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The miniature record maker Tiny Vinyl has announced some tiny accessories for its pocket-sized singles, including a new Tiny Vinyl Player ($49.99), crate ($19.99), and display frame ($14.99). The lineup is available exclusively at Target starting today, July 12.

Tiny Vinyl debuted last August as a new way for music lovers to enjoy some of their favorite artists' singles in physical format. (For my fellow Millennials out there, they're basically a new take on HitClips.) Each four-inch, fully functional Tiny Vinyl record has one song per side and is numbered, making them highly collectible. The current Tiny Vinyl catalog features releases from several dozen artists, including BTS, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Kid Cudi, Noah Kahan, and Zara Larsson.

In a press release, Tiny Vinyl co-founder Neil Kohler said the company's new accessories are a direct response to fan requests. Co-founder Jesse Mann added: "These new products give music fans and collectors everything they need to build out their own little Tiny Vinyl universe, a setup as fun and personal as the music they love."

Hands-on with Tiny Vinyl's new player and accessories Tiny Viny's new accessories range in price from $15 to $50. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Tiny Vinyl records are playable on many standard turntables at 33 RPM, making the Tiny Vinyl Player an inessential novelty purchase for most adults who are already into the vinyl-collecting hobby. I think it has much more appeal as a "baby's first record player" that parents buy for their kids. My younger self would've had her American Girl Dolls DJing with it. (American Girl actually sells a toy turntable for the same price already, but it's not functional.)

The player is a manual belt-drive turntable in a box with a faux leather exterior. Inside, there's a small storage pocket, a simple control panel, and built-in speakers. It has Bluetooth support if you'd prefer to pair it with a nicer wireless speaker or headphones instead. You can also plug in a wired speaker on the back.

The storage pocket can comfortably fit about six Tiny Vinyl records — preferably, ones you're not precious about. When the player's lid is shut, it hits the corners of their gatefolds unless they're pushed to the back of the pocket.

They are, indeed, tiny vinyl. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The player's control panel features a power button, an audio output selector with an LED indicator light, and a volume slider. When it's on, its silicon platter doesn't start spinning until you unlock its plastic tonearm, raise it with its cue lever, and move it over the platter. The tonearm and its lock are a little delicate; those are the only parts I'd be worried about a child accidentally breaking.

Tiny Vinyl sent me three different mini-records to test on the player. It offers the kind of audio quality you'd expect for $50: pretty tinny, muffled, and a little distorted. (I also played the records on my regular turntable for comparison's sake, and they sounded 10 times better.) On the upside, I couldn't hear the player's interior mechanisms at all when it was on — it runs really quietly.

The Tiny Vinyl Player supports Bluetooth and wired speakers. (That blue indicator light means it's paired with my JBL Charge 5.) Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Tiny Vinyl Player comes with a USB cord and power adapter. A company representative told me that it should only be plugged into an outlet, as hooking it up to a laptop or another device with a USB port won't give it enough juice to work.

The Tiny Vinyl Storage Crate can hold up to 30 Tiny Vinyl records. It has the same pebbled pleather finish as the player and is designed to sit beneath it. There are four indents on its surface where the player's feet are supposed to go.

The Tiny Vinyl Storage Crate can hold up to 30 mini-records. (I only had three on hand.) Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Tiny Vinyl's new 2x2 Display Frame is meant to showcase your four favorite Tiny Vinyl covers. Its build quality is also on par for the price: It's made with MDF (medium-density fiberboard) and an acrylic pane. Right out of the box, my initial review unit was splitting in several spots and had dried adhesive on some of its corners. (Tiny Vinyl had a replacement in the mail at the time of writing, and I'll update this story if it's any different.)

The display frame comes with four clear plastic sleeves bearing the Tiny Vinyl logo. The company rep confirmed that these are made from polypropylene, which won't damage your records with off-gassing over time like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sleeves.

Vinyl is back in a not-tiny way Tiny Vinyl records work on many standard turntables. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The press release noted that Tiny Vinyl's inception was motivated by two recent trends: miniature collecting and vinyl collecting. The former gained popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, largely thanks to videos of miniature builds on social media. They tap into viewers' desire for control, fascination with craft, and penchant for the adorable, experts told NPR last spring.

The vinyl revival, meanwhile, has been brewing for nearly two decades now. According to a report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), U.S. vinyl sales have seen 19 years of consecutive growth. Last year, they hit $1 billion in revenue for the first time. (That's not even counting pre-owned vinyl.) Call it the Taylor Swift effect: The singer-songwriter's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, sold over 1.6 million copies on vinyl last year, per a report from Luminate, an entertainment industry analytics company. That's 5.5 times as many units as the second-bestselling vinyl release of 2025, Sabrina Carpenter's Man's Best Friend, which sold 292,000 copies.

There are several factors behind the vinyl resurgence, two being mere nostalgia and consumers' growing interest in owning physical media. Another is because popular artists like Swift (and their labels) are embracing the format alongside their fans.

In recent years, this has increasingly involved a strategy of releasing multiple vinyl variants of the same album as a means of driving sales, according to another Luminate report. These special, often limited-edition pressings boost the collectible factor and fuel fan FOMO. (For her part, Swift released 11 different vinyl variants of TLOAS, including nine webstore exclusives that were only available for a short time.) Tiny Vinyl records, which are chart-eligible with the RIAA and Billboard, are yet more variants to hunt down.

TL;DR: Lock in a lifetime of educational fun with this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $59.99 (reg. $250).

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Have you had a sip of hot coffee this summer break? If not, you might want to check out Pok Pok. It’s an educational app that offers a guilt-free screen option for kids ages 2-8, so you can get a little break when you need it.

Right now, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for only $59.99.

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Pok Pok is an award-winning app that gives busy parents everywhere a chance to cook dinner, answer some emails, or just enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning while their little ones enjoy some educational content. It takes a Montessori approach to learning, so kids can navigate it independently.

Montessori-inspired learning means there is no winning or losing and no rules, levels, or objectives. Kids can just open Pok Pok, tap a toy, and start exploring categories like space, dinosaurs, numbers, and shapes. This open-ended play setup can grow with your kids, so they can enjoy the app for years.

As your kids play, you can rest easy knowing the app was developed in collaboration with early childhood experts and designed to be calming and non-addictive, featuring hand-drawn animations and in-house-made sound effects.

Pok Pok is COPPA-certified, ad-free, and GDPR-compliant, so they won’t be tricked into making any purchases. A lifetime subscription also includes access to regular updates, so kids will always have something new to explore. This subscription also includes an exclusive surprise gift that will show up at your address.

Let your kids explore while you take a break thanks to this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $59.99.

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TL;DR: Get two gadgets in one with this ASUS Chromebook CM30, on sale now for only $144.97 (reg. $369.99) through July 19.

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$369.99 Save $225.02   Get Deal

If you’re in the market for a laptop and a tablet, you have a pretty steep price tag ahead of you. The ASUS Chromebook CM30 solves for that, giving you two devices in one thanks to a detachable keyboard.

Right now, you can bring home this multitasking device for less than you would pay for just one of those items — $144.97 — until July 19.

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The world asks a lot of us these days. Since we’re all used to multitasking, our devices should be able to do it too. This ASUS Chromebook CM30 is up to the task — offering an easy way to switch from a productivity laptop to a relaxation tablet in just a few seconds.

The ASUS Chromebook is a 2-in-1 device powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, delivering smooth, efficient performance. 8GB RAM and 128GB eMMC storage let you multitask, save files locally, and have enough room for your favorite apps.

The 10.5-inch touchscreen delivers crisp visuals and intuitive touch control and easily detaches from the keyboard to provide a sleeker user experience. There’s also a garaged stylus with fast-charging technology that lets you change things up when you’re tired of tapping.

This Chromebook arrives running Chrome OS, an efficient operating system for today’s busy world. There are also dual 5MP front and rear cameras for capturing images and hopping on video calls.

You’ll enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, and plenty of ports for your connectivity needs. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 help you connect anywhere, and you can rest easy taking this ASUS Chromebook along with you thanks to its military-grade aluminum chassis that offers rugged protection on the go.

You’re saving over $200 thanks to this model’s Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to zero scuffing on the case.

Bring home an ASUS Chromebook CM30 for just $144.97 today.

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TL;DR: Instead of paying for Microsoft 365 every month, get a Microsoft Office lifetime license while they’re on sale for $29.97. Sale ends July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $29.97
$219.99 Save $190.02   Get Deal

You might not want to keep paying for Microsoft 365 anymore. At its absolute cheapest, Microsoft 365 is $99.99 per year, and that’s if you pay for the full year up front, but it’s also not your only option anymore. Instead of paying for the same software year after year, now you can get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office installed directly onto your PC, and it’s only $29.97 (reg. $219.99) on sale.

You don’t have to pay a monthly fee to get the core Microsoft apps anymore.

This version of Microsoft Office comes with

• Word

• Excel

• PowerPoint

• Outlook

• Publisher

• Access

• OneNote

• Teams (free version)

Just keep in mind that Microsoft is ending support for Publisher in October, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use it. It just means it won’t be changing anymore, which may actually be a good thing if you like your apps to look the same tomorrow as they were yesterday.

This license is a little different from Microsoft 365. It doesn’t come with extras like cloud storage, or the new AI integrations, but for many users, that’s actually a good thing. The AI integrations are still being worked out, so sudden updates can totally change your workflow. If you want a simple, reliable set of tools to work with, this is an excellent option for a great price.

Through July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT, it’s only $29.97 to get a Microsoft Office lifetime license.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Every Grand Slam could make a claim for being the biggest tennis event on the schedule, but Wimbledon has something special.

Maybe it's the fast-paced tennis on lush green surfaces? Maybe it's the crisp white outfits? Or maybe it's the copious amounts of champagne and strawberries consumed by fans? Whatever the reason, Wimbledon is hard to beat. And now that we're into the latter stages of the tournament, the action really is heating up.

If you're interested in watching Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is Wimbledon?

Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It is the third of four Grand Slam tennis events each year.

The defending singles champions are Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek.

When is Wimbledon in 2026?

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships is the 139th edition of the tournament. This year's event takes place from June 29 to July 12.

How to watch Wimbledon 2026 for free

Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for Wimbledon, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of Wimbledon.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Wimbledon has been fun, sweaty, and shocking in 2026. We've been treated to some electric tennis, shock results, and top players delivering when it counts.

Sinner now faces off against Zverev in the final game of the tournament. Sinner is seeking his fifth Grand Slam title and his second at Wimbledon. Zverez is looking to build on his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2026 French Open. It's going to be a fascinating battle between two guys at the top of their game.

If you want to watch Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Sinner vs. Zverev?

Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final is set to take place at 4 p.m. BST on July 12.

How to watch Sinner vs. Zverev for free

Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Wimbledon final for free with ExpressVPN.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you know your state capitals.

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 July 10, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Fruit insides

• Green: Fruit-flavored

• Blue: Fun at college

• Purple: Capitals

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Reproductive Part of Fruit

• Green: Bit of Fruit-Flavored Candy

• Blue: Verbs in a College Life Slogan

• Purple: Starts of U.S. Capitals

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1127 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Reproductive Part of Fruit: PIP, PIT, SEED, STONE

• Bit of Fruit-Flavored Candy: DOT, NERD, RUNT, SPREE

• Verbs in a College Life Slogan: PARTY, REPEAT, SLEEP, STUDY

• Starts of U.S. Capitals: DEN, MAD, PHO, SAC

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 10, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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 are easy if you live in New York.

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 Mashable

By 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 July 10, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: "In the Big Apple"

The words are related to the big city.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things found in New York City.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Empire State.

NYT Strands word list for July 12

• Bagel

• Deli

• Taxi

• Subway

• Stoop

• Bodega

• Borough

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're a chatter.

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 July 11, 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 11, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Short, abrupt noises.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter C appears twice.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

CLACK

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.

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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch baseball.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports 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 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 before 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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: For the collection

• Green: Baseball strategy

• Blue: Take a break

• Purple: Sounds like a Celtic

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Award

• Green: Baseball Tactics

• Blue: Used During a Timeout

• Purple: Homophones of Celtics All-Time Greats

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #657 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Award: CUP, MEDAL, PLAQUE, TROPHY

• Baseball Tactics: DELAYED STEAL, HIT AND RUN, SACRIFICE, SQUEEZE

• Used During a Timeout: CHAIR, DRY ERASE BOARD, TOWEL, WATER BOTTLE

• Homophones of Celtics All-Time Greats: ALAN, BURRED, KOOZIE, PERISH

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

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The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

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Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 12 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 12 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (18): Everything in this space must add up to 18. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically; 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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