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TL;DR: Live stream Arsenal vs. Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Carabao Cup might not be the ultimate priority for the top teams, but the chance to take home a trophy is always something to take seriously. And we're at the semi-final stage now, so the remaining four teams have a significant chance of winning the competition.

If you want to watch Arsenal vs. Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Arsenal vs. Newcastle United?

Arsenal vs. Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup starts at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 7. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Stadium.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Newcastle United for free

Arsenal vs. Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Arsenal vs. Newcastle United by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream Arsenal vs. Newcastle United for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Arsenal vs. Newcastle United without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the semi-final matchup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, 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 so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Arsenal vs. Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Summon your squad for this bit of CES 2025 news: Helldivers 2 is being made into a movie.

Announced during Sony's keynote at the consumer tech event, Arrowhead Game Studios' wildly popular 2024 co-op shooter game will be adapted for the big screen.

"We are excited to announce we are working with Sony Pictures on developing a film adaptation of our amazingly popular PlayStation game Helldivers 2," said Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions, during the presentation. No director, cast, or writers have been announced as yet.

SEE ALSO: Sony announces 'Ghost of Tsushima' anime series

It shouldn't be too much of a stretch to imagine what a Helldivers 2 movie would look like considering how much the game clearly draws from Paul Verhoeven's cult 1997 film Starship Troopers. But if you've played the game (which we absolutely loved), you'll know we're in for a sci-fi adventure in which "peacekeeping" shock troopers must work together to defend Super Earth from hordes of invading alien bots and other creatures. It also quickly becomes apparent that this Earth is a totally fascist planet deluding itself into believing it's a "Managed Democracy."

The Helldivers 2 film is one of a number of adaptations announced by Sony at CES, including film productions of Horizon Zero Dawn and Until Dawn, and an anime series based on Ghost of Tsushima — not to mention the release window for The Last of Us Season 2.

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.

As CES 2025 innovations roll in, we're keyed into the intersection of product launches. Nvidia kicked off CES with a highly anticipated keynote that unveiled the brand's next generation of graphics cards, the GeForce RTX 5000 series.

While there's plenty of excitement around this innovation in graphics, Alienware's CES announcement is putting the Nvidia graphic cards to use.

Dell's flagship gaming brand debuted its most advanced monitor yet, already lauded at CES. Plus, the brand is reviving its Area-51 line-up, catering to gamers seeking out the most advanced tech. Here's everything announced by Alienware at CES 2025.

Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED Monitor Alienware's latest monitor is a CES 2025 Innovation Award honoree. Credit: Alienware

A recipient of the CES 2025 Innovation Award, comes the Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED monitor. Composed of organic light-emitting diodes, this monitor offers some of the highest pixels per inch at 166ppi in addition to its astounding 240Hz refresh. It's a feat of the latest technology available, delivering precise visual clarity and advanced speeds,

The 4K (3840 x 2160) display caters especially to gaming content creators. In addition to offering better cable management and 360-degree ventilation, the monitor comes with Creator Mode to switch between color spaces as you simultaneously play and produce content.

The Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED monitor is expected to hit the market in March of 2025, priced at $899.99.

Area-51 Desktop The Alienware Area-51 desktop makes it easier to upgrade your tech for years to come. Credit: Alienware

Alienware is reviving its Area-51 collection, showcasing the brand's most advanced features and powering up Nvidia's latest graphics. Leading the charge is the Alienware Area-51 Desktop, an 80L tower taking its place as the brand's new flagship PC. It comes outfitted with industry-standard components that are both easily replaceable and serviceable. Users can customize the motherboard, power supply, CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, and fans. Plus it supports Nvidia's latest graphics, also announced at CES, as well as an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU. To make things easier, QR codes included within the device link to tutorials on how to swap out each component.

This desktop is engineered with a positive pressure design for a 13 percent cooler and 45 percent quieter operation. With three different-sized fans inside to cool systems, internal gaskets within the chassis create a seal to build positive pressure, which then expels exhaust through the back of the tower. This new system doesn't include an exhaust fan, yet this innovative design is said to push out 25 percent more air.

This customizable desktop, made for the most passionate of gamers, is expected to debut in late Q1 of 2025. It will launch at $4,499, with other configurations available at a later date.

Alienware Area-51 Laptops Alienware's Area-51 gaming laptops have a Northern Lights-inspired design. Credit: Alienware

For something more portable but nonetheless stacked with tech, look to Alienware's Area-51 laptops. Coming in 16- and 18-inch models, they're designed with 35 percent better airflow that also claims to be 15 percent quieter. The latest design is inspired by the Aurora Borealis, with fluid lighting effects for a radiant look. Plus, a clear Gorilla Glass window on the bottom of the laptop lets you look inside the machine.

Like the Area-51 desktop, these laptops come with Nvidia's latest graphics and can be figured with a CPU as advanced as the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX. Not to mention, these laptops will offer configurations with up to 12TB of storage.

Also expected to hit the market in late Q1, entry-level models will start at $1,999, however, launch configurations will kick off at $3,199.

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.

If you spent hours mastering the art of the samurai and composing haikus as Jin Sakai in Ghost of Tsushima, you'll want to sit and meditate on this news: Sony has confirmed that Sucker Punch's epic 2020 action-adventure game is now being adapted into an anime series.

Announced at CES 2025 by Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions, an anime series based on Ghost of Tsushima is set to launch on Sony-owned platform Crunchyroll in 2027.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025 highlights: What we've seen so far

Titled Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, the series is not based on Sakai's story, but instead will draw from the Legends multiplayer cooperative platform within the game. No further information has yet been revealed about the storyline.

Ghost of Tsushima players might remember stumbling across Gyozen, the Legends Storyteller, all across the Mongol-dominated map of feudal Japan. These stories, which allow you to choose between Samurai, Hunter, Ronin, or Assassin roles, include more magical elements than the main narrative, incorporating creatures from Japanese mythology ranging from monsters to the undead.

According to IGN, Ghost of Tsushima: Legends will be the first ever anime adaptation of a PlayStation Studios game. The series will be directed by Takanobu Mizuno, written by Gen Urobuchi, animated by Kamikaze Douga, and co-produced with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's Aniplex.

You can watch Sony's CES announcement here:

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends is one of a number of adaptations announced by Sony at the consumer tech event, including film adaptations of Horizon Zero Dawn and Helldivers 2 — not to mention the release window for The Last of Us Season 2.

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.

The journey of Acer's latest eco-conscious laptop begins in the brackish waters near its home base in Taiwan.

The tech company announced on Monday a next-generation Aspire Vero 16 that's made partially out of oyster shells, which have been cleaned, crushed, and mixed with a blend of more than 70 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. (You best believe it's a world's first.) Acer showcased the PC ahead of CES 2025, and it'll be available for purchase this April starting at $799.99.

SEE ALSO: Trying the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 at CES 2025: A Switch and a gaming laptop have a huge baby Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Eric Ackerson, Acer's associate director of product marketing, told Mashable in a demo that the reasoning behind Acer's decision to make a laptop with oysters was twofold: They're in abundance in its headquartered country, and they were easy to incorporate with the PCR it was already using in previous generations of the Aspire Vero 16. (The last iteration was made from 60 percent recycled plastic.)

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

For what it's worth, you wouldn't know the Aspire Vero 16 was made from armor of dead molluscs just by looking at it. It's chassis is smooth, gray, and lightly speckled up close — pretty minimalist, aside from a pearlescent Acer logo at the top of its lid. A press release notes that it meets a military-grade durability standard for shock resistance and overall ruggedness.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Underneath all that oyster, the Aspire Vero 16 runs on hot-off-the-press Intel Core Ultra 200H (Arrow Lake) processors with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. All things considered, we're jonesing to test it: Its predecessor's battery and performance kind of shucked.

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.

"Today we are announcing our next generation: the RTX Blackwell family."

What a way to open CES 2025, Jensen Huang.

Nvidia's newest GeForce RTX graphics cards may have leaked extensively ahead of the consumer tech event, but that doesn't make the company CEO's official announcement any less exciting for gamers, crypto miners, and people who do AI stuff.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025 highlights: What we've seen so far

During the PC hardware titan's CES keynote on Monday night, Nvidia finally pulled back the curtain on its highly anticipated RTX Blackwell 50-series graphics cards. The company confirmed the lineup will include the 5070, 5080, and 5090, with launch dates kicking off later this month.

Unsurprisingly, the cutting-edge performance won’t come cheap: the flagship 5090 starts at $1,999, followed by the 5080 at $999, the 5070 Ti at $799, and the 5070 at $549. That said, the 5070 and 5070 Ti are shaping up to be absolute bargains, packing 4090-level performance at a fraction of the price.

On the spec sheet, NVIDIA's RTX 50-series is an absolute beast. It boasts a staggering 4,000 TOPS, 380 RT TFLOPS, and 125 Shader TFLOPS, powered by an incredible 92 billion transistors. The card features G7 memory and delivers an eye-watering 1.8TB/s of memory bandwidth. Adding to its next-gen prowess is an AI-management processor, designed to optimize performance and efficiency in ways we’ve yet to see fully explored.

This story is developing...

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.

CES 2025 has brought us some major information about Sony and Honda's collab electric vehicle, AFEELA, and wow it's a doozy. The AFEELA 1, a sleek EV five years in the making, is set to hit the streets — but only if you’re in California and ready to shell out a cool $89,900.

Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) revealed pricing and preorder details for the AFEELA 1 lineup at their CES press event. The base model, AFEELA 1 Origin, will start at the aforementioned $89,900, while the premium AFEELA 1 Signature model will set you back $102,900.

SEE ALSO: Sony and Honda are teaming up to build electric cars The three avalible colors of the Afeela Signature 1: Core Black, Tidal Gray, Calm White. Credit: Sony Honda Mobility Group

Both models include AI-powered personal assistant AFEELA Personal Agent, "optimally placed speakers" with Sony's 360 Spatial Sound Technologies, 5G connectivity, and a three-year subscription to AFEELA Intelligent Drive. You can also take your pick from Tidal Gray, Calm White, or Core Black, with the Signature trim adding Black or Gray interior choices.

Interestingly, SHM is limiting availability to California drivers for now. If you’re in the Golden State and have $200 to spare, you can place a refundable deposit to reserve your spot. However, you'll still have to wait a while before taking your AFEELA for a spin. SHM CEO Yasuhide Mizuno has clarified that while the prototype is "near final," deliveries of the Signature 1 aren’t expected until 2026, with the Origin following in 2027.

AFEELA isn’t done making waves at CES just yet either. SHM has another press conference lined up to dive into the customer experience and offer hands-on demos of their tech-packed EV when the show floor opens on Tuesday.

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for January 7 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 7, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Useful to get from point A to point B.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter A appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

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

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

ATLAS.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 7

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 7 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Sing out

• Green: Fistful

• Blue: Pageturners

• Purple: Doubled or tripled expression

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

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

• Yellow: Vocal music

• Green: A handful of

• Blue: Book subtitles

• Purple: __ is (is _)

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #576 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Vocal music: A CAPELLA, BARBERSHOP, DOO-WOP, MADRIGAL

• A handful of: A FEW, CERTAIN, SOME, VARIOUS

• Book subtitles: A LIFE, A NOVEL, ESSAYS, PART ONE

• __ is (is _): A DEAL, A ROSE, ENOUGH, LOVE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 7

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

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

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

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Used after getting hurt

• Green: Data tracked in MLB

• Blue: Home to football teams

• Purple: Basketball leaders

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

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

• Yellow: Worn after an injury

• Green: Baseball stat abbreviations

• Blue: NFL stadiums

• Purple: NBA coaches

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #106 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Worn after an injury - BRACE, CAST, SLING, SPLINT

• Baseball stat abbreviations - AB, LOB, WAR, WHIP

• NFL stadiums - ALLEGIANT, NRG, SOFI, SOLDIER

• NBA coaches - FINCH, LUE, NURSE, RIVERS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

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

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

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 7 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 7 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Front women

These words are famous 'ladies.'

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words identify well-known things, or people, that include the word 'Lady' in their name.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Ladies.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 7

• Finger

• Slipper

• Bird

• Gaga

• Liberty

• Bunny

• Marmalade

• Ladies

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

CES 2025 hit us with a curveball when Naughty Dog Studios' creative director Neal Druckmann unexpectedly stepped onto the Sony press conference stage to drop a brand new trailer for The Last of Us Season 2 — and yeah, it’s as intense as you’d hope.

It's the latest in a few teasers dropped over the last few months. In this one, not only do we get to see our favorite post-apocalyptic duo, Joel and Ellie (Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey), back in action, but we also learned that the new season is set to premiere on Max this April — with the exact date to come.

This time around, Season 2 dives deep into the emotionally charged storyline of The Last of Us Part II, following Ellie’s relentless quest for revenge after a devastating act of violence shakes her world. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, the trailer gives us another haunting glimpse of Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, a character shrouded in mystery but carrying some major emotional baggage — especially when it comes to Joel.

Samsung is set to reveal its new Galaxy S phone series in two weeks, with the company announcing that it will host its next Unpacked event on Jan. 22.

The follow up to Samsung's current Galaxy S24 model, the Galaxy S25 range is expected to be revealed in the showcase staged in San Jose, along with other gadgets, wearables, and more. The date for Samsung's Unpacked event had previously leaked, but the company officially confirmed it with a brief yet undeniably jazzy teaser on Monday (which also hinted at a new and improved Bixby).

Samsung Unpacked will be streamed live on Samsung's website and YouTube channel at 1 p.m. EST / 10 a.m. PST.

Samsung's S25 flagship models likely to be revealed are the Samsung Galaxy S25, Samsung Galaxy 25+, and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Mashable's Stan Schroeder previously reported on leaked beta software containing the model numbers of all three.

The company will also lean heavily on revealing new Galaxy AI features for its smartphone series and other devices at Unpacked. As Samsung's press release vaguely teased, "The next evolution of Galaxy AI is coming and it’s going to change the way you interact with the world every day." Of course, there have already been leaks about what these AI features could be.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked, including Galaxy AI and Galaxy Ring

We also know that Samsung is reportedly working on (at least) three new foldable phones for 2025, though whether they'll be announced at Unpacked remains to be seen.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here's everything Samsung revealed at its Galaxy Unpacked event last year, including the Samsung Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and more.

And in the meantime, Samsung has plenty of reveals now happening at CES 2025, where Mashable is on the ground.

Mr. White, a close ally of President-elect Donald J. Trump, further strengthens the social media giant’s connections with the incoming administration.

CES 2025 is filled with weird, new robot vacuum innovations. Dreame, a Chinese tech company, has unveiled its new X50 Ultra, a "stair-climbing" robot vacuum. But before you start dreaming (pun intended) of a bot that can clean your steps, here’s the reality: the X50 Ultra doesn’t actually climb stairs.

SEE ALSO: Samsung at CES 2025: You can't escape the smart house

Well, not exactly.

The X50 Ultra can "climb" only if your stairs are about two inches tall, which might make it more accurate to call it a threshold-hopper. Dreame’s North American PR team is marketing it as the "robot vacuum that can literally climb stairs" (their emphasis, not ours). That claim feels a bit overblown, considering the X50 Ultra’s actual capability is more about navigating small obstacles like cords or the lip of a doorway — tasks powered by Dreame’s ProLeap System technology.

Even so, two inches is more than double the threshold clearance height of most robot vacuums on the market. It may not be enough for a full step, but it's nothing to sneeze at.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to test the X50 Ultra’s ability to handle thresholds due to Wi-Fi issues. Still, despite its exaggerated marketing claims, the X50 Ultra looks like a solid contender based on its specs. It boasts up to 20,000Pa of suction power, a HyperStream Detangling DuoBrush for tangle-free cleaning, and a 360-degree scanning sensor for smooth, efficient navigation.

You’ll still need to manually carry your robot companion up stairs considering that its navigational abilities are limited to thresholds just over two inches high. But if you’re after a premium robot vacuum that’s great at handling obstacles on flat floors without getting stuck, the X50 Ultra might be worth considering.

The Dreame X50 Ultra will be available for pre-order on Jan. 7 for $1,699 and launches on Valentine's Day 2024.

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.

AI-powered TVs are here, whether you really want one or not.

Google unveiled its new TV operating system at CES 2025, promising many AI offerings. For what it's worth, Google is far from alone — as Mashable's Cecily Mauran pointed out, AI-powered TVs are one of the big trends of CES 2025. 

Here are three things the Gemini-enhanced TVs will reportedly be able to do after its planned release later this year.

1. Chat with your TV

Ever struggle to find that one movie you're looking for? Google seems to think Gemini can help there.

It wrote in a blog post about the new TVs:

"You and your family will be able to gather together and have a natural conversation with your TV. This will make searching through your media easier than ever, and you will be able to ask questions about travel, health, space, history and more, with videos in the results for added context."

The idea is that you can use Gemini to ask your TV questions, access specific content, or perform other tasks.

2. Read the news to you

As TechCrunch noted, the new Gemini TVs will be able to read you a daily news brief it generates after "the AI assistant [scrapes] news stories from across the internet and YouTube video headlines posted by trusted news channels." That seems neat on its surface, but it is also a bit troubling considering all the trouble AI tools — Google's included — have had with getting basic facts correct.

SEE ALSO: How a Monday Night Football mishap may have exposed deep problems with Google Search 3. Know when you're around

The new TVs will be outfitted with sensors that can tell when you're nearby, prompting the TV to "show 'personalized and informative widgets' with the weather or news stories," the Verge noted.

You might never need to ask Alexa the temperature outside again.

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.

Samsung kicked off CES 2025 with a splashy media day before the shows open — pulling top-tier tech reporters into a private event to unveil its latest lineup of Bespoke AI smart appliances. Held at the glitzy Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, the showcase made one thing abundantly clear: Samsung wants AI to power everything in your home.

SEE ALSO: The 6 most WTF robots at CES 2025

Backed by the trio of Samsung Knox, Bixby, and SmartThings, the company has envisioned an AI experience designed to be user-friendly, energy-efficient, and, most importantly, focused on helping you take care of yourself. Think Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, but with an oven that can pinpoint exactly how hot your turkey is.

For context, Samsung Knox is the company's mobile security platform; Bixby is Samsung's AI voice assistant, and Smart Things is the device hub that provides the interconnectivity between all the appliances. These are devices such as the SmartThings Hub, Motion Sensor, and Camera.

Credit: Chance Townsend / Mashable

Samsung showcased a sprawling ecosystem of connected devices. From ovens and refrigerators to washer/dryer combos, vacuums, and even HVAC systems, the company’s lineup is designed to integrate seamlessly — at a cost. Even the PR rep we spoke to admitted they couldn’t afford the AI-powered utopia Samsung envisions for its customers.

SEE ALSO: 5 new gadgets from CES 2025 that you can actually buy right now

The most connected of the bunch is the new fridge, equipped with AI Vision technology and internal cameras that track everything going in and out. Integrated with Instacart’s product-matching system, it can recommend items to replenish and let you place an order with just a few taps. You can even browse your grocery list directly on the fridge’s touchscreen and arrange for same-day delivery, turning your kitchen into a high-tech command center.

In addition to Bixby’s voice assistant enabling hands-free control, Samsung has offered a clear peek into its ambitious “screens everywhere” vision for the modern home, where every appliance is part of an interconnected, AI-driven ecosystem.

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.

Another CES, another new handheld gaming console. Except Acer's Nitro Blaze 11 isn't your average Steam Deck competitor.

The Taiwanese tech company announced the portable PC Monday ahead of the massive annual trade show in Las Vegas, a new entry in its Nitro series of handheld gaming devices. It's huge in size but shockingly light, with a detachable controller design that makes it feel an awful lot like a Nintendo Switch on steroids — with the added twist of some laptop functionality.

SEE ALSO: 5 new gadgets from CES 2025 that you can actually buy right now

Mashable got to go hands-on with the Nitro Blaze 11 just before launch, and while it swings a bit toward "who is this for?" territory, it's an incredibly cool and versatile gadget for the right kind of user with cash to burn.

How the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 feels to use That's the smaller, also-new Acer Nitro Blaze 11 in the background on the right. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

It simply must be said: At over 14 inches wide and nearly seven inches tall, this thing is gigantic — massive, hulking, jumbo, beefy, majestic even. It gives Apple's largest iPad Pro a run for its money. It dwarfs my hands, and these puppies used to be able to stretch a full octave on a standard piano.

Yet, the Nitro Blaze 11's dimensions are slightly deceptive. Picking it up for the first time is a disarming experience: It weighs only 1,050 grams, or about 2.3 pounds. I can't believe how light it is; it's surprisingly comfortable to hold. A big win for gamers' wrists everywhere.

SEE ALSO: CES 2025 highlights: What we've seen so far

It's especially impressive when you consider the amount of power the device packs. Inside, there's a laptop-tier AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor with 16GB of RAM and an NPU that can hit up to 39 trillion operations per second (TOPS) in AI tasks. That's coupled with AMD Radeon 780M graphics and up to 2TB of storage. I should note that it got pretty hot on the back just sitting on its pedestal in Acer's media showroom.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Nitro Blaze 11 isn't rated for battery life just yet, but an Acer rep told me there's probably a reason for that: "It's not something to boast about." Not entirely surprising, all specs considered.

The device's display is an immersive 10.95-inch touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. It's an IPS display, not OLED like the ones on the latest Steam Deck and Switch, but it looks fluid and plenty vibrant in person. (It's rated at 500 nits of brightness.)

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

On either side of the screen are two detachable controllers, which slide easily out of their slots and click satisfyingly back into place. Both of them have a joystick with a colorful lit-up border; there's a D-pad below the left one and action buttons above the right. They feel a little plasticky but well-made overall, and the joysticks' movement is silky smooth. They feature magnetic Hall Effect technology (as are their triggers), so the long-term stick drift issues that plague the Switch should be a non-issue here.

In a Nintendo similarity, the backside of the Nitro Blaze 11 has a kickstand that lets you switch (!) to playing it in tabletop mode. It's sturdy and stays in place when not in use. When I pointed out the Switchiness of the Nitro Blaze 11's design, Acer's rep remarked, "It works."

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Here's where we start veering away from Switch territory: The Nitro Blaze 11 runs on Windows 11 and comes with some fixings that make it usable as a laptop alternative. There's a front camera situated at the very top of its display, for instance, and users can connect it to peripherals like a keyboard via Bluetooth or its USB-A port. It doesn't feel like a total laptop replacement, but if you need to hop on a quick Zoom call or write up an email and it's the only device you have on you, you're not SOL.

Acer Nitro Blaze 11 price and release date Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Acer's rep told me that the company hasn't quite defined its target audience for the Nitro Blaze 11 just yet, but younger commuters in Asia who want a discreet way to play PC games on the go are top of mind.

I'm sort of stuck on the same issue. With a starting price of $1,099, I think a standard gaming laptop would be a wiser purchase for most people. At the same time, I want one. It's sick. It's slick. And sometimes awesomeness trumps practicality.

The Nitro Blaze 11 launches in Q2 2025 alongside the smaller new Acer Nitro Blaze 8 ($899), which has an 8.8-inch 144Hz display; it omits its bigger sibling's detachable controllers, kickstand, and camera. Stay tuned for our full review.

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.

With 211 million followers on social media, the multibillionaire seems intent on using his global platform to rattle British politics.

As the Mashable team scampers around the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week, there's one question that's top of mind every time we visit a booth or attend a demo: "That's cool, but when can I buy it?"

A lot of times, the answer is never. Many gadgets exhibited at the annual tech industry trade show are just concepts and prototypes that don't make it to market. (That Withings OMNIA smart mirror for at-home health screenings, for instance? Yeah, there's a good chance it'll never see the light of day.)

SEE ALSO: CES 2025: Mashable's guide on what to expect

But sometimes the answer to that question is soon — or even now. Below, we've rounded up a list of five new products from CES 2025 that consumers can buy or preorder immediately, from an AI-powered planter to a smart bird bath. We'll be updating it throughout the week as more announcements go live, so check back often.

1. LeafyPod

Got a finicky pothos that acts like it's perpetually under- or overwatered? The LeafyPod is an AI-powered smart planter designed to tell you exactly what it needs to thrive. It features environmental sensors that keep tabs on soil moisture, light, temperature, and humidity levels, and its built-in rainfall-esque watering system can change its schedule based on the plant's current condition. (Its companion app features care info and watering schedules for over 100 common houseplants.) Also nice: There are no cords, so it looks just like a regular planter.

Opens in a new window Credit: LeafyPod LeafyPod $148.00 at Kickstarter
Pre-Order Here 2. Lymow One

You've heard of the robot vacuum and the robot mop, but a new challenger is about to enter the arena: The robot lawnmower. If you're lucky enough to even have a yard in this economy, one of your least favorite chores is most likely mowing your lawn manually. The Lymow One promises to take that task off your hands by doing all the dirty work itself, employing automatic boundary detection to get your lawn looking immaculate. While there's no exact release date just yet, you can still back the Lymow One on Kickstarter as we speak.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lymow Tech Lymow One $1,999.00 at Kickstarter
Pre-Order Here 3. XREAL One Pro AR glasses

Augmented reality is still in the "early adopter" phase in terms of audience and widespread utility, but if you're looking to dip your toes in nonetheless, XREAL's new One Pro AR glasses seem to be the new standard. The recently upgraded wearable has a speedier chipset with the XREAL X1, as well as a larger FOV, higher max brightness, and a more lightweight design compared to its predecessor. You can pre-order the XREAL One Pro AR glasses right now — they'll run you $599 and are expected to ship out in March 2025.

Opens in a new window Credit: XREAL XREAL One Pro AR glasses $599.00 at XREAL
Pre-Order Here 4. Birdfy Bath Pro

Bird enthusiasts, rejoice, for the Birdfy Bath Pro is here. The camera-equipped smart bird bath does pretty much what you'd expect it to do: It allows you to check in on your avian friends as they use your bird bath to freshen up. How adorable! It comes with two different lenses — a wide angle and auto-tracking version — and has the option for an AI analysis add-on that's supposed to recognize repeat visitors and take highlight photos. The Birdfy Bath Pro is currently up for preorder starting at $249.99 and is slated to ship out in March 2025. P.s. You can score $50 off if you preorder now.

Opens in a new window Credit: Birdfy Birdfy Bath Pro $199.99 at Birdfy
$249.99 Save $50.00 Pre-Order Here 5. JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition headphones

JLab's new pair of ANC headphones is here in the Epic Lux Lab Edition. Joining the likes of Apple AirPods and the Bose QuietComfort line, the Lab Editions feature Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, as well as an Aware mode. The headphones also have high-fidelity 32mm dynamic drivers, spatial head tracking, wireless charging, and more. The JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition ANC headphones are priced at $199.99 and should ship in mid-February.

Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition headphones $199.99 at JLab
Pre-Order Here

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.