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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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How to watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk online for free

Tue, 10/22/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: Watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back with another batch of massive games between Europe's elite clubs. There are a number of interesting games to keep tabs on, including Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk.

Arsenal are unbeaten in this season's competition, and will be confident of securing another victory at home. Shakhtar Donetsk are still looking for their first win. Could they upset the odds at the Emirates Stadium? There's only one way to find out.

If you want to watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk?

Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League starts at 8 p.m. BST on Oct. 22. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Stadium.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk for free

Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk is available to live stream on Prime Video in the UK, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk (plus more Champions League fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

Fans from outside the UK will need to use a VPN to watch the Champions League for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

  1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

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

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

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

  5. Watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk on Prime Video without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Prime Video, 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 22

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 22:00

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 October 21'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 October 22 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 October 22 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To yell.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SHOUT.

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 October 21

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.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 22

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 21:00

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 October 22's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 22 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Associated with high-quality goods

  • Green: Master plan

  • Blue: Spaceships

  • Purple: Name is the game

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: Brand-Name

  • Green: Devise

  • Blue: NASA Spacecraft

  • Purple: Games Where You Say The Game's Name

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 #499 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Brand-Name: DESIGNER, HAUTE, HIGH-END, LUXURY

  • Devise: CONCOCT, ENGINEER, HATCH, MASTERMIND

  • NASA Spacecraft: GALILEO, PIONEER, VIKING, VOYAGER

  • Games Where You Say The Game's Name: BINGO, MARCO POLO, TAG, UNO

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 October 22

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.

How to set your pronouns on Google Meet

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 19:02

Joining a Google Meet call without knowing your fellow participants' pronouns can be awkward and embarrassing if you're relying on guessing or assumptions. Likewise, verbally sharing your pronouns on a call isn't always possible, and it can be exhausting to remind people on call after call.

But Google has made it more convenient for people to seamlessly share their pronouns when using their popular meeting application. This option is available to enterprise users and users of Edu — Google's service for educational purposes — whose system administrator turned on the pronouns feature.

SEE ALSO: FCC: All smartphones must have hearing aid compatibility

When pronouns are turned on, they'll show up next to your picture in Google Meet, in addition to appearing in other products, like Chat, Calendar, and Docs.

Before trying to set your pronouns, test to see if your administrator has turned the option on by clicking on the Pronouns Page. If the option is off, you'll get an error message. Also remember: this setting is not available to Google users without a business or Edu account.

How to change your pronouns for Google Meet: Total Time
  • 2 mins.
What You Need
  • Google account

Step 1: Go to the About Me section of your Google Account.

The About Me section can be accessed via this Google permalink. You can also find it by navigating from your account to the personal info tab.

Step 2: Select your pronoun setting in the "basic info" box.

The basic info box includes your name, picture, gender, and pronouns. Click pronouns to change them.

Credit: Google

Step 3: Make your pronoun selection.

When selecting your pronouns, Google offers "she / her," "he / him," "they / them," and "no pronouns set," in addition to the ability to add custom pronouns. Google reminds users making this selection to keep in mind that "some countries have laws related to gender expression."

Credit: Google

Step 4: Select who can see your pronouns.

Google allows users to select who can see their pronouns. Visibility can be limited to yourself, your organization, or anyone. If you want Meet participants to see your pronouns, select either your organization or anyone.

Credit: Google

If you're having trouble seeing pronouns in Meet, it may have to do with how you're joining the call.

Pronoun updates that are visible to others can only be viewed in web-based Meetings or Meet calls. If a mobile device user sets their pronouns then joins a Meet call, you can view their pronouns if you’re on the web. The user on mobile can’t view anyone’s pronouns.

Anthropic is testing AI’s capacity for sabotage

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 17:49

As the hype around generative AI continues to build, the need for robust safety regulations is only becoming more clear.

Now Anthropic—the company behind Claude AI—is looking at how its models could deceive or sabotage users. Anthropic just dropped a paper laying out their approach.

SEE ALSO: Sam Altman steps down as head of OpenAI's safety group

Anthropic’s latest research — titled "Sabotage Evaluations for Frontier Models" — comes from its Alignment Science team, driven by the company's "Responsible Scaling" policy.

The goal is to gauge just how capable AI might be at misleading users or even "subverting the systems we put in place to oversee them." The study focuses on four specific tactics: Human Decision Sabotage, Code Sabotage, Sandbagging, and Undermining Oversight.

Think of users who push ChatGPT to the limit, trying to coax it into generating inappropriate content or graphic images. These tests are all about ensuring that the AI can’t be tricked into breaking its own rules.

In the paper, Anthropic says its objective is to be ready for the possibility that AI could evolve into something with dangerous capabilities. So they put their Claude 3 Opus and 3.5 Sonnet models through a series of tests, designed to evaluate and enhance their safety protocols.

The Human Decision test focused on examining how AI could potentially manipulate human decision-making. The second test, Code Sabotage, analyzed whether AI could subtly introduce bugs into coding databases. Stronger AI models actually led to stronger defenses against these kinds of vulnerabilities.

The remaining tests — Sandbagging and Undermining Oversight — explored whether the AI could conceal its true capabilities or bypass safety mechanisms embedded within the system.

For now, Anthropic’s research concludes that current AI models pose a low risk, at least in terms of these malicious capabilities.

"Minimal mitigations are currently sufficient to address sabotage risks," the team writes, but "more realistic evaluations and stronger mitigations seem likely to be necessary soon as capabilities improve."

Translation: watch out, world.

Elon Musk's xAI launched its own API

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 16:59

Elon Musk just contributed a little bit more to the AI zeitgeist.

Musk's AI startup xAI, which supplies the Grok chatbot that is integrated into X (formerly Twitter), officially started offering an API this week. According to TechCrunch, Grok's services can be yours for the low, low price of $5 per million input tokens or $15 per million output tokens.

Tweet may have been deleted

It's a little bit murky what anyone who pays for the API is actually getting right now. TechCrunch said the only model available for purchase right now is labeled "grok-beta," which obviously doesn't make it clear if it's the latest model, Grok-2, or not. There may also be models for analyzing images and text, but per TechCrunch, those aren't live yet.

Grok started infecting X late last year, eventually becoming a fully integrated chatbot that is accessible at all times to X Premium users via a tab on the bottom of the screen. Its gimmick is that it's not as restrained (or "woke," as some might say) as other chatbots, which has, of course, resulted in lots of deeply troubling outputs from Grok over the last year.

What is Daze? A wannabe Gen Z messaging app is viral on TikTok

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 16:51

The next big thing might be a messaging app called Daze — but it hasn't even launched yet.

Because seemingly everything in 2024 has an AI component, yes, Daze does incorporate AI. It's a messaging app aimed at Gen Z that is designed to look free-flowing with lots of different fonts, colors, graphics, movement, stickers, drawings, and more. TikToks posted by the app have gone viral — the most watched has eight million views.

The TikTok shows a chat where someone talks to their crush and uses Daze's interactive features, such as drawing and games, to flirt and see if they like them back.

TechCrunch published a detailed article on Daze "blowing up" ahead of its planned launch on Nov. 4. It reported that Daze had 156,000 sign-ups on its waitlist. Still, right now the app has roughly 1,400 invite-only beta users. It seems like Daze is positioning itself as a more fun messaging app and has used AI to help power some of the creative tools.

"Our goal with Daze has been to make a feature complete messenger that is competitive with iMessage, WhatsApp, etc., while still having a suite of really fun and creative features," founder Willem Simons told TechCrunch. "You can quickly type a message and press send, or drag the message anywhere within the chat. It is easy to use and utilitarian, but also very free and unconstrained."

It obviously remains to be seen if there is a market for an AI-focused messaging app aimed at being more fun. Even if Daze were the next big thing, oftentimes the next big thing ends up being mostly hype and little substance. Remember Clubhouse?

Why Instagram carousels sometimes start on the second slide

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 16:08

Do you ever wonder why, when you're scrolling through Instagram, the second photo of a carousel pops up first?

According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, that's often because you might have seen that carousel already but didn't swipe — so you're getting a second chance.

"If someone sees your carousel post but they don’t swipe, we’ll often give that carousel a second chance and automatically move to that second piece of media for the viewer," Mosseri said in an Instagram Reel.

View this post on Instagram

He added that carousels "often get more reach than photos" in part because of this second chance posting, but also because "multiple pieces of media are going to mean more interactions with your carousel posts, and more interactions is going to mean more reach on average."

SEE ALSO: Is posting a photo dump on Instagram cringe now?

Beyond posting a carousel, Mosseri also said you might want to "add music" to the post if you're trying to increase reach.

"I highly advise you to add music so it's eligible to show up in video experiences, like the Reels tab," Mosseri said. "Now, don't feel like you have to force it, but if you're on the fence and you can go either way, choosing a carousel over a photo will often help you get more reach."

Happy posting!

Internet Archive hacked again: We know because the hacker responded to our email to the Archive.

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 15:54

The Internet Archive is still under attack two weeks after suffering a data breach and DDoS attacks that took the website down.

How do we know? 

Because the hacker just responded to Mashable's email that we went to the Internet Archive to find out more about the hack. The hacker was able to respond via Internet Archive's Zendesk, an online service that helps companies respond to users' support queries.

The hacker responds through Internet Archive

Earlier this month, Internet Archive suffered multiple cyberattacks that ended up taking the entire platform, including The Wayback Machine which archives websites throughout the years, offline.

While a group known as SN-Blackmeta took responsibility for the DDoS attacks, the attacker behind the data breach has remained anonymous. It's unconfirmed whether that anonymous hacker is also behind the latest Internet Archive breach. 

The attacker claims that they have access to all of the more than 800,000 support tickets sent to Internet Archive since 2018.

"It's dispiriting to see that even after being made aware of the breach 2 weeks ago, IA has still not done the due diligence of rotating many of the API keys that were exposed in their gitlab secrets," the hacker wrote on Sunday through Zendesk to our email that we sent to Internet Archive on October 10.

"As demonstrated by this message, this includes a Zendesk token with perms to access 800K+ support tickets sent to info@archive.org since 2018," they continued.

Chief Security Officer Chris Hickman of the cybersecurity company Keyfactor explained to Mashable why the rotating API key issue played such an important role here.

"This is a security oversight as tokens that are not rotated regularly have longer lifespans, increasing the window of opportunity for attackers to steal and misuse them," Hickman said. "If a malicious actor obtains an unrotated token, they could use it to gain unauthorized access to systems or services."

And it appears that's what happened.

The Internet Archive's bad month continues

In the initial attack earlier this month, the hacker shared that they had accessed emails, screen names, and encrypted passwords for 31 million Internet Archive users. However, in this most recent attack, the attacker now shared that they have more than 800,000 support tickets shared between Internet Archive users and the non-profit group. These support tickets could contain even further sensitive information as users who requested that their content be removed from the Internet Archive had to oftentimes provide identification.

In an age where everyone seems to disagree about everything on the internet, there's one thing that most people seem to agree with: The Internet Archive is an amazing tool that provides online library services at no-cost to users. Many were shocked when their site was attacked earlier this month.

The Internet Archive was able to get parts of its website back up and running last week. However, it seems like significant damage has been done.

"Whether you were trying to ask a general question, or requesting the removal of your site from the Wayback Machine—your data is now in the hands of some random guy. If not me, it'd be someone else," the hacker said in its reply to Mashable's contact. "Here's hoping that they'll get their shit together now."

The 50+ best gifts for gamers that they won't already have

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 15:46

Shopping for gifts for gamers is a double-edged Master Sword. On the one hand, there are so many cool games, consoles, and accessories to choose from — especially in a year like 2023, where every other release was a Game of the Year contender. But there's also just so much to choose from, to the point where you might feel under-leveled for the "simple" task of picking that just-right gift.

That's where we come in. To help you on your side quest to find the perfect present for a gamer friend or loved one, we've compiled a massive list of more than 50 gamer gift ideas for the 2024 holiday season — including a bunch of games we've played and products we've tested ourselves.

If you're gifting on a budget, you'll do well with a new accessory for your recipient's existing setup, a few months' worth of their favorite video game subscription service, or a copy of a popular game from the past few months. Leveling up over the $100 mark expands your options to high-end peripherals, while $200 and above unlocks current-gen consoles, bundles, and gaming laptops. We've peppered in a few limited-edition collectibles at different price points, too.

Keep reading to check out our picks for the best gifts for gamers:

Rosanna Pansino cracks open an apparently moldy Lunchly

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 15:10

It seems folks might be getting a surprise when they open their Lunchly — and it's not a kids' toy or special dessert. A new video from a food YouTuber showed them apparently discovering mold in the Lunchable rival from popular creators MrBeast, Logan Paul and KSI.

Rosanna Pansino, a popular food YouTuber with 14.5 million subscribers, posted a video on Sunday trying out Lunchly. And in that video, which has already racked up more than half a million views, she says she discovers mold in the cheese of the Lunchly. We obviously cannot independently verify Pansino actually discovered mold — it is something you could fake — but she does explicitly state in the video description that the "video is not faked."

You can watch the 20-minute video for yourself.

Pansino sets up a video comparing Lunchly to Lunchables. It's a sensible idea for a video, considering Lunchly is basically a YouTuber-endorsed version of the classic kids' meal. Lunchly has "Fiesta Nachos," "The Pizza," and "Turkey Stack 'Ems," which come with MrBeast's Feastables chocolate and a bottle of Paul's Prime drink.

SEE ALSO: MrBeast, Logan Paul and KSI are launching a Lunchables rival

In the video, Pansino appears to open a pizza Lunchly only to discover what seems to be mold on the shredded mozzarella cheese, despite the packaging saying it was good for another couple of months. Upon assembling the mini pizza with the moldy cheese, Pansino gags and again states she did not fake the mold.

"It's so much mold, this is terrible," she says in the video. "I just want you guys to know I did not fake this. I was honestly going to go over nutritional facts and differences between the two."

Later in the video, Pansino compares a moldy Lunchly to one that was not moldly and points out that the seal might not have been tight on the one that apparently produced mold. Other videos online have claimed to show mold on their Lunchly's cheese, indicating perhaps this is not an uncommon problem.

None of the creators behind Lunchly have addressed the mold claims online. Lunchly declined to respond to a request for comment.

Get the Roku Streaming Stick 4K for 32% off — plus more Roku deals

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 13:03

SAVE 32%: Roku streaming devices are on sale at Amazon this week. Get the Roku Streaming Stick 4K for 32% off, bringing it down to $34 for $15.99 in savings.

Best Roku deals Best Roku Streaming Stick Deal Roku Streaming Stick 4K $34 at Amazon (Save $15.99) Get Deal Best Budget Roku Deal Roku Express $19.99 at Amazon (Save $10) Get Deal Best Roku 4K Deal Roku Express 4K+ $29.99 at Amazon (Save $10) Get Deal

I don't mean to be dramatic, but not all streaming devices are created equal. Some are laggy with clunky UX, while others move quickly between apps with no buffer time. Since you can't try out every streamer, we've done the hard work for you, to find the best options so you can buy with confidence.

One brand we trust for all of our streaming needs is Roku. The Roku Ultra is our favorite Roku streamer but the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is also great — especially compared to Amazon's offerings.

If you're in the market, maybe your smart TVs built-in streamer is just too slow, now is a great time to shop while Roku devices are on sale at Amazon.

Best Roku Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick 4K $34.00 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15.99 Get Deal Why we like it

I love the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. As a loyal user of the Apple TV 4K, I didn't think much could sway me from it, but the Roku turned my head. Not only is it already affordable at $49.99, but it has an easy to navigate interface that is customizable so all your most used apps are always within reach. It delivers clear picture that doesn't require any stand-still pixelated buffering time.

When I put it head-to-head with Amazon's Fire TV 4K Streaming Stick, there was no competition. The Roku is superior in every way compared to the sluggish Amazon system.

If you're convinced, now is a great time to shop. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is down to $34, for 32% savings and $15.99 off.

More Roku deals

We found several leftover robot vacuum deals from October Prime Day

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:52

UPDATE: Oct. 21, 2024, 1:00 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with the best robot vacuum deals live in the weeks between October Prime Day and early Black Friday deals.

A glance at the best robot vacuum deals in mid-August: Best non self-emptying deal Eufy L50 $151.98 at Amazon (save $48.01 with Prime) Get Deal Best self-emptying deal Eufy L60 $298.99 at Amazon (save $100 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Best vacuum-mop combo deal Roborock Q Revo Pro $749.99 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal

Only three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a few days each month when you need to vacuum but just don't have time. Whether you detest the chore or hope to make your home upkeep a bit breezier, a robot vacuum is a lifesaver.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals better? Best overall robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Pro with self-empty station $749.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

We think of Roborock's Qrevo Pro as the lite version of one of the best hybrid robot vacs on the market right now, the $1,399.99 Qrevo Master. The Qrevo Pro takes one of the Master's hallmark features, the flexible side arm that extends to mop in corners and along wall edges, and combines it with slightly less suction power to keep the price lower — though the Pro's 7,000 Pa is still quite powerful. It also empties itself and washes and dries its own mopping pads.

More robot vacuums (that don't mop) on saleRobot vacuum and mop combos hybrids on sale

Tons of Beats earbuds and over-ear headphones are on sale at Amazon and Best Buy

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:49

GET UP TP $100 OFF: As of Oct. 21, Amazon and Best Buy are offering discounts of up to $100 off select Beats earbuds and headphones. You can find deals like $100 off the Beats Studio Pro or $70 off the Beats Solo 4.

Our top picks: Best over-ear headphone deal Beats Studio Pro wireless noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones $249.99 at Amazon (save $100 ) Get Deal Best earbud deal Beats Studio Buds+ $149.99 at Best Buy (save $20) Get Deal Best budget pick Beats Solo 4 $129.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal

There's nothing quite like creating your own little world while commuting or navigating the everyday chaos — and let's be honest, that's pretty much impossible without a decent pair of noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds.

SEE ALSO: We've tested a lot of headphones — these are the 6 best headphones of 2024

Imagine this: Your favorite song is playing, you can no longer hear the subway system deteriorating around you (or the noisy office or the neighbor's lawnmower), and if you close your eyes, it’s almost like you’re somewhere else entirely. (Put on Days by The Drums, and you’ll see what I mean.)

If you haven't found the perfect pair to escape with yet, you're in luck! Amazon and Best Buy have tons of deals on Beats right now.

Here are some of the best deals we found:

Best over-ear headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Our pick: Beats Studio Pro wireless noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones $249.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Beats Studio Pro wireless noise-canceling headphones.

The Beats Studio Pro wireless noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones are $100 off at Best Buy and Amazon (so take your pick).

These headphones earned a Mashable Choice award in 2023, with Mashable's Alex Perry praising their noise cancellation, Android compatibility, and impressively long battery life that makes them hard to beat for an all-around great experience.

“The Beats Studio Pro headphones are excellent on most of the levels that matter,” writes Perry. “They sound fantastic, last a long time, and support multiple playback styles. Most importantly, Android users don’t get the shaft, with near-parity between iOS and Google’s mobile platform.”

Best earbud deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Our pick: Beats Studio Buds+ $149.99 at Best Buy
$169.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

While the Beats Studio Buds+ hit their all-time low price on Amazon earlier this month, they've unfortunately gone back up to their original price of $169.95. But don't worry; you can still snag a deal! Best Buy currently has them for $20 off.

These buds are ideal for anyone who’s always on the go. (They’re so small, you can pop them in your pocket or bag.) They feature a sweat and water-resistant design and provide up to 36 hours of total battery life with the charging case. And, with transparency mode, you can tune in and out of your surroundings with the touch of a button.

Best budget pick Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Our pick: Beats Solo 4 $129.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $69.96 Get Deal Why we like it

The Beats Solo 4 aren’t at their lowest price ever, but they're still a pretty great deal at $129.99 at Amazon and Best Buy.

These affordable on-ear headphones can play for up to 50 hours on one charge and feature a Fast Fuel recharging rate of 10 minutes for up to five hours of playback.

Even though these headphones aren’t noise-cancelling, they’re comfortable and deliver that signature Beats sound.

iRobot Roombas are on sale this week up to 47% off

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:31

SAVE UP TO 47%: This week, find savings on iRobot Roombas at Amazon. The iRobot j7+ robot vacuum is down to $421.04, knocking $378.95 off the price for 47% savings.

Best iRobot deals Best iRobot deal iRobot Roomba j7+ $421.04 at Amazon (Save $378.95) Get Deal Best iRobot mop deal iRobot Braava Jet m6 Robot Mop $354 at Amazon (Save $145.99) Get Deal Best budget iRobot deal iRobot Roomba Q011 Robot Vacuum $147.36 at Amazon (Save $102.63) Get Deal

Robot vacuums are the easiest ways to keep your floors clean. With such a flooded market, you have plenty of brands and models to shop, so it helps that we have some strong opinions on vacuum cleaners.

When shopping for robot vacuums, you can't ignore that iRobot Roombas are at the forefront of the market. While the best models are expensive, they're also frequently on sale. We're in the lull between Amazon's October Prime Day and Black Friday, but that doesn't mean that deals have come to a halt.

In fact, ahead of Black Friday, you can find savings on iRobot robot vacuums. Here are the best deals on iRobot Roombas to shop this week.

Best iRobot deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba j7+ $421.04
$799.99 Save $378.95 Get Deal Why we like it

Having tested the iRobot Roomba j7+, Mashable's Leah Stodart declared that it's great at cleaning but even better at navigating. The standard model (which doesn't include the mopping like the Combo), maneuver around obstacles with ease, offering superior detection so it won't get caught. While there are other robot vacuums with better suction, this will still get your floors plenty clean.

Right now, the iRobot Roomba j7+ is down to $421.04, saving $378.95 for 47% off. This is less than $2 short of its lowest price ever — not bad, especially ahead of Black Friday.

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Buy one book and get another for 50% off at Target, plus more of the best book deals this week

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 12:02
The best book deals this week at a glance: BEST OVERALL Buy one get one 50% off select books at Target save with Target Circle Get Deal BEST PAPERBACK DEAL 'It Ends with Us' by Colleen Hoover $9.03 at Target (save $7.96) Get Deal BEST HARDCOVER DEAL 'The Wild Robot' Hardcover Box Set by Peter Brown $37.80 at Amazon (save $16.20) Get Deal BEST KINDLE DEAL 'The Boyfriend' by Freida McFadden $3.99 at Amazon (save $14) Get Deal

'Tis the season to cozy up with a good book. Whether you like having a physical copy in your hands or you've fully converted to the Kindle life, the best book deals this week have a little something for everyone.

Lots of bestselling titles and BookTok gems are getting the deal treatment this week. Plus, a Circle-specific sale at Target could help you fulfill your TBR wishlist for a steal. We've rounded up some of the best book deals we could find as of Oct. 21 below, including hardcovers, paperbacks, and Kindle editions for up to 80% off.

Best book deal this week Opens in a new window Credit: Hachette Book Group / Penguin Publishing Our pick: Buy one get one 50% off select books with Target Circle Get Deal Why we like it

Through Oct. 26, Target is running a buy one get one 50% off sale on select books exclusively for Target Circle members. There are tons of great titles included in the sale, like bestsellers The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, Funny Story by Emily Henry, It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas. Not to mention, most books included in the BOGO sale are already discounted pretty significantly. For instance, The Housemaid is down to just $6.96 (46% off) and It Ends with Us is down to $9.03 (47% off). That means you could get both books for only $12.51 (regularly $29.98). If you're an old school reader who prefers a physical book in your hands, this is a pretty stellar deal you won't want to miss out on. If you're not a Circle member, be sure to sign up for free to take advantage of the savings.

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Box sets and hardcovers

Paperbacks

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Flirting IRL is having a major pop culture moment

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:26

There's a unique feeling that comes with watching two people flirting wildly with each other. You're a spectator to something that feels intimate, yet public, both of them dancing around the idea that they clearly fancy each other but haven't yet plucked up the gumption to shoot their shot. On the one hand: Should I.... leave you guys to it? On the other: Sorry, but I just can't look away.

This is how I felt watching the latest Chicken Shop Date episode with Andrew Garfield, an 11-minute flirt-fest of "powerful vibes" with Amelia Dimoldenberg that I had to watch in instalments because I couldn't handle the chemistry between the two. I literally felt jealous watching it.

Garfield, who's currently promoting his latest romantic movie We Live In Time which also stars Florence Pugh, declares in the interview that he and Dimoldenberg have had, in fact, two meet cutes. We all saw their viral first red carpet meeting back in 2022, in which Garfield sauntered up to Dimoldenberg and declared "I think you're great" before proceeding to tell her he's seen all her "Chicken Shop things." "I'm asking you out right now," Dimoldenberg says in the very same clip.

Their second meet cute happened at the 2023 Golden Globes on the red carpet. But, this video also mentions the fact that the pair were at a party together where a) Amelia was wowing with her dancing and b) Andrew asked for her number. Hello? What?!

SEE ALSO: Welcome to the 'Lover Girl' dating era. It's time to embrace romance.

"This is called flirting, Amelia!" Garfield bellowed at one point in their latest meeting. "This is called flirting." Yes, Andrew, we can see that. And, so did more than 5.3 million viewers who tuned in to watch the mega-viral video, which topped the YouTube trending videos over the weekend.

Flirting is having a major pop culture moment right now. And the internet's reaction to the latest Chicken Shop Date forms part of a landscape of our current cultural fixation on the art form of a good old fashioned flirt. The internet was ablaze with a kind of high-school K-I-S-S-I-N-G energy, along with an abundance of memes, shipping, and general commentary. Some hailed the video the "the best rom com of the year," others focused on the granular blush-worthy details: "I think something is wrong with me because I am blushing at Andrew saying 'I don’t like games Amelia.'" Side note: there's nothing wrong with you, we were all swooning.

Tweet may have been deleted

But it's not just Andrew and Amelia and our hope that they will soon be betrothed. The internet is crushing on multiple couples, both real and fictitious, for their excellent flirting on main.

Running parallel to the Chicken Shop Date buzz this past weekend was another swoon-worthy interaction between Suki Waterhouse and fiancé Robert Pattinson. For an ELLE video, Waterhouse prank-called Pattinson, pretending that she'd been asked to be the new host of Love Is Blind. Pattinson's voice sounds like he's smiling as he talks to his beloved and, as one commenter aptly put it: "he talks like he is kicking his feet and twirling his hair while talking to her." A true highlight (which prompted many memes) comes when Pattinson asks, "Darling, have you gone mad?" Stop it, you guyssssssss, I can't cope.

Speaking of IRL couples, brat summer isn't just about partying and living unapologetically as oneself, it's also about being publicly cutesy with your fiancé. Charli xcx had the entire internet begging her fiancé, producer George Daniel, to please do the "Apple" dance that swept TikTok, created by Kelley Heyer. It all started when the brat artist posted a doe-eyed TikTok video of her asking George, "Babyyyyy, why don't you want to do 'Apple' though?"

More adorable content came our way when Charli followed up her request as a birthday present. And then again when TikToks emerged of the singer performing "Girl, so confusing" during the co-headlined Sweat tour with Troye Sivan, when she called out George onstage for not singing along. "George, I don't see you singing," she said (with autotune), before smiling at him and shouting, "Come on!!!" He'd better be singing now!

Seriously, though, I want what they have.

Crossing over into the fictional realm, we've been blessed with a decent run of TV series with protracted, infuriating sexual tension-ridden storylines. The kind where you're yelling "kiss!" at the screen. Disney+'s adaptation of the 1988 Jilly Cooper romance novel Rivals is one such example. Alex Hassell plays beguiling yet incorrigible rake Rupert Campbell-Black, who's bewitched by Taggie O'Hara (Sex Education's Bella Maclean), and their palpable chemistry is both mesmerising and infuriating as they continue throughout an entire series to not even so much as kiss on the lips. Get a grip, please!!!!!!!

That's not even mentioning Rivals' slow-burn, eked-out romance between Cooper stand-in Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson) and businessman Freddie Jones (Danny Dyer), the appeal of which Parkinson puts down to the rarity of long-game romances in the online dating era. "I'm not sure how many slow burn relationships are allowed to happen in a world of Tinder and so on," Parkinson told the audience of a Rivals preview screening in London in September.

SEE ALSO: 'Rivals' cast describe their audacious Jilly Cooper characters

Not remotely debauched, but just as swoon-worthy is Netflix's Nobody Wants This, which helped reignite every millennial's teenage crush on Adam Brody of The OC's Seth Cohen fame. The series, which has thankfully just been renewed for a second season, is a refreshing break from tired rom-com hetero archetypes, in which we watch a self-actualised female protagonist fall for an emotionally unavailable male counterpart. Noah (Brody) is kind, reassuring and open-hearted in his courtship of Joanne (Kristen Bell). In short, he's the unproblematic romantic ideal that we have all been yearning for.

So, what's the deal? Why's everyone so obsessed with flirting right now?

My theory is that the pandemic has had a profound impact on the way we regard flirting. During the lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, going on dates wasn't possible, casual sex was banned, and our only way of interacting with potential partners was through our phone screens. Romance was temporarily on hold. Many of us single folk experienced something called touch hunger or even touch deprivation, where we don't receive enough or any physical contact (something neuroscientists tell us is a vital human need).

Many of us retreated into a fantasy world of romantic fiction (with the encouragement of SmutTok — TikTok's dedicated community of bodice ripper lovers), and since then romance and erotic lit has seen an astronomic rise in popularity in the publishing world. Since 2020, U.S. print sales of romance and erotica books have doubled from 18 million in 2020 to over 29 million in 2023, as reported by the Guardian. In the UK, sales of romance novels have increased by 110 percent over the same timespan, bringing in £53 million ($69 million) a year.

At the same time, meeting online is now the most popular way U.S. couples meet, according to 2019 research by sociologists at Stanford University.

Slow burn romances are, as Parkinson says, a rarity in the age of rapid swiping and job interview-esque first dates. Somewhere along the way, we adjusted our expectations and decided we wanted everything all at once: we wanted to fast-track our online dating matches into IRL boyfriends without the fun part... the lingering eye contact, the lust-filled looks from across the room, the buzz you get when their leg touches yours for the first time, the way their eyes light up when you walk into the room. As much as I've accepted that dating apps are not going anywhere, I also miss the pre-dating app days (yes, I'm a millennial) when we'd have blazing crushes on people we'd met organically and, every now and then, we'd muster the courage to awkwardly ask someone out.

SEE ALSO: I went to an offline 'Draw and Date' event for singles. Here's how it went.

I think we're currently obsessed with watching people flirt — whether it's a fictional couple in a TV series, or two celebrities who are either dating or should be — because in our disillusionment with dating app culture, we are seeing a resurgence of old-school romance. We're turning to offline dating events to try and claw back the coveted chemistry you get from spending time with someone in real life developing a connection.

Flirting is having a moment right now because we've all realised how much we missed the feeling of lusting after someone in real life. Perhaps it's time we all went outside into the world and flirted brazenly with a sexy stranger.

Everything Apple could still announce in 2024

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:20

Last month, Apple held a big event to show off the iPhone 16, among other things. Don't think the company is done for the year, though.

While it's unclear if Apple has another livestreamed event in store for us before 2024 is over, it seems likely that at least some announcements are coming in the near future. The month of October, specifically, has been earmarked in certain news reports recently as a time when Apple might make such announcements.

October might almost be over, but just in case Apple gets these things out under the gun, here's what you might be able to expect from the company during spooky season.

SEE ALSO: Apple goes after spambots with Business Caller ID Apple October 2024 potential announcements

Apple laid out the near future for iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watches in September, so don't expect to hear much (if anything) about new hardware in those departments in October. However, there might be some beefy hardware on the way.

M4 Macs

Speaking of hardware, the expectation on the Apple rumor-mongering part of the internet is that there will be some powerful new Macs in the near future.

In his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman said back in August that Apple is planning on rolling out M4 variants of the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac product lines before the end of 2024. Gurman also reported that MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro will get M4 upgrades later, sometime in 2025.

To put it bluntly, expecting these new M4 Macs to roll out in October may be wishful thinking, given that the month is almost over already. Last year, Apple did run a big livestream to announce some new Macs right before Halloween, so there is technically precedent. However, no such thing has been confirmed or even hinted at yet, at the time of writing.

Apple Intelligence rollout

With hardware more or less accounted for for 2024, the only Apple developments left to talk about are on the software side. Specifically, lots of people probably just bought iPhone 16s expecting to be use Apple Intelligence, given that it's heavily featured in every single TV commercial for the new iPhones. Strangely, though, those features aren't actually out yet.

October will see the end of that, at least partially. Apple has confirmed that iOS 18.1, which brings with it the first wave of AI features to new iPhones, will launch during the final week of the month. This update will include some of the more rudimentary Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools, which uses AI to help you summarize, proofread, and edit text. Clean Up is also coming to Photos, which lets you use AI to remove unwanted elements from pictures.

Aside from iOS 18.1 and the potential (but no guarantee) of new Macs, Apple may not have much else before October is over. At least there's something, though.

Save up to $300 on HP laptops and printers at Amazon and Best Buy

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 11:13

SAVE HUNDREDS: As of Oct. 21, you can score $100 or more off an HP laptop or printer, including the HP OmniBook X.

Our top picks: Best deal overall 14-inch OmniBook X Copilot+ PC laptop (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $899.99 at Best Buy (save $300) Get Deal Best budget laptop deal 14-inch HP 2024 Flagship laptop (16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD) $274.99 at Amazon (save $75 (with on-screen coupon) ) Get Deal Best printer deal HP DeskJet 4255e wireless all-in-one color inkjet printer, scanner, and copier (588S6A) $69.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal

Apple seems to get all the acclaim and fame for innovation in the personal computer market, but HP has come a long way from being the budget PC brand. And right now, you can score hundreds off some of their most popular laptops and at-home printers at Amazon and Best Buy.

Here are some of our top picks as of Oct. 21:

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: HP Our pick: 14-inch OmniBook X Copilot+ PC laptop (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $899.99 at Best Buy
$1,199.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The 14-inch OmniBook X Copilot+ PC laptop (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) is $300 off at Best Buy, bringing the total price down to $899.99.

This 2024 laptop has an AI-powered Snapdragon X Elite processor with a dedicated Qualcomm Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU) to make your workday a little easier.

The Copilot+, with its 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and Windows 11, is ideal for students or professionals who need a reliable machine that won’t break the bank. And with a 2.2K IPS touchscreen display, you can really bring your ideas to life.

Bonus: You’ll also get 20% off select Logitech accessories when you purchase the Copilot+ laptop.

Best budget laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP Our pick: 14-inch HP 2024 Flagship laptop (16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD) $274.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $75.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re low on cash but desperately need a new laptop that won’t quit mid-project, the 14-inch HP 2024 Flagship laptop (16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD) is just $274.99 at Amazon right now (with an on-screen coupon).

It comes with one full year of Microsoft 365, can recharge to 50% in 45 minutes, and has an Intel 4-Core N4120 processor that can handle everything from email to video editing without flinching.

Best printer deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP Our pick: HP DeskJet 4255e wireless all-in-one color inkjet printer, scanner, and copier (588S6A) $69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Having a printer at home is a luxury we don’t talk about enough, and the best deal we’ve found is on the HP DeskJet 4255e wireless all-in-one color inkjet printer, scanner, and copier (588S6A). It’s $69.99 at Amazon, down from the usual $99.99 price tag.

This printer comes with three months of ink, so you should have enough to power through most of your home printing needs without buying new cartridges right away. (You’ll have to activate an HP+ subscription to get it.) Once the three months are up, you’ll either need to pay for the HP+ Instant Ink delivery service or cancel and buy cartridges individually.

The coolest thing about this printer is that with the HP App, you can print, copy, scan, or fax (!) from your smartphone or tablet.

Score Samsung Galaxy Watches up to 43% off at Amazon

Mon, 10/21/2024 - 10:59

SAVE $140: Amazon has dropped prices on Samsung Galaxy Watches. Find the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 for $169.99 and 43% savings. Or catch the Samsung Galaxy Ultra that's down to $509.99, saving $140.

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch Deals Best Samsung Galaxy Watch Deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 $169.99 at Amazon (Save $130) Get Deal Best Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Deal Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra $509.99 at Amazon (Save $140) Get Deal Best Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $244.99 at Amazon (Save $55) Get Deal

Back in July, Samsung debuted a refresh to its line-up of Galaxy Watches. The latest watches included the new Samsung Ultra, a direct competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra, as well as an update to the standard model with the release of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7.

Samsung's smartwatches are impressive tech that are loaded with health features fit for the every man or the extreme athletes. This wearable tech is a lot more sophisticated than your standard fitness trackers, which unfortunately means they're also more expensive.

If you're looking to make an upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy Watch, now is the time with three models on sale at Amazon. And believe it or not — every model is down to its lowest price ever. Here are the best deals on Samsung Galaxy Watches.

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 $169.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Before the new Samsung smartwatches arrived in July, there was the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, a fantastic device loaded with health insights for a better you. Like any good fitness tracker, it monitors your activity and health metrics while working out. Plus, it can even help you get better sleep as it detects your different sleep stages and snoring. But beyond fitness tracking, you can it connects to your Galaxy devices so you can control music, calls, texts, and even smartphone camera.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 dropped down to its lowest price ever of $169.99, saving $130 for 43% off.

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra $509.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $140.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Samsung debuted its best smartwatch tech yet with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. The brand claims it can run up to 48 hours on a single charge or 100 hours on power saving mode — great for those spending a few days out in the wilderness. Additionally, it also comes with the ability to detect symptoms of sleep apnea, important data you can bring to your doctor. While we haven't had the opportunity to test these claims, we have liked what we've seen in our initial hands-on review.

At $509.99, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is officially down to its lowest price ever, saving $140 for 22% off.

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $244.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $55.00 Get Deal Why we like it

While an 18% discount and $55 off doesn't seem that impressive on its face, especially compared to the deals above, we can promise you this is a fantastic sale on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7. At $244.99, this smartwatch is officially down to its lowest price ever.

This smartwatch comes with Samsung's latest AI technology to maximize your fitness goals. Galaxy AI calculates an Energy Score to give you a sense of your physical readiness. Plus, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, the 7 comes with the sleep apnea sensor too.

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