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SAVE $829.98: Get a new iPhone 16 for only a penny when you sign up for a Boost Mobile plan that costs $65 per month.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon iPhone 16 with Boost Mobile plan $0.01Want an iPhone 16 for a penny? It's your lucky day.
You can purchase an iPhone 16 with a Boost Mobile plan for a penny... and $65 per month. The iPhone 16 starts at $799 via Apple's official store. The upgraded model is more durable, lighter, and features Camera Control. According to Apple, the new display glass "Ceramic Shield 2" is 50 percent tougher than the original "Ceramic Shield." Plus it's a full .03 ounces lighter than the iPhone 15. Camera Control allows for more intuitive use of the camera.
This iPhone 16 deal does mean you'll have to switch to Boost Mobile. Make sure to do your research before switching providers. As for iPhone 16, we gave the device 4.5 stars out of a possible 5 in our review.
Wondering how to copy and paste on a Chromebook? This basic function is one of the most foundational features of any computer, so you better learn how to do it as soon as you can.
Chromebooks are nifty and affordable alternatives to Windows and Mac laptops, but ChromeOS is a bit unusual for anyone accustomed to more traditional operating systems. Certain features or commands work differently than you might expect.
Thankfully, however, you don't have to do much learning at all when it comes to copying and pasting. Let's get into it.
SEE ALSO: The best Chromebook deals available on October Prime Day aren't on Amazon How to copy and paste on a Chromebook Easy! Credit: Joe Maldonado/MashableThe easiest method for copying and pasting on a Chromebook is exactly the same as it is on Windows. Here's how it works:
Highlight the text you want to copy
Press CTRL + C
Place the mouse cursor where you want to paste the text
Press CTRL + V
That is, by far, the fastest and simplest way of doing it. If, for some reason, that doesn't work for you, you can also highlight the text and right-click to open up a menu that will have "copy" and "paste" buttons in it. Right-clicking on Chromebooks without a regular mouse can be done in two ways: Holding Alt and clicking, or tapping the touchpad with two fingers instead of one.
Got it? Good. Enjoy your Chromebook!
LIVE BLOG: Get the latest news on October Prime Day 2024
The difference between Prime Day and Black Friday — their roots, anyway — probably isn't a mystery to anyone who has dabbled in online shopping before.
Most of us know that Black Friday is the big sale frenzy that happens around Thanksgiving as a precursor to the holidays, and that almost every store you can think of participates. Alternatively, the name "Prime Day" suggests that the event is indeed an Amazon-specific event made up by Amazon for members of its Prime subscription.
SEE ALSO: Target Circle Week is back...just in time for October Prime DayThe lines between these two shopping holidays also aren't quite as blurred as they are between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which have become pretty indistinguishable from each other due to 1. being just a few days apart on the calendar, and 2. Black Friday relying just as heavily on online shopping as Cyber Monday does.
But back to the question at hand. Most people aren't concerned with these shopping holiday semantics. The people just want to know: Does Prime Day or Black Friday have better deals?
Does Amazon have better deals on Prime Day or Black Friday?Amazon hypes Prime Day up so much that you can't help but assume those two days in July and two days in October are its Olympics. In the case of October Prime Day, specifically, Amazon can't possibly have the bandwidth to turn around and do the same damn thing a month later for Black Friday, right?
Jeff Bezos is heard cackling in the distance.
Amazon price history shows us that, in many cases, Amazon does go as hard for Black Friday as it does for Prime Day. It's not uncommon to plug the URL for any popular item from Amazon into price tracker Camelcamelcamel to see a handful of very consistent dips to that item's all-time low pricing — those few instances being middle of July (Prime Day) and the end of November (Black Friday), plus a common third dip in mid-October (Prime Big Deal Days, which we know is essentially another Prime Day).
SEE ALSO: What not to buy during Amazon's October Prime Day saleBlack Friday deals also tend to be a little more accessible than Prime Day deals, as you don't have to be a paying Prime member to unlock them (most of the time) like you do for Prime Day deals. (It's the same story for Walmart's Walmart+ events and Walmart's Black Friday sale, though being a paid Walmart+ member still has its perks, like getting early access to Black Friday deals.)
In terms of what's on sale, there's a ton of overlap between Prime Day and Black Friday deals. Robot vacuums, headphones, Apple devices, laptops, and kitchen gear are likely to get similar treatment for both, so if you find a stellar deal on one of those items, there's probably no need to hold out until the other event to see if the deal is better then.
A few categories are better to shop on Black Friday than Prime DayA few categories do play favorites, though. Black Friday is a better time of year to find TV deals — aside from its own Fire TVs, Amazon doesn't go super hard with TV deals at any time throughout the year. Best Buy has a much wider selection on its (virtual) shelves at any given point, specifically offering way more big screen premium options than Amazon. Though Best Buy does hold competing sales during Prime Day, it tends to put on the bigger show during Black Friday.
Toy deals also tend to pop off more heavily for Black Friday in true nostalgic holiday prep. If you're looking to sign up for a streaming service for cheaper than usual, many of the big ones (Hulu and Peacock come to mind) are almost guaranteed to have a Black Friday sale, while they wouldn't exactly have any reason to participate in Prime Day.
Best October Prime Day deals live right now:Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $749 $999 (save $150)
Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) — $394.99 $549 (save $154.01)
Amazon Fire HD 8 (32GB) — $54.99 $99.99 (save $45)
Amazon Echo Pop — $17.99 $39.99 (save $22) + free TP-Link Tapo Smart Color Bulb
Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $279.99 $449.99 (save $170)
Hisense 85-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV — $1,797.99 $2,799.99 (save $1,002)
Ecovacs Deebot T30S with handheld vacuum All-in-One Station — $899.99 $1,199.99 (save $300)
Roborock Qrevo Master — $950 $1,399.99 (save $449.99 with on-page coupon)
Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine — $799.95 $999.95 (save $200)
Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Unlocked, 256GB) — $997.48 $1,299.99 (save $302.51)
Gaming is my favorite hobby, but if I have one big complaint about it, it's that it's just way too expensive. I mean, have you seen the price of the PlayStation 5 Pro? Games are also regularly $70 now. It's wild. That's why I highly recommend taking advantage of sales to stock up on gaming-related items that you maybe wouldn't normally have the budget for. Luckily, Amazon is on the second day of its Prime Big Deal Days sale, and there are a pretty good amount of gaming deals that are live, if I do say so myself.
Below, check out my top picks for the best gaming deals during the sale.
SEE ALSO: More than 300 Amazon Prime Day deals you won't want to miss before the sale ends tonight Best console dealsIf you're just getting into console gaming, the October Prime Day event is a perfect opportunity to pick up a PlayStation 5 Slim or Xbox Series S (the Series X isn't included in the sale, but I did find it for $50 off at Best Buy). Both consoles are sitting at decent discounts right now — the PS5 Slim at $50 off, and the Series S at $15 off. It's not the best Xbox Series S deal I've ever seen, but even a few bucks shaved off the already budget-friendly console isn't anything to scoff at. The PS5 Slim deal, however, is an all-time low price. It might be better during Black Friday, but if you're not down to wait until November, I think you should probably just snag this deal now. You can't go wrong with either one, but what I usually tell people who are between the two new-gen consoles is to go with the PlayStation 5 if you're more interested in big-budget, exclusive single-player titles, and go with the Xbox if you want access to a lot of different games at once via Game Pass.
Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PlayStation 5 Slim Console $449.00 at AmazonFile this under "annoying but necessary purchase." Unfortunately, the new-gen consoles just don't come with enough built-in storage (at least, not for me). If you're downloading a lot of games, you're most likely going to need over 1TB of storage at some point, and neither of the heavy-hitter options allows for that out of the box. So unless you want to be playing the "storage shuffle" forever (that fun chore of having to choose which games to delete so you can make room for new ones), you'll want to add an expansion card into the mix. These are the best two options on the market, and both of them are on sale — so do your future self a favor and snag them while you can save some cash.
Opens in a new window Credit: Western Digital WD_BLACK 2TB SSD Storage Expansion for PS5 $169.99 at AmazonThe stock Xbox controller that you get with the Series X or S is actually pretty good as is, but if you want to upgrade, you shouldn't look anywhere other than Xbox's Elite series controllers. The Elite Series 2 Core controller is almost $40 off, and comes with a bunch of cool extras like back paddles, hair trigger locks, and a more premium feel overall. If you're more of a mobile or cloud gamer, check out the Backbone One controller, which can plug directly into your smartphone and works way better than using on-screen controls. I just recently played through Grand Theft Auto: Vice City using my Netflix app with the Backbone One, and it was a fantastic experience.
Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Controller $140.00 at AmazonRazer's keyboards are my absolute favorite, and the Huntsman Mini is at a huge discount for Prime Big Deal Days — just $69.99, $50 off the usual price. I'm a big fan of mini keyboards because it allows me to still have that amazing mechanical keyboard experience even with minimal desk space. The Huntsman feels amazing to type on and features a ton of cool functions that'll help competitive gamers perform much more efficiently, like Snap Tap strafing. I honestly don't use mine for gaming all that often, but it's great even as a daily driver keyboard for work and other basic tasks. So even if you don't see yourself hopping into Overwatch anytime soon, this keyboard is still a good get.
Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Huntsman Mini Gaming Keyboard $69.99 at AmazonListen, I promise I'm not sponsored by Razer or anything. I just really like their stuff, okay? Sue me! Two of my favorite headsets from them are on sale for Prime Day: the BlackShark V2 Pro and the Hammerhead Pro. The BlackShark V2 Pro is by far the most comfortable over-ear gaming headset I've ever used, but it also sounds great and has crystal-clear microphone output (according to my online gaming buddies, at least). If you're more of an earbud person, the Hammerhead Pro buds are also a great option. I'd describe them as AirPods for gaming, basically.
Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Gaming Headset $179.99 at AmazonThis one is hard to pass up. If you don't want to buy a console just yet but are intrigued by cloud gaming, this bundle has everything you need to get started: An Xbox controller, a Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is basically a massive, Netflix-style library of games that you can download and play from at your leisure. At just $79.99, this is a pretty sweet value. I might even grab this deal myself...
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon / Xbox Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max + Xbox Core Wireless Controller + 1-Month Game Pass Ultimate Bundle $79.99 at AmazonHave you thanked Beyoncé today?
If you've been on TikTok over the past few days, you've probably noticed users thanking Beyoncé for seemingly anything. While lots of these posts are seemingly pretty innocent, the root of the new trend is not that great.
There's a (completely unhinged) theory that celebrities thank Beyoncé at awards shows because the star wields so much godlike power that they bend to her whim. The conspiracy theory started with the passing of Aaliyah, the "Queen of Urban Pop" who redefined contemporary R&B in the 1990s. Some people argue that her passing gave Beyoncé the space to become the icon she is today. In J. Cole's 2013 song "She Knows," he mentions Aaliyah's death. Some of the more deranged TikTok users connect that song with Beyoncé's friendship with P. Diddy, who has been at the center of conspiracy theories connected to Aaliyah's death. The theory goes like this: Thank Beyoncé or face the consequences.
Celebrities do tend to thank Beyoncé for a lot. Kanye rushing the stage when Taylor Swift beat Beyoncé for album of the year; Adele losing her gourd over Beyoncé when she won album of the year; Britney Spears, Lizzo, Lady Gaga, the list goes on.
The celebrity thanking has reached TikTok, where users are thanking Beyoncé at Thanksgiving, or for their dog not having cancer, or for... nothing?
Yes, Beyoncé uses a lot of religious iconography — and even some nods to the illuminati — in her songs and music videos. But no, Beyoncé is probably not tied to some horrifying cult of celebrities who murder other celebrities if they don't thank her on stage.
Silent Hill 2 is for the sickos. Yeah, I said it.
After that initial launch trailer that had even the die-hard Silent Hill fans biting their nails in worry, the Polish developer Bloober Team actually pulled off something incredible. Who saw that coming? It's not just a solid remake; it’s the kind of shot in the arm this series has been begging for. In a twist of fate, Silent Hill 2 just got its very own Resident Evil 2 Remake moment — an adaptation so well-executed, it might just be what the franchise needed to claw its way back from the fog.
SEE ALSO: 'Metaphor: ReFantazio' review in progress: The 'Final Fantasy XV' I've always wantedRemakes are a tricky balancing act. On the one hand, they need to stand on their own, offering something fresh and modern. On the other, they’re forever tethered to the original, carrying the weight of fan expectations and nostalgia. The balance must be respected.
Striking that sweet spot is no easy feat, but Bloober Team nails it here. They’ve taken a beloved horror classic and given it a sleek, modern facelift, all while paying serious respect to its roots and the lasting impact it’s had on the genre. It's both a love letter and a fresh chapter — and it works.
Silent Hill 2 plot and characters Credit: Konami / Bloober TeamDisclaimer: I’ve never played the 2001 original Silent Hill 2. First off, I was three when it came out, and second, I used to hate scary video games. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college (thanks, Resident Evil 7) that I finally got over my aversion to horror games. So, with all that said, Bloober Team’s remake absolutely scared the hell out of me at times. And you should know right now — this review isn’t going to nitpick gameplay or story differences compared to the original. This is purely about my fresh experience, and yeah, it was terrifying.
SEE ALSO: 'Resident Evil Village' is the f*cked up fairytale of your dreamsThe plot of Silent Hill 2 centers on James Sunderland, a man still reeling from the loss of his wife, Mary, who passed away three years ago. Out of nowhere, James receives a mysterious letter from Mary herself, claiming that she’s waiting for him in their "special place" — a spot in the quiet town of Silent Hill where they once vacationed.
When James arrives, it doesn’t take long for things to spiral into full-blown nightmare territory. The town is drenched in an eerie fog, and it quickly becomes clear that something is very wrong. As James presses on, he finds himself grappling with disturbing, surreal encounters that challenge everything he knows about his sanity, his morality, his memories, and even who he really is. The further he goes, the more Silent Hill turns into a twisted reflection of his deepest fears and guilt.
Along his journey, James encounters a handful of other lost souls who, like him, have been drawn to the fog-choked town of Silent Hill. There’s Angela Orosco, a deeply troubled young woman searching for her missing mother, whose unstable mental state makes her interactions unsettling and tragic. Then there’s Eddie Dombrowski, an insecure man harboring a lot of anger, especially after years of being bullied about his weight. He’s on the edge of breaking — and wandering into Silent Hill isn’t helping.
Credit: Konami / Bloober TeamJames also crosses paths with Laura, a strange, seemingly fearless child who has an inexplicable connection to Mary, James’ late wife. And finally, there’s Maria, a woman James meets who bears an uncanny resemblance to Mary, yet with a more provocative, almost unsettling presence. Each character is caught in their own personal nightmare, mirroring James’ dark descent, and adding to the town’s suffocating mystery.
As a character, James can feel like a bit of a wet blanket. He’s barely holding it together, forgetful, and often reckless in ways that make you want to shake some sense into him. But that’s also the point — something is clearly off about him. Luke Roberts brings James to life with a performance that nails the mild-mannered, almost painfully dull nature of the character. There’s a sense that something inside James is broken, and whether that’s from his wife’s death or something far more sinister is part of the mystery. You can never quite tell what’s going on beneath the surface, and Roberts walks that line well.
The rest of the English voice cast is equally impressive, delivering performances that bring out the character's motivations and inner turmoil in a way that keeps you hooked. Every interaction feels purposeful, and the chemistry between characters adds to the tension. There’s a distinct Twin Peaks-esque vibe to the whole thing, with the schlocky, surreal edge working as a kind of dark, twisted relief from the heavier moments. The voice work, paired with Akira Yamaoka’s haunting score, really elevates the atmosphere, giving the game a quirky yet deeply unsettling quality.
Silent Hill 2 gameplay mechanicsCombat in Silent Hill 2 is downright unsettling — not because it’s poorly executed, but precisely because it’s effective. While the game uses a standard third-person action shooter approach, the melee combat feels viscerally uncomfortable, perfectly matching the game’s eerie atmosphere.
I hate hospitals. Credit: Konami / Bloober TeamThe physicality of the melee attacks feels sluggish and raw, adding to the game’s unsettling tone, while the firearms give you a brief sense of power — until the next grotesque creature lunges at you. I hope you're not squeamish because the sounds and sheer brutality of James' every stomp on a downed enemy are downright disturbing. Each hit feels savage, with the accompanying sickening crunches, squishes, and wails from James, adding an unsettling layer to his character.
What I love about this is that it’s more than just a gameplay mechanic — it’s a window into the darker side of James. He may deny it, but there’s a violent streak within him, and his brutality hints at deeper, unresolved issues. The fact that many of the enemies he faces are grotesque, feminine figures raises unsettling questions about his views on women and his relationship with his wife.
It's just great storytelling. Here, everything fits — James' inner turmoil, his violent tendencies, and the distorted nature of the enemies all bleed seamlessly into both the narrative and the gameplay.
Mama, that's a bad bad man. Credit: Konami / Bloober TeamThat said, combat encounters with the game’s main enemies are thankfully sparse. Most of the time, Silent Hill 2 won’t force you into battles with more than one enemy at a time. But when it does — and it will at key moments — it can be truly frustrating. The combat isn’t designed to handle swarms of enemies, and juggling multiple threats at once feels clunky and awkward. It’s a deliberate choice that amps up the tension, but it also exposes the limitations of the game’s combat system. When you’re cornered by a group of foes, you really feel the pressure, but not always in a fun way.
Enemies in Silent Hill 2 hit hard, and they don’t take kindly to being underestimated. The game has a nasty habit of punishing reckless combat with a surge of aggression from its monsters. Take the Bubble-Head Nurses, for example — they’ll grab your weapon if you’re too overzealous, tossing you aside and leaving you wide open for serious damage. It’s a reminder that you can’t just button-mash your way to safety; strategy and patience are crucial here.
One of my personal favorite enemies is the Mannequin, a bizarre, headless, armless creature with four legs that moves in unsettling, jerky motions. These creepy dummies will hide before jumping out at you, making encounters with them especially tense. The game provides you with a radio that emits static, getting louder as enemies draw near. Mannequins, however, are tricky, as they tend to hide in shadows or behind objects. The static is often faint, giving you just enough warning without a clear idea of where they’re lurking. They’ll pop out from behind tight corners, under beds, or any spot you least expect. To make matters worse, even during combat, they’ll retreat and hide if you move too far away, forcing you to chase them down or risk getting ambushed all over again.
Throughout James’ nightmarish trek, there are eight different combat weapons at his disposal, though players will only have access to six during their first playthrough. These include the Wooden Plank, Steel Pipe, Great Knife, Handgun, Shotgun, and Hunting Rifle. For much of the game, you’ll primarily rely on the Plank, Pipe, Handgun, and Shotgun.
These weapons form the backbone of the combat loop, paired seamlessly with the game's intricate puzzle-solving. Much of your time in Silent Hill 2 will be spent exploring large, central locations like the Wood Side Apartments or Brookhaven Hospital. In these eerie, labyrinthine spaces, you’ll be scouring for keys, codes, and other items that unlock doors, slowly unraveling the path forward. Each of these areas acts as a major hub — solving them opens up new parts of Silent Hill that were previously blocked off by towering walls, sinkholes, or other nightmarish barriers.
Silent Hill 2 sound design and soundtrack Don't go that way. Credit: Konami / Bloober TeamI have to take a moment to talk about the sound design in Silent Hill 2 — it’s incredible. The atmosphere it creates is genuinely unnerving, veering between moments of eerie quiet and bursts of disturbing, otherworldly sounds. It keeps you constantly on edge, and there are times when the silence itself is scarier than the monsters.
That said, if I had one gripe with the sound design, it’s that there are moments where the backing track while exploring feels oddly out of place. Specifically, at times, it makes a sound that’s almost identical to the “you’re about to be caught” music from The Last of Us. It’s loud, overbearing, and makes me think I’m about to get jumped by an enemy, even when there’s nothing around. But not in a way that feels intentional — it’s legitimately distracting. Every time it happens, it pulls me out of the experience, and it’s frustrating when the soundtrack is unintentionally working against you, instead of immersing you further into the game’s world.
Regardless of those minor hiccups, the sound design does a massive job of immersing you in the eerie, fog-filled world of Silent Hill. The haunting soundtrack that accompanies you as you wander through the town is pitch-perfect. There’s a slow, ominous hum that builds tension in the quieter moments, creating an ever-present sense of dread. And when things do get loud, the shift is jarring, ratcheting up the intensity to match the horror on screen.
What really sells the atmosphere, though, is the attention to detail in the environmental sounds. You can hear every squelch of James’ footsteps as he trudges through water or mud, every drip and creak that echoes through the empty halls of dilapidated buildings. It’s these small, unnerving sounds that keep you constantly on edge, reminding you that even in silence, you’re never truly alone.
Silent Hill 2 performanceFor the most part, Silent Hill 2 runs like a gem, and that’s saying something given how many games that have come out in the middle of the PlayStation 5’s lifecycle have been plagued with performance issues.
Credit: Konami / Bloober TeamIt’s a testament to the work Bloober Team has put in, especially when compared to recent releases like Dragon’s Dogma 2, Final Fantasy XVI, and Black Myth: Wukong — all fun games, but with a tendency to run like absolute crap at times.
That’s not to say Silent Hill 2 is perfect. I did encounter a couple of hiccups. One particularly annoying bug left me stuck on the back of a pickup truck while trying to fight an enemy, forcing me to reload a save. And yeah, there were a few instances of screen tearing, but nothing game-breaking. Overall, the game performs smoothly, which, in this era of day-one patches and constant updates, is a rare treat.
Graphically, Silent Hill 2 looks stunning, but it’s also clear as day that this was made in Unreal Engine. There’s something distinct about Unreal Engine 3D models — they’ve got this particular look with slightly stiff movements and that weird uncanny valley effect in their faces. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it's jarring, to say the least.
Is Silent Hill 2 worth it?Whether you're a longtime fan of the original or stepping into Silent Hill for the first time, Bloober Team's remake delivers a haunting experience that’s hard to shake.
This is a Laura safe space. Credit: Konami / Bloober TeamFrom the unsettling atmosphere to the visceral combat and psychological depth, the game excels at drawing you into its twisted world. The storytelling is gripping, with characters like James Sunderland and the cast of disturbing personalities he meets adding layers of complexity that go beyond typical horror fare. The remake respects the source material while modernizing it for today’s audience, and even if you’ve never played the 2001 original, it still stands as a deeply unsettling and rewarding journey.
That’s not to say it’s perfect. The combat, while serviceable, can feel clunky — especially when dealing with multiple enemies — and the occasional technical hiccup can pull you out of the immersion. The sound design, while mostly excellent, has its frustrating moments with an overbearing soundtrack that can confuse more than terrify. And sure, the Unreal Engine's telltale stiffness and uncanny valley visuals might make you feel like you’ve wandered into The Room at times, but it’s a minor distraction in an otherwise gorgeously realized world.
Ultimately, Silent Hill 2 is a love letter to psychological horror fans and a solid step forward for the franchise. With its chilling atmosphere, well-paced story, and genuinely terrifying moments, it’s definitely worth your time.
For more Mashable game reviews, check out our OpenCritic page.
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