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We’re now in an era where fancy rendering techniques like ray tracing and even full path tracing tend to steal the show. I get it—they look incredible in screenshots, tech demos, and gameplay videos on high-end machines, but in practice, they bring even the most powerful systems to their knees.

Google changed how you interact with Android, ditching the old navigation bar for a new, edge-to-edge gesture system. The industry buzz was that buttons were an old, somewhat clunky feature, meant for replacement by the more fluid, intuitive motions of a swipe.

We’re living in an exciting time for cars. Even entry-level models now pack tech and features that used to be luxury-only.

One aspect of mobile gaming that has consistently lagged behind is controller support that actually works the way you want it to. It’s a maddening experience to find out that jump is on X, dodge is mapped to the wrong trigger, or when the game doesn’t let you change any of it. Fortunately, Google is finally addressing this pain point in Android 17 Beta 2, and it works exactly the way mobile gamers have wanted it.

If you've been holding on to an old Kindle device for over a decade, it's likely time to move on. An Amazon spokesperson has confirmed to The Verge that Kindle eReaders and Kindle Fire tablets released in 2012 and earlier will no longer have Kindle Store access to buy, borrow, or download books after May 20th, 2026.

With spring blooming, it's time for your Netflix watch list to get a well-deserved refresh. This April, the streaming platform is bringing a string of documentaries and docuseries that you can tune into.

What if you could reserve part of your PC's RAM for storage, giving you a blazing-fast disk that sweeps the floor with today's fastest SSDs, right where they tend to choke?

Power tools aren't like they used to be, but our ideas about them haven't changed. These old beliefs can detemine which tools you buy, how you use them, and what to expect. But those are just old workshop stories, and now it's time to ditch the misinformation because it's costing you money and time.

The Home Depot has resurrected its annual Halfway to Halloween sale. The home improvement retailer surprise-released a selection of its popular Halloween decorations on Wednesday, April 8, marking nearly six months until the spooky holiday.

The items went live on the Home Depot's website around 7 a.m. ET and are only available for purchase while supplies last. All of them have a limit of one per order.

The Home Depot's "Lethal Lily" witch animatronic has been upgraded with smart features for 2026. Credit: The Home Depot

This year's Halfway to Halloween drop includes 14 props — some new for 2026, some returning from previous years. Among them are a nine-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton; two undead horses; a menacing bunny animatronic; and a new app-controlled version of "Lethal Lily," a witch animatronic that the Home Depot last sold in 2023 and 2024. Here's the full list:

• 5-foot Grave & Bones Animated LED Hearse ($399), a carriage with a sound-activated skeleton driver and LED lanterns.

• 9-foot Grave & Bones Giant-Sized LED T-Rex ($399) with light-up eyes and a motion-activated roar.

• 7-foot Wicked Woods Animated LED App Controlled Lethal Lily ($299) with a customizable RGB lantern. Users can speak through the animatronic and record messages for it to play via the Decor Pro app.

• 8.5-foot Grave & Bones Giant-Sized Animated LED Knight Frostbane ($399), a light-up headless horseman.

• 6.5-foot Animated LED Maleficent ($279), an officially licensed animatronic of the Sleeping Beauty villain.

• 8.5-foot Grave & Bones Giant-Sized LED Undead Horse ($249), a rearing horse skeleton.

• 7-foot Wicked Woods Animated LED Horrifying Hops ($199), a fanged rabbit zombie that can lunge at trick-or-treaters.

• 4.5-foot Grave & Bones Animated LED Cabernet Casualty ($199), a blonde skeleton that pops up from a wine barrel.

• 4.5-foot Grave & Bones Color Changing LED Groundbreaker ($199), an oversized skeleton torso that's meant to look like it's bursting out of the earth.

• 6.5-foot Wicked Woods Animated LED Snarling Snowman ($199) with a glowing face and moving arms.

• 6-foot Halloween Classics Animated LED Neon Nightmare ($179), a scary clown with motion-activated audio and an outfit that glows under blacklight.

• 6-foot Halloween Classics Animated LED Checkmate Chuckles ($179), another motion-activated clown with a winding jack-in-the-box.

• 6.5-foot Wicked Woods LED Pumpkin Vine Creature ($129), a gnarled scarecrow-like monster with posable arms.

• 5.5-foot Grave & Bones LED Skeleton Pony ($129) with glowing red eyes.

Both of the clowns are at risk of selling out first: Less than 500 of them were available at the time of writing.

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A Home Depot representative told Mashable that all returning items are priced the same as they were originally. The updated Lethal Lily is only $50 more than her non-app-controlled predecessor.

Notably absent from the drop is "Skelly," the viral 12-foot-tall skeleton that the Home Depot has sold every year since 2020. Wannabe owners will just have to be patient: The company's rep confirmed that Skelly will return in stores and online later this year.

The Home Depot's Knight Frostbane animatronic stands 8.5 feet tall. Credit: The Home Depot The nine-foot T. Rex animatronic can roar at trick-or-treaters. Credit: The Home Depot

The Home Depot typically releases its full Halloween collection in mid-July, though last year it arrived in early August. The retailer previewed several new additions to its 2026 lineup on Instagram in mid-March, including a giant mummy, skeleton pirates, a decaying velociraptor, and an app-controlled version of Skelly.

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With this year's Halfway to Halloween sale, the Home Depot's seasonal programming has returned to its regular schedule. Mashable previously reported that the company canceled the sale last year amid fluctuating tariffs that threw the entire Halloween decor industry into uncertainty. The sale normally features a limited selection of brand-new items from the Home Depot's annual Halloween collection, serving as a teaser to its full summer drop. Its 2025 hiatus disappointed Skelly and friends' zealous fandom.

This year's Halfway to Halloween sale is happening just a little earlier than usual. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, it was scheduled for late April.

SAVE 43%: As of April 8, you can get the Soundcore by Anker Q20i for $39.99, down from $69.99, at Amazon. That's a 43% discount or $30 savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore by Anker Soundcore by Anker Q20i $39.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Dropping $300 on a pair of headphones is just something I won't do. I know a lot of other writers here would disagree, but there's really no reason to when there are budget-friendly options that'll do everything you need them to do for way less. (If you're an audiophile, look away.)

Right now, you can get the Soundcore by Anker Q20i hybrid active noise-cancelling headphones for just $39.99 — that's an insanely good price for a pair of top-notch headphones. (They have +59K reviews!) It's also just a couple of bucks more than its all-time low price of $37.99.

SEE ALSO: The 12 best headphones of 2026 — we tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

I mean, obviously, I'm not recommending you get headphones from a third-party seller, but Soundcore is one of our favorite budget-friendly brands. Mashable Shopping Reporter, Samantha Mangino, for example, just reviewed the Soundcore Space One and Space One Pro headphones, and she says they're comparable to the Bose QuietComfort lineup and look great on.

"When I first spotted them out in the wild, I thought they were a pair of Beats because they looked like the Studio Pros," she writes. "Turns out, the Soundcore and Beats logos just look remarkably similar."

While the Space One models Mangino tested are definitely solid deals, the Q20i is even cheaper. They also have three times the reviews, with most shoppers saying the battery life is nothing short of "impressive." You'll get up to 40 hours of playtime with active noise cancellation turned on, and just five minutes on the charger will get you an extra four hours of listening time.

You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get fun accessories for your Jeep. 3D printing is a great way to get fully custom gear to mount to your Jeep (or hang on your wall) for just pennies worth of plastic. Here are five fun things that you can 3D print for your Jeep.

GET A FREE CHARGER BLOCK: As of April 8, when you grab the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds at Amazon for $199.99, you can claim a free Anker Nano USB-C fast-charging block (a $19.99 value). Here's how.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds $199.99
$230.01 Save $30.02 + get a free Anker Nano USB-C fast-charging block Get Deal

Free stuff isn't easy to come by in 2026. Unless, of course, you know where to look. Amazon likes to hide free stuff in plain sight, like this Anker Nano charging block.

As of April 8, when you purchase a pair of Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds at Amazon for $199.99, you can claim a free Anker Nano USB-C fast-charging block. Once you add the Sleep A30 buds to your cart, head to this promotional page or click on "How to claim" underneath the Prime logo where it says "Get 1 free item when you buy 1 select item(s)." Since you've already added the earbuds to your cart, go ahead and tick the box for "Benefit items" on the left side of your screen (in the middle if you're on mobile). Then add the Anker Nano USB-C charger block to your cart. You'll see the savings reflected at checkout.

Obviously, that's a lot of money to spend just to get a free charging block. But if you're already shopping for a premium pair of sleep earbuds, you might as well take advantage of the free gift.

The Sleep A30 Special earbuds are our favorite amongst sleep earbuds. Not only do they offer active noise cancellation, but also decent battery life (8-10 hours with ANC), Calm app integration, and a design that's comfortable for side sleepers. Mashable's tester Bethany Allard writes, "They're certainly the best overall pick for anyone looking for sleep earbuds suited to most any sleep setting."

SAVE $150: As of April 8, get the Apple MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $949 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,099. That's a discount of 14% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $150   Get Deal

If you're shopping for a new laptop, there's an easy recommendation we can make: one of Apple's new MacBook Air models. Despite releasing nearly a month ago, this M5-equipped version of the laptop has dropped to the lowest price we've seen, which means it's time to pick one up.

As of April 8, get the Apple MacBook Air (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $949 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,099. That's $150 off and a discount of 14%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Regularly $999, score a MacBook Air for $200 with this limited-time deal

This M5 version of the popular M4 Air isn't leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor, but it's a great pick if you're ready to bring home a new computer. It's the perfect place to start with its expansive base storage, Apple's N1 wireless chip for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support, and of course, the M5 chip.

It's kitted out with all the niceties you'd expect from the M4 Air as well, including the 60Hz Liquid Retina display, 12MP Center Stage webcam, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a lengthy 18-hour battery life to work with. That makes it a great contender for all the things you might need to get done on the go.

If you want to snag this zippy MacBook Air for an excellent discount this early, now's the time to go ahead and buy in. Lock yours in before the discount disappears.

Most people check the weather on their iPhone or by asking a smart assistant. Recently, though, I’ve been using a new method: CarPlay. I like knowing what the weather will be when I leave my car, and with these three tips, I’ve found it to be especially convenient.

Despite the fact that the Artemis II astronauts have been sending back absolutely stunning photos and videos of the lunar surface, a never-before-seen solar eclipse, Earthrise, and Earthset, viral AI videos of the moon are also going viral.

As with any major news event, AI slop farmers are taking the opportunity to share misleading and fabricated AI videos of the Artemis II mission. And even some of the more obvious examples of fake AI videos are racking up millions of views on platforms like X and TikTok.

We've seen the same phenomenon occur with other recent news events, from lighthearted viral moments like Punch the monkey to much more serious events like the war in Iran.

SEE ALSO: Disinformation on U.S.-Iran war takes over the internet

AI video models have become much more sophisticated over the past year, and it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between fiction and reality online. However, careful observation can often identify clear tells that you're watching an AI video. In other cases, common sense can be your guide.

As the world watched the Artemis II lunar flyby, some social media users have been sharing fantastical AI videos and images depicting rocks rolling across the lunar surface or impossible geological formations. Other users are representing images of the lunar surface as if they were high-definition videos captured by the Orion spacecraft, dubbed Integrity by its crew.

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As ever, look for AI artifacts that suggest you're watching altered or synthetic content. AI videos also tend to be made up of very short clips, typically eight to 15 seconds in length. Finally, they will typically be posted by low-authority accounts with a history of posting AI slop and engagement bait.

Fortunately, the imagery sent back from Orion has been breathtaking.

So, if you're looking for never-before-seen glimpses of the lunar surface or planet Earth, all you have to do is bookmark the NASA image and video library — or keep an eye on Mashable's space coverage.

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Light Speed newsletter today.

Whether you're navigating a dark crawlspace or working under a vehicle, proper lighting is just as important as hand or power tools. Milwaukee is a fan favorite, but many users overlook its lighting solutions. Milwaukee LED lights use high-definition TRUEVIEW technology and deliver plenty of brightness in a durable package.

SAVE $600: The Dreame L50 Ultra robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $799.99, down from the list price of $1,399.99 at Dreame. That's a 43% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame L50 Ultra robot vacuum and mop $799.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $600   Get Deal

Welcome to pollen season. It happens to coincide with warmer weather that begs for throwing open the windows. That invitation for pollen to drift inside is not ideal if you have seasonal allergies. However, a powerful air purifier and robot vacuum might just mean you can have open windows without major allergies. Check out this robot vacuum and mop combo deal at Amazon today.

As of April 8, the Dreame L50 Ultra robot vacuum and mop is on sale at Amazon for $799.99, down from the list price of $1,399.99 at Dreame. That's a 43% discount that shaves $600 off the normal price.

Instead of worrying about pollen settling on the floors and in the carpet, enlist a robot vacuum to help clean up daily. The Dreame L50 Ultra uses 19,500Pa suction power to clean up dirt, dander, crumbs, and smaller particles like pollen. Plus, it comes with Dreame's obstacle avoidance technology which is programmed to avoid over 180 objects like cables, shoes, toys, and more.

SEE ALSO: The Eufy E25 robot vacuum has dropped to its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $400 right now

When it comes time to mop up messes, the Dreame uses TripleUp Tech which lifts the side and main brush while lowering the mop pads. Dreame mentions this ensures the vacuuming brushes stay dry. The PowerDock uses hot-water cleaning and drying to make sure the mop pads get clean between uses.

The Dreame L50 is also designed to handle higher thresholds and it's equipped with retractable legs that allow it to climb as high as 1.65 inches. That won't climb stairs, but it will ensure the robot can make it between rooms on the same floor.

While it's on sale for a major $600 discount, equip your home with the powerful and versatile Dreame L50 Ultra robot vacuum and mop. Both the white and black colorways are on sale for under $800.

You might just step into a robotaxi the next time you want to see a Dodgers or Lakers game. Uber and Volkswagen's MOIA mobility division have revealed that they'll offer rides in autonomous ID. Buzz electric vans in late 2026.

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 Pro for $0.00 per month at AT&T when you trade in an eligible device and sign up for a qualifying unlimited plan on a 36-month installment agreement.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 17 Pro $0 at AT&T
$1,099.99 Save $1,099.99   Get Deal

If you've been eyeing the new iPhone 17 Pro but your wallet is telling you to wait, we found a deal that might be good enough to change your mind.

Right now, you can get the brand-new Apple iPhone 17 Pro at AT&T for $0.00 per month. That's basically a $1,100 discount. But there's a small catch: You'll need to trade in an eligible device (worth at least $230) and sign up for a qualifying unlimited plan under a 36-month installment agreement.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: What are the differences?

Although this deal is probably more appealing to new customers, existing customers on the Unlimited Starter or Starter SL plan can still get up to $830 on the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max with a $130 or higher trade-in value. If you're tied to another carrier, AT&T will offer up to $800 per line to help you break your contract and switch over.