 7.8 millimeters thick and weighs 6.5 ounces (making it a half ounce heavier than the iPhone 16). It's also gotten some upgrades in the processor and battery departments. The phone comes equipped with a sixth-generation MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G processor, which includes an 8-core CPU that can hit clock speeds of up to 2.5GHz. It can also last for two full days on a single charge.

SEE ALSO: Nothing Phone (2) review: A worthy new Android challenger for the US market

The device also features a 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED display and four different cameras, including a 50MP main lens, a telephoto lens, an ultra-wide lens, and a front-facing camera. The star of the show, though, is the phone's optional modular add-ons. Attachments like fisheye and macro lenses, a case, a lanyard, and a kickstand-wallet combo can all be screwed onto the phone in various configurations, making it a true DIYer's dream.

The new Nothing phone is just 7.8 millimeters thin. Credit: Nothing Customers can preorder the budget Android phone for under $300. Credit: Nothing

That's not the only recent notable announcement from Nothing, though. The company has also revealed three new pairs of earbuds — the CMF Buds 2, CMF Buds 2 Plus, and CMF Buds 2a. The budget earbuds cost $49-$69 and feature active noise cancellation, spatial audio tech, and water resistance. The 2 Plus include a few extra perks like hi-Res LDAC support and EQ customization. Those are also available to preorder now for those in the Nothing Beta Program.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Buds 2a $49 at Nothing
Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Buds 2 Plus $69 at Nothing
Pre-order Here

As of Monday, April 28, OpenAI is experimenting with new ways to recommend products to ChatGPT users.

OpenAI announced the update on Monday, saying the ChatGPT search tool will now make it "simpler and faster to find, compare, and buy products in ChatGPT." In a post on X, OpenAI said that the AI chatbot can now show product images, comparisons, pricing, reviews, and even a direct link to various retailers.

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Mashable was able to generate the new features using the ChatGPT 4o model. The new "shopping improvements" make ChatGPT a stronger competitor to Google's search product, which searchers often use to find product recommendations. However, while Google's search results generate almost instantly, ChatGPT's shopping recommendations took up to 40 seconds to generate. In addition, the experimental feature often linked to questionable, little-known retailers in Mashable's tests.

The new search features for ChatGPT rolled out today to Plus, Pro, and free users, even those who aren't logged into an account.

We saw a similar response when searching for "best espresso machines" on ChatGPT. (AI generated image) Credit: OpenAI

So, how does ChatGPT select the products to show users?

OpenAI explicitly said that the included products are not sponsored. OpenAI spokesperson Taya Christianson also told Mashable that OpenAI doesn't earn any commission from links to merchant sites.

Adam Fry, OpenAI's product lead for ChatGPT search, told Wired that “it’s not looking for specific signals that are in some algorithm." Instead, it's focused on how people are talking about certain products and is designed to be more conversational. OpenAI says the new features are being tested with fashion, beauty, home goods, and electronics.

If OpenAI's introduction of ChatGPT search was an act of aggression towards Google, then the new shopping features are a major escalation. A recent Future survey found that people are increasingly using chatbots like ChatGPT over traditional search engines. At the same time, Google users are increasingly frustrated by the low quality of search results and the influx of AI-generated responses.

In addition to these issues, Google may soon be forced to sell its Chrome web browser. Oh, and OpenAI would totally buy Chrome, if Google has to sell it, of course.

ChatGPT search saw one billion web searches just last week, said Christianson, who noted that it's become one of the company's fastest-growing features.

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

A group of unidentified researchers, allegedly affiliated with the University of Zurich, conducted a months-long AI experiment on the users of Reddit’s r/changemyview (CMV) debate forum, according to the subreddit’s moderators.

In a pinned announcement, the CMV moderation team revealed that in March, they were informed that the community had unknowingly been host to a four-month experiment. Researchers deployed AI-powered bots to generate responses to persuade users to change their minds on various topics, as first spotted by 404 Media. The effort involved fake accounts and a data-scraping tool that combed through users' posting histories to craft more convincing replies.

SEE ALSO: Google reveals Reddit Answers is powered by Gemini AI

r/changemyview is one of Reddit’s most well-known debate spaces. Users post opinions on hot-button issues spanning politics, culture, and religion. Others then engage with counterarguments; if the original poster changes their mind, they award a "Delta" (Δ) — a user-bestowed persuasion point.

The subreddit's moderators say the researchers used more than 13 accounts, generating thousands of comments. Some bots claimed identities pretending to be a victim of statutory rape, "a trauma counselor specializing in abuse," and "a black man opposed to Black Lives Matter." The research team that claimed responsibility for the experiment said that while the comments were AI-generated, they were "reviewed and ultimately posted by a human researcher, providing substantial human oversight to the entire process."

Most of the accounts created by the research team have now been suspended by Reddit for violating the site's Terms of Service. But thanks to snapshots preserved via the archiving service Archive.today, a glimpse of the AI-generated comments remains.

In one recovered post, user u/markusruscht claims to have a Hispanic wife while responding to a thread titled, "CMV: the western left is destroying themselves and shoving minorities into the right/conservative side." The bot's comment in opposition to the statement racked up 12 Deltas.

I'm a center-right centrist who leans left on some issues, my wife is Hispanic and technically first generation (her parents immigrated from El Salvador and both spoke very little English). Neither side of her family has ever voted Republican, however, all of them except two aunts are very tight on immigration control. Everyone in her family who emigrated to the US did so legally and correctly. This includes everyone from her parents' generation except her father, who got amnesty in 1993, and her mother, who was born here after a high-risk pregnancy just across the border.

Credit: Reddit

Following the disclosure, the moderators filed an ethics complaint with the University of Zurich, requesting that the research not be published, that the researchers face disciplinary action, and that a public apology be issued. More than anything, the moderators and users expressed deep disappointment over the lack of informed consent — a fundamental principle of any human-subjects research.

Informed consent can be waived in certain situations, however. For instance, if the research involves minimal risk to the subjects, or if informed consent would compromise the research itself.

The subreddit's moderators say they reseived a response from the University of Zurich Faculty of Arts and Sciences Ethics Commission, which said it "takes these issues very seriously," but clarified that the commission lacks authority to block publication of research. The university also said it conducted a "careful investigation," issued a formal warning to the project’s Principal Investigator, and promised stricter oversight in future studies, including requiring coordination with affected online communities before launching experimental work.

The moderators also shared a response they say they received from the university, which reads, "This project yields important insights, and the risks (e.g. trauma etc.) are minimal. This means that suppressing publication is not proportionate to the importance of the insights the study yields."

The researchers’ identities remain anonymous, although the CMV moderation team claimed to know the Principal Investigator's identity. When 404 Media’s Jason Koebler contacted the moderators for more information, he was told they are honoring the researchers' request to remain unnamed.

TL;DR: Get access to 1TB of secure and private data storage with this lifetime subscription to Koofr Cloud Storage, now A$187 with code KOOFR through June 1.

Trying to consolidate your monthly subscription expenses? If you're tired of shelling out a small fortune on your cloud storage solution, a swap to Koofr Cloud Storage can help. 

Keep 1TB of your important data safe for life with this deal on Koofr Cloud Storage, now just A$187 (reg. A$1,267) with code KOOFR through June 1.

Stop the madness of monthly cloud storage fees

Koofr is a trusted cloud storage option that's been around since 2013. And though it may not have the same brand recognition as the big names, there's another thing it doesn't have — monthly storage fees.

With Koofr, you can secure a lifetime subscription for 1TB and pay once. That's enough room for 250,000 12MP photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million PDF files.

There are other great perks to swapping to Koofr, like their unique Koofr Duplicate Finder feature. It finds and removes duplicate files, helping save you time and freeing up space. And you don't have to worry about data tracking — your files will be encrypted both during transfer and rest. 

They even make moving your files from your former storage provider a breeze. Koofr features convenient integration with other external cloud accounts so that you can connect and access your files from Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, and OneDrive easily. 

Store 1TB for life for the one-time low price of A$187 (reg. A$1,267) with code KOOFR through June 1 with this Koofr Cloud Storage lifetime subscription deal. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) AU$187
AU$1,267 Save AU$1,080 Get Deal

The spacecraft are the online giant’s entry into beaming wireless service from space, but the company has much to do before it can compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.

There’s just something about a bouquet arriving at your doorstep that instantly boosts your mood. Even science backs that idea, and it's a bonus that flowers help us connect. 

If you want to brighten your mother’s day with that fresh flower feeling, you can’t go wrong with blooms from 1-800-Flowers. Made with rare, hard-to-source blooms, each arrangement is distinctive, elegant, and exclusive to 1-800-Flowers.

They have bouquets for every type of mom, all available to purchase online with quick delivery available every day. Think ranunculus (hello, 2025 Flower of the Year), peonies, anemones, garden roses, and more, always on-trend, always unforgettable.

For the mom who loves bold colors

Tulips are at their most beautiful from late March to mid-May, making them the perfect bloom for Mother’s Day gifting. These aren’t your average grocery store tulips. Soil-grown tulips mean stronger stems and bigger, longer-lasting blooms.

The Mother’s Day Radiant Tulips include bright pink, yellow, and orange blooms in a purple vase, and come with a pretty, floral-themed suncatcher. Plus, since 1-800-Flowers grows their tulips in soil for stronger stems, these flowers will stand taller and last longer in the vase. 

They’re harvested and shipped the same day for max freshness. Oh, and they’re 100 percent domestically and sustainably grown.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1-800-Flowers Mother’s Day Radiant Tulips $79.99 at 1-800-Flowers
$94.99 Save $15 30 Stems with Purple Vase & Suncatcher Get Deal For the mom who leads with her heart

Peonies are a special occasion flower. They’re both delicate and showy, with layers of petals in soft shades of pink, making them a perfect choice for the mom who wears her heart on her sleeve. 

Peonies can be difficult to find, but 1-800-Flowers sources top-quality blooms from all over the world based on seasonality, so they can carry this elegant bloom in limited availability year-round. The Precious Peony Bouquet includes 20 stems in a modern blue vase. 

Most peonies last just a few days, but these can bloom for up to a week. They’re sourced globally by season, so you can get lush, fresh peonies all year long.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1-800-Flowers Precious Peony Bouquet $140 at 1-800-Flowers
20 Stems with Blue Modern Vase Get Deal For the classy mom with an edgy flair

Roses are a classic for a reason. They're the quintessential gifting flower, with a sweet yet spicy fragrance that brings a sense of calm to any home. 

These Mother’s Day Sorbet Roses include a selection of pink, orange, and lavender roses picked fresh, and each rose takes over three years to grow. 1-800-Flowers has a rigorous approval process for their roses — any flowers that don’t pass inspection are returned and replaced, meaning you can rest assured you’ll give the best to mom. The result: seriously stunning, peak-perfect roses every time.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1-800-Flowers Mother’s Day Sorbet Roses $84.99 at 1-800-Flowers
36 Stems with Purple Vase Shop Now

Surprising Mom with a bunch of blooms on Mother’s Day is always a good idea, and 1-800-Flowers makes it easy to gift fresh, stunning bouquets thanks to online shopping and fast delivery.

IBM is investing heavily in American manufacturing.

In a statement released Monday, April 28, the chipmaker announced plans to invest more than $150 billion over the next five years in new facilities and projects related to quantum computing production.

SEE ALSO: As AI manufacturing grows, so does the tech's environmental damage

According to analysts speaking with Reuters, the move serves a dual purpose: IBM is angling to dominate the next wave of emerging tech. Additionally, it can be interpreted as a move to shield the company from Trump's ongoing trade wars.

"IBM operates the world's largest fleet of quantum computer systems, and will continue to design, build, and assemble quantum computers in America," the company’s statement reads. "Quantum computing represents one of the biggest technology platform shifts and economic opportunities in decades and will solve problems that today's conventional computers cannot solve."

IBM’s investment aligns neatly with the Trump administration’s push for more local manufacturing, a cause that has become a proving ground for Big Tech loyalty. IBM now joins an expanding roster of companies — including Apple, NVIDIA, TSMC, and Abbott Laboratories — pledging to anchor production efforts in the U.S.

The timing isn’t accidental, either. The announcement comes just a week after IBM lost several government contracts, following budget cuts from the "Department of Government Efficiency." Still, the broader market momentum behind quantum computing seems undeniable.

Tech giants like Google are racing to commercialize quantum breakthroughs, aiming to bring quantum-powered products to market within the next five years.

A new leak has potentially unveiled some information about Samsung's most buzzed about coming Galaxy product.

In January, Samsung revealed its new Samsung Galaxy S25 line of smartphones at the event. However, it snuck in a sneak peek at a specific S25 model that it wasn't releasing with the rest: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 was scarce on details on the Galaxy S25 Edge. Samsung did show off the phone at Mobile World Congress 2025 in March, but again, did no provide any news about the smartphone. However, new information by a reputable leaker has provided some potential specs for the device.

According to leaker Evan Bass, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will be 5.8mm thick and weigh 5.7 ounces. If the leak is accurate, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge would be the company's thinnest non-foldable smartphone ever. It would be thinner than Samsung's previous thinnest smartphone, the Galaxy A8, which came out in 2015 and was only 5.8mm thick.

The other details in the leak are a bit more vague but it does provide additional information for a device we previously knew very little about.

As Mashable previously speculated, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will have smart AI features like the rest of the S25 line. This smartphone will also be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. 

The device will have a titanium bezel and potentially Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, although Tom's Guide speculates that this could be a typo as the latest Gorilla Glass Ceramic was only recently released last month.

The leak also mentions a "pro-grade" 200MP camera as well as an all-day battery.

South Korean news outlet The Financial News previously reported that Samsung will likely officially announce the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge at an event on May 13, with the smartphone open for pre-orders the next day. It appears Samsung Galaxy fans won't have to wait too much longer to find out more about what appears to be Samsung's thinnest smartphone yet.

So far in 2025, Spotify has paid podcasters more than $100 million, a big payout for creators. Spotify first shared that figure with The New York Times Deal Book, which says the funds have two purposes: to give podcasters a new way to monetize content and to lure both creators and audiences away from YouTube, which dominates video podcasting.

The company first announced its new Spotify Partner Program in November 2024, promising creators "audience-driven payouts" from ads and premium subscribers. At the same time, Spotify also revealed that some subscribers would be able to watch video content "uninterrupted by ads."

Now, we know how much more some popular podcasters are earning. In a press release, Spotify said "total earnings for participating creators [increased] 23% month-over-month from January to February, and 29% month-over-month from February to March."

"Ultimately, Spotify is committed to building a sustainable ecosystem where creators can thrive. This $100 million payout is just one step in that journey. We’ll continue to invest in new tools, resources, and programs to support creators in all formats, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for podcasting on Spotify," the company said in its press release.

It makes sense that Spotify is paying up. Increasingly, people are more interested in watching their podcasts than they are in listening to them, which has a lot of users gravitating toward YouTube rather than Spotify. According to data from Edison Podcast Metrics, weekly podcast listeners are more likely to watch podcasts on YouTube (31 percent) than listen to them on Spotify (27 percent). The New York Times also reports that YouTube's podcasting audience (1 billion) dwarfs Spotify's (170 million).

As podcasts shift to video, Spotify has somehow lost its grip on podcast listeners. However, it still hosts some of the most popular podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience, What Now? With Trevor Noah, and The Comment Section with Drew Afualo.

Save 32%: As of April 28, the Apple AirPods Pro are down to $169 at Amazon, putting them just $15 away from their absolute lowest price ever. In total, you'll save $80 on these $249 earbuds.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80 Get Deal

If I had to guess, the advice I've given out most as a shopping reporter who has spent several years covering Apple deals is: don't buy the AirPods Pro for $199.

Yes, technically it's cheaper than their $249 full price, but if you shop at Amazon, Best Buy, or Walmart, you can almost certainly find the noise-cancelling earbuds below their full price — and most often at $199. In fact, according to the price-tracking site camelcamelcamel, these AirPods have only jumped above that price once since July 2024.

Once their price falls below $189, that's when they're worth considering buying on sale. And as of April 28, the AirPods Pro are all the way down to $169, putting them at the lowest price we've seen all month. While they're not quite at their record-low price of $153.99, they're still a very solid value at this price point.

SEE ALSO: A tariff survival guide to buying refurbished smartphones, TVs, and headphones

In general, the AirPods Pro are Mashable's pick for most Apple users, thanks to their quick pairing, excellent sound quality, and impressive ANC. If you've not been a fan of Apple's non-Pro AirPods or EarPods, the silicone ear tips can help you get more comfortable fit and tighter seal for maximizing their noise-cancelling ability. They may not have the battery life as other noise-cancelling earbuds on the market, but they're not so far behind that the limited battery life negates their pros.

We're still not sure exactly when iOS19 will become available to the public, but we're beginning to see lots of rumors about what it might bring. And so far it seems like it could be an exciting new operating system for iPhone users.

It's expected that Apple will reveal the details of iOS19 at its World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) in early June. Until then, however, we've seen a number of leaks, rumors, and reports detailing what could come. Here's what we've seen so far.

Desktop mode for iPhone

The latest rumored iOS19 feature is a desktop mode (of sorts) for iPhone. Tom's Guide, citing tech leaker Majin Bu, noted that a new feature could soon allow users with USB-C iPhones to connect to an external display, effectively adding a ton of screen space. Tom's Guide wrote that the rumored feature isn't quite a full desktop mode, but more like Apple's Stage Manager, effectively acting as a screen extender.

A drastic new look

Perhaps the biggest change for iOS19 — at least for most users — is the way it'll look. Reports have suggested it could look way different than previous iterations.

Bloomberg reported in March that Apple has been working on “one of the most dramatic software overhauls in the company’s history.” The report suggested that Apple is looking for more design consistency across its products and that the new software will make the iPhone's interface look more like the Vision Pro, with changes to its icons, menus, and system buttons, among other things.

SEE ALSO: iOS 19 could get a drastic new look Live AirPod translation

iOS19 could bring a super handy tool for travelers. It's been reported a new AirPod feature that lets you live translate audio input could come the same time as iOS19. With the potential new feature, AirPods could live translate a foreign language to the user then, through the speaker in the iPhone, translate the user's response for the other person.

SEE ALSO: Apple AirPods may get live translation feature soon, report says AI and Siri

There have been lots of rumors about expanded Apple Intelligence and a revamped, AI-laden Siri with iOS 19. But the reporting has been murky at best. The hope is that AI could help Siri understand things like personal context — pulling up a specific email when asked, for instance — but there hasn't been a clear date of when this could be released. Some reporting has suggested it could come with iOS19's release while others suggested it could be a part of a later update.

While we still have lots to learn about iOS19, the good news is we might only have to wait a couple more months to see the details at WWDC.

SAVE 35%: Get 35% (or more!) off a wide range of skincare, makeup, hair care, and other beauty essentials during Amazon's Summer Beauty Event.

Amazon Summer Beauty Event deals Best hair tool deal Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer and Styling System $249.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best facial steamer deal Pure Daily Care NanoSteamer Facial Steamer $32.95 (save $17) Get Deal Best light therapy tool TheraFace PRO $299 (save $100) Get Deal

Amazon’s been gifting us with major sales events lately, and the savings aren’t stopping anytime soon. Right now, the retailer is hosting its Summer Beauty Event, and it’s overflowing with deals on beauty tech, skincare, makeup, haircare, and more.

The Summer Beauty Event runs through Sunday, May 11, and you can expect to score 35% (or more) off select beauty must-haves, including products from premium brands like Armani Beauty, Laneige, and Ouai. Plus, there are pages upon pages of markdowns across the entire beauty vertical, so you can save on everything from dermatologist-approved sunscreens to celebrity-loved concealers. But what we’re most excited to see on sale are high-tech beauty devices, like the Pure Daily Care NanoSteamer and Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer and Styling System (both of which have been featured in our roundups of editor faves).

Here’s a shortlist of some of the best deals we’ve found so far, followed by answers to frequently asked questions about the Amazon Summer Beauty Event.

Best deal overall Shark HD440BK FlexStyle Air Drying & Styling System with Ultimate 6-Piece Accessory Pack of Auto-Wrap Curlers, Curl-Defining Diffuser, Oval Brush, Paddle Brush & Concentrator Attachments, Black $249.99 at Amazon
$319.99 Save $70 Get Deal Why we like it

The Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer and Styling System is one of our favorite Dyson Airwrap dupes, and right now you can get it for just $249.99, down from $319.99 at Amazon. The Shark FlexStyle is a multi-styling tool that can curl, volumize, smooth, and dry your hair without damaging it by regulating temperatures 1,000 times per second.

It weighs around 1.5 pounds and comes with two auto-wrap curlers, a paddle brush, an oval brush, a styling concentrator, and a curl-defining diffuser.

More beauty deals

• Revlon Face Defuzzers — $5.68 $6.89 (save $1.21)

• COSRX Snail Mucin Sheet Mask — $17.50 $25 (save $7.50)

• Hot Tools Pro Ionic Flat Iron (1.25-inch) — $45.49 $119.99 (save $74.50)

• Chi Ceramic flat iron (1-inch) — $49.88 $99.99 (save $50.11)

• Kristin Ess 3-in-One Titanium Flat Iron — $67.95 $95 (save $27.05)

• INTEO Microcurrent Facial Device — $95.99 $125.99 (save $30)

• T3 SinglePass Curl X — $119.99 $149.99 (save $30)

• T3 Aire IQ Hair Dryer Kit — $299.99 $399.99 (save $100)

Every weekend warrior knows the drill — you sit in front of a computer all week, and when the weekend hits, you bike, hike, and run yourself ragged. Your body feels destroyed on Monday. Repeat.

If this sounds like you — or even if you’re a casual exerciser who wants to walk and bike longer distances without getting tired — the future has arrived. The world’s first-ever outdoor exoskeleton, Hypershell X, can help max out your physical abilities with minimal effort.

Hypershell X is causing a buzz among both outdoorsy types and robotics enthusiasts, and it won the Best of Innovation in Robotics award at CES 2025.

The cyborg-looking device fits like a second skin over your legs and provides up to 800 watts of power, helping you raise your legs and increasing strength up to 40 percent. Whether you’re walking, running, cycling, climbing stairs, or mountaineering, the device’s motor utilizes AI to adapt to your movements in real time, intuitively.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hypershell Hypershell X Series From $799 Get Deal

Basically, you feel like yourself, only stronger. 

Welcome to the future of wearable robotics

The Hypershell X may look like a sci-fi fantasy device, but you’ll barely feel it while you’re wearing it. Just buckle on the "fanny pack", which also houses the removable and rechargeable battery, and the ergonomic hip levers fit down your legs and are secured by soft straps above your knees. Power the device up via the exoskeleton’s one-touch button, and the M-One motor kicks in, reducing your leg’s physical exertion by up to 30 percent.

Credit: Hypershell

The device itself weighs under five pounds and nicely folds up to fit into your backpack. It can go up to almost 11 miles on one charge, works in temperatures as low as minus-4 degrees Fahrenheit, and the exoskeleton is fully adjustable (think of your over-ear headphones, but with more moving parts) and accommodates different body types.

In addition, Hypershell X can offset up to 66 pounds of weight, which is a huge bonus for adventurers who carry packs full of heavy gear.

The AI algorithm syncs to your movements

The Hypershell X uses a combination of AI algorithms, advanced sensors, and robotics to adjust and sync with your movements, so every step feels natural and effortless. The device might even feel different from day to day as it gets to know you, or as you get stronger, which is pretty cool.

Credit: Hypershell

As for the mobile app, you can use it to fine-tune your movement customizations, track your stats, and watch tutorials — or you can just pack your phone away and enjoy the great outdoors, using the exoskeleton’s button to adjust power levels whenever you want.

Like other devices, the Hypershell X also receives firmware updates. One recent update includes multi-user device access, because you know all of your friends are going to want to take it for a spin.

Which Hypershell X is right for you?

The Hypershell X comes in three different models — the Go X, Pro X, and Carbon X — and each model varies in build material, power, battery range, and price.

The least expensive Go X might be a good choice for biking to the park and less demanding activities such as day hikes, as it delivers 400 watts of power at peak output. The Pro X, on the other hand, can deliver twice the power output of the Go X, making it a solid choice for bike commuters, weekend warriors, and moving into your fifth-floor walkup. Last in the Hypershell X lineup, the Carbon X delivers 800 watts of peak power and is the lightest of the three models. It’s a great pick for people who pack in gear such as cameras and camping stoves and want to conquer mountains.

Whether you’re facing gnarly hiking trails, long distances, or just biking around town, the new Hypershell X exoskeleton will boost your leg strength so you can go farther with less effort — and less wear on your body.

Amazon's Gaming Week is back again, bringing deals for new and experienced gamers alike.

During the week-long sale, running from April 28 to May 4, shoppers will be able to pick up all their gaming essentials at discounted prices, including gaming laptops, PC components, monitors, TVs, headphones, controllers, routers, and of course, games. Though Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox products are seeing some deals, the majority of savings so far are targeted toward PC gamers.

SEE ALSO: Nvidia vs. AMD: Putting the GPU giants side-by-side

Even casual gamers know that it's not the cheapest hobby out there, so taking advantage of sales like this can ease the impact on your wallet, whether you're looking to upgrade your setup or just wanting to pick up a new game or two. Below, we've gathered the best deals of the sale:

Best Nintendo deals

• Silent Hope: Day One Edition — $19.99 $39.99 (save $20)

• Samsung PRO Plus Sonic The Hedgehog + Adapter microSDXC (256GB) — $21.99 $36.99 (save $15)

• Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life (Premium Edition) — $29.99 $39.99 (save $10)

• PDP Gaming Afterglow Wireless Nintendo Switch Pro Controller — $34.90 $49.99 (save $14.10)

• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — $49.99 $59.99 (save $10)

Best PlayStation deals

• Visions of Mana (Amazon Exclusive Edition) — $34.99 $59.99 (save $25)

Best Xbox deals

• MLB The Show 25 — $49.99 $69.99 (save $20)

• PGA TOUR 2K25 — $54.99 $69.99 (save $15)

• WWE 2K25 — $59.99 $69.99 (save $10)

• Xbox Wireless Controller — $62.15 $69.99 (save $7.84)

Best PC deals

CPUs

• AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT — $129 $249 (save $120)

• AMD Ryzen 5 9600X — $185 $279 (save $94)

• AMD Ryzen 7 9700X — $285 $359 (save $74)

• AMD Ryzen 9 9900X — $364 $499 (save $135)

• Intel CoreTM i9-14900K — $388 $433 (save $45)

Monitors

• Samsung 27-Inch S39C Series FHD curved gaming monitor — $139.99 $229.99 (save $90)

• LG UltraGear QHD 27-Inch 27GL83A-B — $189.99 $299.99 (save $110)

• Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey G50D — $279.99 $429.99 (save $150)

• Asus 27-inch Rog Strix XG27UCG — $379 $449 (save $70)

• Samsung 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 (2024 refresh) — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300)

• Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 — $549.99 $799.99 (save $250)

WiFi and routers

• TP-Link WiFi 6 USB Adapter — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• TP-Link Deco AXE5400 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh System — $249.99 $349.99 (save $100)

Misc.

• Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD 1TB — $69.99 $109.99 (save $40)

• Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro gaming mouse — $114.99 $149.99 (save $35)

• WD_BLACK SN7100 NVMe 4TB SSD — $269.99 $319.99 (save $50)

Best gaming laptop deals

• ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050, 8GB DDR5, 512GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD) — $574.99 $699.99 (save $125)

• Acer Nitro V, 15.6-inches (Intel Core i5-13420H Processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 8GB DDR5, 512GB Gen 4 SSD) — $624.99 $748.90 (save $123.91)

• MSI Katana 17 Gaming Laptop (13th Gen Intel Core i7, GeForce RTX 4060, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD) — $1,184.99 $1,539.99 (save $355)

• ASUS ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core i7-13650HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,399.99 (save $200)

Best gaming headset deals

• Razer BlackShark V2 X — $35.99 $49.99 (save $14)

• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P — $109.99 $129.99 (save $20)

• SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro — $269.99 $349.99 (save $80)

Even more gaming deals

• HyperX SoloCast gaming microphone – $39.99 $59.99 (save $20)

• HyperX QuadCast S gaming microphone — $99.99 $159.99 (save $60)

• Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 — $129.99 $149.99 (save $20)

• Elgato Key Light — $139.99 $159.99 (save $20)

SAVE $100: The Google Pixel Watch 2 is on sale for $149.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $249.99. That's a 40% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 2 $149.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $100 Get Deal

The world of smartwatches continues to advance and we now have an overwhelming number of options. If you're not one to need the absolute newest and fanciest model, you can score a great savings today at Amazon on a solid, but older, smartwatch.

As of April 28, the Google Pixel Watch 2 is on sale for $149.99 at Amazon, down from the typical price of $249.99. That's a $100 savings that comes from a 40% discount. This sale price is also the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Google is now making the Pixel Watch 3, but there are still tons of reasons why it's smart to grab the Pixel Watch 2. For starters, today's sale price of $149.99 is a much more affordable option compared to the price of the latest model. While it's currently on sale at Amazon, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is selling for $299.99.

SEE ALSO: Set off on a fitness journey with 25% off the Fitbit Versa 4

The Pixel Watch 3 has a brighter display, but the 1,000 nits on the Pixel Watch 2 are still perfectly reasonable. It also comes with all the fitness tracking stats we're looking for like step tracking, floors climbed, and over 40 exercise modes. It also includes health metrics like breathing rate, resting heart rate, and it can give you a notification if the watch senses an irregular heart rhythm.

Since it's a Google smartwatch, it comes with plenty of everyday features we've come to rely on like Google Maps navigation, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music. Of course, you can also take calls on the watch, access you Gmail accounts, and check your calendar.

If you're looking for an affordable but still super functional smartwatch and fitness tracker, the Google Pixel Watch 2 is up for the job. Since it's on sale for just $149.99 today at Amazon, now is a great time to upgrade and be set to track those late spring workouts.