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Frustrated with Windows and considering switching to Linux? Struggling to make up your mind because of the good and bad things you hear about making the switch? Well, I’ve used both OSes for over a decade, and here are my five crucial truths about making the switch that rarely get mentioned.

It's an important weekend for Peter Parker fans with the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day in theaters. With the popular superhero on the minds of many, this is the perfect time to watch your favorite Spider-Man movies on streaming.

Your 3D printer’s nozzle is the last thing that melted filament touches before it becomes a 3D-printed object. Different printers come with different nozzles, and you can replace or swap these out as you see fit.

There are certain choices we all have to make in this world. Android or iPhone, PlayStation or Xbox, Spotify or Apple Music, Guttenberg or Hanks. One of the most divisive choices is whether you use Waze or Google Maps. I decided to put both apps head-to-head over a series of matching journeys to see which navigation app came out on top.

Segmenting your network and setting aside a separate SSID for guests is sensible advice that can genuinely make your connection more secure.

Streaming 4K HDR content through a browser on your PC almost never delivers what you're paying for. Here's why moving playback to a dedicated streaming device fixes the problem entirely.

The Toyota Corolla turns 60 this year. It arrived in Japan in 1966 as a compact, affordable car for everyday driving, then crossed the Pacific two years later and went on to become one of the best-selling nameplates in automotive history (Toyota puts cumulative global sales past 57 million units).

For some celebrities, it was a nightmare that came true: having their photos stolen from their phones. I set up a Raspberry Pi to do exactly that: stealing the photos from my own phone, with my complete permission.

You can self-host a lot of services on a Raspberry Pi, but the downside is that these services are often only reachable from your home network, making them less convenient than cloud-based alternatives. Tailscale creates a secure, encrypted mesh VPN that lets you access your Raspberry Pi from anywhere without exposing ports, and there are plenty of self-hosted services that can benefit from this access.

It's already been a very busy year for Apple. Tim Cook announced he'll be stepping aside for John Ternus. Siri AI finally made its big debut (in beta form) at WWDC 2026. Apple launched a new budget MacBook, and then raised prices just months later.

But don't forget: We're still expecting the launch of the iPhone 18, the first folding iPhone, and a ton more Apple devices in the months ahead.

So, Mashable and the rest of the CNET Group (ZDNET, PCMag, CNET, and Lifehacker) are hosting the Big Guessing Game: Apple Edition to give our readers a chance to predict the biggest Apple news. Every correct answer earns you one chance to win the new Apple Watch announced in September. (Read the full content rules.) Ahead of the September iPhone launch event, we have our readers' answers from round two of the game.

Don't forget to keep checking back, as round three of the Big Guessing Game: Apple Edition is coming soon.

Question 1: Will Apple announce that a foldable iPhone will be released in 2026?

The foldable iPhone — rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra, or some variation thereof — is the biggest open secret in Silicon Valley right now, but Apple still hasn't confirmed its existence. However, 68 percent of respondents in Mashable's Big Guessing Game said they expect the phone to arrive this year, while just 32 percent answered in the negative.

Question 2: Will the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max include a black color option this year?

The lack of a black color option was a major disappointment for many Apple fans after the launch of the iPhone 17 Pro last year. (Scratchgate may have been the reason why.) Rumor has it we won't get a black phone this year either, though leaks suggest we are getting a dark grey that looks pretty close. So, what do Mashable readers think?

The breakdown here was almost identical to question one, with 68 percent of you expecting that we will get a black iPhone after all.

Question 3: Will Apple announce a touchscreen MacBook in 2026?

Rumors of MacBook Pros with OLED screens and touchscreens have been spreading for awhile, and it's very possible these high-end laptops will finally arrive in 2026.

We asked Mashable readers whether they expect to see the first-ever touchscreen MacBook this year, and our readers are almost evenly split on this question. In the end, 55 percent said yes, and 45 percent said no.

Question 4: Will Apple release new AirPods in 2026?

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who seems to have a direct line right into Apple Park, has reported that Apple is working on AirPods with built-in cameras. The cameras wouldn't be for photography, but to support new Siri AI features. Regardless, we were curious what you think: Will we get any new AirPods this year?

On this question, only 26 percent of our respondents said no, with the majority (74 percent) answering in the affirmative.

Question 5: Will an M6 series chip be announced in 2026?

An M6 chip is expected to arrive this fall, based on Apple's previous silicon release schedule. When we posed this question to Mashable readers, 35 percent predicted we would not see an M6 chip, while 65 percent believed that we will.

Enter our Big Guessing Game for a chance to win a new Apple Watch

Don't forget to participate in the third and final round of the Mashable Big Guessing Game for another chance at winning a new Apple Watch. The last round will take place in the weeks leading up to the iPhone launch event, which we believe will be in mid-September.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win the "CNET Group Big Guessing Game" Giveaway. Open to legal U.S. residents in the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+ yrs of age. Other restrictions apply. Begins May 19, 2026 at 12:01 pm ET and ends Sept. 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules: https://www.mashable.com/article/mashable-big-guessing-game-apple-edition-official-contest-rules/. Sponsor: Ziff Davis, LLC.

Apple is not a sponsor of, affiliated with, or endorser of this sweepstakes. Apple Watch is a trademark of Apple Inc.

Which Windows laptops can beat Apple?

We've added over 80 laptops to our testing database in the last two years, and a number of them can beat Apple in different ways. The HP OmniBook 3 16 with the Snapdragon X chip has a bonkers 40-hour battery life, far outpacing MacBooks. In the budget category, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 likewise beats the MacBook Neo in battery life.

And in terms of performance, while the MacBook Air (M5) and MacBook Pro (M5) have impressive single-core scores on Geekbench 6, Windows Ultrabooks like the Asus Zenbook A14 beat both devices in multi-core performance.

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks to buy in 2026: Air, Pro, or Neo? What I look for in the best MacBook alternatives

IMO, a Windows laptop or Chromebook is doing a good MacBook impression if it has above-average performance, long battery life, and a sleek, polished design. Basically, it's a very good Windows laptop or a top-tier Chromebook. I'll add some extra qualifiers depending on the exact Mac model:

• MacBook Air alternatives should be super lightweight and portable

• MacBook Neo alternatives should cost well under $1,000

• MacBook Pro alternatives should have a crisp, rich 120Hz display and enough power for intensive tasks like video editing

As of July 2026, I've found seven worthy alternatives from Asus, Acer, Dell, and HP, all of them rigorously tested. I believe these PCs are the top MacBook alternatives for buyers in 2026. I've also lined up a fallback option for those who want to stay within the Apple ecosystem.

What's new

I made several adjustments to this guide in July 2026 based on my latest round of testing, and after checking our current picks for price and availability changes.

• The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is now the best MacBook Neo alternative, replacing the sold-out Acer Aspire 16 AI. That said, I'll be testing a couple new budget laptops in the near future that could be even better options (see below).

• The Dell XPS 14 is now the best MacBook Pro alternative. It's still a splurge compared to the MacBook Pro, but now a little less so after Apple's price changes. The Acer Swift X 14 is now the best MacBook Pro alternative for users who need a laptop with discrete graphics.

• I added the Asus ExpertBook Ultra as a new top pick. I had some build quality concerns with the pre-production unit I originally tested, but Asus remedied them in mass production. (I tried a second updated unit to verify this.)

• I added the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 as another new top pick. I can only recommend the Snapdragon X2 Elite configuration because it's the only model I've tested, but I plan on trying an Intel Panther Lake variant down the road.

Other contenders to consider Not giving the ProArt GoPro Edition a 120Hz display was an odd choice on Asus' part. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The special-edition Asus ProArt GoPro Edition bundles MacBook Pro-rivaling multi-core performance and 128GB of RAM in a rugged convertible design. It's expensive at $2,999.99, but fairly priced for how much memory it has. (An identically configured MacBook Pro costs $6,139.) Still, I can't recommend it as a MacBook Pro alternative because it has a blurrier 60Hz display. That feels like a glaring omission on a premium creator laptop.

The Acer Swift Edge 14 AI is a shockingly thin-and-light ultraportable with a 2.8K OLED touchscreen. It only costs $1,499.99 with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It would make a very good MacBook Air alternative if it wasn't such a mediocre performer: It's 48 percent slower than the latest MacBook Air in single-core scenarios and 33 percent slower in multi-core tasks. It's a closer rival to the M2 MacBook Air from 2022 when it comes to processing power. I would only pick it over the Zenbook A14 if you can't use an ARM-based laptop (see below).

I haven't tested them yet, but the new Dell XPS 13 and Acer Swift Air 14 look like very promising MacBook Neo alternatives, and the Framework Laptop 13 Pro seems like a neat repairable MacBook Pro alternative. I'll update this story once I or one of my colleagues try them.

A note about ARM-based Windows laptops

The Asus Zenbook A14, Zenbook A16, and HP OmniBook Ultra 14 run on Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 series chips. These are ARM-based chips, which are built differently than traditional x86-based Intel and AMD chips. As such, they're not compatible with as many video games and certain specialty software. This isn't an issue for most users, but if you do a lot of PC gaming or you're a college student, you should avoid them. You can read more about this in my dedicated guide to the best Windows laptops.

What's new this month

In late July 2026, I updated this guide with two fresh picks. The Dell 14S is my new favorite mid-range model for build quality and battery life. The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 is now the best choice for style and speed. I also renamed the Dell XPS 14 as the best MacBook Pro alternative. (Previously, it was the best choice for build quality; I think its new title better conveys its great craftsmanship and stellar performance.)

I'm currently looking for replacements for Acer Aspire 16 AI and the Alienware 16X Aurora, our former picks in the budget and gaming categories, respectively. Both of them were out of stock at the time of writing.

As a quick note before we get into the picks, Mashable evaluates laptops on the basis of performance, battery life, design/build quality, and value. We do so using a combination of synthetic benchmarking and real-world usage. You can read more about our testing process below.

What's on deck

The Mashable team has several other Windows laptops in hand for testing right now, including the Dell XPS 13, Dell 16S, LG gram Max 17, Alienware 16 Area-51, Lenovo LOQ Essential 15, and MSI Prestige 16 AI+. Stay tuned to see if any of them make the cut for a future update to this guide.

A note about ARM-based Windows laptops Asus' Zenbook A-series laptops are two of the best ARM-based laptops I've tried. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series chips use ARM-based architecture, not traditional x86 architecture like Intel and AMD chips. As such, their compatibility differs. ARM-based laptops don't work natively with certain specialty software (like AutoCAD), nor can they run as many PC games.

ARM compatibility issues are a non-concern for the majority of general-purpose Windows users, but they'll be dealbreakers for some demographics — PC gamers being an obvious one.

College students should also steer clear of ARM laptops. When I examined the 10 top public universities' hardware recommendations for the 2026 fall semester, I found that a couple schools explicitly advised their students against getting ARM-based laptops to make sure they can run all of their necessary coursework without emulation. (This is one big reason why I recommend the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI for rising freshmen: It has an x86-based Intel chip.)

The good news is that ARM compatibility has gotten better over the past couple years, and it will definitely continue to do so now that Nvidia is coming out with its own Windows on ARM chips.

TL;DR: Get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 (256GB, unlocked) for $1,199.99 at Amazon and a free $200 gift card bundled in — no trade-in required.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 + $200 Gift Card   Get Deal

Samsung didn't ease into its Unpacked event — phones, watches, and smartglasses were all unveiled in one go, which means there's a lot to sort through if you're trying to find the one deal that's actually worth your money.

And here's one worth grabbing: Amazon is currently bundling the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 with a free $200 gift card — no trade-in, no discount code, just the phone at $1,199.99 with a $200 gift card to use later.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 just launched — grab this stylish case for 30% off

The whole point of a flip phone is the cover screen, and Samsung's built around that here — FlexWindow lets you handle a range of AI tasks without opening the phone, so quick checks don't require unfolding it. When you're shooting photos, you can go hands-free for creative angles, or hold it steady and rely on Super Steady Video to keep the footage smooth.

The Flip 8 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the same chip powering the Fold8, which means gaming and multitasking should hold up even on this smaller form factor.

Battery life is built to last through a full day, and when it runs low, Super Fast Charging gets you back up quickly. If you're switching from an iPhone, Samsung's made that transfer easier, too — your photos, contacts, alarms, and passwords come with you, and your messages stay encrypted the whole way.

The gift card isn't an instant perk, though — Samsung sends an email once it's ready to claim, and that only happens after the phone ships. The offer ends Aug. 6, so the earlier you pre-order, the safer you are before that window shuts.

Grab the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 before Aug. 6, and the $200 gift card is on its way to you.

SAVE 20%: From Aug. 2-8, Owala's Back-to-School Sale takes 20% off sitewide, including bottles, bags, and accessories.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala's Back-to-School Sale 20% off bottles, bags, and accessories until Aug. 8 Shop Now

Owala's Back-to-School Sale isn't just about the bottles you already own — the whole lineup is included, so it's worth looking beyond the FreeSip.

The sale covers everything from hydration essentials like water bottles and tumblers to insulated bags, totes, and crossbodies, plus accessories like lids, straws, and other add-ons. The original FreeSip is still the bestseller for a reason, and the FreeSip Sway is a solid pick if you want something more cupholder-friendly for the car. If coffee's more your thing, the SmoothSip Slider is built specifically for hot drinks on the go.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

And if you need something bigger than a bottle, the Sun-Day Tote is a collapsible bag that packs flat yet holds a lot, making it easy to toss in a backpack or bag during the actual back-to-school rush. They've also got a few small essentials — a Bottle Boot, cleaning accessories, stickers, and matching pet bowls.

With 20% off sitewide, this is a good time to stock up across categories rather than just grabbing one bottle — especially if you've got a household that goes through water bottles, lunch bags, or travel mugs regularly.

Shop Owala's Back-to-School Sale until Aug. 8 — stock is bound to run out.

TL;DR: Get a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for $32.97 through Aug. 9 and enjoy Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, OneNote, and Teams with a one-time purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $32.97
$219.99 Save $187.02   Get Deal

This is your last chance to ditch Microsoft 365’s subscription fees for good. Through Aug. 9, you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for much less than its usual retail price. Simply pay once, download the full software suite, and never worry about renewals again.

We know what you’re thinking, but rest assured, this isn’t some stripped-down lite version either. It’s the real deal. Whether you’re writing reports, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing emails, or wrangling databases, the lifetime version of Microsoft Office has you covered.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. The full pro-level toolkit, minus the stress of a subscription. Plus, with instant license delivery and free customer support, getting started is as painless as your new spreadsheet workflow.

No more “trial expired” pop-ups. No more surprise charges. Just the latest versions of Microsoft’s best apps, ready to support all of your work and personal needs.

Download Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $32.97 (reg. $219.99) until Aug. 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pay $79 once (reg. $619) for ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Lifetime and compare 20+ leading AI models side by side, chat with PDFs and images, and generate AI art.

Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $79
$619 Save $540   Get Deal

If you’ve ever copied the same prompt into three different AI tools just to see which one gives the best answer, you’re not alone. Different models excel at different things — but juggling tabs and subscriptions gets old fast. 

ChatPlayground AI puts the top AI models in one place, so you can compare responses side by side without the back-and-forth. For a limited time, a lifetime subscription is on sale for $79 (reg. $619).

GPT-4o, Claude Sonnet, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, Perplexity, and more — all in one clean interface. It’s built for people who iterate fast, test variations, and actually care about optimizing results.

Beyond comparisons, ChatPlayground AI includes prompt engineering tools to refine outputs, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved chat history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation powered by leading models. There’s even a Chrome extension to integrate it directly into your browsing workflow.

The Unlimited Plan means unlimited messages per month, making it ideal for startups, product teams, marketers, and prompt engineers who run experiments nonstop. You also get priority support and early access to new features and future models.

If you’re already paying for multiple AI tools — or constantly switching between them — this consolidates everything into one streamlined platform.

Grab lifetime access to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited for $79 (reg. $619) and stop juggling models for good.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

What is the best Dyson vacuum cleaner?

Regardless of your living situation, I believe the best Dyson vacuum cleaner is a cordless stick vacuum. Dyson hasn't made a new corded vacuum since 2018, and it doesn't plan on updating the line in the future. If you were waffling between a corded vs. cordless design, at least that part of the decision has been made for you.

For a while, Dyson Ball vacuums had such impressive suction that people simply put up with their bulkiness and the major inconvenience of being tethered to the wall. But in 2026, cordless Dyson vacuums are far too powerful and agile to make the old cumbersome design worth the hassle. In fact, the new Dyson V16 Piston Animal has officially surpassed the suction power of any corded Dyson vacuum.

Past that, the best Dyson cordless vacuum for one household may not be the best cordless Dyson for another household. The best fit is highly dependent on factors like the size of your home, your floor type, the number of pets that you have, and the amount of money you feel like spending. Do you need a full suite of attachments and dust-detecting lasers to match your (clean) freak, or would you prefer a more affordable version that just does the job? I have a solid idea of both ends of the Dyson spectrum from personal experience, and from comparing the value of the Dyson lineup to other top cordless vacuum cleaners from brands like Shark.

SEE ALSO: The best way to make your Dyson stick vacuum last? Clean it regularly. What about the Dyson robot vacuum?

You may have noticed that I've omitted the latest Dyson robot vacuum from this guide, and there's a good reason for that: it's a disappointment.

You could read my full review of the Dyson Spot+Scrub AI robovac. But, instead, skip straight to my regularly updated guide to the best robot vacuum and mops. Trust me — you can find a better robot vacuum for a lot less. Ultimately, the Dyson Spot+Scrub just isn't worth it.

The Moon is still in its waning gibbous phase following the Full Moon. Here's what you can see on its surface tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, Aug. 2, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waning Gibbous phase, with 87% of its surface visible.

You don't need to have lots of visual equipment to see features on the Moon's surface. In fact, with just your naked eye you can spot the Oceanus Procellarum, Kepler Crater, and Mare Vaporum tonight. However, visual aids do make the experience more advanced, so if you have a pair of binoculars, this will help you see the Alphonsus Crater, Mare Humorum, and the Mare Frigoris. Pull out your telescope (if you have one) to see see all clearer, plus the Apollo 15 landing spot, the Rima Ariadaeus, and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon goes through a complete cycle of eight phases roughly every 29.5 days. As it travels around Earth, the angle between the Sun, Earth and Moon constantly changes, meaning we see different amounts of the Moon's sunlit side. This is what causes the familiar progression from a thin crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before the cycle repeats.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a frequent flyer.

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 August 2, 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: Um...

• Green: Across

• Blue: Setting

• Purple: Travel hubs

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: Filler words

• Green: By means of

• Blue: __ Mode

• Purple: U.S. airport codes plus starting letter

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 #1148 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Filler words: ACTUALLY, LIKE, SO, WELL

• By means of: BY, PER, THROUGH, VIA

• __ Mode: AIRPLANE, BEAST, DARK, À LA

• U.S. airport codes plus starting letter: ASEA, FLAX, LORD, OLGA

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 2, 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're goal-driven.

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 August 2, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Eyes on the prize

The words are related to drive.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe aspiration.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Aim High.

NYT Strands word list for August 2

• Ambition

• Plan

• Goal

• Purpose

• Aim High

• Objective

• Intention

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.