Feed aggregator

From Catastrophe to Bad Sisters, Sharon Horgan has proven herself adept at creating deeply human, deeply messy characters muddling through complicated lives. Her latest series,Youth on HBO, continues that trend with a tale of menopausal love and sex that's equal parts hilarious and vulnerable.

SEE ALSO: 2026 fall TV preview: Every show you should know about What's Youth about? Rupert Friend and Sharon Horgan in "Youth." Credit: Colin Hutton / HBO

Horgan plays Alex, a divorced literary agent dealing with the sheer onslaught of life at 50. She's taken on the role of caretaker twice over, looking after her ailing parents as well as her angst-ridden 18-year-old son, Ruari (Aran Murphy). As the latter heads off to university, Alex determines to put her own needs first and find the love and sex she's denied herself while he's been at home.

That quest proves difficult. After years of marriage, Alex is daunted by the prospect of starting her love life over at square one. As she weathers awkward courtships and gets accustomed to "new dick," she also confronts her body image issues tied to aging. In the very first episode, she learns she's got arthritis in her jaw. (You can imagine the off-color joke her doctor makes about her oral activities.) In a solid background running gag, she constantly buys new exercise equipment. Panic over her appearance abounds, especially when confronted with her on-again, off-again lover Patrick's (Rupert Friend) current, much younger fling, Cara (Nadia Parkes).

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Sept. 18, 2026)

And all that's before Ruari moves back home, mere days into his university career. His return, coupled with Alex's romantic and professional anxieties, sparks a perfect storm of awkward situations, like an Ibiza vacation where everyone is romantically paired off except for Alex and her son. Horgan brings every social misstep to life with deft frankness. Cringe comedy melds with earnest heart-to-hearts, putting us on an emotional rollercoaster that nails life's many ups and downs.

Youth thrives, thanks to imperfect relationships. Sharon Horgan and Aran Murphy in "Youth." Credit: Colin Hutton / HBO

Horgan is astounding in Youth: filthy, funny, flawed in all the right ways. So is the rest of the main ensemble, whose interactions with Alex result in a tangled web of relationships that each feel painfully real.

On the work front, Alex has the unique situation of her boss Sam (Sharlene Whyte) also being her best friend. Often times, they get along great, like when they're venting over a best-selling client's (Anne Reid) latest racy — and racist! — manuscript, or dishing on their relationships. When the power dynamic comes into play, though, Alex bristles and tends to buck Sam's authority. Whyte and Horgan's chemistry oscillates between playful and strained as needed, and the result is a solid addition to the canon of HBO's complex female friendships.

On the love front, Alex always seems to find her way back to Patrick. Described as "institutionally single," he's no perfect rom-com hero. Commitment eludes him, even though he wants to start a family. Yet Patrick's no dirtbag either. He's kind and invested in Alex, and Friend and Horgan's scenes together burn with such familiar intimacy you can't help but root for the pair. Look no further than a scene where they lay in bed, discussing Alex's estrogen patch. It's sweet, sexy, and honest, all rolled into a 30-second sequence.

But the relationship at Youth's core is that between Alex and Ruari. As Ruari, Murphy gives an explosive performance, careening between impulsive recklessness and pure apathy. He's just as likely to be making rash decisions in a club as he is to be watching video game playthroughs on his phone. Yet while Ruari begins the series by frequently lashing out at his mother, and Alex begins it in a near-constant state of frustration towards her son, the two inevitably grow closer. In fact, they become mirrors to one another, in all their self-sabotaging glory. Both are at a major turning point in their lives: Ruari stands on the precipice of adulthood, not quite ready to leap into what comes next. Alex is entering a new decade of her life, terrified at the baggage the number 50 brings, yet ready to embrace the freedom it might afford her.

With this dysfunctional mother-son duo, Horgan weaves two very different coming-of-age stories that prove that you never really stop growing up. And what a beautiful, frightening, and funny reality that is.

The first two episodes of Youth premiere Sept. 20 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Lizzie Borden. The name instantly conjures images of axes (or more accurately, hatchets), that 19th-century Greek Revival-style Massachusetts home, and children singing that creepy rhyme: 

Lizzie Borden took an ax / And gave her mother 40 whacks. / When she saw what she had done / She gave her father 41.

Though Borden was acquitted of the murder of her father and stepmother in 1893, the case has attracted armchair detectives and adaptations for more than 100 years. They range from Elizabeth Montgomery's Emmy-winning performance in 1975's The Legend of Lizzie Borden to Christina Ricci's Lifetime movie rendition in Lizzie Borden Took an Ax and its spinoff series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, and most recently, Chloë Sevigny's underrated turn in the 2018 sapphic thriller, Lizzie.

SEE ALSO: 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story' has scenes involving a 19th-century vibrator

Now, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's Netflix series Monster, which previously explored the controversial representations of killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ed Gein, takes on Borden's story. Here's what you should know about Lizzie Borden, the grisly crimes she was accused of, and how the Netflix series portrays her.

Did Lizzie Borden kill her parents? Portrait of Lizzie Borden (1860-1927). Credit: Getty Images / Bettmann

What actually happened the day of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden? The timeline has had true crime enthusiasts obsessed for decades.

According to historians, on the morning of Aug. 4, 1892, at 92 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts, Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, were found murdered in their home. Though the murder weapon was never found, it was clear to investigators that an axe or hatchet was used.

Lizzie Borden, Andrew's 32-year-old daughter, was tried for the murders. At the time, the only other person in the house was the Borden's Irish maid Bridget Sullivan, called "Maggie" by the Bordens, who gave her the name of their previous maid.

In her testimony, Lizzie claimed she'd been in the barn, walked into the house, and found her father's body in the living room. Then, she's said to have called for Bridget, who was allegedly napping in her room on the third floor, and told her to fetch a doctor. Her stepmother was found dead in an upstairs guest bedroom (you can actually stay the night in this 134-year-old crime scene, as the Borden house is now a macabre bed and breakfast).

In 1893, Borden was acquitted of the murders, though nobody else was ever convicted. To say the trial was colossal at the time is an understatement, and Borden herself testified on the stand. As historian Joseph Conforti writes, "The inquest, preliminary hearing, and Superior Court trial generated over 3,000 pages of testimony on the Borden murders," and news coverage was through the roof. Borden was not found guilty and was released (episode 7 of Monster follows Borden's arrest, imprisonment, and trial).

How does Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story portray the parties involved? Charlie Hunnam and Rebecca Hall as Andrew and Abby Borden in "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story." Credit: Netflix

For Monster, Murphy rallies go-to faces: Feud: Capote vs. The Swans' Ella Beatty portrays Borden, The Ed Gein Story's Vicky Krieps plays the Borden's housemaid Bridget Sullivan, and The Beauty's Rebecca Hall and previous Monster star Charlie Hunnam play Borden's parents.

Beatty's Lizzie is a sweet, smart, socially awkward, sexually oppressed woman who endures her parents' abuse while trying to maintain decorum. She's portrayed as a true romantic, whimsically gathering flowers and twirling while feeding her birds in a style that can only be described as Disney princess-like. She's also portrayed as a kleptomaniac, stealing her parents' belongings, which has become a myth about Borden.

Hunnam’s Andrew Borden is an undertaker and woodworker (in real life Andrew Borden was also a wealthy banker and textile investor). Hall portrays Borden's stepmother, Abby, as an immovably malicious person, treating her stepdaughter as inconvenient property and doling out hot liquid punishments on her maids. In Monster, the marriage is one of coldness, with Abby actually planning to leave Andrew in episode 4, a fabrication of the show.

Vicky Krieps as Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan and Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden in "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story." Credit: Netflix

One of the major players in the case is the only other person at home during the time of the murders: Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan, played by Krieps. Bridget's potential role in the Borden murders remains a historical question mark, yet in Monster, Bridget is extremely involved. Despite no historical evidence of it, Lizzie and Bridget’s relationship, like most screen interpretations of the story, is portrayed in Monster as an intimate lesbian love affair.

One of the only other suspects in the case, Joey Pollari plays Lizzie's uncle, John Morse, who stayed at the Borden's the night before the murders. Monster has John show up at the Bordens as a surprise brother of Andrew's late first wife, Sarah. He's portrayed as a money-seeking dirtbag, taking Andrew through his collection of knives, each named like Andrew's axes, then asking him for money to start a business.

In Monster, Lizzie's older sister Emma (played by American Horror Story's Billie Lourd) is portrayed as everything Lizzie isn't — engaged, popular, liked by their parents. In the real case, Emma was out of town during the murders, and the same occurs in Monster.

Another who features in the Netflix series is famed actor Nance O’Neil (played by Jessica Barden), who was indeed friends with Lizzie. However, Monster has the pair meeting in Fall River before the Bordens were murdered — in history, they met in Boston after Lizzie was acquitted — and the series has her train Lizzie in acting to ready her for her murder trial (which didn't happen).

How does Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story depict the Borden murders? Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden in "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story." Credit: Netflix

Monster gives Borden multiple motives for murder: a life of emotional abuse by her parents (especially her stepmother), her father's treatment of Bridget, Andrew leaving Lizzie out of his will (in real life, Andrew had no will, so Lizzie stood to inherit quite the fortune). When Abby kills her beloved birds (with an axe, of course), and her father doesn't support her grief, Lizzie makes her decision to murder them both. Given the real Borden pled not guilty, perhaps we'll never know if there was a motive or not.

The Netflix series actually shows the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden twice, as its opening scene and in episodes 4 (Abby's murder) and 5 (Andrew's murder). The opening sequence actually shows a closer version to what is theorised to have happened — Lizzie, working alone, descended from her bedroom, armed herself with an axe or hatchet, then first murdered Abby, who was straightening the guest room. Andrew arrived home downstairs, and is then murdered in the living room. We see this all play out without dialogue.

Featured Video For You Andrew Garfield on the meaning of 'no kings' in 'The Uprising'

Later, in episodes 4 and 5, Monster stages the Borden murders in a more elaborate manner, all throughout the house, being liberal with the timeline and events for dramatic effect. Unlike the real murder, Abby's death in Monster doesn't solely occur in the upstairs guest room, instead playing out as a violent chase from the front door of the house. In episode 4, Abby and Lizzie have an argument as she is leaving the Bordens — for good. In a fabricated conversation, Lizzie gives her stepmother home truths before chopping off her nose with a hatchet.

Despite the question mark around Bridget's involvement in the Borden murders, Monster has her play a crucial role. While historians say Bridget was seen washing windows during Abby's murder, in Monster, Bridget appears during the attack holding an axe (in episode 5, the show depicts Lizzie instructing Bridget to be seen washing windows to provide this historical alibi). Putting the murder back into historical events, Monster has Lizzie letting Abby run upstairs into the guest bedroom, where she's killed by Lizzie in a frenzy. Afterward, Lizzie and Bridget bury her dress in the forest (they don't burn it yet, like a witness said Borden did, leaving this action to later in the series after Andrew's death).

Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden, in the upstairs guest bedroom, in "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story." Credit: Netflix

Andrew's death is also portrayed differently to what historians believe happened, especially with how involved Bridget is in the scenes. 

In episode 5, Monster has Andrew returning to the house (whether it's on the same day, as happened, is unclear) and finding his wife's body upstairs — the latter of which did not happen in the real case. He's attacked not by Lizzie but by Bridget with an axe in the bedroom, then Lizzie intervenes, and there's a moment in which Andrew and Lizzie acknowledge her act. The pair then manage to shut Andrew in the basement, where he's left with an axe embedded in his shoulder, all while Lizzie and Bridget clean up the crime scene. Then, Monster has Lizzie battling her father in an axe fight that never happened, Andrew is killed in the living room, which actually happened. After Lizzie's attack, Monster then puts the hatchet in Bridget's hands for the final blows.

The last three episodes of Monster follow Borden's arrest, the police investigation, and the trial, which would take another article to unpack.

In the series finale, Monster has Borden at a dinner party recount all other theories and rumors around other suspects — from her uncle John to a random thief — as we see them played out on screen. Then, Lizzie describes the murders as "a random act of violence, no motive, someone just walked into my family's house and killed my dear parents with an axe."

Did Lizzie Borden try to poison her parents like Monster depicts? Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden in "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story." Credit: Netflix

The real Lizzie Borden was seen buying poison (prussic acid) the day before the murders, which led to her arrest on Aug. 11. Monster plays out the horrible fantasy of this decision in its early episodes. Bridget suggests to Lizzie they should use poison, with the series spending ample time showing how much Lizzie and Bridget know about the properties of plants.

Then, one of the series' grossest scenes, in episode 2, Monster actually hypothesizes Lizzie poisoning her parents with Bridget's help. Episode 2 sees the Bordens booting bouillabaisse all over their dining room, unknowingly purging the poison in their soup.

After their attempt fails, Monster has Bridget give Lizzie the idea of using an axe, not a knife or gun, to kill her parents — we literally see her training Lizzie to swing an enormous double-headed weapon. "An axe is the most personal way of killing someone," she says. "Put all your feelings in the swing. Make it personal and give it your signature."

Who was Bertha Manchester? Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden in "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story." Credit: Netflix

Controversially, Monster includes Bertha Manchester (played by Linda Reiter), a real Fall River woman who was murdered with an axe nine months after the Borden murders — and one week before Lizzie Borden's jury was chosen. Shockingly, in episode 3, Monster changes the order of events to actually make Lizzie Bertha's murderer, retaliating against Bertha's hateful, homophobic cat-o-nine-tails attack on Bridget. "Bertha Manchester's the first one we kill," says Bridget. "We have to make sure we know what we're doing, and that we have our courage." Essentially, Monster positions Bertha Manchester as their test run, with Lizzie doing the deed and the pair washing the blood off in a waterfall as The Doors' "The End" plays.

While Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story takes more than a few liberties with timelines and details, it wouldn't be the first of Murphy's Netflix anthology depicting famous true crime cases. And no, Aileen Wuornos never visited the Borden house.

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is now streaming on Netflix.

The world is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, and if you're still playing the franchise's popular mobile game Pokémon Go, one of the original 151 Pokémon is back with a fresh accessory.

As spotted on Reddit before being officially announced on X, Pokémon Go players can get a special version of Charmander wearing goggles by redeeming a Pokémon Go code on the game's website. Simply go to the website, sign in to your account, and put in the code "0004POKEMONGO" to start a series of activities that will eventually lead to an encounter with this special Charmander.

SEE ALSO: Owala’s exclusive Pokémon just dropped at Target: Shop Pikachu, Eevee, Charizard, and Gengar designs This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The event expires on Sept. 22, as it's a limited-time thing related to the Pokémon Horizons: The Series anime. (Those goggles belong to Professor Friede, if you must know.) According to Reddit, you'll have to do the following things to meet this Charmander:

1. Catch 10 Pokémon

2. Catch 20 Pokémon

3. Use 5 berries to help catch Pokémon

4. Make 10 Nice Throws

That all sounds straightforward enough. Go do that before next week and get yourself this cool little guy for your collection.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Father Time comes for us all, and landline phones are no exception.

Verizon announced on its website that it is seeking permission from the FCC to phase out traditional copper landline service. The post doesn't have a specific timeline, but local news outlet WWNY in Watertown, NY is reporting that customers are being told that it could happen by the end of November. The idea is to get rid of the older technology and replace it with fiber or wireless service for as many people as possible.

SEE ALSO: Verizon has some of the best iPhone 18 Pro deals: Here's how to cash in on the savings

Of course, there will always be people left behind by decisions like this, especially in rural or remote areas. Apparently, people were still using AOL dial-up internet before the company killed the service last year.

Verizon says customers will be given plenty of advance notice before being able to choose a modern FCC-approved solution, and things like emergency services will still be available. Customers will allegedly be able to keep their phone numbers, too. Lastly, Verizon said people who do not have access to a newer solution for whatever reason will be able to keep copper landline service until an alternative is identified.

While this is being positioned as a sort of modernization, it's also likely true that Verizon is doing this to save money. Maintaining an older copper network for what has to be an increasingly small customer base may not be worth it in the eyes of the company's accountants.

The decision will still need FCC approval.

SAVE 13%: As of Sept. 18, you can get the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo for $549, down from $629, at Amazon. That's a 13% discount, or $80 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo $549 at Amazon
$629 Save $80   Get Deal

If you're interested in becoming a content creator but aren't sure about the equipment or what to do first, you may want to check out DJI's creator line. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo has pretty much everything you need to get started: the Osmo Pocket 3 camera, the DJI Mic 2 transmitter, battery handle, and an Osmo mini Tripod.

SEE ALSO: The three best DJI products every creator could use in their tool kit

And right now, you can get it for $549, down from $629, at Amazon and Best Buy. (It's sold out on the official DJI website.) That's a 13% discount, or $80 in savings. While this isn't the lowest price we've seen for this combo (it was $512 in July), $80 is still a good chunk of change to save on your on-the-go studio setup.

The best thing about this kit is that it's designed for beginners (it's also a Mashable Choice award winner). "You don't need to be an experienced videographer to set up and start shooting with this camera," Mashable's tech editor, Timothy Beck Werth, writes in his review. Thanks to its three-axis mechanical stabilization, you can focus on what you're doing without worrying about your footage looking shaky. There's also a rotating touchscreen that flips between horizontal and vertical video in seconds.

Times columnist Kevin Roose sees reasons for optimism — and worry — as the world wakes up to what Silicon Valley has been talking about for years.

A new cat species has been formally identified for the first time in 100 years. Found in Bolivia, the Leopardus tilcayo has markings similar to a leopard, but is smaller than a domestic house cat. Unfortunately, while this tiger cat is undeniably cuddle-sized, it is not for cuddling.

SEE ALSO: Scientists accidentally created the cutest mouse in the world

Revealed in a paper published in Current Biology on Thursday, the diminutive Leopardus tilcayo is described as having "relatively large, irregular, dark brown to black rosettes" on its light brown fur, which darkens along its spine and lightens toward its limbs. The tiger cat is also adorably small, measuring just 425 to 505mm from its head to the end of its body, excluding its 250 to 265mm-long tail. (In comparison, the average domestic cat is around 460 to 510mm long, with a tail measuring 250 to 380mm.)

A tilcayo cat (Leopardus tilcayo) at Senda Verde in Coroico, Bolivia. Credit: Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark

Other than this, very little is known about the tilcayo. However, researchers state that this tiger cat was already known to locals in the Bolivian Yungas region, who called it "tilcayo."

"We asked the local people, 'Why do you call it tilcayo?'" the paper's co-lead author, Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, told National Geographic. "And they said, 'I don't know! My grandpa called it tilcayo, so I call it tilcayo."

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

The specific cat that helped Nogales-Ascarrunz and her team identify the new species had already been living in a Bolivian wildlife sanctuary for almost a decade. A local man initially found the male kitten on a road and cared for it at his home for about a year, believing it was an ordinary house cat. However, he eventually realised that it was in fact a wild animal, prompting him to hand it to the Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary in 2016.

They then contacted biologist Nogales-Ascarrunz, who mistakenly identified the cat as a Leopardus tigrinus, also known as an oncilla or northern tiger cat. However, upon subsequently reviewing her photos of the cat in 2019, she realised that it did not match images of other felines presumed to be of the same species.

DNA testing has now proved her suspicions correct, confirming that the cat is indeed an entirely new species. Nogales-Ascarrunz and her fellow researchers further noted that, compared to the oncillia, the tilcayo has "larger and more irregular flank markings, [a] longer and fuller tail, and irregular caudal blotches [near the tail]."

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

Affectionately named "Tigrino," Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary's resident tilcayo is the only known animal of his species to be in protective human care. As such, practically everything we know about tilcayos is in reference to Tigrino. However, now that researchers know what to look for, there is the chance that other previously misidentified tilcayo cats may be discovered.

The countries, along with Israeli firms, combined Chinese open-source A.I. models and A.I. agents for the campaigns, foreshadowing future online manipulation.

SAVE $30: As of Sept. 18, get Otterbox's new iPhone 18 Pro Defender Pro Case for $49.99. That saves you $30 on its $79.99 list price for 38% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Otterbox Otterbox Defender Pro iPhone 18 Pro Case $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Today is finally the day — the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are arriving in stores and into your hands. If you have the new iPhone or are planning to go out and grab one this weekend, don't forget to pick up a case for it. There's no bigger tech nightmare than dropping and cracking your brand-new phone. So if you're in the market, we spotted a deal just for you.

As of Sept. 18, get the Otterbox Defender Pro iPhone 18 Pro Case for just $49.99. That's $30 off the case's list price of $79.99, saving you 38%. That's some pretty substantial savings, especially when you just dropped a lot of money on a new phone.

Otterbox makes cases that are rugged and durable so that the case absorbs damage — not your phone. The brand's Defender Pro series provides maximum protection that's up to a military standard. It also has a grippy finish to hopefully prevent the number of drops you have to begin with. Plus, it's not bulky either.

Shop the Otterbox Defender Pro iPhone 18 Pro Case now for just $49.99 at Amazon and save $30.

It's iPhone launch day! Did you get a brand new iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max? Did you see John Ternus at the Apple store? If so, congratulations! Also, and this is very important, don't drop it.

Apple has shared just how much it's going to cost for the most common iPhone repairs for the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. And, let's put it this way, damaging your new iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max is going to cost you a pretty penny on top of what you just spent for the device itself.

Just how much? Here's what Apple said about iPhone 18 Pro repair costs

The cost of fixing a damaged iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max

Damaged the back glass of your new iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max? That'll cost you $159 to repair.

Dropped the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max and wrecked the rear cameras? Apple will fix that for a whopping $249.

Something wrong with the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max battery? Battery issues are usually covered under warranty this early in your smartphone's lifecycle, but if it's an issue caused by you, then Apple's charging $129 for the fix.

Apple can also fix your screen if you break or crack it. However, unlike the previous repairs, the cost of this one will depend on which device you have. Screen damage repair on the iPhone 18 Pro will cost a whopping $329. If the back glass is damaged along with the screen, then it'll cost $419 for the fix. Those same repairs will cost $379 and $469 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, respectively. Obviously, the fix for a much larger screen will cost you more.

Those seem to be the most common repairs, and if you must damage your new iPhone, you'd better hope it's one of those things that need fixing. If you did something unique to wreck your iPhone, those repairs, which Apple deems as "other damage," will set you back a whopping $849 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $899 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

And here's the TL;DR version:

• Battery service: $129

• Back glass damage: $159

• Rear camera damage: $249

• Screen damage: $329 ($379 for Pro Max)

• Screen and back glass damage: $419 ($469 for Pro Max)

• Other damage: Up to $849 ($899 for Pro Max)

iPhone 18 repair price vs. iPhone 17 repair price

If you're wondering how the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max repair prices stack up to the cost of fixing its predecessors, you may be surprised to find out that there's not much of a difference. Of course, the bodies of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max and the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are practically the same, so they likely require similar, if not identical, parts and labor costs to repair, so it makes sense. The one difference is the battery service repair, which Apple charges a mere $10 more to fix for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Everything Apple changed

So, if you're wondering if you should splurge on the new iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max or save some money by purchasing an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max, just know they cost basically the same exact thing to fix!

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: Live stream the 17th season of The Great British Baking Show for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

You know that summer is making way for fall when The Great British Baking Show returns to screens. Things are about to get a whole lot cozier. Which is what The Great British Baking Show, aka Bake Off, is all about — comforting, wholesome fun.

The Great British Baking Show pits Britain's best amateur bakers against each other in the iconic white tent. They battle it out — in the nicest possible way — by dazzling the judges with technical challenges and stow-stopper bakes.

This year, things will look a little different as longtime judge Prue Leith has departed the show. She's replaced by cookery show queen Nigella Lawson, who will judge 12 new bakers alongside Bake Off mainstay Paul Hollywood.

If you're interested in watching The Great British Baking Show in 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is The Great British Baking Show in 2026?

The 17th season of The Great British Baking Show starts on Sept. 22 in the UK. Episodes go live a few days later in the U.S.

How to watch The Great British Baking Show for free in 2026

The Great British Baking Show is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone worldwide can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to watch The Great British Baking Show from anywhere in the world.

Live stream The Great British Baking Show for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Stream The Great British Baking Show for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch episodes of The Great British Baking Show without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream a large chunk of the season before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free live streams on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream The Great British Baking Show for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $4.01: The new Apple AirPods 5 are down to $124.99 on Amazon. That’s a 3% discount on brand-new ANC hardware on release day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 5 $124.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $4.01   Get Deal

Preordering brand-new Apple gear usually means paying full retail price and waiting by your front door for the delivery truck. But Amazon is bending the rules just enough to make hitting "buy now" feel a little sweeter.

While you won't see dramatic clearance-rack strike-throughs on unreleased tech, Apple's new AirPods 5 are already seeing a quiet price drop. They technically sit at a $129 list price, but Amazon currently has them listed for $124.99 right out of the gate.

SEE ALSO: AirPods 5 review: Are these really open earbuds?

If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your daily earbuds, the AirPods 5 hit a really nice sweet spot. In her coverage for Mashable, Bethany Allard points out that "unlike the previous gen, both [AirPods 5 models] feature active noise cancellation — but this doesn't result in a price hike." Even at the base level, you get solid upgrades. Apple packed in "50% more active noise cancellation than the AirPods 4," an "improved transparency mode for a more natural sound," and an "updated adaptive EQ, which helps power better spatial audio."

Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking creates a theater-like soundstage across movies, music, and games. On top of that, it includes Live Translation and hands-free access to the upgraded Siri AI via Apple Intelligence.

Where it holds back compared to the $149 step-up version comes down to charging and battery. This base pair comes with an ultra-compact USB-C wired charging case — so you'll need to plug it in rather than using a wireless charging pad — and offers up to four hours of listening time per charge with ANC (or 20 hours total with the case).

Claim this early $124.99 deal on the new AirPods.

This isn’t like past iOS updates. Bridget Carey goes over the top seven features to try in iOS 27, which can make your iPhone feel brand new — even if you’re not getting the new iPhone 18 Pro that hits stores today.

Read more about iOS 27 features and updates: iOS 27 battery drain: What to know
Apple iOS 27 is out now: 8+ new features to try right away

Timecode chapters
0:52 New Siri AI in iOS 27
1:57 The new Siri app
2:04 Using Siri AI to find delivery information
2:21 Use Siri to find things in messages and emails
2:49 Set reminders and alarms with Siri AI
3:02 Find useful information on maps using Siri AI
3:28 Tips for using Siri AI
3:45 Siri mode in iPhone camera app
4:23 Make custom Wallet passes with iOS 27
5:18 Splitting the bill with Siri AI and Apple Cash
6:03 Set alarm and ringtone volume with iOS 27
6:24 Take a still photo from a video on iOS 27
6:50 New parental controls for iOS 27
7:37 Bridget gets ready for iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12 and AirPods 5

Video credits
Host: Bridget Carey
Scripted by: Bridget Carey
Producer: Carly Marsh
Camera: Carly Marsh, Bridget Carey, CNET Archive
Video editor: Carly Marsh
Thumbnail designer: Tharon Green

MOFT iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo accessories: Snap Fold for iPhone Duo $49.99 Pre-Order Here Snap Case MOVAS™ (iPhone 18 Pro / Max) $49.99 Shop Now Frame Case (iPhone 18 Pro / Max) $49.99 Shop Now Coffee Frame Case (iPhone 18 Pro / Max) $49.99 Shop Now Dynamic Folio for iPhone Duo $69.99 Pre-Order Here

Accessories maker MOFT has spent years turning origami folds into useful tools for your everyday carry — and now it’s bringing that same design style to Apple's newest hardware.

Apple just wrapped its massive "Surprise and Shine" launch event, officially dropping the long-rumored iPhone 18 Pro line and revealing Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. Between the Duo's dual-screen hinge design and the iPhone 18 Pro's massive new variable aperture camera module, keeping these high-end devices protected without adding extra weight is key.

Instead of thick, heavy plastic, MOFT uses clever folding shapes to build cases and stands that stay super thin and light. Beyond its updated protection for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the brand built a brand-new setup made specifically for Apple's foldable iPhone Duo.

Putting a card holder on a foldable phone like the iPhone Duo without blocking the camera or hanging off the edges is tricky. The Snap Fold fixes that with a footprint made strictly for the Duo's smaller back panel.

Made from smooth MOVAS™ vegan leather, it holds up to five cards without adding extra bulk. When you want to watch something hands-free on that gloriously unfolded screen, the whole thing flips out into a steady stand with several viewing positions.

MOFT updated its popular vegan leather case for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup by reducing weight and improving button feedback. The Snap Case MOVAS weighs just 0.98 ounces for the Pro and 1.20 ounces for the Pro Max, making it one of the lightest full-coverage MagSafe cases you can buy. It has softer, rounded edges that feel smoother in your hand, clickier silicone buttons, and a matching covered Camera Control button wrapped in textured MOVAS™ material.

Credit: MOFT

If you prefer a more minimalist vibe that does not hide your phone's metal frame, the Frame Case for iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max offers an open, barely-there feel. It leaves the sides exposed so you can hold the phone bare, but uses extra-strong TPU on the corners to absorb drops up to 3.9 feet (1.2 meters).

For a unique sensory twist on that same open layout, there is the Coffee Frame Case for iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max. It takes the super-thin shape of the regular Frame Case and uses an eco-friendly MOVAS™-E bio-based leather, replacing petroleum plastic parts with plant materials made from industrial corn and real recycled coffee grounds. That gives the case a rich coffee-brown look, a bumpy, textured grip, and a faint, warm, roasted smell when you hold it up close.

Credit: MOFT Credit: MOFT

Finally, for total coverage on Apple's foldable, the Dynamic Folio for iPhone Duo wraps both displays in smooth MOVAS™ vegan leather. At just 0.07 inches thin, its centered fold balances the device for an easy one-handed grip while doubling as a four-position stand for hands-free viewing.

Whether you need origami folds for your Duo or a case that smells like your morning brew, your new iPhone is officially covered. Shop the new collection today.

SAVE OVER $6: As of Sept. 18, select colors of the Torras Q3 Air iPhone 18 Pro Max case are on sale for $59.39 at Amazon. That's $6.60 off their typical price of $65.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Torras Torras Q3 Air for iPhone 18 Pro Max Case $59.39 at Amazon
$65.99 Save $6.60   Get Deal

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is officially available for Apple fans to buy. If you're hoping to grab the company's sleek new launch, it's worth looking into a phone case to keep it protected. It's a pricey investment, after all.

Thankfully, Amazon has some solid options to browse, including the Torras Q3 Air iPhone 18 Pro Max cases, which are on sale right now.

As of Sept. 18, a select batch of colors of the Torras Q3 Air iPhone 18 Pro Max case (shadow black, arctic blue, glacier sprint, and cosmic purple) have been marked down to $59.39. Compared to their usual price of $65.99, you're saving just over $6 through this deal.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free — how to claim

While color options are always a plus when buying a phone case, protection is also important. Thankfully, the Torras Q3 Air cases are durable. This case boasts drop protection that exceeds military-grade standards, thanks to its first-ever AirPro Airbag technology featuring a 100% air-dynamic cushioning structure.

It also has raised edges around the screen and camera that protect it from scratches and drops, so you can feel confident knowing your phone has some cushion to keep it safe. It also has a 360-degree rotating stand and can securely lock onto MagSafe accessories.

If you picked up the new iPhone 18 Pro Max, grab a Torras Q3 Air iPhone 18 Pro Max case to keep it protected and save a little cash in the process.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

CW: Sexual assault.

In a true Ryan Murphy curveball, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story not only features Borden but one of history's most infamous female serial killers, Aileen Wuornos.

In the fourth episode of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's Netflix series, we take time away from the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892 to meet Wuornos (played by Murphy regular Sarah Paulson). Hitchhiking in Florida in 1988, she's picked up by a man, introducing herself as Lizzie Borden. "Like the axe murderer?" he asks.

SEE ALSO: 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story' has scenes involving a 19th-century vibrator

In the scene, Paulson's Wuornos gleefully sings Suzi Quatro out loud then negotiates sex work with the driver. However, the encounter ends in bloodshed. Taken to an empty lot, Wuornos is sexually assaulted by the man, after which she shoots him dead with a pistol. In real life, Wuornos testified that she was raped by one of her victims. (A warning, this is not the only rape scene in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.) But Monster doesn't stop with the man's shooting, Paulson's Wuornos suddenly hacks at his penis with an axe in a blatant Borden association. It's gratuitous as hell.

Aileen Wuornos stays at the Borden house? Credit: Netflix

During the series, Wuornos is also shown as finding comfort and conviction in Borden's story, reading her biography aloud in a hotel room with her girlfriend, Shelby (Jessie Lee) — not Tyria Moore, Wuornos' real girlfriend. In a furious monologue in episode 4, Wuornos not only celebrates Borden as a feminist icon but as her direct inspiration for the seven killings she would go on to be arrested, jailed, and executed for.

"She gave the world a warning that women shouldn't stand for this shit anymore," Monster's Wuornos declares. "The way women are treated, still, to this day, that's why I'm gonna do something about it."

Monster goes even further into Wuornos' Borden obsession, with episode 5 seeing her staying in the Borden house, a 134-year-old crime scene which is now a macabre bed and breakfast. There's no evidence Wuornos visited the house at all. In a deeply inappropriate Ryan Murphy moment, Wuornos hallucinates Abby (Borden's stepmother) during sex with Shelby on the couch where Andrew (Borden's father) was murdered.

Disneyland for Aileen Wuornos. Credit: Netflix

Later in the episode, Wuornos takes heroin in Lizzie's room as a moment of "shooting up" solidarity. "Lizzie did, and so am I," she says, in a jaw-droppingly ridiculous moment. And in episode 6, Shelby and Wuornos celebrate their anniversary with a pizza on the dining table where Abby and Andrew's bodies were placed by police, before Wuornos has a ghostly fan encounter with Borden herself.

If all this sounds messed up, it is!

The connection between Wuornos and Borden is one forced by Monster, as a means to bring two notorious female killers (one acquitted, one executed) together in one show. The show champions both as murderers whose hands were forced by their treatment, particularly by men. It could also be a means for the showrunners to shoehorn Wuornos' story into the Monster series, instead of running a separate series like the controversial chapters on serial killers Jeffrey Dahmer and Ed Gein.

Considering Charlize Theron won an Oscar for portraying Wuornos in Patty Jenkins' 2003 film Monster, the titles will now sit side-by-side in streaming catalogues at least.

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is now streaming on Netflix.

If you have experienced sexual assault, you can call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access 24-7 help online by visiting hotline.rainn.org.

“It has been one of the fastest, most sudden shifts I’ve experienced.”

SAVE OVER $200: As of Sept. 18, the Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $549.98 at Amazon, its lowest-ever price. Compared to its full price of $799.99, you're saving $250.01.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop $549.98 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $250.01   Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days is still weeks away, but Amazon is already dropping robot vacuum deals.

If your home needs a little extra cleaning help this fall, Roborock's Qrevo 2 Pro robot vacuum and mop (which launched in the U.S. just last month) is on sale at its lowest-ever price.

As of Sept. 18, this sleek combo cleaner has been slashed from $799.99 to $549.98. Overall, that's about $250 in savings, which is a pretty sweet offer to jump on before the October Prime Day sale begins. However, keep in mind it is marked as a "limited time deal," so you don't have long to save.

SEE ALSO: We found 20 October Prime Day deals already live: Save on Fire tablets, Legos, Garmin, and members-only freebies

Roborock's latest launch is a powerful pick for cleaning your floors. Hair, crumbs, and dust are no match for its 20,000 Pa HyperForce suction, and the cleaner even automatically boosts suction on carpets to clear up lodged debris. There's no need to worry about hair tangles, as it features an anti-tangle side brush and DuoDivide main brush to help minimize hair wrap.

This robot vacuum features a FlexiArm Edge Mopping System that helps reach edges and get in as close as 1.85mm along walls. It even lifts the mopping module up to 15mm when it hits carpet, so there's no need to worry about your textile floors getting wet as the cleaner moves around the house. Plus, it comes with Obstacle Avoidance technology that helps it navigate around objects on the floor.

If it's caught your eye, be quick to save on the Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro robot vacuum and mop at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: Apple TV is broadcasting tonight's Giants vs. Dodgers game live using 14 iPhone 18 Pros hidden throughout Dodger Stadium. Stream the season finale of Friday Night Baseball tonight, Sept. 18, at 7:15 p.m. PT / 10:15 p.m. ET exclusively on Apple TV.

Last year, Apple tested out four iPhone 17 Pros at Fenway Park (one of which actually ended up in the Baseball Hall of Fame). Fast forward to tonight — Apple is taking that exact experiment and turning it up for the iPhone 18 Pro launch. Instead of just four phones, they're deploying 14 iPhone 18 Pros connected to a dedicated private 5G network inside Dodger Stadium.

If you're tuning into the season finale of Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV, expect a pretty cool tech flex. For tonight's rivalry matchup between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, crew members are embedding those pocket-sized devices all over the ballpark to stream live footage from tight, wild vantage points that traditional TV cameras simply can't reach.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free — how to claim How to watch

• When — Friday, Sept. 18 at 7:15 p.m. PT / 10:15 p.m. ET

• Where — Streaming live exclusively on Apple TV (Friday Night Baseball)

• Who can watch — Anyone with an Apple TV subscription across 60 countries and regions, completely free of regional blackout restrictions.

The real draw here isn't just that Apple is using phones to record a live sporting event — it's where those phones are going. Standard broadcast rigs weigh dozens of pounds and require dedicated mounts or massive crane arms. The iPhone 18 Pro, on the other hand, is tiny enough to hide in plain sight.

• Inside the pitch clock — Giving viewers a high-stress, front-row look at the pitcher’s countdown.

• Behind the home plate backstop — Capturing catcher reactions and terrifyingly close 100 mph fastballs.

• Mounted on the foul poles — Perfect for down-the-line fair-or-foul calls.

• Deep inside both bullpens — Tracking warm-up pitches and nervous late-game relief pitchers.

Streaming high-bitrate video while 50,000 fans clog stadium cellular towers is no easy task — so Apple partnered with T-Mobile to deploy a dedicated Private 5G Network inside Dodger Stadium.

Eight of the 14 iPhones will feed live game action straight into the broadcast control room over this isolated wireless network, guaranteeing zero video lag, no dropped frames, and seamless switching between traditional cameras and the iPhone feeds.

The remaining six iPhones will be hand-carried by operators roaming the stadium floor — acting as "cinematic" cameras to capture pre-game batting practice, player walk-outs, dugout high-fives, and the general electric atmosphere of a classic Dodgers-Giants showdown.

SEE ALSO: Best iPhone 18 Pro deals: Get a free phone from AT&T, T-Mobile, Visible, and more

The timing here is hardly a coincidence. The iPhone 18 Pro official release hits shelves today, and Apple is essentially treating a prime-time MLB game as a live-action demo reel.

The broadcast will take full advantage of the new 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, allowing the lenses to auto-adjust as the natural twilight over Los Angeles transitions into the bright, harsh artificial floodlights of Dodger Stadium.

If you want to see whether a pocket-sized smartphone can hold its own against multi-million dollar television gear, make sure to log into Apple TV before first pitch tonight.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Hobbit Bundle is on sale for $59.99 at Amazon, down from its $69.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle $59.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal

It’s been a while since MTG’s Hobbit expansion came out, but a new price drop on the dedicated bundle box gives any trading card fan a great reason to jump in and catch up. 

As of Sept. 18, the Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle is $59.99 at Amazon, down 14% from its $69.99 list price. Better still, it’s shipped and sold by Amazon itself, rather than coming through a third-party seller. The retailer estimates free delivery for Sept. 25-26 at the time of writing, but keep in mind that sales will be final and there will be no returns. 

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration ETB is way under market price on Amazon — buy for under $90 (if you get an invite)

What’s more, this new drop means you’re getting Amazon's lowest-ever price for MTG’s The Hobbit Bundle — confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel. Amazon is even undercutting dedicated trading card selling site TCGplayer, with its lowest price dropping only to $62.44 at the time of writing. Amazon’s new price is only $1.34 above the current market price of $58.65. 

There’s plenty packed into the box for the money. You’re getting nine 14-card The Hobbit Play Boosters, an alternate-art traditional foil promo, 34 land cards, an oversized Spindown life counter, two reference cards, and a storage box. 

Among those lands are four traditional foil full-art seasonal Hobbit cards and 10 full-art Middle-earth Journey lands.