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GET $110 OFF: As of Feb. 18th, get the Acer Nitro 27-inch 180Hz 0.5Ms Gaming Monitor for $139.99 and save $110, or 44%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro 27-inch 180Hz 0.5Ms Gaming Monitor $139.99 at Best BuySpeed freaks take note: this affordably priced gaming monitor is startlingly fast, and it's even cheaper than normal right now. If you're looking for an affordable monitor that can outpace your gaming rig's graphics card, this is the one — and it's on sale at Best Buy.
As of Feb. 18, the Acer Nitro 27-inch 180Hz 0.5Ms Gaming Monitor is on sale for $139.99, down from $249.99, at Best Buy, and save $110, or 44%.
SEE ALSO: Amazon just cut 40% off the Logitech G305 mouse, one of the fastest around for the priceThere are two specs on the Acer Nitro 27-inch that really matter: 180Hz refresh rates with a 0.5Ms response time. This medium-size 27-inch monitor has a 24-inch screen width, a good size for a smaller room. It delivers 1920 x 1080 HD resolution, which lags many other monitors these days. Still, it's fast.
The screen hits 100 to 200Hz refresh times, with FreeSync, and response times down to 0.5 milliseconds.
If you're into competitive play, and you need to save money for the rest of your gear, this affordable monitor will treat you right.
Presidents' Day may be over, but sales are sticking around. We've rounded up five of the best deals we could find at Amazon as of Tuesday, Feb. 18, with standouts from top brands like Apple and iRobot.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these are your cup of tea, be sure to check back each day this week as we select a new slew of deals.
Our top pick: Garmin Forerunner 955 Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 955 $349.99 at AmazonWhile there's plenty of general-purpose smartwatches on the market, the Garmin Forerunner series offers something specifically for runners. The Forerunner 955 offers specialized running and triathlon metrics like real-time stamina, stride length, ground contact time, balance, training status, and heart rate variability status. Plus, it gives you turn-by-turn route directions, race training guidance, and so much more. The battery life, like most Garmin watches, is also pretty impressive with up to 15 days in smartwatch mode. As of Feb. 18, it's down to just $249.99 at Amazon. That's 30% in savings and its best price to date.
LG 27-inch StanByMe Go Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 27-inch StanByMe Go $696.99 at AmazonA bit niche, the LG StanByMe Go is a portable 27-inch screen built into a briefcase. It has up to three hours of battery life and is WiFi-enabled, so it requires no wires to set up. It's ideal for everything from camping and backyard barbecues to tailgating and working on the go. You can rotate the touchscreen from portrait to landscape mode based on your usage and easily tuck it back into its suitcase design for travel. It is a bit heavy at around 28 pounds, but the suitcase handle makes it easier to tote around. It's usually an exorbitant $1,196.99, but as of Feb. 18, it's down to its lowest price on record at just $696.99. That's 42% in savings.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $69.99 at AmazonThe Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is a tiny powerhouse that tops our list as our favorite sub-$100 Bluetooth speaker. It offers impressive, balanced sound for its size, can last up to 14 hours on a full charge, handles drops from up to five feet like a champ, and can be submerged in water for up to half an hour. We wish it offered a companion app for sound customization, but it still holds its own as is. As of Feb. 18, you can get it for only $69.99 instead of $99.99. That's 30% in savings.
iRobot Roomba Combo j5 robot vacuum Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j5 $249.99 at AmazonThe iRobot j5 series is the cheapest Roomba with small obstacle avoidance — aka it can steer clear of pet waste, phone chargers, and kids' toys. Mashable's resident robot vacuum expert Leah Stodart tested out the Combo j5 model and called iRobot's obstacle avoidance "the best in the game." The Combo j5 doesn't have an onboard water tank like the Combo j7+ or j9+, but still allows you to switch to mopping mode by swapping the bin. While it's not as fancy as the other combo models, its price more than makes up for it. As of Feb. 18, the Combo j5 is on sale for just $249.99 — that's 53% off its usual cost. For comparison, the Combo j7+ is on sale for $599.
Apple AirPods 4 Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $148.99 at AmazonNeed an earbud upgrade? The AirPods 4 with ANC are on sale for only $148.99 at Amazon as of Feb. 18, thanks to an on-page coupon. That's just $10 away from their record low. With personalized spatial audio, Siri interactions, voice isolation, a surprisingly snug fit, and up to five hours of listening time with ANC (up to 30 with the charging case), the AirPods 4 are a solid daily driver. Mashable's Kim Gedeon tested them and gave them a glowing 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Read our full review of the Apple AirPods 4.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
SAVE $500: The 27-inch LG StandbyMe Go is on sale at Amazon for $696.99, down from the usual price of $1,196.99. That's a 42% discount and the lowest we've ever seen Amazon offer.
Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 27-inch StandbyMe Go $696.99 at AmazonSome occasions call for special equipment. Most of us have a laptop, smartphone, and a tablet in our arsenal of tech we use everyday. But some people need something more versatile and multi-functional. If you wind up in the boardroom for a presentation or you're heading out on a road trip, check out this LG sale today that could make life much easier.
As of Feb. 18, the 27-inch LG StandbyMe Go is down to $696.99 at Amazon, discounted from the normal price of $1,196.99. That means you're in for a 42% discount that takes $500 off the list price. This is also the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
With a 27-inch screen, the LG StandbyMe Go is designed for maximum versatility and portability. Built into its own protective briefcase, the touch-screen display is wireless with a built-in battery. The display is also fully adjustable, going vertical or horizontal as well as nesting into the case.
SEE ALSO: Dell’s G2725D 27-inch gaming monitor is down to under $130The LG StandbyMe Go can connect online to your work presentation, stream Netflix on your next campout, or fill your room with tunes. There's an HDMI and USB port giving you better flexibility when connecting to traditional devices. The included remote control is also convenient, adding to the portability.
Keep in mind this model is listed as discontinued on the LG site, so snagging this incredible 42% off deal at Amazon might be your last change to grab the LG StandbyMe Go.
SAVE $200: As of Feb. 18, get the ASUS ROG Ally for $449.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $649.99. That's a 35% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy ASUS ROG Ally $449.99 at Best BuyLove to take your games on the go, but need something a little more substantial than a Switch? You need a gaming handheld like the Steam Deck or the ASUS ROG Ally. True, they may be quite expensive, but if you can catch a deal on either, they're very much worth picking up. Today, you can save a significant amount on one that's grabbing for all your multipurpose gaming needs.
As of Feb. 18, the ASUS ROG Ally is $449.99, down from its usual price of $649.99 at Best Buy. That's $200 off and a 35% discount.
This lightweight handheld gaming device is the perfect option if you enjoy playing PC games but don't want to be tethered to your computer. It can play all your favorite games, including Steam and Xbox titles, and it's just under 2 pounds, making it perfect for portable play. With the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and AMD RDNA3 architecture graphics, it can handle just about anything you throw at it with ease.
You get a few hours of battery life per charge, but you can charge it back up to 50% in just a half hour with its included USB-C adapter, then set it up with its included stand. And if you want to play it at home, you can connect it to a TV so it functions like a mini PC. There are tons of options, and it makes playing your favorite games super simple.
So whether you want to make gaming on the go easier or know someone who does, this is a significant discount that makes a great handheld even greater.
GET $120 OFF: As of Feb. 18th, the Samsung Odyssey 32-inch G51C Gaming Monitor is on sale for $229.99, down from $349.99, at Best Buy. That's a 35% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Odyssey 32-inch G51C Gaming Monitor $229.99 at Best BuyAction moves fast, and so should your monitor. The Samsung Odyssey G51C is built for competitive online play, with a 165Hz refresh rate, 1Ms response times, and FreeSync.
As of Feb. 18, the Samsung Odyssey 32-inch G51C Gaming Monitor is on sale for $229.99, down from $349.99, at Best Buy. That's $120 off, or a 35% discount.
SEE ALSO: Amazon just cut 40% off the Logitech G305 mouse, one of the fastest around for the priceThis isn't the biggest monitor around, but with a width of 28.3 inches, it's a comfortable size for a desktop: about two standard laptop screens wide. It's certainly chock-full of capabilities.
The monitor has a 2560 x 1440 resolution, which is less than 4K but considerably better than HD, and has a 3000:1 contrast ratio.
The star of the show here is certainly the monitor's speed. The Samsung Odyssey 32-inch G51C hits 1 millisecond response times and runs 165Hz refresh speeds. This monitor is built for gaming, and if that's your aim, you'll love what this one can do.
If you're looking to upgrade your game experience, then this gaming monitor deal is not to be missed. Take advantage of its extreme speed to bring out the best of what your graphics card has to offer.
Samsung caught some flak recently for underwhelming new versions of its regular flagship Galaxy phone, but it sounds like the next round of foldables could be more exciting.
According to leaker Setsuna Digital on the Chinese social media site Weibo (via 9to5Google), the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 phone will have some substantial upgrades over last year's model. Namely, there are three big upgrades in this report that stand out:
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: Not enough to justify an upgradeCamera improvements, for both the rear camera and under-display camera
Better dust/water resistance
An improved hinge
These improvements would add onto previously rumored upgrades for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which include a thinner overall profile and a bigger display. It's also expected that Samsung will overhaul the way the S Pen accessory works in order to make the phone's body thinner. Interestingly, Setsuna Digital mentioned that battery capacity is unlikely to change, so if you didn't like the battery life in last year's phone, you might be out of luck.
SEE ALSO: Samsung's Project Moohan surfaces in YouTuber Marques Brownlee's handsMany of these changes actually came to the Galaxy Z Fold line last year in the Galaxy Z Fold SE, which only launched in Asia. Presumably, the Z Fold 7 will actually come out in other places, so those upgrades will be new to us, anyway.
SAVE $85: The Blueair Blue 211+ air purifier is on sale at Amazon for $254.99, down from the typical price of $339.99. That's a 25% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Blueair Blueair Blue 211+ $254.99 at AmazonIt might still be winter according to the calendar, but in just a few short weeks we'll be seeing spring blooms and setting the clock ahead to get those long summer nights. If you're looking forward to warmer temps but dread the pollen that accompanies spring, check out this deal at Amazon.
As of Feb. 18, the Blueair Blue 211+ air purifier is $254.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $339.99. That's a 25% discount, or a savings of $85.
SEE ALSO: The 10 best Amazon Echo devices for a smarter homeFor so many reasons, it's a great idea to have at least one air purifier in your home. These devices keep your indoor air quality at a healthy level, purifier the air from smoke, pollen, mold, and viruses. While this deal happens to be timed well for making sure spring pollen doesn't cause you problems, an air purifier is great for protection from wildfire smoke in the summers and from viruses that tend to crop up in the winter.
On the Mashable list of the best air purifiers, the Blueair 211+ gets the award of the best option for large rooms. The Blueair 211+ is designed for larger rooms. In a 1,320 square-foot room, Blueair says it'll take just 30 minutes to clean the air with two air exchanges per hour. In a 550 square-foot room, the air will clean in just 12.5 minutes, getting 4.8 air exchanges per hour.
When operating on a low setting, the Blueair measures just 23 dB in sound produced while it also uses less energy than an LED lightbulb.
If you tend to suffer from seasonal allergies or the viruses keep circulating in your household this winter, help clean the air with the Blueair Blue 211+ air purifier. The sale price at Amazon brings this model down to just about $250.
GET $20 OFF: Feb. 18th, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse is on sale at Amazon for $29.99, for a savings of $20, or 40% off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech G305 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse $29.99 at AmazonIn a tight online game, the barriers between you and your computer make a huge impact. Switching from a regular mouse to a quick, tight gaming mouse like the Logitech G305 Lightspeed is like changing from running shoes to cleats before the game. But a good gaming mouse doesn't have to for gaming exclusively, I use my G305 every day.
Right now, Amazon is running the Logitech G305 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse on sale for 40% off. Take advantage of this deal to get the mouse for $29.99 and save $20.
SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2025 no matter your budgetConnecting to your computer with a USB-A, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed runs wirelessly. It won't support USB-C or Bluetooth, so make sure you've got a compatible port before you buy.
The G305 has a precise 12000 DPI optical sensor and an extremely light design. The mouse jumps with your hand and accurately lands where you intend it to.
And, as of Feb. 18th, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse is available for 40% off at Amazon, get it now for $29.99 and save $20.
A button on the mouse's top face sets its sensitivity. Two auxiliary buttons on its left can be set to different functions in different apps.
Comfortable to use all day, even with larger hands, the mouse is a great all around buy, that's quick enough for an FPS game, and reliable enough to pull you through the work day.
Atlanta's Brian Tyree Henry leads Apple TV+'s brand new crime drama Dope Thief — one of the new TV shows we're looking forward to this year.
Based on Dennis Tafoya’s novel, this series from Ridley Scott and Peter Craig follows Philadelphia friends, Ray (Henry) and Manny (Wagner Moura), as they pose as DEA agents to rob drug dealers. But their run-of-the-mill heist goes awry when they hit the wrong house. Suddenty, they've got members of a global drug empire on a path of vengeance. With their families under threat and the hunters closing in, Ray and Manny have to find a way out.
Marin Ireland, Kate Mulgrew, Nesta Cooper, Amir Arison, and Ving Rhames also star.
There is currently no better video game series to be a fan of than Sega’s Like a Dragon, formerly known (and still colloquially known to my friends and I) as Yakuza in the west.
Aside from perhaps train simulators on Steam that release 2,000 expansions per year, you just don’t get more juice from the squeeze with any other series in gaming right now. You never have to wait more than a year or two to play a new one, and developer Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio is constantly experimenting with the formula in fascinating ways. The latest experiment, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, is not only one of the most literally named video games of all time; it’s also a lot of fun.
“Let’s make a pirate game starring the one guy in the series who wears an eyepatch” is such a stupid idea that wouldn’t work in any other context, but for Yakuza, it’s totally cool. Thanks to excellent combat and an even-by-series-standards ridiculous and irreverent tone, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face for the 20 hours or so it takes to finish it.
SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2: Every new feature and game spotted in the announcement This mad dog can swim Handsome fella. Credit: Sega/RGG Studio/SteamWarning: This section contains minor spoilers for the early parts of the story
Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a game about a Japanese Yakuza member who travels to Hawaii and becomes a pirate. The title isn’t some clever metaphor, it’s just what the game is about. The Yakuza in this case is Goro Majima, who I imagine most fans would rank roughly among the top three Yakuza characters, but is rarely actually a playable protagonist outside of 2017’s Yakuza 0.
In the rest of the series, Majima is known as the “Mad Dog of Shimano,” an unpredictable wild card who loves knives and being shirtless. In Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, he awakes on an island near Hawaii with amnesia, befriends a young English-speaking boy named Noah who badly wants to go on nautical adventures, and goes from there. Before long, Majima, Noah, and a ragtag group of lovable, sweaty morons are performing a Disney-style musical number about the joys of adventure on the deck of an old-school, wooden pirate ship.
SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2025 no matter your budgetNone of that is an exaggeration, and it’s a good example of what makes Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii stand out from the (relatively) self-serious mainline games. There isn’t a great deal of melodrama about real estate disputes or anxiety about the death of organized crime in Japan to be found here. Majima breaks the fourth wall within the first five minutes to tell you not to even worry about the fact that all of these people speak different languages. For the most part, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a silly game about fighting silly pirates in silly places.
Madlantis kicks ass. Credit: Sega/RGG Studio/SteamIt can occasionally be a bit much even for a seasoned Yakuza player like myself, but if you just give yourself over to what RGG Studio is cooking, you’ll find a lot to like. I have a real fondness for the notion that this series, which is known for painstakingly realistic depictions of contemporary Japanese neighborhoods, can also accommodate a fictional pirate city called “Madlantis” full of guys who have wooden pirate ships in the year 2024 for some reason. Also, it’s run by All Elite Wrestling’s Samoa Joe, or at least a guy played by Samoa Joe.
Having said that, I do think there’s a bit of a missed opportunity here. As tedious as stories about amnesia can be, they can also act as an easy springboard for a character study as the person in question slowly regains their memories. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii gestures at this at times, but never really commits to it. It’s not until the end of the game that you get any new insight into Majima’s emotional state. That moment did hit me as a fan of the series, but don’t expect the rest of the story to do that.
That’s all to say that even though Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii takes place after the last mainline game, Infinite Wealth, it is not a sequel to that game in any meaningful sense. It gets by purely on vibes, which is fine by me. It doesn’t hurt that the soundtrack is full of stone-cold heaters everywhere you listen.
Mad Dog and Sea Dog…the duality of man Mad Dog style rocks. Credit: Sega/RGG Studio/SteamAfter the first couple of linear and cutscene-heavy hours, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii opens up into a familiar structure for the series. You’ll spend a great deal of time running around a shockingly realistic depiction of Honolulu (the same one from Infinite Wealth), fighting thugs, doing side stories, and recruiting new crew members for your ship, the Goromaru.
This is no better or worse than it has been in any other Yakuza game, aside from the notable lack of a business mini-game. I guess those are only for the mainline entries. Anyway, the side stories are as charming and funny as ever, all the crew members you can recruit are certified weirdos and freaks, and you can do karaoke. RGG Studio has gotten this part of every game down to a science.
SEE ALSO: Best Windows laptops for 2025: Our top pick lasts longer than the M4 MacBook ProMajima’s new on-foot combat mechanics are what make it all work. Just like 2023’s Like a Dragon Gaiden, this is a spin-off game with action combat that should satisfy people who maybe aren’t as into the turn-based fights in the newer mainline entries. Majima has two combat styles you can switch between at any time, Mad Dog and Sea Dog. The former is typical Majima stuff, revolving around punches, kicks, and slashes with his tantō blade. It’s a ton of fun, but is mostly suited for one-on-one battles.
Sea Dog style also rocks. Credit: Sega/RGG Studio/SteamFor big groups of idiots (and you’ll be fighting a lot of idiots bunched together in groups), Mad Dog is the flavor of the week. In this style, Majima dual wields cutlasses while also having access to an old-school pistol and a grappling hook. He can throw his swords like boomerangs, take out as many as five dudes at once with a charged pistol shot, and fly across the arena with his grappling hook.
This is probably the most I’ve ever enjoyed action combat in any Yakuza game. Fluid, stylish animations, punchy feedback, and exciting camera angles on finishing moves make every fight as fun to watch as they are to play. Later in the game, Majma gets access to magical musical instruments, like an electric guitar that summons spectral sharks to gobble up everyone on the battlefield.
Does any of it make sense within the context of the larger Yakuza series? Hell no. Why are there cursed musical instruments scattered around the Pacific Ocean? More importantly, who cares? There might eventually be a time when RGG Studio jumps the shark, but it skillfully avoided doing so in the game that has literal sharks in it, so I trust that it isn’t coming soon.
Assassin’s Creed with laser cannons The ship combat left a little to be desired for me. Credit: Sega/RGG Studio/SteamThe Goromaru isn’t just a plot device, it’s a fully controllable and customizable pirate ship that you use to navigate the high seas around Hawaii.
This is, admittedly, the weaker side of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, but also thankfully the part you have to do the least. Ship combat isn’t bad whatsoever, but after Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag more than a decade ago, nautical pirate combat in games has become a little samey. Fights largely involve getting in position to fire your powerful broadside cannons or ramming at full speed, with not much else in the way of tactics or special weaponry.
Occasionally, your crew members will be incapacitated and you’ll have to relinquish the helm to help them recover, which does add some much-needed tension to sea battles. Still, I never found anything I had to do in either the main story or the secondary pirate sub-story all that difficult.
I do want to commend RGG Studio for letting me put laser cannons on a wooden pirate ship, though. That’s pretty neat. I just wish this part of the game was a bit deeper or more challenging. Repetitive side missions where you go to generic island stages and beat up a few waves of bad guys in order to find treasure are just about the only other thing to do out in the ocean. It feels just a tiny bit half-baked.
Is Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii worth getting?Anyone who has any affection whatsoever for Goro Majima doesn’t need me to recommend this game to them. They’ve probably already pre-ordered it.
Still, I feel the need to reassure you that it’s a fun time on the high seas. I wish there was just a bit more interiority given to Majima as a character, like what RGG Studio has done with longtime series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu in recent games, but I’m not going to complain about a pirate action game with multiple extremely sincere musical/dance numbers in it.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii launches on Feb. 21 for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series consoles.
SAVE $70: As of Feb. 18, the Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, LTE) is on sale at Best Buy for $379.99. That's 15% off its list price of $449.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm) $379.99 at Best BuyThe Presidents' Day sale events are starting to slow down, but that doesn't mean there aren't any deals still around to check out. Best Buy has quite a few offers available right now, including some great smartwatch deals. If you've had your eye on the Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, LTE), you can save $70 on it right now at the retailer.
This has dropped its price from $449.99 to $379.99, which is a very nice discount to take advantage of while it's still live. This deal applies to all of the available colors as well so you can save on the polished silver with a rose quartz active band, matte black with an obsidian active band, polished silver with a hazel active band, and polished silver with a porcelain active band.
SEE ALSO: The best smartwatch for every wristThis smartwatch boasts a large, bright display and a variety of health and fitness features, including enhanced running features, a Morning Brief, and more. In our hands-on review, Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon highlights the Morning Brief feature, saying "Each morning, Morning Brief delivers a summary based on your health and workout metrics. For example, you'll get a daily digest of how you slept, your readiness score (how prepared your body is for physical exercise), weekly exercise progress, heart-rate variability, breathing rate, and blood-oxygen level."
This deal may not stick around for long past Presidents' Day, so act fast to save on the Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, LTE) at Best Buy.
There are a few more smartwatch and fitness tracker deals to check out right now as well. Also discounted at Best Buy is the Garmin Lily 2 and the 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch7, while the Fitbit Charge 6 is still discounted at Amazon.
Elon Musk took time away from infiltrating the White House on Tuesday to launch the latest edition of xAI's artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok 3.
The tech billionaire and "special government employee" unveiled his AI company's latest model during a demo livestreamed on Musk-owned X.
SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's DOGE.gov website can apparently be edited by anyoneMusk was joined by xAI co-founders Jimmy Ba and Yuhuai "Tony” Wu, and lead engineer Igor Babuschkin, who all went into detail about Grok 3's advanced reasoning, speed, and increased training.
Tweet may have been deleted“We’re very excited to present Grok 3, which is, we think, an order of magnitude more capable than Grok 2 in a very short period of time," Musk said. "Our team’s been working extremely hard over the last few months to improve Grok as much as we can, so we can give all of you access to it."
The new model, which follows Grok-2, is now available for all paying subscribers with a Premium+ X account.
In the demo, Ba said xAI said Grok 3 had been tested under the codename "chocolate" on the LMSYS leaderboard— a system for testing large language models (LLMs) — and claimed even early versions of Grok 3 were outperforming rivals like Gemini-2 Pro, DeepSeek-V3, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and GPT-4o.
Featured Video For You Using ChatGPT this robot formed a unique sense of self-awarenessThe third iteration of Grok comes after the release of a standalone iOS app for the chatbot in January.
Grok launched in December 2023 after Musk launched xAI in July 2023. The AI chatbot hasn't been without controversy, including the generation of fake headlines promoted on X's Explore trending news section.
What Grok 3 can do Credit: Mashable screenshot: xAITo demonstrate Grok 3's reasoning capabilities in physics, Babuschkin asked the AI chatbot to "generate code for an animated 3d plot of a launch from earth landing on mars and then back to earth at the next launch window." You can watch the "unscripted" result around 30 minutes into the video above.
The team also had Grok 3 write code to fuse Tetris and Bejeweled into a new game that works on its own, which Musk praised as "the beginning of creativity."
During the demo, Ba also announced that X was adding a new "Deep Search” tool as a "next generation search engine" powered by Grok. The product, he said, is one that "not just helps the engineers and research and scientists to do coding, but actually helps everyone answer questions that you have day to day."
Credit: Mashable screenshot: xAIBa searched "when is the next Starship launch?" using Deep Search, to which it generated the answer Feb. 24 — notably, Wikipedia was one of the first sources it used. "It might be sooner," Musk commentated.
SAVE $50: As of Feb. 18, the Garmin Lily 2 smartwatch is on sale for $199.99 at Best Buy. That's 20% off its list price of $249.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Lily 2 $199.99 at Best BuyMost of the major Presidents' Day deals may be behind us, but there are still some discounts hanging around that are worth taking advantage of while they're still live. If you've had a new smartwatch in mind, Best Buy has a deal right now on the Garmin Lily 2 that's worth jumping on if you're looking for a fashionable tracker to keep up with your day-to-day routine.
The Garmin Lily 2 is currently on sale for $199.99, $50 off its list price of $249.99. There are two color options on sale as well: cream gold with a coconut silicone band and metallic lilac with a lilac silicone band. If this sleek smartwatch has caught your eye, it's worth it to jump on this deal now as it may not stick around much longer past Presidents' Day.
SEE ALSO: The best smartwatch for every wristAlongside its stylish design that makes it more of a fashion-forward smartwatch, we found the Garmin Lily 2 to have "great tracking for the casual user" in our review. Writer RJ Andersen says that, "If you’re looking for a small, beautiful watch with some simple everyday health-tracking functionality, the Lily 2 might be the perfect smartwatch for you." With this watch, you can track energy levels throughout the day, get a sleep score, track your steps, and more, making it a great fit for those who just want the basics of a smartwatch.
As mentioned before, this deal may not last for long, so act fast to save on the Garmin Lily 2 at Best Buy.
It's not the only smartwatch and fitness tracker deal available right now, though. You can also still save on the 40mm Samsung Galaxy Watch7 at Best Buy and the Fitbit Charge 6 is still on sale at Amazon.
SAVE $100: As of Feb. 18, the 11-inch iPad Air (M2, WiFi, 128GB) has been discounted to $499 at Best Buy. This is 16% off its list price of $599.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 11-inch iPad Air $499.00 at Best BuyThe deals from the Presidents' Day sale event are slowly starting to disappear, but a few retailers still have some great discounts available that are worth a look. Best Buy has a few nice deals leftover, including on select Apple products. If you've had your eye on a new iPad, you can still save on the Apple iPad Air there right now.
The 11-inch iPad Air (M2, WiFi, 128GB) is marked down to $499, $100 off its list price of $599. Your purchase also comes with Apple Fitness+ for free for three months, Apple Music for free for up to three months, up to three months free of Apple Arcade, and Apple TV+ for free for two months. This deal may not stick around much longer beyond Presidents' Day, so act fast to pick it up at this price.
SEE ALSO: Every foldable iPhone and iPad rumor we've heard so farWe consider this iPad Air to be the best option for most people in our roundup of the best iPads. This is because it's, "Equipped with the M2 chip, first introduced in the MacBook Air, it delivers the same processing power as a laptop. In our Geekbench 6 tests, it scored on par with the M2 MacBook Air, offering a high-performance experience at a fraction of the cost." Our review also praised its M2 chip, saying it brings "sweet energy efficiency and a performance uptick."
As mentioned earlier, this deal may not last long. Don't miss out on $100 off the 11-inch iPad Air (M2, WiFi, 128GB) at Best Buy.
If you're looking for even more Apple deals right now, you can still save on the AirPods Max headphones at Amazon and the Apple Pencil Pro is discounted there as well.
SAVE $400: As of Feb. 18, the Hisense 75U6N 75-inch Mini-LED 4K Smart TV is on sale for $598 at Amazon. That is $400 off its usual $997.99 price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75U6N 75-inch Mini-LED 4K Smart TV $598.00 at AmazonI have tested plenty of budget TVs, but the Hisense U6 Series 75U6N has no business being this cheap. You're getting Mini-LED backlighting, QLED Quantum Dot color, and Dolby Vision HDR, all for under $600. That is ridiculous. Amazon just dropped the price by 40%, making this one of the best big-screen TV deals right now.
At 75 inches, this TV is made for home theaters. Mini-LED tech means better brightness and deeper contrast, while Full Array Local Dimming keeps the picture sharp, even in dark scenes. Hisense cranked the peak brightness up to 600 nits, which is solid for this price range. Combine that with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and you get an image that looks way more expensive than its sale price tag.
SEE ALSO: I can’t believe this 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV is $900 offGame Mode Plus pushes Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) for smoother gameplay. It maxes out at 60Hz, so if you are looking for 144Hz for high-speed gaming, this is not the one. But for console gaming or casual play, Motion Rate 240 keeps things sharp during fast action.
The Hi-View Engine inside this TV does some heavy lifting, using AI processing to enhance details and adjust HDR dynamically. It even has Wi-Fi 6, which means faster, more stable streaming when you are watching Netflix, YouTube, or gaming in the cloud. Google TV is built-in, so you have access to all the major streaming apps without needing a separate device.
At $598 on Amazon, this is a serious bargain for a Mini-LED QLED TV with Dolby Vision. If you have been waiting for a big-screen upgrade, this is one of the best-value 75-inch TVs out there. Deals like this do not last, so if you want it, grab it while the price is this low.
SAVE $550: As of Feb. 18, the Garmin tactix Delta is on sale for $549.99 at Woot. That is $550 off its usual $1,099.99 price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin tactix Delta (Solar Edition) $549.99 at WootI've tested my fair share of rugged smartwatches, but Garmin tactix Delta takes things to another level. This thing is military-grade tough, built to MIL-STD-810 durability standards, and packed with tactical features like stealth mode, night vision compatibility, and advanced navigation tools. Woot is selling it for $549.99, slashing $550 off the regular price. That is an insane deal for a smartwatch that can handle extreme conditions without breaking a sweat.
One of the biggest selling points is solar charging, which extends battery life well beyond what you would expect from a typical smartwatch. Garmin claims you can get up to 24 days in smartwatch mode, even more if you spend a lot of time outdoors during the day. If you rely on GPS for hiking, training, or fieldwork, this watch has you covered with multi-GNSS support, topographic maps, and even a barometer and three-axis compass for extra accuracy.
SEE ALSO: The best Walmart Presidents' Day deals live nowFor fitness and training, the PacePro feature helps keep your pace steady based on elevation changes, and there are advanced performance metrics that let you track your endurance, stamina, and recovery time. Sleep tracking is also built-in, and the watch gives detailed insights into your body’s stress levels, heart rate, and oxygen saturation.
If you want to go full tactical, this watch has a kill switch that wipes all data, a stealth mode that disables GPS tracking, and night vision compatibility, so it works with NVG goggles. It is the kind of tech you would expect to see on special forces ops, not just your average smartwatch.
At $549.99 at Woot, this is a serious bargain. You are getting solar-powered endurance, military-grade toughness, and cutting-edge GPS tracking in one package. Woot deals do not last long, so if you have been eyeing a high-end Garmin for training, outdoor adventures, or tactical use, now is the time to grab one before it is gone.
On Monday's Late Show, host Stephen Colbert said people have referred to him as their "TV Dad." So, with everything going on right now, he called a "Family Meeting" to unpack any stressful feelings you're experiencing. Joining him was guest John Oliver, or rather, "Uncle John from across the pond."
"We know that you've felt overwhelmed and depressed like you're powerless to help all of the chaotic things going on around you," said Oliver, sitting with Colbert on the couch.
"Well, we just want to say: you should," said Colbert.
The pair then pivoted to bullies, speaking about no one in particular...
"Do not under any circumstances bully your classmates," said Oliver.
"That just encourages them to start tech companies," added Colbert.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, February 18, 2025:
AcrossUrban green spaceThe answer is Park.
The answer is Drive.
The answer is Riley.
The answer is Emer.
The answer is Way.
The answer is Prima.
The answer is Ailey.
The answer is RVer.
The answer is Key.
The answer is Drew.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
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