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TL;DR: Make 2026 the year you sharpen up your mind with a 5-year subscription to memoryOS Expert Plan, on sale now $142.97 (reg. $749.95).

Opens in a new window Credit: memoryOS memoryOS Expert Plan: 5-Year Subscription $142.97
$749.95 Save $606.98   Get Deal

Want to finish out the year with a better memory? There’s now an app for that — memoryOS. This brain-training tool makes improving your memory fun with bite-sized lessons scientifically proven to be effective.

Right now, you can secure a 5-year subscription to the memoryOS Expert Plan for just $142.97 (reg. $749.95).

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If self-improvement is one of your 2026 resolutions, you need to add memoryOS to your routine. This app offers plenty of fun via gamified mini-lessons that use proven methods to improve your memory. All you need is some free time and a smartphone.

Over 100,000 users are already taking advantage of memoryOS, and they’ve seen an average increase of 70% in memory recall. You’ll quickly see why it was the most funded app on Kickstarter, as you’re guided by the app’s co-founder, Jonas von Essen, a two-time World Memory Champion.

memoryOS digitizes time-tested ways to improve your memory, like mnemonics to help you store and recall information, along with spaced repetition, a proven method for helping your brain retain information more effectively. The Mind Palace technique has actually been used for more than 2,000 years, as it changes how we encode, store, and recall data.

Aside from letting you take advantage of this new proprietary virtual Mind Palace technology, this 5-year memoryOS subscription also gives you exclusive access to the Early Adopters private group, so you can connect with others who have the same goal of memory improvement.

Secure a 5-year subscription to memoryOS Expert Plan for just $142.97 (reg. $749.95).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

You may think of Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, as an autocracy governed by founder Mark Zuckerberg. Given his shares give him a majority (60 percent) of any shareholder vote, that's not far off the mark (pun not intended). Zuckerberg is CEO for life, or at least as long as he wants to be.

But there is at least one entity within Meta, independently financed, that has accumulated enough soft power to keep Zuckerberg in line a majority of the time: The Meta Oversight Board. Zuckerberg once described it as a "Supreme Court" for Facebook, and in its five years of life it has come out against Meta's cross-check program, which the company mostly amended, slammed its content moderation, gave whistleblower Frances Haugen a hearing, and done all this while improving its attention to basic human rights.

"Although Meta is not legally required to implement every recommendation," the Board noted in a report on its first five years, "it has implemented 75% of the more than 300 we have issued." The company is required to respond to all board recommendations, at least, within 60 days.

SEE ALSO: Watch the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses fail in Mark Zuckerberg's painful live demo

All of which explains why the Oversight Board's latest case actually matters, when it comes to Meta accounts and permanent bans — and why it's so keen on your input.

The case, which the Board announced it would take on Tuesday, concerns an unnamed but "widely followed" Instagram account that was permanently banned in 2025, and is appealing the decision. The account's posts included "visual threats of violence and harassment against a female journalist," the board says, as well as "anti-gay slurs against prominent politicians and content depicting a sex act, alleging misconduct against minorities."

This marks the first time that the Oversight Board has looked at an account banned for targeting public figures. (It previously upheld Donald Trump's suspension in Jan. 2021, but that was for supporting violence at the Capitol insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. In that case, the Board also said Facebook couldn't ban Trump indefinitely — it had to be permanent, or time-limited. Zuckerberg chose the latter.)

Unlike the actual U.S. Supreme Court, the Meta Oversight Board is very clear about why it chose to take on the case: To establish a precedent for other account ban appeals to follow.

The Instagram ban "represents a significant opportunity to provide users with greater transparency on Meta’s account enforcement policies and practices, and make recommendations for improvement," the Board wrote.

What recommendations? Well, that's where you come in. The Meta Oversight Board has already received more than 11,000 public comments in its first five years of cases, and now it's actively soliciting more. Specifically, the board says it would love it if you could "contribute valuable perspectives" on:

• How best to ensure due process and fairness to people whose accounts are penalized or permanently disabled.

• The effectiveness of measures used by social media platforms to protect public figures and journalists from accounts engaged in repeated abuse and threats of violence, in particular against women in the public eye.

• Challenges in identifying and considering off-platform context when assessing threats against public figures and journalists.

• Research into the efficacy of punitive measures to shape online behaviors, and the efficacy of alternative or complementary interventions.

• Good industry practices in transparency reporting on account enforcement decisions and related appeals.

Got ideas? Then you have until Feb. 3 to leave your comment here — anonymously, if you wish. Zuckerberg will be watching closely, given that Meta referred this case to the Board in the first place. For the average Facebook or Instagram user, this may be as close as you get to influencing the supreme autocrat of social media.

TL;DR: Outsource your note-taking with a lifetime subscription to My Notes AI Pro Plan, on sale now for $27.97 (reg. $299) through Jan. 25.

Opens in a new window Credit: My Notes AI My Notes AI Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription - AI Note Transcriber & Summarizer $27.97
$299 Save $271.03   Get Deal

Still writing everything down with a paper and pen? It’s time to embrace the power of artificial intelligence and let My Notes AI Pro Plan bring you into this century. This powerful, AI-powered app not only takes your notes but also summarizes them for you. And right now, a lifetime subscription can be yours for only $27.97 (reg. $299) until Jan. 25.

If you want to feel like you’re living in the future, let My Notes AI serve as your personal note-taking assistant. This app captures, organizes, and enhances your notes, transcribing and summarizing everything from Zoom meetings to live lectures to audio files.

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Gone are the days of second-guessing your own handwriting. My Notes AI takes the notes and then summarizes them for you — even providing outlines of actionable next steps to save you time and energy.

The app sorts your notes by topic, date, or project, making it easy to rediscover them later. If you need to share your notes, it’s easy to export any transcriptions and send them to others.

My Notes AI works with Apple devices, so you can use it on your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook. An easy-to-use interface makes it straightforward to work with, and once you’re savvy, you can unlock premium features like unlimited transcriptions, instant AI summaries, and meeting recordings.

Get a lifetime subscription to My Notes AI Pro for just $27.97 (reg. $299) now through Jan. 25.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The rollout of ChatGPT age prediction is now underway, according to an announcement OpenAI made Tuesday.

Last fall, the company indicated it would introduce age prediction as a safety measure for teens. OpenAI has been sued by parents of teens who died by suicide after ChatGPT allegedly coached them to end their lives or didn't respond appropriately to their discussions of psychological distress. OpenAI has denied the allegations in the first of those lawsuits.

In December, the company introduced an update to its Model Spec, which guides how its AI models should behave. The update focused on principles for responding to under-18 users in high-stakes situations.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI says its mystery AI wearable is on track for 2026 as AI earbuds rumors spread

The details made public on Tuesday explain that age prediction will launch on consumer plans.

ChatGPT's age prediction model estimates a user's age based on behavior and signals from their account, like when the person is active during the day, long-term usage patterns, how long the account has existed, and the user's stated age.

If the user's age is assessed as under-18, their account should not be exposed to graphic violence, depictions of self-harm, and sexual, romantic, or violent role play, among other types of potentially harmful content.

Teens who tell OpenAI they're under 18 upon opening a ChatGPT account are automatically subject to such safeguards. If OpenAI isn't confident about a user's age, their account will default to safer settings.

OpenAI said that adult users whose accounts are mistakenly placed in the under-18 experience can confirm their age by submitting a selfie to Persona, a third-party identity verification service. OpenAI did not provide additional information about how ID documents would be retained. In Oct. 2025, a third-party vendor used by the messaging platform Discord was breached, exposing upwards of 70,000 government IDs.

OpenAI said it planned to improve age-prediction accuracy and make further improvements based on observations from the initial rollout.

Only a couple weeks removed from seeing a bunch of weird robots at CES, scientists have unveiled a new innovation in the world of creepy robotics — the detachable crawling robotic hand.

Of course, one person's creepy is another person's awesome, and it's an impressive little bot that invites an instant comparison to Thing, the sentient, crawling hand from The Addams Family.

As published in Nature Communications, a group of scientists, and first author Xiao Gao, recently unveiled the new type of robotic hand. Videos published alongside the paper show how the hand can detach itself from its arm and use its fingers to crawl around like a spider.

The detachable robot isn't constrained by the limitations of the human hand. While its six fingers aren't too far off from the five digits on our own hands, everything else about this little creepy crawler is pretty divergent. For instance, the fingers can bend backwards as well as they bend forwards, so the robot can hold objects against both sides of its base (or palm, if you want to map it to human anatomy) at the same time. It's even capable of carrying small objects on its back (or belly) while it does so, using its free fingers for locomotion.

Obviously, these features would be most useful in industrial settings, but maybe someday robots like this will find their way into regular people's homes, too.

SAVE $1,500: The 55-inch Samsung Odyssey Ark 4K curved gaming monitor is on sale at Woot for $1,199.99, down from the list price of $2,699.99. That's a 56% discount and better sale price than we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 55-inch Samsung Odyssey Ark 4K curved gaming monitor $1,199.99 at Woot
$2,699.99 Save $1,500.00   Get Deal

Anyone who spends a decent amount of time gaming understands the importance of a solid gaming monitor. Some models can actually be the death of you, both in terms of frustration from a poor display and lag that causes your character to die in-game. If you're in the mood for a major "treat yourself" moment and you want a first-class gaming monitor, check out this limited-time deal.

As of Jan. 20, the 55-inch Samsung Odyssey Ark 4K curved gaming monitor is on sale for $1,199.99 at Woot, marked down from the list price of $2,699.99. That's a major 56% discount that takes $1,500 off the normal price. This sale beats the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon. Prime members get free shipping at Woot.

If you're looking for a mega sized gaming monitor with premium stats, this is your deal. Samsung consistently makes some of the best curved gaming monitors and today's deal on the giant 55-inch Ark 2nd Gen is a steal. The 1000R curve will bring a new experience to every game you play or show you stream on the monitor. With this size, you might not even want to use your TV anymore.

SEE ALSO: The giant 49-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 curved gaming monitor is within $2 of a record-low price at Amazon

Of course, you're in line for ideal gaming stats like a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. Adjust into cockpit mode to take off on epic gaming adventures this winter. Samsung also equipped this monitor with four corner speakers and two central woofers.

Keep in mind Woot deals tend to sell out in an instant, so hop on this one if you're in the mood for a major treat. Amazon is selling this model at its full price of $2,699.99, so snagging this Woot deal is the way to go. Plus, you'll get free shipping if you sign into your Amazon Prime account at Woot.

You should perhaps double-check the apps you use — especially if you're into AI.

A new project called Firehound from security firm CovertLabs tracks the apps that leak the most data, and the Top 10 was rife with AI apps. Here's a screenshot of the data from Firehound's website.

Lots of AI. Credit: Screenshot: Firehound

As you can see, the Top 10 list from Firehound has lots of AI apps. The project claims all kinds of data, from email addresses, to chat history, to names were left accessible by apps. One would hope that apps would work to fix such vulnerabilities moving forward, should they exist.

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Moving forward, it's probably best for users to tread carefully when downloading an app. It's worth stopping to think if it's a trustworthy product. And, of course, it's probably worth being cautious when sharing personal or professional information with an AI chatbot. You never know if it'll become public.

The best Pokémon TCG deals this week, at a glance: Best Pokémon TCG Elite Trainer Box Deal Pokémon TCG Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box $79.94 (Save $26.95) Get Deal Best Pokémon TCG Booster Bundle Deal Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Phantasmal Flames Booster Bundle $52.70 (Save $12.29) Get Deal Best Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest Deal Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest Fall 2025 $37.99 (Save $20) Get Deal

Whether you're a longtime Pokémon TCG player and collector or just getting into the game, it's always good to save some cash when you can. These cards are hotter than ever, years after their debut, with demand at an all-time high for sets that released years ago, let alone those with more recent debuts.

So when you can snag a deal that works in your favor and nets you a set of awesome cards, it's a good idea to pounce on it, as is usually the case with most Pokémon-related things. With that in mind, however, how do you find some of the best deals on offer in the world of Pokémon TCG?

We've got your back, with picks you can turn to if you're ready to expand your collection or establish it in the first place. We've rounded up some of the best Pokémon TC deals you can shop as of Jan. 20. If you're ready to crack open some packs, consider these deals your gateway to doing so and saving some cash at the same time. Keep checking back, as we'll continue to add new deals that you won't want to miss out on.

Best Pokémon TCG Elite Trainer Box deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Pokémon TCG Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box $79.94 at Amazon
$106.89 Save $26.95   Get Deal Why we like it

Elite Trainer Boxes are the products you always want to look out for when it comes to every expansion, and when you can save some money on one, it's always a good idea to do so. This box comes with nine booster packs, a full-art promo card with Charcadet, dice, 65 special sleeves, and all the things you need to actually play the game. You get a total of 40 TCG Energy cards and a player's guide as well, with a plastic coin, a collector's box, and 6 dividers to keep it all organized. You'll also get a code for Pokémon TCG Live. As Phantasmal Flames cards continue to become even more expensive, this kind of access to them at an affordable price continues to shrink, so this is a good buy to snag while you still can.

Best Pokémon TCG booster bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Phantasmal Flames Booster Bundle $52.70 at Amazon
$64.99 Save $12.29   Get Deal Why we like it

Though the Phantasmal Flames expansion is no longer the newest addition to the Pokémon TCG, it's still extremely valuable. This booster bundle nets you six Phantasmal Flames booster packs, which are still priced around $10 apiece on Amazon. That means you'l be saving nearly the price of one pack in its entirety by buying this box than you would with individual boosters. Given the fact that this expansion contains the Mega Hyper Rare Charizard ex, which is selling up to $400 as of TCGPlayer, you could come away with some serious high-value cards, so snap up a couple of these boxes and you'll get several chances to pull it.

Best Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest Fall 2025 $37.99 at Amazon
$57.99 Save $20   Get Deal Why we like it

This fun collector chest comes in a special illustrated tin, which already makes it eye-catching and lucrative if you enjoy Pokémon as a fan or just as someone who likes special sets. And of course, saving $20 on the set is a good reason to be excited about it as well. This chest comes with six booster packs: three Mega Evolution, two Journey Together, and one Destined Rivals. Additionally, you get three foil promo cards of Ralts, Kirlia, and Riolu as well as a Mega Lucario coin, four sticker sheets, and a mini portfolio for your cards. All this lets you savor a great deal as well as some fun goodies without having to pay $50 to $60 for a booster bundle or booster box. Plus, you can store it all in the same place you got all the goodies.

More Pokémon TCG deals

• Pokémon TCG: Paldean Fates Great Tusk ex & Iron Threads ex Premium Collection — $174.93 $219.99 (save $45.06)

• Pokémon TCG: Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)

• Pokémon TCG: Holiday Calendar (2025) — $69.99 $74.89 (save $4.90)

• Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet 10.5 Black Bolt Binder Box — $62.94 $67.89 (save $4.95)

• Pokémon TCG: Mega Lucario ex Figure Collection — $58.94 $67.99 (save $6.91)

• Pokémon TCG: Charizard ex Special Collection — $57.99 $64.90 (save $6.91)

• Pokémon TCG: Trainer’s Toolkit — $34.95 $56.90 (save $22.04)

• Pokémon TCG: Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex League Battle Deck — $19.79 $52.99 (save $33.20)

The best Apple deals this week, at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799.99 (Save $199.01) Shop Now Best M5 iPad deal Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) $899 (save $100) Shop Now Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) $549 (save $250) Get Deal

While we're no longer in the biggest savings season of the year, there are always deals to be found. Sure, they won't be as dramatic as the epic deals from Black Friday, but you can still save big on some of our favorite Apple gadgets.

We're witnessing some products drop back down to their record-lows from Cyber Week — specifically the iPad Pro — while others are hovering within $50 of those prices. AirPods and other Apple accessories aren't exactly popping off with discounts right now, but we'll be sure to shout it from the rooftops if and when we see them drop once more. For now, we've rounded up all the best Apple deals we could find this week. Happy shopping!

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799.99 at Amazon
$999 Save $199.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M4 Apple MacBook Air.

The M4 MacBook Air topped Mashable's list of the best laptops of 2025. While the 15-inch version is our top pick for most people, the 13-inch version is our favorite budget pick. Even at full price, it's a stellar deal, but on sale, it's a total no-brainer upgrade. If you don't require fancy specs for things like video editing and graphic design work, the M4 Air is a monstrous machine in a sleek, portable package.

As of Jan. 20, the 13-inch base model with 16GB RAM and 256GB of storage is down to just $799.99 at Amazon. That's nearly $200 off its list price and just $50 away from its best-ever price from Black Friday.

More Mac and MacBook deals

MacBook Air

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $999 $1,199 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,199 $1,399 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,199 $1,399 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399 $1,599 (save $200)

MacBook Pro

M4

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,549 $1,799 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,745 $1,999 (save $254)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,749 $1,999 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB Ram, 1TB SSD) — $2,099 $2,399 (save $300)

M5

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,449 $1,599 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,627.89 $1,799 (save $171.11)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,825 $1,999 (save $174)

Mac

• Apple Mac Mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $499 $599 (save $100)

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) $899 at Amazon
$999 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

Mashable's tech editor took the M5 iPad Pro for a whirl when it was released in October and called it a "victory lap for Apple." Like most upgrades in recent years, the latest iteration isn't too much different than its predecessor. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as we loved the M4 model as well. It's extremely light at just 0.98 pounds and wildly thin at 5.3mm — that's even slimmer than the iPhone Air or the iPad Air. The M5 processor is shockingly fast and more powerful than the average user even needs. As Mashable's Timothy Beck Werth puts it, "Everyday use is wasted on this tablet." As of Jan. 20, you can get the base model with 256GB of storage and WiFi connectivity for $899. That's $100 off and matches its previous record-low from Black Friday.

More iPad deals

iPad

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $319 $349 (save $30)

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi + Cellular, 512GB) — $699.97 $799 (save $99.03)

iPad Mini

• Apple iPad Mini, 8.3-inch (A17 Pro, WiFi, 256GB) — $549 $599 (save $50)

iPad Air

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $559 $599 (save $40)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 256GB) — $643.93 $699 (save $55.07)

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 128GB) — $649 $749 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) — $729 $799 (save $70)

• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M3, WiFi, 256GB) — $824.99 $899 (save $74.01)

iPad Pro

• Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $899 $999 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,099 $1,199 (save $100)

• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,199 $1,299 (save $100)

Best Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + Cellular, 49mm) $549 at Amazon
$799 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

There aren't a ton of Apple Watch deals floating around right now on new models. If you opt for the last-generation Apple Watch Ultra, however, you can save $250 on a model with both GPS and cellular connectivity. And the good news is you won't be missing out on much by grabbing an older model. The biggest difference between the newer Ultra 3 and Ultra 2 is about six more hours of battery life. Whether those six extra hours are worth an additional $200+ is up to you to decide. The Ultra 2 still beats the basic Apple Watch with a more durable titanium case, a programmable action button, built-in LTE, a depth gauge and water temperature sensor, an emergency siren, and up to 36 hours of battery life (up to 72 in low power mode).

More Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $379.99 $399 (save $19.01)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $599 $699 (save $100)

Apple AirPods and accessory deals

• Apple AirTag (4-pack) — $79.98 $99 (save $19.02)

• Apple Pencil USB-C — $71 $79 (save $8)

• Apple Pencil Pro — $94.99 $129 (save $34.01)

• Apple AirPods 4 (without noise cancellation) — $115 $129 (save $14)

• Apple AirPods 4 (with noise cancellation) — $148.99 $179 (save $30.01)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $239.95 $249 (save $9.05)

• Apple AirPods Max — $449.99 $549 (save $99.01)

Best Lego deals this week at a glance Best Lego Star Wars deal Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon A New Hope 25th Anniversary Collectable Model $67.97 (save $17.02) Get Deal Best Lego Pokémon deal Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball $199.99 Pre-Order Here Best Lego Disney deal Lego Disney Lilo and Stitch Beach House $79.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best Lego Technic deal Lego Technic Mack LR Electric Garbage Truck $26.49 (save $6.50) Get Deal Best Lego Marvel deal Lego Marvel Iron Spider-Man Bust Collectible $47.95 (save $12.04) Get Deal

What's one to do to keep busy in the winter? If you're looking for a non-screen form of entertainment, building a Lego set certainly fits the bill. It's a highly enjoyable activity and it leaves you with something fun to add to your desk or a bookshelf. Plus, some upcoming Lego sets are about to get a major upgrade since Lego just announced Smart Play sets that have interactive lights, sounds, and motions.

SEE ALSO: How to qualify for the new and exclusive Lego Mini Pokémon Center

Since Legos have no age bounds, it's a great activity to keep kids busy or a nice way to get the whole house working on a project together. The Lego collection is vast, so there's something for everyone when it comes to brick builds from the Danish brand. Here are some great deals and new sets to snag this week.

Best Lego Star Wars deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon A New Hope 25th Anniversary Collectable Model $67.97 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $17.02   Get Deal Why we like it

Nothing beats a Lego Star Wars set. Always a favorite, the Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon anniversary build is a classic that every fan will enjoy both building and keeping on display. The build features details like the satellite dish, cockpit, and necessary cannons. The 921-piece set is sure to keep you occupied until your new Star Wars Smart Play set arrives. Pre-orders for those new Lego Star Wars are live with shipping expected in early March. In both cases, you'll have the power of the force behind any Lego build.

Best Lego Pokémon deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball $199.99 at Pre-order at Lego
  Get Deal Why we like it

In addition to the new Lego Smart Play builds, the brand recently announced its very first Lego Pokémon collection, and we're smitten. Pre-orders are live for all three sets, including the adorable Pikachu and Poké Ball build. The set has a whopping 2,050 pieces that'll look amazing in a gaming room, standing over a foot tall.

Best Lego Disney deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Disney Lilo and Stitch Beach House $79.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $10   Get Deal Why we like it

Now that winter's chill is running deep, it's time to bring in tropical vibes and the Lego Disney Lilo and Stitch Beach House is the perfect way to add some warmth. The set has palm trees, surf boards, Lilo in her tropical design dress, and Stitch in a spaceship, reading to crash land in sunny Hawaii. The Lilo and Stich Beach House is sure to warm up your weekend with a fun build.

Best Lego Technic deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Technic Mack LR Electric Garbage Truck $26.49 at Amazon
$32.99 Save $6.50   Get Deal Why we like it

Yes, the Lego Technic collection features one of our favorite Lego sets — the Lego Technic McLaren P1, but it also has smaller and more affordable builds that are equally awesome. For example, check out the Lego Technic Mack LR Electric Garbage Truck because there's nothing cooler than taking care of Mother Earth by recycling. The electric garbage truck build is an assured hit with kids who love watching the garbage collection each week. The gear lever allows builders to grab, lift, and tip the garbage can into the side loader on the truck.

Best Lego Marvel deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Marvel Iron Spider-Man Bust Collectible $47.95 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12.04   Get Deal Why we like it

Joining the wonderful world of Marvel and Lego is a dream come true. The iconic Lego Marvel Iron Spider-Man Bust Collectible is part of this week's best Lego deals since it's 20% off. Instead of paying the list price of $59.99, the 379-piece build is on sale at Amazon for $47.97. Lego recommends this build for those aged 18 and up, and it includes a fun mini-figure in addition to the bust.

Sony is effectively stepping back from the day-to-day business of making TVs, and handing the reins to TCL. The two companies announced they’ve signed a memorandum of understanding to form a new joint venture that will take over Sony’s home entertainment business, including televisions and home audio gear.

SEE ALSO: Sony's Afeela electric vehicle will offer digital license plates

Under the plan, TCL will hold a controlling 51 percent stake, while Sony retains 49 percent. The new company will handle everything from product development and manufacturing to sales, logistics, and customer support on a global scale. If all regulatory approvals go through, operations are expected to begin in April 2027.

On paper, Sony is framing this as a best-of-both-worlds scenario. The company says it will contribute its picture processing, audio technology, and brand power, while TCL brings its massive display manufacturing operation, supply chain efficiency, and cost advantages. Sony president and CEO Kimio Maki said the partnership is meant to deliver "even more captivating audio and visual experiences" by combining both companies’ strengths.

For consumers, the most important detail is that future TVs will still carry the Sony and BRAVIA branding. But behind the scenes, TCL will be calling more of the shots, especially on how these TVs are built and priced.

That could be a good thing if it means Sony TVs become more competitive on price without sacrificing image quality. It could also mean a subtle shift in what "Sony TV" actually represents over time.

January hasn't been great for Spotify due to price changes and the scourge of AI-generated music, but the music streaming service might have at least one neat new feature in the works.

Android Authority reported, based on some strings of code in the Spotify app, that a new audiobook feature called Page Match is in the works. The idea is simple and seemingly very intuitive: You just use your phone camera to scan a page in a physical copy of a book, and Spotify then syncs the audiobook in its app to that page. This works using optical character recognition (or OCR) technology to scan the text of the page and find the corresponding timestamp in the audiobook. Unfortunately, there's no word on when or if this feature will roll out to users.

SEE ALSO: Spotify is raising prices yet again. Here's how much and when.

That sounds great, but where things get even more useful is that it apparently works in reverse, too. You'll apparently be able to use Page Match to find the page in the physical copy that corresponds to what you're hearing in an audiobook. In other words, you'll be able to go back and forth between a physical book and an audiobook as you see fit, provided you actually own (or have otherwise acquired) a physical copy and have access to the audiobook on Spotify.

As Android Authority pointed out, this would be pretty novel (pun intended) in the world of audiobook streaming. Amazon offers a sync service that only works between Audible and Kindle copies of books, but Spotify's Page Match feature sounds like it works with just any physical book you've got lying around. Again, we don't know exactly when, or if, this is coming, but given that references to it are already appearing in Spotify code, hopefully it's sooner rather than later.

With Apple's big September iPhone event just 8 months away, rumors have been swirling about what Apple has in store for the iPhone 18 and the foldable iPhone. In the past few days, Apple fans have been talking about one leak in particular, which suggested big changes were coming to the controversial Dynamic Island.

Specifically, rumor had it that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max would feature an under-display Face ID that would eliminate the need for the pill-shaped Dynamic Island, with the selfie camera housed in a smaller "hole-punch" cutout.

However, it now appears that those leaks were lost in translation. 

Instant Digital, a leaker on the China-based social media app Weibo, explained that the leak from last week (from another Weibo-based leaker known as Digital Chat Station) was mistranslated when Western outlets reported on the news.

Instant Digital claims that while Apple is relocating an infrared Face ID component under the display, this would not affect the overall design of the display itself.

It seems early reports from Chinese and Korean sources about the Face ID components were somehow mistranslated in some English-language coverage as a front hole-punch camera on the left side of the device.

As MacRumors points out, another Apple leaker on X known as ShrimpApplePro has also corroborated Instant Digital's explanation by leaking an alleged photo of the new Face ID and selfie camera assembly.

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In short, reports of the Dynamic Island's death have been greatly exaggerated. It seems that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will still have a pill-shaped Dynamic Island after all, even if it is slightly smaller in the new generation.

Last year, OpenAI announced that it was partnering with legendary iPhone designer Sir Jony Ive to release an AI wearable device, and a company leader recently confirmed the mystery device is on track to "unveiled" by the end of the year.

Speaking at an Axios-hosted panel at the annual Davos conference, OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane confirmed the device would be announced in 2026. Frustratingly for OpenAI fans, Lehan didn't share any concrete details on what the device will be or do.

So far, OpenAI has been tight-lipped about its AI wearable, and it's been described vaguely as a screen-free AI companion. With no confirmed details, rumors are spreading in foreign publications and on social media that the company is planning to release AI-powered wireless earbuds with an eye on tackling the AirPods market.

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The rumors come from Chinese publications and a leaker known as Smart Pikachu, who claims that the manufacturer Foxconn will build the device. The rumors say that Foxconn is working on a secretive earbuds project code-named "Sweet Pea" for a mystery client called "Gum Drop." The device would be similar to open-style earbuds with a charging case and a powerful internal processor to power AI features.

Per Smart Pickachu, the AI earbuds would be hidden behind the ear, a design more like hearing aids than typical earbuds.

Of course, all of these leaks are unconfirmed, and "Sweet Pea" could be totally unrelated to OpenAI — or even non-existent.

Still, the rumors are growing louder.

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Previous attempts to launch AI wearable devices have not been successful, with devices like the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin failing to build a customer base. However, ChatGPT is the most popular AI chatbot, and OpenAI would be uniquely positioned to grow this market — especially with the involvement of a heavyweight designer like Ive.

A raft of startups are also bringing new AI wearables to market, with a variety of form factors — smart glasses, AI rings and bracelets, and necklace or pendant-style AI devices with cameras and microphones.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

SHOP EARLY AND SAVE $150: As of Jan. 20, the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow is officially available for purchase (not just pre-order). For a limited time, score it for $849.99 instead of its $999.99 MSRP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow robot vacuum and mop $849.99 at Roborock
$999.99 Save $150   Get Deal

The first of Roborock's CES robot vacuums is officially out. Here to help kick off the great roller mop robot vacuum flood of 2026 is the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow — not only available to buy right now, but on sale. Early shoppers can save $150 and bring it home for $849.99. That's probably the cheapest CES robot vacuum you'll come across this year.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: All of the big robot vacuum announcements, from new suction power records to... another arm

The $849.99 price tag looks extra sweet compared to the other new roller mop robot vacuum that just came out this week: The $1,599.99 Eufy Omni S2. That's similar to what I expect the Narwal Flow 2 roller mop model to cost when it drops in April, as the first Narwal Flow debuted at $1,499.99.

The Qrevo Curv 2 Flow stops mopping on carpet and rugs. Credit: Roborock The Qrevo Curv 2 Flow mop adapts to corners and walls automatically. Credit: Roborock

Granted, those Eufy and Narwal models have 30,000 Pa of suction power compared to the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow's 20,000 Pa, but the $500+ difference isn't pocket change. Plus, Roborock was charging $1,599.99 for its big bad flagship robot vacuums with 20,000 Pa suction power last year. So you're still getting quite a high-octane robot vacuum for carpet. The Qrevo Curv 2 Flow's livestream camera — hands down my favorite extra feature if you live with pets — sets it apart from the Eufy E28, a more affordable Eufy roller mop vacuum.

The Qrevo Curv Flow 2's most noteworthy feature is mopping, of course. The roller mop rinses itself in real time as it's mopping, making it much less likely to drag residue around and leave the floor stickier than it was before. Personally, I appreciate that Roborock gave special attention to the Curv Flow 2's ability to clean along edges. When a corner or wall is sensed, the roller mop extends out from the vacuum's circularly body to scrub right up against the flat part — something that the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller wasn't very good at.

If Stephen Graham's Golden Globes win for Adolescence has you hungering to see him onscreen again, you may well thrill at Heel's first trailer.

Once more, Graham plays a father fiercely protective of his family and determined to raise his boys right. But where the patriarch in Heel might seem like a bespectacled pushover, the reveal that he's got a teen boy locked up in the basement suggests this character has an even darker side than the devastated dad of Adolescence.

Directed by Jan Komasa, Heel centers on a family who resides in a remote home in the English countryside. There, they hold captive "bad boy" Tommy (Anson Boon), who patriarch Chris and his wife Kathryn (Andrea Riseborough) attempt to train to be a civilized young man. Their methods involve shackles, self-help video tapes, and beatings. But can Tommy be tamed? Or will he strive to escape?

On the festival circuit, Heel was known as Good Boy, not to be confused with the dog-fronted haunted house film. In my review out of TIFF, I cheered Graham and Riseborough's performances, and declared, "If you're seeking funky and fucked-up entertainment, Good Boy Heel should scratch that late-night movie itch."

So keep an eye out for this one.

Heel opens in theaters and on demand on March 6.

TL;DR: A wide range of ChatGPT courses are available to take for free on Udemy.

You can find online courses on just about everything at Udemy. Want to master Python programming? Looking to get more out of Microsoft Excel? How about learning how to make ChatGPT work for you? Udemy is the place to be.

And better yet, some of the most popular examples of these online courses are available to take for free. You can learn about a large selection of useful topics without spending anything, including chatbots like ChatGPT. We have checked out everything on Udemy and lined up a selection of standout free ChatGPT courses to get you started:

• AI Coaching for Triathletes: Using ChatGPT as Your Coach

• AI for Business and Personal Productivity: A Practical Guide

• ChatGPT 101: The Complete Beginner's Guide and Masterclass

• ChatGPT 5 and AI Agents in 60 Minutes

• ChatGPT in 30 Minutes: Prompt Engineering and AI Skills

• ChatGPT: Learn The Basics

• ChatGPT, Midjourney, Firefly, Bard, DALL-E, AI Crash Course

• ChatGPT Prompt Engineering

• ChatGPT Quick Guide — Prompt Engineering, Plugins, and more

• ChatGPT Security: Privacy risks & Data Protection

• Generative AI and ChatGPT Mastery for Absolute Beginners

• Perfect Your Writing with ChatGPT and DeepSeek

• Smart ChatGPT Productivity Hacks for Business Professionals

The only catch is that these free online courses do not offer certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging. You still get unrestricted access to all the video content, so you can start learning at your own pace. Seriously, what's stopping you from enrolling right now. We know you've not got big plans at this time of year.

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Find the best free ChatGPT courses on Udemy.

HBO MAX BUNDLES: HBO Max is offering a few different bundle deals so you can stream from its library without making a massive dent in your wallet.

The best HBO Max deals and bundles in January 2026: Best Disney+ Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best Hulu Bundle Deal Hulu and HBO Max Bundle Add HBO Max to your Hulu base plan from $10.99 per month Get Deal Best Student Deal HBO Max Student Save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads Get Deal

It happened: Max has rebranded back to its old name of HBO Max. Forget the name change, though, because the service still has plenty of exciting films and shows to watch. IT: Welcome to Derry, Heated Rivalry, and the new Game of Thrones series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, there's plenty to keep you busy over the winter months.

If these have caught your eye, the good news is that HBO Max has a few different bundles available at the moment that are worth checking out, including a big bundle with Disney+ and Hulu. With streaming prices on the rise, a bundle like this can be a great way to save some cash while getting access to your favorite services.

SEE ALSO: 'Euphoria' Season 3 trailer: Rue's on the run, Jules is a sugar baby, and I'm worried

Alongside bundles, we've also broken down HBO Max's standard plans in case you're just interested in its service on its own.

Best Disney+ bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like it

The HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu bundle is a top-tier choice for those looking to have access to some of the biggest streaming services around. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max's streaming services for a much lower price than what you'd pay for them on their own. If you've already got Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, this bundle is worth every cent. If you're interested, there are two plan options to choose from:

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)

Best Hulu bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu and HBO Max Bundle Add HBO Max to your Hulu base plan from $10.99 per month Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not interested in the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max mega bundle, you can just get Hulu and HBO Max together if you already have a Hulu base plan, which starts at $11.99 per month. HBO Max Basic with Ads can be added onto your plan for $10.99 per month, or you can splash out on the HBO Max Standard plan for $18.49 per month.

• Hulu with HBO Max add-on — from $10.99 per month

Best student deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student Discount Students save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads Get Deal Why we like it

It's always nice when streaming services have a deal for students, and HBO Max's offer is definitely worth taking advantage of. Students who can verify their status with UNiDAYS are eligible to get the HBO Max Basic With Ads plan for just $5.49 per month. That's a 50% discount off its $10.99 monthly price. After verifying your status, you'll receive a unique code that can be used to redeem the discounted plan on HBO Max.

• HBO Max Student Discount — $5.49 per month (save 50%)

HBO Max's monthly plans

HBO Max offers a few different subscription plans. If you don't mind having to sit through ads, HBO Max's Basic With Ads plan starts at $10.99 per month or the annual plan runs for $109.99 per year. If you can't stand ads and don't mind throwing down a bit more cash, the Standard plan will cost you $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year. If you really want to go big on an HBO Max plan, you can spring for the fancy Premium plan, which costs $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year.

Below we've broken down what comes with each of these plans, per HBO Max's website, so you can know a bit more before you buy.

Basic With Ads — $10.99 per month, $109.99 per year

• Stream on two devices at once

• Full HD 1080p resolution

Standard (Ad-free) — $18.49 per month, $184.99 per year

• Stream on two devices at once

• Full HD 1080p resolution

• 30 downloads to watch on the go

Premium (Ad-free) — $22.99 per month, $229.99 per year

• Stream on four devices at once

• 4K Ultra HD video quality (as available)

• Dolby Atmos immersive audio (as available)

• 100 downloads to watch on the go

If you're wondering where to start once you've set yourself up with a HBO Max subscription, we've got an excellent selection of recommendations to point you in the right direction. Looking for a great TV show to kickstart your next binge-watching session? Have a look through our roundup of the 20 best TV shows streaming on HBO Max. Or if you prefer movies, we narrowed down the 25 best movies on HBO Max to make your next movie night a spectacular one.

TL;DR: Pay $39.99 once and turn your iPhone or Android device into a full-featured scanner, editor, and document manager — no subscriptions needed.

Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$199.90 Save $159.91   Get Deal

Paperwork has a way of showing up at the worst possible moments — when you’re away from your desk, your scanner, or even your laptop. The iScanner app is designed for those moments, turning your iOS or Android device into a powerful, portable document scanner and editor.

For a limited time, new users can get lifetime access for $39.99 (reg. $199.90), making it a practical tool you’ll reach for again and again.

What you get with lifetime access:

• Smart document scanner for contracts, receipts, notes, books, tickets, and more

• Export scans as PDF, JPG, DOC, XLS, PPT, or TXT

• AI-powered scanning tools that auto-detect borders, straighten pages, remove skews, and recognize text in 20+ languages

• Full PDF editor with color correction, noise removal, markup, text overlays, and autofill templates

• E-signatures and manual signing options

• File manager with folders, drag & drop, file merging/splitting, page numbering, footers, and watermarks

• Security controls including PIN-protected folders and files

• Specialized scanning modes for IDs & passports, QR codes, math problems, object measurement, and item counting

If you’re tired of juggling paper, scanners, and clunky software, the iScanner lifetime offer for just $39.99 (reg. $199.90) is an easy upgrade.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Frustrated that your phone's battery lasts barely a day? Realme's latest smartphone fixes that.

It's called the Realme P4 Power 5G, and it has a humongous, 10,001mAh battery inside. For comparison, Samsung's flagship, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, has a 5,000mAh battery.

Translated into real-life usage (Realme's estimates of it, at least), this means 932.6 hours of standby, 32.5 hours of YouTube streaming, and 185.7 hours of listening to music.

Realme found some room for the cameras, too! Credit: Realme SEE ALSO: Samsung XR battery life: How it compares to Meta Quest 3, Apple Vision Pro

What about regular usage? In a press release, Realme said the battery delivers "week-long endurance."

In some of its promo materials, Realme is surprisingly modest when it comes to overall battery life, claiming the phone will last 1.5 days between charges. However, the company claims you have to charge "other" phones twice a day, so we're guessing they're talking about very heavy usage here.

Phones with massive batteries aren't new. I dug through Mashable's archive as back as 2019 to find an Energizer phone with an 18,000mAh battery. But Realme's P4 Power 5G is different in one key way: It's a normal looking phone that weighs just 219 grams.

This phone, indeed, is more convenient than lugging around a 10,000mAh power bank. Credit: Realme

We couldn't find the P4 Power 5G's exact dimensions, but judging by Realme's promo pics, it isn't that much thicker than its predecessor, the Realme P4 5G, which boasts a 7.58-millimeter body (and, by the way, has a 7,000mAh battery).

Realme's battery tech brings other perks to the mix, too. For example, with 27W reverse charging, this phone can very well be used as a power bank for your other gadgets. Also, the company says that at just one percent battery, you can plug the phone in and continue playing with it while it charges.

Featured Video For You Samsung first look: Go up close with Galaxy Z TriFold, the futuristic foldable only available in Korea

Besides its massive battery, the Realme P4 Power 5G looks like a decently equipped mid-range Android phone. Realme hasn't officially shared all of the specs, but we know that the phone has a 6.78-inch, 144Hz AMOLED display, it's powered by Mediatek's Dimensity 7400 chip, and has 12GB of RAM (according to Geekbench listings).

On the back, there's a triple camera system, though the exact details about the cameras haven't been publicly revealed.

The Realme P4 Power 5G will debut in India on Jan. 29 in three colors: TransOrange, TransSilver, and TransBlue. We have no details about global availability at this point.