IT General

Get out your rulers, because it's time to compare iPhone thickness.

First off, the depth of the already-released iPhone 16 is 0.31 inch, or 7.80 mm, according to Apple's website. What about the new drops?

The iPhone 17 has exactly the same depth as the 16, and the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are a bit thicker at 0.34 inch (8.75 mm) — that's 0.2 inches thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, even.

But we know you're really here to see how thick (or thin) the new iPhone Air is. According to Apple, it's a sleek 0.22 inch (5.64 mm). Can you even feel that in your back pocket?

For more Apple event coverage, follow Mashable's live blog and get real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch. 

Paramount+ is finally launching a new multiview feature that will let you watch up to four live matches at the same time. That means all the action is happening on your screen at once. This is great if you like soccer, but it should end up on more sports channels soon.

No more scalding your precious fingers on a burning up iPhone, as Apple announces a new iPhone 17 Pro cooling upgrade known as a "Vapor Chamber."

A vapor chamber is a modern thermal management system that moves the iPhone's heat away from its internal components and instead dissipates it through the device's new aluminum chasis and unibody design. The wider surface area allows the device to regulate its heat better and thus stabilize its performance, the company explained at its annual launch event, including extending its use over long periods of time shooting photos or video.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2025 live blog: Every 'awe-dropping' announcement, including iPhone 17

But just how does it do that? By stuffing a little bit of liquid inside. As Apple explained, deionized water is sealed inside the attached vapor chamber, which then draws heat away from the high-powered A19 Pro chip.

The new system upgrade was rumored earlier this year, and the technology has been in use by Android Galaxy models for awhile now. Apple designed its own vapor chamber system specifically for its new line of Pro and Pro Max phones, coupled with additions that include a larger battery and speed-charging capabilities.

The new phone will also debut with the company's A19 Pro chip, ProRes RAW options for images, Apple Intelligence features, and the latest Center Stage tool for its selfie camera, in addition to new color ways, cases, and other accessories.

The iPhone Air is here.

"Introducing the newest member of the iPhone family," Apple CEO Tim Cook said before cutting to a video showcasing said device.

Apple made its newest iPhone model official at its big September Apple Event on Tuesday, introducing an ultra-thin smartphone to its iPhone lineup. It's Apple thinnest iPhone ever.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2025 live blog: Every 'awe-dropping' announcement, including iPhone 17

How thin? The iPhone Air is only 5.6mm thick at its thinnest point.

Credit: Apple

The iPhone Air comes in four different color options: space black, cloud white, sky blue, and light gold.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone Air Starting at $999 Learn More

Apple's new thinnest smartphone has a 6.5-inch ProMotion display with refresh rates up to 120Hz encased in a durable titanium frame.

Credit: Apple

When it comes to what's inside the device, the iPhone Air is powered by Apple's newest and most powerful Silicon chip, the A19 Pro. This makes the iPhone Air even more powerful with the just-announced iPhone 17. According to Apple, it is the fastest CPU in any smartphone.

"MacBook Pro levels of compute," Apple said.

The iPhone Air also introduces a new Apple chip for wireless connectivity, the N1, which supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. The new device will also have Apple's C1X modem, which, according to Apple, helps make the device its most power-efficient smartphone ever.

Camera-wise, the iPhone Air only has one rear-facing lens, a 48MP fusion camera which includes a 12MP 2x telephoto setup as well. On the front, Apple is introducing a new selfie camera: the iPhone 17 lineup's new 18MP centerstage camera.

Credit: Apple

Apple is also finally bringing dual capture video to the iPhone, which enables use to record using both the front and rear facing cameras in one picture-in-picture style video.

Credit: Apple

During the event, Apple touted the iPhone Air as having "all-day battery life" and introduced a new mag safe battery designed specifically with the iPhone Air in mind, which can push the device to 40 hours of video playback.

Apple also announced two new case types for the iPhone Air: A translucent case that comes in two color options and a bumper case with four color options.

Credit: Apple

It appears that Apple is looking for the iPhone Air to fit in between the base and Pro models of the device, replacing the iPhone Plus model entirely.

And, price-wise, that seems to be the case as well. The iPhone Air is more expensive than the base model, starting at $999 for the 256GB model.

Credit: Apple

Rumors have been running rampant about the iPhone Air, which was being referred to as the iPhone 17 Air, even since news of its existence was discovered by insiders. the device may be the most leaked new Apple product in years.

With so much information (albeit unverified) out there in advanced, anticipation for the iPhone Air has been building all year as 2025 seems to be the year of ultra-thin smartphones. The iPhone Air brings Apple in line with its competition. Samsung, for example, released the ultra thin Galaxy S25 Edge earlier this year, which is measures 5.8mm thick at its thinnest point.

This story will be updated with more information as Apple shares it...

It's new iPhone season, which also means it's new iOS season.

With Apple launching the iPhone 17 lineup, that also heralds the arrival of iOS 26. Originally unveiled back at WWDC over the summer, iOS 26 brings a total UI overhaul, the likes of which iOS hasn't seen in years. With the advent of new iPhones, you'll also be able to install iOS 26 when it launches, as long as you have a compatible device. Here's what you need to know.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2025 live blog: Every 'awe-dropping' announcement, including iPhone 17 iOS 26 release date

Apple always times the launch of a new iOS build with the launch of new iPhones, and this year should be no different. Expect to be able to install iOS 26 on Sept. 15, with the new phones coming out a few days after that. When it's available, you should be able to install it the same way you install any software update on your iPhone, in the "General" part of the Settings app.

What's new in iOS 26?

For the past few years, new iOS releases have been a little ho-hum, but iOS 26 promises to be much more substantial thanks to the big makeover it's giving every part of your iPhone's user interface.

I'm referring to Liquid Glass, the new design language Apple introduced with iOS 26. It makes app icons and other UI elements look like glass, but they also animate like liquid. Go figure. There are also much-needed updates to the Photos and Phone apps, with the former getting an especially necessary overhaul to make it easier to sort between your full photo library and any folders you've created.

Other new toys include an expanded feature set for group chats in Messages. You can now set custom backgrounds for group chats and even conduct polls, a feature that will almost certainly be abused to heinous ends as soon as it launches. There's also a new Games app for all your mobile gaming needs, including a place to compare scores to friends and a dedicated tab for Apple Arcade games.

Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence is getting in on the fun, too. Both Messages and phone calls will support live language translation using AI, which is definitely the flagship AI feature on iOS 26. That will certainly be useful to plenty of people in lots of different situations.

Natural language searching is also coming to the Messages app, so you can hopefully find old chats and photos more easily than before. AI-generated summaries for voicemails are built into iOS 26, as well. Users can also expect to use ChatGPT to generate images in Image Playground, as well as a new feature that lets you mix multiple emojis together into one custom Genmoji.

Which devices will support iOS 26?

Of course, not every iPhone on the planet will support iOS 26. Here's the full list of compatible devices:

• iPhone SE (second generation and beyond only)

• iPhone 11, Pro, and Pro Max

• iPhone 12, Mini, Pro, and Pro Max

• iPhone 13, Mini, Pro, and Pro Max

• iPhone 14, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max

• iPhone 15, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max

• iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max

• iPhone 16e

If you don't have one of those, you're out of luck. Sorry.

If you want to take Center Stage on the selfie cam, now you can on the iPhone.

At Tuesday's Apple event, the company announced that Center Stage — the feature that allows you to keep centered in the camera frame — will now be available for the front-facing iPhone camera. Apple's current support page for Center Stage only details the feature on Mac and iPad, so this is a big upgrade to the iPhone camera.

SEE ALSO: iPhone Air: The new ultra-thin iPhone officially announced by Apple

Now, you'll be able to stay centered on the iPhone. Apple also boasted high-resolution selfies in any orientation (portrait or landscape) and stabilized selfies while moving. The company called it an "innovative front camera system" and helpful for recording yourself. Apple promises its phone is the "best choice for content creators."

For more Apple event coverage, follow Mashable's live blog and get real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch.

Apple's new iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are here.

The new phones were officially unveiled at the Cupertino-based tech giant's Sept. 9 "Awe Dropping" event.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max announced at Apple event 2025

Apple took its time unveiling the new iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, instead showcasing the iPhone 17 and the iPhone Air first.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces iPhone 17 with ProMotion display and upgraded selfie cam

But worry not; the "Pro" models are still Apple's most powerful phones. They run on Apple's new A19 Pro, which the company calls "the fastest CPU in any smartphone."

They also have a new design, with the first "iPhone Unibody," a rigid aluminum enclosure that allowed Apple to give these phones the biggest battery ever seen in an iPhone. These new iPhones should also be very durable, thanks to Apple using Ceramic Shield on both front and back.

Credit: Apple

Apple barely mentioned it during the presentation, but the size of the Pro models hasn't changed; the iPhone 17 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display.

As is tradition, Apple didn't say how big the batteries in these phones are. The official spec sheet, however, says the iPhone 17 Pro can do up to 33 hours of video playback, while the Pro Max achieves 6 hours more.

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max: The cameras Credit: Apple

The camera system is new, too, and so is the massive camera bump (or "plateau" as Apple calls it) that hosts the three rear cameras. And yes, just as the rumors predicted, all three now have a 48-megapixel sensor.

Highlights include 12-megapixel "optical-quality" 8x telephoto shots, with digital zoom up to 40x, as well as sharper and more detailed images all around. On the front, there's the 18-megapixel Center Stage camera, apparently the same one seen on the other new iPhones.

The flash is also further away from the cameras, which may present a learning curve.

What else is new? Credit: Apple

There's also the all-new thermal management, with a vapor chamber that dissipates heat away from the key components. This is where the new aluminum frame comes in, as it has far better (20 times better, Apple claims) thermal conductivity than titanium, which is what Apple used for iPhone 16.

Other highlights include an entirely new, Apple-designed wireless chip called N1, which takes care of wireless tech such as WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. The new iPhones Pro charge faster than before — you can expect a 50 percent charge in 20 minutes if you use the (optional) high-wattage USB-C power adapter. And yes, as expected, the FineWoven cases have been replaced with TechWoven, a techy new fabric that should be better at resisting scratches and stains.

How to preorder the new iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Credit: Apple

The new flagship iPhone 17 smartphones are available for pre-order now at the Apple store. As more retailers start opening pre-orders, we'll update this story.

The prices are the same as before: The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199. Pre-orders for these models start on Friday, Sept. 12, and availability starts on Sept. 19.

.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 17 Pro $1,099 at Apple Store
Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max $1,199 at Apple Store
Learn More

For more Apple event coverage, follow Mashable's live blog and get real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch. 

When you think of MagSafe accessories, you probably picture charging pucks and stands, battery packs, wallets, or cases. Those were the main products Apple promoted when MagSafe was first introduced, and they still dominate today.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 will tell you the time — and a slew of other information — for eight more hours than the Ultra 2, according to Apple.

The Ultra 3 has up to 42 hours of battery life, up from 36 hours that the Ultra 2 was capable of. In Low Power Mode, the Ultra 3 can last up to 72 hours. According to Apple, during Tuesday's event, this is the longest battery life of any Apple Watch.

The 42 hour (and 72 in Low Power Mode) stands when users are training, racing, or going about their day, Apple stated in its Apple Watch Ultra 3 announcement. For those exercising outdoors for long periods of time, Ultra 3 will last for 20 hours of life in Low Power Mode with full GPS and heart rate readings.

Ultra 3 also boasts fast charging: 15 minutes will product 12 hours of battery life.

For more Apple event coverage, follow Mashable's live blog and get real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch. 

Apple unveiled its new Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 features today, including Apple's first attempt at blood pressure monitoring.

With advanced detection tools powered by machine learning, Apple explained, watches will now track and monitor signs of hypertension over a period of time. If the watch deduces the wearer is experiencing chronic high blood pressure, it will urge users to record their blood pressure using a third-party blood pressure cuff and alert their physician, according to American Heart Association guidelines.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2025 live blog: Every 'awe-dropping' announcement, including iPhone 17

The device uses an optical heart sensor to analyze how blood vessels respond to heart beats over a 30-day period. Its algorithm was built using data from 100,000 participants and later validated in a clinical study of over 2,000 participants, said Apple.

Credit: Apple

It won't be able to detect every moment of hypertension, but Apple still anticipates it will help more than a million wearers. "Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, and impacts approximately 1.3 billion adults globally," wrote Apple. "It is frequently undiagnosed because it often has no symptoms, many people do not see a doctor regularly, and even during a clinical visit, it can be easily missed with a single measurement."

Apple says it is expecting FDA clearance of the technology soon.

The company has been exploring blood pressure monitoring for years, first rumored to be in the works in 2021 and later delayed ahead of the Apple Watch 10 announcement.

The feature will be available starting on Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and later, as well as watchOS 26.

Finally, there's a new Apple Watch SE — this time with the S10 chip. It has an always-on display, sleep scores, retrospective ovulation estimates, sleep apnea notifications, wrist temperature sensing, and more features. It starts at $249 and will launch on Sept. 19, but you can preorder it now.

At Apple's spring announcement event on Tuesday, and after three years of waiting, the company dropped all the specs for the new Apple Watch SE 3. While the battery isn't quite as long-lasting as other fitness watches, the SE 3 does charge quickly — 15 minutes on the charger adds eight hours of battery life, and it can charge to 80 percent in under an hour.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 $249 at Apple
Pre-order Here The new Apple Watch SE: The specs

Here are the basics for the Apple Watch SE 3:

• Battery life up to 18 hours

• S10 chip

• Always on display

• Wrist temperature sensing for ovulation estimates

• Sleep apnea notifications

• Sleep score

• Playing media — like music and podcasts — directly through the speakers

• Gestures like double-tap and wrist flip

• 5G cellular capabilities

• A more durable cover glass

• Liquid Glass

• Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence

"Apple Watch SE offers a great way for users to start their Apple Watch journey, delivering outstanding health, fitness, safety, and connectivity features at an incredible value," Stan Ng, Apple’s vice president of Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing, said in a press release. "With even more health features, an Always-On display, and fast charging, we’re excited to see the ways Apple Watch SE 3 supports more people around the world to live a healthier and more active life."

Apple Watch SE 3 can play media through the speakers Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 has a new sleep score and sleep apnea notifications Credit: Apple Overnight vitals on the Apple Watch SE 3 Credit: Apple Ovulation estimations on the Apple Watch SE 3 Credit: Apple The new Apple Watch family

Apple also announced the new Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. This is big news since last year, the only new watch model we got was the Apple Watch Series 10 — unless you count the new black titanium option announced in 2024 for the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Before this, the most recent Apple Watch SE was released in 2022.

For more Apple event coverage, follow Mashable's live blog and get real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch. 

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 officially dropped at the tech giant's "Awe Dropping" event on Tuesday.

It came with some interesting upgrades for folks in the market for a premium, rugged smartwatch.

A few of the upgrades:

• The display is bigger, brighter, and easier to read in outdoor, sunny settings.

• Ultra 3 comes with with satellite connectivity, meaning you don't have to worry if your hike takes you off-grid.

• The battery life will also prove a relief to users: It comes in at 42 hours, according to Apple, which is the longest of any Apple Watch. That's up from 36 hours for the Ultra 2.

• The Ultra 3 comes in black and titanium.

Credit: Apple

The iPhone 17, of course, sucked-up a lot of the attention and expectations in the lead-up to the big Apple Event — after all, a new lineup of phones is a big deal. But a new Ultra is also big news, especially for smartwatch enthusiasts because it's the top-of-the-line offering from Apple. But that performance will cost you. The Watch Ultra 3 will start at $799.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 3 $799 at Apple
Pre-order Here

The satellite connectivity will likely be welcomed by folks who partake in activities outside the range of typical cell coverage. Apple promised users would be able to "text emergency services, message friends and family, and share their location" all while off-grid. And, of course, the Ultra 3 also gets the major upgrades the Apple Watch Series 11 received, namely hypertension detection and upgraded sleep tracking.

Credit: Apple Credit: Apple

"Apple Watch Ultra is our most advanced Apple Watch, designed to take users from sports and adventure to the rest of their life, and help them stay active, healthy, connected, and safe, wherever they are,” said Eugene Kim, Apple’s vice president of Apple Watch hardware engineering, in a statement.

Expectations coming into the event were that the Ultra 3 would provide incremental upgrades on the Ultra 2. Rumors suggested, among other features, that a bigger display, modest gains in processing power, and satellite messaging were likely. That's pretty much what we got on Tuesday — impressive, if not world-changing upgrades.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 can be preordered on Tuesday, with availability beginning Friday, Sept. 19.

For more Live Apple Event coverage, follow Mashable's live blog and get real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch.

Is the Apple Watch Series 11 worth the money it'll take to strap one on your wrist? Short answer: It depends how important battery life is to you.

Apple unveiled the new version of its signature smartwatch at its Apple event Tuesday. While most viewers were waiting to catch their first glimpse of iPhone 17, a significant chunk of the audience was hoping to find out if the Series 11 was a minor upgrade like the Series 10. The rumor mill said Apple was waiting until Series 12 in 2026 to introduce major changes like a more energy-efficient screen or Apple Intelligence-powered camera for FaceTime calls. Turns out the rumor mill was right.

So now we know. The Apple Watch Series 11 comes in three colors — jet black, rose gold, and a new space grey. The release date is Sept. 19. Here are the specs:

• 24 hours of battery life, a significant improvement

• S11 chip, with minor tweaks to the design of the previous Apple Watch chips, the S9 and S10.

• 5G support

• Blood pressure hypertension detection, pending FDA clearance in the U.S.

• A "sleep score" similar to the one found on the Oura ring.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 $399 at Apple
Pre-order Here

Apple announced the Series 11 alongside its smaller, cheaper Apple Watch SE 3 and larger, pricier Apple Watch Ultra. That's three new Watches — making this launch a big deal compared to 2024, when Apple unveiled only one smartwatch, the Series 10. But if you're on the hunt for a more exciting, groundbreaking list of features, you might want to wait until the Series 12.

For more Apple event coverage, follow Mashable's live blog and get real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch. 

It's a love story as only Guillermo del Toro can tell it. For ages, the Mexican filmmaker, who has awed audiences with wondrous films like The Devil's Backbone, Pan's Labyrinth, Crimson Peak, and the Academy Award–winning The Shape of Water, has dreamed of turning Mary Shelley's Frankenstein into a movie of his own. And what he has accomplished here — notably with some of Hollywood's most beautiful men in the lead roles — is absolutely astonishing. 

Ahead of the North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, del Toro explained to the audience how for him, Frankenstein is a story of fathers and sons, exploring his relationship to his own father and his own children. But audiences won't need a curtain speech to understand this inspiration point, as del Toro's script is unabashedly about the ties that bind and sometimes suffocate. 

With the help of a star-studded cast that includes Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz, this rightly heralded writer/director resurrects a classic horror story with a romantic flair that makes it gruesome, beautiful, and deeply poignant all at once. 

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein focuses on cycles of behavior and abuse. Charles Dance as Leopold Frankenstein and Christian Convery as young Victor in "Frankenstein." Credit: Ken Woroner / Netflix

This version of Frankenstein begins with a framework that recalls Shelley's 1818 novel. In 1857, in "farthest north," a crew of freezing sailors chips away at their ice-seized ship as their captain hollers about reaching the North Pole. Then, they find a man, bleeding and broken, barely alive on the icy terrain. 

They pull him aboard only to discover he's being pursued by a mighty, bellowing "thing." The man is Victor Frankenstein (Isaac), the thing is his monster (Elordi). After a swarm of sailors beats the latter back in a dynamic and fiery action sequence — taking heavy, grisly losses — they sail on, but Victor warns the Creature will return, and so begins his story to the captain. 

Through this framework, the film flashes back to Victor's youth, where he was in a bitter battle with his cruel father (Dance) over his beautiful mother (Goth). As a boy, Victor sought the love of his mother but the approval of his father, if only to avoid the lashings the latter considered parenting. When Victor's mother dies in childbirth, he blames his surgeon father for failing, and seeks to best them both, though he only articulates his wish to outmatch his father. 

Years later, as a fanatical scientist, Victor experiments with electricity on corpses, seeking to resurrect them into a new living thing. Like James Whale's iconic Frankenstein, there's the fantastical element of a man creating life without the intervention of a woman. Here, because of Victor's pronounced love of his mother, his experiment feels like a backwards way to prove she need not have died. But in a bigger way, it is to defeat death as his father never could. 

His victory comes when he successfully stitches together and electrocutes to life a son. But Victor's failing is falling into the same cycle of abuse his father modeled. At first, Victor is in awe of his towering creation as it toddles in awkward steps and begins to explore its dungeon containment, splashing in puddles of water and reaching curiously for the fire that lights the space. But when his monster's intellectual development doesn't meet Victor's standards, it will be the lash, just as Victor experienced when he flunked his father's lessons. 

Oscar Isaac is great in Frankenstein.  Oscar Issac as Victor Frankenstein in "Frankenstein." Credit: Ken Woroner / Netflix

Isaac brings a frightening fire to the role of Victor Frankenstein. He is not the raving mad scientist of the Universal Monster movies. He is not the egotistical showman of Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Isaac makes the part his own by digging into the paternal determination to mold his "creation" in his own image. 

Furthering the Oedipal thread that began in his childhood, this Victor is given a softer side through a romance subplot and a clever bit of casting. Victor becomes instantly besotted with Elizabeth, a young maiden who loves sciences and insects, and who is also played by Mia Goth.

Her girlish beauty gives an impression of innocence and gentleness, but del Toro's script bolsters Elizabeth with a sharp scientific intelligence, something she shares with Victor though their morals differ intensely. When she sees the monster, she sees someone impressive and pure, despite his scars and lack of academic accomplishment. She sees a soul that Victor cannot grasp. She becomes the foil to Victor's drive, echoing the warmth and joy of his mother. Thereby, the monster becomes a reflection of both his "father" and "mother," an accomplishment the cold, violent Victor failed to achieve.

Jacob Elordi is iconic as Frankenstein's monster.  Jacob Elordi as the Creature in "Frankenstein." Credit: Ken Woroner / Netflix

At six feet, five inches tall, Elordi easily towers over his co-stars. But rather than sporting bolts in his neck or gnarly lumps of sullied flesh, del Toro's monster is lean and muscular, pale to the point of nearly being blue, and precisely constructed. There's a slight resemblance to the Engineers, the tall, robust, alien race from Prometheus. However, the scars along his wrists, limbs, torso, and face will never let us forget his origins. 

Elordi has a difficult role because the Creature's arc is one of pain that often has no voice. Much of the performance is doggedly physical. After his birth, he is a child, though his father cannot see that. Elordi reflects this with a portrait of exploratory physicality so much like a toddler's that it's both wondrous and wretched, as we know what horrors will come next for this innocent.

At Victor's hands, the Creature experiences physical, emotional, and psychological abuse; he's chained, beaten, and insulted. Meeting Elizabeth, however, gives the Creature a greater understanding of the possibilities of the world and people. The second half of the film focuses on the monster telling his own story to the ship's captain, the framework device switching perspectives. While sound effects are employed to give Elordi's voice a harrowing, monstrous echo in these scenes, the delivery of the Creature's words as he finds his voice is bedecked with pain and earnest wonder. 

The Creature's story, where he is cast out by one family and so chooses another, is one that will speak to many, especially as Elordi's crackling voice explains the heartbreaking realization that the world may try to destroy you just for being yourself. This misfit monster becomes a radiant analogy for self-love, as he is both horrid and beautiful, misunderstood and full of potential and love. For this monster, del Toro carves out a different ending from Shelley's — one that is bittersweet and glorious.

None of these risky deviations or romantic embrace of the monster would work were it not for Elordi's performance. He wears a full body of prosthetic scars and putridly pale skin, but he suffuses every movement, every glance with purpose and emotion. Escaping his well-recognized handsomeness and the expectations that come with being a dashing leading man, Elordi is del Toro's perfect monster, wretched and wondrous. 

Del Toro's Frankenstein is a romantic fairy tale and a horror movie.  Mia Goth as Claire Frankenstein and Christian Convery as young Victor in "Frankenstein." Credit: Ken Woroner / Netflix

Like Crimson Peak, perhaps Del Toro's most misunderstood film, Frankenstein embraces a romantic fairy tale tone that urges audiences to indulge in its impressions and emotions. Because the film is told from one perspective then another, there's a suggestion that what we're shown is not what happened but how it felt. 

So, a preposterous tower shoots into the sky like a dark, threatening blade, its insides riddled with rot, overrun with vines, and yet glistening with top-of-the-line tech, funded by an eccentric arms dealer (Waltz). And here, a young woman is both Victor's dream girl in intellect but also wears the face of his mother. Could that be real? Or is Elizabeth as Victor dreams her? Likewise, the violence the monster inflicts on others feels impossibly powerful, as he chucks wolves away with the slash of a forearm and rocks an ice-bound ship loose of its frigid bonds. At times, del Toro's story feels impossible, and that's precisely the point. 

Every element of this film is like a fairy tale, not the kind we tell to children to help them fall asleep but the kind used in dark forests and evil-plagued eras to warn them of a world that won't see them as beautiful but as meat. So, the design of the monster follows this idea, being both splendid and scarred. The experiments of Victor's process are gruesome, but also reveal the natural beauty of human's internal design.

The costumes by Kate Hawley (Crimson Peak) are extraordinary, ranging from dark shrouds, so charred and befouled you can practically smell them, to gossamer gowns and veils that float almost impossibly, draping Goth in vibrant colors. And details along the spine of both the Creature's crusty trench coat and Elizabeth's corseted gowns remind us of the bones that lie beneath, a connection between them and their fortitude against the abuses of the world. 

The score by Alexandre Desplat is sumptuous in its agony. Stringed instruments call out in longing and loss, enveloping the audience and the monster with the same, overwhelming surge of hurt and awe. The sound design as a whole embraces del Toro's signature blend of horror and romance. Sounds of violence snap and squelch, but in a symphony all their own. Across the production design, a vicious, brilliant red ties everything together, from Victor's mother (who drapes herself head to toe in the color) to his leather gloves as he operates, a book here, a funeral wreath there, and of course, in the end, blood. Yet the juxtaposition this sharp color serves against so much high-contrast blacks and whites of cloaks and dead flesh doesn't seem threatening; instead, it's a reminder of life — vibrant, pulsing, and unstoppable. 

As a whole, del Toro's Frankenstein is a marvel. His vision is clear and mesmerizing. His ensemble is electrifying. His adaptation is unique, soulful, and unforgettable. The man who loves monsters has just made his masterpiece: It's rich, rapturous, and ruthlessly interrogates what it means to be human, with all of our glory and our flaws.

Frankenstein was reviewed out of its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie will open in select theaters in Oct. 17 (and this critic suggests you go see it big!). A Netflix release will follow on Nov. 7. 

It turns out Google isn't planning on making AI Mode the default for Google search anytime soon, but it came with news of more AI slop coming. This all came from rumors that started swirling after a comment from one of the company's own product leads, who works with Google AI.

SAVE $500.01: As of Sept. 9, get the EcoFlow Delta 3 for $898.99, down from its usual price of $1,399 at Amazon as part of a Lightning Deal. That's a discount of 36% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon EcoFlow Delta 3 $898.99 at Amazon
$1,399 Save $500.01 Get Deal

If you find yourself in situations where you might lost power, a portable power station is always a good idea. You never know when you might need to charge your phone, electronics, or other important appliances, and when bad weather strikes, you can go straight to your emergency power station for some peace of mind. If you don't have one yet, now's a good time to grab it thanks to this Amazon deal.

As of Sept. 9, get the EcoFlow Delta 3 for $898.99, down from its usual price of $1,399 at Amazon as part of a Lightning Deal. That's a discount of 36% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Forget dead batteries — these Bluetti power stations are game-changers for the outdoors and power outages

This power station offers 1,024Wh of power thanks to its LiFePO4 battery. It should last up to 10 years, so you've got longevity in case you end up needing it over and over again. Plus, when fully charged, it allows you to recharge something like your phone for nearly 90 cycles, or even keep your fan or other devices o for about 17 hours. It can even power a refrigerator so your food doesn't go bad for nearly 60 hours.

It has six AC ports, two USB-C ports, and two USB-A ports. It also charges from 0 to 100% in under an hour, with a weight of just 30 pounds. That makes it easy to maneuver and take around your home if needed.

Now's the time to snap yours up, so act fast while it's still up for grabs. You'll feel much better having it around in an emergency.

TL;DR: Live stream the 16th season of The Great British Baking Show for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If Love Island is the best show for the summer, The Great British Baking Show is exactly what we need as the nights get longer and colder.

The Great British Baking Show throws Britain's best amateur bakers into the iconic white tent to battle it out over delicious bakes. The annual return of Bake Off signals the time to lock your doors, light some candles, surround yourself with snacks, and sink into the comforting embrace of the most wholesome show to ever exist.

If you're interested in watching The Great British Baking Show in 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is The Great British Baking Show in 2025?

The 16th season of The Great British Baking Show started on Sept. 2 in the UK. Episodes go live a few days later in the U.S.

How to watch The Great British Baking Show for free in 2025

The Great British Baking Show is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone from around the world 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 Channel 4 to watch The Great British Baking Show from anywhere in the world.

Live stream The Great British Baking Show for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like 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 Channel 4

5. Stream The Great British Baking Show for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking streaming sites are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 16th season of The Great British Baking Show without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you time to watch a large chunk of the season before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free live streams on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, as well as platforms like Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and routers

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream The Great British Baking Show for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

PRE-OREDER THE NEW E-READER: The Kobo Clara Colour now comes in a white colorway and is available for pre-order from Rakuten Kobo for $159.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rakuten Kobo Kobo Clara Colour (white) $159.99 at Rakuten Kobo
Pre-order Here

Although it might not feel like it outside today, eventually fall and winter weather will come around. Once that happens, we'll be resuming indoor hobbies and that includes major reading sessions. Plenty of people prefer to do so with an e-reader. These make traveling with several books a cinch and it also affords you free and immediate access to your library's e-book collection, thanks to the wonderful Libby app. If you don't yet own an e-reader, check out this fun news.

Mashable's favorite e-reader, the Kobo Clara Colour, now comes in a white colorway. Previously, the e-reader was only available in black, so this could appeal if you prefer a brighter option that comes with all the same features we love about the Kobo Clara Colour.

In the official press release, Michael Tamblyn, the CEO of Rakuten Kobo, said, "Since we launched our colour eReaders, Kobo Libra Colour and Kobo Clara Colour, in 2024, we have been overwhelmed with how positively they have been received by booklovers around the world. Our most popular feature request since launch has been ‘Clara Colour, but make it white!' and we are happy to be able to meet that demand."

Pre-orders are now open and the brand says the new devices will be available on Sept. 23. Kobo Rakuten mentions they aim for delivery on the "available" date, but it's not guaranteed.

Why does Mashable love the Kobo Clara Colour? For starters, it has a color display that's rivaled by Amazon's Kindle Colorsoft which comes in at $249.99 for the same 16GB storage capacity that comes with the Clara Colour. The color-capable display on the Clara Colour is ideal when reading manga, graphic novels, and browsing diagrams and maps in books. There's also a super handy highlighter function.

Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "Having tried my hand at nearly a dozen e-readers in all shapes, sizes, and brands, I wasn't expecting to be so deeply impressed by the Kobo Clara Colour, but it is the ideal e-reader. With a 6-inch screen, it's slightly smaller than the Kindle Paperwhite, but it makes it the perfect size, able to be held comfortably for multiple hours at a time without any wrist or arm fatigue."

That six-inch screen makes it awesome to pack along for your next vacation or to keep you entertained (distracted) during the daily train commute. Unlike the Kindle, the Kobo Clara Colour is ad-free. Certain versions of the Kindle can claim the same, but they come with a higher price tag.

If you've always wanted an e-reader but haven't been thrilled with a black housing, it's your lucky day now that the Kobo Clara Colour comes in a white option. Pre-order it now and you'll be reading in color with a white e-reader in just a few weeks.

GET A FREE YEAR OF ESPN DTC: As of Sept. 9, flagship Samsung TVs including OLED models, Neo QLEDs, and The Frame Pro are still on sale form Labor Day — and Samsung will throw in 12 months of ESPN's new streaming service (a $299.99 value) if you buy one.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Free ESPN for a year ($299.99 value) When you buy select Samsung QLED or OLED TVs Get Deal

Football season inspires some of the best TV deals of the year. If you're tempted to bring home your new TV at the start of the season (rather than waiting until Black Friday or playoffs), consider buying a Samsung — with your purchase, you'll also get a free way to watch a ton of NFL games. As of Sept. 9, Samsung is throwing in a free year of ESPN's new streaming service (a $299.99 value) with the purchase of a glare-free TV. These include The Frame Pro, S95F OLED, and several 4K and 8K Neo QLED models, most of which are also on sale themselves. You could save upwards of $1,000 with these combined savings.

SEE ALSO: My Best Buy Plus and Total members: Get NFL Sunday Ticket for up to $222 off

Finding a way to watch NFL games for cheap is an art form these days — especially now that StreamEast met its demise. The ESPN DTC streaming service is one new strategy to add to your playbook this year. A subscription gets you access to all ESPN networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, and the ACC Network, plus ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX. It's one way to watch any live game on ESPN or ABC. The Samsung promo covers the ESPN Unlimited Plus plan, which is set to show 47,000 live events total throughout the year.

In terms of the TVs you'll be choosing from, Samsung didn't hold back on offering its best models. Here's a full breakdown of all the Samsung TV deals eligible for the ESPN promo:

• Samsung QN1EF Samsung Vision AI Neo QLED 4K TV (55 to 85 inches) — between $849.99 and $1,949.99 (save up to $950)

• Samsung The Frame Pro Samsung Vision AI Neo QLED 4K TV (65 to 85 inches) — between $2,099.99 and $3,999.99 (save up to $300)

• Samsung S95F Samsung Vision AI OLED 4K TV (55 to 83 inches) — between $2,199.99 and $5,999.99 (save up to $500)

• Samsung QN900F Samsung Vision AI Neo QLED 8K TV (65 to 85 inches) — between $3,099.99 and $5,299.99 (save up to $200)

• Samsung QN990F Samsung Vision AI Neo QLED 8K TV (65 to 85 inches) — between $5,299.99 and $7,999.99 (save up to $500)

While dark scenes and nighttime watching are typically an OLED TV's wheelhouse, Samsung's S95F OLED is often referred to as one of the brightest OLEDs on the market — crucial for watching sports in daylight. There's a serious price slash on every size of the Samsung QN1EF, which is already a budget-friendly QLED option even at full price. Plus, we think Samsung's The Frame Pro is one of the best TVs of the year. All QLED models listed here are Neo QLED, which combines the classic layer of quantum dots we're used to with QLED technology, paired with mini LEDs.

A massive banner was unfurled outside Apple's Cupertino headquarters on Tuesday morning, with the smiling face of CEO Tim Cook welcoming visitors to the company's California campus. But the message of the starkly monochromatic decoration wasn't a boast about the new iPhone upgrades about to be announced, instead reading: "New iPhone Still Spreading Child Sexual Abuse."

The image was an act of civil disobedience by the Heat Initiative, a tech accountability network of experts, parents, and youth advocates who have made it their mission to pressure Big Tech into taking more aggressive action against predatory behavior and threats to youth safety across their platforms.

Mashable reached out to Apple for comment about the Heat Initiative action, but hasn't yet received a response. Apple previously responded to accusations that its products enable child sexual abuse material (CSAM); the company was targeted in a related class action lawsuit filed late last year. Apple stated at the time that it takes CSAM seriously and has instituted additional guardrails to prevent its spread.

SEE ALSO: Which jobs are AI-proof?

"Cook and Apple’s top executives know child sexual abuse is hosted and traded from iCloud, but they refuse to implement common sense detection and removal practices that are standard across the tech industry," said Heat Initiative CEO Sarah Gardner in a press statement.

"That means survivors of child sexual abuse are forced to relive the worst crimes imaginable over and over because of Apple’s negligence and inaction. Since Apple won’t act, today we did — and our message to Tim Cook is that we will not rest until he stops putting profits over the lives and safety of children and survivors."

The timing aligns with Apple's annual product-centered September event, which will see the company debuting its new lineup of devices and iOS26 upgrades on Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The Heat Initiative has spent the last two years pressuring Apple to enforce stronger protections against the alleged storage and dissemination of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) through the company's iCloud storage platform, with the belief that device manufacturers should also be held accountable for the youth mental health crisis and other safety failures. In late 2021, Apple announced it was pausing then axing plans to launch an iCloud scanning tool that would automatically detect and source CSAM stored in users' private drives. At the time, privacy experts warned that the tool could be the entry point into a wave of surveillance. The company initially claimed that its new NeuralHash technology would still preserve user privacy, but later reversed course.

"Child sexual abuse material is abhorrent and we are committed to breaking the chain of coercion and influence that makes children susceptible to it,” said Erik Neuenschwander, Apple's director of user privacy and child safety, in response to Heat Initiative in 2021 (statement originally published by Wired). "Scanning every user’s privately stored iCloud data would create new threat vectors for data thieves to find and exploit. It would also inject the potential for a slippery slope of unintended consequences."

Apple has faced more intense legal scrutiny over the last year, including a billion dollar class action lawsuit filed in December that alleged the company reneged on mandatory reporting duties and thus sold "defective products" that were incorrectly advertised as safe for young people.

"Child sexual abuse material is abhorrent and we are committed to fighting the ways predators put children at risk," wrote Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz in response to the lawsuit. "We are urgently and actively innovating to combat these crimes without compromising the security and privacy of all our users. Features like Communication Safety, for example, warn children when they receive or attempt to send content that contains nudity to help break the chain of coercion that leads to child sexual abuse. We remain deeply focused on building protections that help prevent the spread of CSAM before it starts."

The Heat Initiative has also organized around Meta's alleged youth safety failures, in an effort to push more companies into the spotlight.