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The court, which hears arguments on Friday in a challenge to a law banning the app, has issued varying rulings when those two interests clashed.

Billions in advertising flows through TikTok, which could be banned in the U.S. as soon as Jan. 19. Brands and creators are racing to prepare.

Shortly before CES 2025, LG announced a brand new 3-in-1 projector that also acts as a bluetooth speaker and mood light. These three features are packed into a device that looks like a small floor lamp.

So, naturally, while we were at this year's CES, we met up with LG to check out their new 3-in-1 projector, the PF600U.

Speaking with LG, the particular projector came about as LG explores their TV projector line in general. According to the company, their existing CineBeam line model of projectors proved to be rather popular with young people on the go even as the overall TV projector space faces uncertainty.

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

LG's next step is the PF600U 3–in-1 "lifestyle projector." The round projector sits atop a stand that makes the whole device look like a living room lamp. And, the projector also is a lamp – a mood lamp that is, with a number of color settings that broadcasts on your wall to provide the proper lighting to set the stage for whatever you happen to be watching. Don't have any speakers handy? No problem as the projector also has bluetooth speakers built-in.

The picture quality was clear with FHD resolution and the audio was loud and clear. The projector can easily be tilted 110-degrees so the picture can be projected on the wall or ceiling depending on how you want to watch your movie or TV show. As the surface for your projection changes, an auto screen adjustment feature automatically sets the angle and aspect ratio of your picture to best match your viewing location.

LG doesn't have an exact launch date or price set yet. However, Mashable was told that we should expect the 3-in-1 projector to release in May or June of this year with a retail price somewhere just under $1,000.

CES 2025 is wrapping up, and as always, the show delivered a bold vision of what’s next in automotive tech. This year, the spotlight was on reimagining mobility — whether through modular flying vehicles or next-gen holographic displays. EVs and concept cars didn’t just push boundaries; they challenged us to rethink safety and how we interact with the cars of tomorrow.

After plenty of hands-on time with the latest vehicles and concept car tech, here are our top four picks (in no particular order).

SEE ALSO: Sony and Honda's collab EV AFEELA will cost an outrageous $89,900 AFEELA 1 Origin and Signature Credit: Mashable / Chance Townsend

One of the big highlights of CES was Sony-Honda’s highly anticipated AFEELA 1 EV. We finally got the scoop on its price, pre-order details, and even a hands-on walkthrough of its futuristic user experience.

But don’t rush to order one just yet. Sony Honda Mobility Group revealed two key details: 1) Pre-orders are currently exclusive to California residents, and 2) the AFEELA 1 starts at $89,900 — or $102,900 for the Signature model. That’s a steep price, especially when Chinese competitors such as Xpeng are producing EVs priced at a little over $16,000 — a cost over 6 times less than the AFEELA 1’s starting price.

Then again, there aren't any PS5 controllers or deodorized seats with those.

XPENG Aero HT Land Aircraft Carrier Credit: Jesse Orrall / CNET

Speaking of Xpeng, the Chinese-based company showed off its "Land Aircraft Carrier" — a bold step into the future of personal transportation and flying. This modular marvel combines a massive, six-wheeled electric vehicle with a stowed two-seater electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle for recreational escapes.

It isn't a "flying car" in the strictest sense, but the synergy between the road-ready "Mothership" and the airborne craft is compelling. With minimal controls and automated systems, Xpeng simplifies flying. While practical adoption may be years away, this $300,000 vision of freedom captivates with its ambition, offering a glimpse of a world where highways lead seamlessly to the skies.

Honda 0 Saloon and SUV prototypes Looks super cool, doesn't it? Credit: Mashable / Chance Townsend

Honda’s 0 Prototype EV series continues to grab attention, especially the Saloon trim—a curious blend of Lamborghini flair and retro '80s dad-van vibes. Both the Saloon and SUV debuted at CES last year, but this time, Honda dropped more details: a 2026 release date and Level 3 autonomous driving.

That's a big promise, as it allows the vehicle to handle most driving tasks under specific conditions. It's also a leap ahead of the Level 2+ capabilities of the Sony-Honda AFEELA collab. While these features won’t be U.S.-ready at launch, it’s a bold step toward the software-defined mobility era Honda is eager to lead.

Hyundai Mobis' holographic windshield display It's a lot clearer in person. Credit: Emmett Smith / Mashable

Hyundai Mobis kind of stole the show at CES 2025 with the debut of the world’s first full-windshield holographic display, seamlessly integrated into Kia’s EV9.

This revolutionary tech uses three projectors in the car to transform the windshield into a transparent screen, projecting navigation, driving data, and media directly onto the glass without physical displays. Developed with optical technology company ZEISS, the display uses advanced light diffraction for crystal-clear visuals, even in bright conditions.

While still in pre-development, Hyundai Mobis aims for a 2027 launch. However, it's currently unclear whether that'll just be for Hyundai-Kia cars, or if other manufacturers might also benefit from this tech in the future.

Mashable is on the ground live at CES 2025! We’re covering all the wildest and most important developments this week, so please keep checking back in with us. Want to submit a product you represent for our teams’ consideration as we identify the Best of CES? Here’s more info on how to do it.

A great lip sync on RuPaul's Drag Race can forever alter your perception of a song.

I can't listen to Crystal Waters' "100% Pure Love" without thinking of Denali's absolute annihilation of Kahmora Hall in Season 13. Hearing "Boss Bitch" by Doja Cat gives me flashbacks to Anetra leaping, Free Willy–style, over Marcia Marcia Marcia in Season 15. And Natalie Cole's "This Will Be" is now forever tied to Season 4's DiDa Ritz killing the song in front of Cole herself.

SEE ALSO: 2025 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

Crucially, all these songs are bangers, so I'm happy to listen to them and think about the corresponding lip syncs at any given time. But what happens when a great lip sync gets a terrible song stuck in your head?

That's been my plight ever since Drag Race's Season 17 premiere, which saw talent show winners Suzie Toot and Jewels Sparkles duking it out to Katy Perry's "Woman's World" — with Perry herself looking on as a guest judge.

There's no beating around the bush: "Woman's World" is not a good song. Meant to be Perry's big comeback single, it was a commercial and critical flop for a whole host of reasons. They vary from the silly — like laughable, surface-level feminist lyrics and a cringeworthy music video — to the serious — like the involvement of controversial music producer Dr. Luke, whom singer Kesha accused of sexual assault in 2014.

Given "Woman's World"s failure, it's hilarious that it pops up as a Drag Race lip-sync song — as the premiere lip sync, no less. (For reference, Season 16 secured Beyoncé's "Break My Soul" for its premiere, a song that doesn't even exist on the same material plane as "Woman's World.") It's doubly hilarious that, due to Drag Race's filming schedule, the premiere may have been shot before "Woman's World" was officially released in July 2024. If so, could any of the queens or judges have foreseen the drubbing Perry was about to receive? Oh, to be a fly on the wall the first time Jewels Sparkles and Suzie Toot listened to their lip-sync song.

SEE ALSO: Zero Waste Daniel is drag's sustainable fashion pioneer

For their parts, Suzie Toot and Jewels Sparkles do a great job with the material they were given. Jewels Sparkles turns out a high-energy dance number complete with splits, hairography, and perhaps one too many finger licks, all very reminiscent of her talent show. Suzie Toot also draws on her own toe-tapping talent show, embracing her love for tap dancers of the 1920s and '30s to deliver a uniquely hilarious — and instantly memorable — lip sync.

Suzie Toot nails the pacing on her number, starting out sweet and slow while Jewels Sparkles exhausts her bag of tricks. As Jewels Sparkles pulls out split after split, it's easy to think Suzie Toot's getting steamrolled. Fellow contestant Kori King even hits her with a "you in danger, girl" in a confessional.

Yet as the second verse of "Woman's World" starts, Suzie Toot takes control, gesturing to her foot and proceeding to tap out the lyrics to the song — a reference to her talent show's Morse Code rendering of the Gettysburg Address. It's the ideal elevation of a prior gag, enough to make RuPaul lose it and secure the win.

But Suzie's not done! As "Woman's World" jumps back into its chorus, she breaks out a perfectly timed Charleston — a refreshing dance style amid a Drag Race lip-sync landscape where big stunts often reign supreme. Watching Suzie Toot embrace her inner flapper made me screech and snap more than any of Jewels Sparkles' splits. It's such a perfect way to bring her drag persona to the lip-sync stage, and it scratches my brain in the same way Anetra's jump does. I'm still thinking about it, almost a week later. I'm a woman possessed, a woman attempting to do the Charleston in her kitchen to a notorious pop flop.

And frankly, that's a problem! Because when I think of Suzie Toot's big moment, I'm also thinking, "It's a woman's world, and you're lucky to be living in it" against my will. I do not want these lyrics in my head! I do not want Drag Race to Stockholm syndrome me into liking "Woman's World"! Someone, please save me from the horrors of "sexy, confident."

However, if this lip sync and its apparently permanent place in my memory have taught me anything, it's that Suzie Toot is powerful enough to (maybe) get me to like "Woman's World." That's a pretty incredible power to have! Because of that, I'm excited for more of Suzie Toot and her nine tapping toes. Here's hoping that if she lip syncs again, it'll be to a song I actually want stuck in my head. Maybe something by Carly Rae Jepsen?

RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17 airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.

We live in a world of health tracking, but that usually involves a range of different devices to keep tabs on metrics. Those who are super into health tracking might have a sleep-tracking device, a smart scale, a smartwatch, and more. But what if there were one device that could pull in all that data, analyze it, and help you actually make use of it? That's the goal behind the new Withings Omnia Smart Mirror, which is built to your health metrics, track trends, and even offer feedback using an AI voice assistant.

The mirror isn’t actually available — in fact, it’s just a concept for now. But the idea is still pretty cool, and I had a chance to see it at CES 2025.

A statement piece

The Withings Omnia is far from understated. In fact, it’s huge – and unless you have a monster of a bathroom, you probably wouldn’t want it in its current iteration. That’s certainly not to say it’s ugly – on the contrary, it actually looks stunning. It’s built with a large glass panel, though that glass isn’t quite as light as a typical mirror, presumably to allow for the display tech built into it.

Credit: Christian de Looper for Mashable

That big glass panel is connected to a large scale at the bottom, which offers similar functionality to some of the company’s higher-end smart scales.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025's most practical smart glasses are these tint-changing lenses

The display panel is bright and easy to read, and it’s actually pretty neat. The behind-glass display tech is nothing groundbreaking, but it’s still pretty neat to see writing and little widgets pop up on the screen when you step up to the mirror.

Tying things together

For the demo, before stepping on the mirror, I selected between three modes: sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation (Afib), and managing menopause. As someone who has had Afib and eventually had surgery for it, I chose the latter mode.

Credit: Christian de Looper for Mashable

As a basic concept, the data that appeared on the screen when I stepped on the scale wasn’t unique to me – it was generic data that was simply used as part of the demo. That makes sense – you wouldn’t want the mirror exposing health information to everyone at CES, let alone the fact that for every demo, users would have to take off their shoes and socks so the scale could track things like body composition and heart health.

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

That base will measure things like your weight, body composition, heart rate, other heart-related metrics, and more. It can take an EKG (though a single EKG isn’t as useful as being able to take one any time you want with a watch). On top of that, it's built to pull in information from other health trackers that you use, including smartwatches and more advanced monitors.

Credit: Christian de Looper for Mashable

That’s perhaps the most useful part of the concept – a way to tie together all your health data and offer recommendations based on it. There are other companies trying to do the same thing, but Withings goes a step further by offering to connect you to specialists if it finds anything in your health data.

SEE ALSO: We hopped into Xpeng Aero HT's 'flying car' at CES

There’s nothing about a mirror that requires that, though. In fact, if I had to bet, I would assume that if this central data concept does get released, it will be in the form of an update to the app rather than a hardware product since the same data can already be collected by current Withings scales and third-party trackers.

Still, I do like the concept of a central health station in your home – but maybe that health station needs to be digital rather than physical.

Sleep is perhaps one of the most important aspects of maintaining good physical and mental health, but we often don't pay enough attention to it. This has led to a host of sleep-tracking devices that can help us better understand our sleep and make changes to get better rest. However, a new pair of earbuds called the For Me Buds from Sleepwave could take that to the next level.

I had a chance to check out the earbuds for myself at CES 2025.

Design

The experience of using the earbuds starts with their design. The earbuds are tiny, fitting snugly in your ears without causing much discomfort. That's important for sleep, as they won't get in the way of you falling asleep.

Credit: Christian de Looper for Mashable

Their earbuds have tiny sensors that track your heart rate and brain wave activity. The heart rate monitor works just like the one built into your smartwatch. The brainwave tracking works through a PPG sensor that detects your pulse.

Sleeping

Once you start a sleep-training session, the sensors will kick into gear and start tracking your heart rate and brain waves. The idea is they'll be able to detect how calm or stressed you are using that information to track your sleep. That's not the only thing that will happen, though. These are earbuds and not just health monitors. As they track your sleep, they'll play relaxing sounds in an effort to help you get to sleep quicker, all while noise cancellation is on to contribute to a quieter environment.

Credit: Christian de Looper for Mashable

I was only able to test the earbuds for a few minutes on the showroom floor at CES. I certainly didn't fall asleep at that time. That said, during my demo, it did seem as though the earbuds were tracking things like my heart rate reasonably accurately. I had my Apple Watch running the heart rate app at the same time, and while they weren't exactly the same, the two devices seemed to track a similar heart rate overall. I can't necessarily speak to the accuracy of the brainwave tech, though, as I had no device to compare it with.

SEE ALSO: Humanpods earbuds are Samantha from 'Her' but less dystopian

After the sleeping session, which, of course, for me, wasn't a sleeping session at all, you'll get a rundown of the data collected in the app. It'll essentially show you your heart rate and brainwaves over time and give you an AI summary of what you can do to fall asleep quicker.

Sleeping better with earbuds?

It's hard to imagine how brainwave tracking could truly improve sleep tracking more than the technology already built into devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers. That said, it may end up being useful.

SEE ALSO: 9 new gadgets from CES 2025 that you can actually buy right now

After all, brainwave tracking is used in certain medical tests, when combined with sleep, to detect certain forms of seizures and other issues. That said, it doesn’t seem like the company is working on any tech related to medical usage right now.

Robotic vacuums have their place, but they still sometimes miss things, essentially meaning that you'll still need a handheld vacuum that you can use for particularly large messes or other situations like cleaning your car. But what if all of these vacuums could be one? That’s the idea behind the new Eufy E20 – a so-called 3-in-1 vacuum that can not only be used as a robotic vacuum but also as a handheld stick vacuum or a smaller handheld vacuum.

I got to check out the E20 for myself at CES 2025.

Versatile design

You might wonder how you could possibly use one unit for all three of these different tasks, but it's a little more complicated than that. The E20 involves placing the handheld vacuum inside a robotic vacuum shell. So, for example, you could keep the handheld vacuum inside the robot for day-to-day use and then take it out when you need to use it in handheld mode.

As you would expect, that handheld vacuum contains the main vacuum motor and filters, which you would want to use in all three different modes. The robot vacuum also has a little spot for a small corner attachment, which you can take out to use as needed.

Credit: Christian de Looper for Mashable

Once you place it inside the robotic vacuum shell, it will have access to lasers and a brush head, which it can use to clean your home autonomously.

The vacuum comes with various accessories that can be used in the different modes. Notably, while the robot includes space for a crevice tool, other accessories can be stored on an optional wall-mounted hanger, which is handy. And, of course, there's a docking station for the robot vacuum, which Eufy says has enough capacity for up to 75 days of cleaning.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025: Roborock's grabby new robot vacuum is a huge flex

It was very easy to move the parts from one mode to another, which has been pretty helpful. In my daily use, I would likely keep the vacuum in robo-vac mode and occasionally switch it to stick mode as needed.

Strong performance

Since all different modes rely on the same motor, you might expect them all to offer the same level of suction, but that's not quite the case. In robot vacuum mode, the E20 offers 8,000 Pa of suction power, but switch it over to stick mode, and you'll get a massive 30,000 Pa.

Credit: Christian de Looper for Mashable

Of course, the design has some limitations. The vacuum doesn't have a mop mode, though it does have a spinning brush that can clean some floors more deeply. Still, if you regularly rely on a mop, this might not be the robot vacuum for you.

The middle of all worlds

The E20 isn't going to be the most powerful robot vacuum, nor the best handheld vacuum, but it does have the significant advantage of allowing users not to have to buy different vacuums for different use cases. Again, some will want a robot vacuum that has a built-in mopping feature, but if this isn't important to you and you like the idea of an all-in-one device, then you might find the E20 to be perfect for your needs.

It's relatively inexpensive, too. The E20 is available for pre-order right now, starting at $499.99. This price includes a $50 discount for those who get it from the Eufy website. You'll be able to get it officially starting on February 10, both from Eufy itself and from retailers like Amazon, where it will cost $549.99.

Current-generation smart glasses are largely available in two different kinds.

Leading the pack on one side is Xreal, which is building smart glasses that connect to devices like your phone or laptop through a wire and can essentially act as a portable monitor.

The other kind of smart glasses, however, are perhaps a little more interesting. Smart glasses like the Meta Ray-Ban glasses have a speaker, microphone, and camera, and can use the camera to take pictures and see the world around you, or leverage AI to help you find information.

To date, Meta’s glasses have largely been the go-to for those who want this kind of more natural look. But new competitors are popping up – and Solos could have a winner on its hands. The new Solos AirGo Vision glasses boast visual recognition, language translation, and immediate access to an AI assistant powered by GPT-4o. I had to put them to the test while running around like a madman at CES 2025.

A natural design

Of course, the key to any smart glasses experience seems to be a natural design, and that's something that these glasses achieve well. A natural design is partially why the likes of the Meta Ray-Ban have taken off while other smart glasses that try too hard to be futuristic offer too much technology to be natural.

Credit: Christian de Looper

That's not to say the glasses are completely natural, though. On the front, they have two camera lenses, which you'll be able to see, while the arms are a little bulkier than you would get on non-smart glasses. You don’t necessarily have to use the glasses with the cameras – the Solos AirGo3 glasses are the same as the AirGo Vision glasses but without the cameras, and you can use both, simply moving the arms of the glasses, which house many of the components, from one to another. 

SEE ALSO: We hopped into Xpeng Aero HT's 'flying car' at CES

But, at least at a glance, those around you might not be able to immediately tell that you're wearing smart glasses until they take a closer look or until you take a photo and the white LED light flashes.

One thing I didn’t love about the design of the glasses is that you have to manually turn them on and off. You’ll remember to turn them on when you put them on and they don’t work. But after folding them up and putting them in my backpack, I couldn’t understand why the microphone on my phone wasn’t picking up my voice until I realized they were still connected. An automatic off when they fold up would be nice.

The glasses are designed to be worn in everyday life. Credit: Christian de Looper

The glasses offer a battery life of around 10 hours of continuous use, and they’re IP67 water-resistant, so you should be able to use them in the rain perfectly fine. 

AI on tap

Of course, the real advantage of these glasses has little to do with their design and much more to do with the features they offer.

Chief among those is the immediate and instant access to an AI voice assistant powered by ChatGPT. This voice assistant, of course, is highly customized and gets access to data, like your location and images from the cameras built into the glasses. What that means is that you can ask the assistant to find nearby restaurants or analyze things in front of you, like objects signs. While you might assume that this is a bit of a gimmick, it can come in handy for things like translating text.

The glasses are equipped with ChatGPT. Credit: Christian de Looper

In other words, it can be more helpful in day-to-day life than ChatGPT itself would be without access to that data.

That said, I'm not completely sure exactly how it analyzes data like your location. After asking how long it would take to get to another hotel in Vegas, from the one I'm staying at, I was told it would be about a 10-minute Uber ride or a 25-minute walk. Thirty minutes into walking, I found that I was only around halfway there, and I'm a pretty fast walker. Normally, I beat the estimates given by apps like Google maps and Apple Maps.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025's most practical smart glasses are these tint-changing lenses

There are some helpful ways to make the assistant more helpful in your day-to-day life, though. I really appreciated the ability to set its speech speed.  Typically when I ask an AI assistant a question I just want the answer as soon as possible.

The Solos app

The experience of using Solo's app is perfectly fine. From the app, you'll be able to control different settings for both the glasses and your AI assistant, including the aforementioned ability to control how fast it talks. You'll also be able to set audio EQ modes, which is a nice touch. 

The app also allows you to type to your digital or capture a photo to send to it. I like the fact that you can manually type to the assistant instead of just being able to talk to it through the glasses, as it makes for a more versatile experience. The design of the app takes some getting used to, but it's relatively well-designed overall, and most should be able to get used to it relatively quickly.

Privacy questions

Using the glasses did make me a little concerned about privacy, though. Some of the data I can understand needing access to, especially for certain features. I don't love giving up my location, but if I want to be able to ask about nearby restaurants or how to get places, then it makes sense that I need to hand it over.

What doesn't make sense are the constant requests for full photo library access. Initially, I gave limited photo library access simply so that the app could store photos that I captured, but it consistently and annoyingly requested full access every time I opened the app. I never gave in. I wasn't going to hand it over to a company that I barely know. I suggest most do the same.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025: Hands-on with Sony-Honda's AFEELA 1 Signature

I did ask about the privacy of the photos captured by the glasses themselves. Company said that any photos sent to the cloud I deleted after 30 seconds however, the photos that you take manually will be stored on the phone.

Sub-par audio

Like many other smart glasses models, these ones have speakers built into them. Of course, largely, this is used for the AI assistant to be able to talk to you after you make a request, but the glasses also like a basic Bluetooth device for listening to music and other audio.

The camera lens is quite visible on the Solos AirGo Vision smart glasses. Credit: Christian de Looper

Unfortunately, the audio quality leaves a lot to be desired. The speakers are tinny, lack depth, and there’s little bass response to speak of, which is not all that surprising. The speakers built into smart glasses usually aren’t all that great. However, if you want a solid music experience you'll still want to use wireless earbuds.

Conclusions

The Solos AirGo Vision smart glasses are a compelling take on the overall smart glasses concept. That said, I'm not quite sure anyone, including Solos, has truly nailed the idea just. The ability to talk to an AI-powered digital assistant as needed is helpful, and the fact that the assistant has access to information like your location and a camera seriously enhances its usability. But I didn't love the subpar audio, and I'm not thrilled about how the glasses and the app handle private information.

Of course, it’s not like Meta is a home run in the area of privacy though. And, the Solos glasses come at a similar price. They’re available for $299, however it doesn’t seem like they’re available with the cameras from the website right now.

I'm a huge fan of the ecosystem of accessories that MagSafe is spawning. I'm also a huge fan of mobile game controllers like those offered by Backbone. I use them regularly when I'm on the go. Now, however, the two are combining in what could be the coolest MagSafe accessory to date. The OhSnap MCON is a gaming controller that snaps to the back of your phone with MagSafe, and is built to be portable enough to fit in your pocket.

The controller was actually first designed by 19-year-old Josh King, who documented the process on his YouTube channel and created a prototype using a 3D printer. King and OhSnap then combined forces to tweak the design a little and put the controller into production. And I have to say, I'm glad they did. The controller is awesome, and I had a chance to check it out in person at CES 2025.

Magnetic and refined

As mentioned, the MCON, available in black or white, attaches to the back of an iPhone using MagSafe, so it’s easy to attach and detach it from your phone whenever you want to. When it's not in use, the controller simply looks like a rectangle on the back of your phone. None of the buttons or joysticks are visible, except for the rear triggers, which look understated anyway.

Two buttons on the back releases the keyboard, which slides into position. Credit: Christian de Looper

Given the fact that the controller attaches using MagSafe, you might expect it to only work with iPhones, but OhSnap has thought of that too.

The controller comes with a MagSafe adapter that's essentially a magnetic disk that you can attach to the back of your non-MagSafe phone. On top of that, it comes with two pucks that can attach to the controller itself to space it away from the camera module and ensure a good fit no matter what phone you're using and how big its camera is. Of course, instead of using the MagSafe adapter, you could also use a third-party case that adds magnetic compatibility to non-MagSafe phones.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025's most practical smart glasses are these tint-changing lenses

When you want a game, however, you simply press two buttons on the back of the controller, and your phone will essentially slide up, revealing the buttons and joysticks you're used to.

It's a similar approach to the slide-out keyboards that used to be more common on business-focused smartphones. On top of your phone sliding up to reveal the buttons, you can also extend two grips that lock into place for a more ergonomic feel. Sure, the controller isn't going to feel as comfortable as something like the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller, but we wouldn't expect it to – and remember, the MCON is built for portability.

When closed, the phone and attachment both fit in the palm of your hand. Credit: Christian de Looper

Perhaps the biggest downside to a controller like this is that instead of being powered through your phone's USB-C port, the controller connects through Bluetooth and has to be charged separately. That said, OhSnap is including a USB-C cable in the box, and it says that you can connect it to your phone through a wired connection instead of through Bluetooth, if you prefer.

SEE ALSO: We hopped into Xpeng Aero HT's 'flying car' at CES

So, does the OhSnap MCON achieve its goal of being a game controller you can have at the ready all the time? Well, yes and no.

It's definitely slimmer than any mobile controller I've tested before – and I've tested quite a few of them. However, I don't necessarily think you'd have it attached to your phone all the time on the off chance that you'd want to game remotely. Instead, it's probably more likely to be useful for situations in which you think you're likely to game when you're out and about, but left at home when you don't think you will.

That's still an important use case, though – it means you don't have to carry a controller in your backpack or bag when you might not necessarily want to take a backpack for quicker trips like taking the bus across town, for example.

Pro gaming

The OhSnap MCON may be built for portability, but it's also designed for a tactile and responsive gaming experience. That, however, is one area where the company is still refining a little. When I tested the controller at CES 2025, I actually found the buttons to be quite nice, with a clicky feel. The joysticks had a good feel too, and I could easily see myself gaming on the go with the controller. When I spoke to Josh King, the creator of the controller at CES, he noted that they're still ironing out the exact feel of the buttons ahead of the August ship date.

A side view of the attached accessory. Credit: Christian de Looper

Of course, you shouldn't expect the same feel as a controller like the Sony DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5, but the extendable grips helped quite a bit. The grips helped make the controller feel a little more natural and gave a little more leverage for tapping the buttons on the main body of the controller.

The joysticks, in particular, seem to require a lot of effort in development. They are actually full-size Hall Effect joysticks, which will help make the controller more accurate and precise. They'll also ensure that the controller is less prone to issues like stick drift, which is common on compact controllers.

A very clicky gamepad. Credit: Christian de Looper

All in all, while the controller didn't necessarily feel as natural as a much bulkier and bigger controller, that's not the point of this one. I found that it felt very natural despite its small and compact size, and as I said, I could easily see myself gaming it on an airplane, a bus, or simply when I want to game in bed instead of on the couch.

The perfect gaming companion

I've tested plenty of portable controllers, and this one could well be my favorite so far. That largely has to do with the convenience of being able to snap it on and off as needed, instead of trying to wedge the controller into a USB-C port as you have to do with controllers from the likes of Backbone and Razer.

The OhSnap MCON is currently undergoing Kickstarter funding, where it has already surpassed its goal of $25,000. If you're interested in one for yourself, you can pre-order it on its Kickstarter page, where you might be able to get a discount. After the Kickstarter process, the controller will go on sale for $149. It's expected to ship to backers in August 2025, so unfortunately, you'll have to wait a while to get one for yourself.

Mashable is on the ground live at CES 2025! We’re covering all the wildest and most important developments this week, so please keep checking back in with us. Want to submit a product you represent for our teams’ consideration as we identify the Best of CES? Here’s more info on how to do it.

Medical dramas don't tend to be my primary choice of TV show. But I'd be a liar if I said The Pitt didn't hook me right away.

SEE ALSO: 2025 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

The Pitt immerses us in the high-stress environment of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center's emergency department, headed up by Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (ER's Noah Wyle, no stranger to on-screen medical emergencies). If all that sounds like a soft ER reboot to you, you wouldn't be the only one. In August 2024, the estate of ER creator Michael Crichton even filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Television, claiming the series to be an unauthorized ER reboot.

But while The Pitt certainly stands on ER's shoulders — it's created by longtime ER writer and producer R. Scott Gemmill, and produced by ER showrunner John Wells — it also works hard to set itself apart. From exploring issues with modern-day healthcare systems to employing a real-time conceit in the vein of 24, The Pitt establishes itself as its own beast, one that's harrowing, compulsively watchable, and just the right mix of soapy and grounded.

What's The Pitt about? Isa Briones, Tracy Ifeachor, and Noah Wyle in "The Pitt." Credit: Warrick Page / Max

Each of The Pitt's 15 episodes (an almost unheard-of number in today's streaming landscape) covers about one hour in Robby's 15-hour shift in the ED. That means we clock in with him at 7 a.m. and stay with him until his work day is done.

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2 may already be the best show of the year: Review

And what a work day it is. It's the anniversary of Robby's mentor Dr. Adamson's death from COVID complications. It's also the first day on the job for several interns and residents, all of whom need guidance from Robby and his colleagues, including senior residents Dr. Collins (Tracy Ifeachor) and Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball). After a prolonged intro to the large staff of the ED — colloquially known as "the pit" — The Pitt jumps into high gear with an onslaught of high-drama medical emergencies. Heart attacks, drug mishaps, and more race through the ED's doors, mixing with the staff's own personal drama to create a high-octane cocktail of stress.

The Pitt takes stress to new heights. Gerran Howell and Taylor Dearden in "The Pitt." Credit: Warrick Page / Max

Almost every second we spend in the ED feels like a crisis, and that's due in large part to The Pitt's real-time structure. The gimmick doesn't always make narrative sense, as character arcs that might take place over entire weeks are collapsed into mere hours. Yet you can't beat it when it comes to sheer overwhelming tension. Seriously, if you thought The Bear's one-take, real-time episode "Review" was stressful, The Pitt will make that look like a spa day. I can't count the number of times I yelled, "What?" or "No!" or simply retreated behind my own hands.

SEE ALSO: How to get free Peacock, Paramount+, and Max streaming through services you might already have

Here, medical emergencies seem to multiply exponentially from episode to episode, until you feel like you're drowning alongside Dr. Robby and his team. Almost every hour treats you to some new high-pressure surgery, complete with constant medical chatter that doubles as the world's least-soothing ASMR, and some fairly serious gore. (A degloved leg in the first episode is particularly gnarly, but you're in for far more blood spatters as The Pitt continues.) All this comes to life thanks to cinematographer Johanna Coelho's nearly nonstop handheld camera movement, which brings The Pitt's urgency to a fever pitch.

The Pitt's ticking clock also emphasizes the long wait times to get into the ED. Often, The Pitt brings us into the trauma center's chaotic, overflowing wait room, where disgruntled patients wait for hours before being seen. It's a pressure cooker with little hope of relief. Time and time again, Dr. Robby tells hospital administrator Gloria (Michael Hyatt) that he needs more nurses and more beds, only to be denied due to budget constraints. That's just one of the many ways in which The Pitt indicts America's broken healthcare system, but never at the expense of the healthcare workers themselves.

The Pitt tackles serious healthcare issues, including abortion. Ned Brower, Patrick Ball, Noah Wyle, and Tracy Ifeachor in "The Pitt." Credit: Warrick Page / Max

On top of examining systemic problems like understaffing, The Pitt also takes a look at major issues at the intersection of politics and healthcare. An arc about a pregnant teenager (Abby Ryder Fortson, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret) and abortion rights feels extra pertinent following the re-election of Donald Trump. Elsewhere, resident Dr. Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) hopes to make a difference when it comes to racial disparity in medical care, starting with a Black woman with sickle cell disease (Ashley Romans) whose initial arrival in the ED is marred by racist treatment.

Not every case is a winner, though, with some attempts to gesture out to the greater political landscape falling flat. A fight over wearing masks leads someone to lob the insult "Fauci zombie," subtlety be damned. Meanwhile, cases involving the way social media impacts health remain fairly surface level. At one point, an influencer patient says, "I don't have friends, I have followers," which is about as caricatured as you can get.

For the most part, though, The Pitt does a solid job in granting its doctors and patients alike a fair amount of depth, which is especially impressive given the sheer size of its cast and how little face time we get with most of them. Some characters, like overconfident intern Dr. Santos (Isa Briones), could risk being one-note, yet The Pitt manages to sidestep these pitfalls. (Of course, a tragic backstory or two never hurt.)

At the center of it all is Wyle, whose Dr. Robby projects himself as the calm in the middle of the storm even as he weathers tremendous pain himself. He's particularly good during the scenes The Pitt takes to recenter itself after tragedy, be that a moment of silence after the loss of a patient or a discussion in which he has to break bad news to loved ones. The Pitt may boast its fair share of surgical set pieces or plot twists right out of a soap opera, but it's these quiet moments that really ground the show and set the stage for what could hopefully be TV's next great medical drama.

The first two episodes of The Pitt premiere Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. ET on Max, with new episodes every Thursday.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each one!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services trying to determine what to watch! We've got your back whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, animation, and more.

But if you're seeking something brand spanking new (or new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2024

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're looking for quirky comedies, chilling horror, pulse-pounding action, provocative documentaries, or the juiciest reality TV competition that streaming has to offer, we've got you covered.

Here's what's new on streaming, from worst to best.

8. Get Away

You loved Nick Frost in horror comedies like Shaun of the Dead and Attack the Block. Now you can see what happens when he's the scribe wielding a wicked pen. But fret not, Cornetto Trilogy fans. Frost not only scripted Get Away, he stars in this kooky splatterfest too! 

Directed by Steffen Haars, Get Away centers on an English family of four vacationing on a remote Swedish island. But this isn't exactly a welcoming community to outsiders. Upon arrival, the vibes are off. And as a treasured — and tragic — festival draws nearer, blood will be spilled, terror will reign, and these happy-go-lucky tourists will be caught up in the middle of it! Think Midsommar, but as a slasher comedy. 

Starring: Nick Frost, Aisling Bea, Maisie Ayres, and Sebastian Croft

How to watch: Get Away debuts on Shudder on Jan. 10.

SEE ALSO: Shudder's best horror comedies to scare you AND make you laugh 7. Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action

Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! 

With everything totally '90s coming back into fashion, it was only a matter of time before the "King of Sleaze" did too. This Netflix documentary mini-series explores the talk show that drove audiences wild and guests into fits of chair-throwing rage. The first episode digs into how a former Cincinnati mayor and local news anchor named Jerry Springer came to become a national sensation. But episode 2 turns to true crime, exploring a homicide that some have blamed on the show and its producers' exploitative tactics.

Whether or not you got swept up in The Jerry Springer Show hype, this doc is a fascinating look at American television. Featuring interviews with a slew of crew members and producers from the talk show, Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action reveals not only what happened behind the scenes, but also the moral relativism that has led to the rise of increasingly scandalous (and dangerous?) reality TV. Basically, this addictive doc brings new meaning to the phrase "guilty pleasure."

How to watch: Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: The 40 most addictive reality TV shows streaming on Netflix 6. Hundreds of Beavers

You've never seen a comedy quite like Hundreds of Beavers. It's a tale of survival in a tough terrain, but told as a black-and-white, dialogue-free, live-action cartoon with the sensibilities of Looney Tunes and chaotic internet humor.

Written by Mike Cheslik and Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, this outrageous movie stars the latter as an applejack salesman whose jolly life of booze and revelry is destroyed by a band of pesky beavers. Having lost everything, he must rebuild his life in a cold and treacherous terrain, where he is outwitted by animals, mocked by locals, and made witness to a barrage of bizarre events. The slapstick sense of humor is a playful mix of wholesome and deranged. While not for everyone, Hundreds of Beavers certainly has what it takes to become a beloved cult comedy.

Starring: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Olivia Graves, Wes Tank, Doug Mancheski, and Luis Rico

How to watch: Hundreds of Beavers debuts on Shudder on Jan. 10. 

5. Look into My Eyes

Do you believe in psychics?

Directed by Lana Wilson, Look into My Eyes follows several New York City clairvoyants as they interact with their various clients. From A24, Wilson's documentary was highly praised by critics. In his review for Mashable, Siddhant Adlakha wrote, "Her perspective is one of gentle inquiry, but the film eventually reaches far beyond mere curiosity, yielding a deeply resonant work about the ways in which people cope with everything from grief to climate nihilism.

Even if you see spirit-channeling mediums as scammers and bullshit artists, it's hard not to come away changed. Look Into My Eyes neither seeks to expose nor reaffirm the profession, but rather, through suggestion and implication, it explores these people and what they do. In the process, it comes to an empathetic understanding of why — even if the subjects themselves can't see the bigger picture."

How to watch: Look into My Eyes debuts on Max on Jan. 10. 

4. A Tale of Two Sisters

Don't be fooled by the tender title. A Tale of Two Sisters is a horror-thriller heralded for its haunting story and shocking climax. 

This South Korean hit centers on trouble teen Su-mi (Yum Jung-ah), who, upon being released from a psychiatric hospital, is eager to reunite with her beloved sister, Su-yeon (Im Soo-jung). But her return to their remote country home is less than welcoming. Their widowed father (Moon Geun-young) has moved in his new bride, Eun-joo (Kim Kap-soo), whom the girls resent. As tensions rise between the stepchildren and their stepmother, strange occurrences around the house suggest a ghost may be among them. But the truth of what's happening in this spooky family drama is even more twisted that you can imagine.

Restrained but riveting, this 2003 South Korean horror movie is still as effective as it was when it first debuted. If you like Goodnight Mommy, you'll love A Tale of Two Sisters.

Starring: Im Soo-jung, Yum Jung-ah, Moon Geun-young, Lee Seung-bi, and Kim Kap-soo

How to watch: A Tale of Two Sisters debuts on Shudder and AMC+ on Jan. 10.

SEE ALSO: The scariest horror movies on Shudder to keep you up at night 3. 65

Sometimes, you get the urge to watch an Oscar–nominated actor blast a bunch of dinosaurs with a laser gun. And when that urge sneaks up on you, the only cure is 65.

65 is built around the genius premise that is "Adam Driver fights dinosaurs," and boy, does it deliver. As Mills, a pilot from a super advanced civilization from 65 million years ago, Driver crash-lands on prehistoric Earth, where he headshots a T. Rex, bludgeons a raptor, and much, much more. He also takes the time to bond with his one fellow survivor, a young girl named Koa (Barbie's Ariana Greenblatt). The result is a sweet "lone wolf and cub" movie full of dino-sized thrills, kills, and a very threatening asteroid.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, Chloe Coleman, and Nika King

How to watch: 65 is now streaming on Hulu.

2. The Traitors, Season 3

If you love reality TV, Alan Cumming, or social deduction games, The Traitors is the perfect treat for you. Each season throws famous reality TV stars into a Scottish castle, where the "traitors" among them will seek to murder the "faithful." It's basically a game of high-budget mafia, with Cumming as narrator. In Season 3, contestants include Selling Sunset's Chrishell Stause, The Real Housewives of New York City's Dorinda Medley, Vanderpump Rules' Tom Sandoval, RuPaul's Drag Race winner Bob the Drag Queen, and King Charles III's second cousin, Lord Ivar Mountbatten. Truly, anything could happen.* — B.E.

Starring: Bob the Drag Queen, Wells Adams, Sam Asghari, Dolores Catania, Jeremy Collins, Robyn Dixon, Dylan Efron, Nikki Garcia, Bob Harper, Britney Haynes, Rob Mariano, Dorinda Medley, Ciara Miller, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Danielle Reyes, Tom Sandoval, Chrishell Stause, Tony Vlachos, Carolyn Wiger, Gabby Windey, and Alan Cumming

How to watch: The Traitors Season 3 is now streaming on Peacock.

1. The Pitt

ER's Noah Wyle returns to an on-screen hospital in The Pitt — but don't fool yourself in thinking this is a soft ER reboot. Told in real time over the course of one 15-hour shift, The Pitt immerses us in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center's emergency department, where everything from heart attacks to drug overdoses could burst through the doors at any minute.

SEE ALSO: 'The Pitt' review: Noah Wyle medical drama is part 'ER,' part '24,' and all compelling

What follows is a deeply stressful, endlessly engrossing medical drama packed with intense operations and pertinent commentary on America's broken healthcare system. At the center of it all is medical drama veteran Wyle, who proves a capable anchor to The Pitt's sprawling ensemble cast. As I wrote in my review, Wyle is "particularly good during the scenes The Pitt takes to recenter itself after tragedy, be that a moment of silence after the loss of a patient or a discussion in which he has to break bad news to loved ones. The Pitt may boast its fair share of surgical set pieces or plot twists right out of a soap opera, but it's these quiet moments that really ground the show and set the stage for what could hopefully be TV's next great medical drama." — B.E.

Starring: Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, and Katherine LaNasa

How to watch: The first two episodes of The Pitt premiere Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. ET on Max, with new episodes every Thursday.

Though 2025 won't mark the return of astronauts into deep space as NASA had hoped, launchpads still will be scorching-hot from a procession of robotic spacecraft attempting to land on the moon. 

How many of these moon landings will succeed? Will the number top the two-ish (one of which made a heckuva comeback) last year? 

Giant commercial rockets, such as SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's New Glenn, will likely also have several uncrewed orbital test launches as they iron out the kinks in their hardware. And while people await scientific missions to distant solar system destinations, a few probes will send home close-up pictures of planets as they snag gravitational boosts from flybys. 

Here's a round-up of space missions and cosmic events just around the bend. Bookmark this calendar and look for updates from Mashable throughout the year. 

SEE ALSO: NASA leader doubts Elon Musk will push Trump to axe moon rocket BepiColombo makes final Mercury flyby: Jan. 8

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, but it's perhaps the most overlooked of the rocky worlds in the solar system. Hot and harder to reach than Saturn, it hasn't enjoyed the level of study that other worlds have.

But BepiColombo, a joint mission of the European and Japanese space agencies, seeks to change that. The spacecraft makes its sixth and final flyby on Jan. 8 before returning to enter orbit around the planet in late 2026. Closest approach will take the spacecraft just 160 miles above the surface of Mercury. Mission controllers will release images of the event on Jan. 9.

Blue Origin's first flight for New Glenn: Jan. 10

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will soon get a chance to see his giant rocket New Glenn launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. 

His aerospace company Blue Origin has received its launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration and intends to attempt a liftoff no earlier than Jan. 10. The three-hour launch window opens at 1 a.m. ET. 

Blue Origin's goal is to reach orbit, and the company will also try to land its booster on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean so that it can be reused on future flights, though executives admit doing so would be "ambitious" on the first try. 

SpaceX tests upgraded Starship: Jan. 13

SpaceX is preparing to launch another uncrewed Starship test, this time with an upgraded spacecraft and 10 mock satellites to practice a payload deployment in space. 

This SpaceX launch would mark the seventh Starship test and feature a reused engine from the booster returned from the fifth test. The launch window opens at 4:00 p.m. CT.

Tweet may have been deleted Two moon landers on one rocket: Jan. 15

Two small uncrewed spacecraft, one of which is carrying several NASA instruments, will try to land on the moon with a boost from the same rocket. 

Both Firefly Aerospace and Japan's ispace will ride a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket slated to leave Earth at 1:11 a.m. ET Jan. 15. Firefly's Blue Ghost lander was originally scheduled to lift off in late 2024, and the launch will mark its maiden voyage. The spacecraft is slated to travel for four days before reaching the moon, then orbiting it for 16 days before trying to touch down. 

Firefly's flight will be the first Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission of the year. The NASA program has recruited vendors from the private sector to help deliver instruments to the moon and send back crucial data.

Ispace's new Hakuto-R mission will be its second try, after it ran out of fuel and crashed on the lunar surface in April 2023. The Resilience lander, a partnership with Japan's space agency JAXA, is taking a long way to the moon to save on fuel, arriving about four to five months after launch.

NASA moon rover and orbiter delivery: February

Intuitive Machines made history last year as the first company to reach the moon intact — though its lander, Odysseus, broke landing gear and touched down tilted. 

The Houston-based company is now gearing up for a second moon landing — this time with the Athena lander. The mission, referred to as IM-2 or PRIME-1, will carry a NASA rover. The spacecraft will test a drill and mass spectrometer, a device that identifies the kinds of particles in a substance. As planned, another spacecraft, NASA's Lunar Trailblazer, will also hitch a ride on this flight. The small satellite will orbit the moon to map out the locations of lunar water. 

Europa Clipper flies by Mars: Feb. 27

After a successful October 2024 launch, the Europa Clipper spacecraft has been hurtling through space. It's on schedule to make its first flyby of Mars on Feb. 27, where it will get a gravity assist to continue its journey. The craft won't arrive at Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, for its mission until 2030. 

Scientists are intrigued by Europa because they believe it could hold double the water held by Earth's oceans. Could this small world in the outer solar system have conditions capable of supporting life? If NASA finds that Europa is a habitable place, a second Europa mission could return to determine if there are indeed any inhabitants. 

Launch of new astrophysics observatory: February

NASA intends to launch an astrophysics observatory to create a map of the entire sky in 3D. The mission, SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), will orbit Earth while studying hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies, showing them in 102 invisible "colors." 

One of the main goals of the mission is to learn more about cosmic inflation, a brief but crucial phase of the Big Bang that contributed to the universe's expansion. It will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Tweet may have been deleted European spacecraft Hera flies by Mars: March

Back in 2022, NASA deliberately crashed a spacecraft into a harmless asteroid to practice thwarting a space rock, should a hazardous one ever be on a collision course with Earth.

The European Space Agency is providing a follow-up to that test, known as Hera. The mission's spacecraft launched in October 2024 and will rendezvous with Dimorphos, the slammed asteroid, in 2026. But this March, it will also have a quick pop-in with Mars and one of the Red Planet's two moons, Deimos. Mission controllers will use the opportunity to collect data on the Martian moon.

Boeing astronaut crew returns home: March NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been waiting for their ride since the space agency decided not to send them home on Boeing's Starliner spaceship. Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Two astronauts whose eight-day visit to the International Space Station turned into a more than eight-month layover are expected to return to Earth in March. 

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been waiting for their ride since the space agency decided not to send them home on the spaceship they rode in on. That test vehicle, Boeing's Starliner, landed empty without any problems, but NASA hadn't wanted to risk it after the capsule experienced propulsion issues in space. 

The pair was supposed to return in a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February, but NASA announced at the end of 2024 that the flight would likely be pushed back to March. Wilmore and Williams, who were integrated into Crew-9, will fly back to Earth after Crew-10 arrives at the space station. 

NASA and India join forces on a satellite: March

NASA is teaming up with India's space agency on a mission to study Earth's land and ice. 

This mission involves the NISAR satellite, which will scan all of the planet's surfaces twice every 12 days to measure changes. The satellite will launch from the Indian Space Research Organisation's space port, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, on India's southeastern coast.

Private astronauts fly to ISS: no earlier than spring

Private astronauts will launch to the International Space Station for Axiom Space's fourth such mission. The four crew members are awaiting approval to fly to the orbiting lab and will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, no earlier than this spring. 

When Axiom flew its first private mission in 2022, it redefined the word "astronaut." For decades, that title was reserved for government space pilots and crew. More recently, uber-rich space tourists earned the distinction by breaching Earth's atmosphere. But with Axiom's private mission came a third possible description: Someone privately trained and sent into space to perform commercial scientific research. Axiom crews receive 750 to over 1,000 hours of training. 

Twin spacecraft go to Mars: no earlier than spring The Escapade mission will involve two Mars orbiters built by Rocket Lab. Credit: Rocket Lab

A NASA-funded science mission seeks to get to the bottom of how solar radiation strips away the tattered Martian atmosphere. Called Escapade, the mission will involve two Mars orbiters built by Rocket Lab.

The flight was previously scheduled for October aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, which would have been its first launch. But, as rockets are wont to do, the inaugural flight was delayed. NASA and Blue Origin are now in talks for a new launch date for that mission, no earlier than spring 2025.

Lucy spacecraft flies by asteroid: April 20

NASA launched the Lucy spacecraft on a grand 12-year asteroid tour last fall with plans to fly by several space rocks that share Jupiter’s orbit. On April 20, Lucy will encounter a small main-belt asteroid, Donaldjohanson, as a sort of test sequence before it visits seven Trojan asteroids. The asteroid, called DJ for short, is only 2.5 miles wide, with an extremely slow rotation that takes more than 10 days to complete. 

Tweet may have been deleted Peak of Lyrids meteor shower: April 21-22

Meteor showers happen every year or at regular intervals as Earth passes through the dusty wake of previous comets. Each time a comet zips through the inner solar system, the sun boils off some of its surface, leaving behind a trail of debris. When the planet intersects with the old comet detritus, the result can be a spectacular show, with sometimes up to hundreds of meteors visible per hour. The debris that creates the Lyrid meteor shower originates from comet Thatcher. The Lyrids, best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, will be active from April 17 to 26.

Peak of Eta Aquariids meteor shower: May 3-4

The Eta Aquariids meteor shower, best viewed from the southern tropics, produces strong "persistent trains" of shooting stars. The shower is the first of two each year created by Halley's Comet debris. The celestial event will be active from April 20 to May 21.

Perseids meteors streak across the sky over Bishop, California, in 2024. Credit: NASA / Preston Dyches Peak of Delta Aquariids meteor shower: July 29-30

The Delta Aquariids are another shower best observed from the southern tropics. Conditions will be favorable for viewing meteors in the morning. Astronomers suspect the interacting debris causing the event came from the strange Comet Machholz. The event will be active from July 18 to Aug. 12. 

Peak of Perseids meteor shower: Aug. 12-13

The popular Perseids, made up of remnants of comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, is usually a spectacular show for the Northern Hemisphere. The meteor shower is active from July 17 to Aug. 23. But don't get your hopes up this year: Experts say the waning gibbous moon, more than 80 percent full, will allow only the brightest meteors to be seen. 

Astrobotic attempts moon landing, again: fall

Astrobotic Technologies tried to become the first commercial company to land on the moon last year, but it lost its chance just a few hours into the flight because of a fuel leak. The company will try again this fall with its Griffin lander. 

Originally, this mission was supposed to carry a NASA rover to drill for ice at the lunar south pole. But VIPER — short for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover — was cancelled due to cost overruns. Griffin will still launch without the rover as a flight demonstration of the lander and engines.

Peak of Orionids meteor shower: Oct. 22-23

The Orionids meteor shower marks the return of activity caused by Halley's Comet debris. In recent years, the displays have been pretty lackluster, but a waning crescent moon rising near dawn means moonlight won't obscure the shower in 2025. The celestial event will run from Oct. 2 to Nov. 12.

Peak of Southern Taurids meteor shower: Nov. 3-4

The Southern Taurids make up a complex meteor shower. Usually the displays are weak, but Taurid meteors are more numerous sometimes. Known as a "swarm year," 2025's event could offer more fireballs as Earth plows through a group of pebble-sized fragments from the Comet Encke. But given the moon's phase, there's a good chance moonlight will interfere with viewing most Taurids. Activity will go from Oct. 13 to Nov. 27. 

A Dream Chaser spaceplane, Tenacity, is expected to launch to the International Space Station in 2025. Credit: Sierra Space Peak of the Leonids meteor shower: Nov. 16-17

The Leonids are some of the fastest-moving meteors, traveling up to 44 miles per second. The debris that causes the show comes from Comet Tempel-Tuttle, but the displays are usually pretty weak. The exceptions are years when the showers become so-called "meteor storms," but that won't likely happen again until perhaps 2035. The shower will be active from Nov. 3 to Dec. 2. 

Peak of Geminids meteor shower: Dec. 12-13

Widely regarded as the best meteor shower of the year, the Geminids can be seen from most any part of the world, especially the Northern Hemisphere. The Geminids are denser meteors, allowing stargazers to see them as low as 29 miles above ground before the cosmic dust burns up. The shower will be active between Dec. 1 and 21.

This year the moon will have a waning crescent phase, which rises around 2 a.m. local time. Prior to that, views should be moon-free. You could glimpse bright meteors by facing a direction with the moon at your back, according to the American Meteor Society.

Peak of Ursids meteor shower: Dec. 21-22

The Ursid meteors are caused by debris from Tuttle's Comet, which orbits every 13 years. This shower, often overlooked because of its close timing to Christmas, can only be observed in the Northern Hemisphere. Because of a new moon at the shower's peak, moonlight won't interfere with the show. The event will be active from Dec. 16 to 26. 

Other possible missions in 2025

• The European Space Agency will send a satellite into orbit around the moon to serve as a communications relay for lunar navigation and telecommunications. Called Lunar Pathfinder, the satellite is expected to ride along with Firefly Aerospaces Blue Ghost vehicle. The Blue Ghost lander will continue to the moon's far side and deploy a communications terminal as well as a radio telescope experiment. The launch could happen as early as this year. 

• Sierra Space has been working on a spacecraft with the nostalgia of NASA's space shuttle program. Dream Chaser, a cargo space plane capable of runway landings, is set to launch for the first time to the International Space Station for a resupply mission sometime this year. 

• Following Intuitive Machines' second mission in early 2025, the company will also shoot for another later in 2025 or early 2026. If successful, the lunar landing mission, IM-3 or PRISM, will deploy rovers and study a so-called "lunar swirl."

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Whether you’re managing social media campaigns, brainstorming ad content, transcribing meetings, or translating text into multiple languages, Taskio has the tools to help simplify. Its AI-powered capabilities allow you to ditch some of the tedious work and focus on other matters.

No more scrambling to write SEO-optimized social posts, searching for the perfect image, or typing up hours of notes — Taskio was designed to do it all quickly, effortlessly, and with professional results.

Let’s say you need content for your brand’s next big campaign. Taskio can generate compelling, audience-targeted copy in seconds, freeing up your creative energy for strategy and planning. Need visuals? Its custom AI image generator produces eye-catching graphics at the click of a button. If you’ve got a brainstorming block, Taskio’s niche idea tools and keyword suggestions can jumpstart your inspiration.

For business owners and creators on the go, Taskio’s AI speech-to-text tool can really be a lifesaver. Whether you’re transcribing interviews, meetings, or podcasts, it delivers accurate text so you can skip the hassle of manual note-taking. Add in AI-powered translation tools to connect with global audiences, and you’re ready to take on the world — without the heavy lifting.

Get a lifetime subscription to Taskio for just $15.99 (use code HOLIDAY20 at checkout).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get two 4K drones for $99.97 and enjoy modular batteries, obstacle avoidance, and pro-level features for epic flights.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Dragon Ninja Dragon Phantom Eagle PRO 4K with Blade K Drone Bundle $99.97
$299.99 Save $200.02 Get Deal

Why settle for one drone when you can have two? This bundle of the Ninja Dragon Phantom Eagle PRO 4K and Blade K drones gives you not just one, but two feature-packed drones, ready to take your aerial adventures to new heights for $99.97 (reg. $299). For both first-time flyers and experienced pilots, these drones combine easy controls, advanced tech, and stunning 4K footage.

Equipped with dual cameras, these drones capture sharp, high-resolution video and photos from above. Use the obstacle avoidance feature to navigate tricky terrains with ease, and the one-key return ensures your drone makes it back safely every time. Plus, the six-axis gyroscope keeps your flights steady and smooth, even when conditions aren’t perfect.

The modular battery design lets you swap out batteries quickly for longer sessions in the sky. And if you want to get creative, try drawing custom flight paths — the drones will follow your directions for cinematic, hands-free shots.

Perfect for tech enthusiasts, content creators, or anyone looking for a fun new hobby, this bundle delivers two high-quality drones for the price of one. Capture breathtaking landscapes, create dynamic videos, or just practice your piloting skills with these drones.

Priced at $99.97, this deal on the Ninja Dragon Phantom Eagle PRO 4K and Blade K drone bundle is a steal for anyone looking to score two drones for the price of one.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Curiosity Stream’s lifetime subscription offers unlimited access to 1,000s of documentaries for only $159.97 (reg. $399).

Opens in a new window Credit: Curiosity Stream Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription $159.97
$399.99 Save $240.02 Get Deal

Looking for a way to stay entertained, informed, and inspired through the long winter months? Curiosity Stream can oblige.

With a lifetime subscription for just $159.97 (down from $399), you get unlimited access to thousands of stunning, high-quality documentaries that cover everything from science and technology to history, true crime, nature, and art. It’s the ultimate streaming platform for anyone who loves learning something new.

Founded by John Hendricks, the visionary behind Discovery Communications, Curiosity Stream is the go-to service for documentary lovers. Whether you’re a history buff who wants to explore ancient civilizations or a science geek fascinated by groundbreaking innovations, there’s something for everyone.

With on-demand streaming and downloadable content for offline viewing, you can dive into your favorite topics anytime, anywhere — no internet required.

It's like having an entire library of captivating documentaries at your fingertips without monthly subscription fees. With this lifetime deal, you’ll never run out of inspiring content to binge. Explore shows like Engineering the Future, Into the Jungle, and Planet of Treasures, all presented with breathtaking visuals and engaging storytelling. It’s really like having Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and History Channel rolled into one, but at a fraction of the price.

The Curiosity Stream Standard Plan gives you access to thousands of documentaries in crystal-clear HD (1920x1080), so you can enjoy an immersive experience on your TV, tablet, or phone. You can even bookmark shows to pick up where you left off or download content for offline viewing. And with new content added regularly, you’ll always have fresh stories to explore.

This offer is ideal for documentary enthusiasts, lifelong learners, and families who want meaningful screen-time experiences. Whether looking into the mysteries of deep time history, uncovering the wonders of the natural world, or geeking out over space exploration, Curiosity Stream brings the world to you.

Don't miss a lifetime of Curiosity Stream for just $159.97 (down from $399).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: No need for a time machine — turn any car into a smart ride with this wireless, 10-inch car display for $99.97 (reg. $199).

Opens in a new window Credit: Mesay 10-inch Touchscreen WiFi/Bluetooth Wireless Car Display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Support $99.97
$199.99 Save $100.02 Get Deal

Your car might not hit 88 miles per hour often, but that doesn’t mean it can’t feel like it belongs in the future. With this 10-inch wireless touchscreen car display, you can ditch the outdated dashboard and give your ride a $99.97 tech upgrade Doc Brown himself would approve of.

No flux capacitor required. Just plug it in and, great Scott, you’ve got Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at your fingertips. Stream music, pull up Google Maps, take hands-free calls, and send messages without fumbling with your phone. Everything runs seamlessly on the crisp, user-friendly 10-inch display, and you don’t even need roads (well, cords) thanks to its wireless connectivity.

WiFi and Bluetooth keep your setup clean and simple, while voice control ensures you stay focused on the road — or, you know, the space-time continuum. Whether you’re driving a 1985 DeLorean or a “modern” car that skipped the smart tech, this display works with virtually any vehicle, so no one gets left behind in the past.

So, hello, McFly, what are you waiting for? Great tech upgrades happen when you put the pedal to the metal.

On sale for $99.97, this 10-inch touchscreen wireless car display with CarPlay and Android Auto is the perfect way to bring your car out of the dark ages and into the future — no time machine required.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $10: As of Jan. 9, the Waterpik Cordless Pulse is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% saving on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Waterpik Waterpik Cordless Pulse $39.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal

As far as trending products go, we didn't expect to see water dental flossers going viral online. After kicking off on TikTok in 2024, we can only imagine that dentists are feeling a whole lot of relief that people are now taking flossing seriously.

A water dental flosser is a fantastic way to remove plaque and debris from hard-to-reach areas between teeth and along the gum line, and as of Jan. 9, you can get a great deal on the Waterpik Cordless Pulse Flosser at Amazon. Reduced by 20%, it's now $39.99. This deal is available in all three colors: gray, white, and blue.

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

This is a great all-rounder water flosser, featuring two tips and two settings (low and high) for your personal dental needs, a rechargeable battery, and a portable design that makes it handy for travel. It's even safe to be used in the shower. Waterpik is also the first water flosser brand to earn the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance for safety and effectiveness.

This flosser works by using PrecisionPulse technology to deliver a combination of water pressure and pulsations, removing plaque and bacteria from the teeth and gums. This helps reduce the risk of issues such as gingivitis, cavities, and bad breath.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Head to Amazon now to get this deal.