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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 12'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 SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 14 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.

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• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds (Black) — $229.00 (List Price $299.00)

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• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $59.99

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 14 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: Football

• Green: Scrolling through TV

• Blue: Funny guys in makeup

• Purple: Definitions of D

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 - Football Positions

• Green - Cable Channels

• Blue - Fictional Clowns

• Purple - What "D" Might Stand For

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 #492 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Football Positions: Center, Guard, Quarterback, Safety

• Cable Channels: Discovery, History, Nickelodeon, Oxygen

• Fictional Clowns: Homey, Joker, Pennywise, Ronald

• What "D" Might Stand For: Defense, Democrat, Dimensional, Drive

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.

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

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 14

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.

Watch out, teens and tweens: A majority of adults want cellphones out of the classroom, according to a new poll.

The recent Pew Research Center survey of 5,110 U.S. adults found that 68 percent backed a ban on middle and high school students using a cellphone in the classroom. Twenty-four percent of respondents opposed the idea while 8 percent were unsure.

When asked to identify why they supported a ban, participants said they thought students would develop better social skills and be less likely to cheat, as a result. They also think such a ban could reduce school bullying.

But they drew the line at a more restrictive approach. Only roughly a third of the respondents favored blocking phone access for the entire day, not just in the classroom, while more than half opposed it.

SEE ALSO: Why teens are telling strangers their secrets online

The survey findings may inform the ongoing struggle over the role of technology and internet-connected devices in the classroom.

Educators and their unions have long argued that phones and constant access to social media platforms distracts students, enables bullying, and burns teachers out. School districts have even sued technology companies, including Meta and TikTok, arguing that they don't sufficiently warn young users of the risks of using their platforms.

Adults surveyed by Pew who oppose any kind of ban overwhelmingly cite concern about parents being able to reach their child when needed. They also believe the rule would be too hard for teachers to enforce, and that cellphones can be a useful teaching tool.

Kim Whitman, co-founder of the Phone-Free Schools Movement, told Mashable in an email that the organization backs a day-long phone-free policy in order to offer students and teachers the "most benefits." Whitman said placing phones in a storage tool, like a phone locker or in baskets secured in the school office, can further reduce cyberbullying, social media conflict, and poor face-to-face engagement with peers.

Some school districts and state governments have already moved toward different types of bans. California recently passed legislation requiring school districts to develop a policy for restricting phone use at school by 2026. Florida banned phone use in the classroom this school year. Louisiana is poised to prohibit students from using and possessing a cellphone for the entire day, starting in the 2024-2025 school year.

The Pew survey did find more resistance to the idea of a ban from younger adults. Less than half of survey respondents under the age of 30 support restrictions on cellphones in the classroom, whereas more than three quarters of adults ages 30 to 49 favor them. That percentage rises to 80 percent among participants ages 50 and older.

Whitman said that students "deserve" phone-free schools so they can focus and engage with students and peers.

"This means loud lunch rooms and more students participating in afterschool activities, which creates community and greater sense of belonging," Whitman wrote in an email. "Don't we want this for all kids?"

UPDATE: Oct. 14, 2024, 2:33 p.m. EDT This story has been updated to include comment from Kim Whitman, co-founder of the Phone-Free Schools Movement.

Early in the digital era, she worked at Bell Labs on the intersection of art and technology, making films and at one point arriving at a novel theory about the “Mona Lisa.”

Samsung is always updating the art available on The Frame TV — its television that, when off, displays a piece of artwork and blends seamlessly into your decor.

But the images available to display is primarily art that belongs in the public domain, which is art that is free to use because the creator has given away their rights or it is old enough that the copyright has expired. That's why it's easier to find older pieces of art on The Frame TV than it is to find more modern pieces — but that changed today.

New York's Museum of Modern Art made 37 artworks from its collection available on the Samsung Art Store. The pieces include Vincent van Gogh’s "The Starry Night," Henri Rousseau’s "The Dream," Georgia O'Keeffe's "Evening Star III," and Frida Kahlo’s "Fulang Chang and I."

"MoMA is a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds and provides inspiration. Through our relationship with Samsung, we are broadening access to MoMA's collection in a truly innovative way to millions of people," Robin Sayetta, the Head of Business Development at The Museum of Modern Art, said in a press release. "We were purposeful in building this new digital collection and hope to enrich the lives of art enthusiasts with culture and history at an extraordinary scale."

SEE ALSO: Samsung's Frame TV is at its lowest-ever price for October Prime Day

"At Samsung, we strive to redefine the home entertainment experience through continual innovation. Our collaboration with MoMA allows us to bring culturally significant works into millions of homes, allowing people to engage with renowned art in a truly remarkable way," Sang Kim, EVP and General Manager of the North America Service Business at Samsung Electronics, said in the press release. "This endeavor exemplifies Samsung’s mission to use technology to deliver exceptional experiences into the everyday lives of consumers."

The Frame TV is available in multiple sizes, and is currently on sale in 43", 55", 65", and 75" from the MoMA design store.

First came the nanny cams and home assistants, then came the security doorbells, now it's the age of the hacked vacuums.

First reported by ABC News Australia, owners of robot vacuums across multiple U.S. states experienced invasive hacking of their devices by individuals who took physical control of the cleaning bots and used their internal audio features to shout racial slurs at people in their homes. Owners first heard garbled voices coming from their devices, then noticed the vacuum's live feed camera and remote controls were turned on via the device's app.

SEE ALSO: Fidelity data breach compromises more than 77,000 customers

All of the affected devices were manufactured by brand Ecovac, specifically the company's Deebot X2 model. The hack was confirmed to one customer after they filed a complaint through customer support.

Smart devices have long worried security experts and users for their potential vulnerabilities. In August, cyber security researchers uncovered multiple vulnerabilities in Ecovacs products (including lawn mowers) that could allow hackers to take control of microphones and cameras via mobile Bluetooth connections — to put it simply, researchers concluded the company's security was "really, really, really, really bad."

Design elements intended to protect users, like an audio alert that lets individuals know the vacuum's camera is on, could be easily switched off.

In a statement to TechCrunch at the time of it's release, Ecovacs said it wouldn't fix the uncovered flaws, saying that users could "rest assured that they do not need to worry excessively about this." The company has a history of security breaches, including hacked device cameras that allowed cyberattackers to spy on owners, and has stirred concern over how it handles user data stored on cloud servers.

Needless to say: It might be a good time to refresh your passwords, vacuums included.

Large Language Models (LLMs) may not be as smart as they seem, according to a study from Apple researchers.

LLMs from OpenAI, Google, Meta, and others have been touted for their impressive reasoning skills. But research suggests their purported intelligence may be closer to "sophisticated pattern matching" than "true logical reasoning." Yep, even OpenAI's o1 advanced reasoning model.

The most common benchmark for reasoning skills is a test called GSM8K, but since it's so popular, there's a risk of data contamination. That means LLMs might know the answers to the test because they were trained on those answers, not because of their inherent intelligence.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI funding round values company at $157 billion

To test this, the study developed a new benchmark called GSM-Symbolic which keeps the essence of the reasoning problems, but changes the variables, like names, numbers, complexity, and adding irrelevant information. What they discovered was surprising "fragility" in LLM performance. The study tested over 20 models including OpenAI's o1 and GPT-4o, Google's Gemma 2, and Meta's Llama 3. With every single model, the model's performance decreased when the variables were changed.

Accuracy decreased by a few percentage points when names and variables were changed. And as the researchers noted, OpenAI's models performed better than the other open-source models. However the variance was deemed "non-negligible," meaning any real variance shouldn't have occurred. However, things got really interesting when researchers added "seemingly relevant but ultimately inconsequential statements" to the mix.

SEE ALSO: Free Apple Intelligence upgrade likely arriving soon, leak suggests

To test the hypothesis that LLMs relied more on pattern matching than actual reasoning, the study added superfluous phrases to math problems to see how the models would react. For example, "Oliver picks 44 kiwis on Friday. Then he picks 58 kiwis on Saturday. On Sunday, he picks double the number of kiwis he did on Friday, but five of them were a bit smaller than average. How many kiwis does Oliver have?"

What resulted was a significant drop in performance across the board. OpenAI's o1 Preview fared the best, with a drop of 17.5 percent accuracy. That's still pretty bad, but not as bad as Microsoft's Phi 3 model which performed 65 percent worse.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT-4, Gemini, MistralAI, and more join forces in this personal AI tool

In the kiwi example, the study said LLMs tended to subtract the five smaller kiwis from the equation without understanding that kiwi size was irrelevant to the problem. This indicates that "models tend to convert statements to operations without truly understanding their meaning" which validates the researchers' hypothesis that LLMs look for patterns in reasoning problems, rather than innately understand the concept.

The study didn't mince words about its findings. Testing models' on the benchmark that includes irrelevant information "exposes a critical flaw in LLMs’ ability to genuinely understand mathematical concepts and discern relevant information for problem-solving." However, it bears mentioning that the authors of this study work for Apple which is obviously a major competitor with Google, Meta, and even OpenAI — although Apple and OpenAI have a partnership, Apple is also working on its own AI models.

That said, the LLMs' apparent lack of formal reasoning skills can't be ignored. Ultimately, it's a good reminder to temper AI hype with healthy skepticism.

Apple's rumored ChatGPT integration features might be closer than we thought, according to new iOS backend code circulating on X (formerly Twitter).

Aaron Perris, a MacRumors contributor, posted on X about iOS 18.2 code snippets referencing "Siri with ChatGPT" and "Visual Intelligence."

Tweet may have been deleted

The ChatGPT integration would reportedly be filling the gap until Siri gets its major "Apple Intelligence" overhaul in 2025. Currently, the feature allows users to use Siri to access ChatGPT's servers to help do normal content generation tasks like shopping lists, recipes, or writing code.

Meanwhile, the "Visual Intelligence" feature is expected to be exclusive to the iPhone 16, leveraging the phone's advanced cameras to let users search for anything they can see. Alongside the new Camera Control feature on the iPhone 16, you'll essentially be able to snap a photo of anything you see and get instant AI-powered search results—think of it like Apple's take on Google Lens.

According to the leaked code shared on X, this feature is expected to arrive with iOS 18.2, which isn't far off, considering iOS 18.1 is set to drop on October 28. While this isn’t an official confirmation, it definitely hints that these upgrades could be just around the corner.

As the end of the year grows nearer, so does Spotify Wrapped 2024. You may have begun to look back on the music you listened to this year and wonder, do I still have time to start listening music other than Brat and "Espresso" before it's time to post my list on my Instagram story? The short answer is maybe.

SEE ALSO: Spotify wants to make you an AI Playlist for every occasion

It used to be understood that Wrapped stopped tracking on Halloween, leaving November and December as unaccounted for months, but Spotify refuted that claim in 2022. In response to a since-deleted tweet from the pop culture updates account, Pop Cave, that claimed Wrapped would stop tracking on Oct. 31, the music giant wrote, "The only thing that we end on Halloween is eating candy corn. Stream (and snack) all through the year and we will see you in Wrapped season."

Tweet may have been deleted

But Spotify has never revealed the exact date Wrapped stops tracking. At a press preview of Wrapped in 2022, Spotify's vice president of product development Babar Zafar further explained, "The Wrapped personalized experience covers streaming for 2022, so beginning in January and ending a few weeks prior to the launch on November 30. We aim to leave the cut-off date as late as possible to really create a truly personalized experience for the millions of listeners around the world."

So stream with caution in this final month and some change of Wrapped's collection period.

Save $100.99: The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer usually retails for $429.99, but as of Oct. 14, you can grab it at Amazon for $329. If you want a carrying case for just 99 cents more, you can grab it from Dyson for $329.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic $329.00 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $100.99 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic (with carrying case) $329.99 at Dyson
$429.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

I'm not going to sugarcoat it: the Dyson Supersonic is expensive as hell.

In fact, in most cases, as Mashable's shopping reporter covering beauty tech, I recommend buying a dupe instead. But when it goes on sale, especially for $100 off, it's worth giving this hair dryer a second look. And at the $329 Amazon has it at as of Oct. 14, I think the Dyson Supersonic is much more worth your money, especially if you're someone who uses a hair dryer regularly and has been looking to upgrade. (For anyone who appreciates a dedicated storage case, Dyson has this dryer with a case for $329.99 on their website. For folks who dislike Amazon, Best Buy has the dryer, sans case, for $329.99).

So what makes this hair dryer so special? Without getting too technical, the unique design allows for a hair dryer that's lighter than most, quieter than most (with the stipulation that it's not necessarily quiet — it's still a hair dryer), and generally provides a faster dry. (If you want to read more about how its design works, you can check out my full review of the Supersonic). When I used this dryer when my hair was at its longest (more than halfway down my back), it reliably took 15 minutes to dry my entire head.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Dyson Airwrap dupes under $300: The Shark FlexStyle is no longer your only option

At it's asking price, it is a good $100 to 200 more expensive than most hair dryers — even premium hair dryers — on the market, which is why I have trouble recommending it. While it stands out among other hair dryers, it certainly felt priced like a luxury, and that price discrepancy didn't match up with the performance discrepancy.

However, at $329, the price becomes slightly easier to swallow, especially for someone who regularly uses a blow dryer to dry their hair. If you've been looking to treat yourself or buy the hair lover in your life an especially nice gift, grabbing the Dyson Supersonic for $100 off nets you a pretty good deal.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Oct. 14: OUR TOP PICK Bose QuietComfort Ultra $329 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal BEST ROBOT VACUUM DEAL iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock $999 at Amazon (save $400) Get Deal BEST SECURITY CAMERA DEAL TP-Link Tapo MagCam $59.99 at Amazon (save $60 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST BEAUTY DEAL Dyson Supersonic hair dryer $329.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal

Amazon's second Prime Day event of the year has come and gone, but that doesn't mean the deals have. On Monday, Oct. 14, there are still plenty of great discounts sticking around post-Prime Big Deal Days on top brands like Bose, Dyson, Roomba, and more. If you missed out on the shopping event and are interested in a great deal, you've come to the right place.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Oct. 14. If none of these particularly catch your eye, check back throughout the week as we'll be selecting new deals each day.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra $329.00 at Amazon
$429.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

We've tested a lot of headphones at Mashable — like, a lot — and through that testing found the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones to be the most comfortable. They're much more than that, though. They also look sleek, deliver excellent battery life and rich sound, and offer "perfectly good ANC," according to our reviewer Sam Mangino. Pretty pricey normally at $429, this 23% discount (still live from Prime Day) drops the cost to just $329. Just note that only the lunar blue shade is included in the price drop.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock $999.00 at Amazon
$1,399.00 Save $400.00 Get Deal

As Mashable's resident robot vacuum expert Leah Stodart put it: "If you're going to spend more than $500 on a Roomba, make it this one." Just released in July, the Roomba Combo 10 Max finally gave the people what they wanted — a Roomba that not only mops, but washes and dries its own mopping pads. If you're looking for the ultimate hands-off cleaning experience, this model will finally give you exactly that. It has stronger suction power and more intense scrubbing than any model (other than the identical Combo j9+), more brainpower, and a four-stage suction system. Save $400 on this 2-in-1 hybrid robot vacuum while it's still sitting at its Prime Day price (which also happens to be its first ever discount).

Opens in a new window Credit: TP-Link TP-Link Tapo MagCam $69.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

We haven't tested the TP-Link Tapo MagCam ourselves, but our friends at PCMag (owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) have done the honor and gave it a sparkling review. "It's an excellent value for a battery-powered camera that offers color night vision, built-in spotlights, local and cloud storage options, free intelligent alerts, voice control, and many other features," the reviewer writes, all of which earned the camera 4.5 stars and an Editors' Choice award. It's usually $119.99, but you can snag it on sale for just $69.99 with an on-page coupon at Amazon. That's 42% in savings, which is close to its record-low price from Prime Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic hair dryer $329.99 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

If you passed on grabbing the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer on Prime Day and are regretting it, you'll be thrilled to know its $100 price drop is still live on Oct. 14. The bladeless dryer uses Air Multiplier technology to dry your hair quickly (and quietly), and a temperature scanner to keep air below 212 degrees Fahrenheit and protect your hair from damage. Plus, it just looks and feels really fancy. At $329.99, it's still a bit expensive, but it's much more appealing than its usual cost.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

GET $30 OFF: As of Oct. 14, you can score an Amazon Fire 7 tablet for just $49.99, down from $79.99, at Amazon. That's a 38% discount or $30 off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Fire 7 tablet $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

If you’re looking for a new mid-sized screen to switch to at the end of the day, the Amazon Fire 7 tablet might be worth a look.

Right now, you can get this tablet for just $49.99 at Amazon, down from $79.99. That’s a $30 discount and a pretty sweet deal for a newer tablet.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's latest Fire 7 tablet meets the tepid expectations set by its $60 price point

With a 10-hour battery life, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage for books, shows, or whatever else you want to load up, the Fire 7 is a pocket-sized entertainment hub capable of handling doom scrolling, binge-watching, and more. (Note: Google Play is not supported on this device.)

It also works with Alexa — ask her to make video calls, find a recipe, set timers, etc., just like an Echo device.

In 365 days, Windows 10 is no more. Kind of, anyway.

You'll still be able to use Microsoft's previous flagship operating system after Oct. 14, 2025, but beyond that date, you won't be able to get free security or performance updates, according to Microsoft's FAQ page. There will be an option to pay for continued support, but pricing information is not available yet.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft's latest Windows update is causing issues for some gamers

If you're still on Windows 10, it may be prudent to find an off-ramp to whatever your next operating system will be before next October. Per Windows Central, the obsolescence of Windows 10 will lead to a gradual decrease in support for peripherals and drivers over time, too, so it's probably best to figure something out now.

As a reminder, Windows 11 is available as a free upgrade for those who own Windows machines with compatible hardware. Another option is to buy a new Windows machine that has 11 pre-installed. You can also just become a Mac person instead, if you want. The world is your oyster, unless you want to keep using Windows 10.

GET 40% OFF: As of Oct. 14, you can get up to 40% off select items at Home Depot when you shop online. Browse robot vacuums, air purifiers, and more.

Our top picks: Best robot vacuum Shark ION (RV763) robot vacuum $199.99 at Home Depot (save $50 ) Get Deal Best air purifier deal Shark Air Purifier Max (HP202) $179 at Home Depot (save $100 ) Get Deal Best small appliance deal Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Programmable Defrost Slow Cooker $49.99 at Home Depot (save $10 ) Get Deal

Whenever I think of Home Depot, I immediately think of power tools, gardening, and anything related to home improvement, but Home Depot is also a pretty good place to find deals on vacuums, air purifiers, and other household items.

SEE ALSO: Best vacuum cleaners of 2024: 4 best stick and robot vacuums

Bonus: Home Depot is offering up to 40% off to customers who shop online on select items. It’s not entirely clear when this sale will end, but it's definitely worth checking out if you have any home improvement or household needs.

Here are some of the best deals at Home Depot right now:

Best robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Our pick: Shark ION (RV763) robot vacuum $199.99 at Home Depot
$249.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon’s not the only retailer with low prices on robot vacuums — Home Depot has some great deals, too. Right now, the Shark ION (RV763) robot vacuum is only 199.99 ($50 off the list price).

This little robot vac is powerful enough to vacuum hard floors and carpets. It also features cliff sensors so your bot won’t fall off the steps or run into your furniture. You can get up to 120 minutes of cleaning time on a single charge. And, the SharkClean App lets you schedule or control cleanings remotely, even when you're not home.

Best air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Our pick: Shark Air Purifier Max (HP202) $179.00 at Home Depot
$279.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Not to make this a Shark-heavy list, but the Shark Air Purifier Max (HP202) is another deal worth mentioning. It is available for $179, down from $279.

The Shark Air Purifier Max can cover up to 1,200 square feet, and the NanoSeal True HEPA filter removes 99.98% of bacteria, dust, odor, smoke, allergens, and viruses. The Clean Sense IQ monitors your air quality, auto-adjusts its power, and sends real-time reports via the smart control panel.

Best small appliance deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hamilton Beach Our pick: Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Programmable Defrost Slow Cooker $49.99 at Home Depot
$59.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Soup season is right around the corner (and for many of us, it's already here). If you’re looking for a new slow cooker, you can get the Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Programmable Defrost Slow Cooker for $49.99.

With this slow cooker, you can make everything from soups and stews to dips and desserts. It also has a defrost setting that gradually defrosts frozen food before cooking. Add the frozen meat and whatever else to the pot, press defrost, and the slow cooker will do the rest. (It also includes a temperature probe to help you check whether your meat is fully cooked.)

SAVE $400: October Prime Day may have ended, but this week still has a bounty of deals on robot vacuums, including the top-rated iRobot Roomba j7+ Combo, which is down to $699, saving $400 for 36% savings.

Best robot vacuum deals Best robot vacuum deal iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ $699 at Amazon (Save $400.99) Get Deal Best Eufy deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop $639.98 at Amazon (Save $160.01) Get Deal Best Roborock deal Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop $1,199.99 at Amazon (Save $200) Get Deal

Prime Day wrapped up last week, but the deals have not stopped rolling in. In fact, we're still seeing the lowest prices ever across categories, but especially on robot vacuums. Our team of experts spotted fantastic deals during Prime Big Deal Days, all on models that we've thoroughly vetted.

The star of the show is the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+, which has taken a $400 price cut, but there are other great deals to shop including the Eufy X10 Pro Omni robot vacuum and mop. Here are the best robot vacuum deals to shop this week.

Best robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ $699.00 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $400.99 Get Deal Why we like it

You'd think we'd see some good deals post-Prime Day, however, we're seeing some phenomenal deals on robot vacuums still, especially the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+. Having vetted the j7+, it's a fantastic navigator, highly unlikely to get caught on obstacles. In addition to its vacuuming abilities, it's also mops, and while we think there are other 2-in-1 vacs with better scrubbing, this one will get the job done.

However, right now you really can't beat it's price. The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ is currently 36% off, knocking $400.99 off it's price, taking it down to $699.

More robot vacuums deals

• Eufy L60 Robot Vacuum — $179.99 $279.99 (save $100)

• Shark AI RV2001 Robot Vacuum — $199.99 $289.99 (save $90)

• Shark RV2310 Matrix Robot Vacuum — $249.99 $299.99 (save $50)

• Roborock Q7 Max+ Robot Vacuum and Mop — $359.99 $869.99 (save $510)

• Eufy Omni C20 Robot Vacuum and Mop — $479.99 $599.99 (save $120)

• Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop — $639.98 $799.99 (save $160.01)

• iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ — $699 $1,099.99 (save $400.99)

• Roborock Qrevo Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

• iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop — $999 $1,399 (save $400)

• Eufy Omni S1 Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop — $999.99 $1,499.99 (save $500)

• Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $1,199.99 $1,399.99 (save $200)

Save $100: As of Oct. 14, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are back on sale for their Prime Day price of $329 at Amazon, if you go for the pair in lunar blue. Overall, you'll save 23% on the $429 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $329.00 at Amazon
$429.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal

This is not a drill: the comfiest headphones we've ever tried dropped back down to their Prime Day price.

As Mashable's shopping reporter on the headphone beat, I've tried headphones from Bose, Sony, Bowers & Wilkins, JBL, and more — and without a doubt the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are the most comfortable out there. And as of Oct. 14, they're on sale for $329, dropping $100 in price back down to the record-low we saw last week during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale. (They're sold out at Walmart for the same price).

Mashable Shopping reporter Sam Mangino also reviewed these headphones, agreeing that these were the comfiest she'd tried, writing, "I wear glasses daily and love hoop earrings—two things that are normally incompatible with over-ear headphones. However, I worked a whole day while wearing glasses and my favorite earrings without discomfort."

SEE ALSO: Shop the 6 best headphones for 2024 during Prime Big Deal Days

However, there is more to these headphones than how they wear. While the sound profile and noise-cancelling is generally on par with what you'd expect from premium-priced headphones, Mangino found that their noise-cancelling wasn't the best she tried, noting that it suffered particularly for higher pitched sounds. While the sound quality was generally rich, she also found that the Immersive spatial audio seemed to rely on bumping up the volume more than anything.

For my part, I found that these headphones performed excellently on a flight for blocking out your standard plane sounds, but wished that I could've used them passively, and was surprised that at this price point, I needed to have the headphones powered on to use the corded connection. I was also surprised that these headphones sometimes struggled with switching between devices, or turning on and easily pairing to devices they'd been last connected to.

Still, at $329, you're getting the comfiest headphones money can buy, and noise-cancelling that still sits on the higher end of the headphone market.

SAVE HUNDREDS: Now through Oct. 20, you can save on TVs, soundbars, and more during Best Buy's Samsung Savings Event.

Our top picks: Best TV deal Samsung 55-inch Class DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV (2024) $379.99 at Best Buy (save $50 ) Get Deal Best soundbar deal Samsung 7.1.2 Channel wireless Dolby Atmos soundbar and rear speaker system $749.99 at Best Buy (save $350 ) Get Deal Best laptop deal Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge Copilot+ (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,149.99 at Best Buy (save $300 ) Get Deal

We just got done with October Prime Day (and tons of competitor sales, including Target Circle Week, Walmart’s Holiday Deals event, and Best Buy’s 48-hour flash sale). Now, Best Buy’s offering hundreds off TVs, soundbars, and more during its Samsung Savings Event (which was not listed in its fall savings schedule, btw).

This special event ends on Sunday, Oct. 20, so you’ve got plenty of time to peruse the sale. And, if you’re a Best Buy Plus or Total member, you’ll get a $50 reward on purchases totaling $500 or more.

From flat screens to laptops, here are some of the best Samsung deals we've spotted so far:

Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung 55-inch Class DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV (2024) $379.99 at Best Buy
$429.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

You can get the Samsung 55-inch Class DU7200 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV (2024) for just $379.99 — that’s $50 off the list price. This TV features PurColor tech, so you can enjoy whatever you’re watching in bright, true-to-life hues. It also features Motion Xcelerator for a smoother picture.

With Samsung TV Plus, you can watch tons of free channels (as long as you have WiFi), and Samsung Tizen OS lets you easily access all your favorite streaming apps.

Best soundbar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung 7.1.2 Channel wireless Dolby Atmos soundbar and rear speaker system $749.99 at Best Buy
$1,099.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Samsung 7.1.2 Channel wireless Dolby Atmos soundbar and rear speaker system is $350 off right now, bringing the price down to $749.99. With 7.1.2 Ch. True Dolby Atmos Sound and the included rear speaker kit, you can fill the room with immersive surround sound. (Think how great it will be to watch movies or play games with this soundbar!) Plus, the Active Voice Analyzer keeps the dialogue clear, so you won’t have to strain to hear what the characters are saying.

Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Our pick: Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge Copilot+ (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,149.99 at Best Buy
$1,449.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The 16-inch Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge Copilot+ (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is $1,149.99, $300 off the list price. This laptop features everything you’d want or need out of a Windows machine, including a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

With Windows 11 pre-installed, you can get all your tasks done and have plenty of room for your favorite apps. If you have a Galaxy AI phone, you can call or text friends right from your laptop using Galaxy AI; just press the Copilot key to get started.

TL;DR: Live stream the NHL for free on Laola1 and Prime Video. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There is no other sport that combines skill, grace, elegance, and people punching each other quite like ice hockey. We love the merging of elements, and so do millions of fans from all around the world. The issue for these legions of dedicated hockey fans is that it's not easy to follow the sport for free. But nothing is impossible in this golden age of streaming.

If you are interested in watching the NHL for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the NHL?

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America made up of 32 teams (25 in the United States and seven in Canada).

When is the NHL?

The NHL season is typically held from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. After the regular season, 16 teams advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs, a four-round tournament that runs into June to determine the league champion.

How to watch the NHL for free in the U.S.

It's possible to stream the NHL for free on these platforms:

• Austria — Laola1 (select NHL games for free)

• Canada — Prime Video (Monday Night Hockey for free with 30-day trial)

These free streams are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in Austria and Canada meaning you can access these streaming services from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NHL for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Connect to Laola1 or Prime Video

5. Watch the NHL for free

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 they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch NHL live streams before recovering your investment. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games without actually spending anything.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the NHL?

There are a number of streaming-friendly VPNs, including popular services like NordVPN and CyberGhost VPN. Those are strong choices, but ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming the NHL for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria and Canada

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

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds

• 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 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the NHL for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Monday Night Hockey is coming to Prime Video, which is great news for sports fans looking to live stream top-quality action without spending anything. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps to secure free access to games like Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins from anywhere in the world.

If you want to watch the Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Canadiens vs. Penguins?

Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 14. This fixture will be played at the Bell Centre.

How to watch Canadiens vs. Penguins for free

Prime Video is the home of Monday Night Hockey in Canada, starting with Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins.

Canadiens vs. Penguins is available to live stream on Prime Video in Canada, but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this game. Fans can watch Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (plus more Monday Night Hockey fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

Fans from outside Canada will need to use a VPN to watch the NHL 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 Canada

5. Watch Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 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 top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the NHL without actually spending anything. This is obviously only a short-term solution, but this gives you enough time to watch select NHL fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the NHL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NHL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. This deal includes a bonus three months of coverage, a year of unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is back up in read-only mode following massive data breaches last week.

Brewster Kahle, founder and digital librarian of the Internet Archive, posted an update on Monday morning on X (formerly Twitter) announcing the site's return in a "provisional manner."

"Safe to resume but might need further maintenance, in which case it will be suspended again," he wrote. "Please be gentle."

Tweet may have been deleted

Kahle wrote the site will not yet reinstate its "Save Page Now" feature, which archives the page as it currently appears and generates a permanent URL.

SEE ALSO: Internet Archive data breach: Hacker claims to ‘See 31 million of you' on Have I Been Pwned

Last week, the Internet Archive came under distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks from hacker groups, who accessed sensitive user data for millions of people. The non-profit site keeps saved versions of websites and other forms of digital media, accessible to anyone through its platform The Wayback Machine.

Mashable's Matt Binder has everything you need to know about the Internet Archive's data breaches and DDoS attacks.

Meta Quest 3S made me feel like Tony Stark without needing his billionaire bank account. For just $299, I got to step into my own Iron Man suit right in my living room (shout out to Marvel's Iron Man VR). Did I almost break my hand from being too into it? Maybe. But hey, if Iron Man can take a few hits in his suit, so can I.

Meta’s decision to launch a budget-friendly Quest 3 model took me by surprise, but it’s a welcome one. At $499, the original Quest 3 was already priced reasonably compared to other VR headsets on the market. And the now-discontinued Quest 2 — which got its price tag sliced down to $199 in April — was an even sweeter deal.

Still, with these stellar prices and features, it’s baffling why more people haven’t jumped into VR yet. Trust me, they’re missing out on an extraordinary experience.

SEE ALSO: Meta Quest 3S vs. Meta Quest 3: What are the differences? Meta Quest 3S price and specs

As mentioned, the Meta Quest 3S is a cheaper version of the Meta Quest 3, with a starting price tag of $299.99. This configuration comes with the following specs:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2

• 8GB of RAM

• 128GB of storage

• VR and AR capabilities

• 1,832 x 1,920-pixel resolution for displays

• 72Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz refresh rate support

• Fresnel lens

The unit I tested in this review costs $399.99 and upgrades your storage to 256GB.

In my experience, 128GB is sufficient. Even with a 64GB Quest 2, I managed to store 40 games and apps with 12GB of storage left over. Titles range between 400MB and 4GB, so if you're not a hoarder and you continue to delete games once you're done with them, 128GB should be fine.

However, if you plan to take a lot of photos and videos (perhaps you're a VR streamer), you'd be better off with the 256GB variant.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Meta Quest 3S $299.99 at Amazon
Get Deal Meta Quest 3S design

If you're wondering what you're sacrificing in opting for the Quest 3S over the Quest 3, I'd definitely say out-of-the-box comfort.

Meta Quest 3S Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Quest 3S may be alright for casual activities, but for more high-movement games and services like Supernatural, Beat Saber, Gorilla Tag, and Superhot VR, you'll want something with a lot less pressure on your cheekbones.

However, there is something you can get to make Quest 3S more comfortable: the $69 Elite Strap. What's the Elite Strap? It's an accessory that improves the weight distribution of the headset, as well as its adjustability, compared to the straps that ship with it. It alleviates pressure points and minimizes discomfort. If $70 is too pricey, the CNBEYOUNG Adjustable Head Strap and BOBOVR M3 Pro are awesome alternatives.

Get the Quest 3S sans the Elite Strap (or any of its alternatives) first. Test the comfort for yourself. After all, everyone is different. If you feel that you need a lil somethin' somethin' to help alleviate the facial pressure, the Elite Strap is what you'll need.

Although the Quest 3S is bulkier in design, I was surprised to find out that it's actually slightly lighter than the Quest 3 (514 vs. 515 grams). It is, however, heavier than the Quest 2 (503 grams). That being said, the Quest 3 has better weight distribution, which is why it's slightly more comfortable than the Quest 3S.

Durability

The main concern I have with the Quest 3S are the fabric straps. Frequent use and sharing of my Quest 2 and Quest 3 caused wear and tear on the straps within a year, so handle the Quest 3S carefully to avoid extra stress on them.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I'm serious; don't just yank it off your head or pull it down your cranium. Be careful with it.

You'll also have to keep in mind that the all-white straps get dirty quickly — especially if you're sharing the headset often. To keep them pristine, you'll likely have to clean it every two or three times of usage. If you don't care to do that, that's fine, but say hello to your new off-yellow straps.

But even if something happens to the straps, they can always be replaced.

There's also a soft foam padding on the Quest 3S that is designed to enhance comfort with an ergonomic shape that fits the contours of your face. It's breathable and lightweight, but it can collect a lot of sweat.

Aesthetics

I understand that Meta likely wants to stand out from the crowd with the mostly-white chassis of its Quest line, but I would be ecstatic of the company could make a black variant, similar to the Quest Pro. I mean, how can I snack on Doritos and Cheetos worry-free with a milky headset?

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Meta Quest 3S has its sensors arranged in two sets of three, forming triangular patterns on either side of the front panel. There's nothing particularly eye-catching about the Quest 3S except for the fact that it's pretty insect-like, with the dual clusters making the Quest 3S look like a half-bot, half-arachnid creature. Despite not being mind-blowing, I appreciate the practical design. I don't need my VR headset to look pretty to enjoy it.

No annoying wires

The best part of the Quest 3S is that, like the Quest 3 and Quest 2, it's a standalone headset.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

This means you don't need to worry about wires, gaming rigs, tracking stations, connection cables, etc. You need absolutely nothing but the Quest 3S, a Wi-Fi connection, and a decent-sized play area to operate the new budget-friendly headset.

No seamless IPD adjustment

The one thing the Quest 3 has over the Quest 3S (that I miss dearly) is the IPD adjustment wheel. For those who aren't familiar with IPD adjustment, this feature lets you position the lenses in a way that provides the clearest, most focused visuals. However, the Quest 3S only has three levels of IPD adjustment whereas the pricier Quest 3's adjustment wheel allows for more precise calibration to find that "sweet spot."

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As such, for me, the Quest 3's focus is a lot more clearer and easier on my eyes because I'm able to find a "lens spacing" position that is right for me. But because the Quest 3S only has three levels, the focus is always slightly off.

Meta Quest 3S displays

The Quest 3S' displays, emanating 1,832 x 1,920-pixel resolution, are a downgrade from the pricier Quest 3, which has 2,064 x 2,208-pixel resolution panels. The Quest 3S shares the same display specs as the Quest 2.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Is there really a big difference between the Quest 3 and Quest 3S as far as the display is concerned? I didn't notice it right away. But when I compared my Quest 3S and Quest 3 headsets side-by-side, there is definitely a recognizable upgrade, with the latter offering slightly more detail and more vividness. Since the Quest 3S uses fresnel lenses, which are less advanced than the Quest 3’s pancake lenses, I noticed some "god rays." However, if you’re new to VR or haven’t used headsets with better lenses, you might not even notice them.

However, even with the Quest 3, you have to temper your expectations. The displays are still quite middling, but they're sufficient enough for you to enjoy games in the Meta Quest Store.

When it comes to streaming videos, the quality is impressive. No, it's not as vivid and rich as the display on my M2 MacBook Air nor my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the details are shockingly crisp and sharp. I watched this "Costa Rica in 4K" YouTube video on the Meta Quest 3S, and it does a great job at capturing textures, like the glistening body of a tree frog and the scaly skin of a snake.

I also watched some episodes of The Boys via the Prime Video app, and I loved expanding the virtual window to great lengths while kicking back and enjoying the show.

Unfortunately, it looks like the Quest headsets no longer support a dedicated Netflix app, which is a bit of a bummer because it had one of the best viewing experiences on the headset. On the plus side, you can always access Netflix through the browser. It's arguably better than the now-defunct Netflix app, too, because it streams at 1080p, up from the app's 480p cap.

Meta Quest 3S ports

Unlike the Meta Quest 3, the Quest 3S doesn't have a 3.5mm audio port. In other words, you won't be able to connect wired earbuds to the Quest 3S, but it's not necessary. The audio that emanates from the Quest 3S is crisp and sharp, and it gets sufficiently loud, too.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, there are instances where you may want to connect some earbuds. (Perhaps your rowdy family is in earshot and you want to don't want to break the audio immersion.) In this case, you can still use USB-C headphones or Bluetooth-supported variants. You'll find the power button on the left of the headset, but if you want to reduce or increase the volume, you'll find the rocker nestled on the chassis' underside.

Of course, there's a USB-C port, too, allowing you to play some PCVR games by connecting Oculus Link to a VR-ready PC or gaming laptop. This will free you from the confines of the Meta Quest Store, allowing you to explore Steam VR for more graphics-intensive games.

Meta Quest 3S controllers

The Quest 3S borrows the new Touch Plus controllers that were introduced with the Quest 3 last year.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I don't know which Meta engineer came up with their brilliant design, but they deserve a raise. The Touch Plus controllers scream ergonomic, with a comfortable shape that closely follows the natural contours of my hands, allowing for a secure grip. The buttons and thumbsticks are positioned for easy access, so I don't need to stretch my fingers much to reach them.

The black part of the controllers, located at the top, is slightly tilted, which thoughtfully aligns with my thumbs' range of motion.

The Quest 3S controllers are a joy to use, but make sure to make use of those wrist straps. If you accidentally let go of them, the wrist straps ensure they don't go flying across the room.

Meta Quest 3S games

I've must've played at least 100 Quest games. My top three are Laser Tag from Rec Room (free), I Expect You to Die 2, and Superhot.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, while testing the Quest 3S, I've discovered two new awesome games: Marvel's Iron Man VR and The Light Brigade.

The first game taught me a lesson, though. Don't be lazy and move everything out of the way. While being too immersed as Tony Stark in Marvel's Iron Man VR, I swung my arms to fly across the sky. And it was exhilarating — until I hit my hand so hard against a wooden chair that I thought I broke my fingers. Ouch! Moral of the story? Get obstacles out of your playroom, stat!

Did that stop me from playing though? Only for an hour. I hopped right back into the game as Iron Man, and even saved Pepper Potts from a burning plane while zipping around the sky in a heroic metal suit. The Light Brigade is another badass game with a lot of action, allowing me to wield a rifle and take down enemies.

And the best part is that there's something for everyone. If you enjoy silly sim games, you may like I Am Security and Job Simulator. If you like sporty action, you'll enjoy Nock, Eleven Table Tennis, and Sports Scramble.

If you prefer a laid-back puzzler, I highly recommend Moss and Moss 2.

The sheer number of Quest 3S games may be overwhelming, but filtering them so that the Meta Quest Store only shows games that are four stars and up has never failed me.

Meta Quest 3S mixed-reality

There are more mixed-reality games this year compared to last year when Meta debuted AR capabilities with the Quest 3. However, compared to VR games, AR games are still catching up. For the uninitiated, VR games give you total immersion while AR games merge your environment — thanks to its color passthrough capabilities — with virtual effects.

For example, First Encounters, Meta's free game that showcases the headset's AR prowess, continues to be one of the best AR games you can play. With my living room in sight, I got swarmed by tiny, fuzzy alien invaders. And with my weapon, I can shoot them to reclaim my home. I have yet to find any AR other game that beats First Encounters, but I will say that Starship Home comes close.

Screenshot of 'Starship Home' mixed-reality game Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Similar to First Encounters, it has an alien theme, but it's not as action packed. It transformed my living room into a spaceship. I traveled to new planets and even owned my own extraterrestrial plant that I got to water.

Another interesting mixed-reality game is Hello, Dot, which lets you play around with a little pet critter, and showcases the Quest 3S' hand-tracking capabilities.

There's a cutie patootie in my living room! Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It's not as seamless and smooth as the Apple Vision Pro, which makes sense because its costs just a fraction of the value of that high-end headset, but isn't half bad. If I could put an arbitrary figure on it, I'd say that the hand-tracking is responsive about 80% of the time, which is OK for a sub-$300 VR headset.

Meta Quest 3S concerts

For those who don't give a rat's behind about games, perhaps you'll enjoy the concert series on Quest 3S. I got to see some of my favorite artists, Sabrina Carpenter and Doja Cat, right before my very eyes as they performed some of my favorite songs, from "Espresso" and "Feather" to "Say So" and "Kiss Me More."

Sabrina Carpenter concert in VR Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I discovered these concerts in Meta Horizon Worlds, which also features the likes of BLACKPINK, Victoria Monét, and The Kid LAROI.

In most cases, it feels as if you're right front of the artist. In the Carpenter concert, it felt like I was actually on stage with her. There are some times, like the Doja Cat concert, that you'd be thrown back into the nosebleed seats, which always perturbed me. But this is only for a few seconds to give you some perspective of the "vibe" of the stadium, giving you a view of fans enjoying the Doja Cat concert just as much as you are.

Doja Cat concert in VR Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Overall, the Quest 3S is one of the best ways to consume concert content nowadays.

Meta Quest 3S performance

The Meta Quest 3S is packed with the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 as the Quest 3. I've tested 13 games on the Quest 3S so far. For almost all of them, I experienced relatively fast load times, smooth gameplay, and zippy graphics rendering. However, just as the PS5 is a powerful console, but still has games that may suffer from bugs and other issues due to developer shortcomings, you may encounter similar experiences with the Quest 3S.

YUKI Space Ranger game on Quest 3S Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

For example, Iron Man VR, the Moss series, Pistol Whip, and Beat Saber run like a dream. But the likes of I Am Cat, a simulator where users step into the shoes of a furry pet, and Hello, Dot are a little rough around the edges when it comes to ensuring that real-life controller maneuvers translate well in the game. To be fair, though, these are early access games, which means they're bound to have some hiccups.

Meta Quest 3S battery life

Meta claims that the Quest 3S has a battery life rating of 2.5 hours.

I put this to the test while playing the Quest 3S nonstop; I didn't take a single break. To my surprise, the runtime matched Meta's claims on the dot. According to my testing, the Quest 3S lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Is the Meta Quest 3S worth it?

Absolutely. For under $300, the Quest 3S delivers an impressive entry into the world of VR with its solid mixed-reality capabilities and access to Meta’s expansive content library. The budget-friendly price point makes it an attractive option, especially for newcomers or casual users looking to dip their toes into VR without splurging. The Quest 3S makes VR accessible, offering immersive experiences at a fraction of the cost.

That said, it does come with trade-offs — most notably, the lack of a precise IPD adjustment and the fresnel lenses that fall short of the clarity provided by higher-end models. While it may not rival its pricier counterparts, the Meta Quest 3S still provides a compelling and affordable VR experience that’s hard to pass up. If you’re willing to embrace a few limitations for the sake of affordability, then the Quest 3S is definitely worth it.

For under $300, the Quest 3S delivers a stellar VR experience that feels like a steal — offering incredible immersion at a fraction of the cost.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Meta Quest 3S $299.99 at Amazon
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