Feed aggregator

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 27, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 22:00

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like game nights.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for June 27, 2026 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: Board game

  • Green: Walk the walk

  • Blue: Lined

  • Purple: Gallops

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Monopoly squares

  • Green: Components of a fashion show

  • Blue: Commonly striped things

  • Purple: Ending in horse gaits

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 #1112 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Monopoly squares: BOARDWALK, INCOME TAX, SHORT LINE, WATER, WORKS

  • Components of a fashion show: CATWALK, COLLECTION, DESIGNER, MODEL

  • Commonly striped things: BARBER POLE, BILLIARD BALL, CREDIT CARD, CROSSWALK

  • Ending in horse gaits: DECANTER, ENVELOPE, FIREWALK, FOXTROT

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 June 27, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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.

NYT Strands hints, answers for June 27, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 22:00

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a city dweller.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, 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 June 27, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Suite re-lease

The words are related to home.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe dwellings.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Apartments.

NYT Strands word list for June 27
  • Loft

  • Studio

  • Apartments

  • Flat

  • Efficiency

  • Condo

  • Penthouse

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.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 27, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 22:00

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love to gossip.

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 hints today: Clues, answers for June 27, 2026 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 Pips hints, answers for June 27, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Rumor.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter O appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SCOOP

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.

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.

Hurdle hints and answers for June 27, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 22:00

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Drift.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

GLIDE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

CarryC.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 27, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SLING

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Coral reef.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 27, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ATOLL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Crazy.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

NUTTY

Final Hurdle hint

Pink shade.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

MAUVE

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

U.S. Loosens Restrictions on Anthropic’s Mythos A.I. Model

NYT Technology - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 20:54
The move de-escalates a clash between the Trump administration and the company over its cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems.

Ive tested a dozen electric shavers, and my favorite is 40% off for Prime members

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 20:41

Best Prime Day Grooming Deal: In the closing hours of Amazon's Prime Day sale, you can save 40% on the Laifen Electric Shaver. Normally, $179.99, it's marked all the way down to $107.99 for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Laifen Laifen Waterproof Electric 3-Blade Razer $107.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $72.00   Get Deal

Before I was Mashable's tech editor, I spent years reviewing grooming and skincare products. And in my career, I've tested at least a dozen electric shavers, and probably closer to two dozen. For Amazon Prime Day 2026, you can score a great deal on my favorite electric shaver, which comes from a brand you've probably never heard of.

Laifen first came onto our radar for making the best Dyson Supersonic hair dryer alternative, and the brand has been expanding its line of personal care and beauty tech gadgets in recent years. It now sells some impressive devices, and in my experience, the brand's products are durable, well-designed, and practical. In short, everything I want in a grooming gadget.

The Laifen 3-Blade Electric Shaver is normally a bit expensive to recommend at $179.99, which is why I have to highlight this Prime Day grooming deal. This waterproof shaver is currently discounted by 40%, bringing the price down to a much more reasonable $107.99. That beats its previous all-time low sale price by almost $40.

This product won me over for a lot of reasons. One, I think anything more than three blades is overkill. Two, I'm a sucker for transparent product designs, and I love how you can see into the device's motor. Three, it has a battery that seems to last forever. On top of all that, it's fully waterproof, compact enough for travel, and it fits my face and facial hair just right.

So, if you want to upgrade your electric shaver or finally ditch the disposables, this product gets my full recommendation as an experienced grooming writer. While I think of this as a men's grooming product, it would work just as well for women.

7 products that dropped in price on the last day of Prime Day (sort of rude, honestly)

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 20:12

Amazon Prime Day is ending today, and we're working around the clock to get you the biggest deals before it's all over. Remember: Amazon Prime Day 2026 runs until Friday, June 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT, and the best Prime Day deals are set to expire soon.

Prime Day is a four-day sale that sometimes feels a lot longer, but even on the very last day of the sale, Amazon was still dropping new discounts. Some popular products are now cheaper than they were on the first day of the sale. Is that entirely fair to people who purchased these items earlier in the sale? We'll let you answer that rhetorical question for yourself.

So, even as we enter the final hours of Amazon Prime Day 2026, there are still some deals coming in. Here are the best last-minute deals on products that dropped in price on the last day of the sale.

Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker $89 at Amazon
$179 Save $90 Now $10 less Get Deal

Amazon has discounted pretty much the entire line of Nespresso appliances for Prime Day, including deals on Nespresso pods. Previously on sale for $99, this popular countertop kitchen gadget was the subject of a Friday lightning deal, which dropped the price by an additional $10. So, good news for last-minute shoppers, and not-so-good news for early birds.

LG C5 OLED 65-Inch TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon LG C5 OLED 65-Inch TV $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,396.99 Save $297 Now $100 less Get Deal

Who doesn't love a big TV? It has an incredible 65-inch display with stellar color contrast. Your movies, TV shows, and video games have never looked so good. If you're a gamer, you'll be happy to know that its 144Hz refresh rate will keep your gameplay smooth. This award-winning OLED TV was a trending product this Prime Day, and with a bonus $100 discount, we've named it the best TV deal of the event.

Amazon Echo Spot smart alarm clock Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Spot $39.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $40.00 Now $5 less Get Deal

The Amazon Echo Spot works as a great alarm clock to get you up in the morning. You can see the weather, reminders, and time with it. It also contains an eero built into it, so this device doubles as a mesh WiFi extender to help extend your internet! If that's not enough, it also triples as an Alexa smart speaker.

More Amazon Echo Show device deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Show 5 $49.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $40.00 Now $10 less Get Deal

This Amazon Echo Show 5 has a 5.5-inch display and can stream music, shows, and podcasts. It has other functions like putting your photos on display when not in use, and control smart devices like your lights and thermostats when you're away. Talk about useful!

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Dot $29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00 Now $5 less Get Deal

The Amazon Echo Dot can play music from streaming services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify, making it the perfect little stereo for you. Plus, it has Alexa, so you can ask it questions and get some helpful answers, as well as set hands-free timers.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Dot Kids $29.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $30.00 Now $5 less Get Deal

The Echo Dot Kids is made specifically for children, and includes a new sleep studio to help kids calm down. It also has thousands of kid-friendly audiobooks to keep them occupied while learning.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select coupon deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $30 Now $8 less Get Deal

This Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select Select offers 4K streaming, making your TV shows and movies look better than ever. You'll get access to almost every single entertainment app like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more. As Prime Day drew to a close, Amazon resurrected a classic coupon deal on this product, which was previously on sale for $14.99. Using the on-page coupon or the coupon code FTVSELECT, Prime members can save $30 on this streaming stick and pay just $9.99.

Honorable mention: Ninja Slushi offer at Walmart Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Ninja Slushi $179.99 at Walmart
$399.99 Save $220 Now $20 less at Walmart Get Deal

So this one isn't an Amazon Prime deal, but there are a ton of retailers that, not-so-coincidentally, are hosting their own summer sales at the moment. Amazon's $199.99 deal on the Ninja Slushi frozen drink maker proved extremely popular at the beginning of the sale, so much so that it quickly sold out. However, yesterday, we noticed that Walmart is now selling this kitchen appliance for $179.99, even less than the SharkNinja online store. This Mashable-tested appliance is a lot of fun in the summer, when you can use it to whip up frozen margs.

Om Malik, Whose Blog Shaped How Silicon Valley Saw Itself, Dies at 59

NYT Technology - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 18:41
Gigaom, which he started in 2001, established him as a leading voice in the tech world and signaled a shift in how the media covered the industry.

We found 3 Prime Day 3D printer deals that let you go full mad scientist at home

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 18:10
The best Prime Day 3D printer deals Best Prime Day 3D printer deal Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer $259.98 (Save $100.01) Get Deal Best Prime Day 3D printer with AMS deal Bambu Lab P1S with AMS $499.99 (Save $49.01) Get Deal Best Prime Day 3D resin printer deal Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra $239.99 (Save $60.01) Get Deal

You've probably got a 3D printer on one of your wishlists somewhere. You've just been waiting for the price drop. Now that it's Prime Day, it's prime time to snag one at a reasonable price. These machines rarely see steep discounts the rest of the year, so Amazon's big sale event is one of the few times you'll see prices that might make you consider finally snagging one.

In addition to some of our favorites from brands like Elegoo, we've also found Bambu Lab Prime Day deals that are still available in the final hours of the sale. So, take advantage of these offers on budget 3D printers, with entry-level options priced low enough to make buying a 3D printer feel a lot more accessible.

But rather than send you digging through Amazon's deal listings, we've pulled together the 3D printer deals that are actually worth your cash. Here's what to grab before Prime Day comes to an end.

Best overall Prime Day 3D printer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer $299.98 at Amazon
$359.99 Save $60.01   Get Deal Why we like it

This beginner-friendly 3D printer is a zippy option that can achieve up to 500 mm/s print speeds and 20,000 mm/s acceleration, which means it can churn out projects surprisingly quickly. It has a full auto-calibration cycle as well, so you don't have to spend time learning how to do what might end up being frustrating or mundane tasks on your own. The result is strong, lightweight parts that are also heat-resistant. That means the resulting parts are perfect for cars, drones, and other similar options.

Mashable reviewer Adam Doud found it a "nice, contained, all-in-one solution" for those looking to get into the space.

Best Prime Day 3D printer with AMS deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bambu Lab P1S with AMS $499.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

This Bambu Labs favorite combines Kevlar and thick insulation to manufacture strong, solid products and parts. It has a 1-clip quick swap nozzle, full-auto calibration, and an automatic material system (AMS) that can swap between different spools mid-print. That means you can get multi-material printing as well as filament backup for a smoother overall print experience. The multiple-spool setup is an important addition with this model, and its sale price makes it well worth grabbing while it's still discounted. Being able to quickly swap colors is a highly underrated feature you won't know you've been missing until you have it.

Best Prime Day resin 3D printer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra $239.99 at Amazon
$299.98 Save $59.99   Get Deal Why we like it

This is a great (and affordable) option for anyone looking to get into 3D printing. It uses resin for its creation, with a 4K resolution that makes for crispy creations. Each layers cure in just under 3 seconds as well, so whether you're using a second machine to whip up some extra detailed miniatures for a campaign or you're testing the 3D printing waters, this is a smart way to kill both birds with one stone. And it's a much more forgiving purchase overall for your bank account in comparison to a full-sized 3D printer, after all.

Get lifetime access to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and more for $70

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 18:00

TL;DR: 1min.AI gives you access to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and more for life, and it’s only $70 during Deal Days.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $69.97
$540 Save $470.03   Get Deal

AI subscriptions are expensive, and it only gets worse when you need more than one. ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, and Gemini Advanced each cost $20 a month, every month, and that’s before you start paying for image, voice, or video tools. If you want a way out, try 1min.AI. This platform gives you lifetime access to many of the AI models you already use, and during Deal Days, it’s only $69.97 (reg. $540).

1min.AI gives you access to popular AI models you can use for everything from writing and image generation to grammar checks, audio transcription, or translation between languages. Instead of trying to use one AI tool for everything, you can chat with GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini, Llama, Mistral, or Cohere, among others. You can also generate images, upscale or extend them, remove backgrounds, swap faces, or even create 3D images when text alone won’t cut it.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Voice and video features come with the same lifetime plan. You can clone a voice, generate text-to-speech narration, or clean up a muddy recording without leaving the app. Video tools handle text-to-video and image-to-video generation when a static image isn’t enough on its own. Upload a PDF and chat with it directly instead of scrolling through 60 pages, or drop in a YouTube link to get a transcript, summary, or translation in seconds.

Advanced Business Plan access runs on a shared credit pool of 4 million credits a month. That works out to roughly 1.1 million words, 1,186 images, or 37 short videos in any combination you need. Daily logins add another 15,000 free credits on top of that. Up to 20 team members can share a single workspace with shared brand voices, prompt libraries, and unlimited storage. A recent update also put the app on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, and Windows alongside the web version.

Replace all your AI subscriptions. Get a 1min.AI lifetime subscription on sale for $69.97 until June 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Be sure to check out the full Deal Days collection before the sale ends.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The Invite review: Olivia Wildes sex comedy is outrageous fun

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 18:00

Whatever you may think of Olivia Wilde as a filmmaker, it's impossible to deny she has a good eye for crafting comedy. In 2019, the American actress who'd proved herself as a sultry starlet thrilled audiences and critics alike with her directorial debut Booksmart. Universally lauded, the teen comedy teamed Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as a pair of intellectually bright but socially oblivious besties, and the results were heart-warming and hilarious. 

SEE ALSO: A24's 'The Invite' trailer: Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton really dig Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde's vibe

With Wilde's follow-up, however, she fumbled. Don't Worry Darling, a psychological thriller starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, was not only plagued with rumors of on-set discord and bad press before it even premiered, but savaged by critics once it did for its nonsensical plotline and underwhelming leading man. 

Thankfully, Wilde's back with another comedy that combines sexual anxiety with a crackling cast. Pulling double duty as director and star, Wilde appears opposite Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton in The Invite. The quartet plays two couples whose relationships shift dramatically over the course of one dinner party. 

Together, they create a sex comedy that's absolutely hysterical, ribbed with cringe and swagger. But Wilde is the film's weak link. 

The Invite is blisteringly funny.  Credit: Courtesy of A24

Based on Cesc Gay's critically heralded 2020 Spanish comedy Sentimental, The Invite is largely confined to a sprawling San Francisco apartment that's been newly renovated. There lives bickering married couple Angela (Wilde) and Joe (Rogen), with their young daughter, who will be spoken of but never seen as she's away for a slumber party on this pivotal night. 

Screenwriting team Will McCormack and Rashida Jones (Celeste and Jesse Forever) swiftly establish the disharmony in this home with the kind of lived-in arguments that begin mundane, but grow malevolent as the years go by. Thus, when Joe tumbles in after an uninspired day as a music teacher for bored band geeks, he's met not with a greeting but with Angela's demand that he take his shoes off and put away his folding bike before he can even take a breath. 

An aspiring artist who's channeled all her creative energy into this renovation, Angela is desperate to impress the couple's chic upstairs neighbors, Pina (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton), who she's invited over for dinner. After months of seeing them in the elevator or hearing them through the floor, Angela is practically giddy to get closer to this curious couple. Joe, on the other hand, mostly wants to tell them to quiet down their loud late-night sex — in part because hearing such thunderous lovemaking only makes the quiet chasteness of their own bedroom all the more obvious. 

But as suggested in The Invite's first teaser, Pina and Hawk bring more than a bottle of wine to this dinner party. Oozing a seductive confidence, the flirtatious pair seem ever on the verge of tumbling into PDA or an indecent proposal. The tension of The Invite's second act is how Joe and Angela will handle such an offer, with one seemingly crushing ahead of their arrival and the other convinced he'll be crushed by the results. 

You likely won't predict exactly how this could-be orgy plays out. But you will cackle at The Invite's sex-positive yet preposterously silly climax. 

Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton are fantastically funny in The Invite. 

To Wilde's credit, she initially puts her co-stars in their comfort zones. Rogen plays an insecure stoner whose self-defense mechanism is jokes. Norton is his foil, a frustratingly confident and erudite man who's dashing and nakedly in touch with his own feelings. As Pina, Cruz oozes an easy sensuality with an enviable cool. 

However, The Invite pushes past these familiar places, giving the actors room to stretch into comic extremes. Rogen's stoner pops off with comically combative observations. Norton's non-toxic masculinity blooms into a bizarre runner about Hawk's deep love of floor rugs. And Cruz's mature breeziness persists whether she's talking about her flan recipe or her love of pegging. But the way she repeatedly says "my boobs" with pointed nonchalance is hilarious all on its own. 

Whether they are fighting or flirting, there's a heady intensity in The Invite, reminiscent of the tension of Roman Polanski's Carnage, which also featured two couples in one room, hashing out much more serious problems. As a director, Wilde thoughtfully stages the unfolding sexual tension across an apartment full of corners perfect for heated exchanges and innuendo. The static camera favored by cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra creates an unobtrusive view into this intimate night. Wide shots early on give us a sense of distance from the lovers, but creep into close-ups as the topics get hotter. 

This creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that exacerbates the social stakes of each interaction. Because, of course, if tonight gets weird, Joe and Angela will still see Pina and Hawk in the elevator, in the lobby, and through their windows. So, a sense of cat-and-mouse comes into play, where it's not enough to say what's screaming in their hearts, but to do so in a way that feels like winning. Because if they don't, they'll always be losers in this newly renovated home. 

Working with editors Anthony Boys and Yorgos Mavropsaridis, Wilde builds a tension in The Invite that was too often absent in Don't Worry, Darling. And to her credit, she's committed to capturing Angela's electrifying need to be seen through every comment about interior design, each placement of an appetizer, and any glance at Joe, Pina, or Hawk. But she can't keep up with her cast. Where Rogen, Cruz, and Norton seem to bloom over the course of the film, Wilde seems to be straining to flesh out Angela from an archetypal self-hating nag. The other performances here feel lived-in, perhaps because the actors in them begin in familiar roles. But Wilde, whose niche might be the unflappable beauty (Tron: Legacy; Don't Worry, Darling) begins in a place of strained panic, and even as Angela begins to relax, the strain persists. 

It's easy to understand why she'd want to be a part of this ensemble even as she directs the film. But when her co-stars are operating at such a high level of developing sexual tension, comedic timing, and pathos, Wilde's performance feels thinner in comparison. Which is not to say hers is not a good performance — it's just not a great one.

This qualm aside, I was enchanted by The Invite. McCormack and Jones' screenplay is smartly written, bringing emotional depth to all four lovers, while solidly establishing the relatable frustrations of long-term relationships. Wilde's direction is deceptively simple in its aesthetic, favoring cinematography that allows us to spy without the discomfort of voyeurism. This keeps the tone light even as the talk turns dirty. And with an ensemble that's totally game to embrace the silly, sexy, and subversive, The Invite is ruthlessly entertaining. 

The Invite opens in theaters on July 3. 

You can still buy Beats, Sony, and Sennheiser headphones for under $100 before Prime Day ends

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 17:53

Amazon Prime Day ends tonight, and we're going to be sharing deals with you until the last minute. Remember: Amazon Prime Day 2026 runs until Friday, June 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT, so don't procrastinate on the best Prime Day deals.

If you're doing some Friday night retail therapy, I found four pairs of headphones you can get for under $100. And these aren't your typical budget headphones either. This is your chance to get mid-range headphones at budget prices, so don't miss out.

Sony WH-CH720N

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sony WH-CH720N Headphones $79.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $100.00   Get Deal

These Sony headphones are some of the lightest in the industry, only weighing in at around 192g. They contain Sony's integrated Processor V1, which keeps the audio loud, clear, and immersive. Plus, they have ambient and adaptive sound features to automatically adjust to the background environment, providing you with an optimal listening experience. And with 35-hours of battery life, you'll be able to get a lot of these in a single charge.

We reviewed the headphones, and our reviewer, Alex Bracetti, said, "The Sony WH-CH720N prove you don’t need to spend $300+ for excellent headphones. At under $200, they strike the rare balance of quality, comfort, and affordability."

Beats Solo 4 Wireless Headphones Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Beats Solo 4 Headphones $99.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $100.00   Get Deal

I love style and thumping bass, which is why the Beats Solo 4 are my personal favorites. They also deliver incredible sound thanks to personalized spatial audio and dynamic head tracking. They really make it feel like the music is enveloping every corner of your head! They're quite comfortable too, as the flex-grip headband and the adjustable ear cups fit securely yet snugly. It's got a whopping 50 hours of battery life, and just a 10-minute quick charge restores five hours of playback. The headphones are always ready when you are.

Sennheiser Accentum Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Sennheiser Accentum Headphones $88.34 at Amazon
$189.95 Save $101.61   Get Deal

Sennheiser is a household name in the audio game. Thanks to the Sennheiser audio pedigree, these mid-range headphones have some of the best noise-canceling capabilities in their price range. You can block out unwanted background noise, or turn on transparency mode if you need to keep aware of your surroundings. The microphone is amazing too, as they'll make your voice sound crystal clear, whether it's on a video call or in the middle of a video game.

Apple AirPods for $99 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.99   Get Deal

Alright, we're bending the rules a bit here. The Apple AirPods 4 aren't exactly headphones, but earbuds still count, right? And who doesn't love a good deal? These earbuds have the special H2 chip, meaning that voice isolation has improved! When you're on calls, your voice now sounds extra clear to the person on the other side, while also reducing background noise.

These have also been redesigned with a refined contour and shorter stem, making them more comfortable and stable in your ears. They don't compromise on sound quality either. With personalized spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, you'll be immersed in no time.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day 2026 live: Join us for the final countdown as we vet deals in real-time

Cassey Ho tells Mashable her biggest advice for content creators

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 17:31

At VidCon 2026, Blogilates founder Cassey Ho joined VidCon's Hall of Fame alongside fellow creators Markiplier, Michelle Phan, and Philip DeFranco.

SEE ALSO: VidCon 2026: Live updates from the internet's biggest weekend

Ho began her content creation journey on YouTube in 2009, posting instructional workout videos people could follow at home. On top of being a pioneering fitness influencer, she went on to launch two clothing collections: Bodypop and Popflex. (Taylor Swift wore a Popflex skort in a short video set to her song "Fortnite." The skort sold out in 15 minutes.)

While Ho started off with longer-form horizontal workout videos, she's pivoted more towards posting short-form vertical content about her design process. That evolution is key to her longevity online, she says.

"I've been doing this for 17 years now, and luckily I haven't burned out," Ho told Mashable digital culture editor Crystal Bell. "I have a lot of personal friends who have, and the reason why is because I allowed myself to evolve as a human, and that meant also evolving my content. I think people who are too afraid to do that get stuck doing something they don't like anymore. So it's important to continue evolving."

Evolution is just one of the lessons Ho would impart to aspiring content creators. The other?

"Make something of value, right? Share something that's entertaining, educational, funny, but at the same time, make sure that it means something to you as well, because you cannot live for other people. You need to live for yourself first," Ho told Bell.

You can watch the whole interview above, and for all things VidCon, Mashable has you covered.

Michelle Phan tells Mashable how much VidCon has changed since she first attended

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 17:27

VidCon 2026 welcomed content creator Michelle Phan into its second class of Hall of Famers, alongside Markiplier, Philip DeFranco, and Blogilates founder Cassey Ho.

A pioneer in the beauty content creation space, Phan began posting makeup tutorials on YouTube in 2007. On top of spawning an internet beauty empire, her tutorials led to partnerships with Lancôme and L'Oréal. Phan also launched her own brands, including beauty subscription box IPSY and EM Cosmetics.

Phan started her career long before words like "YouTuber" or "content creator" became household terms, and she's witnessed the internet go through a drastic shift in terms of attitudes towards creators.

"Today, people know that the moment you turn on the camera and you're dancing in front of it or filming, they don't look at you weird," Phan told Mashable digital culture editor Crystal Bell.

"When I was being a YouTuber, people would look at me strange when I had my camcorder out and I'm filming out in public. They thought, 'Who is this person doing this weird thing?'" Phan recalled. "But today it's so normalized. Everyone's making content, and I think that's a beautiful thing, because everyone has a story to share."

That shift is clear at VidCon 2026, which has grown leaps and bounds since Phan first attended in the convention's early days.

"It was so surreal just to see how massive it is now and all the different creators," Phan said. "I would say I feel like I knew that it would become bigger like this, but it's so surreal to see that we're here now."

You can watch the whole interview above, and for all things VidCon, Mashable has you covered.

This is your last chance to get the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for under $1,000

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 17:12

SAVE $380: As of June 26, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (unlocked, 256GB) is still at a record-low price of $919.99 for Prime Day. It usually costs $1,299.99, so Prime members will want to bolt to Amazon before Prime Day ends later tonight.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB) $919.99
$1,299.99 Save $380   Get Deal

The flagship Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in an Android phone with some serious iPhone-user-swaying powers.

And this handset is now at its lowest price ever for the final hours of Prime Day. If your current phone is on its last legs, the unlocked version of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB) is just $919.99 at Amazon. It usually costs $1,299.99, and it'll likely bump back up to full price when Prime Day ends around midnight on Friday, June 26.

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth gave the Galaxy S26 Ultra a glowing review when it was released back in March, going as far as to say that 2026 might just be the year he switches to Android. That's how good of a job Samsung did with its newest flagship smartphone. In particular, he noted the innovative Privacy Display, a never-before-seen hardware feature that blocks your pixels from prying eyes. Even Apple doesn't have anything like it.

SEE ALSO: 60+ best Prime Day tech deals, vetted by a tech editor on a budget. Grab AirPods for $99, Kindles for $85.

You'll get the same 200MP wide lens, 50MP ultra-wide lens, 50MP telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom, 10MP lens with 3x optical zoom, and front-facing 12MP selfie camera as the S25, now enhanced by wider camera apertures, better steadying capabilities, and upgraded night photography and video. The S26 Ultra's zooming abilities are particularly awesome.

Processing speed is another major W for the S26 Ultra. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 actually beat the iPhone 17 Pro Max's processor in a Geekbench 6 performance — this thing could technically power a laptop. If you've been complaining about your current phone's lagging for months, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be huge for your sanity.

Mark Zuckerberg Urges Meta to Explore Working With Polymarket and Kalshi

NYT Technology - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 17:03
Mr. Zuckerberg’s plans for Arena, a prediction markets app that Meta is building, also include appealing to 18- to 34-year-old users.

Bumble in serious decline as it considers sale, reports say

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 16:56

The dating app Bumble is considering a sale, according to a Reuters report Thursday. And fresh data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, shared with Mashable, may help explain why.

Bumble has experienced the largest decline in global downloads among top dating apps over the past year and a half, according to Sensor Tower.

What's going on at Bumble?

It's no secret that Bumble has been going through a tough time for the past few years. Its stock is down 96 percent from its IPO at the time of this writing, even with a boost given the news of a potential sale.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for 'Double Date Island,' Tinder's new TikTok dating show

Bumble began with the distinction that women began the conversation (in heterosexual matches). But the company decided to switch it up in 2024, allowing men to message first with the "Opening Moves" feature.

The app has since removed Opening Moves in Mexico and Australia, signaling that it wasn't a hit among users.

During Bumble's Q4 2025 earnings call, founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd announced that Bumble will test an AI-powered dating experience, even as the numbers showed the app's total revenue and paying users decreased year over year. The year-over-year dips in total revenue and paying users continued in Q1 2026.

Wolfe Herd also recently shared that Bumble is removing its swipe feature. While she wasn't forthcoming about what will replace it, her mention of the potential AI assistant and matchmaker seemed a strong indication to many Bumble users. Their reaction was less than positive.

How Bumble is exploring a sale

Sources close to the company told Reuters that Bumble is working with Morgan Stanley investment bankers on a potential sale process. It's not a done deal, however, and the app might stay independent.

Bumble didn't respond to Reuters' request for comment. Morgan Stanley and asset manager Blackstone, which reportedly owns 22 percent of Bumble, also declined. Mashable has also reached out to Bumble for comment.

The buzz on Bumble's numbers

Sensor Tower's senior insights analyst, Kara Lee, reported that in 2025 and the first half of 2026, global Bumble downloads fell by 23 percent and 15 percent year-over-year, respectively. Between Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, Bumble has seen the greatest decline in global total downloads, Sensor Tower says.

Tinder's downloads decreased in the same time period, Lee wrote, but by four percent and two percent year-over-year, respectively. Downloads of Hinge, meanwhile, increased by 14 percent and 25 percent during this time, respectively.

This is consistent with the financial reports. Tinder and Hinge are both owned by Match Group, and according to their Q1 2026 earnings, Hinge's direct revenue and paying users are up year over year. For Tinder, those metrics were down in previous quarters, but now it's making something of a comeback, as its direct revenue was up two percent year over year.

Hinge is also beating its two main rivals in monthly active users (MAU), according to Lee. They're up 23 percent year over year in 2025 and 25 percent year over year in the first half of 2026.

Bumble's user base, however, has experienced consistent declines over the last five quarters, Lee reported. While its monthly active users increased by 4 percent year over year in the first quarter of 2025, they dropped by 14 percent year over year a year later.

Tinder's monthly active users have fallen slightly, but it averages a mobile user base that's 2.5 times larger than Bumble's.

So while Bumble isn't the only dating app struggling, it might be faring the worst right now.

Last-call for Prime Day shopping: We found 175+ deals on Apple, Ninja, Lego, Sony, and DJI products

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 16:47

We're heading into the final hours of Prime Day 2026, folks. This is your last chance to shop the best Prime Day deals and enjoy record-low prices on products from Apple, Bose, DJI, Dyson, Lego, Pokémon, and Samsung. Mashable will be providing regular updates as we close out Amazon's summer sale, so keep checking back as we spot new deals and products start selling out.

The best Prime Day deals at a glance: New price drop! Amazon Echo Spot $39.99 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $279 at Amazon (save $120) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $198 at Amazon (save $201.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Best Kindle Deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $124.99 at Amazon (save $35) Get Deal Best Competitor Deal Ninja Slushi Frozen Drink Maker $179 at Walmart (save $120) Get Deal Best power station deal Bluetti Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station $199 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal New price drop! LG C5 Series 65-inch OLED 4K Smart TV $1,099.99 at Amazon (save $297) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer Set $111.99 at Amazon (save $48) Get Deal Best Deal Under $10 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 with code FTVSELECT (save $30) Get Deal

Remember: Amazon Prime Day 2026 ends at 2:59 a.m. ET on Friday, June 26. If you save your shopping for the weekend, the best Prime Day deals will already be gone. On top of that, Apple just announced sweeping price increases on MacBooks and iPads, so take advantage of lower prices while you still can. (MacBooks are almost completely sold out at Amazon already.)

If you're a Prime member, this is a great opportunity to save on boring household essentials like dish soap, but also big-ticket splurges like a new 65-inch OLED TV. In the closing hours of the sale, we're still hard at work vetting the latest Prime Day deals on Mashable favorites like Apple Watches, Sony noise-cancelling headphones, and Kindle e-readers.

SEE ALSO: The 55+ best Prime Day tech deals, chosen by a tech editor on a tight budget

We're also tracking prices at alternative Prime Day sales from Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and beyond, so we'll be sure to point you toward the lowest possible price, even if it's not at Amazon. And as per usual, we're using price-tracking tools like camelcamelcamel to separate the great deals from the great pretenders. Finally, you can follow our live blog for the most up-to-date price drops, news, and stock alerts, or check out our Prime Day hub for all of our coverage.

Deals marked with a are Mashable editor favorites. Deals marked with a strikethrough weren't available at the time of writing, but could return before Prime Day ends. Deals marked with a 🔥 are at an all-time low price.

Best Prime Day Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) ✅ 🔥 $279 at Amazon
$399 Save $120   Get Deal

We're obviously hunting for the best Apple deals during Prime Day, and right now, the entire Apple Watch lineup is at record-low prices. That means you can save $120 on the Apple Watch Series 11, a Mashable Choice product. In his review, Mashable's Stan Schroeder said, "the Apple Watch Series 11 isn't all that different from last year's model, but it has a significantly longer battery life, and that's a huge deal." It's never been cheaper before.

AirPods dealsiPad deals

Please note: Apple increased iPad prices on June 25. As a result, many Prime Day iPad deals are sold out.

MacBook deals

Please note: Apple increased MacBook prices on June 25. As a result, most MacBooks are now sold out at Amazon; however, you can still find select configurations of the MacBook Neo at Best Buy and Walmart.

Best Prime Day headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones ✅ 🔥 $198 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $201.99   Get Deal

The best deal on headphones goes to the Sony WH-1000XM5s, an older pair of flagship cans that we still love and recommend. "They [have] unbeatable ANC and sound for the money, and even in 2026, they sound shockingly good," writes Bethany Allard, our resident headphones expert. Normally $399.99, they're marked down to just $198 for Prime Day — a 50% savings and their lowest price ever.

More headphones dealsMore earbuds dealsBest Prime Day Amazon device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Spot ✅ 🔥 $39.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $40.00   Get Deal

Amazon's smart alarm clock is the perfect size for nightstands. It provides everything you need to start your morning, including a weather report and tunes to get you out of bed. It was on sale for $44.99 during the first three days of Prime Day (normally $79.99), but now it's $5 cheaper. At $39.99, it's a full 50% off — its biggest discount ever.

More Echo dealsMore Amazon device dealsBest Prime Day Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite ✅ 🔥 $124.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal

Our e-reader reviewer, Samantha Mangino, and our tech editor have both raved about this Amazon device, and it's back to its lowest-ever price for Prime Day. At its record-low price of $124.99, or 22% off, the excellent Kindle Paperwhite has proven to be one of the most popular Prime Day deals among Mashable readers this year. Compared to the regular Kindle, the Paperwhite has a larger display, better battery life, a waterproof rating, and an adjustable warm light.

More Kindle dealsOther e-reader dealsBest Prime Day laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Aspire 14 AI (Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $479.99
$879.99 Save $400   Get Deal

The Acer Aspire 14 AI is a smaller version of our favorite budget Windows laptop. It has a long battery life, a 1200p touchscreen, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports (which you don't normally see on laptops this cheap). Amazon's Prime Day deal on it looks extra-good in the wake of Apple's MacBook Neo price hike, according to our laptop tester Haley Henschel.

More laptop deals

Note: For MacBook deals, scroll back up to the Apple section in this story or check out our dedicated Prime Day MacBook deals guide.

External hard drive dealsBest Prime Day DJI deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 3 🔥 $269 at Amazon
$419 Save $150   Get Deal

DJI's entire fleet of gadgets is on sale this Prime Day, and this deal on its DJI Mini 3 is a standout. Amazon has it discounted to $269, or 36% off — its lowest price ever. (It was $30 more expensive during Amazon's Big Spring Sale in March.) This lightweight entry-level drone can shoot 4K video and fly for almost 40 minutes on a single charge.

Keep in mind that, thanks to the U.S. drone ban and DJI's problems with the FCC, the company's drones and new releases are sold through third-party sellers on Amazon. Not only that, but now that we're mostly through Prime Day, many DJI drones are out of stock.

More DJI drone dealsDJI camera dealsDJI creator tools on saleBest Prime Day kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker $169.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $50   Get Deal

The Ninja Creami ice cream maker is a cult favorite, and also a personal favorite of our shopping team. Mashable reporter Samantha Mangino called this appliance a lot of fun in her review, and a sweltering hot summer is exactly the right time to try it. Grab one while it's on sale and discover why TikTok is still obsessed with this device.

More kitchen dealsBest Prime Day home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Aiper Aiper Scuba S1 Robotic Smart Pool Cleaner 🔥 $499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400 New release Get Deal

Aiper's new S1 is a smart robot pool cleaner, and it's currently the No. 1 new release in the category at Amazon. That might have something to do with its Prime Day discount. For a little while longer, Prime members can save 50% on this popular product, which keeps your pool sparkling clean. This home robot has 11 different sensors, and you can even control it via the Aiper app.

More Prime Day home dealsBest Prime Day speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Soundlink Flex Bluetooth Speaker 🔥 $99 at Amazon
$149 Save $50   Get Deal

Bose has had some of the best Prime Day deals of 2026, with 50% off select headphones and 34% off Bluetooth speakers — including the Soundlink Flex. Mashable has reviewed the new Soundlink lineup, and the Flex is a highly portable and waterproof speaker with clear, loud sound that's ideal for summer get-togethers.

More speaker dealsBest Prime Day power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station, 600W ✅ $199 at Amazon
$299 Save $100   Get Deal

Ready for summer adventures? If you're gearing up to pack the car and head into nature, don't forget to invest in a portable power station to keep your campsite powered. Plus, it can serve as an at-home power backup in an emergency.

Prime Day and Black Friday are the best times of year to buy these popular devices, and one of our favorite Bluetti power stations is at its lowest price of the year. The Bluetti Elite is a good entry point if you've never owned a power station before. Weighing less than 10 pounds, it's a lightweight device built for weekend excursions.

More portable power station dealsBest Prime Day TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG C5 Series 65-inch OLED 4K Smart TV ✅ 🔥 $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,396.99 Save $297 New price drop! Get Deal

For the first three days of Prime Day, we've been recommending a great deal on the Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV, arguably the best TV available right now. However, after a surprise $100 price drop on the award-winning LG C5 Series OLED TV, we have a new top TV deal to recommend. LG's C Series OLED TVs have incredibly bright and crisp displays, and the 65-inch version has never been on sale for this price before. We wouldn't be surprised if this offer sells out.

More TV dealsSoundbar dealsProjector dealsBest Prime Day robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop 🔥 $449.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $350   Get Deal

Mashable's resident vacuum guru, Leah Stodart, named the Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop the best affordable vacuum-and-mop combo. Despite its budget price, Stodart says it's the most heavy-duty robot mop you'll find, delivering spotless cleans. Get the Eufy C28 for just $449.99 during Prime Day. That's the vacuum's lowest price ever, offering $350 in savings.

More robot vacuum and mop combo dealsMore vacuum dealsUpholstery cleaner dealsBest Prime Day Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer Set 🔥 $111.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $48.00   Get Deal

No guide to the best Prime Day deals would be complete without some great offers on Lego. And according to our biggest Lego nerds, this is the top discount of the sale so far.

We love Star Wars Lego sets, and this epic Star Destroyer is down to its best-ever price at Amazon. If you're a Prime member and a Star Wars fan, you can pick up this 1,555-piece set for $111.99, a 30% discount. And if you're looking for more Lego sets, check out our complete guide to the best Prime Day Lego deals.

More Lego dealsBest Prime Day fitness tracker deal Oura Ring 4 ✅ 🔥 $214.70 at Amazon
$349 Save $134.30   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Target

Multiple Mashable team members have tested (and loved) the Oura Ring 4. While it's recently been replaced by the slightly thinner Oura Ring 5, we're big fans of this smart ring. One of our former reporters even wore this ring while training for and then running the New York City marathon. While prices vary based on the ring size, the Oura Ring 4 is starting at just $226 for Prime Day, a big discount from the $349 list price.

More fitness tracker deals

Note: For Apple Watch deals, scroll back to the Apple section of this story.

Best free Prime Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Audible Standard Free for 3 months + $20 credit Get Deal

Amazon almost always offers free limited-time subscriptions to its own services, like Audible, Kindle Unlimited, and Amazon Music Unlimited. This year, its Audible deal is the best freebie you can get during the sale. New and returning subscribers get three free months of an Audible Standard subscription, plus a free $20 credit to spend on audiobooks.

More free (or almost free Prime Day deals)Best Prime Day streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO HBO Max Save 40% on annual subscriptions Get Deal

If you've been feeling left out of the House of the Dragon or Hacks hype, this is easily the best week of the year to sign up for HBO Max — it even beats Black Friday, in terms of how many tiers get the discount. The HBO Max Prime Day deal makes annual subscriptions 40% cheaper than usual. Pay $78.99 for a year of the Basic With Ads tier, $132.99 for a year of the Standard tier, or $164.99 for a year of the Premium tier.

More streaming dealsBest Prime Day gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony PlayStation Dual Sense Controller $65.60 at Walmart
$74.99 Save $9.39   Get Deal

While it's not a huge discount, we have to call out this gaming deal from Walmart's Summer Sale. So far, we've seen a lot of interest in Prime Day PlayStation deals, but not a lot of actual PlayStation deals. That's probably because of all the recent price increases in the gaming world. So, take advantage of this discount on the popular PlayStation wireless controller, which is just $65.60 right now at Walmart.

If you're trying to limit your shopping to Amazon, you can also score a great deal on the previous-gen Sony INZONE H9 wireless gaming headset.

More Prime Day gaming deals

Still haven't found what you're looking for? Check out our Prime Day 2026 live blog, where we're providing real-time updates on the latest deals, inventory changes, and competitor sales.

UPDATE: Jun. 26, 2026, 4:29 p.m. EDT We've updated this guide with a Beats headphones deal from Walmart. Several more MacBooks are also out of stock at Amazon.

The fastest-growing jobs in the creator economy dont require going viral

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 16:35

With the ever-growing state of the creator economy, the allure of being a content creator is more prevalent than ever. Some of the most accessible jobs in the field, however, aren't the ones that require going viral on your own.

Two different panels at VidCon 2026 focused about the jobs that exist behind the camera, from editors to talent agents. This kind of focus makes sense: the next generation of creators will think more like media companies than ever before, and a media company needs its staff to survive.

"We all know at this point that the number one job in the country right now that kids want to do is to be a content creator, but I feel like that's 1% of what's actually happening in the creator economy," said Adorian Deck, creator and the founder-CEO of Decked Media, a company which helps creators and brands build out their multi-platform strategy.

Making yourself valuable in the creator space

Among the jobs available in the creator economies are the usual suspects of entertainment: editors, talent managers, and producers. But that's only one piece of the pie. There are heads of creator development, post supervisors for content, accountants, finance managers, and chiefs of staff.

No matter the exact job description, panelists talked about the importance of being adaptable.

Editors Sara Currie, YB Chang Biste, and talent manager Gil Krueger (far right) talked about finding opportunity on the panel Behind the Camera: the Jobs Powering the Creators. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

YB Chang Biste, creator, former senior editor for the Try Guys, and now freelancer, said that being quick to adjust to different styles of creators helped her establish herself in her career.

"You could be the best editor in the world, but if you meet a YouTuber who has a very specific style of editing and style of humor that you might not be familiar with, you might not be the best editor in the world anymore," Chang Biste said.

SEE ALSO: The creator strategies still working in an AI-saturated internet

Sean Klitzner, who was the co-creator, showrunner, and creative director of Beast Games, talked about when he initially started working with Mr. Beast, he started out in a creative wall. Then, he noticed they needed production help. From there, he noticed the budget needed reworking, and shortly after became Mr. Beast's chief of staff.

"I just said yes to whatever they needed," he said, before distilling his experience to a simple piece of advice: "Go through the door that's open."

Finding jobs supporting creators

So how does a person go about actually breaking into the space? Partially, it relates back to going through that open door. However, it can also entail going down traditional job channels.

"This is gonna sound like super old man advice but LinkedIn is your friend," said Gil Kruger, who runs the creator talent management agency Best Regards Media. Chad Wild Clay, the creator behind Spy Ninjas, also echoed this, saying that his company regularly posts jobs on LinkedIn.

Networking, of course, was also pushed as an essential part of finding work. Chang Biste and former editor for Mr. Beast, Sara Currie, also pointed to the online network they're a part of: EditHers, a group which brings together women editors on YouTube. Groups like these can be vital for making connections, and seeing call outs for work you wouldn't otherwise.

Klitzner also pointed to behind-the-scenes jobs being a viable point of entry for anyone who eventually wants to be a creator in front of the camera:

"Go learn everything you have to do to get to that point," he said.

Mashable is reporting live from VidCon 2026 in Anaheim. Follow our coverage for creator interviews, panel highlights, and the biggest moments from the convention floor.

The tech product dilemma: buy now or wait for lower prices?

Mashable - Fri, 06/26/2026 - 16:34

In 2026, as tech product prices rise, we're having deja vu all over again. A year ago, President Donald Trump's ever-changing tariffs had tech product prices skyrocketing. Consumers found themselves asking the question: Should I buy that laptop or smartphone, or should I wait?

Now, thanks to the AI boom, we're experiencing a shortage of computer memory known as RAMageddon, we're asking that question once again. Our recommendation: If you need it, buy it now. Why? Because there's no telling when prices will drop — or even if they will.

When we posed this question to consumer experts last year, they recommended buying products like laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles sooner rather than later as price hikes were on the way. Lo and behold, that prediction turned out to be accurate.

And prices are still rising. Apple just announced price hikes across all of its products, except the iPhone, just this week. MacBook Pros will now be $300 to $500 more expensive than they were just days ago. Last month, Nintendo raised the price of its Switch 2 console by $50. And Apple's CEO has warned of steeper prices on the iPhone 18 when it launches in September.

In short, a future "deal" on these products will very likely resemble their present prices.

It is possible that prices go back down if the AI bubble bursts and data center expansions are put on hold. But just the current buildout is going to have knock-on effects for some time to come. Earlier this year, for example, Western Digital said that the AI industry has basically bought out its entire storage supply for 2026, with agreements already being put in place for 2027 and 2028.

Of course, your mileage may vary on the "buy it now" front. If you've decided your near-decade old PC is no longer cutting it for work, that's a must-have purchase. You don't want to end up spending hundreds of dollars more on a laptop that was $500 less just yesterday.

But if you just upgraded your smartphone or laptop last year, it might make more sense to skip a version or two, and wait to see what prices look like at the end of the decade — or on Black Friday, for that matter.

After all, the enormous price hikes could backfire for some tech companies, forcing them to bring prices back down to Earth — even if it eats into their profit margins.

Pages

Subscribe to Page Integrity, Inc. aggregator