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Attention shoppers: Amazon Prime Day starts on June 23. In theory, you could wait to shop until Tuesday, but if you're in the mood to score some deals before the sale begins, you're in luck. Amazon tends to drop prices before the sale starts, and as long as you check on price history with camelcamelcamel to make sure you're actually getting a good deal, you might not have to wait.
For those sticking to a budget this Prime Day, consider that some of our favorite items are sitting at under $25. A great pair of budget earbuds, fancy smart bulbs, and an emotional-support water bottle are all on sale before Prime Day. Shop now, and you'll avoid potential shipping delays.
These are the top early Prime Day deals under $25, should you want to get a head start on shopping.
Best deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore P30i $24.99 at AmazonThe Soundcore P30i earbuds fall well within a budget price but don't skimp out on features. As an early Prime Day treat, Amazon has them on sale for only $24.99 in select colorways, down from the list price of $49.99 at Soundcore.
According to Mashable's list of the best budget earbuds, the Soundcore P30i have the most impressive sound for an option under $50 (now under $25). "The active noise cancellation on them is impressive for their price, able to block out the bustle of busy streets or the noisy gym," wrote Mashable Shopping Reporters Bethany Allard and Samantha Mangino.
More deals under $25Govee LED Smart Light Bulbs (2 pack) — $19.99 $25.99 (save $6)
Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid — $23.95 $29.99 (save $6.04)
Owala FreeSip (24 ounces, off road) — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)
SAVE $5: The Shashibo sensory fidget toy is down to $19.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount off its $24.99 typical price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shashibo Shashibo Sensory Fidget Toy $19.99 at AmazonThe Shashibo sensory fidget toy is down to $19.99 at Amazon, which is its lowest price this year. That’s a small drop from its usual $24.99 price, but it’s still nice to see it sitting closer to the lower end of its range as early Prime Day deals start to roll in.
The shape-shifting cube is built around simple hands-on play that keeps your mind lightly engaged. It transforms into over 100 different shapes, so it never really stays in one form for long. Each movement leads into the next, making it easy to keep going without really thinking about it.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Beyond just something to pass time, it keeps your hands busy in a way that naturally gets you figuring out different shapes. Repeating patterns and snapping pieces into place uses memory and spatial thinking without feeling like a big effort.
It also fits easily into everyday use, whether on a desk, in a classroom, or at home between tasks. The built-in magnets let multiple cubes connect if you add more, opening up bigger structures to build.
Snag the Shashibo sensory fidget toy on Amazon and let your hands figure out the rest.
SAVE $270: As of June 18, the EF EcoFlow Delta 2 portable power station is on sale for $429 at Amazon. That’s 39% off its $699 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EF EcoFlow Delta 2 Portable Power Station $429 at AmazonThe EF EcoFlow Delta 2 portable power station is on sale for $429 at Amazon just ahead of Prime Day, a 39% discount off its $699 list price. It’s a solid drop for a 1,024Wh backup battery built to keep essentials running when the power goes out, or you’re off-grid. Portable power stations like this usually feel more relevant once you actually need it, not before.
The portable power station charges fast when plugged into a wall outlet, going from empty to 80% in about 50 minutes. That makes it easy to top up at home before a trip or keep it charged in case of a power outage.
SEE ALSO: These 9 early Prime Day outdoor deals will get you prepped for summerThe EF EcoFlow Delta 2 has a flexible setup depending on how much power you need. You can start with the main unit for everyday use and add extra batteries later if you want more capacity for longer trips or heavier use like RVs or off-grid stays. It’s built to last for years, with a long-life battery designed to handle repeated use without wearing out quickly.
You can recharge it in a few different ways, including a wall outlet or solar panels if you’re outdoors or off-grid. It also comes with basic accessories in the box, so you can get started without needing extra add-ons right away.
Catch the price dip on the EF EcoFlow Delta 2 portable power station at Amazon while it’s still live.
TL;DR: Get 5 years of flowkey Piano Learning for just $67.97 — the lowest price ever — and learn piano with interactive lessons, real-time feedback, and over 1,000 songs, with code SAVE15.
Opens in a new window Credit: Flowkey flowkey Piano Learning App: Classic Plan (5-Year Subscription) $67.99Five years of piano lessons for $67.97 sounds like a typo. It isn’t.
The flowkey Piano-Learning App Classic Plan is available for just $67.97 (reg. $899), making this the lowest price we’ve ever seen for the app. The math is hard to ignore: that’s $831.03 off the regular price for five full years of access.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Flowkey is designed to take someone from first notes to full songs using step-by-step lessons and real-time feedback. The app listens as you play, so you get instant corrections instead of guessing what went wrong.
It includes features like Wait Mode, which pauses progress until you hit the correct notes, as well as slow-motion playback, looping sections, and split-hand practice. You can also follow synced video performances alongside sheet music, which helps connect theory to actual playing.
The Classic Plan includes access to over 1,000 classical and public-domain pieces by composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Mozart, along with arrangements tailored to different skill levels.
There are also foundational courses covering music theory, chords, reading sheet music, and proper hand positioning. It’s structured to support both absolute beginners and returning players who want a refresher.
This fits beginners who want structured guidance without committing to in-person lessons, as well as intermediate players looking to rebuild or strengthen fundamentals. It also works across devices — including laptops, tablets, and phones — as long as you’re using a compatible keyboard or digital piano setup.
This learning app provides a low-risk way to build piano skills over time without recurring monthly costs or high lesson fees.
To learn a new skill and keep things simple, you’ll want structured lessons, interactive feedback, and long-term access with flowkey.
Get it today at its lowest price yet: $67.97 through June 28 at 11:59 p.m.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
When it comes to Amazon Prime Day, many gadgets go on sale well ahead of time. Select smart home devices, big-screen TVs, and even flagship headphones get deep price cuts in the days or weeks leading up to the event. (This year, it runs from June 23 to 26.) Shoppers can scoop up early-bird discounts on these products to avoid day-of chaos, including potential inventory issues.
Not laptops, though. This year's early Prime Day laptop deals are... not good.
I'm Mashable's resident expert on all things PCs, and having covered Prime Day for seven years now, I can tell you that Amazon doesn't release many laptop deals until the sale actually starts. I'm talking legitimately excellent laptop deals on popular models, not sketchy listings that come from third-party sellers or unfamiliar brands, which are annoyingly common on Amazon.
The good news is that your patience usually pays off. Lots of Apple MacBooks and Windows laptops will fall to their lowest prices of the year at some point during Prime Day. The bad news is that, well, waiting sucks. (Then again, so does paying too much for a big-ticket item that goes on sale mere days later. But I digress.)
Fortunately, I will be personally updating this page with the best Prime Day laptop deals once they go live, so keep following Mashable's coverage and check back on June 23.
SEE ALSO: Everything to know about Amazon Prime Day: Dates, competition, and the best early deals to shop already What laptops will go on sale during Prime Day 2026?While Amazon doesn't share the specifics of its Prime Day deals ahead of time, it has revealed some category-wide discounts that shoppers can expect to see during next week's sale. In the tech department, that includes savings of up to 35% on select laptops (and smartphones and tablets) from brands like HP, Lenovo, and Samsung. Keep that in mind, Team Windows.
On the MacBook side, I'd bet on seeing discounts of at least $200 on the M5 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, which would match their previous all-time lows. The budget MacBook Neo has yet to get a proper discount on Amazon since launching in March, but Prime Day would be a good excuse as any for Amazon to drop it by $50 or so. My fingers are criss-crossed.
For what it's worth, I wouldn't be too loyal to Amazon during Prime Day if stellar laptop steals and deals are your priority. Other major retailers will be hosting competing sales, including Best Buy, which is promising up to 50% off devices, including laptops, during its upcoming Tech Fest. Notably, Best Buy has a much better selection of Windows laptops and older MacBooks than Amazon. (This week, it's offering $400 off high-end configurations of the M4 MacBook Air.)
If you are planning to check out Amazon's Prime Day laptop deals, bookmark this page. Below, I've collected a list of the laptop discounts that would get me to click the "Buy Now" button if they appeared on Prime Day. All of the models I've included are ones that we've tested ourselves and recommend, so you can be sure the laptop you're getting isn't just a cheap one, but a great one.
MacBook deals I want to see during Prime DayApple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — now $589.99 $599 (save $9.01); new record low of $549?
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — now $949.99 $1,099 (save $149.01); previous all-time low was $899
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — now $1,149.99 $1,299 (save $149.01); previous all-time low was $1,099
Apple MacBook Air, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — now $1,549 $1,699 (save $150); previous all-time low was $1,499
Acer Aspire 16 AI (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — now $699.99; previous all-time low was $429.99
HP OmniBook 5 14 (Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — now $859.99; previous all-time low was $449.99
HP OmniBook 3 16 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — now $991.30 $1,099.99 (save $108.69); new record low of $949.99?
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 15-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — now $1,499.99 $2,099.99 (save $700); previous all-time low was $1,049.99
Acer Swift X 14 (Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 285H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — now $1,999.99; new record low of $1,799.99?
MSI Stealth 16 AI+ (Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, Nvidia Geforce RTX 5070Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — now $3,099.99; new record low of $2,799.99?
We will be regularly updating this guide with the best laptop deals, so keep checking back. You can also visit our Prime Day 2026 hub for all the latest updates and price drops.
It's frustrating when you can see a better game inside of a game you enjoy. Case in point: The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales.
Square Enix's latest in a series of smaller, throwback-oriented "HD-2D" games (using the same tech and art style as games like Octopath Traveler 0) is clearly intended to appeal to people who like the old-school Legend of Zelda games. It's also got a big infusion of Chrono Trigger and some elements of other RPGs like the venerable, criminally underrated Ys series.
Those are all things I love, so naturally, I was pretty excited for this one.
Unfortunately, Adventures of Elliot's best qualities aren't enough to overshadow how half-baked its structure feels. Between that and a lackluster story that takes entirely too long to reach its zenith, it's hard to call this one of the best 2D Zelda homages, though it's still pretty fun and worth your time if you're into this sort of thing.
SEE ALSO: 'Octopath Traveler 0' is a hefty investment that rewards your patience Adventures of Elliot's best moments feel like an arcade gameIn Adventures of Elliot, you play the eponymous adventurer. Elliot wears a cool hat. Elliot is a solid guy, known far and wide for being kind and reliable. I'd grab a beer with him if I could.
Some typical fantasy video game stuff happens in the game's first few hours, setting Elliot on a quest to save a princess. He's joined by an exceptionally talkative and annoying fairy named Faie. The two of them quickly gain the ability to travel through time, ultimately unlocking four different periods the player can freely explore.
Adventures of Elliot wears its Zelda inspiration on its sleeve. It's all about running around a relatively open-ended (but not very big) world, using a combination of Elliot's weapons and Faie's fairy powers to explore a cornucopia of caves and dungeons.
Faie's powers are one of the more novel aspects of the game, as you can control her separately with the right analog stick. The game will often ask you to direct her around obstacles that Elliot can't pass in order to light torches or carry items from one point to another.
This is one element of Adventures of Elliot that makes it stand out, and I appreciated it.
He's got swag, I can't lie. Credit: Square EnixI found it fun to ignore quest objectives and idly explore Elliot's world, largely because the simple and accessible real-time action combat is the highlight of this adventure. Elliot quickly unlocks six different weapons, including a sword, a spear, a bow, and a hammer, and he can equip himself with any two of them at the same time.
None of the weapons are all that complex on their own — but there's a cool upgrade system which allows you to add unique traits to each one, unlocking an admirable amount of versatility. By the end of the game, my bow could do the following things, all at once:
Home in on enemies with a charged shot
Bounce additional arrows between enemies after the initial hit
Light any enemies who had been hit on fire
Cause explosions every time an arrow hit an enemy who was on fire
Every weapon has a unique, cascading set of upgrades like this, and it rocks. There's also a simple, arcade-like combo meter that goes up when you get a kill and resets when you take damage (the higher the number, the better the loot you'll get from enemies).
In short, combat is fast, fun, and generally a great time.
This time travel story does little with its premise The only town on the world map is basically the only part that meaningfully changes from one period to the next. Credit: Square EnixSadly, good combat is pretty much all Adventures of Elliot has to offer. There is a story with lots of cutscenes and voice acting, but most of it is a particularly forgettable brand of corny and overly sentimental.
There are worse sins for a fun action RPG to commit than having uninteresting cutscenes, though. And I regret to inform that Adventures of Elliot has other skeletons in its closet.
The time travel mechanic adds next to nothing to the game, aside from padding. There are four versions of the world map set across the ages, a la Chrono Trigger, but they simply aren't different enough from one another. The volcano zone is always a volcano zone and the swamp area is always a swamp area.
There are plenty of optional caves and dungeons, but the most Adventures of Elliot has to offer, if you're thorough about exploring every cave in every time period, is an extra treasure chest or two.
Ultimately teh game fails to make good on its premise, both mechanically and narratively. The different stories in the different time periods fail to meaningfully interact with one another until very late in the game's plot. Adventures of Elliot has multiple endings, and the path to the true ending is the only time the game does anything compelling at all in this regard.
I'm fine with a game saving its best for last, but a 25-hour adventure that is only just OK for the first 20 hours doesn't feel particularly satisfying .
The fact that Adventures of Elliot is fun to play only serves to make the rest of it more disappointing. This really could have been a neat fusion of Zelda and Chrono Trigger, but it's merely a fair imitation of the former and doesn't even come close to reaching the heights of the latter.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales launches on June 18 for PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series consoles, and PC.
Get ready to say goodbye to some of Google's older smart home products.
The Nest MIni and Nest Audio smart speakers have been discontinued by the search engine giant, TechAdvisor reports. The former was a $35 entry-level smart speaker released in 2019, with the latter launching in 2019 as a $100 version that offered a larger form factor and better audio quality.
SEE ALSO: The new Google Home Speaker can run your house with Gemini for $99“As we continue to build the future of the smart home, we are refining our portfolio of Google Home and Nest devices," Google told TechAdvisor via a statement. "As part of this evolution, we have ended production of the Google Nest Mini and Google Nest Audio.”
Google also said it would continue supporting the Nest Mini and Nest Audio speakers via patches, security updates, and customer service.
Sunsetting products that launched more than five years ago is hardly unusual, and it's made all the more unsurprising by the fact that Google just unveiled a new, all-purpose $100 Google Home Speaker this week.
That device was made with Gemini AI interactions in mind, theoretically making it a more sophisticated and capable device. But if you want to keep using your old Nest speakers, you'll be fine — at least for a while.
TL;DR: Live stream USA vs. Australia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage games includes some really interesting matchups, including USA vs. Australia. Both teams are tied on three points after impressive victories over Paraguay and Turkey respectively. Can Australia shock the hosts? Or will USA secure qualification to the knockout rounds?
If you want to watch USA vs. Australia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is USA vs. Australia?USA vs. Australia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 19. This fixture takes place at the Seattle Stadium.
How to watch USA vs. Australia for freeUSA vs. Australia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream USA vs. Australia for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Watch USA vs. Australia for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream USA vs. Australia (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.
ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.
What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, 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 10 simultaneous connections
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.
Live stream USA vs. Australia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.
One of the biggest arguments at the 2026 World Cup isn't about football — it's about water.
Since the tournament began on June 11, every match has included mandatory 3-minute hydration breaks midway through each half. Referees stop play at a point of their choosing, players head to the sidelines, and in the U.S. some broadcasters cut to — you guessed it — commercials.
Those 3 minutes are worth real money. FIFA's broadcast rules give networks roughly two minutes and ten seconds of sellable airtime per half — enough for as many as 832 commercial slots across the tournament's 104 matches.
This inventory didn't exist at any previous World Cup. FIFA approved the monetization of breaks this past March.
That is a real change for a sport usually defined by its flow, not its ad breaks. Built-in pauses of this length seem much closer to the stop-start rhythm of American sports than that of traditional association football (a.k.a. soccer).
FIFA introduced the hydration break in 2025 as a player safety measure for a summer tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, where heat and humidity are often major concerns.
But because the breaks apply to every match, regardless of how warm it is, the weather, or whether a stadium has a roof or air conditioning, they have quickly become one of the tournament’s biggest talking points among players, coaches, and fans.
Complaints began right from the start of the finals. During the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, Fox aired full-screen commercials during the hydration breaks and returned late from one of them, causing viewers to miss the restart.
Social media has been full of anger at the hiatuses. On X, comedian Kevin Fredericks called the hydration break "pure capitalism." Musician Lloyd Cole said U.S. television had "finally got their 4 quarters," Former Daily Show host Trevor Noah judged the rule to be simply about "ad breaks."
IRL, fans are showing up the same way they are online: loud. Thousands have been booing hydration breaks during matches.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.There is also evidence that these breaks may be affecting the matches themselves. Fans point to Curaçao’s game against Germany, the most heated example.
Curaçao’s Livano Comenencia scored in the 21st minute to make it 1-1 against the four-time World Cup champions. Then came the hydration break — after which Germany regrouped and eventually won 7-1.
Former England striker Alan Shearer later saying on The Rest is Football podcast that he “felt sorry” for Curaçao — because the stoppage had killed their momentum.
There is data to support the breaks too. One study out of Northwestern found that one week into the tournament, teams were attempting more shots in the 10 minutes after hydration breaks than in the 10 minutes before them.
Norway, Brazil, Scotland, and Australia all scored shortly after breaks, including Erling Haaland’s opener for Norway against Iraq.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Not every viewer is experiencing the hydration breaks the same way. Telemundo, which holds Spanish-language broadcast rights in the U.S., made the opposite call to Fox before the tournament even started.
"We're going to be staying on the match feed," Telemundo senior vice president of sports content Miguel Lorenzo told Sports Business Journal ahead of the tournament. "Fans are going to be able to watch the players and the coach's interactions. Our goal is to create an authentic World Cup viewing experience."
During broadcasts, the network's commentary team has gone further. "This World Cup is ours," said one commentator during the Korea Republic vs. Czechia broadcast. "We're not taking a break from it."
U.K.-based commercial network ITV has also chosen not to air ads during hydration stoppage time — and its commentary team has pointed out the booing in stadiums during the breaks.
The split has driven a notable shift in viewing habits, with many English-speaking fans in the U.S. migrating to Telemundo's stream on Peacock even across the language barrier.
As the World Cup continues, the debate is likely to follow — whether or not FIFA wants everyone to cool down.
If the FIFA World Cup were a romantic comedy, Mexico and South Korea would be in the strangers-to-lovers arc.
Before their teams even met on the pitch, fans from both countries had already hit it off. In the streets of Guadalajara, supporters have broken into impromptu performances of "Gangnam Style," greeted one another with chants of "BTS," posed for photos together, and shared not only bottles of tequila but also videos of their celebrations across social media.
Which makes Thursday night's Group A matchup a little awkward. After all, every good romance needs conflict.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Mexico and South Korea enter the June 18 match with plenty at stake, but unlike most World Cup rivalries, this one comes with an unusual amount of affection. Eight years after South Korea's famous upset over Germany helped send Mexico to the knockout stage, fans from both countries have rekindled a friendship that has become one of the tournament's most unexpected storylines.
The relationship even has a slogan: "Coreano, hermano, ya eres Mexicano," which translates to "Korean brother, you're Mexican now."
And if the videos flooding TikTok, Instagram Reels, and X are any indication, plenty of fans seem to mean it.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. View this post on InstagramA post shared by David velazquez /El CHECHÉ (@elcheche_tj)
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Part of that affection can be traced back to the 2018 World Cup, when South Korea stunned Germany in the group stage. The result helped Mexico advance to the knockout rounds, turning Korean players into unlikely heroes among Mexican supporters. Mexican fans famously gathered outside the South Korean embassy in Mexico City to celebrate and even crowdfunded beer for Korean fans. Eight years later, the amity hasn't disappeared. If anything, social media has only strengthened it.
The relationship now extends well beyond football. Mexico has become one of the largest markets for Korean pop culture outside Asia, with K-pop acts regularly selling out arenas across the country. According to Spotify data, Mexico ranked fifth globally for K-pop listening in 2025. So when South Korean supporters arrived for the World Cup, many found themselves welcomed by fans who were already familiar with their music, food, and culture.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.That welcome wasn't just online. Earlier this month, hundreds of Mexican supporters greeted South Korea's national team when it arrived at its hotel in Guadalajara, a scene that quickly went viral on social media.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by FOX Soccer (@foxsoccer)
The affection has become so pronounced that some supporters have half-jokingly suggested the ideal result would be a draw, a way for both teams and both fanbases to walk away happy.
Of course, goodwill only goes so far once the whistle blows. For 90 minutes, at least, Mexico and South Korea will have to set aside their status as the World Cup's friendliest rivalry and do what every tournament demands: Try to beat each other.
As one fan told NPR ahead of the match, "Whoever wins, that's my team."
Most World Cup rivalries don't work that way.
Xbox's studio portfolio may look very different, very soon.
Earlier this week, reports suggested Microsoft's games division was in the process of closing or spinning off several of its subsidiary studios. Though no studio closures have been officially confirmed yet, some employees have posted on social media that they are looking for work.
Here is everything we know right now.
SEE ALSO: Xbox executives depart while Compulsion Games shuts down Every Xbox studio rumored to be closed or spun offPer Bloomberg, the focus is on three studios: Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory.
Compulsion is best known for South of Midnight, an action-adventure game based on southern U.S. folklore that won many accolades in 2025. PCMag called it "beautiful, unique, and tear-jerking," and it won a Peabody Award last year.
Compulsion was said to be closing and then to be negotiating with Microsoft for its future, according to Kotaku. Some Compulsion employees have said they are looking for work, but the studio hasn't officially shuttered or been spun off yet.
Double Fine is the most venerable of the three, having been around for more than 25 years. The San Francisco-based studio is best known for creative games with a focus on sharp comedy writing, like Brutal Legend, Psychonauts, and Costume Quest.
Double Fine's fate is murky at the moment; the only thing we've heard from the company is a single sweating face emoji posted to its social accounts earlier this week.
The third studio rumored to be closed or spun off is Ninja Theory, which has been around in some capacity for more than 25 years. Prior to becoming an Xbox subsidiary, Ninja Theory was best known for highly cinematic action games that made early use of performance capture technology — such as Heavenly Sword and Enslaved Odyssey to the West, both of which featured performances by Andy Serkis.
More recently, Ninja Theory has been focused on the Hellblade series. The third game in that series, Senua, was announced earlier in June.
Other unnamed studios are also said to be at risk. Insider Gaming's Mike Straw reported that Arkane, developers of the Dishonored series and the upcoming Marvel Blade game, is fearing for its future right now; we don't know anything beyond that.
Xbox's problems go back many years, but the current round of anxiety started when former executive Phil Spencer left, leading Microsoft to hire AI executive Asha Sharma to take over the Xbox business.
Sharma has tried to win the hearts and minds of fans by teasing the next Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, but Xbox's reputation is not in the best place right now.
Between possible studio closures, game cancelations, and a movement to boycott Xbox due to Microsoft's relationship with the Israeli military, many gamers have already decided they are done with the brand entirely.
The Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon is finally flying back for a third season and you need to get caught up on all things Targaryen. Mashable's Belen Edwards is here to catch us all up to speed, and in just under 2 minutes!
We'll re-introduce you to Rhaenyra Targaryen's Team Black and Alicent Hightower's Team Green and take you all the way up to the moments before Season 3's much anticipated return. Give this a quick viewing before the show aires on June 21st as there is much to catch up on.
Amazon Prime Day is just days away, but deals on the best earbuds are already Prime Day-worthy.
The four-day sale's June 23 start feels more of a formality when the AirPods Pro 3 drop to a new record low price not once, but twice ahead of the sale's start (at the time of writing, there's limited stock available at Walmart for just $169, shaving $80 off the $249 list price).
SEE ALSO: Amazon announces dates for a 4-day Prime Day sale in late June: Everything you need to knowOther notable buds, like the Sony XM6 earbuds, second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, and Nothing earbuds, are all on sale. Though many of these early deals are available to anyone, Prime member or not, some savings (like on the Nothing buds) are Prime exclusive.
Find all 16 of the best deals we rounded up ahead of Prime Day below.
Best noise-cancelling earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $169 at WalmartNote: While I was writing this story, this deal sold out at Walmart. I'm keeping it as a top pick for now in case it comes back in stock, but my alternative pick for the best noise-cancelling earbuds deal is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen).
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 dropped down to a record low price of $179 ahead of Prime Day, but now the price has dropped even lower before the sale's official start. According to the price tracker camelcamelcamel, the Pro 3 buds got down to $169 at Amazon, but at the time of writing, they're sold out. You can still find them at this record-low price and in stock at Walmart (making this the only non-Amazon deal to make our list), but the stock is low, so if you want to pick them up before Prime Day, you won't want to wait too long.
Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.
More noise-cancelling earbuds dealsCMF Buds Pro 2 — $37.05 $49 (save $11.95)
soundcore by Anker Space A40 — $54.99 $79.99 (save $25)
Nothing Ear (a) — $56 $79 (save $23)
Beats Studio Buds + — $99.95 $169.95 (save $70)
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE — $109.99 $149.99 (save $40)
Nothing Ear (3) — $128.25 $179 (save $50.75)
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — $199.95 $249.99 (save $50.04)
Technics EAH-AZ100 — $232.99 $299.99 (save $67)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) — $249 $299 (save $50)
Sony WF-1000XM6 — $298 $329.99 (save $31.90)
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 — $449 $499 (save $50)
The Sony LinkBuds Clip give the ultra-popular Bose Ultra Open earbuds a run for their money. In my head-to-head testing of the two pairs of earbuds, I found that while the Bose buds generally lean louder, the Sony earbuds have a more detailed sound profile, making for an overall superior listening experience. They also have a longer battery life, delivering nine hours per charge, where the Bose earbuds deliver seven. With both earbuds on sale, there's only a dollar price discrepancy between the two, but if you don't anticipate using these earbuds in many noisy situations, the Sony earbuds are likely the way to go.
Read our full review of the Sony LinkBuds Clip.
More open earbuds dealsEarFun Clip 2 — $63.99 $99.99 (save $36)
Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro — $149.99 $179.99 (save $30)
Bose Ultra Open — $199 $299 (save $100)
There was a time when appearing on Hot Ones felt like a novelty. Now, it's practically a rite of passage.
Over the last decade, Sean Evans and the team behind the hit YouTube interview series have transformed a simple idea — celebrities eating increasingly spicy wings while answering increasingly personal questions — into one of the most influential talk-show formats in entertainment. Long before Hollywood fully embraced creator-led programming, Hot Ones proved that a YouTube series could land A-list guests and command audiences on the same scale as many traditional television shows.
SEE ALSO: 19 best 'Hot Ones' episodes to binge-watchAlong the way, Hot Ones has become a must-stop destination on the modern press tour, and the show's influence is now so widespread that YouTube is once again submitting it for Emmy consideration. Today, Evans is not only the face of Hot Ones but also part of the ownership group that acquired First We Feast from BuzzFeed in 2024, giving the team control over one of YouTube's most successful franchises.
But behind the viral clips and ghost pepper-induced meltdowns is something more enduring: a creator-built show that has survived platform shifts, changing audience habits, and an increasingly crowded interview landscape.
Mashable spoke with Evans about how Hot Ones evolved from a scrappy internet experiment into a mainstream entertainment fixture, why consistency matters more than virality, what creators can learn from the show's longevity, and the behind-the-scenes chaos required to make sure a new episode arrives every Thursday.
Credit: Zooey Liao/Mashable/First We Feast There was a time when landing a major movie star on a YouTube show felt like a novelty. Now, creator-led interview shows are everywhere, and Hot Ones feels like a staple of the entertainment ecosystem. Was there a specific moment when you realized the relationship between Hollywood and internet shows had fundamentally changed?Sean Evans: When I first started, there were so few interview shows on the internet and almost no celebrity interview shows on the internet. Now there are a ton. Even podcasts back then weren't as guest-fueled as they are now, and now there are so many different kinds of celebrity talk shows and chat formats. That's been incredible to see.
There used to be a time when people would do the late-night couch, and then it would be this big event that they'd done this internet show, Hot Ones. Now the whole ecosystem is basically internet shows like Hot Ones. That's been kind of amazing to witness. As for paradigm-shifting moments, I look back on different tentpole episodes. Our first big episode was Key & Peele. Kevin Hart was a huge moment because that was a capital-A lister relatively early in the evolution of the show. Once we booked him, it shook a couple of other apples from the tree that maybe seemed unattainable.
The Charlize Theron episode was important because she was an A-list actress who was down to eat the wings of death. Then that opens up a whole new category of potential guests. Along the way, we've hit these different tentpole moments that have reshaped the show's trajectory. But overall, it's been kind of a snowball rolling down a hill, getting bigger and bigger. Or a wave getting bigger, and I'm just grabbing my surfboard and trying to hold on.
I know you said last year that Hot Ones deserves to be compared to traditional talk shows, and I totally agree. Do you feel like the industry has caught up to that idea, or are creator-led shows still fighting for legitimacy?I kind of get it both ways. Ultimately, the crusade that I'm on isn't really about Hot Ones. It's that a kid today with broadcasting aspirations probably doesn't dream about hosting The Tonight Show. Their dream is probably more like Kai Cenat or IShowSpeed, or building out their own YouTube channel, or ranking high on a podcast chart. The longer these shows deny that reality, the more absurd and arbitrary it becomes.
My goal has always been to make good episodes for our fans. When you think about the cultural penetration of a show like Hot Ones, the caliber of its guests, and the ratings — eyeballs to eyeballs — then yes, we are worthy of comparison and competition with these shows that have traditionally dominated these categories. But it's hard for me to bellyache about anything. My life is so charming, and I get to do this incredible job. I'm not going to cry about not getting a statue. Everything has been better than anything I ever could have dreamed for myself.
If I die on a hill, it's this: if you look at people who started as creators and are now directors turning million-dollar budgets into hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, the future is going to be new formats that are born on the internet. The next wave of great auteurs will start on the internet. These arbitrary lines in the sand are eventually going to blow away because they're denying what audiences are actually watching.
The cool thing about Hot Ones is that you've spent more than a decade building an audience that comes back week after week. What's the difference between creating a viral hit and creating something sustainable?I think we have a format that's very of-the-internet. But when I think about the ways I've been inspired, it's mostly by the classics. I grew up obsessed with Letterman, Conan, Howard Stern, and Jimmy Kimmel. My creative partner Chris Schonberger remembers Channel 4 in Britain — Alexa Chung and those cheeky celebrity chat shows.
We combined those influences into something that feels internet-native, even though it's celebrities eating scorching hot chicken wings. I think it's the combination of something novel and something familiar. We also straddle this unique position where we have one foot in the mainstream and one foot in the internet underground.
And then I think the watch experience is consistently good. Sure, there are duds, but there are more classics than duds. Hot Ones is like a diner burger. You have to eat that burger once a week, and you'll come back the next week, and the week after that. We don't tinker with the recipe every time burger sales dip. We don't reinvent the menu because some food trend pops up. We're pretty classic in our approach, and I think that's given us longevity.
So consistency is the secret sauce?Yeah. It's the same people making the same thing the same way over and over again because people like the taste of the burger. We're not going to outsmart ourselves.
Everybody knows the gimmick: the wings, the hot sauce. But there's a reason people keep coming back. What's something viewers underestimate about what goes into making a great Hot Ones episode?Hot Ones is kind of like a duck swimming. Above the water, it's graceful and frictionless. Underneath, the feet are going crazy. I basically live a lifestyle where I grab a carry-on, go to the airport, check into a hotel, do the shoot, go back to the airport, and then do it again in another city. Sometimes we have a season worked out, and a guest cancels 36 hours before we're supposed to shoot. Now we have to find another booking, or there won't be an episode on Thursday. Earlier this year, I literally flew to Italy to shoot with somebody, got there, found out they had to cancel, and then flew back home. No episode. Just flew to Italy for no reason.
The audience shouldn't feel that anxiety. We want to make escapism television. We want you to enjoy a stress-free 24 minutes. But there is a lot of stress that goes into creating that stress-free experience.
Did you at least get to enjoy Italy?I had a good pasta dinner. I was like, "I'm at least going to do that while I'm here." Otherwise, it was a sad trip.
I know you've said you can basically film Hot Ones anywhere. What's the most unconventional place you've ever turned into a Hot Ones set?The Charlize Theron episode stands out. She was doing a junket at the Beverly Hills Hotel, so we rented a suite, took the bed out, and hung the black curtains from the ceiling. I remember walking in and seeing sandbags and lights all over the floor and sheets hanging from the ceiling. It looked like a second grader's project. And I'm thinking, "We're about to shoot with an Oscar winner in here."
But that's the Hot Ones experience. You pop it up, put the wings out, do the best you can with the time you have, handle the chaos, then pack it all up and do it again. It's basically a circus roadshow.
Is it fair to say part of the show's success comes from your willingness to go wherever the guest is?When we can, absolutely. We're halfway through a season right now and already trying to line up dates for the next one. We're constantly trying to match guest availability with release schedules and make sure everything lines up. It's like a Rubik's Cube we're always solving. I think that's part of why we've punched above our weight class in terms of guests over the years. We want to make it the most comfortable, least comfortable interview show possible. We'll do what we have to do to get the episode. We'll hunt it down wherever it is. With the right opportunity, we'll absolutely jump on a plane. I probably do the L.A. to New York flight 50 times a year.
Do you have favorite moments that stand out — not necessarily the biggest or most viral moments, but the ones that mean the most to you?There are hundreds. I love the show. It's my baby. If somebody is new to Hot Ones, I always recommend Conan O'Brien, Gordon Ramsay, and Paul Rudd. Those are kind of exalted in the lore of the show. I love the Viola Davis episode. I love the Trick Daddy episode. Charlize Theron was important to our evolution.
This year, for awards consideration, we submitted the Kate McKinnon episode, and that one means a lot to me too. There are just so many that I could talk about endlessly.
I have to ask about BTS. I'm a fan, and I know they roll deep with a lot of staff. What did it take behind the scenes to pull that episode off?I always know we're shooting with a big guest when there's a security sweep beforehand. We'd never done an episode that big before. Seven guests are at the table, with only one member who speaks English. There were so many potential complications. But it went remarkably smoothly. I remember going into the green room, and they were super warm and excited to see me. They just had amazing vibes.
Even when there's a language barrier, there's a common understanding when you're eating scorching hot wings together. Jimin was like, "Come on wing, let's go wing!" and then I'm doing it too. You become bros through the experience. We had spent so much time thinking through every possible complication, and then it ended up being one of the smoothest shoots we've ever had.
SEE ALSO: Milk, tears, and Digimon: BTS' 'Hot Ones' episode was pure chaos Fans loved that episode.They're great fans, by the way. That's another rewarding thing about doing something like that — capturing a group in that moment where they're re-emerging and coming back out. They didn't do a ton of press, so I'm very grateful that they and their team thought Hot Ones was something the fans would love.
What have you learned about making people comfortable enough to reveal something genuine on camera?I've always been somebody who could sit at any lunch table in the cafeteria. I like hearing stories. I'm more interested in other people's stories than my own. And I think being a Midwesterner helps. There's a "don't rock the boat, make everybody feel comfortable" instinct. On the show, we try to reflect respect back to the guest. We do a thoughtful, career-spanning interview. That helps build trust. And then you're eating scorching hot wings. Your brain is flashing survival, survival, survival. You're not thinking about the PR talking points you walked in with. All of those things accelerate chemistry and rapport.
Plus, people have a really long leash on Hot Ones. You can cough, curse, blow your nose into a napkin. Where else can you do that? That permission structure makes people more willing to let loose.
Fans are really invested in your friendship with Keke Palmer. She's also a phenomenal host and interviewer. You've had her on Hot Ones, and you've been on her podcast. What do you appreciate about her as an interviewer?One thing we share is that we're both kind of throwbacks from another time. I talked about my influences earlier, and I think she's very much the same way. When people see us together, there's kind of this throwback late-night-show energy. But it's brought into a new era in a way that younger audiences seem to understand and really enjoy.
Whether you use sales to stock up on household essentials like dish soap or as a time to splurge on big items like a new 65-inch TV, the time is nigh because Prime Day 2026 is coming. If you're eager to start saving, we found all of the best early Prime Day deals, including a classic $99 AirPods deal.
Prime Day usually takes place in July, but this year, Amazon decided to shake things up and run the sale in June. So, if you haven't already heard the news (or seen the many TV commercials), Amazon Prime Day 2026 runs from June 23 to 26. The timing may have changed, but we're still expecting the same great savings on products from Apple, Sony, Dyson, Bose, Ninja, and Samsung.
Mashable shopping experts will be closely monitoring the latest discounts and collecting all of the best Prime Day deals into this shopping guide, so keep checking back for new deals. We're also tracking prices at competing sales from Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and beyond, and we'll make sure we're always pointing you to the lowest possible price.
Deals marked with a ✅ are Mashable editor favorites. Deals marked with a strikethrough are no longer available.
Best early Prime Day Apple deal Apple AirPods 4 ✅ $99 at AmazonLeading up to Prime Day, we're obviously hunting for the best Apple deals. A major AirPods deal just dropped, and it's a famous one. That's right — $99 AirPods are back at Amazon, where you can save $30 on the newest AirPods 4 earbuds.
Fair warning: We have seen these AirPods drop even lower in price (though, not since 2025), but we think a further price drop is unlikely given the wave of price increases we've seen in the tech world lately.
Apple Watch dealsApple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $219 $249 (save $30)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $299 $399 (save $100)
Apple AirPods 4 — $99 $129 (save $30) ✅
Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $179.99 $249 (save $69.01)
Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499 $549 (save $50)
Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi) — $299.99 $349 (save $49.01) ✅
Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro, 128GB, WiFi) — $474 $499 (save $25)
When the main event starts on June 23, we expect some of the best Prime Day deals of 2026 to include our favorite flagship headphones, such as the Sony 1000XM6 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. But leading up to it, those big brands still have lots of savings to give. Right now, the best deal on headphones is on the Sony WH-CH720N, an affordable pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. Normally $179.99, the WH-CH720N just dropped under $100 ahead of Prime Day. Snag them now for as low as $94 and save $85.99.
More headphone dealsSony WH-CH520 — $38 $69.99 (save $31.99)
Soundcore Space Q45 — $139.99 $149.99 (save $10)
Logitech G735 — $142.53 $259.99 (save $117.46)
Sennheiser Momentum 4 — $219.99 $299.99 (save $80)
Sony WH-1000XM5 — $278 $399.99 (save $121.99)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra — $329 $429 (save $100)
Sony WH-1000XM6 — $398 $459.99 (save $61.99)
Apple AirPods Max 2 — $499.99 $549 (save $49.01)
Soundcore V20i Open-Ear Headphones — $26.99 $49.99 (save $23)
Sony WF-C510 — $48 $69.99 (save $21.99)
Technics AZ100 Earbuds — $232.99 $299.99 (save $67) ✅
Echo prices dropped in the week leading up to Prime Day. The latest Echo devices, the Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio, both hit new, all-time low prices. But the biggest discount is on the Amazon Echo Spot, the smart alarm clock. This tiny speaker sits compactly on nightstands but provides everything you need to start your morning, including a weather report and tunes to get you out of bed.
Ahead of Prime Day, get the Amazon Echo Spot for just $44.99. That saves you $35 off its $79.99 price tag for a 44% discount.
More Echo dealsAmazon Echo Glow — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10)
Amazon Echo Dot — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15) ✅
Amazon Echo Dot Kids — $34.99 $59.99 (save $25) ✅
Amazon Echo Show 5 — $59.99 $89.99 (save $30)
Amazon Echo Dot Max — $64.99 $99.99 (save $35)
Amazon Echo Show 8 — $124.99 $179.99 (save $55)
Amazon Echo Show 11 — $149.99 $219.99 (save $70)
Amazon Echo Studio — $174.99 $219.99 (save $45)
Amazon Echo Show 21 — $319.99 $399.99 (save $80)
We're eagerly waiting for the best Prime Day Kindle deals. And having covered Prime Day for a long time, we know that Amazon always offers Kindle bundle deals in the weeks before a big sale. So, while we wait for our favorite Amazon e-readers to go on sale, this is your chance to score a discounted bundle, which comes with a Kindle, a cover, and a power adapter.
Kindle deals to watch:Amazon Kindle — $109.99
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite — $159.99
Whether you're hosting summer movie nights or dinner parties, if you want to upgrade your home's audio, early Prime Day deals are coming in clutch. The advanced Sonos Era 300 is equipped with Dolby Atmos and powered by six drivers for surround sound. Right now, grab it for just $379, saving you $100 off its $479 price tag.
More speaker dealsJBL Go 3 — $29.95 $39.95 (save $10)
JBL Go 4 — $39.95 $49.95 (save $10)
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 — $51.44 $99.99 (save $48.55) ✅
Ultimate Ears Miniroll Ultra — $59.99 $79.99 (save $20)
Sony ULT Field 1 — $88 $139.99 ($51.99)
Sonos Roam 2 — $134 $179 (save $45)
Sonos Beam Gen 2 — $369 $499 (save $130)
Sonos Move 2 — $399 $499 (save $100) ✅
Ready for summer adventures? If you're gearing up to pack the car and head into nature, don't forget to invest in a portable power station to keep your campsite powered. Plus, it can serve as an at-home power backup in an emergency.
Prime Day and Black Friday are the best times of year to buy these popular devices, and you can often find savings of 50% or more on Mashable-tested brands like Anker, Jackery, and Bluetti. If you're looking to buy your first-ever power station, an affordable new model from Bluetti is on sale ahead of Prime Day.
More portable power station dealsJackery Explorer 1000 — $429 $799 (save $350) ✅
Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 — $499.99 $799 (save $299.01) ✅
Bluetti Elite 200 V2 — $799 $1,070 (save $271)
Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station — $799.99 $1,499 (save $699.01)
Anker Solix F3800 Plus — $2,199.99 $2,699.99 (save $500)
Getting ready for the World Cup? If you want to watch every heart-racing moment in 4K and your TV isn't up to par, then look for Prime Day deals on award-winning OLED and Micro RGB TVs. Case in point: the Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV, on sale now. Normally $1,697.99, it's down to $1,397.99, saving you $300. That also means it's just $100 away from its lowest price ever. It's an exceptionally crisp TV with deep contrast and built-in AI.
More TV dealsGoogle TV Streamer — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Roku 65-inch QLED 4K Smart TV — $399.99 $449.99 (save $50)
TCL 75-inch T7 QLED 4K Google TV — $739.99 $899.99 (save $150)
Hisense 65-inch U7 ULED 4K Google TV — $947.99 $1,499.99 (save $552)
Mashable in-house vacuum expert Leah Stodart named the Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop the best affordable vacuum-and-mop combo. Despite its budget price, Stodart says it's the most heavy-duty robot mop you'll find, and delivers spotless cleans. Ahead of Prime Day, get the Eufy C28 for just $499.99. That's the vacuum's lowest price ever, and provides $300 in savings.
More robot vacuum dealsiRobot Roomba 105 Robot Vacuum — $248.98 $449.99 (save $201)
Dreame X50 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop — $899.99 $1,049.99 (save $150) ✅
Roborock Saros 10R Robot Vacuum and Mop — $999.99 $1,599.99 (save $600) ✅
Shark HV343AMZ Rocket Corded Stick Vacuum — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)
Shark IZ363HT Cordless Vacuum — $219.99 $349.99 (save $130)
Bissell PowerClean FurGuard Cordless Vacuum — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120)
Bissell Little Green Mini — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20) ✅
Shark StainStriker — $109.98 $139.99 (save $30.01)
Bissell Little Green Max Pet — $117.78 $159.99 (save $42.21)
Here's a summer hack to keep your house cool: Don't turn on the oven. That doesn't mean only eating cold salads all summer. What you really need is an air fryer. My air fryer has saved me countless times in the summer, letting me cook dinner without breaking a sweat. Ahead of Prime Day, grab the Cuisinart 2.6-Quart Air Fryer for just $59.95 and save $30.
More home dealsLevoit 36-inch Tower Fan — $54.95 $74.99 (save $20.04)
Dreo 36-inch Tower Fan — $69.96 $79.99 (save $10.03)
Lasko 42-inch Tower Fan — $75.64 $88.99 (save $13.35)
Ninja Blast Max Portable Blender — $69.95 $99.99 (save $30.04)
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker — $64.99 $109.99 (save $45)
Instant Pot 6-Quart Vortex Plus Air Fryer — $69.99 $149.99 (save $80)
Ninja Pod and Grounds Single Serve Coffee Maker — $99.98 $129.99 (save $30.01)
While novelty Lego sets are fun, there's something special about a set that gives you full creative control. The Lego Classic Large Brick Box has 790 pieces to build the neighborhood of your dreams. Just in time for summer break when kiddos need some entertainment, this box set is on sale for 44% off. Grab it now for under $30 ahead of Prime Day.
More Lego dealsLego Botanicals Happy Plants — $18.39 $22.99 (save $4.60)
Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid — $23.95 $29.99 (save $6.04)
Lego Botanicals Plum Blossom — $23.99 $29.99 (save $60)
Lego Creator 3-in-1 Colorful Hummingbird — $23.99 $29.99 (save $6)
Lego Botanicals Bonsai Tree — $39.98 $49.99 (save $10.01)
Lego Botanicals Tiny Plants — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)
Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant — $41.99 $59.99 (save $18)
Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon — $67.99 $84.99 (save $17)
Lego Art Mona Lisa — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle — $136.99 $169.99 (save $33)
Prime Day is no longer a single-day sales event at Amazon; it's a full-blown online shopping extravaganza. In 2026, Prime Day is not only four days long, but has also shifted to an earlier summer time slot. The official sale runs from June 23 through 26, but of course, deals have been popping up for weeks in the lead-up to the event.
BTW, Amazon isn't the only one with a sale at the end of June, either. The hype of Prime Day has inspired competing sales from other major retailers, including Walmart's Summer Deals event, Target Circle Deal Days, and Best Buy's Tech Fest. Needless to say, shopping this season can be pretty overwhelming.
SEE ALSO: 50+ Prime Day deals to shop nowWith an overall hunger for savings amidst inflation-concerned customers, deal shopping is of more interest than ever. And lucky for you, Mashable's shopping team knows a thing or two about finding the best deals. We've got you covered with all the shopping hacks and tips you should know for securing the best deals on Prime Day 2026 and beyond. You'll be shopping like a well-oiled machine in no time.
1. Plan your shopping wiselyIt should go without saying, but going into any shopping event without some sort of game plan is risky as hell. It's also a quick ticket to buyer's remorse.
Unlike Black Friday, when it's common to have a list of gifts you're looking for, Prime Day can be a tempting day to splurge on stuff you don't actually need. With a bunch of sparkly discounts at your fingertips, it's easy to get click-happy. Setting a budget for yourself can go a long way in preventing overspending. TL;DR: Just because something is on sale doesn't mean you have to buy it. We recommend building out a list of things you actually want or need in the days leading up to the sale and abiding by it (and your budget) religiously.
2. Organize your wishlistDo yourself a favor and get your wishlist in order before you jump into Prime Day shopping. It's our favorite Black Friday hack, but the same tip applies to Amazon's shopping holiday.
Every product page on the retail giant's website has an "add to list" button. Do this with all of the things (tech, everyday household supplies, books, kitchen gear, etc.) on your shopping list this season to organize everything, view it all at a glance, and even rank items based on priority. You'll be able to see which products have gone on sale and seamlessly scoop them up before they're gone.
3. Download the Amazon app (and any competitors you want to shop)Shopping from your phone? It'd be smart to download the Amazon mobile app if you haven't already. Beyond just making it easier to shop on the go, the app gives you access to exclusive app-only perks like wishlist alerts, personalized suggestions, and more. You'll even be able to see deals on recent items you've searched.
I also recommend downloading the apps of any competitors you want to shop — Walmart, Target, Best Buy — so you can compare prices in real time, no matter where you are.
4. Use Alexa for Shopping as your personal shopping expertAmazon has put a lot of effort into its Alexa for Shopping feature, so don't be afraid to utilize it. Available on the app, website, and Echo Show devices, Alexa for Shopping combines two of Amazon's secret weapons, Rufus and Alexa+, to create a personalized AI assistant for your shopping needs. You can ask Alexa for Shopping questions directly in the main search bar, create personalized shopping guides for big purchases, get insight on products and categories in search results, generate product comparisons if you're having a tough time deciding, and even view up to a full year of price history for specific items. You can also automate deal-finding, cart-building, and routine purchases if you desire.
If you have a newer Echo smart speaker, you can also turn on the exclusive advanced deal alerts feature (you'll find it under More > Settings > Notifications > Amazon Shopping) for deal recommendations and shopping recommendations. If you already made a wishlist, you'll get a pop-up alert or a yellow ring light on your Echo speaker whenever Alexa finds out about an upcoming deal on one of the items on your list. Alexa will even let you know if an item on your wishlist is going on sale up to 24 hours before the sale goes live, so you can plan accordingly.
5. Compare prices and check CamelCamelCamel like it's your jobSo technically, it actually is our job to find the best deals, but we'll let you in on a little secret. When shopping for deals at Amazon, we always reference CamelCamelCamel to see the historical data on the sale prices for a particular item. At a glance, it allows you to see just how good that deal is (or isn't). Even if you're shopping elsewhere, you can get an idea of a product's price history before purchasing. The creator of CamelCamelCamel also released a Walmart price tracking tool.
As I mentioned above, Alexa for Shopping also offers a full year of price history for specific items if you ask. If a deal seems too good to be true, that's usually because it is.
6. Bookmark Mashable's Prime Day hubMashable's Prime Day page is the hub for pretty much every deal you need to know about, with links to all of our coverage, like a massive master list of the best Prime Day 2026 deals, plus spotlights on standout deals, competitor sales at Walmart, Best Buy, and Target, as well as by categories like TVs, robot vacuums, streaming services, or headphones. This will save you from wasting time trying to skim websites on your own and getting overwhelmed. Literally, our job is to make your life easier.
We'll be updating all of these lists regularly before, during, and after the Prime Day shenanigans, so check back for all the latest and greatest deals that drop.
7. Sign up for Mashable Deals emailsIf you don't want to be glued to your screen, but still want to stay in the loop and score the best deals, we've got you covered. In the days leading up to and surrounding Prime Day, our regular newsletters will be filled with discounts you may want to hop on. Head over to our newsletters page and tick the box for the Mashable Deals emails. You'll be sent a quick rundown of deals we think you'll care about, like the best MacBook or Kindle deals to shop, which streaming services are on sale, or which robot vacuum is worth your money this Prime Day.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!SAVE $49: An annual Walmart+ membership is on sale for $49, down from the standard price of $98. That's a 50% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Walmart+ (Annual Membership) $49 at WalmartWe're just days away from Amazon Prime Day. This year, Amazon decided to move the sale to the end of June, which means all competing retailers did the same. We now have sales at Target, Best Buy, and Walmart on the schedule for next week. If Walmart is you go-to, check out this excellent pre-sale deal.
As of June 18, an annual Walmart+ membership is on sale for $49, marked down from the standard price of $98. That's a 50% discount that takes $49 off.
A Walmart+ membership gives you access to tons of perks when shopping. For starters, you'll get early access to Walmart's upcoming Summer Deals event to shop the best sales before they sell out. You also get free shipping and free delivery with no order minimum. Plus, you save up to $0.10 per gallon when refueling at any of the over 13,000 Walmart gas stations across the country.
SEE ALSO: Everything to know about Amazon Prime Day: Dates, competition, and the best early deals to shop alreadyTo score the discounted price on Walmart+, you'll need to be a new member or have an expired membership. Those who currently have a monthly Walmart+ membership are also eligible.
Before this deal vanishes, sign up for a year of access to Walmart+ for just $49. The benefits will be well worth the initial investment.
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