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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 Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, April 27, 2025:

AcrossOutdoor spot to people-watch, maybe

• The answer is Stoop.

Big name in health insurance

• The answer is Aetna.

Broadway theater helper

• The answer is Usher.

Easy to understand

• The answer is Clear.

When many show up to a job interview

• The answer is Early.

DownWhat "salsa" literally means

• The answer is Sauce.

Electric car maker since 2003

• The answer is Tesla.

"... in one ear and out the ___"

• The answer is Other.

Tatum ___, youngest-ever Oscar winner (at age 10, for Best Supporting Actress)

• The answer is Oneal.

Defensive maneuver in fencing

• The answer is Parry.

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 Games

Are 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.

TL;DR: BitMar helps you discover tons of free on-demand movies, shows, and channels from across the web — and lifetime access is just $14.99 (reg. $150).

When did subscribing to Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu become almost as much as groceries? As streaming services slowly turn into cable, it might be time to consider a smarter, all-in-one alternative.

Check out BitMar, an all-you-can-eat buffet for streaming free content from around the web. Before you ask, this streaming hack is totally legal, and with the coupon code BITMAR5, it will only cost you $14.99 to use it for life (reg. $150). Other streaming platforms simply cannot relate.

Experience the all-you-can-stream buffet

When you shell out regular payments to your streaming services, that’s like cooking meals at home. But with BitMar, it’s like you’re heading to the Golden Corral buffet every night with seemingly unlimited options at your fingertips.

You’ve probably heard of some free platforms like Pluto TV, Tubi, and Plex, and BitMar basically compiles their on-demand content into one place so you don’t have to hop between apps to browse their free movie and TV show selections — just like getting fried chicken, pizza, and chocolate soft serve in one visit.

Stream smarter, not harder

BitMar can also hook you up with free music via iHeartRadio or YouTube. That’s more saved cash in your pocket each month.

BitMar works on any device that can access the internet, and you can connect up to five at once with your lifetime subscription. Your monthly Netflix subscription could never.

The tradeoff for streaming free content is having to watch ads sometimes, maybe in the middle of an episode or movie, but it feels pretty good saving potentially hundreds each year on fees. Plus, ads are a great time to get up and grab a snack (or buffet leftovers).

Join the new wave of streaming with a BitMar lifetime subscription for $14.99 (reg. $150) with coupon code BITMAR5 through the end of today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription £14.99
£150 Save £135.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City in the FA Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The FA Cup semi finals are here, with Nottingham Forest taking on Manchester City in the second matchup this weekend.

Manchester City have endured a tough season by their exceptionally high standards, but they could still lift the FA Cup. Winning one competition wouldn't be what Pep Guardiola would have wanted at the start of the season, but at this point, he would absolutely take it. Standing in his way are Nottingham Forest, a team that has seriously outperformed expectations this year.

If you want to watch Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City in the FA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City?

Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City in the FA Cup starts at 4:30 p.m. BST on April 27. This fixture takes place at Wembley Stadium.

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City for free

Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City in the FA Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

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

Access a free live stream of Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City in the FA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4) in the 2025 NBA playoffs for free on Ran.de. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of really competitive first-round matchups in the NBA playoffs, including Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Can Anthony Edwards lead his side to victory? Or will Luka Dončić and Lebron James have too much quality? There's only one way to find out.

If you want to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4) in the 2025 NBA playoffs for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4)?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4) starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on April 27. This game takes place at the Target Center.

How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4) for free

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4) in the 2025 NBA playoffs is available to live stream for free on Ran.de.

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

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Connect to Ran.de

5. Watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4) for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA playoffs before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Ran.de, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4) for free with ExpressVPN.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 27 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Sleep tight

The words are things you do at night.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are actions you take before going to bed.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Bedtime.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 27

• Mouthguard

• Meditation

• Bedtime

• Melatonin

• Mask

• Earplugs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 27 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Used in math class

• Green: A clump of strands

• Blue: Things you munch on

• Purple: They share a first word

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

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

• Yellow: Calculator buttons

• Green: Amounts of hair

• Blue: Salty snack unit

• Purple: Swedish ___

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #685 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Calculator buttons: EQUALS, MINUS, PERCENT, TIMES

• Amounts of hair: LOCK, SHOCK, THATCH, TUFT

• Salty snack unit: COMBO, GOLDFISH, RUFFLE, TAKI

• Swedish ___: CHEF, FISH, MASSAGE, MEATBALL

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 27

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for April 27 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 27, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Feeble.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

WEEDY.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 27

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cadence.

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

METER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A marsh.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 27, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BAYOU

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Found on police cars.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 27, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SIREN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To fight.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 27 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CLASH

Final Hurdle hint

A movement of the eyelids.

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

BLINK

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

Readers, patronizing their local shops for annual Independent Bookstore Day, are once again participating, perhaps unknowingly, in a competition between indie book stores and commerce giant Amazon.

The holiday, created 12 years ago to promote local businesses in the same vein as Record Store Day, has become a nationwide boon to independent sellers, including more than 1,600 participating stores and online retailers. Taking place every year on the last Saturday of April, it's now supported by the American Booksellers Association (ABA) and saw record online interest in 2024 amid mass increases in book sales.

SEE ALSO: LinkedIn and Adobe announce partnership to help creators protect their work against AI

But as stores and shoppers geared up and stuffed their carts full of books in anticipation of this year's event, Amazon simultaneously announced its multi-day annual book sale, taking place between April 23–28 and including massive discounts on physical and increasingly popular e-books.

Users, including many BookTok creators, were upset, calling the move an obvious attempt to steal sales using their age-old tactic of predatory pricing. Many urged fellow readers to protest Amazon's book event and purchase from a local store instead. In a statement to Fast Company, Amazon refuted the claims that the timing of their sale was intentionally chosen to undermine Independent Bookstore Day, saying, "The dates for our sale were set this year to accommodate additional participating countries.”

Still, independent bookstore supporters don't believe it was coincidence. Amazon, originating as an online book seller, still maintains literary dominance, and it isn't just about ease: Online options exist for independent book store as well, including mass marketplaces like Bookshop.org, IndieBound.org, and ThriftBooks, and the use of e-book reading apps connected to public library systems (like Libby and OverDrive) swelled over months of lockdown.

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Despite expanding into all realms of commerce, health, and even artificial intelligence over the last three decades, the company has continued to invest in its book offerings, even testing physical Amazon book storefronts. It now owns more than 80 percent of industry sales. In 2024, the ABA attempted to intervene in an ongoing Federal Trade Commission antitrust investigation, alleging that Amazon's dominance constitutes a monopoly power over book sales. The motion was denied.

Independent book stores continue to fight back, however, and have scored some important wins. In the last four years, the number of independent book stores has nearly doubled, leaning into the public's desire for community engagement and curation. Online communities are throwing their support behind local shops in turn, including Black and LGBTQ-owned businesses, unionized stores, and booksellers focused on diverse, or even banned, catalogs. Simultaneously, a renewed interest in public libraries paired with increasing anti-capitalist sentiment has offered a respite in a financially uncertain time for many.

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Thanks to BookTok and its celebrity ambassadors, reading is cool again. And independent book stores, bolstered by these digital communities, continue to push back against the industry giant.

Adobe and LinkedIn are knocking out two birds with one stone, combining their identity verification and content validation tools into one shared system under a new "Verified on LinkedIn" program.

"Using Verified on LinkedIn, users will be able to use the verifications they've completed on LinkedIn to show who they are across the different online platforms they use, boosting trust, confidence, and credibility," said Oscar Rodriguez, vice president of trust at LinkedIn.

SEE ALSO: U.S. government agency sounds alarm on AI's toll on environment, humanity

Expanding on LinkedIn's current identity, workplace, and educational verification badges, the new partnership harnesses the professional social networking platform's free identity verification tool for Adobe creators looking to protect their work, helping them seamlessly verify who they are and automatically credit their work across both platforms.

When a creator who is verified on LinkedIn adds credentials through Adobe's content authenticity app, those credits will appear with a Verified on LinkedIn badge, tacked to the user's profile. And if that content is posted on LinkedIn, the platform will automatically tag it with the user's content credentials.

Adobe's content authenticity app, now in public beta, allows users to add content credentials to images and photos, part of the company's wider Content Authenticity Initiative. Other platforms, like TikTok, tech companies, and news organizations have joined the movement, including adding their own content credit systems and signing onto the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), a nonprofit-backed project facilitating content provenance in the age of AI.

LinkedIn's badge can also be applied to TrustRadius, G2 and UserTesting, the company explained, as it encourages other companies to similarly integrate its free verification tool.

TL;DR: It's only $129.99 to get a Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Subscription (all languages) with code LEARN40, but this sale ends soon. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $129.99
$599 Save $469.01 with code LEARN40 Get Deal

If you had all the time in the world, what language would you learn? This isn't a rhetorical question. With a lifetime subscription to Babbel, you can take your time learning any of 14 different languages, and it's only $129.99 (reg. $599) during this limited-time sale with code LEARN40. 

Learn 14 different languages

The beauty of a lifetime subscription is that it never expires, meaning you can study Spanish for your next trip, brush up on German for business, or finally learn Italian to impress your friends, all at your own pace. With Babbel’s structured lessons, you’ll find that learning new languages can be a continuous journey of personal growth and intellectual stimulation.

Babbel’s all-language subscription opens the door to meaningful conversations with people from different cultures. Whether navigating a street market in Morocco, negotiating a deal in China, or simply making new friends abroad, your language skills will always be an asset.

Language proficiency isn’t just for travel. Knowing multiple languages can give you a serious edge in your career, unlocking global business opportunities and strengthening relationships with international clients. Whether you’re negotiating deals or working abroad, Babbel helps you gain the skills to succeed in a globalized world.

Babbel uses cutting-edge technology to make language learning both efficient and fun. With features like speech recognition and adaptive learning, the lessons adjust to your progress, ensuring you improve every step of the way. And because Babbel is built for busy professionals and lifelong learners alike, it fits perfectly into any schedule, allowing you to learn anytime, anywhere.

Don't miss your chance. Use code LEARN40 by May 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Babbel Language learning Lifetime Subscription on sale for $129.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The MagTag wallet tracker looks like a credit card, works like an AirTag, and is only $32.99 (reg. $59.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Mutant Design Lab MagTag Ultra Slim Tracker Card $32.99
$59.99 Save $27 Works with Apple Find My App Get Deal

AirTags are great — unless you're trying to track your wallet, passport, or ID badge without it looking like you're tracking your wallet, passport, or ID badge. That’s why this thin-as-a-credit-card alternative is catching on fast. It blends in, does more, and costs about the same.

You can save $27 on one of these slim Bluetooth trackers while supplies last. Every time we get these back in stock, they tend to sell out within the day, so it's probably a smart idea to claim yours ASAP.

A tracker that actually stays hidden

Designed like a credit card and only 1.5 mm thick, the MagTag is a slim, subtle tracker that blends seamlessly wherever you put it. A built-in keyring hole lets you attach it to lanyards and keychains, or even slip it into a child’s backpack for extra peace of mind.

Worried about walking off without your wallet? "Left Behind" alerts send notifications to your phone if it gets too far from the tracker. You can also use the Apple Find My app to pinpoint its real-time GPS location.

Can’t find your wallet at home? Trigger the MagTag’s beeping sound right from your phone.

You’ll only need to recharge this wallet tracker card about once every five months, and its waterproof, dustproof design means it can handle everything from outdoor adventures to daily commutes. 

Don't let these sell out on you again. Get your AirTag alternative for $32.99 (reg. $59.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a 3-pack of the KeySmart SmartCards for $89.99 with free shipping. Single units are also available. 

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart SmartCard (3-Pack) $89.99
$119.97 Save $29.98 Works with Apple Find My Get Deal

The AirTag has been the go-to tracker for years, but it doesn't work for everything. Ever tried stuffing an AirTag in your wallet? It's like shoving a jawbreaker in an envelope. Instead, go for a slimmer tracker designed for wallets, ID badges, and all those other narrow spots.

The KeySmart SmartCard works just like an AirTag, but it looks like a credit card. It even works with Apple's Find My app. Plus, you can get three of these card-shaped trackers for only $89.99 (usually $119). 

AirTag vs. SmartCard

These trackers work just like AirTags. Pair them with Apple's Find My App, then the next time your wallet or other items get lost, you can

• Track their real-time location on a map

• Have them play a sound 

• Get notifications when you leave them behind

Unlike the AirTag, you never have to worry about replacing a battery. The SmartCard is Qi-wireless rechargeable and only needs to be powered up about every five months. 

Another plus? The SmartCard is more water-resistant than the AirTag. With an IPX8 waterproof rating, compared to the AirTag’s IP67, the likelihood of being able to track your missing items if they’re lost in haphazard weather conditions is that much greater.

Get a 3-pack of KeySmart® SmartCards while they're still on sale for $89.99. 

Shipping is free, too. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Add the new OS and Office programs your PC needs with discounted $54.97 bundle of Office 2021 and Windows 11. There's only one day left to act.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $54.97
$418 Save $363.03 Get Deal

Buying a new computer is expensive, even if inflation has slowed. Just add Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and upgrade your Windows 11 Pro license to speed things up and get the most out of your current hardware. You can bundle Office 2021 and Windows 11 to get a PC makeover for just $54.97 (reg. $418) until tomorrow.

What's included in Office 2021?

When you add a lifetime license for Office 2021, you'll get access to eight popular programs, including:

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

• Teams

• OneNote

• Publisher

• Access

More recent versions of Office do not contain all eight programs, so if your professional workflow relies on Publisher or Access, this Office and OS bundle is an affordable way to keep them while upgrading.

What does Windows 11 Pro come with? 

The Windows 11 Pro user interface upgrade is so seamless you may not even realize you're on a Windows PC. It was redesigned with a focus on both good looks and better function. 

Professionals benefit from increased productivity tools like snap layouts, multiple virtual desktops, improved voice typing, and pumped up search capabilities. 

You also get a virtual assistant with AI-bot Copilot. Built directly into the system, you can ask Copilot research questions, summarize web pages, create images, support writing, and even generate code. 

If your workflow requires advanced features, Windows 11 is ready to accommodate with Azure AD, Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and BitLocker device encryption.

Please note: Verify compatibility before purchase. This is for PCs that need a new license and will not work for those currently unable to use Windows Update to access Windows 11.

Instantly update your PC when you get this Microsoft Office 2021 and Microsoft Windows 11 bundle for just $54.97. Act before bundles sell out for good, or before this price drop ends tomorrow, April 27, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Switch your hefty flagship phone for something light and comfy when you get the NanoPhone, now 55% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mutant Design Lab NanoPhone $89.97
$199.99 Save $110.02 A Miniaturized Smartphone Packed with Mega Features Get Deal

Is your 6+ inch smartphone just too heavy? Are your hands tired and weak after a long day of texting, liking Instagram posts from high school friends, and snapping selfies? Well, it's time to save those digits when you switch to the NanoPhone, the Android smartphone that's just the size of a credit card. Not only is it shockingly small, but it's also shockingly cheap, at just $89.97, so you can save your wallet and your tired hands all at once.

Mini Android phone to replace your clunky flagship phone

If you're suffering from Too Big Phone Syndrome, help is out there. The NanoPhone is the backup for days when your hands are just too tired or your pockets aren't big enough. Simply swap your SIM into the NanoPhone, and you're ready to go.

You'll still be reachable and have access to any of your favorite apps that run on Android 10, like YouTube, Instagram, or WhatsApp. Connect via 4G or WiFi. There's GPS support if you've got to navigate on a tired-hand day. 

You can even take pictures or video chat on the 5MP rear and 2MP front cameras. Expand storage by inserting an extra microSD card. Plus, this deal comes with a screen protector, phone case, and a USB-C charge cable, so you're outfitted all in one.

It doesn't cost a lot to make your hands happy, either. This originally $199.99 phone is now under $90, making it a great reason to make it your backup phone. Take it places like hiking or to the pool instead of your gigantic, pricey phone. The NanoPhone is affordable enough to replace if it gets dropped or submerged on an adventure.

Grab — or softly take hold of, depending on how your hands are feeling — this deal while it lasts to secure a lightweight, comfortable NanoPhone for $89.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

For years, Google’s Pixel A-series line has been one of the best deals in smartphone-land. As long as you can tolerate (or hell, even prefer) Android to iOS, these are generally the best phones that can be had for $500.

That hasn’t changed with the new Pixel 9a, but the market landscape has...somewhat. Apple recently introduced its version of a budget phone with the iPhone 16e, a $599 device that offers something close to the Pixel A-series experience, but on iOS. However, if you’re not enamored with the Apple ecosystem and need a good mid-range phone with flagship features, the Pixel 9a is still the champ in that regard.

I don’t love the Pixel 9a’s new design all that much, but that’s small potatoes compared to its good battery life, solid everyday performance, and feature parity with the comparatively more expensive Pixel 9, which didn't quite justify its $799 price tag for me.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 16e review: Battery life king Google Pixel 9a: Impressive specs, generic design The new design doesn't do much for me. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

For a starting price of $499, here’s what you get inside the Pixel 9a:

• Display: 6.3-inch display

• Resolution: 1080x2424 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Processor: Google Tensor G4 processor

• RAM: 8GB

• Storage: 128GB storage

• Battery: 5,100mAh battery (24-30 hours in our testing)

Google’s entire gimmick with the A-series Pixel phones is that each one is very close in specs to the previous fall’s flagship Pixel phone, and that’s no different here. The Pixel 9a has the exact same display specs as the Pixel 9, the same processor, and the same starting storage. You’re getting less RAM here (8GB compared to 12GB), but as a trade-off, you’re also getting a bigger battery. The Pixel 9’s measured in at 4,700mAh.

You can also pay an extra $100 to get 256GB storage, but that’s the only variance here.

We’ll get into the practical, everyday differences afforded by those specs in a minute, but the biggest difference between the two phones by far is how they look. The Pixel 9 had the same horizontal camera bar that sat atop the center of the phone’s backside as several other Pixel models before it. That, to me, was sort of an iconic look for the Pixel series, which doesn't really have any other unique visual signifiers. 

Google dropped that entirely with Pixel 9a. Instead, the two rear camera lenses live in a slightly raised little oval-shaped housing on the left-top side of the phone’s back. Put simply, it looks very generic. It looks like a prop phone in a movie where they don’t want to do any product placement. I don’t think it looks bad, mind you, but Google took something that was immediately visually identifiable as a Pixel and turned it into something that, from a distance, just looks like any other generic phone.

That said, it does feel nice in the hands and is just about the right size for me. I also love the color selections this time around: Peony, Iris, Porcelain, and Obsidian. I had the Peony model for review purposes, and it looks just lovely, though not quite as lovely as my pink iPhone 16.

Google Pixel 9a: A flagship display The display is still solid, but unchanged from the Pixel 9. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

There isn’t a lot to say about the Pixel 9a’s display as compared to the Pixel 9’s because they’re exactly the same. However, compared to the iPhone 16e, there’s one major difference worth noting.

Specifically, Google’s cheaper handset offers a substantially higher refresh rate than Apple’s budget phone. You get up to 120Hz performance on Pixel 9a, while the iPhone 16e is still inexplicably locked to 60Hz. I don’t really understand why Apple is so behind the times on this, locking 120Hz support to its Pro phones only, but that’s still unfortunately the reality we live in.

On its own merits, though, the Pixel 9a’s display didn’t give me anything to complain about. 6.3-inches is about as big as I want a phone to be without it feeling too tall in the hands, and its 2,700 nits of peak brightness more than do the job on a bright, sunny day in Brooklyn.

Google Pixel 9a: Rock-solid performance Get charged up. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Pixel 9a is powered by the exact same Google Tensor G4 chip as the Pixel 9. At a certain point, you begin to wonder why the Pixel 9 exists at all. Fortunately, this isn't a review of the now-overpriced Pixel 9.

Anyway, I found no performance hiccups to speak of during my time with Pixel 9a. Setup is a breeze, as always, and apps load as quickly as can be expected during daily use. Multitasking doesn’t seem to slow it down much at all, either. The only thing I would note is that I found the Pixel 9a to get a little warm while watching YouTube videos. Granted, I was using it without a case, so that might mitigate this issue. But just be warned that, if you decide to go caseless, you might feel a tiny bit of heat after prolonged use.

On the metrics side, Pixel 9a doesn’t finish as an elite contender, but it’s also a $500 phone, so it doesn’t need to. Its multi-core score in the Geekbench 6 benchmarking software is 4,229, which is very close to the Pixel 9’s score of 4,358. That’s obviously not even close to the 10,049 you’d get from a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but that’s a flagship phone, and this isn’t. 

The point is that Pixel phones sometimes have underwhelming benchmark scores compared to the competition, but the actual everyday performance is totally fine. I didn’t even notice the reduction in RAM from 12GB to 8GB compared to the Pixel 9 I tested.

The Pixel 9a comes with Gemini built in

Pretty much every phone released in 2025 is now described as an AI smartphone, and the Pixel 9a is no exception. It comes equipped with Google Gemini built-in, including access to Gemini Live and Circle to Search. These are the same AI features that graced the Pixel 9 lineup last year. None of these features has been substantially upgraded in any way, but they're at least there if you want them. Personally, I find these AI tools quite gimmicky, but if you're interested in AI bells and whistles, this phone's got 'em.

At the very least, it’s another notch in the, “Why even buy a Pixel 9?” argument.

Google Pixel 9a: 24 hours of battery life It stays alive for a long time. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The Pixel 9a’s 5,100mAh battery is bigger than the 4,700mAh cell in the Pixel 9, but let's be real: those numbers don’t mean much of anything to the average person.

I tested both phones with Mashable's standard mobile battery-testing protocol: running videos on loop at 50 percent brightness until they died. When I did this for the Pixel 9 last year, it petered out after 19 hours and 20 minutes. The Pixel 9a, however, was able to last 24 hours and 24 minutes under the same conditions.

That’s a pretty big gap, and the takeaway is that this smartphone lasts a long time for a $500 phone. General use bears this out, too, as I was able to go roughly 24 hours between charges in everyday circumstances, too. Google rates it for 30 hours, which I could see being achievable if you turned off 120Hz mode, but then you’d be giving up one of the big advantages the Pixel 9a has over most iPhone models, so why would you do that?

Google Pixel 9a: How good are the cameras?

I would say the biggest discrepancy between Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a exists in the camera array, which is to be expected. Budget phones rarely have amazing cameras, but for what it’s worth, I think the Pixel 9a does just fine for the price.

You get a 48MP main lens and a 13MP ultra-wide lens on the back, which pale in comparison to the 50MP/48MP equivalents on Pixel 9. The front-facing camera’s 13MP spec is a little bigger than the 10.5MP selfie cam on Pixel 9, at least. Still, if you want better specs, you’re going to want to get a Pixel 9. That much is certain.

Still, the Pixel 9a can take some very vivid, sharp, and colorful shots in its own right.

The Pixel 9a does this graffiti justice. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

One reason the 9a takes such a big step up from the Pixel 8a? The addition of Macro Focus, which lets you get in real close on small objects like budding flowers and capture granular amounts of detail. I don't love the lack of a clear visual sign that Macro Focus is in effect while using the camera app, but you can see which photos use it in your gallery afterward. It works pretty well!

Macro Focus is a nice addition. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

This isn't anything new for Google, but as always, Night Sight is a godsend in low-light conditions. My backyard is impossible to shoot in at night without it. See the before and after for yourself:

Grill without night sight This is without any software assistance. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable Grill with Night Sight This is with software assistance. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

Unsurprisingly, you only get up to 8x zoom in Pixel 9a, which is the same as Pixel 9. It's definitely not the incredible 30x zoom you'd find in a Pixel 9 Pro, but it'll do.

Church, no zoom No zoom. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable Pixel 9a, 8x zoom Full zoom. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

Lastly, portrait mode still looks nice. Not much else to say about it.

Bokeh for days. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable So, is the Google Pixel 9a worth it?

Android lovers who just want a mostly clean version of the OS with a full feature set and good battery life probably don’t need to look anywhere else. For now, the Pixel 9a is the budget smartphone to beat in 2025.

This conversation is made slightly more interesting by the recent addition of the iPhone 16e, but the Pixel 9a’s display superiority alone kinda settles the argument in my mind, even as a devoted iPhone guy. Aside from that, this is basically just a cheaper Pixel 9 that doesn’t look quite as cool. 

For just $500, though, you’re not trying to make a fashion statement. You’re trying to get a quality phone with a decent camera, and the Pixel 9a accomplishes that.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Pixel 9a $499 at Google Store
Shop Now

• Buy the Pixel 9a at Amazon for $499

• Buy the Pixel 9a at Verizon for $13.88/month

• Buy the Pixel 9a at T-Mobile for $499

SAVE $7.99: As of April 26, the Anker Soundcore V20i open earbuds are marked down to just $31.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 20%, but it's only available until April 28.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Anker Soundcore V20i open earbuds $31.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $8.00 Save 20% with on-page coupon Get Deal

If you need an affordable new pair of wireless earbuds, but also value situational awareness, this deal might be for you. They may not be the swankiest new AirPods Pro, but Anker's Soundcore V20i headphones are substantially cheaper on Amazon right now, and may just be what you're looking for out of a pair of wireless earbuds. They're available on Amazon for 20 percent off right now, but only until April 28. Look for an on-page coupon that knocks 20% off the price.

In our guide to the best cheap wireless earbuds, two Anker Soundcore products made the list, and the V20i headphones are a top contender for 2025 (they're also very popular among Mashable readers).

Featuring 16mm drivers to deliver big sound in a small body, the V20i wireless earbuds also have adjustable ear hooks for maximum comfort. They can be worn in different positions and allow for greater awareness of your surroundings due to an open-ear design. In other words, they don't have active noise cancellation of any kind, but that's the point. You can wear these, enjoy your music and podcasts, and pay attention to the world around you at the same time.

Aside from that, they come with multiple microphones so you can make phone calls, and even customizable lights for a little stylistic flair. Anker also promises 36 hours of playtime, if you include the charges in the charging case.

Again, head to Amazon to pick up the Anker Soundcore V20i open earbuds for 20% off the usual price. You'll need to "clip" the 20% on-page coupon to save, and you'll see the discounted price when you check out.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump unveiled a new line of presidential swag, including a bright red cap emblazoned with the words "Trump 2028." Pundits and journalists honed in on the new swag immediately, as the president and his allies have previously alluded to poking at presidential term limits. In March, Trump said he was "not joking" about a third term, citing unspecified "methods" for winning another term in the White House. 

The hat, dropped unceremoniously on the Trump Organization's official store with the description "break the rules," runs for a whopping $50, which doesn't include the cost of the potential constitutional crisis it opens up. 

SEE ALSO: Slate's $20K made-in-America electric truck is the opposite of a Cybertruck

Americans are well aware of Trump's touted business acumen, but some might know that the now iconic red baseball cap is simply the tip of a vast merchandising iceberg, with the official Trump store a veritable treasure trove of questionably branded objects.

Presidential merch is extremely common and there are items that make sense for the Trump brand, given its longstanding place in the world of hospitality — pickleball paddles and golf accessories, for example, and the Trump Organization's Mar-a-Lago line, which includes unsurprising array of resort logo robes and slippers. 

But then there's some truly fascinating listings (among, let's be clear, hundreds of products). Fine jewelry featuring presidential motifs? Or maybe a Trump candle is more your vibe? Mother's Day creeping up on you and still giftless? Visit the Trump store's Mother's Day gift guide (maybe mom would appreciate MAGA stud earrings?). 

If you have a few spare minutes (read: an entire afternoon) to scroll through every listing, don't! We've picked out some highlights below. 

Trump sweets Credit: TrumpStore

Movie night lovers and candy aficionados can stock up by shopping the Trump Sweets line, which definitely don't appear to be the same wholesale repackaged candy that TikTok creators peddle to millions on livestreams everyday.

Trump brand coffee Credit: TrumpStore

When I slither out of bed in the morning, dreading my daily news scroll, nothing can help me wake up quicker than a mug of Trump-branded gold roast coffee, made in America at the Albemarle Estate at Trump Winery. "Locally sourced java for Big Thinking."

Trump EarPods Credit: TrumpStore

"Add a touch of luxury" to your daily music listening, reads the product listing for these golden Trump earbuds that cost only $35. The specs? Fast pairing, rechargeable, 2-3 hours of music and talk, Trump logo. 

Trump USB drive Credit: TrumpStore

If I'm looking to store some precious family photos or international war plans, I am definitely NOT going to upload them to a cloud service or an encrypted messaging app full of investigative journalists. Instead, I will store them on my trusty gold bar Trump USB drive! 

'USA bear' clothing line and plushies Credit: TrumpStore

The official store boasts dozens upon dozens of pieces of attire, including official MAGA merch lines, Mar-a-Lago swag, and other America-themed outfits. And I would be remiss to leave out the store's only exclusive designer collection: Lara Trump's own line of athleisure wear. 

However, it's the "USA Bear" line that really stands out. Who can afford a real Ralph Lauren bear crewneck in this economy? Give me USA Bear any day.

Trump flag wrapping paper Credit: TrumpStore

American flags aren't just for the Fourth of July people! They work great for birthdays, anniversaries, and even Christmas gifts, as is proven by the stunning pattern on Trump's own presidential wrapping paper. 

Trump beach set Credit: TrumpStore

Families will be flocking to the beach and setting up lakeside this spring and summer, especially as our planet is increasingly warmed by our ongoing climate crisis. A classic sand bucket and beach ball, sporting the all-caps Trump marquee, would be the perfect addition.

Trump skincare Credit: TrumpStore

A little self care never hurt anyone. So throw on your Trump rose chemise slip, light up your Trump incense, and indulge in the Trump store's polish and plump skincare offering from brand HydroPeptide, strangely, one of the only third-party products on the site.

It's okay, though, the store has a Trump (ignore the EOS resemblance) brand lip balm. 

Scientists have found an unusual neon glow near the center of the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy for the first time. 

This gas needs an enormous amount of energy to shine — more than normal stars can supply. The discovery, based on data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, likely means the barred spiral galaxy, sometimes called Messier 83 or M83, has been harboring an active, supermassive black hole in secret. 

The new research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, upends prior thinking about the galaxy. Previously, it was assumed that if there were a hole in its heart, it would be dormant and certainly not shooting out high-energy radiation.

"Before Webb, we simply did not have the tools to detect such faint and highly ionized gas signatures in M83's nucleus," said Svea Hernandez, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, in a statement. "We are finally able to explore these hidden depths of the galaxy and uncover what was once invisible."

SEE ALSO: These scientists think alien life best explains what Webb just found Dust and gas obscure the view to extremely distant and inherently dim light sources, but infrared waves can pierce through the clouds. Credit: NASA GSFC / CIL / Adriana Manrique Gutierrez illustration

Black holes are some of the most inscrutable phenomena in outer space. About 50 years ago, they were little more than a theory — a kooky mathematical answer to a physics problem. Even astronomers at the top of their field weren't entirely convinced they existed. Today, not only are black holes accepted science, they're getting their pictures taken by a collection of enormous, synced-up radio dishes on Earth. 

Unlike a planet or star, black holes don't have surfaces. Instead, they have a boundary called an "event horizon," or a point of no return. If anything swoops too close, it will fall in, never to escape the hole's gravitational clutch.

The most common kind, called a stellar black hole, is thought to be the result of an enormous star dying in a supernova explosion. The star's material then collapses onto itself, condensing into a relatively tiny area. 

But how supermassive black holes, millions to billions of times more massive than the sun, form is even more elusive than typical stellar black holes. Many astrophysicists and cosmologists believe these invisible giants lurk at the center of virtually all galaxies. Recent Hubble Space Telescope observations have bolstered the theory that supermassive black holes begin in the dusty cores of starburst galaxies, where new stars are rapidly assembled, but scientists are still teasing it out. 

The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy — about 15 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra — is one such starburst galaxy. It has baffled scientists for decades as they struggled fruitlessly to find signs of a black hole at its center. 

Webb, a collaboration with the European and Canadian space agencies, was mainly designed to study the early universe, star formation, and distant galaxies. But its extreme sensitivity to infrared light, invisible to peoples' eyes, gave it the power to find clues that other telescopes couldn't, said Linda Smith, a co-author on the paper. 

Infrared light can shine through dust, which often blocks other forms of light. This gives Webb an advantage in studying cloudy areas where stars are forming or giant black holes might be active.

Though the detected signals strongly suggest the presence of a black hole, the team is considering other possible sources, such as powerful shock waves moving through space or inordinately massive stars. The researchers plan to follow up their observations with other telescopes to look at the galaxy in different ways.

"Now we have fresh evidence that challenges past assumptions," Smith said. 

From the moment I laid eyes on the baby Ochi in The Legend of Ochi's first trailer, I knew I had a new fantasy film creature to obsess over.

SEE ALSO: 'The Legend of Ochi' review: This beautifully crafted fantasy adventure will make you feel like a kid again

The baby Ochi love didn't just start with his physical appearance, although he is unfathomably adorable: golden fur, small blue face, elongated ears, and precious eyes you could just get lost in. Instead, I was also struck by the filmmaking techniques used to make the Ochi a reality. The adult Ochi were portrayed by performers in suits, while the baby Ochi came to life through a combination of animatronics and puppetry. The result is both tactile and otherworldly, like a real creature caught just out of time.

The Legend of Ochi draws inspiration from real animals. Isaiah Saxon directs the mother Ochi. Credit: A24

For director Isaiah Saxon, who makes his feature debut with The Legend of Ochi, that realism was key to developing the Ochi's look. "The intention behind the design of the Ochi was that a kid or even an adult could believe or maybe misunderstand these animals as being a real species that they just hadn't seen the BBC nature documentary on yet," Saxon told Mashable over Zoom

Saxon turned to real-life animals as opposed to other film creatures for inspiration. Chief among them was the Chinese golden snub-nosed monkey, as well as lemurs and tarsiers.

"The hope was that [the Ochi] felt like a real, undiscovered primate," Saxon said.

SEE ALSO: The unicorns in 'Death of a Unicorn' are total 'movie magic'

To capture that primate feel, The Legend of Ochi creative supervisor John Nolan, who has worked on animatronics for the Harry Potter and Jurassic World franchises, suggested Saxon bring in primate expert performer Peter Elliott to consult on the Ochi's movement. Elliott, who has played apes in films including Gorillas in the Mist and Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, started by leading a half-day "ape out" for puppeteers to understand how to move like primates. His work proved especially vital for the shaping of the adult Ochi's movement, as they have a similar heft and strength to gorillas.

Baby Ochi carries some of that type of ape-like movement, but there's more baby-like wriggling and uncertainty to him, too. "Baby Ochi is still figuring out his body," Saxon said. "He's a lanky little guy."

Baby Ochi is a result of masterful puppetry. Helena Zengel and the Baby Ochi puppeteers. Credit: A24

The mastermind behind Baby Ochi's movement is lead puppeteer Robert Tygner, who helmed the team of puppeteers controlling the baby Ochi puppet (four controlling the body and two controlling the animatronic face), and whom Saxon describes as the "quarterback and choreographer" of Baby Ochi.

During filming, Tygner would call out emotions and reactions for the baby Ochi puppet. Three were used during shooting: a principal puppet, a stunt puppet, and a backpack puppet for the scenes the Ochi spends riding on Yuri's (Helena Zengel) back.

"It felt almost like you [were] the internal monologue of the baby Ochi," Saxon told Tygner on a joint Zoom call.

Tygner's credits include 1986's Labyrinth, 1990's The Witches, and 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, all of which fit into a tradition of puppetry and animatronics that The Legend of Ochi carries on. (Tygner isn't the only Labyrinth alum on the film: Labyrinth hair and fur specialist Vicky Stockwell also worked on the Ochi's fur.)

"A lot of the legends are around," Saxon said.

"We're still here!" Tygner added.

That these legendary craftspeople who worked on projects that inspired The Legend of Ochi ended up working on the film itself was a gift to Saxon.

SEE ALSO: Watch the incredible puppets from A24's 'The Legend of Ochi' in action

"The greatest privilege of the whole project is when you get the best people in the world at their craft, just give them a spotlight and let them cook," Saxon said. "I feel the same way about Robert as I do about Willem Dafoe [who plays Maxim in The Legend of Ochi]."

For Tygner, The Legend of Ochi is both a continuation of great practical filmmaking, as well as proof of how technology has shifted on-screen puppeteering.

"When we were doing Labyrinth, there weren't any computers around," Tygner told Mashable over Zoom. "Nothing could be digitally removed. Everything had to be done in camera, so a puppeteer is always at the end of that puppet, and they had to be out of shot. Now with the advent of digital technology, the puppeteer can be in shot and then be digitally removed."

Other changes in puppeteering in the decades between The Legend of Ochi and Labyrinth include new materials — older puppets used latex foam, whereas silicon is more common now — and improved animatronics. Look no further than Baby Ochi for proof.

"Baby Ochi is a marvel of miniaturization because the actual animatronics that are inside that head are the size of a grapefruit," Saxon said. "It you peel back that skin, it's so dense with gears and servos and little wires that it makes your head spin looking at it."

The Legend of Ochi celebrates the magic of practical effects. Helena Zengel in "The Legend of Ochi." Credit: A24

To perfect Baby Ochi's movement, Tygner and his puppeteers underwent an extensive rehearsal period, breaking down every scene beat by beat to figure out the creature's emotion. Before heading to Romania for the actual film shoot, The Legend of Ochi team also recreated cardboard and duct tape replicas of every set so that the puppeteers could practice operating the puppets within the exact dimensions needed.

"That's a benchmark for me now," Tygner told Saxon.

The Legend of Ochi budget was $10 million, with a $1 million creature budget, and after years of development — Baby Ochi prototype development began in 2018 — the results are spectacular. Like the movie as a whole, Baby Ochi's existence is a celebration of puppetry and practical effects.

"It's fun to build stuff and do real things," Saxon said of The Legend of Ochi's reliance on practical effects. "But it also has this benefit: When you see something and you know it's practical because there are imperfections, but you can't fathom how it exists, you ask, 'How could it be real? How did they do this?'"

He continued: "There's so many techniques happening. We're shooting on location with matte paintings, with a puppet, with suit performers, mixing it with real actors. Hopefully the brain can just surrender and say, 'I don't know how they're doing this. This is magical.'"

The Legend of Ochi is now in theaters.