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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 4 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: Reductions

• Green: Attachments

• Blue: Done

• Purple: Art features

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: Crush into a compact shape

• Green: Fasteners

• Blue: Mark as completed

• Purple: Depicted in Dali's "The Persistence of Memory"

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 #573 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Crush into a compact shape: BALL, CRUMPLE, SCRUNCH, WAD

• Fasteners: BUCKLE, CLIP, HOOK, SNAP

• Mark as completed: CHECK, CROSS, STRIKE, TICK

• Depicted in Dali's "The Persistence of Memory": ANT, BRANCH, CLOCK, MELTING

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 3

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: Worn during sports

• Green: Sports films

• Blue: Mascots in baseball's lower levels

• Purple: Alternative names for basketball players

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: An athlete's shirt

• Green: Football movies

• Blue: Minor-League Baseball team names

• Purple: NBA player nicknames

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 #103 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• An athlete's shirt - JERSEY, KIT, SWEATER, UNIFORM

• Football movies - DRAFT DAY, INVINCIBLE, LEATHERHEADS, RUDY

• Minor-League Baseball team names - BISCUITS, JUMBO SHRIMP, TRASH PANDAS, YARD GOATS

• NBA player nicknames - ANT-MAN, JOKER, KAT, SPIDA

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 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 4 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Literary couples

These words are two-part titles to well-known novels.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are paired together in classic books.

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 Book Titles.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 4

• Crime

• Sound

• Pride

• Fury

• Prejudice

• Punishment

• Fury

• Book Titles

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.

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 4 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 4, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To unwind and take it easy.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

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...

RELAX.

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 4

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.

The briefs, filed a week before oral arguments, offered sharply differing accounts of China’s influence over the site and the role of the First Amendment.

The agency imposed penalties on a company it blamed for supporting the Chinese hacking group Flax Typhoon in a 2022-23 infiltration.

Is the end nearing for GameStop?

The video game retailer closed hundreds of stores right before the new year. Now, it seems even more GameStop stores will be closing as 2025 gets in full swing. 

With the move to digital downloads and some video game consoles leaving physical media behind altogether, the writing has been on the wall for GameStop for a number of years. However, in 2021, the meme stock craze, led by investor Keith Gill also known as "Roaring Kitty," gave new life to the company.

But, it doesn't appear like GameStop has been able to turn things around, at least when it comes to its retail stores.

GameStop store closings

Since 2020, GameStop has closed more than 700 stores. In December 2024, right before the new year, the company shuttered nearly 300 retail locations.

While there has been no official announcement on the latest batch of closings, the first of 2025, local media outlets are starting to report on their local GameStop stores suddenly shuttering. For example, Michigan local news outlet MLive has just reported that the GameStop location in the Westwood Mall in Jackson, MI is closing down on Jan. 4.

But, the news about these new year store closings first broke over on Reddit. The GameStop subreddit has filled up with posts over the past 24 hours from employees that just found out that their store will be shuttering and that they are out of a job.

"Just got informed my store is closing, just as many others have,"  posted user Public_Direction9896. "Godspeed to you all. Friendly neighborhood GameStop employee, signing out."

"Been with the company for almost 8 years. Got the call this afternoon. I'm devastated," wrote Razenkaji on r/GameStop.

Mashable has contacted GameStop to comment on the reported closures and will update this story should they respond.

Roaring Kitty finds a new gaming meme stock?

Unlike GameStop's workers, Gill, aka Roaring Kitty, doesn't have to worry about finding new employment. While the company shutters stores, Roaring Kitty's GameStop stock holdings are still going strong. 

Roaring Kitty's last update on Reddit in June of last year showed that he was still holding 9 million GameStop shares, which is equal to roughly $280 million based on what the stock is currently trading at.

Tweet may have been deleted

Gill has also allegedly dropped hints that he was looking at another video game company's stock. On New Year's Day, Roaring Kitty posted a GIF of comedian Dave Chappelle dressed as Rick James from a 2004 episode of Chappelle's Show.

The post went viral, receiving tens of thousands of retweets and likes. Roaring Kitty's followers quickly put things together and believe the GIF was a reference to James' song "Unity" which in turn was referencing the video game company Unity Software. Unity's stock quickly shot up by 8 percent and is still trading at above where it was before Roaring Kitty's post.

Save big on Dyson vacuums and air purifiers during this Woot sale, going on now through Jan. 8:

Factory Reconditioned Dyson Sale Products Best Dyson Deal Dyson V15 Detect Total Clean Vacuum $369.99 (Save $318.91) Get Deal Best Dyson Air Purifier Deal Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool Fan $299.99 (Save $600) Get Deal Best Budget Dyson Vacuum Deal Dyson V7 Advanced Origin Cordless Vacuum $179.99 (Save $100) Get Deal

Dyson is a popular name you're likely well familiar with, especially if you've shopped around in the world of vacuums, hair tools, fans, and more. The brand can be prohibitively expensive, but it does also offer some particularly high quality items that will last. If you're thinking of snagging a Dyson product, but don't want to spend full price on one, you have the opportunity to save big right now thanks to a sale at Woot.

Woot is offering discounted prices on factory reconditioned Dyson products, including vacuums, fans, and air purifiers. You can save hundreds on each of these products by buying them in this condition, so if you're not bothered by having a product that's been renewed, you could be swimming in potential Dyson goodies thanks to Woot.

Below, find our picks for some of the best Dyson products you can snatch right now at Woot for excellent prices.

Best Dyson deal Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Dyson V15 Detect Total Clean Vacuum $369.99 at Woot
$688.90 Save $318.91 Get Deal Why we like it

This powerful stick vacuum is all about making sure you can suck up every bit of dirt and debris that might be floating around in your home. It uses a special light to illuminate dust and dirt that you might be missing, and features an LCD screen to give you an idea of its power and runtime as well. Plus, its detangling motorbar cleaner head can deep clean your carpets and floors without being slowed down. With 60 minutes of runtime, it can tackle just about any cleaning job you have for it. Plus, it converts to a handheld vacuum so you can take it anywhere you need it, which means you aren't locked into using it indoors – your car might need some tidying up, too.

Best Dyson air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool Fan $299.99 at Woot
$899.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you need an air purifier that doubles as a way to clean the air and cool rooms in your home, this is an excellent choice. It'll purify, humidify, and cool your room to your liking with a sealed HEPA filter and automatic detection of airborne particulates you may not be aware of. It claims to remove 99.9% of allergens as small as 0.3 microns in the room you place it in, and it can be controlled remotely via the Dyson Link app, so you can change its various modes, turn it on and off, or even set a sleep timer without having to get up and physically touch it – all very worthy reasons to add it to your home, if you ask us.

Best budget Dyson vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Dyson V7 Advanced Origin Cordless Vacuum $179.99 at Woot
$279.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This stick vacuum is one of the best and most affordable options Dyson has, and it's made even cheaper thanks to this Woot deal. It can cut through dirt and debris with no trouble at all as it captures pet allergens, dust, and other particulates to leave you with the cleanest air possible. It has a wide nozzle and brush to help you clean and dust around your home or outside. And when you're ready to empty the dirt, you can do so without touching its dustbin thanks to its ejection mechanism that keeps all those nasty particles away from you and in the trash can.

Just a few weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in for his second term, Meta is shaking up its global affairs team — a crucial body overseeing things like content policy, elections, and its independent oversight board.

Nick Clegg, former deputy prime minister of Britain and chief of Global Affairs since 2018, announced he would be leaving the company in the new year, replaced by fellow exec Joel Kaplan as president of Meta’s Global Affairs team. Before joining Facebook in 2011, Kaplan worked in Republican politics, notably in the office of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and as deputy chief of staff for President George W. Bush.

SEE ALSO: Net neutrality is dead once again. Here's what happened.

In a post on his personal Facebook account and later X, Clegg wrote: "My time at the company coincided with a significant resetting of the relationship between ‘big tech’ and the societal pressures manifested in new laws, institutions and norms affecting the sector," he wrote. "I am simply thrilled that my deputy, Joel Kaplan, will now become Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer... He is quite clearly the right person for the right job at the right time!"

During his time as Vice President of U.S. Public Policy and later Global Public Policy at Facebook, Kaplan was accused of not remaining politically neutral and placating Republican figures with lax content rules, which the company has denied. Kaplan also controversially attended the Senate hearings on sexual assault allegations against Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Tweet may have been deleted

Big Tech's leading figures have been courting Trump's favor over the last year and in the wake of his presidential campaign win, signaling a desire to get in the leader's (and his tech-connected allies') good graces despite previous conflicts. In particular, Trump has railed against Meta for its contested moderation policies and has accused the platform, among others, of engaging in a systematic campaign to silence himself and his supporters and skew election results.

In 2021, Trump was suspended from Meta platforms for two years, following his incitement of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. The company brought back his account in 2023 on a limited, provisional basis and then fully reinstated his profiles in July 2024, ahead of the U.S. presidential race. Since then, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has sidled up to Trump, including a $1 million donation to Trump's inauguration fund after he was spotted at the President's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Other tech CEOs have voiced their support for the Trump administration, including Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Apple's Tim Cook, and OpenAI's Sam Altman. Meanwhile, Trump has pledged some of his biggest tech allies, including Elon Musk, political access.

For the first time ever, Tesla has reported a decline in deliveries, causing stock prices to dip.

The EV company shared its Q4 production and delivery report on Thursday, giving us a full picture of its overall deliveries for the past year. Tesla delivered 1.79 million vehicles in 2024, compared to 1.81 million vehicles in 2023. After the report was published, stock prices dipped 7 percent before gaining back a few points, but not rising to the company's previous price per share.

SEE ALSO: Apple, Tesla, Spotify: The tech announcements that never happened in 2024

According to CNBC, analysts expected Tesla deliveries to increase to over 500,000 in Q4. However, the company didn't meet industry expectations and delivered only 495,570 vehicles. The reason is unclear, but after being the major EV manufacturer for several years, others have started catching up, so Tesla faces more competition. There's Rivian, but General Motors, Ford, BMW, and Volkswagen have also begun mass-producing EVs. 

Additionally, Tesla has yet to make a more economical EV and instead has been focusing on selling its pricey Cybertruck, which was plagued with six recalls in 2024. Plus, Tesla might have too many Cybertrucks in its inventory, indicating a demand problem, and the EV trucks are piling up in used car lots, according to InsideEVs.

In the second half of 2024, Tesla CEO Elon Musk very publicly shifted his focus to helping Donald Trump get elected. Musk donated $277 million to Trump's campaign efforts and spent several weeks on the campaign trail. Although Musk's distractions from Tesla might have impacted the company's stock health, analyst Sam Fiorani told CNBC that that won't be reflected until this year's first quarter earnings report.

SAVE $629.96: As of Jan. 3, the JBL Bar 9.1 is available at Amazon for $569.99. That's 52% off, or a savings of $629.96.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Bar 9.1 Channel Soundbar System with Surround Speakers and Dolby Atmos $569.99 at Amazon
$1,199.95 Save $629.96 Get Deal

If you’ve been searching for a high-quality soundbar that won’t put you in a financial bind, we found just the deal for you.

Right now, you can score a JBL Bar 9.1 Channel Soundbar System with surround speakers and Dolby Atmos for just $569.99. That’s nearly $630 off the list price of $1,199.95 and just pennies from its all-time low price.

SEE ALSO: Review: The Bose Smart Soundbar has a boring name and great sound

This soundbar features 820W of total system power, built-in Dolby Atmos and DTS: X 3D sound, and true surround sound thanks to the included (detachable) wireless surround speakers. You’ll also get a wireless subwoofer for deep, powerful bass.

With ultra HD 4K pass-through with Dolby Vision and built-in Chromecast and AirPlay2, it offers all the features you could want in a soundbar system.

Samsung is allegedly not done adding AI features into its flagship phones.

That's according to prolific (and often correct) leaker Ice Universe on X, via Tech Radar. This latest leak suggests that Samsung is about to one-up Apple Intelligence in some nondescript way. According to Ice Universe, some of the new features haven't even been leaked yet, so they might be total surprises if/when Samsung announces them alongside the new Galaxy S25 phones, slated to launch sometime this month.

SEE ALSO: Samsung's foldable lineup for 2025 revealed in new software Tweet may have been deleted

That's about all there is to this leak, unfortunately. Ice Universe didn't tease what some of these new, allegedly unleaked features might be. As with most AI features on smartphones, it wouldn't be shocking if they were related to photography or text generation in some way. The last batch of Galaxy AI features, announced last summer, included ways to turn selfies into AI portraits and language translation tools, among other things.

For these ones, though, we'll just have to wait. Either until Samsung announces them officially, or someone decides to leak them ahead of time.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Jan. 3: OUR TOP PICK Amazon 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV (2024) $359.99 (save $100 with Prime exclusive code 55FIRE) Get Deal BEST STREAMING DEVICE DEAL Roku Streaming Stick 4K $29 (save $20.99) Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Amazon Echo Buds with Echo Dot $44.99 (save $54.99) Get Deal BEST SMARTWATCH DEAL Garmin Venu 3 $399.99 (save $50) Get Deal

New year, new deals: Amazon's daily deals are flooded with a lot of great discounts and a lot of not-so-great discounts. We've sorted out the nonsense and highlighted a few of the ones we think are worth checking out on Jan. 3. From Echo to Garmin, there's a little something for everyone.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Don't see anything that lights you up? Take a look back at some of our picks from earlier in the week, including the Apple Watch Series 10 back at its lowest price ever.

Our top pick: Amazon 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV (2024) $359.99 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $100.00 with Prime exclusive code 55FIRE Get Deal

The brand-new 4-Series Fire TV, Amazon's most popular smart TV, just dropped in Nov. and has already seen quite a few discounts. We featured it as one of our deals of the day last month when it was $80 off. As of Jan. 3, however, it's dropped another $20, down to just $359.99 for Prime members when they use the code 55FIRE at checkout. This new model features an ultra slim bezel that fades into the background, which makes whatever you're watching more immersive. Otherwise, it's just a newer rendition of the same Fire TV fans know and love. It supports vivid 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus, comes with the Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced, and features four HDMI inputs to connect all your gaming and audio peripherals.

Roku Streaming Stick 4K Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick 4K $29.00 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.99 Get Deal

The pocket-size Roku Streaming Stick 4K can turn any old TV into a cinematic streaming hub. Just pop it into any TV with an HDMI port and, as long as there's a WiFi connection, you can stream all of your favorite shows and movies in one place. You can organize your apps and content however you see fit and watch everything in Dolby Vision and HDR10+. The Roku Streaming Stick outshines Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K in almost every way. So, if you're in the market for a streaming device, we highly recommend this deal. Regularly $49.99, it's on sale for just $29 at Amazon as of Jan. 3. That's 42% in savings and just $4 shy of its best price ever.

Echo Dot and Echo Buds Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds and Echo Dot Bundle $44.99 at Amazon
$99.98 Save $54.99 Get Deal

This bundle deal from mid-December that includes the Echo Buds and Echo Dot is still hanging around and definitely worth grabbing. A $99.98 value, you can snag both devices for only $44.99 — that's $5 cheaper than either device on its own at full price or 55% in savings. The Echo Dot is small enough to slide onto your nightstand or bookshelf and seamlessly add smart benefits to your daily routine. It can be used to set alarms, schedule tasks, communicate with friends and family, light up your room, listen to music, or play some soothing white noise to quiet the chaos. The Echo Buds are a simple yet solid pair of wireless earbuds that sound great, can last up to 20 hours with the charging case, and can seamlessly pair up with your Echo Dot and other Alexa devices.

Garmin Venu 3 Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Venu 3 $399.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

If you're looking to jumpstart a new health routine in 2025, the newest Garmin Venu makes an excellent accountability buddy. It's equipped with an abundance of health metrics and fitness tools, in-depth recovery advice to keep you from overdoing it, detailed sleep data, and a battery life that can outshine the most expensive Apple Watch. In smartwatch mode, it'll last up to two weeks before needing a charge (less when tracking workouts). The smart features might not stand out as much as the Apple Watch, but the Venu 3 truly shines for those who prioritize wellness, fitness, sleep, and battery life. It's typically $449.99, but it's on sale as of Jan. 3 for $399.99. That's not its lowest price ever, but it's still $50 in savings.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Save 26%: As of Jan. 3, grab the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds from Best Buy for $169.99, saving you $60 off their $229.99 MSRP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jabra Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 $169.99 at Best Buy
$229.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal

Do you need to buy a pair of headphones to take on your fitness goals in 2025? Probably not. But good pair of headphones designed to last through most situations you might throw at them in your workouts can make a difference.

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

If you're in the market for headphones to come along with you on runs or trips to the gym, we recommend checking out the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds, and as of Jan. 3, they're on sale at Best Buy for $169.99. That's a $60 price cut from their $229.99 MSRP (and $10 cheaper than Amazon's sale price).

Directly tested against Apple AirPods Pro, Shokz, Beats, and Bose headphones, these Jabra earbuds came out on top as Mashable's favorite workout earbuds. Why? First of all, they're built to last. As Mashable Shopping Reporter Sam Mangino writes in our guide to the best workout earbuds, "these are the only earbuds we tested with a U.S. military-grade standard of durability, meaning they won't crumble if you step on them. Plus, they're IP68 dust and water-resistant."

In other words, while you can't wear them for any swim workouts, they'll last during sweaty gym sessions, even if they happen to fall out — which according to Mangino, was not an issue for her during testing, with her writing instead they had the most secure fit of all the headphones she tested. (Anyone who's tried to do yoga with earbuds in, you'll know how crucial a good fit is).

SEE ALSO: The Bose QuietComfort earbuds are a decent budget option from the premium brand

You might have noticed that for a pair of headphones, we haven't talked all too much about the sound performance yet — in a nutshell, it's good, not great, but for workout headphones, we think the trade off is worth it. Mangino noted the active noise-cancellation doesn't block as much as other headphones she tested, but that she did prefer to have some awareness while exercising anyway. The sound quality itself does the job, but isn't a standout among more sound-forward options. Finally, you'll get nine hours of playback time with ANC on a single charge, plus 32 more hours with the case.

SAVE $120: As of Jan. 3, you can get the NordicTrack T Series treadmill for just $679 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount and $120 off the list price of $799.

Opens in a new window Credit: NordicTrack NordicTrack T Series Treadmill $679.00 at Amazon
$799.00 Save $120.00 Get Deal

We’re just three days into the new year, and Amazon has already put tons of fitness equipment on sale.

As of Jan. 3, you can buy the NordicTrack T Series 6.55 Treadmill for $679. That’s $120 off the list price and the cheapest price you’ll find on this model anywhere. It’s selling for $699.98 at Dick’s Sporting Goods and $799 at Best Buy.

SEE ALSO: Is the NordicTrack S22i Studio Cycle worth a $2K investment? We tested it to find out.

This treadmill comes with a 30-day ifit membership, which gets you access to guided workouts and personalized training programs from world-class trainers. It has a 300-pound capacity and a 10% one-touch incline (with ifit, your trainer auto-adjusts the incline and speed throughout your workout).

The 6.55 model has a 10 mph top speed, a 20 x 55-inch tread belt, and two-inch speakers so you can listen to music or audiobooks while you work out. Plus, when you’re done, it folds up to save space.

SAVE $400: The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop is down to $649.99 at Best Buy. That knocks off $400 for 38% off the MSRP of $1,049.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $649.99 at Best Buy
$1,049.99 Save $400.00 Get Deal

With CES around the corner, we're gearing up for the latest the tech world has to offer on nearly every type of device — including laptops. However, to make room for the newest innovations, we have our eyes peeled for price drops on current devices. Right now, you can find the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop that gives you the best of both worlds with its built-in touchscreen.

As of Jan. 3, you can grab the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop for just $649.99. That knocks $400 off its list price of $1,049.99, for 38% in savings.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops we tested in 2024: Did Apple's latest MacBook make the cut?

If you're in the market for a new Windows laptop, the Lenovo Yoga 7i is a compelling option, especially when you consider its on sale price. This model comes loaded with 16GB of RAM with 1TB of SSD to boot. While we don't recommend it for gamers or those doing heavy duty video editing, it's a great workbook for the everyday user. Plus with a built-in touchscreen and foldable design, you can turn the Yoga 7i into a tablet for streaming.

SAVE $120: As of Jan. 3, you can snag the Blue Pure 311i+ Max for just $179.99 at Amazon. That's a $120 price cut.

Opens in a new window Credit: Blueair Blue Pure 311i+ $179.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $120.00 Get Deal

We’re now in the thick of winter, and with the changing seasons comes the inevitable onslaught of sniffles, sneezes, and congestion. If you’ve noticed the air quality in your home has gotten a little stale, it may be time to invest in an air purifier.

Right now, you can get the Blueair Blue Pure 311i+ Max for just $179.99 at Amazon. (That’s $120 off the list price!)

SEE ALSO: 9 of the best air purifiers, according to experts

This top-rated air purifier can cover up to 1,116 square feet of space in 30 minutes or 465 square feet in just 12 minutes. Its dual filtration system and HEPA filter remove 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.1 microns, including dust, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens.

It has an easy-to-use display with a simple two-button design and three fan speeds. You can also use the Blueair app to monitor the air quality and control the purifier remotely.

Our friends at PCMag say it’s one of the quietest air purifiers they’ve tested and “has no trouble responding to app and voice commands.” For $179.99, you’re getting an already budget-friendly air purifier at an even lower price.

SAVE $150: Get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 on sale for $249.99, saving you $150 for 38% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 $249.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal

Kicking off 2025 with some health goals? Maybe you want to get in an extra workout a week. Or maybe you're trying to get in 10,000 steps daily? What about eight solid hours of sleep a night? No matter what your goal is, having measurable data on how you're doing, gets you a little closer to achieving those goals. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 can help with that.

Samsung's smart watch, in addition to connecting with your Samsung devices to take calls and send texts all from your wrist, this smart watch is enabled with advanced health tracking. In addition to round-the-clock heart rate monitoring, it delivers insights on workouts from calories burned and personalized heart rate zones. It's even waterproof so you can track your laps in the pool.

Plus, keep it on your wrist overnight and the built-in Advanced Sleep Coaching, notes your quality of sleep while watching for signs of snoring, giving you insights to bring to your doctor.

In our review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch, we were impressed by its nearly 24 hour battery life, but it's important to note this is best for Android users only, specifically those with Samsung devices. If that's you, you're in luck as Amazon has dropped the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6's price down to $249.99. That saves you a generous $150 for 38% off.

SAVE $20.99: As of Jan. 3, you can snag a Roku Streaming Stick 4K for just $29 at Amazon. That's a 42% discount, or $20.99 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick 4K $29.00 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.99 Get Deal

Tired of flipping through endless channels of infomercials and reruns when you're on the road? You might want to consider buying a Roku Streaming Stick 4K.

Right now, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is available at Amazon for just $29. That’s a 42% discount or a savings of $20.99, which is a bargain for an entertainment center that you can slip into your carry-on bag.

SEE ALSO: Roku Streaming Stick 4K is a great companion for your first 4K TV

This pocket-size device lets you watch your faves on any TV with an HDMI port, no matter where you are (as long as there’s WiFi). You can stream Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, and all of Roku’s free, live, and premium channels right from the palm of your hand. Just plug it into the back of the TV, connect to WiFi, and you’re ready to start streaming your go-to shows, movies, live TV, and more — all in Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

TL;DR: Live stream Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA with FuboTV, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

The Atlanta Hawks head to crypto.com Arena to face the Los Angeles Lakers in a non-conference matchup. The Hawks are 18-15, which puts them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Lakers are 18-14, which puts them in seventh place in the Western Conference.

The Hawks are riding a four game-win streak heading to Los Angeles. The Lakers have won three of their last five games, but are coming off a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

When is Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers?

Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA starts at 10:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 3. This game takes place at crypto.com Arena in L.A.

This game will air on NBA TV.

How to watch Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. We've found some of the best streaming services to consider for the Hawks vs. Lakers basketball game.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV FuboTV Pro plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

How to watch Hawks vs. Lakers from anywhere in the world

If you're traveling outside of the U.S. during this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock this live stream. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server, meaning you can unblock live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers for free 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 U.S.

4. Sign in to your favorite streaming app

5. Watch Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers 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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Atlanta Hawks vs. Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA with ExpressVPN.