IT General

There's a lot of movement in the smart glasses space, from simple tools for capturing your lifestyle to next-generation, fully immersive mixed reality experiences. When it comes to augmented reality glasses that aim to be the ultimate, private, all-in-one external display for your devices, the ASUS ROG XREAL R1 sits at the pinnacle — as it should, when it costs $800 or more. I've been using these glasses alongside the Xbox Ally X20 I reviewed, and it's not a stretch to call them the best at what they do... but I can also confidently say most people should buy something else, like the excellent (and much cheaper) XREAL One Pro.

SAVE $250: Two configurations of the M5 Apple MacBook Air are $250 off at Amazon and Best Buy. Get a 13- or 15-inch model with 16GB of RAM and a full 1TB of storage starting at $1,349.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,349 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $250   Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,549 at Amazon
$1,799 Save $250   Shop Now at Amazon

Some of the Black Friday MacBook deals we expected to see later this month have arrived early. As of Nov. 9, Amazon and Best Buy are both selling two popular configurations of the Apple MacBook Air (M5) for $250 off, a discount that completely erases their summer price hikes —and then some.

For the uninitiated, the M5 MacBook Air is a Mashable Choice Award winner. Tech editor Timothy Beck Werth called it "an impressive piece of machinery" with a premium, lightweight design, a "fantastic" display, and a ridiculously fast processor. (Read his full MacBook Air review.) This is the most recent version of the MacBook Air, as Apple's recent MacBook releases focused solely on the Pro models.

The 13-inch MacBook Air with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage has fallen to $1,349 (normally $1,599), while its 15-inch counterpart is marked down to $1,549 (typically $1,799). The other configurations of Apple's sleek and speedy ultraportable are all $200 off, which isn't too shabby in the age of RAMageddon.

We feel confident recommending these MacBook deals to early-bird shoppers. Last Black Friday, no MacBook discounts exceeded $250. In 2024, Amazon offered $255 off a couple of models, but we don't think an extra $5 in savings is worth waiting several weeks for. At that point, you risk your preferred model selling out.

Tesla Cybertruck is dead. The massive, steel-plated electric pickup has never sold particularly well, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk said last week that Cybertruck production will wind down next year.

Musk would like the world to know, however, that the company isn't scrapping Cybertruck due to unprofitability or lack of demand.

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"The Cybertruck order rate far exceeds our production rate. We will try to make as many as possible before shutting down the line in about 8 months, but will have to return deposits for a lot of people," wrote Musk in a tweet on Monday. "This is not a case of Cybertruck being unprofitable, as has been misreported by legacy media, but rather that the opportunity cost of the complexity of Cybertruck is vastly outweighed by the value of incremental Cybercab production," he wrote.

That's an interesting logical hoop Musk would like you to jump through. Given that Tesla doesn't report precise Cybertruck sales numbers, and typically doesn't talk about profitability of individual models, it's hard for an outsider to definitively call this or that model unprofitable. We've never said it, by the way; we merely pointed to poor sales figures, based on reports and Tesla's own figures, which lump Cybertruck with "other models" in quarterly reports.

But how do we know the sales figures are bad? Well, we merely compare Musk's predictions with actual sales numbers. In 2023, Musk predicted Tesla would sell 250,000 to 500,000 Cybertruck units annually. In the third quarter of 2026, Tesla delivered 8,295 "other models," which include Cybertruck, Model X, and Model S. The total deliveries for this category in the past four quarters are 48,431; even if all those were Cybertrucks (which they definitely weren't), that's still less than a fifth of Musk's lower projected figure for Cybertruck annual sales.

SEE ALSO: Is it over for the Cybertruck? Tesla to wind down production in Texas.

So yes: Cybertruck isn't selling nearly as well as Musk predicted. The company is placing all bets on autonomous driving, and has scrapped Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck while ramping up Cybercab production. Musk is free to call the Cybertruck a great victory, but we bet the company wouldn't be winding down production so easily had the demand been five or ten times bigger than what it was.

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Thanks to the rise of streaming boxes and smart TVs, the age of the HTPC (Home Theater Personal Computer) seems truly over. However, things may not be as final as they seem.

Xfinity is introducing a new "Holiday Mode" feature in its app, with a little help from actor John C. Reilly, who plays the Ghost of Very-Recent Christmas Past in a new holiday advertisement.

Holiday Mode lets customers pause WiFi for all devices on their home network with a single tap on their phone screen. The idea is to keep families connected and off their phones, if only for a few precious moments during the holidays.

The company said that Holiday Mode will be available starting from Nov. 9 for eligible Xfinity Internet customers through the Xfinity app.

The company also debuted a new Christmas advertisement to promote the feature, starring the aforementioned ghost. Reilly's character rescues people who miss precious holiday moments because they can't look away from their phones, an unfortunately relatable scenario.

90-second and 60-second versions of the holiday ad are debuting on Nov. 9 on YouTube and TV.

“Our business is built around keeping people connected, so telling families to turn off their WiFi might seem like an unexpected move," said Julie Scelzo, the Chief Creative Director of Xfinity at Comcast, in a press release shared with Mashable. 

"But at Xfinity, we believe that sometimes the most important connections happen IRL. And at the holidays, stepping away from our screens makes room for the wonder of time spent together. Technology should enhance our lives, not get in the way of it."

The Ghost of Very-Recent Christmas Past Credit: Xfinity

If you're an Xfinity Internet customer, here's how to activate Holiday Mode:

1. Open the Xfinity app and select Holiday Mode. 

2. Choose the devices or people you’d like to pause. 

3. Tap once to pause WiFi on those devices. 

4. When you're ready, tap the screen again to reconnect. 

We're not encouraging parents to secretly pause WiFi for all the teenagers in their household on Thanksgiving, but we're not not encouraging you to do that.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

John Oliver recapped the midterms at the start of Sunday's episode of Last Week Tonight, and his sprits were high.

"It has been a busy week, and given the results a pretty good week too," Oliver said at the start of the episode. "Democrats won so big on Tuesday it was sometimes genuinely hard to take all the positive results in."

SEE ALSO: Iowa elected a Democrat who'd dropped out of the U.S. midterms, and the internet has jokes

The host went on to take aim at the subject of a previous Last Week Tonight episode, Elon Musk, who spent around $500 million on the midterms and didn't have any results go his way.

"Elon Musk wasted so much money!" Oliver said "The half a billion dollars he spent to try and buy the election just went up in flames faster than a parked Cybertruck."

"Speaking of which, we also learned this week he's ending production of Cybertrucks, which isn't technically an election result but kind of feels like one."

You can see what the other late night hosts said about the midterms, including Jimmy Kimmel, The Daily Show and Seth Meyers, here.

SAVE 50%: Through Nov. 17, Prime members can knock 50% off the price of one eligible Amazon Alexa device during the exclusive sale.

Shop the Prime member-exclusive sale on Alexa+ devices: Amazon Echo Time $99.99 (save $100 as a Prime member) Get Deal Amazon Echo Dot $49.99 (save $50 as a Prime member) Get Deal Amazon Alexa Photo Frame $99.99 (save $100 as a Prime member) Get Deal Amazon Echo Studio with Home Camera $124.99 (save $125 as a Prime member) Get Deal Amazon Kids Echo Dot $54.99 (save $55 as a Prime member) Get Deal Amazon Kids Echo Time $104.99 (save $105 as a Prime member) Get Deal

Last week, Amazon dropped a new generation of Alexa devices, just in time for the holidays. This week, it's giving Prime members first dibs on discounts on those devices.

Through Nov. 17, Prime members can take 50% off an eligible Amazon Alexa device with an exclusive coupon (scroll to the bottom of the page to see the eligible devices). Choose your device thoughtfully, as the deal is limited to one device per customer. If multiple eligible devices are added to your cart, the discount applies to the lowest-priced item. Click the "Apply offer" or "Exclusive offer" box on any eligible device listing to activate the discount.

All of the brand-new Alexa devices announced last week are eligible for the 50% discount, except the Echo Show 16, which isn't yet available. That means you can score the adorable Echo Time smart alarm clock for a much more affordable $99.99, compared to its full list price of $199.99. The new Echo Dot price would drop from $99.99 to $49.99, while the Alexa Photo Frame would clock in at just under $100, down from $200. Amazon's new kids Echo devices are also eligible.

New devices aren't the only ones included in the lineup. You can also score older Echo Show devices, including the 5, 8, 11, 15, and 21, as well as the Echo Studio, Dot Max, Pop Kids, Spot, and previous-gen Echo Dot. We've rounded up all the devices you can choose from below, along with their price drops using the Prime-exclusive coupon.

New Amazon Alexa devices included in the sale

• Amazon Echo Dot — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Dot Kids — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Alexa Photo Frame — $99.99 $199.99 (save $100 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Time — $99.99 $199.99 (save $100 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Studio with Home Camera — $124.99 $149.99 (save $125 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Amazon Echo Time Kids — $154.99 $209.99 (save $155 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

Older Amazon Alexa devices included in the sale

• Echo Pop Kids — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Dot (2022) — $39.99 $79.99 (save $40 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Dot Kids (2022) — $44.99 $89.99 (save $45 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 5 — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Spot — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Dot Max — $59.99 $119.99 (save $60 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 8 — $99.99 $199.99 (save $100 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Studio — $109.99 $219.99 (save $110 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 11 — $124.99 $249.99 (save $125 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 15 — $174.99 $349.99 (save $175 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

• Echo Show 21 — $249.99 $499.99 (save $250 with Prime-exclusive coupon)

Our phones are constantly being upgraded with new, interesting technology, but the quest for progress doesn't always lead to a better product. Sometimes, new technology can be more of a gimmick than something really useful. In other cases where the technology does have its uses, it gets filtered into a ton of devices whether or not they need it.

I recently returned to desktop PC ownership after almost eight years of using only gaming laptops as my Windows systems. Sadly, given the pricing situation, I could not have picked a worse time, but there are still ways of getting what you need at a reasonable price.

You're probably feeling pretty smug right now. You survived the first wave of Starbucks holiday merch without going into total financial ruin. Congrats! You've clearly grown. You're an adult who's strong enough to withstand even the craftiest of marketing tricks. Right?

Wrong. The second wave is even more tempting. At this point, our hands are tied. It's basically impossible to resist the call of the bear.

Starbucks’ viral star is returning to shelves with a collectible twist. Launching on Nov. 10, Starbucks is releasing the Bearista Glass Cold Cup Surprise Box Edition ($39.95) at participating U.S. coffeehouses. Each sealed box hides one of five festive glass Bearista cups, complete with a green straw, a matching lid, and a custom personality card that breaks down their holiday lore, seasonal vibe, and signature drink order.

I don't need to tell you that the whole world will go absolutely mad for these cups.

Starbucks is capping in-store purchases at two boxes per customer. A limited quantity will be available exclusively for Starbucks Rewards Reserve members on the Starbucks Shop starting Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. ET (limited to one per member).

Aspen: The Skiing Bearista Bear Credit: Starbucks

An incredibly sweet alpine adventurer who’s more than ready for sunrise ski runs and lodge hangouts.

Reiny: The Reindeer Bearista Bear Credit: Starbucks

Sporting miniature antlers, this cuddly bear is built for cozying up under a blanket with your favorite holiday movies

Bunny: The Snow Bunny Bearista Bear Credit: Starbucks

Bunny features active color-changing glass that shifts shades the second iced coffee hits the chamber.

Joy: The Ice Skating Bearista Bear Credit: Starbucks

Retro skater flair combined with a miniature snow globe gives this little guy serious festive vibes.

Goldie: The Golden Bearista Bear Credit: Starbucks

Goldie is the rarest Bearista of the bunch. Get lucky or rely on massively inflated secondary-market listings.

You can't choose which Bearista you get, but that's part of the fun. You're dropping $39.95 on a mystery box and hoping for the best. If you're hunting specifically for the color-changing Bunny or the rare Goldie, basic probability dictates you could easily drop $80 on your two-box limit and end up with duplicate Aspens. That's the risk you take.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you talk a good game.

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 November 9, 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: Scam

• Green: Denim

• Blue: Jaded

• Purple: In the deep blue

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Deceitful scheme

• Green: Jeans descriptors

• Blue: Things with serrated edges

• Purple: Ending in sea creatures

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 #1246 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Deceitful scheme: CON JOB, FLIMFLAM, RIP-OFF, SHELL GAME

• Jeans descriptors: BOOTCUT, DISTRESSED, LOW-RISE, SKINNY

• Things with serrated edges: GRAPEFRUIT SPOON, MINT LEAF, STEAK KNIFE, TAPE DISPENSER

• Ending in sea creatures: CARD SHARK, FUN SPONGE, GAMMA RAY, NAVY SEAL

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

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

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Running Pi-hole on your network is a great way to block advertisements, trackers, and other unwanted domains across your devices. However, if you want some redundancy in your DNS setup, you might eventually end up running two Pi-hole instances. This gives your devices another DNS server to use if one instance becomes unavailable, but it also means maintaining two separate installations.

Meta announced Monday that it will roll out its age-estimation technology globally. The move puts millions more teens around the world into Teen Accounts settings on Instagram, the company said in a blog post. 

In April 2025, Meta began using AI technology to detect teens on Instagram, even if they'd used an adult age upon opening an account. Once identified, teens are proactively put into Meta's safest settings, which are designed to limit inappropriate content. 

This month, parents in the U.S. will begin seeing a video in their Instagram feed explaining how teens are placed in age-appropriate protections.

SEE ALSO: European Commission advises TikTok to redesign FYP or risk fines

"We’ll continue to do our part to proactively ensure teens are in age-appropriate experiences on our apps," the blog post said.

Still, Meta has spent the year under fire for its ability to protect young users. 

In March, the company lost a case brought by the state of New Mexico, which alleged that Meta's design features helped pedophiles sexually exploit children on Meta platforms. A jury found Meta liable for misleading consumers about endangering children and the safety of its platforms. Meta, which said it would fight the decision, was ordered to pay nearly $950 billion in related penalties. 

In August, Meta made a $12 billion settlement with dozens of state attorneys general in a trial over whether the social media company had designed addictive platforms.

Credit: Meta

As part of the settlement, Meta agreed to implement new platform design features and recommit to industry-standard child safety measures, including daily time limits, screen time options like night mode, and stronger age assurance measures. The company also called on competitors TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube to agree to the settlement terms, at which time Meta would pay another $5 billion. On Monday, Meta again asked TikTok and YouTube to adopt the same practices.

"We’ve set a strong standard for age assurance, but unless other companies follow suit, teens remain inconsistently protected online, defeating the purpose of these laws," wrote Meta. 

Meta's proposed fixes were met with general approval from online child safety groups, despite continued criticism of the company's Teen Accounts. 

Months prior to the settlement, Meta expanded Teen Accounts to all Meta platform users globally. At the time, the tech giant explained it was exploring additional ways to reinforce age-appropriate content moderation and repetitive, personalized algorithms. 

Meanwhile, governments around the world have begun cracking down on social media access for teens, including Australia's complete social media ban for users under 16. Other countries — as well as some U.S. states — have passed laws reinforcing age-gaited platforms and requiring social media platforms enact age assurance measures. Last week, Meta sued the California attorney general in order to block a new law designed to reduce youth social media addiction.

Meta said that its services "collectively enable billions of people around the world to share ideas, offer support, [and] discuss important topics." The company argued that the law, set to get into effect in January, would "make it unlawful for Meta to disseminate speech to minors altogether." 

Need some holiday gift ideas? Consider taking some inspiration from your fellow cybersurfers. Today, Google unveiled the 2026 edition of the Holiday 100, its annual gift guide featuring the most-searched products of the year.

According to a company blog post, this year's Holiday 100 picks range from "viral sensations that broke the internet," like squishy toys and red light masks, "to nostalgic styles making a massive comeback" (think turntables and roller skates). Content essentials like podcast mics and portable ring lights have also gained ground as the creator economy continues to grow at a rapid pace.

SEE ALSO: Mashable announces inaugural Gift of the Year winners for 2026

"With over a billion shopping searches across Google every day, we get a front-row seat to what’s actually topping everyone’s wish lists," Google said.

Many of Google's picks happen to overlap with Mashable's gift guides, including our inaugural Gift of the Year list, which features the best products we've tested over the past year. Here are the 15 top Holiday 100 picks we recommend, in no particular order. (Notably, some are already on sale ahead of Black Friday.)

To see the full Google Holiday 100 list for 2026, visit g.co/holiday100.

1. An air fryer Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass Air Fryer $159.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $20 Just when you might've thought the air fryer craze was over, searches for them grew by 60 percent this year. The colorful and portable Ninja Crispi, which has glass cooking containers that double as leftover storage, is one of our Gifts of the Year. Shop Now at Amazon 2. An LED face mask Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask $349.99 at Amazon
Last year Google saw increased searches for red light masks, and this year, interest in anti-wrinkle devices jumped by 75 percent, according to Google. We still stand by the Shark CryoGlow, another Gift of the Year winner. It features cooling eye pads and three different kinds of LED lights that can target both fine lines and pimples. Shop Now at Amazon 3. A fitness tracker Google Fitbit Air $99.99 at Amazon
Google noticed a 155 percent jump in searches for fitness trackers within the past year. (Run clubs are still all the rage, it seems.) Our reviewer called the screenless Google Fitbit Air "the most comfortable fitness tracker I've ever worn." And at just $100, it's way more affordable than a fancy smartwatch. Shop Now at Amazon 4. A record player Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony PS-LX3BT Wireless Bluetooth Turntable $348
$399.99 Save $51.99 "Turntable record players" was one of 2026's breakout search terms. Coincidentally, Sony released its first Bluetooth turntables in seven years this spring. In my review of the cheaper model, the PS-LX3BT, I called it "a stylish turntable with idiotproof plug-and-play functionality." Shop Now 5. A portable selfie light Newmowa 60 LED High Power Rechargeable Clip Fill Video Conference Light $23.25 at Amazon
Everyone wants to look good on TikTok: Google said searches for portable ring lights skyrocketed by 275 percent. Creators like Brooke Ashley Hall and Whitney Leavitt have name-dropped Newmowa's clip-on selfie light in interviews with Mashable. (You may know it as the viral "Alix Earle light.") Shop Now at Amazon 6. An instant camera bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Fujifilm Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera Holiday Bundle 2026 $89 at Amazon
$105.95 Save $16.95 Searches for Fujifilm's very giftable Instax camera sets rose 190 percent this year. Its 2026 holiday bundle includes a photo stand, a glittery storage box, a pack of film, and an Instax mini 12, which has a dedicated close-up/selfie mode and automatic flash. Its cute and super easy to use. Shop Now at Amazon 7. An Anker charging station Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (Foldable 3-in-1) $79.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $30 Anker's charging accessories are reliable and affordable, which is why many Mashable staffers prefer to use them when they're out on assignment. Google says searches for the brand's charging stations grew by 75 percent this year. Shop Now at Amazon 8. A fun phone case Opens in a new window Credit: Velvet Cavair Velvet Caviar iPhone 18 Pro Case $42.99 at Amazon
In 2026, people were searching for patterned phone cases twice as often as they usually do, Google said. Mashable staffers use a couple different phone case brands, including Casetify, Elago, Nudient, and Velvet Caviar. Shop Now at Amazon 9. A podcast mic Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech Blue Yeti USB Microphone $99.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $40.00 Google noted that searches for podcast mics have increased by 115 percent. The Logitech Blue Yeti is our go-to recommendation because it sounds great and sets up super easily. Ned Luke, the voice of "Grand Theft Auto 5's" Michael De Santa, told us he uses one when he streams. Shop Now at Amazon 10. A robot mop-vac combo Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy Robot Vacuum C28 $459.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $340 We're letting the robots do more chores this year. Per Google, searches for "robot mop and vacuum" have grown by 80 percent. After testing over 30 models, our reviewer named the Eufy C28 her top budget pick, praising its compact design, thorough cleaning, and long runtime. It's another Mashable Gift of the Year winner, too. Shop Now at Amazon 11. A brushless power tool Opens in a new window Credit: Milwaukee Milwaukee M18 Compact Brushless 2-Tool Combo Kit $179 at The Home Depot
$249 Save $70 Mashable readers are obsessed with Milwaukee's power tools. Those with brushless motors, which are more powerful and longer-lasting than brushed tools, saw a 70 percent jump in searches in 2026. Shop Now at The Home Depot 12. A board game Opens in a new window Credit: CMYK CMYK Wavelength $34.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $5 Long live game night: Searches for "family board game" rose by 125 percent this year. "Wavelength" is a ridiculously simple but highly entertaining option that challenges you to read other players' minds. Last Christmas, my family and I played it for hours (and barely fought!). Shop Now at Amazon 13. A portable sound machine Opens in a new window Credit: Hatch Hatch Go $39.99 at Amazon
Several Mashable writers have Hatch's minimalist smart alarm clocks in their bedrooms. (They can simulate sunrises and play soundscapes.) The Hatch Go is its portable sound machine for bebes, and Google said that searches for it jumped by 90 percent this year. Shop Now at Amazon 14. A Bluey-themed audio player Opens in a new window Credit: Tonies Bluey Toniebox 2 Starter Set $149.99 at Target
The Toniebox 2, a Mashable Gift of the Year winner, is a screen-free gadget that plays songs and stories when you place different "Tonie" figurines on top of it. Google noticed that it started trending after Tonies dropped its first Bluey collection this summer. (Makes sense: "Bluey" has been the most-streamed show in the U.S. for two years now.) Shop Now at Target 15. A squishy toy Schylling NeeDoh Teenie 10-Pack $24.99 at Amazon
Needohs are officially the new Labubus. (I promise that's not just gibberish.) This past year, people have waited in lines for hours just to buy these colorful sensory toys. They're probably the reason why searches for "squishy" hit all all-time high in 2026. Shop Now at Amazon

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Ever looked at the moon and thought, man, I'd love to work there? Well, NASA is hiring.

Announced over the weekend, applications are now open for the next batch of astronauts who will train specifically to work and live on the lunar surface.

SEE ALSO: Artemis II crew witnessed meteor flashes on the moon with their own eyes

The U.S. space agency is looking for the next class to be trained at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, those "who will join NASA as America returns to the Moon, builds the Moon Base, and lays the groundwork for the first crewed missions to Mars." Applications close 11:59 p.m. ET Dec. 3 and NASA will make its selections in late 2027.

Saturday's announcement came with a "NASA wants you" recruitment video, featuring NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Andre Douglas, Deniz Burnham, Randy Bresnik, Kayla Barron, Jack Hathaway, and Chris Williams.

Of course, you can't just spacewalk into a job on the moon. To apply, you'll need to be a U.S. citizen with a master's degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field from an accredited institution. If you don't have the latter, NASA will also accept currently enrolled or completed Test Pilot School students (who also have a STEM bachelor's degree), people with medical degrees with professional experience or completed residency training, or people who have completed two years of a STEM-based doctoral program. Candidates also need at least three post-degree years in their field.

Applying pilots also need to have considerable flight experience and pilot-in-command time whether in high-performance jet, rotary-wing, or other fix-wing aircrafts.

Along with a dazzling CV, applicants will need to upload five references (not letters of recommendation), all STEM-related academic transcripts, and if necessary, a completed pilot qualifications form. Candidates can then track their applications online.

It's been two years since NASA opened astronaut applications in 2024, from which 10 candidates made it through from over 8,000 applications. Nicknamed "The Platypi," the class of 2026 are currently training at Johnson Space Center. When their training's complete, they'll join the 32 active astronauts at NASA in missions and tasks like spacecraft development and maintenance (including those all-important spacewalks), research experiments, Mission Control ground support, and more. Who knows? A future Artemis mission could be on your CV.

"This is an extraordinary time to join NASA’s astronaut corps," said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in a press statement. "The people we select could walk on the Moon, live and work at the Moon Base, and help pioneer the systems and operations that will ultimately carry crews to Mars."

So, if you think you meet NASA's requirements (and I certainly don't), you can apply to be an astronaut via the U.S. government's job website.

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Where to check for Pokémon TCG restocks: Amazon Pokémon TCG Shop Now TCGplayer Pokémon TCG Shop Now Walmart Pokémon TCG Shop Now Best Buy Pokémon TCG Shop Now Target Pokémon TCG Shop Now GameStop Pokémon TCG Shop Now

Finding Pokémon card stock at market price hasn’t become any easier in 2026. Of course, you can help your odds by knowing where to look.

When shopping for the 30th Celebration collection, the new Delta Reign expansion, or the Ultra Premium Collection, finding actual stock can be tough. That said, by making the most of important go-tos like Amazon’s invitation system, Best Buy’s own store-only listings, and the occasional restocks elsewhere, you can add to your collection without paying inflated prices.

Where to check for Pokémon TCG restocks

These are the stores we'd keep bookmarked to have the best chance of getting Pokémon TCG’s new releases. Keep in mind that some of the best options for products are through third-party sellers:

• Amazon — One of the more convenient places to find sealed Pokémon products, especially Booster Bundles, ETBs, and Booster Display Boxes. In fact, Amazon recently brought back its $59.99 invitation-only 30th Celebration ETB offer. Select ‘Request invite’ on the Amazon-sold listing; an invitation isn't guaranteed, and the price will likely revert to much higher third-party prices once stock runs out.

• TCGplayer — One of the first places to check for preorders on brand new releases, single cards, and listings close to market price. The dedicated trading card site’s "market price" estimations are helpful to gauge whether you’re overpaying for a Pokémon TCG product in the modern market.

• Walmart — Regularly carries newly released collections and older expansions, with an extensive selection of products from marketplace sellers, usually at lower prices than Amazon. Not only can you find the in-demand Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra Premium Collection Night Edition for under market price, but Walmart+ members can sometimes receive early access to restocks.

• Best Buy — Among the better options for avoiding reseller markup, thanks to its Pokémon listings that are actually priced at MSRP. For instance, its Prismatic Evolutions ETB is listed at $49.99, although this is another example where you need to request an invite and hope to be randomly selected. Meanwhile, other products sold at MSRP are available only in physical stores. Even if you’re not able to visit in-person Best Buy stores, it's worth registering for online stock drops at MSRP whenever that option becomes available.

• Gamestop — Carries the latest expansions alongside older Booster Bundles, Elite Trainer Boxes, and single packs, with some surprising deals that can undercut other sellers. Its Delta Reign Booster Bundle is currently listed at $49.99, with Pro members eligible for a reduced $47.49 price. The retailer's store availability tools are particularly useful for finding nearby stock.

• Target — Another useful destination for new collections, particularly if nearby stores have inventory available for pickup. As for online, anything at or near MSRP does unfortunately sell out instantly, and anything readily available comes with a massively jacked-up price. Target has also begun experimenting with invitation systems for certain Pokémon products, including the Destined Rivals Three-Booster Blister, priced at $14.99.

• Pokémon Center — The go-to for finding market price and initial drops — plus getting exclusive Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box editions with additional booster packs and promotional cards. Thanks to the massive imbalance between demand and supply, stock runs out within minutes. 

Why are Pokémon cards still selling out so quickly?

The core issue that’s been plaguing the Pokémon TCG for years comes down to overall demand far outstripping supply; almost any product sells out at MSRP instantly. Between demand from collectors, competitive players, and most importantly, resellers (with many using bot accounts), any preorders or stock drops for new and popular expansions can disappear within minutes of being listed. 

The Pokémon Company is printing more cards than ever to help combat the problem. It produced 10 billion cards worldwide during its latest financial year, but even that hasn't been enough to satisfy demand.

That said, the higher volumes during the 30th Celebration have at least affected scalpers' profit margins. More have been available, giving resellers less justification to drive prices above market levels. Moving forward, the company will continue to tackle the shortages while increasing production and promising additional reprints. At the same time, retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have introduced invitation systems and randomized drawings to reduce the impact of scalpers.

The best Pokémon TCG deal this week Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra Premium Collection Night Edition $399.95 at Walmart
$499.99 Save $100.04   Shop Now at Walmart How can you improve your chances of finding stock?

With competition still fierce for the most desirable Pokémon Trading Card Game collections, a little preparation can make the difference between paying MSRP and settling for whatever a reseller is asking:

• Sign up for invitations and drawings: Register for Amazon and Best Buy invitations whenever available, and check Target and Walmart for new product draws. These don't guarantee a purchase, but they remove some of the pressure of competing against other shoppers during a live restock.

• Check local stores: Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart can all be worth visiting in person. Online stock may have disappeared, but that doesn't automatically mean every physical location has sold out.

• Compare prices before buying: Use TCGplayer to establish the market price for whatever you're looking at, then compare it to the original MSRP. 

• Follow Pokémon restock trackers: Accounts like @PokemonDealsTCG and @pokemondealsuk on X (formerly Twitter) can help flag new drops, especially when the Pokémon Center opens its virtual queue. Plus, turning on notifications could save you from refreshing multiple store pages throughout the day.

• Check who is actually selling the product: Amazon and Walmart regularly feature external sellers, so inspect the seller's details, shipping costs, and estimated delivery dates before committing to a purchase. Third-party sellers are fine to use if they’re selling at around market price and if their rating’s strong.

Will Pokémon TCG cards be restocked for Black Friday?

With Black Friday arriving on Nov. 27, there's a good chance that retailers like Amazon, Walmart, GameStop, Best Buy, and Target will have more Pokémon TCG stock available during their holiday sales.

However, there's currently no guarantee that high-demand products like the 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box or Delta Reign collections will get additional inventory. If there is, these will very likely be very limited, invite-only drops — some even at MSRP if you’re lucky. 

Instead, keep checking retailer listings throughout November, especially for older expansions like Perfect Order, Chaos Rising, and Pitch Black, which could see more competitive prices during the sales. It’s usually at these types of shopping events that third-party sellers undercut each other to clear old stock. Any discounts will sell out quickly, so be sure to keep Mashable’s Black Friday buyer’s guides bookmarked throughout the event. 

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The comedian and late night show host has previously spoken about whether or not he'd ever run for office, and who his worst ever Daily Show guest was, but in the clip above he's asked what he'd be doing if he never worked for The Daily Show at all.

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TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Display Box is already on sale for $239.94 at Amazon, down from its $254.93 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Display Box $239.94 at Amazon
$254.93 Save $14.99   Get Deal at Amazon

The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign expansion has only been out for a few days, but Amazon sellers have wasted little time pushing its 36-pack Booster Display Box down to a record-low price.

As of Nov. 9, the Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Display Box has dropped to $239.94 at Amazon. That's a $14.99 cut from its usual $254.93 price. With that extra 6% off, you're effectively paying $6.67 per pack of the newly released expansion centered around Mega Rayquaza.

That’s an extra $3.05 below the previous record-low $242.99 preorder deal we spotted on Nov. 5, and a full $30.05 cheaper than when Amazon preorders first opened at $269.99 back in October.

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box is down to market price on release day — shop the best-ever Amazon deal

According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest price on Amazon so far. The Delta Reign Booster Display Box is now only $30.54 above its $209.94 market price — determined by dedicated trading card marketplace TCGplayer. 

It’s also important to note that this particular offer comes courtesy of third-party seller Rare Goods & Deals, with free shipping and delivery estimated for Nov. 19. If you want yours even faster, you can pay just a cent more for Amazon's main $239.95 listing, sold by TCG & MORE, with delivery currently scheduled for Nov. 17.

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Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EF Ecoflow Delta 3 Max $878.99 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $320.01   Get Deal at Amazon

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