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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 September 25, 2026 Bougie meaning

Describes someone with expensive or luxurious taste.

Fancy meaning

Elaborate, decorative or expensive.

Posh meaning

Elegant, luxurious or expensive.

Swank meaning

Stylish, expensive and showy.

Aykroyd meaning

An Old-English last name.

Levy meaning

The legal imposition or collection of a tax, fee, fine or property seizure by a government or authority.

Rather meaning

An adverb meaning somewhat, to a certain degree or instead.

Savage meaning

Fierce, wild or uncivilized.

Escapement meaning

A mechanical device that regulates movement in steps.

Pendulum meaning

A weight suspended from a fixed point so that it can swing freely back and forth.

Ratchet meaning

A mechanical mechanism with a toothed wheel and catching piece that allows movement or rotation in one direction only.

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Spring meaning

A bent or spiraled piece of metal that returns to its original shape after being stretched out.

Border meaning

An outer edge, dividing line or a narrow strip of plants along a path.

Classy meaning

Stylish, elegant and having high standards.

Foamily meaning

In a foamy manner, or in a way that relates to foam.

Genius meaning

A rare, high level of skill or brilliance in fields like art, music, or science.

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.

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like the finer things in life.

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.

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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.

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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 September 25, 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: "Ooo la la!"

• Green: Tick tock

• Blue: Same names

• Purple: Classification

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Luxe

• Green: Parts of a mechanical clock

• Blue: Famous Dans

• Purple: Taxonomic ranks plus a letter

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 #1201 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Luxe: BOUGIE, FANCY, POSH, SWANK

• Parts of a mechanical clock: ESCAPEMENT, PENDULUM, RATCHET, SPRING

• Famous Dans: AYKROYD, LEVY, RATHER, SAVAGE

• Taxonomic ranks plus a letter: BORDER, CLASSY, FOAMILY, GENIUS

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 good at math.

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 September 25, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: 1X1, etc...

The words are related to math.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe numbers.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Square Numbers.

NYT Strands word list for September 25

• Four

• Nine

• Twenty five

• Square Numbers

• Thirty six

• Eighty one

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 love greenery.

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 September 25, 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 September 25, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A small group of trees.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No, 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 C.

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...

COPSE

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.

ESP32 boards can be incredibly cheap. They're so cheap that it's easy to fall into the habit of using a new board for each project that you build. Doing so may be wasting the capabilities of your ESP32s, which can handle more than one job at a time.

I never planned to explore the open-source Android world. It started with a simple thought: what would my phone look like if I stopped reaching for Google’s apps for everything?

Who would have thought that cheap microcontrollers would become such a booming business? The ESP32 is the culmination of years of enthusiasts making awesome stuff with single-board computers and microcontrollers like those from the Arduino family, and now you can buy a fistful of powerful ESP32s for very little money.

Netflix's U.S. movie chart seems like it's gone into full recruitment mode, with Guy Ritchie's WWII caper flick The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare perched atop the pile at No. 1 and Top Gun: Maverick on loan from Paramount sitting pretty in the third spot.

A full-sized 45L gaming desktop and a 32-inch 4K OLED monitor — that's been my go-to setup for a long time, and the one I always return to between reviews. With the Lenovo Yoga All-in-One i 32 Gen 11 Aura Edition (my goodness, what a name, Lenovo), I feel the desire to return to my trustworthy gaming desktop less than ever. This may be the hero All-in-One PCs should look up to.

TL;DR: As of Sept. 24, the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo espresso machine is available for $799.95 at Amazon. That's a $200 saving on the regular list price of $999.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Magnifica Duo Espresso Machine $799.95 at Amazon
$999.95 Save $200   Get Deal

Good quality coffee tastes good, but it doesn't come cheap. That's true whether you're buying just one cup on the go or a coffee machine. Of course, it makes sense to fork out for a coffee machine — it will save you money in the long run — but that initial cost of a machine can be enough to make most coffee lovers stop in their tracks.

Thankfully, October Prime Day is just around the corner, with the two-day event scheduled for Oct. 6-7 — a perfect opportunity to pick up a coffee machine deal and lots more discounts. In fact, there are some deals live ahead of the big event, such as 20% off the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo espresso machine.

As of Sept. 24, the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo espresso machine has been marked down to $799.95, which gives you a tasty saving of $200 from the regular list price of $999.95.

You'll certainly get your money's worth with this deal. It offers 20 different hot and cold drinks at the press of a button, including espresso, drip coffee, iced lattes, and cold brew. It also comes with a milk frother and an integrated conical burr grinder. It's super quick, which takes all the effort out of your morning brew (or indeed, a coffee at any time of the day).

Don't miss your chance to save $200 on the De'Longhi Magnifica Duo espresso machine ahead of October Prime Day. Now available for just $799.95.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Pro — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

TL;DR: Get AskAnyModel AI Pro for life for $39.99 and access 50+ AI models, compare up to six responses at once, and generate unlimited AI images across supported models.

Opens in a new window Credit: AskAnyModel AskAnyModel AI Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$499 Save $459.01   Get Deal

Having a favorite AI model is fine — and is actually pretty common. Keeping GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and a handful of others scattered across separate tabs is where things get messy. AskAnyModel AI Pro is now on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $499) for lifetime access, bringing 50+ AI models into one cloud-based workspace.

Its standout feature is side-by-side comparison. Pick two to six models, type your prompt once, and AskAnyModel sends it to all of them simultaneously. Responses appear together with response times and token counts, making it easier to compare different approaches without repeatedly copying and pasting prompts.

The model library includes 30 standard models with unlimited chats, including options from Mistral, Llama, DeepSeek, Gemma, Qwen, and others. There’s also a Pro Gemini model with Google Search grounding, limited to 300 chats per week.

For flagship models, you get 500 monthly premium credits to use across 19 options, including GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek Pro, Perplexity Search, and Mistral Large. So, importantly, lifetime access doesn’t mean unlimited use of every model.

AskAnyModel isn’t restricted to text, either. You can generate unlimited AI images across supported models without using premium credits, switch models during conversations, and use the platform for writing, coding, research, brainstorming, and content creation.

Everything runs through a modern web browser, with no downloads or updates required, and the model library is regularly refreshed.

Get AskAnyModel for just $39.99 (reg. $499) for lifetime access.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get 9 CompTIA certification prep courses covering A+, Security+, Network+, Cloud+, Linux+, PenTest+, and more for $24.99 (reg. $269.91).

Opens in a new window Credit: CompTIA The 2026 CompTIA Certification Training: Complete Exam Prep Bundle $24.99
$269.91 Save $244.92   Get Deal

Studying for an IT certification doesn’t necessarily require going back to school or building your week around a class schedule. The 2026 CompTIA Certification Training: Complete Exam Prep Bundle is on sale for $24.99 (reg. $269.91) and includes 9 multi-lesson courses you can tackle from home on your own time.

The lineup starts with CompTIA Tech+ FC0-U71, making the bundle approachable for someone beginning with IT fundamentals. There’s also prep for both CompTIA A+ 220-1201 and 220-1202, along with Network+ N10-009 and Security+ SY0-701.

Already know which part of IT interests you? The remaining courses let you dig into more specific areas. Cloud+ CV0-004, Linux+ XK0-006, and Server+ SK0-005 cover cloud, Linux, and server skills, while the PenTest+ PT0-003 Lab focuses on ethical hacking and penetration testing. Data+ DA0-002 rounds things out with certification prep centered on data.

That range gives you options. You might be exploring IT for the first time, already working in tech and looking to prepare for a particular certification exam, or interested in studying several areas before deciding where to focus next.

More importantly, you’re in charge of the schedule. Instead of coordinating separate classes for different certification paths, you have nine prep courses together and can decide which one deserves your attention first.

The bundle is exam prep, not the certifications themselves, so you’ll still need to take the corresponding CompTIA exams separately.

Get the 2026 CompTIA Certification Training Bundle for just $24.99 (reg. $269.91).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: New members can get a one-year BJ’s Club Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal for just $15 (reg. $60), just in time for fall fun and holiday stock-up season.

Opens in a new window Credit: BJ's Wholesale Club 1-Year BJ's Club Membership with BJ's Easy Renewal $15
$60 Save $45   Get Deal

There may be no better season for discovering what a warehouse club can do than fall. Spooky finds are showing up, holiday prep isn’t far behind, and new members can get a one-year BJ’s Club Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal® for a one-time $15 (reg. $60).

The membership gives you access to BJ’s savings on groceries, fresh foods, household essentials, electronics, seasonal items, and more. BJ’s says members can save up to 25% off grocery store prices, making this an especially useful time to start stocking the pantry before cozy-season cooking, parties, and holiday gatherings kick into full gear.

Fresh produce, meats, deli, and bakery items cover weekly grocery runs and larger get-togethers, while seasonal finds give you another excuse to wander the aisles. BJ’s also carries national brands at wholesale club prices.

Members can even shop online or in-club, use Curbside Pickup and Same-Day Delivery, or use ExpressPay® to scan items while shopping and pay through the BJ’s app. BJ’s also accepts manufacturers’ coupons, which can be combined with hundreds of BJ’s coupons.

Drivers get another membership perk: BJ’s says members save 20¢ per gallon on average with BJ’s Gas everyday low gas prices. There are also member-exclusive services and perks through BJ’s Optical, Tire Center, Home Improvement, and travel.

This offer is for new members only. You’re purchasing a redemption code that must be redeemed at BJs.com to activate the membership, which includes BJ’s Easy Renewal®.

For $15 for an entire year of savings, the timing is ideal. Join for the spooky finds, stay for the holiday stock-ups, and everyday grocery runs.

Get a one-year BJ’s membership for just $15 (reg. $60) while you can.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The great thing about Android is how many choices it provides. You can swap out the home screen, dialer, keyboard, and even app stores. F-Droid is one of our favorite alternatives to the Play Store, but it's never been very pretty to look at. That's finally changing.

Every year, millions of phone numbers get reassigned to strangers, and the accounts tied to them often stay behind. If you're switching numbers or carriers, a short audit now can save you from handing someone the keys to your email, bank, and messaging apps.

Handing your phone over to a repair technician can be surprisingly uncomfortable. Even if you trust the person working on it, your Galaxy probably contains years' worth of photos, messages, accounts, documents, and other personal information that you don't want a stranger casually browsing. The problem is that a repair technician may need access to the device to diagnose or fix it, leaving you with an awkward choice between protecting your privacy and giving them the access they need.

SAVE $900: As of Sept. 24, the Toshiba 65-inch G700 Series ArtVision 4K TV is on sale for $1,099.99 at Amazon. That's $900 off its full price of $1,999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Toshiba Toshiba 65-inch G700 Series ArtVision 4K TV $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $900   Get Deal

Bargain hunters know that there are few greater pleasures than a big deal on a big TV. There's a reason that Black Friday used to be a stampede of shoppers towards the TV aisle. Thankfully, the next major sale event is almost here: October Prime Day runs from Oct. 6-7, and there are already some early deals live on Amazon.

As far as we're concerned, the bigger the better for both the TV and the discount. In that respect, the Toshiba 65-inch G700 Series ArtVision 4K TV hits the right spot — a whopper TV with a 45% markdown.

As of Sept. 24, the Toshiba 65-inch G700 Series ArtVision 4K TV is available on Amazon for $1,099.99, representing an incredible $900 saving on the usual price of $1,999.99.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime in time for the next Prime Day

This TV is part of a very modern range that looks like a portrait, mounts on the wall, and enhances the room's overall aesthetic when it's not being watched. You can even set it to display a variety of artwork or images via Art Gallery Mode to keep the room's decor varied. It's just as impressive as an actual TV, delivering 4K courtesy of a QLED display.

It runs on the Fire TV operating system, one of the most popular platforms in mid-range TV technology right now.

Amazon's sale is still a few weeks away, but this deal is live right now — not to mention well worth the money. Grab the Toshiba 65-inch G700 Series ArtVision 4K TV today and save $900.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Apple iPad Pro — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

TL;DR: Watch Australia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly for free on Network 10. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The footballing world is largely focused on the Nations League this week, but there are some really interesting friendly fixtures on the schedule. That includes Australia vs. Brazil, a potentially tricky matchup for the visitors.

Carlo Ancelotti's team will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing World Cup exit at the hands of Norway.

If you're interested in watching Australia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. Brazil?

Australia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly kicks off at 6 a.m. ET on Sept. 25. This fixture takes place at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

How to watch Australia vs. Brazil for free

Australia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly is available to live stream for free on Network 10.

Network 10 is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can live stream Australia vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Australia vs. Brazil 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

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

4. Visit Network 10

5. Watch Australia vs. Brazil 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 generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Australia vs. Brazil without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Network 10?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Network 10, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Australia

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Australia vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Early October Prime Day tech deals at a glance: Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods 4 $99 (save $30) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $24.99 (save $45 with code STREAM4K) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Garmin vívoactive 6 (42mm) $229.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best laptop deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,499 (save $600) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 85-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $2,497.99 (save $1,502) Get Deal Best gaming deal "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" (Nintendo Switch 2) $59.88 (save $10.11) Get Deal Best Memory Deal SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD $259.45 (save $40.54) Get Deal

Mashable's discerning reporters and editors are constantly testing the latest gadgets, from e-readers to headphones, laptops, phones, power stations, smart rings, and portable speakers. This year, many of our favorite products have been besieged by price hikes as a result of the ongoing memory crisis. Fortunately, Amazon is about to bring tech shoppers some relief in the form of Prime Big Deal Days, better known as October Prime Day.

Set for Oct. 6 and 7, Prime Big Deal Days is a 48-hour sale for members of Amazon's Prime program. Often referred to as "October Prime Day," it serves as Amazon's unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season. We've been covering the event since its inception in 2022, back when it was still called the Prime Early Access Sale. And this year, we'll be keeping an extra close eye on the best early Prime Day tech deals.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime in time for the next Prime Day

In the lead-up to the sale, Amazon is already offering some steep discounts on select devices from brands like Apple, TCL, Garmin, Beats, and Sony. After spending hours poring over these deals, we've identified the best early Prime Day deals that are so good, we'd buy them ourselves.

How do we pick these deals, you might ask? We look for products we recommend at record-low prices (or close to them). We use price-tracking tools like camelcamelcamel to see if Amazon's discounts are actually better than usual, then cross-check them with other retailers' listings to make sure they're not cheaper elsewhere. (Walmart and Target are both gearing up to host their own October sales, FYI.) You can add our picks to your cart with confidence.

Without any further ado, these are the best early October Prime Day deals we've spotted so far.

$99 AirPods (a Prime Day classic)

It wouldn't be an Amazon Prime event without some $99 AirPods. Apple's fourth-generation earbuds have excellent audio quality and a comfortable fit. and a five-hour battery life. The newer AirPods 5 sound even better and add ANC, but this pair is still a great option for iOS users on a budget. (Read Mashable's review.)

Note: The AirPods 4 dipped down to $69 last Black Friday, but $99 is their lowest price so far in 2026. Plus, they probably won't be in stock much longer now that their successors have launched; they already sold out once on Amazon earlier this week.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal Take $600 off Apple's most powerful laptop

If you're a professional creative, developer, or AI enthusiast who needs a compact new laptop for work, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better option than the 14-inch, M5 Max-powered MacBook Pro. (The M5 Max is Apple's most powerful laptop chip to date.) The "base" configuration with 36GB of RAM and 2TB of storage got a $500 price increase back in June, which bumped it from $3,599 to $4,099. But right now, Amazon has it on sale for just $3,499 — a $600 savings. It's even cheaper than before.

I should mention that Amazon's MacBook Pro discounts have capped out around $400 during its past Prime events. Suffice to say, this is a very good deal that probably won't last long.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,499 at Amazon
$4,099 Save $600   Get Deal Cheaper-than-ever Fire tablets

Two of Amazon's own Fire tablets are already on sale for record-low prices ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. Take your pick from the compact Fire HD 8 with 64GB of storage — our favorite Fire tablet overall — or the big-screened Fire HD 10 with 32GB of storage, nicer cameras, and a sharper display. (Both have 13-hour battery lives.) They're now up to 53% off for Prime members.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 (64GB) $79.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.00 Prime membership required. Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) $72.99
$154.99 Save $82.00 Prime membership required. Get Deal 64% off a 4K streaming stick

Amazon's Fire tablets have been safe from price hikes so far, but the retailer made all of its Fire TV streaming sticks at least $5 more expensive in August. For its part, the 4K Plus model went from $49.99 to $69.99. Nevertheless, Amazon will sell it to you for just $24.99 right now if you enter the code STREAM4K at checkout. That matches its all-time low price from this summer's Prime Day sale and Black Friday 2025. It used to equate to a $25 savings, but now you're getting a whopping $45 off.

FWIW, this is Amazon's cheapest media player with support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, Nvidia Geforce Now, and Alexa Home Theater (a surround sound feature that works with Echo devices).

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $24.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $45 Enter code STREAM4K at checkout. Get Deal A new all-time low on an Apple Watch alternative

Garmin's vívoactive 6 is a lightweight fitness smartwatch with an AMOLED display and an 11-day battery life. It supports features like constant heart rate readings, stress tracking, and sleep coaching. Our friends over at Lifehacker, one of our sister sites, gave it a stellar 4.5/5 review, calling it "a great watch for somebody who wants to track their steps and activity."

The vívoactive 6 usually costs $50 more than Apple's entry-level smartwatch — the $249 Apple Watch SE 3 — but Amazon just put the pink dawn variant on sale for $229.99. At 23% off, it's never been cheaper before.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 6 (42mm) $229.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $70   Get Deal A huge discount on a huge QLED TV

The 65-inch TCL QM8L is the best QLED TV for most people, according to Leah Stodart, our former TV expert. She praised its "superb peak brightness, detailed picture quality, and fantastic glare handling." (QLED TVs in general "are ideal for people whose TV usage happens mostly in the daytime, especially watching sports," to quote her TV specs guide.)

The 85-inch QM8L just hit a new all-time low of $2,497.99 on Amazon, which is 38% off its suggested sticker price of $3,999.99. For comparison's sake, it's currently $2 more expensive at Best Buy and on TCL's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $2,497.99 at Amazon
$3,999.99 Save $1,502   Get Deal An affordable Fire TV

The best early Prime Day tech deals always include savings on Amazon's own devices, like this affordable Ember Fire TV. This TV has a high-definition HDR10+ display and doubles as an Alexa smart speaker for your home. The 28% discount drops the price to a very affordable $179.99, its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV $179.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $70   Get Deal Save $10 when you preorder the 'Ocarina of Time' remake

Nintendo's upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Switch 2 will be one of the year's biggest gaming releases (after GTA 6, obviously). Preordering the physical edition will normally cost you $69.99 — it's $10 more than the digital version — but Amazon has it on sale for $59.88 ahead of its Nov. 5 launch. The first print run has special packaging with foil cover art, so don't dawdle.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" (Nintendo Switch 2) $59.88 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $10.11   Get Deal Deals on SanDisk memory products

The global memory crisis has led to rising costs for smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles, but it's been a disaster for SD cards and hard drives. So, while the discounts aren't as huge as they were in past years, you can find savings on these memory products during October Prime Big Deal Days. We've found a bunch of early Prime Day deals on portable SSDs and hard drives, and we expect even more savings to come.

Case in point: The SanDisk Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Card Express is currently $40 off. Likewise, you can save $40 on the popular SanDisk Extreme portable SSD with 1TB of storage.

Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk microSD Express Card for Switch 2, 512GB $159.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $40   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk Sandisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD $259.45 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $40.54   Get Deal Bose QuietComfort headphones and earbuds on sale

We've made so secret of the fact that we love Bose headphones and earbuds here at Mashable. The brand makes the most comfortable headphones we've ever tested, and the brand's popular QuietComfort line recently got refreshed.

Right now, you can get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) for $50 off. Keep in mind that the headphones are not at a record-low price, so there's a chance they could get bigger discounts when Prime Big Deal Days starts on Oct. 6.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2) $399.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $50   Get Deal Shop the Nintendo Customer Appreciation Sale

Nintendo just got a massive tariff refund, and to pass along the savings, the brand is hosting a mega Customer Appreciation Sale through Sept. 26. So, while these aren't technically early Prime Day deals, they are a great opportunity to enjoy rare savings on Nintendo Switch games and hardware. Unfortunately, the Switch consoles and Switch 2 games aren't on sale, but we'll let you know if that changes when October Prime Day begins.

You can shop the sale at Amazon or Nintendo, but our top picks include the classic Metroid Dread and the wireless Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Metroid Dread' for Nintendo Switch (digital download) $41.97 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $18.02   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch Pro Wireless Controller $55.97
$79.99 Save $24.02   Get Deal Early deals on iPads

Some of the best early Prime Day tech deals so far are on Apple's iPads, which are due for an upgrade any day now. If you don't mind a slightly older device and chip, you can pick up the Apple iPad Air (M4) with a cool $100 discount.

Check out all of the top October Prime Day iPad deals so far.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air (M4), 11 inches $649 at Amazon
$749 Save $100   Get Deal

Back in early February, popular messaging app Discord announced that it would roll out age verification in order to keep its teenage users safe on the platform. By the end of the month, after facing significant backlash, Discord announced that it would be pausing that rollout while addressing some of the issues.

According to Discord, those age verification checks will now be rolling out.

Discord has launched a system that already estimates users' ages based on several factors, such as general activity levels, communities and servers joined, games that an account is connected to, and how old a user account is.

The company has also assured users that no messages, calls, or other content have been analyzed to make an age determination.

SEE ALSO: Discord defaults to teen experience for all users

Discord must believe in its model, as the company says that 90 percent of its users will not have to do or change a thing. However, Discord knows that mistakes will be made. The company says that any user can check the age group they've been assigned to by going to User Settings and checking Account Status. 

The main backlash against Discord's age verification system centered on the privacy and security concerns that came with the facial age estimation and ID upload methods. Discord says that if a user has to verify their age, there are now additional methods to do so that don't require facial age estimation or ID verification. These alternative methods include a credit card authorization, allowing the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to share a user's age range, a Google Wallet confirmation, or an AgeKey credential.

Adult users on Discord will notice no changes to how the platform works. Teenage users will still be able to message friends, join voice calls, and join non-age-restricted servers. However, age-restricted content and spaces will be blocked. In addition, extra safety protections have been added in cases where a non-friend attempts to message a teenage user.

Discord says it has already launched age verification checks in places like Texas, where it's required, and wants to get ahead of age verification laws as they expand globally.