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NASA reveals how it will plunge the space station into Earth's ocean

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 05:00

The International Space Station, weighing in at nearly 1 million pounds, will meet a dramatic death.

After breaking apart and largely vaporizing while falling through Earth's atmosphere, the leftover charred chunks will plunge into a remote ocean, and then sink to the seafloor. The grand deorbit of the aging laboratory will happen around 2030, and NASA has revealed how.

The agency picked the successful rocket and space exploration company SpaceX to develop and deliver the "U.S. Deorbit Vehicle" that will attach to the station — which is the largest single structure in space ever built. The hefty $843 million contract requires that the vehicle bring the ISS down to Earth in a controlled, safe manner, specifically avoiding populated regions.

Taking the whole behemoth structure down at once is necessary. A piece-by-piece deconstruction would be highly complex, likely dangerous for crew, and present a host of engineering hurdles.

"The station wasn't designed to be taken apart," Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator of NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, said at a press conference on July 17.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

In retiring the space station, NASA is looking ahead to the next decade and well beyond, particularly human missions to the moon and Mars. The agency, for example, plans to return astronauts to the moon as soon as late 2026. Rather than continuing to assume the 24-7 responsibility of running a space station with its international partners, NASA plans to use commercially owned and operated Earth-orbiting modules for ongoing research endeavors.

The space station orbiting around 250 miles above Earth. Credit: NASA How to bring the space station back to Earth

The major goal is to use a spacecraft, capable of producing potent thrust, to push the space station down through Earth's atmosphere and result in a controlled splashdown. This means keeping the falling pieces from landing over a wide or unexpected swath of Earth.

"You minimize how far the parts can be distributed," Dana Weigel, the manager of NASA’s International Space Station Program, said at the conference. "A tight and small footprint, that's the goal."

"The station wasn't designed to be taken apart."

To achieve this, Elon Musk–founded SpaceX will build a modified version of its Dragon cargo spacecraft, shown in the first graphic below. (The Dragon craft currently supply both crew and cargo to the space station.) The new, elongated vehicle will need to carry bounties of propellant to move the giant space station — some 16,000 kilograms, or 35,000 pounds, of propellant.

A graphic showing the SpaceX U.S. Deorbit Vehicle firing thrusters to move the International Space Station. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX's Crew Dragon craft approaching the space station. Credit: NASA

Here's what will generally happen:

- Launch of SpaceX deorbit vehicle: A rocket capable of lifting a heavy payload will be required to ferry the heavy, propellant-packed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to the space station. It will weigh in the range of some 30,000 kilograms, or 66,000 pounds.

- Space Station drift down: Between 1 to 1.5 years before the end of 2030, NASA will allow the station to naturally lose altitude. (The structure maintains an altitude of some 400 kilometers, or 250 miles, above Earth, but this requires regularly reboosting the station.) Once the station descends to 220 kilometers (137 miles), the SpaceX craft will start thrusting.

- SpaceX deorbit vehicle brings space station down: The SpaceX vehicle will first fire its thrusters to push the space station into the desired orbit around Earth. Then comes the big push. Over the final week, before reentering, the craft will fire multiple burns. Ultimately, the final thrust must be powerful enough to fly the entire station and ensure it terminates in the desired remote location, NASA's Weigel said.

- Splashdown: The remnants of the space station may plummet into the ocean around January 2031.

With an object the size of the space station breaking apart while traveling at blistering speeds, the actual footprint of falling objects — ranging in size from a microwave to a sedan — can't exactly be tiny. But it can be relatively narrow and controlled. If all goes as planned, the debris will fall into a slim band some 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) over the ocean. That's why choosing a remote ocean region is essential. Fortunately, oceans dominate Earth's surface.

Enjoy the space station while you still can. The orbiting laboratory makes 16 orbits around Earth every day, and at night you can glimpse the station moving rapidly across the dark sky.

"I'm glad it's going to be flying for a while longer," Bowersox, also a former NASA astronaut, said.

'Oddity's Damian McCarthy reveals the origins of his Wooden Man

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 05:00

There is something special sitting at the heart of Oddity. In a swirl of horror subgenres, this Irish gem offers murder, vengeance, folklore, and more. But at its core is a creepy collectible known as the Wooden Man. 

"It starts with the object," writer/director Damian McCarthy told Mashable in a Zoom interview, when asked about his inspiration point for Oddity. "I remember reading about Guillermo del Toro years ago, talking about his writing process. He said he really always started with a really strong image, and then almost builds out the story around that." This device has served the Irish filmmaker well; his previous feature, the supremely spooky Caveat, involved a toy bunny with human eyes. For his follow-up, McCarthy focused on a "mishmash of stuff" including a haunted desk bell, an abandoned glass eye, and the Wooden Man. 

SEE ALSO: 'Oddity' review: Your new horror obsession has arrived

In a unique opportunity, this reporter sat in Mashable's New York studio with the Wooden Man at my side during our interview.

The Wooden Man and Kristy Puchko at the Mashable studio. Credit: Mashable

Look for our video to get a sense of this experience — and read on for more about Oddity's sure-to-be iconic creature. 

The Wooden Man was born from legend.  Yana (Caroline Menton) and Darcy (Carolyn Bracken) sit with the Wooden Man. Credit: Colm Hogan / IFC Films / Shudder

In Oddity, the Wooden Man is presented as a peculiar present from a blind medium named Darcy (Carolyn Bracken) to her widowed brother-in-law Ted (Gwilym Lee) on the one-year anniversary of her beloved sister's murder. A full-sized carving in the shape of a screaming naked man, the Wooden Man is an instantly arresting figure, creeping out Ted's new girlfriend Yana (Caroline Menton) — though that doesn't stop Yana from probing his open maw with her fingers and exploring the holes drilled in the back of his skull. 

Oddity as a whole was made up of elements McCarthy "cherry-picked from horror tropes." The Wooden Man was inspired by Jewish folklore of the golem, a large clay figure who can be brought to life through rituals to do the bidding of its creator. McCarthy was also drawn to horror media where dolls come to life, citing The Twilight Zone, Child's Play, and Annabelle. But the most influential movie may have been The Wicker Man. 

"The Wicker Man is a good one," McCarthy said of the 1973 folk horror classic, "Because it's like, what would be your tool of revenge — or your weapon — be if you were a witch? What folklore are you using?" He was also drawn to how the film refuses to spell out its logic to the audience, a move he employs in Oddity. "There's stuff in there that's never really explained. Like, what are these rituals? Or how does this work? It's a little bit like with the holes in the back of [The Wooden Man's] head." While items will be plucked out from the wooden golem, their meaning remains mysterious. "It's just, it hints at something else that's going on. You know, there's some ritual or something has been performed off camera in the last week… It's folklore. And it's witches. None of it needs to be explained [as long as you] create the sense that somebody knows how this stuff works." 

The Wooden Man was sculpted over Zoom.  Ivan (Steve Wall) shines a light on the Wooden Man. Credit: Colm Hogan / IFC Films / Shudder

Referencing the video conferencing we were doing for the interview, McCarthy noted his collaboration with art director Paul McDonnell — credited as Oddity's Wooden Man designer — happened "just like this."


McCarthy explained, "We didn't have much time." So he sent some drawings to McDonnell for reference. From there, McDonnell sculpted the dream of the Wooden Man into clay, with McCarthy giving notes over a live feed. 

"He was sculpting on camera, and it was me going, 'Okay, cut off his nose. Okay, put his nose back on.'" McCarthy said of the process, noting that because of the time crunch, "it was really done in a one-take kind of design, which is crazy when I think about it for how well it turned out. But that's really down to Paul's talent." 

Key to this creature's fearful effect is his countenance, frozen in a silent scream. "Having him screaming was always going to be a big [priority]," McCarthy said, noting the pose tied to the film's eerie sound design and the possibilities this sculpt would offer. "We did spend the most time on, that day, how to get that frozen scream right. Because the way he looks, it just meant when we sat down to sound-design it, we were just wide open for possibilities in terms of how he can sound and what's coming out of him. It was a little bit rushed. But it all worked out great."

Also crucial to the Wooden Man's look was a sense of texture. "We never wanted to make him smooth, or look like [he had] been sanded in any way," McCarthy said, "When I was just first trying to get my head around what he looked like, it was going to be more like something like the Green Knight or, you know, the Ents in The Lord of the Rings, covered in ivy and bark." 

While the final look offered more simplicity and less greenery, McCarthy found this reflected the creature's connection to Darcy, whose supernatural sensitivity is tied to touching cursed objects. "It was all about the texture of him," he said, later noting of the figure sitting next to this reporter, "Look at that on his chest; he's all knots and things, like this is timber." 

In fact, his nipples are made of knots in the fake wood grain. 

The Wooden Man demands respect.  Yana (Caroline Menton) reaches into the Wooden Man's mouth in "Oddity." Credit: Colm Hogan / IFC Films / Shudder

When the big day came to bring the Wooden Man on set, McCarthy knew he had no reason to worry. Rushed or not, his creature was here, whole, and horrific. Recalling that moment the Wooden Man arrived, he said, "This is going to work because he does look like a definite presence in the room. Wherever I shot from, he was great." 

Cast and crew shared McCarthy's awe, drawn to touch the Wooden Man — though never roughly. "He's quite cool to the touch," the writer/director noted. 

Under our studio lights, I touched the skin of the creature as McCarthy looked on from the Zoom call, and I can confirm. His skin is cool to the touch, even in a hot room. 

As the film toured festivals, fans also had the chance to get up close and personal with the Wooden Man, as this perturbing prop would be set up for photo ops. "People were very respectful of it and taking pictures with it, but never, you know, wrapping it in a headlock or anything," McCarthy shared. 

Could the Wooden Man return?  See that bunny? It's from "Caveat." Credit: Colm Hogan / IFC Films / Shudder

Fans of Caveat thrilled to see its creepy rabbit featured on the shelves in Darcy's oddity shop. So, does that mean the Wooden Man might pop up in another McCarthy movie? "I don't have any plans for it at the moment," McCarthy confessed. But he went on to note another Oddity character who might reappear down the road.

Darcy and her oddity shop could inspire other tales of terror, full as it is of intriguing tchotchkes. "She's quite an interesting character. Could she have popped up for a scene if you were making another horror film where a guy needed something — a haunted object in his house that needed appraising? That, for me, [would] be kind of fun."

Don't expect a formal McCarthy Cinematic Universe.  Credit: Colm Hogan / IFC Films / Shudder

As noted in my review of Oddity, McCarthy uses recurring imagery, cast members, or character names cross over from one film to another. For example, Oddity includes a character named Olin (Tadhg Murphy) who has a glass eye, while a past short film of McCarthy's is called "How Olin Lost His Eye." This could-be origin doesn't match the story in the feature film — but don't call it a retcon. 

"It's all stuff that interests me," McCarthy explained. 

He went on to express a frustration with Hollywood's dedication to churning out elaborate cinematic universes. "I'm a bit tired of the whole universes and everything connecting," he said, adding, "I think it's just been overdone." He models his self-references to those in Quentin Tarantino's movies.

"Some of his films had these very loose connections with a surname, like the Vega brothers from Pulp Fiction to Reservoir Dogs. But it's never made a big deal of it. I like that kind of thing. Are they connected in some way? Are they the same? Could they possibly be in the same world? I think that [ambiguity] is more fun than going, 'This is definitely a callback to [something else]' or 'This is setting up the next thing.' I find it more interesting. It's like, yeah, they're connected because they're written by the same person."

I suggested these commonalities are less shared canon and more fingerprints of the same imagination. "That's a really good way putting it," McCarthy said, concluding later, "I'd probably be slow to make direct sequels or prequels or anything like that. But the little connections, the fingerprints of imagination seems a nice idea."

Oddity opens in theaters July 19.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 18

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 04:41

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 18 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 18

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, July 18, 2024:

Across"Well, that's odd ..."

  • The answer is huh.

What a D.J. is in charge of

  • The answer is music.

___ acid (protein building block)

  • The answer is amino.

Total stranger, in slang

  • The answer is rando.

Beef variety for a hamburger

  • The answer is angus.

DownWord with nature or pretzel

  • The answer is human.

Taking advantage of

  • The answer is using.

Like the deities Shiva and Ganesha

  • The answer is Hindu.

Rooney of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"

  • The answer is Mara.

Sounds from a dovecote

  • The answer is coos.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Xiaomi Mix Flip is a flip phone that stretches the outer display to its limits

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 04:37

Xiaomi's got a new flip phone coming, and it's a slap in the face of Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 6.

The Xiaomi Mix Flip, as it's called, hasn't been officially unveiled yet (that should happen on July 19), but CEO Lei Jun shared a couple of teasers on social media.

Tweet may have been deleted

The first thing that catches the eye are the two massive camera eyes on the outside. The second thing that catches the eye is the large, 4.01-inch, edge-to-edge outer display, with just a thin, black strip of bezel around it. The third thing that catches the eye is the fact that the phrase "catches the eye" becomes weirder each time you repeat it, but I digress.

It's hard not to draw comparisons with Samsung's recently launched Galaxy Z Flip 6, whose outer display has far larger, fatter bezels. It's worth noting that bezels sometimes protect you from accidental touches, so we'll have to wait and see whether Xiaomi's approach works well in practice.

Xiaomi Mix Flip Credit: Lei Jun/Weibo

From what we see in Jun's pictures, the Mix Flip's outer display looks to be highly customizable, with an always-ready software camera button and a full-sized (though still pretty tiny), 26-letter keyboard, meaning you can do all sorts of stuff on this phone without even flipping it open. According to Jun, it also has a dedicated mic and speaker on the outside, so you can make and receive calls without opening the phone.

Other specs of the Mix Flip include a 3rd gen Snapdragon 8 chip, Leica optics, and a 4,780mAh battery.

Besides the Mix Flip, Xiaomi is also launching a foldable phone on July 19, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4. It will undoubtedly be a powerful device, but the real question is whether Xiaomi will launch it globally, as its predecessors have only been available in China.

We love to see it: Amazon packed Prime Day with some great deals under $25

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

We're well into Amazon Prime Day, and we've spotted 250+ deals that are worth shopping. From robot vacuums to Apple products, the summer sale is loaded with epic price drops.

But if your summer goal is to stick to a strict(er) budget, you might be feeling some FOMO. Chin up — plenty of great Prime Day deals are under $25 and some are even free if you're already a Prime member.

Best deals under $25 during Amazon's Prime Day sale Best tech deal under $25 Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 Bluetooth tracker $19.99 at Amazon (save $10) Get Deal Best kitchen deal under $25 Brita Metro Water Filter Pitcher (6-cup) $15.99 at Amazon (save $9.80) Get Deal Best smart home deal under $25 Amazon Echo Dot $24.99 at Amazon (Prime members save $25) Get Deal Best outdoor deal under $25 Coleman Classic 1-Burner Backpacking Stove $19.46 at Amazon (save $10.53) Get Deal

No one's arguing that simply being alive costs more than it used to just a few years ago. If you're cutting back on spending, there are still some great deals during Amazon's biggest sale of the year that don't cost a fortune. You can fill your cart with these great deals that cost under $25 and are bound to make the rest of 2024 better and more enjoyable.

Below are some of the best budget-friendly Prime Day deals to shop today.

All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best tech deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 Bluetooth tracker $19.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Traveling sometime before we ring in 2025? You'll want to keep tabs on any checked luggage with a Bluetooth tracking device, and the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 tracker is on sale for just $19.99 as part of Amazon's Prime Day savings. While you can stash any-sized Bluetooth tracker in a suitcase, the Samsung also comes with a convenient ring design, so you can attach it to your keys, the strap of your backpack, or your bicycle. Expect to get about 500 days of battery life with the Samsung GalaxySmart2 tracker.

More tech deals under $25:Best kitchen deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Brita Our pick: Brita Metro Water Filter $15.99 at Amazon
$25.79 Save $9.80 Get Deal Why we like it

Now that summer's unrelenting heat is here, you might be focusing on hydration, and, thanks to Prime Day, drinking chilled and filtered water costs under $25. The Brita Metro Water Filter Pitcher is on sale for just $15.99 with a six cup-capacity and a standard filter. You can choose a white colorway or add some color to your kitchen with the turquoise or red options. Replacing the need to buy bottled water, the Brita pitcher reduces the taste and odor of chlorine while reducing copper, mercury, and cadmium. With the standard filter, you'll get about 40 gallons of use, so you'll only need to replace the filter about once every two months.

More kitchen deals under $25:Best smart home deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00 Prime member exclusive sale Get Deal Why we like it

If you're working on updating your collection of smart home tech, the Amazon Echo Dot will fit in perfectly. The smart speaker is on sale for just $24.99 for Prime members, and it's packed with useful features. Use the Echo Dot as your alarm clock, your weather tracker, podcast player, or your kitchen accompaniment while washing dishes thanks to its connection to music apps like Spotify or Amazon Music.

More smart home deals under $25:Best outdoor deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Our pick: Coleman Classic 1-Burner Backpacking Stove $19.46 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $10.53 Get Deal Why we like it

Heading into the great outdoors is the best way to celebrate summer for some people. Unfortunately, the gear necessary to survive outside can get spendy. Thanks to Prime Day, you can snag the Coleman Classic 1-Burner Backpacking Stove for just $19.46. Dishing out a maximum of 10,000 watts of power, your camp-side dinner will be ready in no time, boiling a liter of water in just 3.25 minutes. Weighing just 6.7 ounces, it won't add much heft to your hiking backpack or your camping set-up.

More outdoor deals under $25:

Prime Day may be over, but you can still snag some great deals under $50

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

Want to shop Prime Day deals, but don't want to spend an arm and a leg? Check out some of our favorite Prime Day deals under $50 you can shop right now.

Best Amazon Prime Day Deals Under $50 Best Prime Day Tech Deal Under $50 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $34.99 at Amazon (Save $25) Get Deal Best Earbuds Deal Under $50 Amazon Echo Buds with Wireless Charging Case $44.99 at Amazon (Save $95) Get Deal Best Prime Day Video Game Deal Under $50 'Super Mario RPG' $39.99 at Amazon (Save $20) Get Deal

Prime Day 2024 is in full force, and that means round-the-clock deals are flying by across just about every category of item. While that includes TVs and smartphones and other big-ticket items, it also counts when it comes to smaller, more affordable goodies, too. You don't have to be rolling in the dough to snag some great Prime Day deals.

Right now, you can score some excellent deals under $50 that you'll be glad you pounced on. From great earbuds to reliable streaming sticks and much more, you can add these deals to your cart and check out now to scoop up the savings. Below, find some of our favorite discounts.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best Prime Day tech deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $34.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the latest and greatest addition to Amazon's roster of streaming options. It's quicker than the previous model and supports Wi-Fi 6E. Plus, with double the storage, it's capable of additional feats, like displaying artwork that can essentially turn your TV into a Samsung Frame display and provide you with plenty of apps to use, since streaming content is spread all over the place these days. Saving 42% off this streaming stick is a great deal, especially if you enjoy a lot of shows and movies online.

More Prime Day tech deals under $50:Best Prime Day earbuds deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with Wireless Charging Case $44.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why we like it

You'll rarely find a better deal on noise-cancelling earbuds outside of the realm of Apple AirPods than the Amazon Echo Buds with Wireless Charging Case for less than $50. They deliver crisp, dynamic audio, and audio personalization so you can better adjust your music (and podcasts if you choose) to fit your listening profile. They're IPX4 sweat-resistant, can switch between multiple devices at the same time, and last up to 15 hours per charge with the charging case. Getting them for this price is an absolute steal.

More Prime Day earbud deals under $50:Best Prime Day video game deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Super Mario RPG' $39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Nintendo Switch exclusive "Super Mario RPG" is a whimsical remake of the classic SNES title. It follows Mario and the gang while they track down the Smithy Gang, who's wreaking havoc on the Mushroom Kingdom. Form a party, fight in turn-based isometric battles, and save Princess Peach (and Star Road) with modernized graphics and mechanics to bring this '90s classic back to the forefront of gamers' minds – and to new players who had no idea Mario was more than a platforming darling.

More Prime Day gaming deals under $50:Even more Prime Day deals under $50:

Prime Day drone deals: Shop all-time lows on DJI and Holy Stone copters

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... a drone you got on sale at a deep discount. We're keeping track of the best Amazon Prime Day drone deals right here.

The best Prime Day drone deals at a glance: Best overall deal DJI Mini 4K $239 at Amazon (save $60 with Prime) Get Deal Best budget pick Holy Stone HS440 $69.98 at Amazon (save $60.01 with on-page coupon and Prime) Get Deal

After Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day is one of the best times of year to buy a drone. We spend hundreds of collective hours poring through the massive sitewide sale every time it rolls around, and we always stumble upon a handful of worthwhile discounts on copters at a range of price points. (The event's timing smack-dab in the middle of summer is also pretty convenient — get out there and take full advantage of the nice weather once your new copter arrives.)

SEE ALSO: 250+ Prime Day deals our shopping experts have deemed worth it: Save on Apple, Echo devices, TVs, headphones, and more

With Prime Day 2024 now live through the end of Wednesday, July 17, we're keeping a running list of the best Prime Day drone deals below. Note that we've included models from the popular brand DJI, which is no longer on the U.S. government's chopping block, per a PetaPixel report.

FYI: Deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price. If you notice a discrepancy between any Amazon MSRP and a price we've listed, it's because we found a different MSRP on the manufacturer's website and corrected the deal accordingly.

Best Prime Day drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 4K 🔥 $239.00 at Amazon with Prime
$299.00 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The DJI Mini 4K is a pint-sized 4K foldable camera drone that has a 31-minimum maximum flight time and an HD video transmission of just over six miles. It also comes with its own remote controller. It's a good option for a beginner, and Prime Day has ushered in a new record-low price for it. Amazon is also selling a DJI Mini 4K Fly More Combo bundle that includes two spare batteries, a shoulder bag, and a two-way charging hub; it's also marked down to a record-low price right now.

If you're not a Prime member (and you've already used Amazon's free trial), head to Best Buy: The electronics store is selling the DJI Mini 4K and its Fly More Combo bundle for just 99 cents more than Amazon during its concurrent Black Friday in July sale.

More Prime Day drone deals

It's your last chance to grab these Prime Day mesh router deals

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00
Our top picks for the best Prime Day mesh router deals: Best deal overall Amazon eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi router 199.99 (save $100) Get Deal Best bundle deal Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh WiFi router + Amazon Echo Dot $159.99 at Amazon (save $139.99) Get Deal

It's Prime Day 2, and the deals are still going strong. We've seen discounts on everything from TVs and laptops to mesh router systems. Speaking of mesh routers, today’s your last chance to snag these Prime Day deals before prices jump back up.

SEE ALSO: 250+ Prime Day deals our shopping experts have deemed worth it: Save on Apple, Echo devices, TVs, headphones, and more

We’re seeing discounts of $100+ off some of our top picks, including the eero Pro 6 and TP-Link Deco AXE5400. With deals like these, there’s no better time to upgrade your WiFi setup. Here’s an overview of the best Prime Day mesh router deals that are still available.

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: eero Our pick: Amazon eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi router $199.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon eero 6+ mesh WiFi router system covers 4,500 square feet with fast WiFi speeds up to a gigabit. It’s one of the most affordable systems on the market, and at $100 off, it's an absolute steal. With three units included, you can get whole-home coverage and connect to more than 75 devices.

Best bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: eero Our pick: Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh Wi-Fi router $139.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh WiFi router and Amazon Echo Dot bundle is ideal for students or anyone who wants to expand their smart home. With this deal, you’ll get an eero Pro 6E mesh WiFi router and one Echo Dot. Separately, these products would cost every bit of $300. But with this bundle, you can grab both for just $159.99, a $139.99 savings.

More Prime Day deals on mesh routers and WiFi network systems

Ninja deals that are still live from Amazon Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

UPDATE: Jul. 18, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EDT This post has been updated with the latest pricing and availability on Ninja deals on the first day of Amazon's Prime Day sale.

It's almost hard to recall Instant Pot's reign as the star of Prime Day kitchen deals when Ninja deals are going as hard as they are in 2024.

Regardless of the corner of your kitchen you're looking to spruce up — whether it's the empty countertop slab where an air frying indoor grill could go or the cabinet where dusty, rusty pots and pans are begging for replacement — Ninja is making sure it catches your eye when you drop it into the search bar on Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: TikTok's newest obsession is coming — meet the Ninja Slushi

Ninja has become such a force in the realm of kitchen gear, mainly due to its Foodi line. This goes far past the pressure cookers that are often pitted against the Instant Pot: There are Foodi air fryer ovens, Foodi blenders, Foodi grills, and even several Foodi nonstick cookware collections. Past that, Ninja is behind several other viral kitchen products like the Ninja Creami ice cream maker and the Thirsti, Ninja's version of a SodaStream.

We're keeping track of all the Ninja deals at Amazon during Prime Day week, as well as live deals in just about every other product category you could think of — so check back often through July 17. For now, all newly-added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 XL Pro Indoor Grill and Griddle with Air Fry (IG651) 🔥 $179.99 at Amazon
$369.99 Save $190.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The juiciest discount we're seeing on any Ninja multicooker so far this Prime Day season is a 51% price slash on the Ninja Foodi Smart XL indoor grill and air fryer combo. This 7-in-1 flat top griddle can take your dinner from frozen to BBQ-ed (complete with grill marks) in 25 minutes, searing at temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit — use the included meat thermometer to check your work. The lid, which can grill open or closed, can also air fry and dehydrate.

More Ninja kitchen deals

Pressure cookers, air fryers, and other countertop cookers

Coffee makers, blenders, and more drink makers

Cookware, cooking irons, and more

Samsung Galaxy deals from Prime Day that are still available

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00
The best early Prime Day Samsung Galaxy deals: BEST GALAXY TAB DEAL Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (128GB) $599.99 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal BEST GALAXY BOOK DEAL Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 14-inch $1,349.99 at Samsung (save $499.99) Get Deal BEST GALAXY BUDS DEAL Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro $104.49 at Amazon (save $125.50) Get Deal BEST GALAXY PHONE DEAL Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 AI (512GB) + $200 Amazon Gift Card Preorder Bundle $1,099.99 at Amazon (save $320) Get Deal BEST GALAXY WATCH DEAL Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (44mm, LTE) $289.99 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal

In a simple twist of fate, Samsung Unpacked and Amazon Prime Day 2024 are both happening in July. That makes a perfect recipe for heavily discounted Samsung products.

With any new product launch comes an abundance of discounts on older models. Heck, sometimes those brand-new models even see price drops during preorder periods. Throw in pressure from Amazon Prime Day (which officially runs July 16 and 17) and there's a good chance we'll see unprecedented pricing on all sorts of devices — from the Galaxy Tab S9 lineup to the slate of Galaxy Watch 6 models.

We're tracking the best Galaxy-specific deals below ahead of Prime Day, which includes the Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Book, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy phones. As the official savings event nears, we'll be updating the list with the latest and greatest deals — so stay tuned.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Early Prime Day Samsung Galaxy deals Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (128GB) 🔥 $599.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Launched during last summer's Unpacked event, the Galaxy Tab S9 features a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a new Dynamic AMOLED 2X 11-inch display, and an IP68 water- and dust-proof rating (which is a first). It also comes with the famous S-Pen, of course, which allows you to doodle, take notes, and make the most out of apps. It's also loaded with AI features like Transcript Assist, Photo Assist, Circle to Search, and Note Assist. Ahead of Prime Day, the 128GB version of our favorite Android tablet is on sale for just $646.51 instead of the usual $799.99. That's just shy of 20% savings. Need more storage? The 256GB version is on sale for just $52 more.

More Samsung Galaxy deals

Galaxy Book deals

Note: While there are no Galaxy Book deals currently available at Amazon, we found the following models on sale at Samsung's own website. Stay tuned for any Prime Day-specific Galaxy Book deals.

Galaxy Buds deals

Galaxy phone deals

Galaxy tablet deals

Galaxy Watch deals

Prime Day kitchen deals: Frozen drink machines, air fryers, and more still on sale

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

UPDATE: Jul. 18, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EDT This story is in the process of being updated with the deals you can still shop now that the sale has ended.

A quick look at the best Prime Day kitchen deals Best air fryer deal Chefman 6-quart Dual Basket Air Fryer Oven $81.44 (save $38.55) Get Deal Best drink maker deal Margaritaville Maui Portable Blender and Frozen Drink Machine $141.89 (save $88.10) Get Deal Best coffee maker deal De'Longhi Magnifica Start Espresso and Coffee Machine $499.95 (save $150) Get Deal Best Instant Pot deal Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 (6-quart) $99.99 at Amazon (save $49.96) Get Deal Best kitchen accessory deal Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bag (64-ounce) $15.82 (save $6.17) Get Deal

Leave it to a five-minute scroll on social media to remind you that you're actually really hungry right now. That video probably also supplied the recipe — now you just need the right kitchen goodies (and ingredients, of course) to make it.

Prime Day is a great time to find that missing kitchen item on sale, whether it's a countertop air fryer oven, a fancy espresso machine, or just some reusable silicone storage bags to stop wasting so many disposable Ziplocs.

SEE ALSO: Robot vacuum deals at Amazon are booming going into the start of Prime Day

It's already the last day of Prime Day 2024, and Amazon has noteworthy discounts on a ton of kitchen items across multiple categories from brands like Ninja, Margaritaville, and KitchenAid. Many are new record-low prices that we've never seen before, and we're keeping track in our list below — all newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Chefman Our pick: Chefman 6-quart Dual Basket Air Fryer Oven 🔥 $81.44 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $38.55 Get Deal Why we like it

The 32% price slash on this Chefman air fryer looks even better when you pit this fryer directly against competition like the same-size Instant Vortex. The Chefman model splits its 6-quart capacity into dual baskets that can cook two independent foods simultaneously at different temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, complete with clear windows to keep an eye on golden brownness. The 6-quart Vortex has just a single basket with no window, maxes out at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and actually costs $18 more, even on sale.

More air fryers on saleBest drink maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Margaritaville Our pick: Margaritaville Maui Portable Blender and Frozen Drink Machine $141.89 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $88.10 Get Deal Why we like it

Of the Margaritaville machines on sale, the discount on the cordless Maui model is the best. Now at its lowest price ever at Amazon, the portable blender whips up shaved ice rather than the traditional crushed ice, making on-the-go beverages easier to sip with a straw. The 18-ounce capacity can run 20 drink cycles before needing to be charged, so you're set for your last-minute weekend trip to the beach.

More drink makers on sale SEE ALSO: I tested the Margaritaville frozen drink maker, and it's as ridiculous as you think Best coffee maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi Our pick: De'Longhi Magnifica Start Espresso and Coffee Machine 🔥 $499.95 at Amazon
$649.95 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

One of the more premium espresso machines out there right now, the De'Longhi Magnifico Start — which would usually be a $650 investment — is seeing a near 25% discount, pushing it to the most affordable it's ever been at Amazon by a long shot. This chic, espresso machine features a touch interface with buttons for espresso, coffee, americano, hot water, and 13 bean-grinding settings. A milk manual frother is also included.

More coffee maker dealsBest Instant Pot deal Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Our pick: Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 (6-quart) ✨ $99.99 at Amazon
$149.95 Save $49.96 Get Deal Why we like it

The fancy WiFi-enabled Instant Pot Pro Plus isn't the only Instant Pot with the elusive cake and yogurt buttons. The ol' classic Instant Pot Duo Plus did it first, and when a 33% discount knocks it just below $100, it's still a strong contender as The Instant Pot You Should Get™. The 6-quart cooker's control panel covers nine cooking modes total, plus smart presets for more specific recipes like poultry, ribs, soups, and beans, plus Instant's upgraded steam release valve.

More Instant Pots on sale

Other pressure cooker and multicooker deals

SEE ALSO: The WiFi-connected Instant Pot Pro Plus mostly lives up to the pressure, aside from one unchecked box Best kitchen accessory deal Opens in a new window Credit: Stasher Our pick: Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bag (64-ounce) $15.82 at Amazon
$21.99 Save $6.17 Get Deal Why we like it

It's not hard to ween yourself off disposable plastic sandwich bags when you have a Stasher bag in reach, and several sizes, shapes, and colors are on sale this Prime Day. These reusable silicone bags are oven-, sous vide-, microwave-, and dishwasher-safe, and also make really cute on-the-go containers for snacks. Plus, Stasher says one bag replaces 260 single-use plastic bags per year.

More kitchen accessories on sale

Cookware deals

The best Prime Day gaming deals you can still shop, from consoles to accessories and more

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

UPDATE: Jul. 18, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EDT This story is in the process of being updated with the deals you can still shop now that the sale has ended.

The best Prime Day gaming deals at a glance: Best PlayStation deal 'Final Fantasy XVI' $29.99 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal Best Xbox deal Xbox Series S + 2TB Seagate Expansion Card Bundle $529.98 at Best Buy (save $130) Get Deal Best Nintendo Switch deal Nintendo Switch OLED: Mario Red Edition $341.06 at Amazon (save $8.93) Get Deal

2024 has already been an amazing year for video games. We would maybe even say too good, and by that we mean there's simply too much to play, and our backlogs are looking downright scary (and expensive). Luckily, Amazon's huge summer Prime Day sale is upon us, which is always a perfect time to pick up all the new releases you missed out on at a much lower price. You'll still have to find the time to play them, though.

SEE ALSO: Amazon adds 3 big free Prime Day video games, including 'Suicide Squad.' How to claim them.

Dodge the FOMO and start stocking up on games, consoles, accessories, and more while Prime Day is still live through Wednesday, July 17. Below, we've gathered the best deals we could find on Amazon (and beyond) — take a look and stay tuned as we continue to update the list with fresh picks.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price. Deals with a strikeout were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best PlayStation deal Opens in a new window Credit: Square Enix 'Final Fantasy XVI' 🔥 $49.99 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of Final Fantasy XVI.

Final Fantasy XVI is unlike any FF game that came before it, and honestly, we think that's a good thing. That's because Final Fantasy XVI is a truly fantastic character action game that combines engaging combat, an intriguing story, as well as the visual spectacle we've come to expect from the series to make an incredibly worthwhile adventure for all PS5 owners to experience. On Prime Day, you can save $20 on a physical copy of the game for PlayStation 5 — that's its lowest price to date.

PlayStation gamesPlayStation hardware

Headsets

Accessories

Best Xbox deal Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox / Seagate Xbox Series S + 2TB Seagate Expansion Card Bundle $529.98 at Best Buy
$659.98 Save $130.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Xbox Series S is awesome, but unfortunately, it comes with less storage space than you'll probably need. That's why we think this bundle is a no-brainer — it comes with the 512GB version of the console itself, with the addition of a 2TB Seagate expansion card. That's a comfortable amount of extra space, and should be extremely helpful as you download all the Xbox Game Pass titles in your backlog. Best Buy is offering the bundle for $130 off its usual price during its Prime Day-rivaling Black Friday in July sale.

Xbox gamesXbox hardware

Consoles

Controllers

Headsets

More Xbox deals

Subscriptions

Best Nintendo Switch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch OLED: Mario Red Edition $341.06 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $8.93 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model.

If you have any interest in handheld gaming, a Nintendo Switch needs to be part of your repertoire. It's no doorbuster deal, but the Mario Red edition of the OLED model is $9 off the usual price on Prime Day. The Nintendo Switch OLED is the best Switch yet, with huge updates to the console's display, storage space, processing power, battery life, and more. If you don't have a Switch yet, this is the one you should be buying.

Nintendo Switch gamesNintendo Switch hardware

Consoles

Controllers and accessories

Memory cards

20+ printer deals still worth your time from Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

UPDATE: Jul. 18, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EDT This story is in the process of being updated with the deals you can still shop now that the sale has ended.

Early savings on printers and scanners: BEST HP DEAL HP Smart Tank Plus 651 inkjet printer $199.99 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal BEST CANON DEAL Canon Pixma TR4720 inkjet printer $69.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal BEST EPSON DEAL Epson Workforce ES-580W wireless document scanner $329.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal BEST KODAK DEAL Kodak Dock Plus 4PASS dye-sub photo printer bundle $129.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal

If you haven't heard, Prime Day is coming on July 16 and 17. And in typical Amazon fashion, early deals are already popping up. If you're in need of a printer or scanner, in particular, you can already score a sweet discount.

We've already started tracking the best live deals on inkjet printers, laser printers, scanners, and portable photo printers from top brands like HP and Epson. If you'd rather avoid the chaos of shopping on Prime Day, or you just need a printer or scanner ASAP, rest assured you'll still be getting a good deal.

We'll be updating this list with the best Prime Day deals on printers and scanners as they pop up, so if you don't see what you're looking for yet, keep checking back. We expect more discounts to keep flooding in as the big day nears.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Early Prime Day printer deals Opens in a new window Credit: HP Our pick: HP Smart Tank Plus 651 inkjet printer 🔥 $199.99 at Amazon
$289.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The most annoying thing about printers is running out of ink whenever you actually need to print something important. The HP Smart Tank Plus 651 comes with Original HP Ink bottles that will cover you for up to two years of printing. That's 8,000 color pages or 6,000 black-and-white pages right out of the box. It can print, copy, scan, and fax and features a 35-page automatic document feeder, borderless prints, and mobile and wireless printing. While it lacks some more advanced features, it makes up for them in printing volume, compact design, and price.

It's regularly $289.99, but you can pick it up at Amazon for just under $200 ahead of Prime Day — that's 31% in savings and a record-low price. That's not bad considering it covers your ink costs for two years. In comparison, it's currently $20 more at Best Buy and HP's own website.

More printer deals

Inkjet printers

Laser printers

Photo printers (dye-sub)

Early Prime Day scanner deals

Robot vacuum deals at Amazon were booming during Prime Day 2024

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00
The best Prime Day robot vacuum deals Best budget deal Roborock Q7 Max robot vacuum and mop $219.99 at Amazon (save $380) Get Deal Best self-emptying robot vacuum deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni $599.99 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal

UPDATE: Jul. 18, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EDT This story is in the process of being updated with the deals you can still shop now that the sale has ended.

It's officially Prime Day, and after Walmart's underwhelming robot vacuum deals during Walmart+ Week, we're counting on Amazon to deliver the goods. Amazon is typically the best place to find robot vacuums on sale throughout the year, whether it's a shopping holiday or a random Tuesday in September when your current corded vacuum sends you over the edge.

Despite ditching its plans to buy iRobot, Amazon is still the best retailer to find a Roomba on sale, slashing its prices by 25% and 50% throughout the year. And naturally, several Roombas hit new record-low pricing for Prime Day: the Roomba Combo j9+ dipped below $800 for the first time (though it is now only available used).

SEE ALSO: Shark vs. Roomba: Comparing top-rated robot vacuum lineups

But you know what? We'll say it: Roomba deals aren't hitting as hard as we expected this year. The volume of models on sale is there, but the prices themselves keep fluctuating far past price points you should be considering. Roombas are also being shown up by other record-low pricing on better value robot vacuums that we've tested, like the Eufy X10 Pro Omni that was just released earlier in 2024.

We're updating our list of the best live robot vacuum deals during Prime Day every few hours, and will continue to do so through the end of Prime week. Note: All newly-added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best Prime Day self-emptying robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Our pick: Eufy X10 Pro Omni $599.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Amid the flood of Roomba and Roborock deals, one robot vacuum deal quietly beats them all: the Eufy X10 Pro Omni. Senior shopping reporter Leah Stodart manifested that this CES 2024 release would get a major discount for its first Prime Day on the market, and its current $599.99 sale price is the definition of bang for your buck.

Why does the Eufy X10 Pro Omni hold such value? Let's unpack. First and foremost, it's a robot vacuum and mop combo that not only self-empties, but washes and dries its own mopping pads. That's a feature typically tricky to find for less than $1,000 — let alone less than $600. Having tested both the X10 Pro Omni and the fanciest Roomba, the Combo j9+, in her own apartment, Stodart says that not having to deal with soggy mopping pads made her subconsciously reach to open the Eufy app over the iRobot one for pretty much every task.

The X10 Pro Omni's 8,000 Pa suction power is quite high for the price, and it can also steer clear of small obstacles like phone chargers.

More Prime Day robot vacuum dealsMore Prime Day robot vacuum and mop combo deals

Amazon's smart home devices fell to record-low prices during Prime Day 2024

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

UPDATE: Jul. 17, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EDT This story is in the process of being updated with the deals you can still shop now that the sale has ended.

The best Prime Day Echo deals at a glance: Best Echo smart speaker deal Amazon Echo Spot $44.99 at Amazon (save $35 with Prime) Get Deal Best Echo Show smart display deal Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) $84.99 at Amazon (save $65 with Prime) Get Deal Best Echo Buds deal Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (2nd Gen, Wired Charging Case) $34.99 at Amazon (save $85 with Prime) Get Deal Best Echo Frames deal Amazon Echo Frames (3rd gen) Prescription Ready + Echo Pop $169.99 at Amazon (save $139.99 with Prime) Get Deal

Amazon loves to keep things in the family on Prime Day: Discounts on its in-house lines of gadgets are plentiful and steep during the retail giant's annual members-only sale. This is especially true for its Alexa-enabled Echo smart home devices and wearables, which frequently enjoy Prime Day deals exceeding the half-off mark. New year-round lows are not uncommon.

With Prime Day 2024 now live through Wednesday, July 17, Amazon is in peak form. The just-announced Echo Spot smart alarm clock is on sale for the first time with Prime, while all styles of the third-generation Echo Frames are sitting at all-time low prices (again, only for Prime members). One of them comes with a free Echo Pop, too.

Most notably, the second-gen Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation have hit a new record-low of $34.99 for Team Prime — a 71% discount on their usual retail price of $119.99. Amazon is advertising other (smaller) Prime Day device discounts across its site, but shoppers can go ahead and ignore those, apparently.

I mean... it's right there! Credit: Screenshots via Amazon / Mashable composite

Bundles featuring Echo smart speakers and Echo Show smart displays are also up for grabs, though most of the devices themselves have yet to hit their cheapest price points. You may want to hold off on adding those to your shopping cart in case they dip further as Prime Day progresses.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day 2024 is here: See 150+ deals worth shopping

Read on for an overview of the best Prime Day Echo deals that are worth snagging right now, according to Mashable's team of shopping experts. Check back often, as we'll be updating our picks constantly over the course of the next 48-ish ours.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best Echo smart speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Spot 🔥 $44.99 at Amazon with Prime
$79.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The all-new Echo Spot is a smart alarm clock with a built-in speaker and a customizable digital face, which shows colorful animations in response to different prompts and questions. (It looks a lot like an upgraded Echo Pop.) You can control it with Alexa voice commands or by tapping its display.

Available in Black, Glacier White, and Ocean Blue, the Spot is now on sale for just $44.99 (normally $79.99) for Prime members through July 17 "in celebration of Prime Day," per an Amazon blog post — a 44% savings. You can also bundle it with a Sengled smart bulb worth $19.99 for just under $2 more.

More Echo smart speaker dealsBest Echo Show smart display deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) 🔥 $84.99 at Amazon with Prime
$149.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

A fall 2023 release, the latest version of Amazon's eight-inch smart display features an edge-to-edge touchscreen display, spatial audio support, and a built-in smart home hub. There's also a centered 13MP camera for video calls. The Mashable team hasn't reviewed the Echo Show 8, but our sister site PCMag called it "the best smart display for most people thanks to its big sound, sensible screen size, and Alexa’s extensive abilities." It earned a 4.5/5 "Outstanding" rating and an Editor's Choice nod over there.

At $84.99 with Prime (or 43% off), this is the Echo Show 8's lowest price since launch; it's now $5 cheaper than it was last Black Friday. Note your options to bundle it with a Sengled smart bulb (worth $19.99) or a Blink Video Doorbell (worth $59.99) for just $2 or $10 more, respectively.

More Echo Show smart display dealsBest Echo Buds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (2nd Gen, Wired Charging Case) 🔥 $34.99 at Amazon with Prime
$119.99 Save $85.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (2nd Gen).

We'll keep things short and sweet: Thirty-five bucks for comfortable, decent-sounding wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation is just stupid. (Hell, we've never seen the standard Apple AirPods without ANC dip lower than $69.) Less than $10 now separates these 2021 Echo Buds from last year's entry-level/non-ANC version, which have a more polarizing semi-in-ear design, so it's exceptionally easy to recommend them for most people.

More Echo Buds dealsBest Echo Frames deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Echo Frames (3rd Gen) Prescription Ready + Echo Pop 🔥 $169.99 at Amazon with Prime
$309.98 Save $139.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's third-generation Echo Frames are smart glasses that can play music, stream podcasts, and take calls hands-free. They're equipped with Alexa, so you can also use them to control compatible smart home devices. They offer up to 14 hours of battery life and come in up to five styles, depending on the lens type: Black Rectangle, Black Square, Gray Rectangle, Blue Round, and Brown Cat Eye.

All variants of the Echo Frames are currently on sale for a record-low of $169.99 for Prime members — that includes the Frames with prescription-ready lenses (normally $269.99), with polarized sunglass lenses (normally $329.99) and with blue light-filtering lenses (normally $299.99). However, only the former come with a free Echo Pop smart speaker worth $39.99.

More Echo Frames dealsEven more Echo deals

The best Prime Day deals on headphones and speakers that are still live

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

UPDATE: Jul. 18, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EDT This story is in the process of being updated with the deals you can still shop now that the sale has ended.

We gathered the best headphone and speaker deals for Prime Day. Check out our favorites:

Best headphone and speaker deals ahead of Prime Day Best noise-cancelling headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra $349 at Amazon (Save $80) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) $168.99 at Amazon (Save $80.01) Get Deal Best wireless earbuds deal Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra $229 at Amazon (Save $70) Get Deal Best Bluetooth speaker deal Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 $56.99 at Amazon (Save $43) Get Deal

Prime Day is officially on its last day, and good deals on headphones or speakers are still around. You'll want to check out the deals quickly, especially if you're hoping to score a record-low price on a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultras or Earbuds II.

Other exciting deals from Amazon's mega-sale include markdowns on JBL Tune noise-cancelling headphones, Bluetooth speakers from Ultimate Ears, and even an invite-only offering for Sony headphone fans. AirPods were down to all-time lows a couple weeks prior to Prime Day, but at the time of writing are back up to a less exciting deal price.

SEE ALSO: Walmart vs. Amazon: Which retail giant has the best deals?

We'll be keeping this post updated with this best deals at Amazon during the remainder of Prime Day, so check back if you don't see anything catching your eye yet.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price. Amazon's exclusive invite-only deals are marked with a 📨.

Best noise-cancelling headphones deals Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra 🔥✨ $349.00 at Amazon
$429.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like this

If comfort is your number one priority when it comes to noise-canceling headphones, may I present to you the Bose QuietComfort Ultras. If the name isn't enough of a giveaway, Mashable's Sam Mangino tested them out and confirmed, "These are the most comfortable pair of headphones you can buy right now." These babies offer all-day battery life (even with noise-canceling engaged) and solid noise cancellation quality with three different audio settings. They're not the most intuitive and the price is a bit steep at $429. However, with Prime Day pricing, you can snag them for a more affordable $349 instead.

More noise-canceling headphones dealsBest AirPods deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Our pick: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)🔥 $168.99 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $80.01 Shop Now Why we like this

While they're not an essential upgrade if you're already the proud owner of the first-generation AirPods Pro, the second-generation earbuds are definitely better "in many small ways," Mashable's Stan Schroeder writes. He adds that the sound is excellent and the noise cancellation is superb. They're currently on sale for $168.99, their lowest price ever.

More AirPods dealsBest wireless earbuds deals Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Our pick: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra✨🔥 $229.00 at Amazon
$299.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like this

Check out our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds.

We're big fans of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth said, "In terms of audio quality, noise cancellation, and battery life, I'm more impressed the longer I use these earbuds." At a regular price of $299 though, they don't come cheap, but there's no better time to buy than during Prime Day. They're down to $229, their lowest price ever, giving you $70 off for 23% savings.

More wireless earbuds dealsBest Bluetooth speakers deals Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Our pick: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3🔥 $56.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $43.00 Shop Now Why we like this

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 is a great value speaker when it's at full price, making it even more of a get marked down about $43. The price cut comes as Ultimate Ears has just released their next gen of the speaker (we're currently testing it to see if it belongs on the list of our favorites), but it doesn't seem there's a stark difference between the two speakers. If you need a speaker that's compact and rugged, and don't care too much about having customizable EQ or a companion app, the Wonderboom 3 will check your boxes.

More Bluetooth speaker deals

Amazon Prime Day TV deals you can still shop after the sale

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

UPDATE: Jul. 18, 2024, 3:00 a.m. EDT This story is in the process of being updated with the deals you can still shop now that the sale has ended.

Amazon's Prime Day TV deals are definitely worth looking at. Check out our top picks below:

The best Prime Day TV deals at a glance: Best 43-inch TV deal Amazon 43-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV $359.99 at Amazon (save $90 with Prime) Get Deal Best 55-inch TV deal Samsung 55-inch LS03D The Frame QLED 4K TV $1,197.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal TCL 65-inch Q6 QLED 4K TV $399.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal Best 85-inch TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 ULED 4K TV $1,098 at Amazon (save $401.99) Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day can surely be counted as one of the best times of year to buy a TV, depending on the type of TV you're in the market for. If that's a budget-friendly QLED model or Fire TV, the retail giant's big summer sale is a can't-miss affair.

Several TV markdowns are matching the models' lowest prices on record, or are close. Amazon's own Fire TVs also currently have a 90-day free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited attached to them — a nice $11ish per month break from Spotify or Apple Music if you're currently paying for that.

SEE ALSO: How 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is different from George R.R. Martin's 'Fire and Blood'

We'll be updating our list of TVs on sale at Amazon as Prime Day continues through July 17, and are simultaneously keeping tabs on TV deals at Best Buy's concurrent Black Friday in July sale.

Note: All newly-added deals are marked with a ✨, while anything marked with a 🔥 has dropped to an all-time low price. Deals with a strikeout were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best Prime Day TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch Q6 QLED 4K Fire TV 🔥 $399.99 at Amazon with Prime
$699.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

TCL's Q6 TV is one of the most impressive cheap QLED TVs out there right now, so the opportunity to score the big 65-inch version for under $400 is a serious W in the chat for anyone looking to ditch their old, faded LED TV. Plus, it's an even better deal than Amazon is advertising: This exact model retails for $699.99 on the TCL website; you're actually saving 43%.

Even as a more basic QLED, the Q6 gets bright enough to make HDR worthwhile, complemented by the noticeable boosted color accuracy from the layer of quantum dots on top of the LED screen. Compared to just plain LED, QLED provides an overall punchier picture and is way better for gaming or watching sports.

More Prime Day TV deals

43-inch TVs and smaller

50- to 55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

Prime Day laptop deals that are still live: Shop MacBooks, gaming laptops, more

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

UPDATE: Jul. 17, 2024, 12:40 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to reflect current pricing and availability on day two of Prime Day 2024.

Don't miss out on the best Prime Day laptop deals. See our picks below:

The best Prime Day laptop deals at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3) $849 at Amazon (save $250 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal LG gram 17 $899.99 at Amazon (save $500) Get Deal

On any given day, Amazon's best laptop deals include some markdowns on Apple MacBooks... and not much else. The retail giant lists a lot of older and/or discontinued PCs that aren't super worth it. Amazon also has a penchant for inflating sticker prices, making discounts look steeper than they really are.

Those factors, combined with the heavy presence of sketchy third-party sellers among Amazon's laptop listings, make it one of the worst places to buy a laptop on the internet (again, unless you're shopping for MacBooks). We usually recommend shopping at Best Buy or going directly to the manufacturer's online store instead.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day 2024 is here: See 150+ deals worth shopping

The fine print here is that Amazon usually gets its act together for major savings events, including its flagship Prime Day sale (set for July 16 and 17). When such sales are live, it's way easier to find heftier discounts on new laptops shipped and sold by Amazon itself — though it still behooves savvy shoppers to cross-check prices elsewhere, just in case.

After a couple of weeks of lousy early Prime Day laptop deals from Amazon, those hefty discounts have finally appeared on the first day of its sale. (Best Buy's Black Friday in July sale might've been the motivation it needed.) Amazon's usual selection of MacBook Airs and Pros have all hit record-low prices, while a handful of clamshell and 2-in-1 LG gram laptops are $300 to $500 off for the Windows crew. For shoppers in search of a budget gaming laptop, a range of PCs from Acer and Asus are on sale for $500 to $1,200.

Twelve-hundred bucks is also the exact amount of the highest Prime Day laptop discount I've spotted so far: A Razer Blade 15 from last year was marked down from $2,799.99 to $1,599.99 for Prime members. And it came with a free copy of Black Myth: Wukong, too. Sadly, a deal that good was bound to sell out.

I'll continue to keep track of the best Prime Day laptop deals as the sale continues, so check back soon (and often) if you're hoping to see different models or configurations.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price. I've cross-checked pricing with manufacturers' sites whenever possible to make sure the deals are legit. (If Amazon had the wrong MSRP, I corrected it and adjusted the discount accordingly.) I've also weeded out laptops sold by third-party sellers — if they have "Ships from/Sold by Amazon.com" underneath their "Buy Now" button, we're cool.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) ✨🔥 $849.00 at Amazon with on-page coupon
$1,099.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M3).

Apple upgraded its latest MacBook Air with WiFi 6E support, the ability to drive two external monitors at the same time (with its lid closed), and an M3 chip that was 20% faster than its predecessor's CPU in our testing. It "may seem like a simple refresh," said Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon, "but as someone who owns the M2 MacBook Air, I’d definitely trade it in for the new-generation model."

After chilling at $999 for the past few weeks, then dropping to $899, the 13-inch base model has hit a record-low $849 on Prime Day. Just remember to check the box for the on-page coupon. The 15-inch version with a bigger display and two extra speakers is also on sale at a record-low of $1,049 (normally $1,299) with an on-page coupon. Best Buy was matching those prices at the time of writing, but only for paid (Plus or Total) members of its My Best Buy program.

More MacBook DealsBest Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG gram 17 (Intel Core Ultra 5 125H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $899.99 at Amazon with Prime
$1,399.99 Save $500.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Powered by an all-new Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, the LG gram 17 is a thin big-screener that's impressively light for its size: it weighs in at just 2.96 pounds, making it even airier than a 15-inch M3 MacBook Air.

This particular configuration with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage actually retails for $1,399.99 on the LG website, meaning Amazon's Prime Day price of $899.99 is an even better deal than advertised. (Ignore its listed "typical price" of $1,245.81.) You'll save a total of 36%.

More Windows laptop dealsGaming laptop dealsChromebook deals

The best Prime Day smartwatch and fitness tracker deals that are still live

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

UPDATE: Jul. 16, 2024, 7:15 a.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest fitness tracker and smartwatch deals the day before Prime Day 2024.

Check out the best fitness trackers on sale ahead of Prime Day.

A glimpse at the best fitness tracker deals at Amazon: BEST OVERALL Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (Bluetooth, 40mm) 🔥 $159.99 at Amazon (save $140) Get Deal BEST APPLE WATCH DEAL Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 45mm) 🔥 $309.99 at Amazon (save $119.01) Get Deal BEST GARMIN DEAL Garmin vívoactive 5 $267.99 at Amazon (save $32) Get Deal BEST FITBIT DEAL Fitbit Charge 6 ✨ 🔥 $99.95 at Amazon (save $60) Get Deal

For those in the market for a new fitness tracker or smartwatch, Amazon Prime Day is the time to shop. The mega-retailer tends to drop prices on top brands like Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung, and more — often to record lows.

Even though the sale officially started today, July 16, we've been tracking the best fitness tracker deals at Amazon for weeks. Things started pretty slow, with some Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy deals running the show, but a few Garmin, Polar, and OnePlus deals trickled in as it got closer and closer to 3 a.m. ET.

If you don't see something that jumps out at you just yet, don't worry. You've got until July 17, 2:59 a.m. ET, to figure it out. Plus, we'll be updating this page with the latest price drops on fitness trackers and smartwatches throughout the sale.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best Prime Day smartwatch deals Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (Bluetooth, 40mm) 🔥 $159.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $140.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Launched last summer, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 6 was dubbed the "king of the Android smartwatch mountain" by Mashable tech reporter Alex Perry. The sixth iteration saw a suite of added sleep and fitness features, including a nuanced breakdown of sleep habits, sleep coaching, personalized heart rate zones, and irregular heart rate notifications. Plus, it lasts longer on a single charge and features a 20 percent larger display than previous models. The 40mm version with Bluetooth dropped to a record-low $196.95 at Amazon last week, and now it's at an even lower $159.99 ($140 off the listing price).

Best Prime Day fitness tracker deals Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Our pick: Fitbit Charge 6 ✨ 🔥 $99.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Fitbit Charge 6 has hit its all-time low price of $99.95. We haven’t seen it go this low since November 2023 (its first price drop ever). This fitness tracker has everything you need to start a new leaf, including step tracking, automatic exercise tracking, heart rate monitoring, and sleep and stress tracking. It has a seven-day battery life, 40+ exercise modes, and comes with six months of Fitbit Premium to help you reach your fitness goals.

More smartwatch and fitness tracker deals

Best Prime Day Apple deals: Watches, AirPods, and iPads dropped super low

Mashable - Thu, 07/18/2024 - 03:00

UPDATE: Jul. 17, 2024, 7:30 a.m. EDT This post has been updated with the latest pricing and availability on Apple products for the final half of Prime Day.

From iPads to MacBooks to AirPods, we're rounding up the best Prime Day Apple deals. Check them out below:

Best Prime Day Apple deals: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799 at Amazon (Save $200) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 10.9-inch (M1, WiFi, 64GB) $399 at Walmart (Save $200) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS + Cellular) 🔥 $219.99 at Amazon (Save $79.01) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Max 🔥 $394.99 at Amazon (Save $154.01) Get Deal

Prime Day started on Tuesday, July 16, and runs through midnight PT tonight, and plenty of Apple deals are still live. In fact, we'll even say this: Prime Day 2024 has brought the best Apple deals we've ever seen.

This year, we're seeing the lowest-ever prices on every single AirPods product, Apple Watches, and many iPads and MacBooks. Even prestige products like the Apple Studio are on sale (though not the Apple Vision Pro, sadly).

However, some of the best Prime Day Apple deals aren't actually Prime Day deals at all. Ever since Walmart kicked off its Walmart Deals sale last week, some Apple products are cheaper at Walmart. For this shopping guide, we'll point you to whichever retailer has the better price, as of this writing.

SEE ALSO: Don't miss Best Buy's Prime Day Counter Programming

So, here are the best Apple deals we could find at Amazon and the competition. We'll be refreshing this list now that the sale has officially begun, so keep checking back for the latest and greatest deals. Lastly, remember that Prime Day ends tonight, and we've already seen some iPads and Apple Watch models go out of stock at Amazon.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

iMac and MacBook deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD)🔥 $799.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M2 MacBook Air.

The M2 MacBook Air officially hit its lowest price ever, marking a new lowest entry point for anyone who wants an M2 laptop. Though it's a couple of years old, this laptop would still make a great companion for anyone who needs a solid work-from-home machine, complete with its fantastic keyboard, processing power, great display, and portability that makes it easy to take along just about anywhere.

More iMac and MacBook deals

MacBook Air

MacBook Pro

Mac

Apple Studio:

SEE ALSO: Shop deals on iPads during Prime Day 2024 iPad deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 10.9-inch (M1, WiFi, 64GB) 🔥 $399.00 at Walmart
$599.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M1 iPad Air.

Is this tablet a couple of years old? Yes. Is that why it's getting this $200 markdown? Probably! We first saw the iPad Air drop to this price at Best Buy a couple of weeks ago, and though it's shot back up at the retailer, the Walmart Deals sale has brought it back down. An M1-powered tablet is hardly past its prime, still offering plenty of power for gaming and note-taking. While we do wish this iPad offered a little more storage space, at this sale price you're paying just under $70 more than you would for a discounted A14 Bionic chip-powered iPad with the same amount of storage.

More iPad deals

iPad (10th gen)

iPad Air

iPad mini

iPad Pro

SEE ALSO: We tried every Amazon Kindle to find the best for every bibliophile — just in time for Prime Day Apple Watch deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS + Cellular) 🔥✨ $219.99 at Amazon
$299.00 Save $79.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple Watch SE (second gen).

For Prime Day, the entire Apple Watch lineup is on sale. It's actually pretty incredible. Sure, you could splurge on the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but for most of us, that's hopelessly out of reach. The Apple Watch SE still has most of the features that make this wearable so attractive. The heart rate monitor lets you track your activity and fitness in real time, and this watch has the latest features such as crash detection. Combine that with a Retina display with up to 1000 nits of brightness, and you still have one of the world's best wearables.

More Apple Watch deals

Series 9

SE

Ultra

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy deals are plentiful going into Prime Day AirPods and Apple accessories deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max 🔥 $394.99 at Amazon
$549.00 Save $154.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple AirPods Max.

AirPods Max, Apple's answer to over-the-ear headphones, may not be our top pick for sound quality, but they're certainly the most stylish. Coming in green, blue, pink, silver, and space gray, they look great while also providing active noise cancellation. Similar to AirPods Pro, the AirPods Max give specialized settings with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos.

AirPods Max are currently $449.99, certainly not as impressive as the $398 price tag we saw earlier in July, but we're still happy to see them under $500. Buy them now for 18% savings of $99.01.

More deals on AirPods and Apple accessories

AirPods:

Apple accessories:

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