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It looks like BMW has finally found the winning EV formula.

In 2025, the company launched the BMW iX3, a compact electric SUV based on BMW's new "Neue Klasse" philosophy, with a new infotainment system and a massive battery.

The auto company followed up with the sedan variant called the i3. Once again, BMW did its best to address the biggest pain point of owning an EV, and equipped the i3 with a massive battery giving it record-breaking range.

SEE ALSO: Tesla's Autopark is about to get a lot smarter, Musk claims

The strategy appears to have worked. The BMW i3 was originally slated to become available for preorder in September, but BMW decided to capitalize on the interest around the car and opened the preorders in Europe on Thursday, June 18.

The pre-orders are open in Europe now, and first deliveries are scheduled for September. Credit: BMW

The car that's being offered is called the BMW i3 First Edition, and it starts at €75,340 ($86,372) in Germany (the price varies slightly by market). For the money, you basically get the M Sport version of the BMW i3 50 xDrive, with a 108.7kWh battery with up to 912 kilometres (566 miles) of WLTP range, and super-fast 400kW charging that can get you 250 miles of range in 10 minutes. The car's two electric motors have a combined output of 469hp, and can take the car from 0 to 100 kph in 4.7 seconds.

The interior is similar to the iX3's, with a 17.9 central infotainment display, a super-wide, 43'' Panoramic Vision display, and BMW's 3D Head-Up Display. The First Edition also gets the M Sport exterior and interior design elements, including BMW's Iconic Glow, and the AC charging rate has been increased from 11 kW to 22 kW.

Some options are also available, and these include rear seat heating, panoramic glass sunroof, and an electronic tow bar.

Inside, you get the same massive display bonanza that debuted in the BMW iX3. Credit: BMW

First deliveries are expected this fall. There's no word on when BMW plans to open up pre-orders in the U.S.

For those willing to wait, a cheaper, base model will be available in the fall for €65,900 ($75,550), with the same battery and similar range, as well as dual motors, but fewer amenities.

As for why BMW is hurrying up with i3 preorders, the answer likely likes in the stellar sales of the BMW iX3. The car is outselling BMW's own X3 in Europe, with more than 50,000 orders being placed as of April this year.

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

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 June 19, 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: Savory eats

• Green: Instrumentals

• Blue: Popular publications

• Purple: To bring together

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: Umami-rich foods

• Green: Things a beginner might learn on the piano

• Blue: Starting with magazines

• Purple: Ending in synonyms for "Aggregate"

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 #1104 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Umami-rich foods: MISO PASTE, PARMESAN, SOY SAUCE, VEGEMITE

• Things a beginner might learn on the piano: CHOPSTICKS, FÜR ELISE, HEART AND SOUL, THE ENTERTAINER

• Starting with magazines: FORTUNE COOKIE, PEOPLE PERSON, SPINDERELLA, TIME MACHINE

• Ending in synonyms for "Aggregate": COINCIDENTALLY, DIM SUM, TEETOTAL, VISCOUNT

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 19, 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 love cowboys.

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 June 19, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Look to the West

The words are related to cowboys.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe the Wild Wild West.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Cowpokes.

NYT Strands word list for June 19

• Saddle

• Cowpokes

• Jeans

• Spurs

• Stetson

• Bandana

• Chaps

• Boots

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 to express yourself.

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 June 19, 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 June 19, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Digital icon.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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 E.

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...

EMOJI

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.

Mastering the AirPods is easy work. Most core features can be activated directly on the wireless earbuds or through Siri voice assistance. Apple’s ecosystem also places shortcuts on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac for instant access to prime functions.

The critically acclaimed AirPods Pro 3 expand on the series’ true wireless capabilities, while strengthening popular hallmarks (e.g., Adaptive EQ, noise cancellation). Apple users already know about headline features like Hearing Aid, heart-rate monitoring, and Personalized Spatial Audio. It turns out there are numerous other perks waiting to be unlocked – upgrades that fully optimize these buds for all Apple platforms: iOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. 

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds $247.76 at Walmart
$249 Save $1.24   Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Amazon

So, as a professional headphone tester who loves his job, here are 10 ways to make the AirPods Pro 3 even better. 

1. Live Translation

Bridging language barriers is simple, thanks to Apple’s Live Translation feature. It provides seamless, hands-free communication in real time for over 10 languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. An Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone (iPhone 15 or later) running iOS 26 is required.

• Settings > tap AirPods model > Translation > Languages

• Open the Translate app and select Live or press and hold both stems simultaneously to launch Live Translation

2. Head Gestures

Simple head movements can be used to control calls and notifications. Nod to accept a call or reply to a message. Shake your head to decline or dismiss. Gestures can also be used to enable playback and Siri commands.

• Settings > tap AirPods model > Head Gestures

3. Camera Remote

The AirPods Pro 3 double as a camera shutter for your iPhone. It’s not a new industry feature, but it’s convenient — especially for group photos or tripod shots. Don’t forget that the Apple Watch lets you do the same as well.

• Settings > tap AirPods model > Camera Remote

4. Headphone Accommodations

Adaptive EQ, Adaptive Audio, and Personalized Spatial Audio are all great for boosting sound quality. However, the AirPods’ real sonic-tuning power can be found in the Headphone Accommodations setting. You can manually adjust the balanced tone, brightness, or vocal range to reveal more nuance in professional recordings.  

• Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Headphone Accommodations

5. The macOS AirPods menu

There’s a hidden AirPods control panel in macOS. Once enabled, the headphone icon will appear in the menu bar to toggle through listening modes: Adaptive, Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Conversation Awareness.

• System Settings > Control Center > Sound > Always Show in Menu Bar

6. Voice Isolation

You’ll want to turn on Voice Isolation before jumping into a FaceTime chat. The feature minimizes background noise and prioritizes your voice for clearer communication.

• Control Center (during a call) > tap Mic Mode > Voice Isolation [iOS]

• Microphone/video icon in menu bar (during a call) > Mic Mode > Voice Isolation [macOS]

7. The Ear Tip Fit Test

People forget that Apple’s Ear Tip Fit Test is more than just a tool for achieving a proper, comfortable seal. It also improves audio quality and noise cancellation by creating a sound profile tailored to your hearing. Be sure to clean the tips and buds for accurate testing.

• Settings > tap AirPods model > Acoustic Seal Test (or Ear Tip Fit Test) 

8. Create your own sportier AirPods

The AirPods Pro 3 are solid workout-ready buds with built-in heart rate sensors for tracking metrics and IP57-rated dust/sweat resistance. However, they could be sportier. A pair of attachable earhooks basically turn these buds into the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, which are considered inferior to their porcelain brethren. Another recommendation is swapping out Apple’s ear tips for memory foam tips with enhanced durability, moisture resistance, and on-ear stability. 

Here are two of my favorite AirPods Pro 3 add-ons:

• Wicked Cushions Over-Ear Hooks — $15.95

• Comply Premium Memory Foam Ear Tips — $32.99

9. Live Listen

This sneaky listening mode turns your iPhone into a remote microphone that streams audio directly to your AirPods. Place your iPhone in a desired location and hear what’s happening from a distance.

• Settings > Control Center > Hearing > Live Listen

10. Sleep Detection

Sleep Detection was introduced with iOS 26 and automatically pauses media on the AirPods Pro 3 when you doze off. Apple’s motion and accelerometer sensors sense when motion decreases, which then triggers the feature. It’s clutch for preserving battery life when the buds are inactive.

• Settings > tap AirPods model > Pause Media When Falling Asleep

Even though we made sure to include headphones at all different price ranges, there's no denying that even the budget models in this guide can be something of an investment. Our recommendation? Take advantage of Amazon Prime Day, which runs this year from June 23 to 26, to save some money on our top picks.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is less than 2 weeks away: Here are 20+ early deals to start shopping now

If you don't want to wait until the sale proper, run into Prime-exclusive deals, or deal with the general chaos of the sale, check out our guide to the top headphones deals and look for chances to save.

What are the most comfortable headphones? Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The most comfortable earbuds and headphones shouldn't cause ear fatigue or pain, even after hours of listening to music or podcasts.

After a full year of extensive testing, we selected the six most comfortable headphones based on price, performance, and purpose. However, one product in particular stood out, and it's the one with "Comfort" literally in the name. Our audio reviewers are unanimous on this point: Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) are the most comfortable headphones in the world right now.

Read on to find out what other pairs emerged as the top choices, including picks for those who want top-tier noise cancellation.

In-ear, on-ear, or over-ear?

If you're looking for comfort above all, over-ear headphones are almost always the way to go. They just wear better than earbuds or on-ear models. The latter is harsher on your ears, which can cause serious discomfort, depending on how long you wear them. In-ear buds are generally more comfortable than on-ear headphones, but they can still begin to hurt after just a few hours (they are jammed inside your ears, after all).

Although over-ear headphones are bulkier and less portable, it's worth the trade-off for comfort's sake. Plus, over-ear headphones can be safer for your ears compared to earbuds because the sound isn't being funneled directly into your ear canal. They also provide extra noise cancellation.

How much should you spend on comfortable headphones?

The good news is that comfortable headphones aren't locked to a specific budget range. You can find a super cozy pair at premium pricing just as easily as you can find them at the budget end of the spectrum. The extra features you're looking for are what really determine how much you need to spend.

Want unrivaled active noise cancellation or the best sound quality in the business? Then be prepared to spend a minimum of around $200, all the way up to $800. If comfort is literally the only thing you care about and the extra bells and whistles are just nice-to-haves, you can expect to spend anywhere from $50 to $300. Go any cheaper, and you're probably not going to get a lot of value for your money. No shade toward your favorite pair of gas station headphones, but they probably aren't the best option for all-day wear.

The audio world is saturated with high-quality headphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers. Arguably, it's oversaturated. People also have very strong opinions about the best audio brands and products — us included.

We test audio gear all the time and get our hands on all the newest releases. And our experts are great resources to find the best headphones, earbuds, and speakers to buy. We test at home — not in a lab — to simulate real-life use. But our tech-obsessed readers often use their devices over the long term and can experience popular audio products at all their highs and lows.

That’s why we periodically poll Mashable readers to see which products they use and love. For this edition of the Mashable Readers' Choice Awards, big names like Bose, Sony, Apple, and JBL were in close competition. But in the end, Bose came out on top for both headphones/earbuds and speakers.

Top headphone and earbud brands for 2026

Use the arrows on the chart below to toggle through each of the categories from our survey results.

Bose wins the Mashable Readers’ Choice Award for best overall headphones/earbuds brand in 2026.

We’ve tested all of Bose’s recent headphones and earbuds offerings, and you’ll find them all over our best lists. Readers praised Bose’s sound quality, comfort, and noise cancellation, with multiple people noting that Bose headphones are great for travel.

One respondent said, “Bose are the standard in leading sound quality.” While another noted, “For the price and sound quality, I believe there is no equal.”

Another reader wrote that they always have a great experience with Bose and usually consider its products when purchasing.

Our own headphone expert, Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard, noted that the release of Bose’s noise-cancelling QuietComfort headphones in 2000 changed the game.

“For the past 26 years, Bose proved its consistency release after release, blending together comfortable all-day wear and some of the best noise cancellation available on the market, making it hard to not feel satisfied with the experience of using their headphones, and trusting in their ability to deliver on a premium product,” Allard said.

Bose is our readers' favorite headphones and earbuds brand in 2026. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Apple was the second-highest rated for overall satisfaction and the brand readers were most likely to recommend. A large ratio of responses mentioned the seamless pairing and integration across other Apple devices.

“Apple's AirPods Pro are extremely convenient with instant pairing, great integration across my iPhone, Mac, and iPad, and top-tier transparency mode that makes them perfect for commuting and working in shared spaces. The noise cancellation, sound quality, and call performance are strong enough that I can use a single pair of earbuds for work, workouts, and travel,” reported one respondent.

Best headphone/earbud brand for noise cancellation

Noise cancellation can be either passive or active. Passive noise cancellation refers to how much sound is blocked out by the headphones/earbuds themselves, with factors such as materials used and how tight the seal is over or in your ear. Active noise cancellation is achieved via microphones in the headphones that measure sound waves and create inverse wavelengths to cancel out the noise. Additionally, headphones and earbuds will often have a built-in white noise-esque hiss to cover some frequencies. When testing audio products, we typically dock headphones and earbuds if we’re able to hear that hiss.

When it comes to noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds, Mashable readers rated Bose and Sony the same, 8.3 out of 10. Because Bose had the higher overall score, we’re awarding it the win.

That also aligns with our own testing. Allard named the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) the best overall value for noise-cancelling headphones, with “the ideal blend of comfort, sound quality, and ANC.” But did note that Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones have the best noise cancellation overall.

Allard says, “In my own testing of Bose headphones and earbuds, I’ve found them to this day to provide the longest wearing options that really do deliver on top-notch ANC. Yes, their products are an investment, but they’re also the manifestation of the phrase ‘You get what you pay for.’” 

One of our readers said they’d recommend Bose because “the noise cancelling is still among the best, which makes a huge difference when I'm flying or working in noisy coffee shops.”

Best headphone/earbud brand for sound quality

Sound quality is another area where we saw a tie between two brands. Sony and JBL were both rated 8.5 in sound quality, but we’ve crowned Sony the winner because of its higher overall satisfaction score.

If you look at any of our headphones or earbuds guides, you’ll see that Sony consistently wins superlatives for its sound quality. We’ve named the WH-1000XM6s the “best sounding headphones” and the WF-1000XM6s the “best overall” earbuds, noting that Sony provides “some of the best sound quality available.”

We agree with our readers that Sony headphones and earbuds have excellent sound quality. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Many of our survey respondents called out Sony’s sound quality in their answers: “Good build quality and really good sound,” “Very good sound, great value,” and “The sound is amazing” were common responses.

One reader said, “I would recommend the Sony headset because it delivers excellent sound quality, clear microphone audio, and comfortable ear padding that's ideal for long use.”

Best headphone/earbud brand for battery life

What good is a pair of headphones or earbuds if they’re dead every time you go to wear them? Battery life is an important factor in choosing a portable audio product, and Mashable readers found Sony to be the best in that regard.

“The battery life easily lasts through a full day,” said one reader.

Best headphone/earbud brand for comfort

Mashable’s headphone experts all name Bose as the most comfortable headphones, with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) topping our list of the most comfortable headphones we’ve ever tested. However, Mashable readers have a different opinion. 

JBL actually took the win with the highest comfort score in our survey. One respondent said, “The sound is fantastic and fit is comfortable.”

Another echoed that sentiment, saying, “They hold up and sound great, plus they're affordable and comfortable.”

Most likely to recommend

Apple won in a number of categories this year, and it's the brand our readers were most likely to recommend to a friend or colleague. We’re huge Apple nerds at Mashable, so it’s no surprise that our readers are, too.

Our reviewers rank Apple, Bose, and Sony headphones among the best. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

One of the most common reasons readers love Apple AirPods products? The easy pairing between AirPods and other Apple devices.

“I'd recommend AirPods to people who use Apple devices because they connect instantly, are extremely easy to use, and work great for calls and casual listening,” said one response.

Comments praised Apple earbuds for their ease of use, integration with other Apple products, quick pairing, quality, fit, value, and reliability.

“I would recommend Apple because their devices are reliable, easy to use, and work really well together,” wrote one reader. “The products last a long time, and I trust the brand and feel confident recommending to others.”

Shop headphones and earbuds from Readers' Choice brands Bose QuietComfort $329.00 at Amazon Shop Now Sony WH-1000XM6 $398.00 at Amazon Shop Now Apple AirPods 4 $99.00 at Amazon Shop Now Beats Studio Pro $169.95 at Amazon Shop Now JBL Tune 720BT $79.95 at Amazon Shop Now Top speaker brands for 2026

Use the arrows on the chart below to toggle through each of the categories from our survey results.

Bose comes out on top once again, winning the Mashable Readers’ Choice Award for best overall speakers in 2026. Our readers sang Bose’s praises for excellent sound quality, easy portability, and longevity — multiple respondents mentioned owning the same Bose speaker for more than 10 years.

One reader said, “Bose is phenomenal in the speaker game; I can't say enough about them, especially if you are listening to hear, feel, and understand the music — not just listening to pass the time. Bose is where you want to be.”

Our survey results actually paint a picture of a neck-and-neck race between Bose and JBL, each taking turns beating the other out for the top spot in almost every ranking category.

The one space where they were both outranked was smart features. Amazon was ranked highest there, which is a shock to no one. One reader said, “I'd recommend Amazon because the Echo Dot offers excellent smart features with Alexa, easy setup, and surprisingly good sound for a very affordable price, making it a great everyday home speaker.”

Best speaker brand for sound quality

In addition to being the best speaker brand overall, Bose takes the cake for best sound quality.

Mashable readers loved Bose speakers for their reliability and sound quality, and rated Bose highest for overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

Allard noted that Bose products tend to sound great out of the box, so you don’t have to mess around with the equalizer to get a great listening experience. Other Mashable reviewers agree that they sound excellent and have room-filling sound that doesn’t get muddy or blown out at loud volumes.

As one reader put it, Bose has “unbelievable sound quality, great lows and crisp highs; just a terrific speaker.”

Best speaker brand for battery life

Most Bluetooth speakers are also portable, meaning they don’t have to be plugged into anything to play music. That also means they rely on a charged battery to keep the audio going. 

Mashable readers found JBL speakers to have the best battery life, with one commenting that the “battery lasts all day.”

Mashable readers loved JBL speakers for their battery life, portability, cost, design, setup, ease of use, cvolume level, companion app, and connectivity. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable Best speaker brand for portability

On top of battery being a factor in portability, size, weight, and design also play a role. Again, Mashable readers rated JBL highest for portability. They mentioned taking their JBL speakers to the park, the beach, rooftop hangs, gatherings in small apartments, and on hikes.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, tested poolside Most reliable speaker brand

The scale tips back to Bose for reliability. As mentioned earlier, multiple Bose users reported owning the same speaker for more than a decade.

One reader said of their Bose SoundLink Revolve, “Wonderful sound in a small, portable speaker. I've had this speaker for years, and it's always been my go-to speaker.”

Another voiced, “Bose is a tried and true brand that still delivers some of the best sound at a reasonable price point.”

Most likely to recommend

The speaker brand that Mashable readers are most likely to recommend to their friends, family, and colleagues is a tie between Bose and JBL. Because Bose has the slightly higher overall satisfaction rating, we’re crowning Bose the winner here. Though, as you’ve seen, you can’t go wrong with either brand.

Shop speakers from Readers' Choice brands Bose SoundLink Flex $154.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Amazon JBL Charge 6 $199.95 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at JBL Shop Now at Best Buy Amazon Echo Dot Max $64.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $35   Shop Now at Amazon Sonos Roam 2 $134 at Amazon
$179 Save $45   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Best Buy Apple HomePod $299.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore $268.99 at Amazon
$299 Save $30.01   Shop Now at Amazon

John Early and Kate Berlant have built their careers in comedy through scene-stealing appearances in movies and TV, as well as offbeat sketches of their own making, as seen in their joint special Would It Kill You to Laugh? Now they re-team for Maddie's Secret, a compelling comedy that Early wrote, directed, and headlined as the title character.

Inspired by earnest melodramas, Maddie's Secret centers on a foodie-focused content creator named Maddie Ralf (Early), whose sudden rise to frame has a traumatic impact on her mental and physical health. By her side is her lusty teddy bear of a husband (Eric Rahill) and her sultry bestie Deena (Berlant).

Out of the movie's premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko cheered in her review, "Early and his company manage to be funny while never losing touch with the heart of this story," adding, "John Early is a better ingénue than Sydney Sweeney."

So, when Early and Berlant sat down with Puchko in the Say More studio for an interview on all things Maddie's Secret, the trio not only dug into how the comedy duo defines their brand of humor, but also how Early approached performing a female orgasm onscreen, directed by himself.

For more from Mashable's interview with Early and Berlant — including whether they see themselves as a sexy baby or a monster on the hill — check out our YouTube channel.

Maddie's Secret is now playing in limited release.

We have to talk about RAMageddon

It's a tough time to be a new Windows laptop. PCs have been hit especially hard by the global RAM shortage. Many popular models have gotten steep price hikes as new AI data centers hog their components, making good values in the budget and mid-range tiers scarcer. (Unfortunately, that probably won't change anytime soon.)

MacBooks have managed to avoid such price increases, but they're not necessarily the ideal computers for everyone. Windows laptops are still much better for PC gaming, and they're more customizable with dedicated GPUs, OLED displays, and convertible designs.

So, before you defect to Team Apple, explore our guide to the best Windows laptops that are actually worth buying these days. Yes, they're still out there — just fewer and further between.

SEE ALSO: I found the 7 best MacBook alternatives of 2026 How we chose the top Windows laptops

To select our current picks, my colleagues and I have spent the last few months reviewing some of the newest Windows laptops using our in-house testing methodology. I've also re-evaluated some of last year's releases that remain in stock and don't feel like drastic downgrades.

As of mid-2026, the ultraportable Asus Zenbook A14 leads the pack as my top pick for most buyers.

What's new

I overhauled this guide with new Windows laptops in June 2026.

• The Asus Zenbook A14 replaces the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 as my top choice for most people, since the latter is older but newly much more expensive.

• The Acer Swift Edge 14 AI succeeds the older Zenbook A14 as my favorite ultraportable; it's even slimmer and lighter.

• The HP OmniBook 3 16 is my new battery life winner, dethroning the OmniBook 5 14 with an extra seven-plus hours of stamina.

• The Asus Zenbook A16 ousts the Acer Swift Go 16 as the best 16-inch laptop with its amazing performance and lightweight build.

• The repairable Framework Laptop 13 with Intel Core Ultra Series 1 chips has been retired in favor of the newer AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series model.

I also removed several previous picks that were no longer available at the time of writing, including the 2026 MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, the 2024 Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x, the 2025 Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, and the 2025 Lenovo Yoga Book 9i.

A note about Windows laptops with Snapdragon X series chips 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 with certain specialty software, PC games, and older peripherals (like printers and scanners). It's important to consider these limitations for your use cases.

This is one big reason why I recommend the Lenovo Yoga 7 14 for students: It runs on an x86-based AMD chip, not an ARM-based Snapdragon X chip. When I examined the 20 top public universities' hardware recommendations last fall, I found that a few schools explicitly advised their students against getting ARM-based laptops because they aren't compatible with certain essential software and peripherals.

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.

The 2026 World Cup is really heating up, literally and metaphorically.

Today, June 19, is another big day with USA and Brazil in action. Play starts at 3 p.m. ET. We've broken down the details for you below. Here's what you need to know to tune in live today.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: June 19

• Group A: USA vs. Australia (Seattle Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

• Group B: Scotland vs. Morocco (Boston Stadium) — kickoff at 6 p.m. ET

• Group B: Brazil vs. Haiti (Philadelphia Stadium) — kickoff at 8:30 p.m. ET

• Group A: Turkey vs. Paraguay (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium) — kickoff at 11 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games todayWatch USA vs. Australia

USA are looking to build on a confident win over Paraguay in the opening round. Australia secured a shock 2-0 win over Turkey, so the winner here will take top spot in the group. Live coverage will be on FOX and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Scotland vs. Morocco

Scotland sit on top of the group after beating Haiti in the opening round, but this is going to be a much tougher test. Morocco performed well against Brazil and will expect to pick up three points here. Live coverage will be on FOX and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Brazil vs. Haiti

Brazil stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Morocco in the first round of games, but they'll be confident of securing a win over Haiti. Live coverage will be on FOX and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Turkey vs. Paraguay

Turkey were stunned by Australia in their opening game. Now the pressure is really on as they face Paraguay. Turkey are fancied to go far in this competition, but they need three points from this clash. Live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One (3-Month Subscription) $39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock (Spanish Language) Starting at $10.99/month Get Deal More live streaming optionsLive TV cable replacement

Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

You will need a VPN to live stream the World Cup on these free streaming services. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

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

TL;DR: Live stream Turkey vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

I really thought Turkey were going to surprise a lot of people in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and I suppose they did against Australia. It just wasn't in the way I expected. Australia battled to beat Turkey 2-0 in their opening game, leaving Turkey desperately seeking a win over Paraguay.

If you want to watch Turkey vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Turkey vs. Paraguay?

Turkey vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 11 p.m. ET on June 19. This fixture takes place at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

How to watch Turkey vs. Paraguay for free

Turkey vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX 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 ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Turkey vs. Paraguay for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to 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 ITVX

5. Watch Turkey vs. Paraguay 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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Turkey vs. Paraguay (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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 sport, 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 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 the World Cup.

Live stream Turkey vs. Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

TL;DR: Live stream Brazil vs. Haiti in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup started with a very tricky matchup for Brazil. Carlo Ancelotti's side managed to secure a 1-1 draw with a talented Morocco side, and now they face Haiti. On paper, this should be much easier. That being said, Haiti looked pretty slick against Scotland in their opening game. They only lost 1-0, and will come into this contest believing they can do something special.

If you want to watch Brazil vs. Haiti in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Brazil vs. Haiti?

Brazil vs. Haiti in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 8:30 p.m. ET on June 19. This fixture takes place at the Philadelphia Stadium.

How to watch Brazil vs. Haiti for free

Brazil vs. Haiti in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX 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 ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Brazil vs. Haiti for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to 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 ITVX

5. Watch Brazil vs. Haiti 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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Brazil vs. Haiti (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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 sport, 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 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 the World Cup.

Live stream Brazil vs. Haiti in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

TL;DR: Live stream Scotland vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is full of fun stories, but Scotland fans making a big impression around Boston might be the most feel-good story of the tournament so far. They're really enjoying themselves, and they'll make plenty of noise when Scotland take on Morocco at the Boston Stadium.

Scotland are topping the group after beating Haiti, but Morocco will be a much tougher test. They arguably should have beaten Brazil in their opening game, so they'll be coming into this clash with a lot of confidence.

If you want to watch Scotland vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Scotland vs. Morocco?

Scotland vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on June 19. This fixture takes place at the Boston Stadium.

How to watch Scotland vs. Morocco for free

Scotland vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX 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 ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Scotland vs. Morocco for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to 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 ITVX

5. Watch Scotland vs. Morocco 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 most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Scotland vs. Morocco (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

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 sport, 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, 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 secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 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 the World Cup.

Live stream Scotland vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

TL;DR: Through June 28, Deal Days shoppers can get a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for $69.97 (reg. $540).

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $69.97
$540 Save $470.03   Get Deal

AI subscriptions aren’t cheap, but it’s manageable if you only use one model. However, if you need tools for generating images, writing copy, analyzing documents, or translating between languages, a platform like 1min.AI is a more viable option. 

1min.AI gives you lifetime access to some of the most popular AI tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral, and many others. It’s also only $69.97 for a lifetime subscription through June 28 as part of this Deal Days sales event (reg. $540).

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1min.AI runs in your browser and pulls a ton of everyday work into one place. You can research keywords, draft blog posts, rewrite and shorten text, generate social posts, and keep a consistent brand voice across projects. There are tools to summarize or translate documents, chat with multiple PDFs at once, and spin up slide presentations.

For visuals, you can generate images from prompts, upscale low-resolution pictures, remove backgrounds, extend edges, or turn rough sketches into cleaner artwork.

Here’s a small sample of the AI models you’ll get access to:

• GPT

• Claude 3 Opus and Claude 3 Sonnet

• Gemini Pro 1.5

• Llama 3

• Mistral models

The Advanced Business Plan includes 4,000,000 credits each month, plus the chance to earn up to 450,000 more through daily logins and other tasks. Credits are shared across writing, images, audio, and video, so you can lean harder on whichever tools you need that month.

The plan supports up to 20 members, with shared workspaces, an unlimited prompt library, unlimited storage, and unlimited brand voices. If you don’t use all your credits, they just roll over, so you aren’t missing out if you have a lighter month.

It’s only $69.97 to get a 1min.AI lifetime subscription, but only through June 28.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to GitMind for $49.99 and turn videos, PDFs, and ideas into AI-powered mind maps and summaries.

Opens in a new window Credit: GitMind GitMind Basic Plan: Lifetime Subscription $49.99
$169 Save $119.01   Get Deal

Ever finish reading something important and immediately forget half of it? Or sit through a long video or document and feel like the key points are buried somewhere inside a wall of text? That’s the problem GitMind is trying to solve — turning information overload into something you can actually see and understand.

Instead of forcing you to manually organize everything, GitMind automatically transforms content into structured visuals. Right now, you can get lifetime access to a GitMind Basic Plan for $49.99 (reg. $169), making it a simple one-time way to upgrade how you process information.

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You don’t need to change how you work — just what you feed into it. Paste a link, upload a file, or drop in text, and GitMind can generate:

• Mind maps that break down ideas instantly

• Summaries that highlight key points

• Diagrams that connect concepts visually

• Transcripts and structured notes from audio or video

It works with PDFs, YouTube videos, websites, images, audio files, and more, which makes it useful whether you’re studying, working, or just trying to keep your research organized. Instead of juggling multiple tools, everything gets processed in one place.

For students, it can turn lectures and readings into study-ready visuals. For professionals, it helps make sense of reports and meetings faster. And for creators, it’s a quick way to map out ideas before turning them into content.

There’s also a privacy-first approach built in, with user control over data and compliance with major security standards, which matters more than ever when you’re uploading real work materials.

GitMind doesn’t replace thinking — it just makes it easier to see what you’re already thinking about.

Get lifetime access to GitMind Basic Plan for $49.99 while the deal is available.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is down to $89.97, giving Mac and PC users a modern Office upgrade with AI features, collaboration tools, and lifetime access for about $120 less than retail.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $129.97
$249.99 Save $120.02   Get Deal

There’s a point where monthly subscriptions stop feeling convenient and start feeling like a rip-off. If you’re still paying for Microsoft 365 just to use Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, this limited-time offer is worth a look.

Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is down to $89.97 (reg. $249.99) — and it’s a lifetime license. No recurring fees, no renewal reminders, no oops, your subscription expired moments.

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You’re getting the essentials: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. The difference this time around is how polished and modern everything feels. Performance is noticeably smoother (especially in Excel with large datasets), and the updated interface keeps things clean and consistent across apps.

There are also plenty of genuinely useful upgrades. PowerPoint now lets you record presentations with voice and video. Outlook has better accessibility tools, and Excel leans into smarter data insights.

You can still collaborate in real time, use AI-assisted suggestions, and work offline when needed — so you’re not giving up functionality, just the ongoing cost.

If you’re going to use Office anyway, you might as well own it. Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for just $89.97 (reg. $249.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC is on sale for $104.97 and includes lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $104.97
$249.99 Save $145.02   Get Deal

Office software isn’t exactly exciting tech, but it remains one of the few categories people genuinely rely on almost every day. If you already know you need Microsoft Office and don’t want another recurring subscription hanging over your head, this Office 2024 Home & Business deal is on sale for $104.97 (reg. $249.99) for a limited time.

Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote for both personal and commercial use. Unlike Microsoft 365, it’s a one-time purchase, so you won’t have to keep paying monthly just to maintain access to software you probably use constantly.

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The 2024 version also comes with some genuinely useful upgrades, especially in Excel, which now handles larger datasets and multiple workbooks more smoothly. PowerPoint adds upgraded recording tools with voice narration, video, and live camera integration for presentations, while Outlook introduces stronger accessibility checks to help make emails more inclusive and easier to read.

The overall interface feels cleaner and more modern, too, with improved touch and pen support for tablets and hybrid devices. Word now includes a distraction-free Focus Mode alongside AI-assisted writing tools, while Excel adds AI-driven trend analysis, smarter visualizations, and dynamic arrays for more advanced spreadsheet work.

AI features are integrated across the suite overall, including formatting suggestions, text summarization, translation tools, accessibility improvements, and content organization designed to save you from some of the smaller but surprisingly time-consuming parts of office work.

Formerly $249.99, Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is available for $104.97 for a single Mac or PC lifetime license.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

As a professional critic, one of my deepest, perhaps most deranged delights is to be wrong about a movie. Basically, I've seen so many that I have a pretty good feel for how a film will hit me, based on who's made it, who's in it, or even the logline. But I relish being surprised. And John Early's latest film is a wondrous surprise, not because it's good, but because of how it's good.

SEE ALSO: 'Maddie's Secret' trailer reveals John Early as you've never seen him before

Early is known for his offbeat comedic style, on display as a performer in the genre-bending comedy series Search Party, Dropout's improvised talk show parody Very Important People, and actual talk show appearances, where he and frequent collaborator Kate Berlant commit to bits that essentially satirize celebrity. There's a provocation in his approach that came to an angsty climax in Stress Positions, a COVID lockdown comedy where his lead performance acts like a mounting anxiety attack.

With all this in mind, I imagined Maddie's Secret, Early's feature directorial debut, would also embrace cringe comedy. Perhaps especially because he stars as the title character, a woman juggling a stressful job opportunity and a trauma-rich secret. However, Maddie’s Secret offers something defiantly sweeter, even as it sends up made-for-TV melodramas from the '90s. The film is silly and strange, but even amid campy bits, sincere. So, you'll laugh at its parody elements, but may well be genuinely moved by Early's commitment to this strange and splendid film.

Maddie's Secret is a campy throwback to '90s "movies of the week."  Credit: Magnolia Pictures

Making its world premiere out of the Discovery slate at the Toronto International Film Festival, Maddie's Secret may seem like a straight-up send-up of those earnest TV movies, where a teen star (think Tiffani Amber Thiessen) would face some contemporary evil or social issue. But like A Deadly Adoption, the underappreciated Lifetime movie parody starring Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig, there's a clear and ardent love for this admittedly trashy corner of cinema. Early is mocking elements of these movies, but crucially, his eponymous heroine is not the butt of the joke.

Maddie Ralph (Early) is an aspiring chef who begins Maddie's Secret as a dishwasher at a culinary content studio called Gourmaybe. There, she giggles happily with her bestie (Kate Berlant), a lesbian who hits on her almost as aggressively as she stares down anyone who'd dare mess with Maddie. Specifically, this means Gourmaybe's shining star (Claudia O'Doherty), who shares recipes while snarling at anyone who's not her handsy producer (Conner O'Malley). 

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At home, things are more peaceful for Maddie. Her husband is a teddy bear of a man (Eric Rahill), who absolutely adores her, insisting she's perfect. But the pressure to be perfect pushes Maddie into self-harm behaviors she developed as a girl. That pressure only amps up once her career at Gourmaybe takes off and she becomes an on-camera talent, with the vicious lens of the internet on her. 

John Early is brilliant and sly with Maddie's Secret. Credit: Magnolia Pictures

Remarkably, as a first time feature director and star, Early manages the balance of comedy, drama, and empathy with aplomb. 

The humor in this movie begins subtle. It's in the way Maddie strolls to work, getting lost in thought as she smells a flower, only to have the realization wash over her that she's running late. The performance styles in Maddie's Secret run the gamut from stiff to totally over the top. But that's by design, embracing the traditional range within these vintage treasures of '90s "movies of the week." Where Berlant goes in for goofy leering as a predatory butch, a self-aware gag that has a juicy payoff, Early leans into a much softer performance.

Some might say he's doing drag here, but that suggests a hyper-femininity that's outrageous and potentially even mocking. That's not what Early's doing. Wearing a robust set of boobs and a messy blonde wig, Early isn't being a caricature of womanhood. He's playing a woman. However, because Maddie is desperate to live up to the "good girl" expectations others have for her, the performance is smartly restrained. She is in a cage of her own making, not allowing herself to feel bad in front of anyone else. And so, a tension grows as that pain pulls Maddie into disordered eating, which makes the career that she loves a dangerous place to be. Early manages to play this arc, which veers into a rehab clinic that feels very Girl, Interrupted, with a moving sincerity and a soft silliness that keeps the movie from getting too dark. And his co-stars follow his lead with gusto.

Featured Video For You How Bob the Drag Queen weaves hip hop and history in his new book

In this space of healing, hurt feels and firm facades abound. For Maddie's endearingly childlike roommate Julie (Vanessa Bayer), that means a cheerful exterior and an obsessive crush on a nurse (Pat Regan), who is unquestionably gay. Then, there's a trio of bad influences (Ruby McCollister, Emily Allan, and Leah Hennessey) who feel plucked from various bad girl movies to create a cool and intimidating coven. This section feels the richest in terms of representing community within girlhood. Well, at first Maddie is reluctant to consider herself anything like the people around her; it is only through sharing herself and her secret with these women that she can break out of the suffocating box she has put herself in.

I left this film in a spin, dizzy about its delicate accomplishments. Not long after, I saw Christy, the Sydney Sweeney-led melodrama, which made me only more impressed with Maddie's Secret. There, an established filmmaker and established dramatic actors fumbled the balance of social issues and accidentally fell into comedic absurdity. Here, Early and his company manage to be funny while never losing touch with the heart of this story.

Basically, John Early is a better ingénue than Sydney Sweeney, which might be the most surprising discovery of the Toronto International Film Festival.

Maddie's Secret was reviewed out of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It opens in theaters in New York on June 19, and in Los Angeles on June 26.

UPDATE: May. 6, 2026, 1:44 p.m. This review was first published on Sept. 9, 2025. It has been updated for its theatrical debut.

Mashable has been testing laptops for over 10 years, and I took the category's helm in 2023. Over the past year and a half alone, the team and I have researched dozens of models and tried more than 50 of the most promising configurations available. We use a meticulous testing procedure to score our contenders on the basis of performance, battery life, design/build quality, and value.

The following guide serves as our laptop trophy case, highlighting the best-in-class models across different subcategories. For even more recommendations, check out my dedicated guides to the best MacBooks, the best Windows laptops, the best cheap laptops, and the best Chromebooks.

What's new

I revamped this guide with a bunch of new picks in mid-2026 after a new round of testing. The 15-inch, M5-powered Apple MacBook Air is our new top MacBook, replacing its M4 predecessor. The Asus Zenbook A14 is our new favorite Windows laptop, succeeding the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, which got a price hike and a successor this spring. (I plan on testing the new version.) The MacBook Neo replaces the Acer Aspire 16 AI as the best budget laptop overall (but that's still the best cheap Windows laptop). The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is now our top Chromebook for most people, booting out the too-expensive Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. Lastly, the HP OmniBook 3 16 is our new battery life champ, having beat our older pick, the HP OmniBook 5 14, by over seven hours of usage.

I also removed some previous picks that were no longer available at the time of writing, including the 2026 MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro).

A note about ARM-based Windows laptops

Many great Windows laptops we've tried run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X and X2 series chips, which use ARM-based architecture instead of standard x86 architecture like Intel and AMD chips. (The Zenbook A14 and OmniBook 3 16 are both two outstanding Windows on ARM laptops.)

These Qualcomm chips are great because they offer amazing performance and battery life, but they're not compatible with some specialty software, PC games, and older PC accessories like scanners. Having said that, ARM support is getting better and should dramatically improve in the near future. Right now, I would only avoid ARM laptops if you're a college student, or if gaming is the main thing you do on your PC. You can read more about this in my best Windows laptops guide.

Hayley Kiyoko's journey to her feature directorial debut, Girls Like Girls, began in 2015. That's when the Disney child star turned singer/songwriter released the track "Girls Like Girls," and its subsequent viral video, which Kiyoko co-helmed with Austin S. Winchell. 

More than a music video, "Girls Like Girls" played like a short film, complete with credits that revealed character names: Coley, Sonya, and Trenton. In 2023, this love triangle would be fleshed out in the pop star's debut novel, also titled Girls Like Girls. 

Now, after a decade of living with this story of sapphic longing and first love, Kiyoko delivers an earnest and poignant coming-of-age movie with Girls Like Girls. 

Girls Like Girls is a low-key drama of first love and heartache.  Credit: Dan Power / Focus Feature LLC

Set in 2006, Kiyoko's debut feature has a healthy dose of nostalgia for the early age of internet. The soundtrack features Tegan and Sara's yearning-rich "Speak Slow," Imogen Heap's electro ballad "Hide and Seek," and AIR's trippy "Sexy Boy."

The teens in Girls Like Girls have cell phones, but instant messaging on a bulky PC is how sheepish 17-year-old Coley (Maya da Costa) prefers to reach out to her crush, the femme and fun party girl Sonya (Myra Molloy). 

New to town in the thick of summer, Coley is killing time at a diner alone when she first spots Sonya, who's radiant in her laughter and adored by her circle of friends. With one shared glance, Sonya ushers Coley into their world, where house parties rage, lakeside hangs are recurring, and sapphic flirtations are only for when Sonya's boyfriend, Trent (Levon Hawke), isn't around. 

Kiyoko captures the easy swoon of young love with montages of the two girls finding their way into each others' arms, then breath. But as confident as Sonya seems, she wilts anytime someone begins to suspect that she and Coley are more than just friends. Having brought her own baggage to this cozy Oregon town, Coley finds the push and pull of Sonya's affections overtaking her vision of herself. Grieving over the loss of her mother and living with the estranged father (Zach Braff) that she barely knows, Coley fears that if Sonya can't love her, she's doomed to be unlovable. 

Girls Like Girls offers space for gay girls figuring it out.  Credit: Dan Power / Focus Feature LLC

For Coley and Sonya, their attraction to each other is so simple and natural that they don't initially question it. They follow it — slowly and joltingly, but keenly.

In the privacy of Sonya's girly bedroom or her family's backyard pool, they find sanctuary to explore who they are together. Like the short film inspiration from 2015, Girls Like Girls deftly captures the longing in a stare, the excitement in a stolen touch. 

As she did in the music video, Coley sports an oversized jean jacket and the very mid-2000s tattoo-choker, made of swirls of black plastic that stretch around the wearer's neck. She rides a bike, busted up, but hers. And, as teased on the book's cover, a key moment still happens poolside — though without the beat(ing) after. (Do stay through the credits for a post-cred scene worth waiting for.)

A change from the first incarnation, Girls Like Girls is less about the violence queer people can suffer from homophobes, and more about choosing joy over the fear of violence and alienation. Because while Sonya initially seems impossibly cool and untroubled, as Coley gets closer, she realizes her crush is surrounded by friends she can't trust to be herself around. So Coley is faced with the choice of who she wants to be in this new town, and if that means being a fool for love. 

Myra Molloy and Maya da Costa make a compelling pair.  Credit: Dan Power / Focus Feature LLC

Molloy could teach a class on how to flip her hair. Her breezy grace and flirtatious energy make her instantly recognizable as That Girl. Sonya makes being a teen girl look easy. She exudes joy and cool, and even when you find out it's a facade, you envy her ability to produce it. 

Sonya is a go-getter who practically drags Coley into her friend group, her pool, and her kiss. Meanwhile, Kiyoko scripts her protagonist to be almost infuriatingly passive. She's so afraid of making a wrong move, Coley is like a shadow in her own life, following behind Sonya, afraid to be in the light. Cleverly, this is actually how Coley's dad is framed for the first half of the film — as a shadow.

For several sequences, I stared into the frame at the middle-aged man speaking softly in a dim room, trying to see who he was. This staging reflects how Coley sees her dad, as someone distant and unknown. As they grow closer, he will come into the light. And she will follow, metaphorically, and blossom. Da Costa performs this evolution with aplomb.  

The romance and tenderness found in Kiyoko's music videos throbs in Girls Like Girls. She breaks from creaky conventions of queer coming-of-age tales by rejecting scenes of violence or social ostracizing that once seemed required. Her heroine is soft, too, not pursuing but being pursued. And her ending is not a promise of eternal devotion, but a small win that feels huge for a girl in love. 

Girls Like Girls opens in theaters on June 19.