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As rumored for months, Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO. He will shift to an executive chair role on September 1st, 2026, when Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus will lead the company.

Hyundai has revealed the newest member of its electric family, the IONIQ 3. Unveiled in Milan, the fully electric compact hatch is designed specifically for the European market. While its larger siblings, the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, grabbed headlines for their retro-futurism and streamlined silhouettes, the IONIQ 3 introduces what Hyundai calls the Aero Hatch typology.

What are you in the mood to watch this week? That's always the big question, isn't it? With thousands of movie titles in its library, spanning from small indies to documentaries to big popcorn blockbusters, Paramount+ is a well seemingly without a bottom, especially when you consider its Originals and movies it licenses from other studios.

There's obviously a reason that the question "What do you want to watch tonight?" has become one of the conundrums of our time. The libraries of streaming services have gotten so huge and ever-changing, it's hard to keep up—and Netflix is the biggest of them all. But, sadly, more choice doesn't translate to an easier choice.

If it seems like products are usually cheaper on Amazon than at retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, and Chewy, that's no accident. According to a bombshell filing in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit from the state of California on Monday, each of those companies was a victim of Amazon's illegal price fixing.

Amazon, which topped Walmart to become the U.S.'s largest retailer in 2025, got there in part with a pattern of bullying and colluding, the filing says. In some cases it outlines in detail, merchants such as Levi Strauss and Allergan were told by Amazon to make products (such as khaki pants and eye drops) more expensive at Walmart.

SEE ALSO: Tired of Amazon Prime? Best Buy's annual membership is on sale for just $25

In other cases, Amazon leaned on rivals directly, as when it allegedly forced Home Depot to raise its fertilizer prices so Amazon would be cheaper. And in all cases, California appears to have brought receipts in the form of emails.

"The company is price fixing, colluding with vendors and other retailers to raise costs for Americans beyond what the market requires," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement. "Amazon is illegally working to rake ⁠in the profits by making sure consumers have nowhere else to turn to for lower prices."

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Amazon denies the charges and is vigorously contesting multiple price-fixing lawsuits. In its statement, the online retailer emphasized its "pride" in having the lowest prices across a broad range of products.

But if these emails are to be believed, Amazon's pride is the pride of a mob boss with mighty companies under their thumb.

"I'm really hoping we can show this as a proof case so we can resolve issues going forward," one Levi's employee wrote meekly to an Amazon executive, according to the filing. Amazon had expressed "concern" that Walmart was selling Levi's khakis for just over $25. Levi's then allegedly persuaded Walmart to raise the pants' prices by nearly $5.

Even if true, however, the wheels of justice are grinding slow on this one. Bonta's antitrust lawsuit was filed in 2022; a trial will not take place until January 2027 at the earliest. It remains to be seen if the bad publicity from this filing will have any effect on consumers, many of whom shrug and plan their next Amazon delivery regardless of price-fixing news.

FaceTime is a feature that has become almost as well-known as the iPhone itself. Android has simply never had an answer to it—except for the fact that they literally can answer FaceTime calls. This has been possible for five years, and you’re not alone in forgetting about it.

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the 2027 C-Class Electric, claiming this is the "sportiest" C-Class ever made.

The rumors of OnePlus scaling back its operations appear to be gathering momentum. A European business division head released a statement saying that the company is "evaluating its regional roadmap and product strategy." Support, software updates, and other promises are "fully guaranteed," the company leader adds.

Fuel efficiency remains one of the biggest priorities for budget-conscious buyers, but reaching 50 MPG or more often sounds like something reserved for expensive specialty hybrids. In 2026, that’s no longer the case. Several affordable hybrid models now deliver exceptional fuel economy while keeping purchase prices within reach for everyday drivers.

Apple's first foldable iPhone, unofficially dubbed the iPhone Fold, is expected to debut in September. Now new leaks show how the phone will likely differ from the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup.

Apple is several years late to the foldable smartphone market, but don't count Apple out based on speed. After all, the company was late to MP3 players and smartphones — and the iPod and iPhone were the results.

Leakers with decent track records are showing dummy cases for the iPhone Fold on X. And that gives us a clear sense of how this foldable will set itself apart from the competition.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

iPhone Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Design differences

Most flagship foldables have roughly the same width and length as a regular smartphone when folded, but earlier leaks suggest Apple has adopted a wider design.

You can see that in the latest photos of alleged iPhone Fold dummy units and cases, from @MajinBuofficia on X (via Android Authority).

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Meanwhile, Samsung seems set to introduce a new version of its flagship foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold Wide, that will have similar dimensions as the iPhone Fold. Recent leaks from Android Headlines show what the Fold Wide could look like. Still, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will likely retain a similar design and proportions as last year's Z Fold 7.

Square edges on last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Early photos of the Z Fold 8 lineup show phones with sharper corners, like the Z Fold 7, while Apple appears to be embracing more rounded edges.

Both phones are expected to be ultra-thin, with an unfolded width under 5 mm, just like the Z Fold 7.

Samsung and Apple foldables: Other key differences

Apple will reportedly place the volume buttons on the top edge of the iPhone Fold, with a power and Touch ID button expected along the right edge.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 unfolded. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable A hypothetical rendering of the iPhone Fold. Credit: Mashable

The iPhone Fold will be running iOS (presumably iOS 27), while the Galaxy foldables will be running the latest version of Android.

More importantly, the iPhone Fold appears to have only two rear cameras, while the Z Fold 8 is expected to have three rear cameras. Leaks of the Z Fold Wide show two cameras, matching the iPhone Fold.

The iPhone Fold could have one big advantage over the Galaxy Z Fold 8 — it will fit more easily in pockets.

In design, Apple's device sits somewhere between flip-style foldables and tablet-style foldables. Overall, it looks more like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which wasn't particularly well-received by our reviewer — or by the tech world at large.

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Againm we're mostly working from leaks and rumors at this point, and we don't know what we don't know. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a highly trusted name in this realm, recently reported that the iPhone Fold is on track for a 2026 launch, while the new Galaxy Z Fold smartphones are rumored to launch July 22.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

I don't know why, but I'm actively seeking shark movies. Last week, I recommended Thrash as the top Netflix thriller of the week. Is Thrash going to win an Oscar? Absolutely not. It's quite ridiculous, actually, but I had a blast watching sharks terrorize a coastal town. I needed an entertaining movie where I could turn my brain off. Thrash did that for me.

For book fans, book-to-screen adaptations can be a sore subject of changed endings and miscastings. But authors aren't as precious about them. In the final panel of BookCon 2026, authors Andy Weir (Project Hail Mary, The Martian), Emily St. John Mandel (Station Eleven), May Cobb (The Hunting Wives), and Robinne Lee (The Idea of You) were joined by moderator Jason Blitman (host and producer of the Gays Reading podcast) to discuss the the joys and limitations of bringing a book to the screen.

Cutting straight to the heart of the topic, Blitman kicked things off with the ultimate question: What makes a successful adaptation? Across the panel, there have been varied adaptations. Weir's Project Hail Mary and Cobb's The Hunting Wives had mostly faithful adaptations, while The Idea of You and Station Eleven are larger departures from the source material.

St. John Mandel answered regarding the adaptation of Station Eleven, saying, "They changed every single plot, but they did retain the spirit of the original."

Lee added, "How can I be true to what readers fell in love with and still create something that's going to appeal to a wider audience?"

A potentially surprising sentiment shared by all four authors is that, regardless of their involvement in the adaptations, there was a lack of preciousness toward the projects. That's not to be confused with enthusiasm, however, as everyone on the panel echoed wanting to be champions and cheerleaders for the adaptations.

Novels, television, and movies are such widely different media that change is inevitable in an adaptation, as Weir says, "There are things you can do in a visual medium that are very difficult to do in a narrative medium."

On screen, when you don't need to spend pages filling in interiority or describing scenes and settings, there's room to play and expand characters. Cobb found this to be true in The Hunting Wives as "The husband that takes out the trash is now running for governor."

Lee made the most apt analogy of the panel, saying, "You are going to look at your book as your baby, but you have to look at any adaptation as a kind of distant relative." She went on to say, "When you go to that adaptation, suddenly other people are taking it over, and people are owning those characters. People judging the film, to me, doesn't feel as personal. It doesn't feel like a judgment of my work."

While there's often an adversarial relationship between fans and adaptations of their favorite books, authors enter these projects with an open mind. "I feel like I'm almost like pathologically welcoming of changes in the adaptation process," said St. John Mandel.

Cobb, who first met The Hunting Wives producer, Rebecca Cutter, when she came to visit Texas, recalls driving through the back woods of East Texas. She said Cutter pitched Cobb on her vision for the TV show, describing how she wanted to change the ending, which Cobb met with excitement, saying, "Where were you when I was writing the book?"

In fact, Weir said in his book Artemis, which has been on the adaptation backburner for several years, that when there is movement on the project, he has a list of changes ready to go: "I have identified a bunch of problems in Artemis that I feel are places where the writing is weak. I'm gonna give the directors and the people who are pitching it to studios, I'm going to give a bullet point list of an alternate plot sequence for Artemis."

The panel was the final of BookCon, which returns in 2027 on April 10 and 11.

Blend yourself some midnight margaritas, because the Owens sisters are back!

SEE ALSO: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' trailer promises plenty of Star Wars-level action

The witches at the heart of 1998's Practical Magic return for a sequel almost 30 years in the making, directed by Susanne Bier and written by Akiva Goldsman and Georgia Pritchett. Practical Magic 2 is based on the final novel in Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic series, The Book of Magic.

Practical Magic 2 takes place 25 years after the first film. By this point, Sally and Gillian (Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) are still practicing magic in Massachusetts alongside their aunts Frances and Jet (Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest). They're also still cursed when it comes to matters of love.

Taking an even bigger role in Practical Magic 2 are Sally's daughters, played by Joey King and Maisie Williams. In the original film, the characters of Kylie and Antonia Owens were played by Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip. Wood confirmed she was not asked to return for the sequel, and that the role was being recast.

As Sally's daughters' begins to develop, ancient family secrets come to light that will force three generations of Owens sisters to fight back against their ancestral curse. Their journey will take them from Massachusetts to the United Kingdom.

The teaser trailer for Practical Magic 2 is full of Practical Magic greatest hits, including Harry Nilsson's song "Coconut," which plays during the midnight margaritas scene in the first film. It also introduces new characters, including Lee Pace as a new companion for Sally and Gillian's travels.

Practical Magic 2 hits theaters Sept. 11.

I love a good movie that strikes an inherent chord and leaves a long-lasting impact. The unforgettable ones tend to linger for quite a while, and when a movie does that, you know it’s done its job of inspiring insight, deeper understanding, and different perspectives.

SAVE $100: The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $899.99, down from the list price of $999.99. That's a 10% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow robot vacuum and mop $899.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $100   Get Deal

Mashable's resident vacuum expert Lead Stodart has tested over 25 models of robot vacuums that also mop. She hadn't written off robot vacuums that have a roller mop, but she was yet to be impressed by performance. However, the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 impressed, and lucky for us, it's on sale today.

As of April 20, the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $899.99, marked down from the usual price of $999.99. That's a 10% discount that takes $100 off the price.

In Stodart's testing of the new Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow, it did a damn fine job at every challenge she tossed its way. While it has 20,000Pa suction power, it picked up sprinkles off a deep carpet as efficiently as the 35,000Pa Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete. "Though the Dreame vacuum is significantly stronger with 35,000 Pa of suction power, I honestly think that the Curv 2 Flow did just as good a job — the pickup rate of both was almost perfect. When I got down on eye level to see if the Curv 2 Flow cleaned up crushed chips on my tufted living room rug, it was spotless aside from a single long hair," noted Stodart.

SEE ALSO: Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum review: The most insightful AI mess detection yet for a decent price

The roller mop was also impressive in its ability to clean corners, something that doesn't seem physically possible with a robot roller. "The roller sits in a sliding case that visibly extends an inch or two past the vacuum's circumference when an edge is sensed," according to Stodart. "The Curv 2 Flow has provided an extremely close scrub against walls, including the wall of my bathtub, where there are always tiny pieces of hair and kitty litter dust stuck in dried soap droplets."

While this powerful do-it-all model is sitting at a sale price, offload the task of cleaning the floors and enlist the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow robot vacuum and mop to handle the job.

Mesh Wi-Fi systems get recommended like a cure-all, and to be fair, they absolutely have their place. I use one myself because I need to cover both my house and a separate studio, and it's the only setup that makes that seamless. But that's a pretty specific scenario, and it's not how most people actually live or use their network.

It's hard to escape Timothée Chalamet in film these days. First, he was Wonka, then he conquered Bob Dylan, and now he's taking audiences into the high-stakes world of 1950s table tennis as ping pong star Marty Mauser.

The best streaming deals to watch 'Marty Supreme' at home: Best non-streaming option Buy or rent "Marty Supreme" on Prime Video $19.99 or $7.99 Shop Now Best for most people HBO Max (With Ads) $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Best ad-free option for most people Max Standard $184.99/year (save $36.89) Get Deal Best for students HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal Best way to watch for free HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $10.99/month) Get Deal Best bundle deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 42%) Get Deal Best for Verizon customers Netflix and HBO Max (with ads) $10/month for Verizon myPlan customers (save $8.98/month) Get Deal

Directed by Josh Safdie and distributed by A24, Marty Supreme was a major contender during awards season. Chalamet won the Golden Globe for his performance as Marty, and while he didn't take home the Oscar, the movie was a nine-time nominee, which is still something to brag about. Beyond Chalamet, the sports dramedy also has a fantastic ensemble cast that includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma (aka Tyler, the Creator), Abel Ferrara, and Fran Drescher.

After a lengthy wait, Marty Supreme is finally hitting the streaming circuit. Here's everything you need to know to catch it from your couch.

What is Marty Supreme about?

Inspired by the real-life story of table tennis champion Marty Reisman, Marty Mauser (Chalamet) is a man with a big dream — to achieve greatness and bring ping pong to the masses. Already a legend in his own mind, though he's barely scraping by, Marty just needs to pay his way to the championship overseas first. And he'll do anything to get there.

"Exploding with chaos, character, and kinetic energy, Marty Supreme is a movie about the city's scoundrels, their sins, and why we love them anyway," writes Mashable's entertainment editor Kristy Puchko.

Check out the official trailer for a glimpse at Marty Supreme:

Is Marty Supreme worth watching?

Now the highest-grossing A24 film domestically, Marty Supreme has surpassed Everything Everywhere All at Once in North America with over $80 million. Audiences didn't just show up for it; they loved it. Currently, the sports comedy holds an 82 percent audience rating and an impressive 93 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes — with most cheering on Chalamet's performance. He won the Golden Globe and was nominated for the Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar. That's not all, though; the film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Casting, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Screenplay.

"This zinging dialogue, racing score, and electric cast collide to create cinema that celebrates New York, while recognizing its warts with a bleeding grin. All of this makes Marty Supreme an unusual crowdpleaser," Mashable's Puchko writes in her review. "Full of wild humor and shocking turns, it has its audience in a chokehold of tension and surprise, rarely letting up for us to breathe. And yet, what a thrill to be breathless."

Check out Mashable's full review of Marty Supreme.

How to watch Marty Supreme at home Credit: A24

A24 released Marty Supreme on digital back on Feb. 10, so we've had quite a wait for its streaming debut. Now that it's finally arrived, we've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

Marty Supreme made its at-home debut at digital-on-demand retailers on Feb. 10. You can purchase the film for your digital library for $19.99 or rent it for only $7.99. If you choose to rent, you'll get access for 30 days, but just 48 hours once you start watching.

Quick links to buy/rent Marty Supreme on digital:

• Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $7.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99, rent for $7.99

• Google Play — buy for $19.99, rent for $7.99

• Prime Video — buy for $19.99, rent for $7.99

• YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent for $7.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Buy or rent 'Marty Supreme' at Prime Video $19.99 or $7.99 Shop Now Stream it on HBO Max

Marty Supreme will finally make its streaming debut on HBO Max on April 24, 2026. While it feels like a long wait, this is actually right on the money for A24 theatrical releases. Other recent A24 movies, like Sorry, Baby, Bring Her Back, and The Smashing Machine, followed the same theater-to-streaming trajectory. A24 just renewed its output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, so we can expect more A24 theatrical releases (Pillion, The Drama) to hit the streamer in the coming months.

HBO Max subscriptions start at $10.99 per month (thanks to its most recent price hike), but there are some ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

SEE ALSO: What does Netflix's purchase of Warner Bros. mean for theatrical releases? The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max annual subscriptions Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Basic with ads annual subscription $109.99 per year (save $21.89) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Standard annual subscription $184.99 per year (save $36.89) Get Deal

The best way to save on HBO Max on any given day is to sign up for the annual plan over the monthly plan. The HBO Max Basic plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year upfront, that price drops down to just $9.17. You'll pay $109.99 total for the year, which saves you about 16% compared to paying each month.

Rather go ad-free? The annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over their monthly counterparts. The Standard tier costs either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (about $15.42 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). Both tiers unlock ad-free viewing, but the Premium tier also adds 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Cricket HBO Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan Get Deal

Want to get HBO Max for free? One of the best ways in 2026 is to switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic with ads for free — a $10.99 per month value. When you open up the HBO Max app or website, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can watch Marty Supreme when it hits streaming by signing up for an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Verify your student status through UNiDAYS and retrieve the unique discount code to drop the price from $10.99 to just $5.49 per month. After 12 months, the price will jump back up to the full $10.99 monthly fee unless you cancel.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 42% off Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Hulu / Disney+ Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

You'll get the most bang for your buck if you opt for the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for just $19.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $34.97 per month if you paid separately for each, so you'll keep an extra $15 in your pocket monthly. If you prefer to watch without ads, the bundle will run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47. That's up to 42% in savings for unlimited access to all three streaming libraries.

Another great bundle deal: Save $9/month on HBO Max and Netflix (with ads) with Verizon MyPlan Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / HBO Max Netflix and HBO Max $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $8.98 per month) Get Deal

Verizon customers with myPlan can get both Netflix and HBO Max with ads for only $10 per month ($8.98/month in savings). An $18.98/month value, that essentially gets you Netflix Standard with ads for free. Eligible Verizon customers include those on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plans. After enrolling in the promo, you'll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Verizon's support page has all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs.

UPDATE: Apr. 20, 2026, 11:35 a.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest streaming information for "Marty Supreme."

When Apple revealed its colorful new budget laptop, the MacBook Neo, to the world earlier this year, I predicted Apple would sell millions of them. (Ten million, by some counts.)

Less than two months later, 9To5Mac reports that Apple has sold out its April supply of the MacBook Neo, with the $599 MacBook Neo backordered until May. While you can still find the MacBook Neo in stock at Amazon and Best Buy, rumor has it that after selling out its initial stock, Apple was forced to place rush orders with its manufacturers earlier this month.

The MacBook Neo has an unbeatable price for its feature set, and students and educators can get the laptop for just $499 by taking advantage of the Apple Store's education offer. (That might be why the laptop is backordered at Apple but still available elsewhere.) A version with Touch ID and 512GB of storage is available for $699, or $599 with education pricing.

As I explained in my MacBook Neo review, this laptop has no true competitor. Windows laptops and Chromebooks at that price point have much weaker displays, speakers, and overall specs — and that's before you factor in the Apple status symbol and cool factor as well.

So, if you can't get your hands on the MacBook Neo or prefer Windows, what should you buy instead? All of these MacBook Neo alternatives come with some tradeoffs, but they won't break your budget or slow you down too much.

Your best bet: Wait for more inventory

Honestly, unless you prefer Windows or need a gaming laptop, we recommend waiting until the MacBook Neo is available again at the Apple Store. And if you don't qualify for education pricing, you can still find the Neo in stock at Amazon and Best Buy, for now.

Apple MacBook Neo, 13 inches (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $589.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Apple MacBook Neo, 13 inches, Touch ID (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Best for Windows users: Windows 11 Ultimate College Bundle

Last week, Microsoft released a new savings offer for college students that seems designed to compete with MacBook Neo shoppers. Microsoft recently raised prices on its Microsoft Surface devices, and has no true competitor to the Neo. However, this offer does come with a lot of perks for students.

When you buy a Windows 11 laptop, the company will also give you one year of Microsoft 365 Premium, one year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and an Xbox Wireless Controller for free, a more than $500 value.

The offer includes popular cheap laptops like the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x and the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop. (See all offers at the Microsoft store.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x Copilot+ PC, 15.3 inchesSnapdragon X, 16GB Memory, 256GB SSD) $449.99 at Best Buy
$799.99 Save $350   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop, 15.6 inches (Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $999.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Best for AI users: Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514

Acer's popular Chromebook Plus Spin 514 will cost you more than the MacBook Neo, but it comes with 12 months of the Google One AI Premium plan, which includes 5TB of cloud storage. It's also a 2-in-1 convertible laptop with a touchscreen, so if offers more versatility than a MacBook. In terms of spec, you also get more RAM and a larger display, though you'll lost out on the MacBook Neo speakers and Retina display.

Again, if you had your heart set on the MacBook Neo, we'd recommend waiting until it's back in stock at Apple or shopping through Amazon in the meantime.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (MediaTek Kompanio Ultra, 12GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749
+12 months of the Google One AI Premium plan Get Deal

Also consider: The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, a Mashable Choice product available at Best Buy for $699.

Best Apple alternative: The M1 MacBook Air

In our performance tests, the new MacBook Neo's A18 Pro chip performed almost exactly like the original M1 chip on the Geekbench 6 benchmark test. The M1 MacBook Air was also one of the most award-winning laptops ever, and while it's no longer officially sold, you can still find it in stock at Walmart. However, you can grab it refurbished at Amazon and Best Buy for under $500, which is the most we'd pay for this old model.

The M1 chip is ancient compared to the new M5 chips, but it holds up surprisingly well given its age. There's a reason Apple silicon has been so disruptive in the laptop market.

Don't forget: Because this laptop is six years old, it won't be supported with updates for as long as a newly designed device.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13 inches (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) Refurbished models starting at $439 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13 inches (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $618.19 at Walmart
  Get Deal

Save $31.99: Take 10% off the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds at Amazon as of April 20. This brings them down to $298, instead of their list price of $329.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WF-1000XM6 $298 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $31.99   Get Deal

As a headphones reviewer, I get plenty experience testing out the latest and greatest audio has to offer. As a budget-buys lover, I don't always see the point of increasingly high price points.

Then, I tried the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds. At $329.99, these earbuds aren't cheap, sitting at an even higher price than Bose's flagship earbuds and the Technics EAH-AZ1000, another Mashable favorite. However, as of April 20, the Sony buds are down to a slightly better $298, marking a return to their lowest price ever.

Don't get me wrong — I get that $300 isn't exactly chump change. That said, I consider these earbuds an investment for anyone who wants the absolute best blend of sound, comfort, and noise cancellation. To be clear, I still think the Bose QC Ultra 2 buds lead the category on the comfort scale, but between the best noise cancellation and sound I've tried on a pair of earbuds, I get why these are priced the way they are.

SEE ALSO: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) vs. Sony WH-1000xM6: Which headphones should you buy?

As these are Sony buds, the companion app also offers great customization, with a 10-band equalizer for finding the sound that's just right. At eight hours per charge, their battery life is also competitive with other noise-cancelling favorites of Mashable's, like the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

I loved the XM6 earbuds when I first reviewed them earlier this year, and I continue to love them months later. Unless the audio space throws a real curveball, I imagine these will be one of the best releases of the year.

Most of Excel's functions and tools ignore the difference between capital and lowercase letters, which is fine until a case-sensitive ID breaks your workflow. The FIND function is a strict gatekeeper for your data, treating casing as a critical data point rather than a suggestion.