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Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.
Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.
While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 7, 2026 Dichotomy meaningA sharp division or contrast between two things that are completely different or opposed to each other.
Monologue meaningA long, uninterrupted speech delivered by a single person in a conversation, play, movie or show.
Tetracycline meaningA broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections and acne.
Trident meaningA three-pronged spear or instrument
Bank meaningA licensed financial institution that accepts public deposits and provides loans
Squirrel meaningA small-to-medium rodent with a long, bushy tail that typically climbs trees and eats nuts and seeds.
Stash meaningTo store, hide, or keep something safely.
Store meaningA supply of items kept for future use.
Choreography meaningThe art and process of designing, planning, and arranging specific steps, movements, and patterns for dances and stage performances
Musical meaningA stage and film production that tells a story through songs and dance.
Orchestrations meaningThe careful coordination of multiple separate elements or tasks to work together smoothly and achieve a specific goal.
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Play meaningTo perform an entertainment or a particular character.
Cinnamon meaningA warm, fragrant spice made from the dried inner bark of tropical evergreen trees.
Hamburger meaningA patty (typically beef) served inside two circular buns.
Hot dog meaningA cooked sausage served inside a long, sliced bun.
Sticky meaningMade of, covered with, or having the property of a substance that adheres to things that tou.
Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
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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.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a theater kid.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games 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 today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.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 Pips hints, answers for October 7, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Reserve
Green: Breaded
Blue: Alpha, Delta, Gamma
Purple: Theater recognition
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Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Save for later
Green: Kinds of buns
Blue: Greek numerical prefixes
Purple: Best ___ Tony Awards
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 #1213 is...
What is the answer to Connections todaySave for later: BANK, SQUIRREL, STASH, STORE
Kinds of buns: CINNAMON, HAMBURGER, HOT DOG, STICKY
Greek numerical prefixes: DICHOTOMY, MONOLOGUE, TETRACYCLINE, TRIDENT
Best ___ Tony Awards: CHOREOGRAPHY, MUSICAL, ORCHESTRATIONS, PLAY
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
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.
Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're vibrant.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 7, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Color for the cureThe words are related to bright hues
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe a vibrant color.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.
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NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Tickled Pink.
NYT Strands word list for October 7Shocking
Quartz
Flamingo
Tickled Pink
Barbie
Bubblegum
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 Strands.
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you always get to the bottom of it.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 7, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Verify.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.
The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
PROVE
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
Travel prices aren't what they used to be, but if you're still making it work, Prime Big Deal Days is a great opportunity to stock up on some essentials. From luggage that isn't missing a wheel to headphones that will get you to your destination without a headache, Prime Day is loaded with travel deals.
Check out some of our favorites below if you could use a refresh on travel gear that'll make both the travel and the trip itself much more enjoyable.
Best luggage deal Opens in a new window Credit: Travelpro Travelpro Maxlite Air V2 Carry-On $121.60Next time you're at the airport, check on the luggage brand every pilot and flight attendant is rolling behind them. It's likely Travelpro. Noting how often they travel, it's worth going with the same durable and reputable brand. Thankfully, Travelpro has a snazzy deal on offer during October Prime Day. The Maxlite Air V2 is made with a polycarbonate hard shell, and the case weighs under seven pounds but comes with a packing capacity of 46 liters. Plus, there's a two-inch expander for shopping while you're on vacation.
Best travel headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux ANC Headphones $39.80The price of travel is getting a bit much these days. If you're still prioritizing booking the tickets and taking the trip while cutting costs elsewhere, Prime Day has something great in store. The JLab JBuds Lux are on a major discount and they're some of Mashable's favorite headphones for flying. They don't squeeze around the head, and they're comfortable enough to wear on a flight that takes you across the ocean.
Best sleep earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Souncore Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $159.99Sleeping at home is hard enough, but sleeping in an unfamiliar hotel room is another story. Instead of suffering through nights of wondering what your neighbors are doing, sleep easy by packing along the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special sleep earbuds. These are specially designed to be comfortable enough to sleep with all night, and that's even true for side sleepers. As a bonus, they're excellent for using on the plane, and they'll come in handy at home, too. This is the lowest price we've ever seen on Mashable's favorite sleep earbuds.
Best travel water bottle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Larq LARQ PureVis 2 $109.65From the drinking fountain water at the airport that tastes like a swimming pool to questionable hotel tap water, it can be hard to chug down the ounces when the water tastes off. Pack along the Larq PureVis 2 with its filtering straw and UV-C self-cleaning, and you'll be taking clean water with you everywhere. The UV-C cleaning means you won't have to worry about a moldy water bottle after a week of traveling. The 23-ounce bottle keeps liquids cold for up to 24 hours, and there's an integrated app that helps you keep track of hydration.
More travel dealsLoop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs — $19.95 $24.95 (save $5)
Thule Clean Dirty Packing Cube — $21.70 $34.95 (save $13.25)
Anker Travel Power Strip — $33.99 $39.99 (save $6)
TP-Link Roam 6 AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router — $46.99 $55.99 (save $6)
UGREEN MagFlow Pro Liquid-Cooled Qi2 25W Magnetic Power Bank — $94.98 $149.99 (save $55.01)
Prime members only have 48 hours to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max were released to the public on Sept. 18, starting at $1,199 and $1,299. That's $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro models cost at launch, so a case that keeps the glass back and camera bump from cracking is worth picking up. You don't want to hear this thing go "bump" on the floor, that's for sure. So, for those who can't help dropping their phone, a case is almost mandatory.
Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, better known as October Prime Day, is going on right now, and we're tracking iPhone 18 Pro case discounts as they go live, including clear cases, MagSafe-compatible cases, and rugged cases with extra drop protection.
Thinking about securing some extra protection for your pricey new investment? These are the best iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max case deals available for October Prime Day right now.
Best iPhone 18 Pro case deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple iPhone 18 Pro TechWoven Case with MagSafe $50 at AmazonWant something official to cradle and protect your iPhone? This case's fabric is woven from 100 percent recycled polyester on a Jacquard loom, mixing multiple colored yarns for a textured look, with sides coated in lightly textured TPU so you get a better grip. The buttons are anodized aluminum, and two connection points let you attach Apple's Wrist Strap or Crossbody Strap when you want to carry the phone hands-free. Built-in magnets line up with the iPhone 18 Pro, so you can leave the case on and snap the phone onto a MagSafe charger or set it on a Qi2 or Qi charger. It's pretty classy, and it's straight from Apple, so it'll match your phone.
Best Rugged iPhone 18 Pro case deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon OtterBox iPhone 18 Pro Defender Series Case $42.98 at AmazonThe Defender Series Pro surrounds your phone with three layers: a silicone outer cover, a rigid inner shell, and a memory foam backing. Shock-absorbing corners and all-over texturing help it stay in your hand, and its port covers keep dust and pocket lint out. If you're worried about keeping your camera safe, it also features raised edges to guard the camera and screen. It even features built-in magnets for MagSafe accessories, a built-in Camera Control button, and anchors for clipping on a phone strap or charm.
Best Clear iPhone 18 Pro case deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Spigen Clear Case for iPhone18 Pro $12.47 at AmazonPrefer your cases clear and customizable? This clear case has a 5igid polycarbonate back with a flexible TPU bumper, and Spigen's Air Cushion Technology in the corners to absorb the impact if your phone ever hits the floor. Spigen also uses an anti-yellowing resin to keep the case from discoloring over time, while raised edges around the camera and screen keep both off flat surfaces.
Best Anti-Drop iPhone 18 Pro case deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Mous Limitless iPhone 18 Pro Case $59.99 at AmazonMous calls the Limitless its most protective iPhone 18 Pro case, with AiroShock material packed into reinforced corners to absorb and spread out energy from drops. It also has a rigid shell that resists flexing and twisting. Its camera control shield holds the buttons in place so they still register taps, swipes, and full presses, and the case is Qi2 certified with 38 built-in magnets for MagSafe chargers, mounts, and wallets.
More iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max case dealsMiracase Magnetic Case for iPhone 18 Pro — $17.59 $21.99 (save $4.40)
OtterBox iPhone 18 Pro Profile Series Case — $20.99 $29.99 (save $9)
OtterBox iPhone 18 Pro Figura Case — $27.99 $39.99 (save $12)
OtterBox iPhone 18 Pro Sole Series Phone Case — $41 $59.99 (save $18.99)
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Silicone Case with MagSafe — $41.50 $49 (save $7.50)
We're officially in the midst of the 48-hour Prime Big Deal Days mega sale and we've spotted tons of deals on Lego building sets — and they're not just at Amazon. While Lego isn't exactly known for being the cheapest of hobbies, there are plenty of sets on sale for less than $100. Heck, I even found over a dozen for less than $50. In Lego world, that's pretty dang cheap.
SEE ALSO: October Prime Day 2026 live: Updates on the latest deals on AirPods, Kindles, and Yeti coolersCheck out some of the best Prime Day Lego deals under $100 below, with a few of our top picks highlighted. While the majority of these deals hail from Amazon, I've included a few standouts from Walmart and Target as well — don't be afraid to shop around when it comes to finding the best Lego deals.
October Prime Day Lego deal under $50 Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Peace Lily $39.99 at AmazonBiggest discount to date, anyone? The Lego Botanicals Peace Lily graced shelves earlier this year and was immediately one of our favorites. A peace lily that won't poison your cat or droop is a gift that keeps on giving. Its 474 pieces build out to an array of lilies in three stages of bloom: two furled buds, two partially open, and two flowers in full bloom. It also includes a peach colored plant pot that doubles as floral decor that never dies. At $39.99, it's down $10 for October Prime Day, marking its lowest price yet.
More Lego deals under $50Lego Creator 3 in 1 Retro Telephone — $16.79 $29.99 (save $13.20)
Lego Wednesday Black Dahlia Flower — $18.99 $27.99 (save $9)
LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Record Player with Flowers — $20.99 $29.99 (save $9)
Lego Disney Piglet’s Birthday Fun — $27.99 $39.99 (save $12)
Lego NINJAGO Zane's Ice Dragon Battle — $27.99 $39.99 (save $12)
Lego Creator 3-in-1 Majestic Tiger Building Set — $34.99 $42.35 (save $7.36)
Lego Creator 3-in-1 Forest Animals: Gray Wolf — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)
Lego Jurassic World Velociraptor, Stegosaurus & Pteranodon Rescue — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)
Lego Disney Cruella De Vil’s Car — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)
Lego Technic Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica Orange — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)
Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)
Lego Marvel Advent Calendar 2026 — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)
Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar 2026 — $35 $44.99 (save $9.99)
Lego Classic Vibrant Creative Brick Box — $41.99 $59.99 (save $18)
Lego Harry Potter Thestral Family — $41.99 $69.99 (save $28)
Lego Disney Moana 2 Kakamora Barge — $42.69 $99.99 (save $57.30)
Lego Animal Crossing Blathers’s Museum Collection — $46.99 $79.99 (save $33)
Lego Star Wars Imperial Remnant AT-RT Driver Helmet — $48.99 $69.99 (save $21)
Lego's Project Hail Mary building set got its first-ever discount for Prime Big Deal Days, knocking the $99.99 price tag down to just $69.99. Its 830 pieces build out to a replica of the Hail Mary ship, docked on a display stand. There's a built-in crank that actually turns to simulate the ship's centrifugal gravity system. Plus, there are mini Ryland Grace and Rocky figures to complete the build. Mashable Contributor Hannah Hoolihan pieced the set together and now considers it one of her favorites on her shelf.
More Lego deals under $100Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Tantive IV — $50 $79.99 (save $29.99)
Lego DC Batman Logo — $60 $79.99 (save $19.99)
Lego Icons French Café Paris — $65 $79.99 (save $14.99)
Lego Minecraft The Enderman Tower — $67.19 $95.99 (save $28.80)
Lego Fortnite Klombo — $68.59 $97.99 (save $29.40)
Lego Super Mario Prince Florian & Castle Bowser — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)
Lego Star Wars SMART Play: Millennium Falcon — $79.95 $99.99 (save $20.04)
Lego The Phantom Menace Battle Droid with STAP — $83.99 $139.99 (save $56)
Lego Editions Soccer Ball — $98 $129.99 (save $31.99)
Lego Icons Golden Retriever — $98 $139.99 (save $41.99)
If you make it through winter with non-stop board game nights, October Prime Day has some epic deals in store. It's also smart to consider if anyone on your Christmas shopping list would enjoy a board game. I'm seeing excellent board game deals that I was desperately searching for during Black Friday 2025, but they never appeared.
Fair warning, however, that many of these options are at least 50% sold out. I don't expect most of them to last into the second day of Prime Day, especially the well-known titles. Start adding these to your cart and check out before they get snatched up.
Best overall board game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Days of Wonder Ticket to Ride $29.99 at AmazonWithout leaving the dining room table, travel across the country with Ticket to Ride, one of my favorite board games. It's designed for ages 8 and up, and it works well for two to five players. One round of Ticket to Ride takes between 30 minutes and an hour, and it's easy to pick up for beginners. I've played this dozens of times at family game night, and it never gets old.
More board game dealsCatan on the Road Card Game — $7.58 $9.99 (save $2.41)
Candy Land — $10.49 $14.16 (save $3.13)
Sushi Go! — $11.37 $14.50 (save $4.04)
Bananagrams — $11.95 $15.99 (save $4.04)
Jenga — $13.99 $19.99 (save $6)
Sushi Go Party! — $18.69 $21.99 (save $3.30)
Azul — $23.99 $39.99 (save $16)
Splendor — $23.99 $39.99 (save $16)
Dixit — $27.99 $44.99 (save $17)
Trekking The National Parks — $29.99 $49.95 (save $19.96)
Catan Board Game — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)
Cascadia Board Game — $37.45 $39.99 (save $2.54)
7 Wonders — $41.49 $59.99 (save $18.50)
Arcs — $48 $60 (save $12)
Viticulture Essential Edition — $52 $65 (save $13)
Wingspan — $55 $65 (save $10)
Everdell Standard Edition — $59.28 $75 (save $15.72)
Vantage — $85 $90 (save $15)
Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West — $88.49 $119.99 (save $31.50)
Slay The Spire: The Board Game — $114.99 $124.99 (save $10)
Prime members only have 48 hours to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.
Have your eye on a new Nintendo Switch 2 console? October's Amazon Prime Day, happening Oct. 6 and 7, is the perfect time to pick one up or build out your game library for less.
Playing on Nintendo hardware got more expensive this year when Nintendo raised the Switch 2's U.S. price from $449.99 to $499.99 on Sept. 1, citing rising memory costs tied to the ongoing memory crisis. Nintendo consoles rarely go on sale, so Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event is a good chance to pick up a console bundle, games, or even some Nintendo eShop credit for less.
Here are the best Nintendo Switch deals we've spotted for Prime Big Deal Days so far.
Best Prime Day Nintendo Switch 2 deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $549.99 at AmazonTrue, this isn't technically a Prime Day deal, since $549.99 is Nintendo's regular price for the bundle, but there aren't any other Amazon discounts on the Switch 2 itself right now, so the bundle is the best way to save some money on the console and get a game while you're at it.
It comes with a Switch 2 console, a digital code for Mario Kart World, and a three-month Nintendo Switch Online individual membership, so you can race other players online as soon as you're set up. The Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch 1080p screen that refreshes at up to 120Hz in handheld mode, and it outputs up to 4K when you dock it to a TV. Its Joy-Con 2 controllers snap on magnetically and can work like a mouse in supported games.
If you're ready to upgrade from your original Switch and want to get a little more bang for your buck, this is a great way to do so.
Best Prime Day Nintendo Switch 2 game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time $59.88 at AmazonNintendo rebuilt this 1998 Nintendo 64 adventure from the ground up for Switch 2, with overhauled visuals, voiced cutscenes, expanded dialogue, and a symphonic orchestral score, plus reworked camera and movement controls. Oh, and of course, there are faster load times. Link still travels between childhood and adulthood to stop Ganondorf, and now you can play his ocarina in-game by humming or playing a real instrument into the Switch 2's microphone. But most importantly, you can save on the game before it's out by preordering now.
Best Prime Day Nintendo Switch controller deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller $53.89 at AmazonYou don't have to use Joy-Con controllers to play every single Switch game, and in fact, there are some more comfortable, better options out there. This Ultimate 2 controller from 8BitDo works with the Switch 2, the original Switch, and PCs. It uses Nintendo's button layout, so A and B are in the same place. Plus, its TMR joysticks are designed to avoid stick drift, and you can flip the triggers between Hall effect and tactile modes depending on what you're playing.
Best Prime Day Nintendo eShop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon $10 Nintendo eShop Gift Card $8.98 at AmazonShaving a buck or two off of your Nintendo eShop purchases is always a good idea. Once you redeem the code from this eShop gift card, the $10 goes into your Nintendo Account balance, and you can spend it in the eShop on a Switch 2 or an original Switch game, downloadable content, or a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Since the money sits in your account rather than on a specific console, it follows you to any system you sign into with that account. A gift card also lets kids buy their own games without a credit card attached to the account, and it works with U.S. Nintendo Accounts. Buy a few and stack them, and you'll save a little cash on digital purchases.
More Prime Day Nintendo Switch dealsDragon Quest III HD-2D Remake — $23.74 $59.99 (save $36.25)
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds — $29.99 $69.99 (save $40)
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S — $29.19 $39.99 (save $10.80)
Assassin's Creed Shadows — $34.99 $59.99 (save $24)
Yakuza 0: Directors' Cut — $37 $49.99 (save $12.99)
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD — $53.88 $59.99 (save $6.11)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder — $54.39 $59.99 (save $5.60)
Metroid Ravenous — $59.88 $69.99 (save $10.11)
Pornhub is back in Australia — for certain users.
Aylo, Pornhub's parent company, blocked Pornhub from the country back in March due to an age-verification law that requires explicit websites to verify users' ages using personal data such as a facial scan and ID.
SEE ALSO: The UK is investigating Pornhub. Here's what Pornhub says about it.Aylo has responded to many of these laws, including most in the United States, by blocking Pornhub from those regions due to the burden of complying. Aylo has also stated that these laws don't work because anyone can use a VPN to circumvent them or visit noncompliant websites instead.
But now, in Australia, Pornhub will be accessible to iOS users who have confirmed their age through Apple's Australian age-verification process.
"With their recent Australian update, Apple set a benchmark by enabling child safety features automatically for users who have not verified that they are adults, ultimately, making every phone or tablet kid-safe as a starting point. As a result, today Aylo welcomes eligible age-confirmed Australian iOS users back to Pornhub," Pornhub's vice president of brand and community, Alex Kekesi, said in a statement shared with Mashable.
The child safety update first rolled out in March in the UK, and Pornhub allowed access there again as well after initially blocking access.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo could be the first devices that protect children by default, Kekesi continued. She praised Apple's new CEO, John Ternus, for making child safety Apple's "#1 priority."
The tube site urges Apple to expand these developments globally, and Google and Microsoft to implement the same solution as well, Kekesi continued.
"The technology exists. A precedent exists. The responsibility now lies with Apple and platforms, like ours, to pursue solutions that truly protect children across the entire internet," she said.
This is the latest time Pornhub and Aylo have advocated for device-level filters, which have long been the adult industry and free speech experts' preferred solution to minors accessing porn sites.
Device-level filters, such as the iOS update, put child locks on the device itself. Many laws in the U.S. and globally mandate platform-level filters, in which websites and apps implement their own filters. This results in privacy and safety concerns, experts have told Mashable, as visitors have to hand over their personal data to unknown handlers. It also forces them to verify their age with each visit. Filters on the device, however, occur once.
"This method protects minors without requiring adults to surrender unnecessary personal information to multiple apps and websites. It also avoids creating systems that are easily circumvented through tools like VPNs," Kekesi said.
In July, Pornhub sent a letter to U.S. lawmakers urging them to require Apple, Microsoft, and Google to enable device-level filters. It first sent a letter to the companies directly in Nov. 2025, calling on them to do it themselves.
SAVE $40: As of Oct. 6, the first day of Prime Big Deal Days, the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds are down to just $159.99. That's their lowest price on record and $40 off their list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $159.99 at AmazonWhether you have noisy neighbors or live on a busy street, loud environments can often prevent a good night's sleep. While earplugs are a solid option, they're not the only option in 2026. If you like to listen to white noise, calming tunes, or even podcasts to fall asleep, sleep earbuds are a better alternative — and the Soundcore Sleep A30 Specials are our top choice.
Now that Prime Big Deal Days has kicked off, you can pick up the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds for only $159.99. They're usually $199.99 at full price (as per the Soundcore website), so that's $40 or 20% in savings. That also happens to be their lowest price to date.
Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard tested the leading sleep earbuds on the market, and the Soundcore Sleep A30 Specials won by a landslide. Aside from their predecessor, they're the only sleep earbuds on the market with ANC. They also feature five different soundscapes to help you drift off to sleep, including AI audio brainwave, snore masking, white noise, Calm app sleep stories, and Calm app meditations. Within those soundscapes, there are also plenty of customization options.
The buds also track sleep data, have better battery life than the original Sleep A30s, and offer a slimmer profile than the Sleep A20s. And perhaps most importantly, they're comfortable for side sleepers, back sleepers, and belly sleepers, with plenty of wear options. As Allard puts it in her review, "The Sleep A30 Special earbuds aren't just better than their predecessors — they officially sit head and shoulders above all other available sleep earbuds."
Considering the competing Ozlo Sleepbuds 2's $279 price tag, the Sleep A30 Specials are a decent value at full price. But who can argue $40 off?
Amazon's October Prime Day is here, so naturally, all the competing sales are too, including Best Buy's Techtober sale.
Though Amazon's sale is 48 hours from Oct. 6 to 7, Best Buy's sale is a weeklong affair, from Oct. 5 to Oct. 11. That said, the retailer stipulated that sale prices are liable to change during the sale dates and that only limited quantities are available. In other words, don't count on a deal you like lasting all week long.
SEE ALSO: October Prime Day 2026 is here: Live updates on the latest deals on AirPods, Kindles, and Yeti coolersFor the most part, you will find the best deals at Amazon. However, we've rounded up all the deals that are matched with Amazon's prices, slightly better, or within a buck or two of Amazon's sale prices for anyone who simply prefers to shop at Best Buy. All told, these are 22 of our favorite deals from Best Buy's Techtober sale (so far):
Best Techtober deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation $119.99 at AmazonYes, the AirPods 5 are here, and yes, they are objectively the better Apple earbuds. However, with this deal, the AirPods 4 with ANC are officially the cheapest way to get noise cancellation and wireless charging from the AirPods line. And at the time of writing, they're completely sold out at Amazon.
Best Apple dealsApple AirPods Pro 3 — $179.99 $249 (save $69.01)
Apple AirPods Max 2 — $429 $549 (save $120)
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099 $1,299 (save $200)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 $1,499 (save $200)
JLab JBuds Lux ANC — $39.90 $84.99 (save $45.09)
Beats Studio Pro — $149.99 $299.99 (save $150)
Sony WH-1000XM5 — $198 $398 (save $200)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) — $369 $449 (save $80)
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)
Sony WF-1000XM6 — $259.99 $329.99 (save $70)
TCL 75-inch Class M8LF Series 4K Mini LED Smart TV — $629.99 $1,299.99 (save $670)
LG 65-inch Class C6 Series OLED evo AI Smart TV — $1,499.99 $2,699.99 (save $1,200)
Amazon Kindle — $103.99 $149.99 (save $46)
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature — $169.99 $249.99 (save $80)
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft — $189.99 $289.99 (save $100)
Amazon Fire TV Stick HD — $15.99 $39.99 (save $24)
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 (4-pack) — $49.40 $99.99 (save $50.59)
DJI Mic Mini — $79 $99 (save $20)
Acer Nitro 31.5-inch Curved Gaming Monitor — $179.99 $459.99 (save $280)
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo — $495 $549 (save $54)
New observations from the Gemini North telescope on Maunakea in Hawai‘i reveal the most detailed view yet of Pa 30, a supernova remnant about 7,500 light-years away. Its distinctive streaks of gas look like sparks shooting outward. But zoom in, and those seemingly smooth trails turn out to be chains of knots, resembling pearls on a string. And these are some very big pearls.
"The planetary region of our solar system could fit in each knot about 10 times with room to spare," astrophysicist Ilaria Caiazzo, an assistant professor at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria, said in a statement. "The knots are quite strikingly uniform. We are excited to try to model them."
The findings, from a team co-led by Caiazzo and astrophysicist Tim Cunningham, are published in The Astrophysical Journal.
An explosion with a medieval paper trailResearchers consider Pa 30 the likely remains of SN 1181, a supernova recorded by observers in Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic historical sources in 1181. It remained visible in the constellation Cassiopeia for 185 days.
But connecting those accounts to something astronomers could study today took centuries. Amateur astronomer Dana Patchick discovered Pa 30 in 2013 while examining data from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer as part of a citizen science effort. The object turned out to have an especially unusual resident: a surviving stellar remnant at its center, nicknamed a "zombie star."
Pa 30 is considered the only known remnant of a Type Iax supernova in the Milky Way. These are relatively low-energy, incomplete stellar explosions that can leave a surviving star behind. A standard Type Ia supernova, by comparison, destroys the exploding white dwarf.
The Gemini North telescope’s laser guide star beams up into the atmosphere. The laser guide star is used to measure turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere so the telescope can correct for it and achieve clear images of the night sky. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab What the new image revealsThe Gemini observations reveal roughly 10 times as many filamentary features as earlier images showed. They also expose the chains of gas knots that make up those filaments, giving researchers new clues about how the debris took shape.
According to NOIRLab, differences in temperature or density in the material surrounding the star may have helped shape the expanding ejecta. Exactly how those remarkably uniform knots formed remains a question for researchers to investigate.
The team also found that the surviving star sits almost exactly at the remnant’s center. An uneven explosion can give a surviving star a "kick," sending it away from the center. Pa 30’s configuration indicates that its star received no large sideways kick, offering another clue about the blast.
Researchers hope to use Pa 30’s distinctive features to help find similar remnants in our galaxy and nearby ones. For now, this medieval light show is still giving astronomers something new to look at.
Believe it or not, headphones don't have to cost hundreds of dollars. In fact, there are plenty of worthy options with budget-friendly price tags. And now that Prime Big Deal Days has arrived, those prices are even better.
Amazon's October Prime Day event is overflowing with deals on headphones, including Mashable editor favorites and award winners. But even at 40% off or more, some of the most popular picks might be over your budget. That's fine; we found 20+ other options that are under $100 and still pretty dang great.
For those ballin' on a budget, check out some of our top October Prime Day picks for headphones and earbuds deals under $100.
Best October Prime Day headphones deal under $100 Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux $39.80 at AmazonThey may not be the most well-known headphones on the market, but they deserve more credit. We named them the best budget headphones of 2026, thanks to their well-balanced sound, decent comfort, functional ANC, and killer battery life. And despite the price, they don't feel cheap. On any given day, they're less than $100, but for October Prime Day, they're *checks notes* under $40.
More headphones deals under $100JLab Go Lux ANC — $29.50 $52.99 (save $23.49)
Sony WH-CH520 — $33 $69.99 (save $36.99)
Soundcore Q20i — $37.97 $69.99 (save $32.02)
Soundcore Q31i — $69.99 $89.99 (save $20)
Sony WH-CH720N — $88 $179.99 (save $91.99)
Marshall Major V — $89.99 $129.99 (save $40)
Skullcandy Crusher EVO — $89.99 $209.99 (save $120)
Beats Solo 4 — $99.95 $199.95 (save $100)
Soundcore Space 2 — $99.99 $129.99 (save $30)
While its Amazon's time to shine on Prime Big Deal Days, Walmart's Fall Deals event is not to be slept on. The AirPods 4 are down to just $79 at Walmart, while Amazon no longer has them in stock now that the AirPods 5 have arrived. These entry-level Apple earbuds might not have noise-cancellation, but they're still pretty great. They're also 39% cheaper than the newer model announced last month. Mashable's Bethany Allard notes that while they're still $10 away from their record-low price, they likely won't be around long enough to see that discount. Stock is already low, so you want the most affordable AirPods on the market, we recommend grabbing them now.
More earbuds deals under $100JBL Vibe Beam — $27.95 $54.95 (save $27)
Soundcore P30i — $23.68 $49.99 (save $26.31)
JBL Endurance Race 2 — $49.95 $89.95 (save $40)
EarFun Air Pro 4 — $50.50 $79.99 (save $29.49)
Nothing Ear (a) Earbuds — $55 $79 (save $24)
JBL Soundgear Sense — $82.99 $164.95 (save $81.96)
Beats Studio Buds+ — $89.95 $169.95 (save $80)
Soundcore AeroClip — $94.99 $169.99 (save $75)
JBL Tour Pro 2 — $99.95 $249.95 (save $150)
Soundcore Sleep A20 — $99.99 $179.99 (save $80)
You don’t need to be a model to land a brand deal. You don’t need to step onstage to post a stand-up clip. And in the AI influencer business, the person attracting all that attention doesn’t even need to exist.
If you haven’t encountered one yet, an AI influencer is a character whose images or videos are created using artificial intelligence. A person or company gives it a face, a name, and a social media account, then posts as that character. It might appear to be a model, a lifestyle creator, or a stand-up comedian, with followers who can be directed toward brand promotions, products, or paid subscriptions.
The pitch is that you can do all this without getting in front of a camera. With tools that put AI characters into existing footage, you may not even need to film anything.
The people promoting the opportunity aren’t being especially subtle. "this is like ecom in 2016," one post declares, comparing it to an early opportunity in online retail. "these AI characters have gotten 100M+ views in only the last couple of days," he adds, "making them is SO easy it feels unfair." Another promises a "you can do it in 5min," ending with "hope you get millions of views with this one."
Credit: Screenshot: XA growing industry supports all of this, from AI platforms that generate faces and voices to agencies managing fictional talent and people selling courses on how to get started. Here's how AI influencers are made, how they make money, and why real creators are pushing back.
SEE ALSO: Seen an ad with an AI influencer or actor? It may be against the law. How do you make an AI creator?The tutorials circulating on social media break the process into a few steps. First, decide what your character looks like. Some recommend browsing Pinterest for inspiration and using ChatGPT or Claude to help develop the character. Next, make a "character sheet": a set of reference images showing the same fictional person from different angles. Those images give the video tool a guide to the character’s appearance.
Then, users bring those images into a tool such as Higgsfield’s Genjutsu, along with a video they want the character to appear in. Several promotional posts recommend downloading a viral video and keeping its movement, lighting, framing, and overall appearance while swapping out the performer. A sample prompt is:
"replace the person in @ video1 with the character from @ image1. keep the same motion, camera movement, color grading, lighting, framing, and overall video quality."
Another (seemingly sponsored) tutorial recommends using luxury lifestyle footage to make a character appear wealthy. "while everyone was busy making bizarre AI characters, this creator found a MUCH bigger angle. he made poor person look filthy RICH." The post added that "he grew this account to 280K+ followers in just two days posting multiple times a day."
Credit: Screenshot/Higgsfield AI Influencer StudioNot everyone suggests that users should take someone else’s video. "Shoot on your phone, Genjutsu does the production: wardrobe, set, grade," Higgsfield says on its website. In that approach, you film yourself performing the movements, then use the tool to transfer them to your fictional character. The platform's AI Influencer builder allows users to choose features including age, ethnicity, hairstyle, and body proportions. A similar platform, HeyGen, offers talking AI avatars — digital characters that appear to speak on camera — while ElevenLabs supplies AI-generated speech. Together, these services let an account’s operator create the appearance of a person who can pose, move, and talk, without that person existing at all.
Over the past few years, but especially in recent weeks, these sort of accounts have gone viral, particularly in the sketch and stand up comedy spaces. Popular creators include Abu Shalab, Leopold Delarue, Jean Phil, and Percival Ashcroft.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.The business extends into beauty, fashion, and fitness, too. Examples include imma, a Japanese virtual influencer featured in an SK-II skincare ad, Shudu, a digital model who appeared in Balmain’s "Virtual Army," Hazel Delarose, who posts dating and GRWM content, and Lil Miquela, whose fictional life has included starring in a BMW campaign (she also has 2.2 million followers).
Credit: Screenshot: Instagram/@hazeldelarose How does a fictional person make real money?An AI influencer can attract millions of views, but those views don’t come with a fixed paycheck. The person running the account can earn through platform payments, brand deals, or selling something to the audience.
On YouTube, the platform pays eligible creators a share of advertising revenue through its Partner Program; for Shorts, YouTube pools revenue from ads shown between clips and allocates money based on each creator’s share of eligible engaged views. AI-generated videos can qualify, but channels must join the program and meet its originality requirements. YouTube specifically lists "AI-generated content made with generic or unoriginal templates giving the impression of mass production without adding the creator’s original, authentic insights or perspective" as ineligible for monetization.
TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program, on the other hand, pays eligible creators for original, high-quality videos longer than one minute — but on that platform, along with Instagram, it's more likely that an AI clip could attract millions of views without earning anything. That's why, according to one post, "views alone pay little, the money is in what you put behind." That's why for some accounts, free videos are advertisements for paid subscriptions. Profile links send viewers to NSFW-subscription platforms like OnlyFans or Fanvue to purchase additional content. Fanvue, which explicitly welcomes AI creators, offers subscriptions, paid posts and messages, and tips.
Many of these influencers sell courses or guides on how to make this sort of content. For example, Aitana López, an AI fitness and lifestyle personality who has more than 400,000 Instagram followers and 1,000 YouTube subscribers, sells instructions to followers on how to create characters like her. Aitana’s Instagram links to AI community platform skool.com's AI Creator Aicademy, whose page promises: "Learn how to build, position, and monetize a profitable AI avatar through strategy, structure, and systems." The community lists a $9 monthly price and lessons on making AI content, developing advertising campaigns, and automating production.
Credit: Screenshot: Skool.com "AI stole my joke and outfit"A recent case of a viral AI comedian shows what can happen when that strategy relies on a real creator’s work.
"Tiffany Sloane," posting on Instagram as @tiffany.bbyx, has about 377,000 followers and 118 posts (as of Oct. 6). Its earliest post appeared on Sept. 11, less than a month ago. Since then, Tiffany's AI has appeared in generated sitcom episodes and stand-up clips. Videos get a range of 10,000 views to millions. The profile describes Tiffany as an actress and discloses that she is AI generated (a change that developed while writing this story). Its Instagram highlights link to Tiffany's OnlyFans page, with a bio that reads "19, and yeah, the body’s real." Who operates that page, and whether it features a real woman, remains unconfirmed, and the Instagram account's page has since been seemingly deactivated.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Of course, since Tiffany is not a real person, she also did not come up with the joke, or the mannerisms behind her character on stage. In an Oct. 4 Instagram video, comedian George Brett Olsen shared a side-by-side comparison showing himself and Tiffany wearing similar outfits, gestures, and telling the same joke. "AI stole my joke and outfit!" he declared.
"What’s crazy to me is you can’t report this. A bunch of people tried," Olson added. "This account has 300k followers, counting, and just full send stealing jokes from comics. What’s more, it’s scary that it’s either bots commenting, people who don’t know the difference or just don’t care. Also they screwed up my punchline."
A concerning aspect is how many people genuinely take the account seriously. Before all her videos were taken down, there were comments on posts like "she's the funniest!" and "When do you do live shows?" Though most people can see through the facade. "Ew. This thing gets follows for stealing jokes?? Who wants to see this?" Venture capital partner Justine Moore even posted on X that the tactic was a "genius marketing hack."
Other comedians have encountered the same problem as Olson. AI performer @aylenskye3000 delivered a joke by comedian Olivia Carter in a (now deleted) video about asking out her personal trainer — material the comedian had performed on Netflix and The Tonight Show. According to Carter, via Gizmodo, initially she couldn’t see one of the copied videos herself because the account had blocked her. Jokes by comedians Sarah Purdum and Julia Jasunas were also identified on the same bot account that connects to a Fanvue profile with close to 5,000 likes.
Purdum told Mashable she knew of one instance involving her own work, but that the comedy community had been discussing similar experiences, particularly among women. "It seems to be that female comedians work is being stolen and repurposed for sexy AI models," she said. "I feel annoyed that my work is being taken for the purpose of drawing in men, although I think the models could say anything and it would mean the same to a man that is there for unrealistic bodies."
Credit: Screenshots: TikTokPurdum has a point: The AI women in these vides have exaggerated breasts and hips, tiny waists, and practically painted-on clothing. Serving a sexualized image attracts attention that can be directed toward paid subscriptions on platforms — or just to get views. Along the way, they put real women up against bodies designed to grab eyeballs, potentially feeding insecurities about how women are supposed to look. Sara Ziff, founder and executive director of the Model Alliance, warned that using AI to create idealized people who don’t exist risks "narrowing our definition of beauty instead of broadening it," according to the New York Times.
"I would hope platforms would take down work that has been plagiarized," she added. Mashable has reached out to Instagram and TikTok for comments.
There are real agencies for fake peopleBeyond accounts repackaging viral videos, more and more companies are starting to build fictional personalities specifically for advertising and entertainment. Think of a talent agency where the agency also designs the talent. For example, The Clueless manages López, describing her as, "Born in Barcelona and 26 years old," with a "sporty style and a bold attitude." The fictional creator has appeared in an Amazon Black Friday campaign, and according to the agency, works with brands like L’Oréal and Coca-Cola.
Other companies have developed entire casts of fictional personalities. Inception Point AI’s roster has more than 100 characters covering subjects including gardening, cooking, and celebrity gossip, and are designed to host podcasts, appear in videos, and interact with followers.
As CEO Jeanine Wright told the Times in August, "As long as people like the content, we think they’ll accept that it comes from A.I.." Andreea Petrescu, who co-founded AI marketing agency Seraphinne Vallora, addded that: "With A.I., it’s like a clean slate: You can design it the way you want, she can be as gorgeous as you want, and she’s all yours."
"With A.I., it’s like a clean slate: You can design it the way you want, she can be as gorgeous as you want, and she’s all yours." - Andreea Petrescu, co-founder of AI marketing agency Seraphinne ValloraPlatforms have rules addressing parts of this. Fanvue permits AI content but prohibits deception and infringement of ownership rights, while OnlyFans requires it to clearly feature the verified creator and be identifiable as AI. Meta applies "AI info" labels, and TikTok introduced a similar AI-labeling tool back in 2023, and YouTube began rolling out its disclosure tool in 2024, with updates this past May. All of these require disclosures of realistic synthetic content, but a label doesn’t establish where the original performance came from or whether its creator agreed to its reuse in the first place.
TikTok prohibits certain synthetic depictions even when labeled, including likenesses of anyone under 18 and those of adult private individuals used without permission. In August, a source at TikTok told Mashable the company was testing certain AI tools like "AI Cast," which helps users create an "AI Self" that can appear in AI-generated videos. In response to various influencers and musician's content getting ripped off, the platform said, "We are testing strategies broadly to help protect AI likeness on the platform." YouTube, meanwhile, clarified in July 2025 that repetitive or mass-produced content cannot earn money through its Partner Program.
SEE ALSO: What happens when your AI self starts influencing without you?Getting noticed in an already crowded entertainment and influencer economy is hard enough. But in an ecosystem where a stranger can put a new face on your performance and use it to build their own following, creators are now also left competing with a version of their own work.
Mashable's reporters and editors are constantly testing the latest gaming gear, from headsets and controllers to handheld PCs and monitors. This year, upgrading a gaming PC has gotten a lot more expensive, with RAM and SSD prices climbing because of the ongoing memory crisis. If your rig's internals have to wait, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, better known as October Prime Day, has knocked down prices on the screen you play on, including several of Samsung's Odyssey gaming monitors.
Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days is officially live, running Oct. 6 to 7. We've covered this fall shopping event since its 2022 debut, and this year we're tracking Samsung's gaming monitor discounts as they drop. We've found several options across different price points to choose from if you're ready to dive in and give your gaming setup a leg up on the competition. With games like Grand Theft Auto VI on the horizon, there's no better time than now to give your gaming battlestation a bit of a boost.
Here are the best Samsung gaming monitor deals we've spotted for October Prime Day so far.
Best Samsung gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung 32" Odyssey OLED G8 $999.99 at AmazonNeed some seriously crisp visuals? The Odyssey OLED G8 pairs a 4K QD-OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, so you don't have to choose between sharp detail and smooth motion. Plus, its 0.03ms response time keeps fast action from smearing while you're trying to stay on top of the leaderboard. This premium-tier monitor also boasts a glare-free finish to cut down on reflections from lamps and windows, with an OLED Safeguard+ feature helps protect the panel from burn-in when static elements like HUDs and taskbars stay on screen for hours. If you're looking for a fantastic experience with your gaming monitor, this option should give you plenty of satisfying sessions.
Best mid-tier Samsung gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung 32" Odyssey OLED G7 $749.99 at AmazonThe Odyssey OLED G7 is no slouch when it comes to great visuals. It has a dual-mode panel, so you can play at 4K and 165Hz when you want a sharp picture in single-player games, then switch to 1080p at up to 330Hz for more fast-paced competitive rounds of games like Overwatch or Apex Legends. With a 0.03ms response time and support for both G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro, fast motion is free from screen tearing and looks the best it can. Plus, its DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification and Pantone-validated color means you get true-to-life hues. Raise, tilt, swivel, or pivot it on the included stand until it sits where you want it and get your game on.
Best budget Samsung gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung 27-Inch Odyssey G50D $209.99 at AmazonThis more wallet-friendly option pairs a 1440p resolution with a 180Hz refresh rate, which gives you sharper detail than a 1080p screen and smoother motion than a standard 60Hz or 144Hz monitor. It has a Fast IPS panel with a 1ms response time and 178-degree viewing angles. It even supports both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible to cut down on screen tearing, while VESA DisplayHDR 400 adds a contrast boost in HDR games. If you don't need the best of the best in terms of what money will get you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with going down this path with a budget gaming monitor that truly delivers.
More Samsung gaming monitor dealsSamsung 27" Odyssey G3 (G30D) Series FHD Gaming Monitor — $129.99 $229.99 (save $100)
Samsung 32" Odyssey (G55C) Series QHD 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor — $189.99 $329.99 (save $140)
Samsung 49" Odyssey (G93SC) Series QD-OLED Curved Gaming Monitor — $899.99 $1,599.99 (save $700)
OpenAI's ChatGPT can't seem to shake its plagiarism problem.
Amid an ongoing battle with authors and publishers over its text-based outputs and continued criticism that the chatbot's creative mind is ripping off human artists, the chatbot is under fire again. This time because of poor imitations of New Yorker cartoons, complete with signatures of real, paid artists.
Recent viral outputs shared on social media seem to show a repeated pattern of the chatbot adding fake signatures of prominent New Yorker staff cartoonists to its artificially-generated images, reported Nieman Lab.
SEE ALSO: OpenAI is adding an invisible watermark to AI-generated textChatGPT was able to generate the signatures of more than a dozen professional cartoonist and affix them to the fake images, often rendered in the signature style of the publication, Nieman Lab reported. The artists were not asked permission or provided compensation.
"I can see the DNA of my work in there, but it still doesn’t look like something I drew. It’s kind of like seeing a distant cousin," contributor Emily Flake told Nieman Lab.
The New Yorker signatures are likely the result of two factors: The ubiquity and popularity of New Yorker cartoons across the internet and internet-wide scraping that aims to siphon content for model training.
Many publishers, including Condé Nast, are now pushing Congress to enact federal laws that would prevent unlicensed bot scraping. In recent years, these same publishers have signed deals with AI companies to recoup revenue lost from previously unlicensed data grabs, including a 2024 partnership between publisher Condé Nast and OpenAI. Under the deal, OpenAI paid for use of content from Condé Nast brands, including New Yorker, Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, and Bon Appétit.
However, a New Yorker spokesperson clarified that the deal did not grant OpenAI permission to train its models on cartoons or use its logo and art in image generation. In addition, the publication clarified that contributing cartoonists retain copyright of their work.
In response to reports of potential plagiarism, an OpenAI spokesperson said: "We believe the future of creativity is one that is fundamentally human, and our focus is on building tools that empower human creativity and creators. We very much appreciate the community flagging bugs and unintended behavior by our models, so we can address them."
The chatbot now warns users of potential content violations when prompted to generate New Yorker-style images. It reads, "This prompt may violate our guardrails concerning similarity to third-party content." However, ChatGPT will still generate images in the style, including signatures, the publication reported.
Amazon's October Prime Day event kicked off in the wee hours of the morning on Oct. 6 with tons of deals begging for your attention. It's tough sorting through what's actually worth your hard-earned cash, so we've taken it upon ourselves to do that part for you.
Mashable's shopping team has been hunting deals in the weeks leading up to Prime Big Deal Days and now that it's officially begun, we've gathered our top 10 deals of the sale. If you're itching to knock out some early holiday shopping or simply have a "treat yourself" kind of week, but aren't sure what to buy, here are our picks for the best Prime Day deals so far.
The newest Apple Watch Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $349.99 at AmazonApple's latest flagship smartwatch is just a few weeks old, but it just got its first notable discount for Prime Day. What's new about the Series 12? More regular heart rate variability (HRV) readings, quicker charging, a faster processor, and a new Daily Readiness score. Unfortunately, the battery life is still the same at around 24 hours.
A limited-edition Yeti cooler Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler $243.75 at AmazonSpotting a Yeti cooler on sale is like finding a four-leaf clover: rare, but possible if you look hard enough. This gorgeous limited-edition ultramarine violet Tundra 45 hard cooler can squeeze in 26 cans with a 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio, can keep ice frozen for days, and is 25% off for Prime members. It's a bit hefty to tote around, but that heft is what makes it virtually indestructible.
A smart charging brick to match your phone Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nano Smart Display Charger $25.99 at AmazonAnker always drops some of the best Prime Day deals on its charging tech. This cute Nano USB-C wall charger is under $30 and comes in colorways that match your phone — including the new burgundy iPhone 18 Pro. It also has a sleek smart display that shows you the real-time charging status.
A speedy new MacBook Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 at AmazonThe M5 MacBook Air is Mashable's favorite MacBook for most people, thanks to its absurdly powerful M5 chip, sleek design, portability, and unrivaled performance for the price. Our laptop expert Haley Henschel calls it "the sweet spot in Apple's lineup." This $200 discount basically negates the price hike from earlier this year.
Noise-cancelling headphones that are actually comfortable Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Noise-Cancelling Headphones (1st Gen) $169 at AmazonWhether you have a long trip approaching or just need something to quiet the noise of your commute, Bose's QuietComfort headphones deliver all-day comfort and excellent noise cancellation. Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Sam Mangino said these are her all-time favorite headphones, even after testing a ton of other options.
A portable SSD that's virtually indestructible Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk Extreme 1TB Portable SSD $209.99 at AmazonDespite the global memory crisis causing steep increases to SSDs, this SanDisk Extreme 1BT Portable SSD is the cheapest it's ever been at $90 off. It's built to withstand practically anything, from spills to drops, and is ridiculously speedy compared to previous generations. Plus, it packs an entire terabyte of storage space.
A mid-range OLED TV for a budget-friendly price Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-Inch S90H OLED 4K TV $1,497.99 at AmazonIf an OLED TV has been on your wishlist, now's a great time to make the leap. The S90H is Samsung's mid-range OLED model from 2026, which is just a step down from our favorite OLED of the year. It packs superior contrast, a brightness increase from last year's model, an upgraded anti-reflection display, support for 4K at 165Hz, and gaming perks like NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. It's also down to its best price ever.
The latest AirPods Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at AmazonTime to replace your AirPods? You might as well grab the Pro 3's while they're just $10 away from their best-ever price. They're no longer the latest AirPods, but they are the latest Pro model, featuring a bunch of excellent features — Live Translation, heart rate sensing, adaptive noise cancellation, and three-dimensional spatial audio. They can even act as hearing aids.
A basic Kindle for just over $100 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle (2024) $103.99 at AmazonAmazon raised the prices of its Kindle models over the summer, then dropped a whole batch of new ones. None of the new editions are on sale for October Prime Day, but the basic Kindle from 2024 (the exact model I own) is on sale for just over $100. That knocks it back down below its price pre-increase. While it may not be the newest Kindle on the market, it remains the best e-reader on a budget.
The ultimate Dyson Airwrap dupe from Shark Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle 4-in-1 Air Styling & Drying System $199.99 at AmazonThe Shark FlexStyle is way more affordable than the Dyson Airwrap at full cost. Now it's even better at under $200. Mashable Lead Shopping Repoter Bethany Allard tested it and called it the best Airwrap dupe we've seen, even noting that it outperformed the original as a multi-styler.
Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale (aka October Prime Day) is in full swing. The 48-hour sale runs through Oct. 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT (that's 2:59 a.m. ET on Oct. 8), and there are literally millions of deals live on Amazon.
The Mashable shopping team has been busy sifting through Amazon to find the best October Prime Day deals that are actually worth your money. And trust us, we've been tracking prices and covering Amazon sales for almost a decade, so we know a good deal when we see one.
And look, we'll be the first to admit that shopping Amazon's sales can feel a little overwhelming. But think of us as your internet bestie helping you navigate it all. If you're not sure what to look for this Prime Big Deal Days, Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth is livestreaming around 6:30 this evening to talk about the products and deals backed by him and the rest of our team here.
Follow along on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to see all of our picks.
And check out our curated list of October Prime Day deals you can shop right now:
The best October Prime Day deals live now Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $349.99 at Amazon (save $49.01) Get Deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Amazon Kindle (2024) $103.99 at Amazon (save $46) Get Deal SanDisk Extreme 1TB Portable SSD $209.99 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal Bose QuietComfort Noise-Cancelling Headphones (1st Gen) $169 at Amazon (save $190.99) Get Deal Anker Nano Smart Display Charger $25.99 at Amazon (save $14) Get Deal
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