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Sony has finally unveiled the PS5 Pro after months of leaks and speculation, but the console comes with a hefty price: $700.
Billed as a more powerful, graphically enhanced version of the original PS5, the Pro's price point is sure to raise some eyebrows. At $700, it’s almost as expensive as the base iPhone 16, putting this in line with other moves amid Sony's recent push for higher pricing, from being one of the first companies to charge $70 for games, to hiking the price of DualSense controllers.
SEE ALSO: Sony finally announces the PS5 Pro, including release date and preorder detailsIt’s no surprise that the news has sparked reactions across X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, where users are already calling Sony out for what many see as a blatant cash grab.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedThe major upgrade with the PS5 Pro is its ability to handle high-fidelity modes at a consistent 60fps, which sounds great on paper. But when you consider that the standard PS5 could already achieve similar results by sacrificing some resolution, it starts to feel less like a game-changer. Many users are already questioning whether slightly improved graphics justify the $700 price tag.
In fact, for that kind of money, you could easily snag a custom-built PC with an RTX 3070 on Facebook Marketplace — and that’s exactly what some (read: me) are doing instead.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedThe PS5 Pro also ditches the disc drive, and to top it off, the vertical stand is sold separately — a move that’s already causing debate among fans. With no major PS5 exclusives pushing the limits of the hardware, many are questioning whether the upgrade is even worth it.
It should be noted that Sony does have an excellent line up of first-party titles from God of War, The Last of Us, Marvel's Spider-Man, and the recently released AstroBot.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted"PS5 has no games" aside, the Pro is priced high and looks a little goofy. Only time will tell if this will be a flop or not for Sony.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted"Kamala loves a Venn diagram, right? So in one circle, you've got Swifties, who love Taylor, and in the other circle, you've got people who love Kamala. In the middle, you have us — you have these people who support Taylor and support Kamala," Lexa Hayes, the friendship bracelet coordinator of the new organizing group Swifties for Kamala, tells Mashable.
SEE ALSO: Is it 'Kamala' or 'Harris'? The answer is complicated.Hayes is one of many Taylor Swift fans who have joined Swifties for Kamala, a coalition of fans campaigning for presidential hopeful and current Vice President Kamala Harris that operates independently of Swift herself, who still has not offered an endorsement of either candidate in the upcoming election. Born out of a tweet, the organization takes advantage of Swift fans' pre-existing passion and online savvy and aims to use it to turn the presidential election blue.
Tweet may have been deletedAlways interested in politics, Hayes never knew how to get involved, but Swifties for Kamala gave her an accessible, unintimidating introduction to the space. "It's talented people that I already know and am comfortable with," she said of the group.
Behind the constant Swift lyrical references, glittering 47s on their hands, and friendship bracelets is a legitimate organization helmed by Swifties with professional experience working on campaigns. April Glick Pulito, the coalition's political director, worked on the 2020 presidential election for the Wisconsin State Democratic party and on the Georgia Senate race runoff in 2022. The group's campaign manager, Annie Wu Henry, is a digital and political strategist who was instrumental in Senator John Fetterman's TikTok campaign strategy.
The Democratic Party immediately embraced Swifties for Kamala. The group's Aug. 27 Zoom rally featured speakers like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Ed Markey, as well as recording artist Carole King and members of the House of Representatives. Indivisible, the organization that led the run-of-show, back-end, and registration for other affinity groups for Harris, like White Women Answer the Call, AAPI Communities for Harris, and Female Lawyers for Harris, similarly supported Swifties for Kamala.
Leah Greenberg, the co-executive director of Indivisible, thinks Swifties for Kamala has a ton of potential — organic potential that doesn't come from outside organizations.
"We've been seeing this big surge of different affinity groups, interest groups, and communities coming together to support Vice President Harris, and we've been trying to be supportive wherever we can," Greenberg told Mashable.
SEE ALSO: 'Kamala is a relaxing thought': Swifties for Kamala raise $100,000 for the Harris campaignThe Swifties for Kamala Zoom rally saw an estimated 27,000 participants and raised over $100,000 for the Harris campaign. Those are not insignificant numbers, but when compared to affinity groups politicians already appeal to, like Win With Black Women, Win With Black Men, White Women Answer the Call, and White Dudes for Kamala, which raised $1.5 million, $1.3 million, $2 million, and $4.2 million, respectively, Swifties for Kamala only made a fraction of the impact.
Fandom as an affinity groupSwifties for Kamala is similar to other Zoom coalition calls in that they bring together large, diverse groups of people with different lived experiences and issues they're voting around, coming together not necessarily over policy but for an individual candidate.
However, while other coalitions like White Women Answer the Call and White Dudes for Kamala organized in response to their demographic's role in and history of electing conservative and racist leaders, Swifties don't have as clear a lineage in the nation's voting history. Some Swifties say they have organized in defiance of groups of men on the right who belittle them. For others, it's a callback to their idol's past political stance.
For example, a rallying point among Swifties for Kamala is a tweet from the Republican Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee. After Swift broke her political silence and came out against Republican Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn in 2018, Huckabee wrote, "So @taylorswift13 has every right to be political but it won't impact election unless we allow 13 yr old girls to vote. Still with #MarshaBlackburn."
After the Zoom rally, the Swifties for Kamala account quote-tweeted Huckabee, writing, "Guess who's old enough to vote now." It received 90,000 likes. Another fan quote tweeted it with, "This aged like milk because those 13 year old girls in 2018 can vote in this election. We smile and smile." The post garnered 14,000 likes. But "Swiftie" isn't a political stance.
Tweet may have been deletedWhen asked about conservative Swifties, Glick Pulito alluded to their idol's few outspoken moments, saying, "Once you get deep enough into this fandom and have watched Miss Americana…" — a reference to Swift's 2020 documentary, implying that conservative fans aren't true fans. Swift's decision to talk about politics was a major focus of the film. It shows her, her father, and her team heatedly discussing her choice to come out in favor of Tennessee U.S. Senate candidate Bredesen. On the verge of tears, she expresses regret over not using her voice against Trump in 2016. "I can't change that...I need to be on the right side of history," she said in the documentary.
The conversation resulted in her first political endorsement, in which she called on fans to support Bredesen in 2018 and called his opponent, Blackburn, "Trump in a wig." In 2020, a month before the presidential election, she endorsed President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris in a V Magazine article. She also posted a photo of herself holding Biden-Harris 2020 campaign cookies to social media.
For fans, her outspokenness was consistent with the larger messaging of her Lover era. The album featured the pro-LGBTQ rainbow anthem "You Need to Calm Down," and her go at a feminist takedown of the male-dominated system, "The Man."
In the years since she's uploaded several Instagram posts about Black Lives Matter, tweeted about her terror after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and encouraged her followers to vote, resulting in 35,000 new voter registrations.
"There are so many Swifties for Kamala because there's a real inclusiveness [to Swift's music]. Like all of Lover," continued Glick Pulito. "Her art does not lend itself to putting people down or moving backward. Loving this artist who strives to continue to make the world better, who strives to create good art, and who strives to constantly show up for her fans and herself and her family and her community — I'm not surprised that so many Swifties are committed to building a better future."
Swifties for Kamala define their eight policy stances as "equality, freedom, and safety," with nods to common sense gun reform, reproductive freedom, and a "permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas." Post Lover and Miss Americana, Swift's image aligned fairly well with these vague policy areas.
The tension between Swifties for Kamala and Taylor SwiftHowever, in the past couple of years, Swift, with her chart-topping albums, re-recordings, and The Eras Tour, has reached unprecedented levels of stardom, giving her unprecedented reach to millions. But she has yet to endorse Vice President Harris, a major reckoning point among Swifties for Kamala.
Swifties for Kamala organizes over a personal identity marker, liking Swift, with no inherent political attachments. They are also organizing around Swift, someone who can attach herself to policies and people outside of Swifties for Kamala's goals, further complicating their group. Unlike other interest-based affinity groups, like the public transit-oriented Train Lovers for Kamala, there's no apparent policy the group can immediately agree on, and Swift's recent public actions don't necessarily align with Harris' campaign.
For example, last October, Swift officially reached billionaire status and came under fire for her use of a private jet and its environmental impact. Meanwhile, Swifties for Kamala lists "climate change is taken seriously" as one of their eight policies. In a recent public outing, Swift was photographed hugging Trump supporter Brittany Mahomes at the U.S. Open, much to the disappointment of many of her fans.
"What would they need to get our vote? They don't need to have a favorite Taylor Swift song, but it certainly helps,"Swift's lifestyle appears increasingly inconsistent with the political change one might expect a digitally active fan to want. But, as Henry reminded Mashable, "Swifties are not a monolith."
The diversity among fans calls into question the effectiveness of Swifties as a voting coalition, though. None of the organizers had specific ideas when pressed on how a politician might "court" the Swiftie vote as part of their own campaigns. They spoke in vague terms, as believers in Vice President Harris first and foremost. Not even the dissolution of monopolies, which could be used to rally the troops as it was a central rallying point for Swifties due to Ticketmaster's fumbling of selling Eras Tour tickets, was brought up as a core tenant of Swiftie beliefs. Politicians in support of the group were more specific. Senator Warren brought up taking on corporations like Ticketmaster during the Zoom rally, and Senator Markey referenced the climate crisis.
SEE ALSO: Meet the Swifties trying to take down Ticketmaster"What would they need to get our vote? They don't need to have a favorite Taylor Swift song, but it certainly helps," joked Glick Pulito.
Across their social media presence, on their website, and at the Zoom rally, Swifties for Kamala repeats, "Not affiliated with Taylor Swift," but she's still their bonding force and inspiration.
"We're not waiting for any one person anywhere to call people to action," explained Henry. "So much of what the Swiftie community does happened organically and not because they were told you should be doing this thing."
Hayes pointed to Swift's aptly-titled third album Speak Now as a point of inspiration. "[Swift] is this force in our lives that gives us confidence to be the people that we want to be and to fight for the change we want in the world. It's not about getting her attention, but the community that we built and using that force for good," she said.
Is fandom the future of campaigning?Despite the political tension between Swift and her fans, the organization is still a glimpse into the potential future of fandom and politics. "One of the things that keeps [organizers] going is being in community with each other," Greenberg said of her work at Indivisible. "It's only natural that a group of people — who are brought together by their passion for and excitement around Taylor Swift — are also sustaining their political work and weaving their political work together with their excitement and passion, as members of an incredibly engaged fan community."
SEE ALSO: How fandom is shaping the 2024 presidential electionSimilarly, Henry told Mashable, "It's potentially a blueprint for how we can mobilize and invest in other digital communities just as we do in geographical areas. We should be reaching out to online spaces because, for better or worse, people are more online and dependent on online spaces."
For now, the group hopes to be present at Swift's remaining U.S. tour dates in Florida, Louisiana, and Indiana before the election. Many of those are after the voter registration deadlines, so until then, Swifties for Kamala plans to focus on encouraging people to vote. "We want to remind people that every vote counts, especially since she has an upcoming date in Florida," said Hayes.
The friendship bracelet coordinator is also set to launch her brainchild in the coming weeks, an effort known as the "You're Not Alone, Kid Campaign." Hayes says, "It's basically a motivation campaign to remind people to get to the polls and to not let motivation wane."
Tweet may have been deletedHayes hopes to get volunteers in every state to make bracelets and place them around public spaces in the community. Each bracelet will have a QR code that directs the scanner to the Swifties for Kamala website, where voter information is available. On Oct. 13, the group plans to launch the campaign to the public by posting photos of the hidden bracelets to its social media accounts. It will track where the bracelets are found.
"Getting a beer with a political candidate is a little outdated," Glick Pulito said. Now, it's about memes. It's about viral posts. It's about harnessing the power of the internet, as Swifities for Kamala does so well. "It makes [politics] more accessible, and the more accessible you make it, the more people are gonna engage with it."
Like it or not, fandoms are a central part of digital natives' lives. Swifties for Kamala are harnessing that power for the election—friendship bracelets and all. It doesn't matter who Swift endorses; look what she already made them do.
Google rolled out a trio of Chrome updates on Tuesday designed to make juggling your endless tabs a little less chaotic.
SEE ALSO: New evidence claims Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon could be listening to you on your devicesWhether you're on desktop, iOS, or Android, Chrome goal with this new update is to smooth out the clutter and keep your browsing in sync across devices. And while these updates make things a little easier when browsing, syncing tab groups and getting proactive page suggestions across devices means Google Chrome is keeping a close eye on what you're browsing—and where.
Chrome tabs update1. Tab Groups for iOSTab groups are finally landing on iOS, joining their desktop and Android counterparts. If you’re on an iPhone or iPad, you’ll now be able to organize your tabs into neat, customizable groups.
Want to give them a personalized touch? You can add custom names and colors for easy recognition. To get started, open the tab grid, long-press on a tab, and hit "Add Tab to New Group." From there, you’re free to shuffle things around and arrange the tabs exactly how you want.
2. Cross-device tab groupsChrome is rolling out the ability to save and sync your tab groups across iOS, Android, and desktop, making it easier to jump between devices seamlessly. Start something on your phone and finish it on your computer without losing track of your progress.
3. Tab suggestionsChrome's third feature is getting a more experimental rollout. Instead of a full release, Google is treating it as an early test.
Chrome will start surfacing suggestions for pages you've previously visited, making it easier to pick up where you left off. Whether you’re working at the office or commuting home, Chrome will do the heavy lifting, showing you relevant pages right on the New Tab page across Android, iOS, and desktop.
Don't miss out on the best streaming deals as of Sept. 10:
Best Streaming Deals Best Streaming Deal Free Peacock Premium subscription with Instacart Plus $0 (Save $7.99) Get Deal Best Paramount+ Deal 50% off Paramount+ $29.99 (Save $29.99) Get Deal Best Starz Deal 6 months of Starz for $20 $19.99 at Starz (Save $26 ) Get DealHalloween is just over a month away, and you know what that means: scary movies. If you're looking to spend this fall taking in some great horror flicks and TV shows, now's the time to invest in a new streaming service. Even if you just plan to cuddle up on the couch in a blanket while the weather gets chilly, you can benefit from these discounted streaming platforms, because there are some seriously sizzling ones available right now.
As of Sep. 10, you can save big with discounts that net you Peacock Premium for free with your Instacart Plus subscription. You can also nab platforms like Starz and Paramount+ at lower rates right now, just in time to kick off the season. That means you can access some of the biggest stores of content available right now for some of the lowest prices yet. If you're looking to cancel Netflix due to rising prices, or you just want to try something new, check out the week's best streaming deals to see what you can save on (or gift to friends and family) right now.
Best streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Our pick: Free Peacock Premium subscription with Instacart Plus at InstacartRight now, you can sign up for Instacart Plus and get a free Peacock Premium subscription by doing so. Instacart Plus is $10 per month, and comes with free unlimited deliveries on orders over $35. Normally, Peacock Premium is $7.99 monthly, though it does include ads — you have to pay $14 monthly for the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus — but there's plenty of content to choose from on the streamer. Find NBC series like The Voice and Yellowstone there, as well as NFL content, just in time for football season. Whatever you plan to watch, free is a great price.
Best Paramount+ deal Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount Our pick: 50% off Paramount+ $29.99 at Paramount+Paramount+ is offering annual streaming plans for just $29.99 a year, which is 50% off its normal price, through September 23. This deal applies to both new and former subscribers, so now's the time to see what Paramount+ has to offer for about $5 per month. You can find a variety of series and movies there, including South Park, Frasier, Yellowstone and Star Trek. New movies like A Quiet Place: Day One are also streaming there, with a swath of other movies making their way to the service.
Best Starz deal Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Our pick: 6 months of Starz for $20 $19.99 at StarzStarz is offering new and returning subscribers six months of the service for just $20, which is $26 off its normal price. There's a wide selection of shows and movies to choose from on the platform, including Bad Boys for Life, Power, and Gaslit. Alternatively, if you don't want to subscribe for six months, you can get your first month for just $5. When the trial period ends, you'll have to make sure you cancel before the price goes back up from there.
SAVE $40: Buy two Kindle Scribe devices with basic pens at Amazon for $639.98, marked down from the normal price of $679.98 for two. That's a 6% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Two Amazon Kindle Scribe devices with basic pens (16GB) $639.98 at AmazonIf you're a student, you travel often, or you're a voracious reader, you could be a perfect fit for an e-reader. Instead of needing to buy (and store) tons of physical books, these small tablet-like devices allow you to read digital books. Kindle has a long been a leader in the industry, and thanks to today's deal at Amazon, you can save when buying two Kindle Scribes.
As of Sept. 10, two Kindle Scribe devices with basic pen are on sale at Amazon for $639.98, down from the list price of $679.98 for two. That's a savings of $40.
The Kindle Scribe can be perfect for those who want an e-reader but also like to take notes in the margin of books, sketch, or jot down their thoughts. In addition to serving as an e-reader the included basic pen means you can mark up a textbook or write a note in a novel to discuss at book club. If you're working on a PDF for work, add notes for co-workers to chat about during your next meeting.
Mashable's analysis of the best Kindle mentions the Scribe is the best option if you like to take notes.
With a 10.2-inch screen, the Kindle Scribe earns bragging rights as the largest Kindle display — twice the size of the Kindle Paperwhite. It's also large enough to read pages side-by-side when in landscape mode. The device also comes with an impressive battery, getting weeks of life before it needs to recharge.
If your handwriting isn't the best, no worries. You'll be able to convert your handwritten notes into text before sending them off to classmates or coworkers.
Keep in mind the Kindle Scribe isn't waterproof, so it might not be the best option if you spend the summer reading poolside. However, our favorite version, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, comes with waterproofing, so look into that option if you'll be near water often.
Throughout the year, Amazon offers plenty of perks for those who own a Kindle like the recent Stuff Your Kindle Day which offered thousands of titles for free. There's also the Amazon First Reads program which also offers free books.
If you and a family member, a friend, or a coworker could benefit from the functionality of the Kindle Scribe, today is a great time to save $40 when buying two devices. Happy reading!
SAVE UP TO $60: Through Sept. 23, Paramount+ is offering new and ex-subscribers 50% off annual subscriptions. That drops the price of Paramount+ Essential from $59.99 to $29.99 (or $2.50/month) and Paramount+ with Showtime from $119.99 to $59.99 (or $5/month).
Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential annual subscription $29.99Week two of the 2024-2025 NFL season is kicking off with an epic deal on Paramount+ — the streaming home of your local AFC games on Sundays. Sure, it's just one of the many streamers you'll need to watch every game this season, but this discount could significantly lower your overall streaming costs for game day.
Through Sept. 23, annual subscriptions to Paramount+ are 50% off for your first year. This brings the yearly cost of Paramount+ Essential from $59.99 to $29.99 (breaking down to just $2.50/month) and Paramount+ with Showtime from $119.99 to $59.99 (breaking down to just $4.99/month). The promo is available for both new and former subscribers.
Besides being the streaming hub for NFL on CBS, Paramount+ is also home to UEFA Champions League matches, CBS originals like Ghosts, Survivor, and Big Brother, old Nickelodeon and MTV shows, and Paramount's latest theatrical releases like A Quiet Place: Day One and Bob Marley: One Love. All of these things are accessible with the basic Paramount+ Essential subscription. If you opt for the pricier option with Showtime, you'll also unlock the entire Showtime library — including Yellowjackets, The Curse, and The Chi — an ad-free viewing experience (except for with live TV), even more live sports, and the ability to download shows to watch offline.
Considering the current price of a yearly Paramount+ with Showtime subscription is the same cost as an Essential subscription on a regular day, we'd highly recommend signing up for 50% off before Sept. 23.
Google and Apple's legal woes are getting expensive.
On Tuesday, the tech giant lost the second and final appeal to overturn a 2017 antitrust ruling by the European Commission, forcing Google to pay $2.7 billion (2.42 billion euros). The ruling, upheld by the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) said Google was guilty of anti-competitive practices via its Google Shopping service because it favored its own price-comparison tool over competing shopping tools in search results.
SEE ALSO: New evidence claims Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon could be listening to you on your devicesNow that the Google ruling has been upheld, it "validates the Commission's approach to such practices," deemed "self-preferencing," said EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager in her remarks about the ruling.
Tweet may have been deleted"This case was symbolic because it demonstrated that even the most powerful tech companies could be held accountable. No one is above the law," Vestager continued. "It inspired regulators and policymakers worldwide to scrutinize the activities of digital giants more closely."
The judgement comes a little over a month after Google lost a huge antitrust lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice. The case said Google was operating as a monopoly by paying Apple $20 billion a year to make Google the default search engine on Safari.
Apple lost in the EU courts tooSpeaking of Apple, that company is also in trouble with the European Commission. On Tuesday, the same day it upheld its ruling against Google, the CJEU handed down a final decision forcing Apple to pay $14.3 billion (13 billion euros) in back taxes, after the Commission said Apple had skirted its tax bill due to loopholes in Irish tax laws. The judgment was the result of a decision upheld from 2016 that Apple has unsuccessfully tried to appeal. "It is a win for the Commission. It is also a win for the level playing field in the Single Market, and for tax justice," said Vestager in the same remarks.
Recently, Apple was fined $1.9 billion by the EU for an antitrust violation against Spotify, and it faces another fine for breaching the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) for restricting third-party apps to the Apple App Store. If that weren't enough, Apple is also in the middle of a antitrust lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice for favoring its own apps and services over third-party competitors.
LIVE NOW: The Discover Samsung Fall Sale is live through Sept. 15, offering savings of up to 35% on all of Samsung's major product categories.
A quick look at the best deals at the Discover Samsung Sale Best TV deal Our pick: Samsung 85-inch QE1D QLED 4K TV with 3.1.2 ch. Dolby Atmos soundbar $1,455.98 at Samsung (save $1,944) Get Deal Best tablet deal Our pick: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 (12GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $769.99 at Samsung (save $150) Get Deal Best monitor deal Samsung 43-inch M70D Smart Monitor $299.99 at Samsung (save $200) Get Deal Best phone deal Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (512GB) $1899.99 at Samsung (save $120, plus up to $1,200 in trade-in credits) Get DealApple isn't the only one having an event this week. The big Discover Samsung Fall Sale kicked off on Monday, Sept. 9 and runs through Friday, Sept. 15, and Samsung itself assures shoppers that this is one of the smartest times of year to find deals on Samsung's most sought after products.
SEE ALSO: All of the best football streaming deals for the 2024–2025 NFL seasonYou can save up to 35% across categories like TVs, phones, tablets, monitors, laptops, smartwatches, and large appliances, with some discounts getting even juicier if they're featured as a fleeting Deal of the Day. If there's a device you were planning on grabbing during Prime Big Deal Days in October, this could be your chance to snag it and enjoy it for an extra month.
We'll be tracking the best deals in top categories as the week goes on, so be sure to check back if you don't feel like perusing the sale yourself.
Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsnung Our pick: Samsung 85-inch QE1D 4K QLED TV with 3.1.2 ch. Dolby Atmos soundbar $1,455.98 at SamsungFootball season's not a bad time to finally make that TV upgrade you've been fantasizing about. And sports will look great on the dual LED screen of the 2024 QLED TV that Samsung is spotlighting on Sept 10. Dual LED backlighting offers more balanced color (which is already quite punchy with any Samsung QLED) and brightness across the entire screen than traditional edge lighting, and Samsung's is particularly innovative — it automatically adjusts backlighting based on what you're watching.
This deal is actually a bundle, which includes the giant 85-inch version of Samsung's QE1D TV, plus a 3.2.1 ch Dolby Atmos soundbar that pairs deliciously with the TV's Q-Symphony audio system for a surround sound experience. The package would typically cost almost $3,500, but it's less than $1,500 during the sale. If you have an old TV to get rid of, you can save another $50 by letting Samsung pick it up and recycle it for you.
More TVs on saleSamsung 65-inch S90C 4K OLED TV — $1,499.99 $2,599.99 (save $1,100)
Samsung 65-inch The Terrace 4K QLED Full Sun TV — $6,499.99 $9,999.99 (save $1,500)
Samsung 75-inch QN90C 4K QLED TV — $1,799.99 $3,299.99 (save $500)
Samsung 75-inch The Frame 4K QLED TV — $2,499.99 $2,999.99 (save $500)
The super solid Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 was already an easy choice if you're simply in the market for an entry-level Android tablet. That choice is even easier when the version with beefier memory and storage is on sale for less than $800. The model featured here has 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage (versus the $649.99 version with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage) and is WiFi only.
"Entry level" doesn't feel so "entry level" when any content you stream or graphic designs you whip up are displayed so vividly on Samsung's Dynamic AMOLED 2X screens. The "2X" refers to the screen's ability to jump from 60 Hz to 120 Hz during gaming — a nearly lag-less experience not often had on tablets in this price range. This Galaxy Tab S9 comes the S Pen stylus, Transcript Assist using Galaxy AI, as well as two free months of Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Express (both a $19.98 value each).
More tablets and other computing devices on saleTablets
Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (4GB RAM, 64GB) — $169.99 $219.99 (save $50)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (6GB RAM, 128GB) — $349.99 $449.99 (save $100)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ (8GB RAM, 128GB) — $469.99 $599.99 (save $130)
Laptops
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra (Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,399.99 $2,574.98.99 (save $174.99 plus up to $600 in trade-in credits)
If your space doesn't have room for both a TV and a nice desktop setup, opting for a smart streaming monitor from Samsung means you don't have to choose between them. The 43-inch M7 can be operated via mouse and keyboard or remote, eliminating the need for strategically wrangling adapters and dongles. Samsung's smart TV platform and Gaming Hub are built right in, too, so the switchover from work to entertainment is as quick as switching apps.
More monitors on saleSamsung 27-inch ViewFinity S8 4K Monitor — $279.99 $399.99 (save $120)
Samsung 32-inch Odyssey QHD Gaming Monitor — $299.99 $429.99 (save $130)
Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 OLED Gaming Monitor — $1,099.99 $1,999.98 (save $899.00)
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 was one of the many devices unveiled at Samsung Unpacked in July. While it didn't receive the snazzy hardware upgrades that the S24 line did, it's already inherently one of the most fun phones on the market — you know, the whole "unfolds into a tablet" thing. However, the Z Fold6 does do a ton of new stuff, and that's all thanks to Galaxy AI integration. New features include Note Assist, Live Translate, Sketch to Image, and Circle to Search.
More phones on saleSamsung Galaxy Z Flip6 (512GB) — $1,099.99 $1,219.99 (save $120 plus up to $650 in trade-in credits)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (512GB) — $1,299.99 $1,419.99 (save $120 plus up to $750 in trade-in credits)
SAVE UP TO $1,000: Shop TVs on sale during Best Buy's NFL kickoff event. Find budget picks like $60 off the Samsung UHD 4K TV, knocking it down to $269.99 for 18% off.
Best TV deals during Best Buy's NFL kickoff sale Best TV deal overall Samsung 43-inch Class DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV $269.99 at Best Buy (Save $60) Get Deal Best runner-up TV deal Samsung 75-inch Class DU6900 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV $569.99 at Best Buy (Save $130) Get Deal Best OLED TV deal LG 65-inch Class B4 Series OLED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV $1,499.99 at Best Bey (Save $1,000) Get DealNFL season is in full swing. Many of us are just here for the chicken wings and spinach and artichoke dip (guilty) but for those who actually want to watch the game, the TV is the star of the show. If you're looking to host weekly games, and realizing your TV isn't making the cut, it's time to upgrade. Luckily, Best Buy's NFL kickoff sale is ready to help you save some money.
4K TVs are the peak of picture, but that doesn't mean you're going to be tackled by high prices. You'll find 4K models for under $300 during Best Buy's sale. While there are plenty of budget picks, there are deals on OLED TVs from Samsung, LG, and Sony too. Here are the best TV deals to shop during Best Buy's NFL kickoff.
Best TV deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung 43-inch Class DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV $269.99 at Best BuyAt 43 inches, the Samsung DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV is the ideal budget pick. Its size works best in medium-size rooms, making it great for those with smaller living spaces who still want to host friends for viewing parties. The Crystal UHD display delivers a bright, smooth picture so you can catch every second in the clearest detail.
At $329.99, this TV is already a fantastic value, especially with the built-in Smart TV. Now, it's on $269.99, so you'll save $60 ahead of game day for 18% off.
More Best Buy TV dealsLG 43-inch Class UT75 Series LED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $269.99 $329.99 (save $60)
Samsung 50-inch Class DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV — $349.99 $379.99 (save $30)
LG 55-inch NanoCell 75UQA Series LED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $449.99 $699.99 (save $250)
LG 65-inch NanoCell 75UQA Series LED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $549.99 $899.99 (save $350)
Samsung 75-inch Class DU6900 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV — $569.99 $699.99 (save $130)
LG 48-inch B4 Series OLED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $799.99 $1,499.99 (save $700)
Sony 65-inch Bravia7 Mini LED QLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV — $1,499.99 $2,299.99 (save $800)
LG 65-inch B4 Series OLED 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $1,499.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,000)
Sony 65-inch Bravia XR A80L OLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV — $1,499.99 $2,199.99 (save $700)
LG 65-inch C4 Series OLED evo 4K UHD Smart webOS TV — $1,699.99 $2,699.99 (save $1,000)
Samsung 85-inch QN85D Series NEO QLED 4K Smart Tizen TV — $2,299.99 $3,699.99 (save $1,400)
How do you top one of the scariest movie endings of the last decade? This was the challenge facing James Watkins, the director behind such eerie English fare as Eden Lake and The Woman in Black, as he remade Speak No Evil, a 2022 Danish film that had critics cheering — and screaming.
A psychological thriller about the dangers of committing to civility, Speak No Evil rattled audiences to their core by playing out the sicko possibilities of "What's the worst that could happen" on a weekend getaway with new friends. Hot off the critical praise of the film, American horror studio Blumhouse Productions snapped up the rights for a remake. Watkins promptly adapted Christian Tafdrup and Mads Tafdrup's original script, much of which was already in English. And within two years from the original's U.S. release, a Hollywood version is hitting theaters, starring such celebrated actors as James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, and Aisling Franciosi.
The talent assembled is promising. The original film is fantastic, both darkly funny and deeply, deeply chilling. So what could go wrong? Well, Blumhouse and Watkins could fuck with the recipe to cater to American expectations, and they've done just that.
Speak No Evil, now with backstory. Lots and lots of backstory. Ant (Dan Hough), Ciara (Aisling Franciosi), and Paddy (James McAvoy) in "Speak No Evil." Credit: Universal StudiosRather than bore you with a breathless comparison between Christian Tafdrup's harrowing original and Watkin's wobbly remake, here are the broad strokes.
Both films follow an upper-middle-class married couple with a young daughter, who collectively befriend a gruff but lovable family of three while vacationing abroad. Taking the party to a second location — specifically, the latter family's remote and rustic home in a rural landscape — the posh and desperately polite family gets increasingly uncomfortable as their personal boundaries are tramped on by their beaming and beguiling hosts. A diabolical snare has been set. Where does politeness cross into compliance? Where does rudeness punch into ruthlessness? Both movies have very different answers despite telling mostly the same story.
SEE ALSO: 'Speak No Evil' review: A frightening parable of 'F*ck Politeness.'In Watkins' version, every single character gets backstory, whether or not there's any real need for it. American couple Louise (Davis) and Ben (McNairy) aren't just comfortably wealthy liberals who yearn to seem accepting of all cultural differences. They are also enduring marital strife after a brush with infidelity. Irish Paddy (McAvoy) and Ciara (Franciosi) aren't only a mix of abrasive and enviable — chiefly for their lack of fucks about society's squeamish demands for politeness. This time, they also have tearful monologues that delve into tragic childhoods, personal loss, and domestic violence. Even the kids — who are mostly doe-eyed poppets in danger in the original — are given more, including newfound agency that feels very post-girl boss placating. But sometimes less is more.
Perhaps the thought was that we needed to know more about these characters to be invested in their struggle. Or perhaps Watkins was determined to prove his remake was more than a superficial redo. But he's answering questions as relevant to this story as, "Gee, how did Han Solo get his name?" The rough strokes of the original film painted a complete picture. These new details feel like a feckless flourish more than they provide newfound depth. Besides, sometimes it's scarier just not to know why.
James McAvoy's casting was a mistake from day one. Paddy (James McAvoy) and Ciara (Aisling Franciosi) in "Speak No Evil." Credit: Universal StudiosIt's not that McAvoy isn't up to the task of playing a brash yet enchanting baddie. It's actually the opposite. He's done this so effectively in films like Split, Filth, and Glass that his very presence telegraphs the thriller's dark turn. And Blumhouse knows it, as their Speak No Evil's marketing poster centers squarely on the Scottish actor's mug, smiling menacingly.
In the original film, a scorching score over mundane moments warned of danger. But Fedja van Huêt, who thrillingly portrayed the predatory Patrick, wasn't immediately alarming. In fact, he often deflated conflict by being willfully silly or jarringly vulnerable, jolting his captive comrade out of fear of violence. McAvoy, who's bulked up in this role with his beefy arms bursting from a snug tank top, isn't able to let off the gas, even when he's following Patrick's path beat-for-beat. In the original, it's uncomfortable yet funny when van Huêt sings female-led pop to defuse a situation. But when McAvoy does it, his intensity makes the bit feel like a dare rather than a tactic. He's just creepy. And this makes it harder to settle into the empathetic terror of "but for the grace of God go I."
Speak No Evil for Americans means coddling the audience. Agnes Dalton (Alix West Lefler), Ben Dalton (Scoot McNairy), and Louise Dalton (Mackenzie Davis) in "Speak No Evil." Credit: Universal StudiosAmerican horror thrives on convention. Horror fans line up for franchises so they can see Michael Myers rise again and again, logic be damned. We relish the twisted safety we have watching a familiar cliche play out. When the open door is shut and there's a knife-wielding killer behind it, we might jump in fright — but we also feel comforted by having seen it coming. On some level, these movies that play by convention satisfy us by subtly promising that we'd fare better than the fools being slaughtered on screen.
The original Speak No Evil didn't play by these rules. There'd be no hint dropped about a good improvised weapon should the need arise. No dialogue hinted that this unassuming couple is secretly prepared to turn Final Girl +1. The new Speak No Evil does play this game, and in doing so pulls the remake away from its psychological thriller roots and firmly into slasher terrain in a final act that is very, very different from its source and the ending that still makes me shiver.
SEE ALSO: We need to talk about 'Speak No Evil's twisted endingIt's a damn shame. This Speak No Evil is surprising in all the wrong ways. Yes, it's competently constructed and earnestly performed. But ultimately, Watkins (and Blumhouse) pull the punches of the original, presumably so Americans can maintain a smug pleasure in horror formulas. The filmmakers' assumption about their audiences seems to be that they need motivations and plot points spelled out. So not only are we given increasingly tedious monologues, but also an insert shot, plucked from the original, hammered home by a finger in frame literally pointing to the key detail. "DO YOU GET IT, NOW?!" The shot seems to scream.
More than this low expectation of audience comprehension, this Speak No Evil suggests American audiences cannot imagine feeling truly powerless — or perhaps don't want to. (The Saw franchise, now 10 films deep, scoffs at this assumption.) That is the ultimate horror of the original Speak No Evil. What if that pivotal life or death moment came, and you couldn't live up to Hollywood's popular fight-back fantasy? Tafdrup chased that fear to a bone-chilling and graphic climax that takes no prisoners. Watkins didn't dare.
For his version, Watkins has gussied up a convoluted action sequence to coddle American exceptionalism. Ironically, he does this by cutting the original's most horrific scenes and in their place offering underwhelming substitutions, like swapping a rare porterhouse steak for a bit of soggy cardboard. Of course, if you've never savored the blood and bite of a steak, this processed remake will probably serve just fine.
Are you ready to add onto your credit card debt?
You better be, because the PS5 Pro is real and it's expensive. Sony finally lifted the curtain off the upgraded mid-gen PS5 console with a short video hosted by PlayStation hardware guru Mark Cerny. Put simply, it's just a more powerful PS5. It will play all of the same games, but some of them will look and run better on it.
It launches on Nov. 7 for $699 (yes, $699) and does not come with a disc drive or a vertical stand. Preorders begin on Sept. 26.
SEE ALSO: PlayStation shuts down 'Concord' two weeks after launchCerny's video was relatively quick and to the point, outlining some of the more nerdy technical details before showing off how some games look on PS5 Pro. It's got a larger GPU, more advanced ray tracing, and AI upscaling capabilities that can bring higher resolutions and frame rates to games. Cerny showed The Last of Us Part II Remastered running at 60 frames per second on the game's "Graphics Mode" option, which would run at 30FPS on a PS5.
Cerny seemed to imply that multiple games will be able to boost 30FPS modes up to 60FPS, which would indeed be huge. Having to choose between graphics modes on PS5 games has become increasingly difficult as games become more advanced and the compromises on one end or the other become more extreme. Black Myth: Wukong, for example, looks amazing on PS5, but its 30FPS mode is wildly unstable and its 60FPS mode has substantial input delay. If a PS5 Pro could fix that, it may go a long way.
But $700 for a console with no disc drive will be a tough sell for a lot of people, especially those who thought $500 for the OG PS5 was asking a lot. We'll see how many people choose to take the plunge come November.
Several Nespresso coffee makers are on sale for up to 30% off at Amazon as of Sept. 10. Here are some of our favorites:
Best Nespresso deals at Amazon Best overall deal Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ (Mango Yellow) $99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal Best Nespresso machine bundle under $250 Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine with Aeroccino3 milk frother $230.99 at Amazon (save $38.96) Get Deal Best Nespresso machine for cafe-style drinks De'Longhi Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima (White) $349.16 at Amazon (save $149.84) Get DealSorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the dark mornings of fall and winter are just a few weeks away.
If you're looking for something to help with those dreary mornings, Amazon has several Nespresso coffee makers on sale during the week of Sept. 10 that'll save you up to 30%.
Ordering a pumpkin spice latte every day from your local coffee shop can add up quickly. A Nespresso machine can prove to be an efficient and low-maintenance way to make a pretty great cup of coffee (or cappuccino, latte, mocha, etc.) for a lot less.
Nespresso machines can come with a steep initial cost, but thanks to this week's sale prices at Amazon, we're seeing some sweet discounts (up at $150 off) that have us perked up. Here are some of our top picks.
Best espresso machine deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Our pick: Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ (Mango Yellow) $99.00 at AmazonFor just $99, the adorable Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ in the Mango Yellow colorway can be sitting on your kitchen counter, brightening up dark mornings with both coffee and a pop of color. The $99 sale price at Amazon is a 23% discount off the usual price of $129. The smaller design of the machine can be perfect if you're short on countertop space or live in an apartment.
The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ has five size coffee cup size options to choose from and a removable 25-ounce water tank that's placed on the side, so it's easier to remove and refill. The machine also comes with a Nespresso coffee capsule tasting pack, so you'll have a few to get started and can choose your favorite. But you'll want to hop on this deal quickly since it's a limited time deal offered by Amazon, which means it could sell out.
Best Nespresso machine bundle under $250 Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Our pick: Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine with Aeroccino3 milk frother $230.99 at AmazonIf your favorite drink is a caramel cappuccino or a pumpkin spice latte, today's deal on the Nespresso Vertuo coffee machine with Aeroccino3 milk frother is ideal, especially since it's on sale at Amazon for $230.99, a 14% discount off the normal price of $269.95.
Choose between a five-ounce, eight-ounce, single, or double, then become your own at-home barista thanks to the Aeroccino3 milk frother. With an eight-ounce capacity, the frother means you'll be able to whip up a latte, cappuccino, or mocha with the press of a button. Plus, it can produce cold foam for those warm summer mornings. Instead of dropping $7 or more on your favorite barista-style drink every day, grab this bundle and save.
Best Nespresso machine for cafe-style drinks Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Our pick: De'Longhi Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima (White) $349.16 at AmazonIf you're looking for ultimate ease and automation when it comes to making your favorite coffee drink, check out the De'Longhi Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima on sale at Amazon for just $349.16. To score this 30% discount, you'll need to grab the white colorway of this machine. With the touch of a button, you'll be able to make a cappuccino, latte macchiato, and foam milk for your own creations.
Choose between six coffee and espresso sizes on the Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima, and you'll be well on your way to replicating any drink you'd find in a coffee house at a fraction of the cost. The machine also comes with a large-capacity 57-ounce water reservoir, which means you won't need to refill it every day, adding to the convenience of making coffee at home.
Creator platform OnlyFans is hailed as a profitable side hustle — but how much do creators really make?
Variety did the math. Last week, OnlyFans parent company Fenix International released its UK regulatory filing for most of 2023 (up until the end of November), where it laid out its financial statements. The report reveals that the number of creator accounts grew 29 percent in 2023, from around 3.2 million to 4.1 million. Number of fan accounts (those who buy content) grew 28 percent as well, from around 239,000 to 305,000 between 2022 and 2023.
SEE ALSO: Diary of an OnlyFans queen at AVNGross payments made on OnlyFans, meanwhile, grew one billion dollars in the same time frame, from $5.6 to 6.6 billion. Gross means it's subject to taxes, refunds, and deferred income, so Variety estimated that creators netted $5.32 billion. Given that there are over four million creators on the platform, that means the average yearly payout is around $1,300 per creator. This includes everyone, from creators who are inactive to creators who make millions every year on the platform.
As the filing states, creators keep 80 percent of all payments made by fans. The platform keeps $1 out of every $4 a creator makes. From 2022 to 2023, OnlyFans revenue increased by $217 million, from $1.09 billion to $1.3 billion, according to the document. Profit before tax in 2023 was $658 million. Dividends (distribution of profit to shareholders) of $472 million were paid from Fenix to its only shareholder: OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky, according to The Telegraph. That means that Radvinsky made $472 million last year (at least in disclosed dividends), while the average OF creator made $1,300.
While non-adult creators can be on OnlyFans, the platform is known for NSFW content. While the filing doesn't say this explicitly, Fenix did report that "The media content on OnlyFans.com can only be shared or accessed by registered users who are over 18 years old and who have successfully completed the Creator or Fan onboarding process."
In 2024, dating app fatigue is real, and frankly, who can blame folks? Popular apps are starting to look (and function) more and more like copies of each other, and people have even sued the apps for being more concerned with getting users addicted to swiping than helping them find love.
With the current state of things, it may feel like the "best dating apps for serious relationships" is an oxymoron, but hear us out — Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge aren't your only options (even though we think they still have their merits!). Even if you're dealing with serious dating app burnout, using the app that's the best fit for you might just help you along your journey to find your person.
So, are dating apps worth it?Even using the right app for you still may bring moments of uncertainty and frustration — you're dating after all — but finding the app with the features that most align with your style of dating, and what type of partnership you're looking for can absolutely still make online dating worth it.
SEE ALSO: The dating app glossary: The A to Z of terms you need to knowAccording to a survey by the Pew Research Center, nearly 44 percent of adults say they use dating apps to find a long-term partner rather than just casual dating or hookups. This survey also found that one in 10 partnered adults met their current partner through a dating app. So, even if you've yet to find that magical, swoon-worthy connection, the statistics show that it's definitely possible to find true love through online dating. Some of our own writers and editors have even found lasting love on these apps.
With that said, if you've been on the apps for a while and find yourself dealing with some serious burnout, it's always fair to take some time off, and come back to it when you feel ready — our guide will be here for you then. Even the best app can feel exceptionally tedious when you simply don't have the energy.
Which dating app is best for serious relationships?There are so many dating apps, but not all of them are created equal when it comes to finding a serious, committed relationship.
SEE ALSO: How to use Bumble, and is it better than Tinder?Some free dating apps are better suited for casual flings or hookups (e.g., Tinder, Grindr, etc.), while others have matching algorithms and profile features specifically designed to help users find meaningful connections (e.g., eharmony, OkCupid, Hinge, and Coffee Meets Bagel).
The good news is that we've done the research (and hands-on testing) to figure out which apps work best for long-term relationships, and Match Group isn't the only player in the game. Plus, all of these platforms are available via Google Play and the App Store, so having an Android or iPhone won't limit your options. Some of the old-school dating sites still maintain a desktop version as well.
To find your match, here are the best dating apps for serious relationships in 2024:
The deals are definitely dealing at Amazon this week, y'all. Between Apple's "Glowtime" event triggering price drops of older gadgets, Amazon discounting its own gadgets just because, and Samsung simply trying to keep up, we've been dealt a handful of epic deals on Sept. 10.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these are in your realm, check back at yesterday's picks that are still live.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+ (256GB, WiFi) $699.99 at AmazonSamsung's latest and greatest tablet just got its biggest discount to date. As of Sept. 10, the 256GB, WiFi model of the Galaxy Tab S9+ is on sale for only $699.99 instead of $999.99. That's 30% in savings and its lowest price on record. It comes as no surprise, however, as rumors are floating around that the new S10 series is expected to drop next month. The S9 series debuted last August and it's still an impressive purchase. It features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a new Dynamic AMOLED 2X 12.4-inch display, and an IP68 water- and dust-proof rating (a first for the Galaxy Tab S). And our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) dubbed it a "great alternative to the iPad Pro, especially for Windows users."
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet $139.99 at AmazonDesigned for 6- to 12-year-olds, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is our favorite tablet for kids. It features a 10.1-inch 1080p full HD display, 3GB of RAM, a lighter design, up to 13 hours of battery life, and is 25 percent faster than the previous generation. And, of course, like other Amazon tablets for kids, its durable case (with a built-in kickstand) can withstand all kinds of adventures and mishaps. Your purchase unlocks a free year of Amazon Kids+ as well, which offers access to over 20,000 books, games, and educational apps. Save 26% as of Sept. 10 and pick up the tablet on sale for just $139.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max $399.00 at AmazonA tale as old as time: Apple announces a new product and the old one goes on sale. Yesterday, at the brand's "Glowtime" event, a new version of the AirPods Max was announced (they swapped the Lightning port for a USB-C port). Hence, the old ones are back down to just $399 at Amazon. While definitely overpriced on a regular day, Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder insists that they "sound amazing, look good, and play nice with Apple gadgetry." With this 27% discount, we're more inclined to grab a pair — although, this price only applies to the pink version as of Sept. 10.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (47mm, Bluetooth) $297.68 at AmazonJuly's Galaxy Unpacked event announced the Galaxy Watch 7, which is good news for anyone looking for a Galaxy Watch 6. The 47mm Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is now down to a record-low $297.68 at Amazon as of Sept. 10. That's 31% in savings. The Classic model still offers the same suite of features as the Watch 6, including a nuanced breakdown of sleep habits, sleep coaching, personalized heart rate zones, irregular heart rate notifications, and a 20 percent larger display. Where it differs is its "deluxe design that brings back the beloved rotating bezel," as our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) noted in their review.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark SmoothStyle with storage bag $79.99 at AmazonBasically a fancier version of the Revlon One-Step, the Shark SmoothStyle serves as a round hot air brush that can dry and style your hair in one go. Unlike the One-Step, however, it offers specific "Wet Hair" and "Dry Hair" modes to style your hair without frying it. Plus, the ceramic-coated plates add some extra protection for your precious strands. It usually goes for $100, but you can get the SmoothStyle and a storage bag (a $119.99 value total) for just $79.99 as of Sept. 10.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
The bisexual community has an inside joke describing what it's like to date as a bi person: People think it means double the options and double the fun, but it really just means double the rejection (sad trombone sound effect).
You have to be able to laugh at self-deprecating jokes like this if you're a member of the Lonely Hearts Club, regardless of whether you're diving into the straight or gay dating scene. But bisexual people do face extra roadblocks in the dating world.
Online dating absolutely sucks for everyone, but the fact that there's only a single bisexual dating site that caters specifically to this community (and even then, we're kind of iffy about it) means many folks are frequently swiping on people who don't take bisexuality seriously. In 2024, that shouldn't be the reality.
There's [an] issue of bi people feeling invisible when they're deemed too "straight passing," which can often happen in queer spaces. This kind of invalidation contributes to many bisexual folks' struggles of not feeling queer enough.The "B" in LGBTQ+ makes up 50 percent of the queer community, according to data from the Human Rights Campaign, but it's also one of the least-acknowledged letters in the acronym. What makes the bisexual dating landscape — especially the online one — so tricky to maneuver?
Before we get into the best dating apps for bisexuals, let's tackle this question for a sec.
Bisexuality is hyper-sexualized on heteronormative appsSomething bisexual women are all too familiar with when navigating online dating is the concept — one as old as time — of men being straight-up creeps. It's like heterosexual men can't seem to grasp that bisexuality is not a green light to ask a woman how many girls she's been with or if she likes men or women better. Such comments, especially from absolute strangers online, are disconcerting at best and threatening at worst.
Megan, a 23-year-old woman from Virginia, told us via Facebook that she couldn't even count the number of gross (slash ignorant) messages she'd received from men in reference to writing "bi" in her Tinder bio. "There were times when they would be like, 'Oh, you never seemed gay in high school' or whatever, because gay is obviously a personality trait 🙃," she said. "Like my sexuality wasn’t a real thing, or it was just a fetish to these people."
On most dating apps, there are a lot of couples only looking for bi women to hook up with. We aren't saying that threesomes are wrong, but let's not assume that every bi person is dreaming of hooking up with you and your beau. You'd think the user base on queer dating apps would be more enlightened than on comparatively heteronormative apps, but that's not always the case.
Catfishing is also an issue bi folks have to grapple with. Some men have such a rabid obsession with queer women that they'll sign up for a dating site as a woman just to see an all-women swiping field. It's a total privacy breach and certainly doesn't boost your willingness to meet up with someone IRL. That's why the best dating sites require some form of Facebook or ID verification these days; in the case of Tinder, built-in background checks are (thankfully) now a mainstay feature of the app.
Queer dating apps aren't always inviting, eitherDoes "gold star lesbian" sound familiar to you? Not everyone sees the label as a positive, despite its cheerful-sounding name. It refers to lesbians who have never slept with a man. Countless bisexual women have reported being ghosted after disclosing that they have been with a guy before, and even on the best dating apps for bisexual women, profiles with "gold stars only" in the bio have popped up.
Then there's the issue of bi people feeling invisible when they're deemed too "straight passing," which can often happen in queer spaces. This kind of invalidation contributes to many bisexual folks' struggles of not feeling queer enough.
This feels a lot like the impossible Goldilocks principle, doesn't it, of being too much and never enough?
SEE ALSO: Bisexuality and the anxiety of not feeling 'queer enough' Why you might still want to put "bi" in your dating app bioAdding those two simple letters to your bio may draw unwanted attention, and it's going to be a pain in the ass. But in the long run, it also acts as an asshole filter to weed out people who try to put sexual orientation into a box.
Just think about it: Would you want your partner to think that being bisexual is just a pit stop on the road to being a "full-blown gay"? Of course not. Then there's the old stereotype that bisexuality means you want to bang anything that moves. The easiest way to ensure that you won't be left heartbroken over someone rejecting or questioning your sexuality is to let them know how you identify from the jump. You deserve the very best, which means only those people who accept you as you are.
With all of this in mind — and it's a lot to keep in mind — we wanted to review the best bi dating apps. We can't promise you'll never have a bad experience on these (indeed, mishaps are all but guaranteed when you brave dating apps), but we believe these particular apps give bisexual men, women, and non-binary folks the very best shot at finding a compatible partner.
On Monday, in the shadow of Apple's iPhone event, Huawei unveiled a new smartphone, and it's probably the most interesting phone we've seen in years.
Called the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Edition, it's a tri-folding phone (the world's first, Huawei claims), which effortlessly turns from a very normal-looking smartphone to a decently-sized tablet.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: What are the differences?More precisely, the 6.4-inch OLED display can turn into a 7.9-inch OLED display if you unfold it once, and if you unfold it fully, it becomes a 10.2-inch tablet with a 2,232 x 3,184 pixel resolution.
Tweet may have been deletedThere's really no obvious caveat here. The bezels on this thing are very thin, the display looks crisp, with barely visible folding creases, and even the thickness of the device when fully folded isn't that bad, with the Mate XT being only 12.8 millimeters thick. For comparison, Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.25 millimeters thick, which is obviously better, but the difference is not that vast as to immediately dismiss the Huawei phone as too fat for real-life use.
This will get people talking. Credit: HuaweiThe rest of the specs are pretty impressive, too. The phone is powered by a Kirin 9 chipset and has a triple, 50/12/12-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel selfie camera, 16GB of RAM, 256/512/1,024GB of storage, and a massive, 5,600mAh battery.
We would never stop folding and unfolding this thing. Credit: HuaweiObviously, the phone won't be very attractive to most customers outside of China, as it comes without Google services due to the Huawei trade ban in the U.S. It doesn't really matter as it's extremely unlikely that the phone will ever reach the U.S.
The starting price is 19,999 CNY ($2,810), which isn't cheap, but to be fair, there aren't any other options if you want a tri-folding phone.
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