IT General

Are you still hanging on to an old Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, or the big Galaxy S21 Ultra? If so, it's finally time to let go, move on, and replace it with something newer. In a move that shouldn't come as a surprise, Samsung has officially discontinued software support for these phones, and they won't receive new updates or security patches moving forward.

After weeks of rumors and speculation, it's official: There's a Nintendo Direct livestream this week.

The Mario maker announced on social media channels on Wednesday morning that a Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase stream will take place 24 hours after the announcement, at 6am PT/9am ET on Thursday, Feb. 5. You can watch the showcase live on Nintendo's YouTube channel. According to the company, it will be about 30 minutes long and will focus on games for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

SEE ALSO: I got to play the new Nintendo Switch Virtual Boy. It has the same problem it did in 1995. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

As for what to expect from the stream, Nintendo is usually pretty tight-lipped about those sorts of things ahead of time. However, the words "Partner Showcase" give us a hint. Like previous Nintendo Direct Partner Showcases, I would expect this one to focus almost entirely on third-party games rather than anything made internally at Nintendo. You might think that makes this Direct less exciting, but previous Partner Showcases have delivered the goods in the past. Just last year, Octopath Traveler 0 made its debut during one, and ended up being one of the best games of 2025, for example.

Even with the news that the Switch is the most successful Nintendo console ever this week, the company isn't stopping anytime soon.

SAVE $67: As of Feb. 4, the Amzmerit smart scale is on sale for only $49.99 at Amazon with the code TQXXS39F. That's an extra $50 off its sale price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amzmerit Amzmerit Smart Scale $49.99 at Amazon
$117 Save $67.01 with code TQXXS39F at checkout Get Deal

While regular old scales simply measure your weight, smart scales take things multiple steps further by providing you with loads of data to help you tailor your fitness journey appropriately. Typically with the help of an app, you'll get the full picture when it comes to your progress. It may sound expensive, but it doesn't have to be.

As of Feb. 4, you can grab the Amzmerit smart scale on sale for only $49.99 at Amazon when you use the code TQXXS39F at checkout. It's typically listed at $117 and is currently on sale for $99.99, but the code will knock an extra $50 off. Once you add it to your cart and head to checkout, select "use a gift card, voucher, or promo code" under your payment method options and copy/paste the code TQXXS39F into the box. You'll see the promotion applied to your order total before you officially checkout.

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

The Amzmerit scale uses eight high-sensitivity electrodes to track 45 key health indicators, including weight, body fat, muscle mass, BMI, and bone mass. That data syncs with the A&P Health app, which is compatible with AppIe Health, Google Fit, and more. With historical body data and detailed charts, the app helps you track long-term metrics and get a glimpse at the bigger picture rather than focusing on daily fluctuations. You can even add data profiles for family members, including babies and pets.

Unlock the behind-the-scenes data of your health and fitness journey with the Amzmerit smart scale.

Browsers come packed with features that no one thinks twice about using, but one of the most important ones is the password manager. Access to your credit cards, bank accounts, and social media logins are all stored in one place. Rather than trusting them to my browser, I've opted to use BitWarden instead.

SAVE 31%: The DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $1,099, down from its normal price of $1,599. That's a savings of $500 and an all-time low price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500   Get Deal

This might not be the best season the U.S. has ever seen when it comes to snow sports, but there's still plenty of fun to be had out there. Snow-sport season is also a pretty spectacular time to become an expert drone pilot. Imagine the drone footage you could be sharing with friends, family who couldn't join in, or on your social channels. If you've been considering getting an all-in-one drone package, there's a great deal in store at Amazon.

As of Feb. 4, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is down to a record-low price at Amazon of $1,099. This is a 31% discount off the standard price of $1,599 which works out to a savings of $500.

Don't let the "pro" name psych you out. The DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is awesome for both beginners and advanced drone pilots, but it will give you instant access to pro-level video footage. This combo package features everything you could want for a drone including the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone itself, the DJI RC 2, and three DJI Intelligent Flight batteries for up to 52 minutes of flight time. Plus, tons of extra accessories like a carrying case.

SEE ALSO: In-stock alert: Amazon has the DJI Mini 3 drone in stock and on sale for under $440

The DJI Mini 5 Pro drone is packed with features that make for great footage like a timelapse function, free panorama, 4K/120fps slow-motion video, as well as true vertical filming. The vertical filming as well as the ActiveTrack 360° is a must-have if you'll be filming sports subjects like skiers, snowboarders, or cyclists.

In case you haven't kept up on drone news in the U.S., DJI faced an FCC ban just last December, and it's no longer possible for DJI to sell drones in the country. However, this new legislation does not apply to stock that was already in the U.S. at the time. That means stock of DJI drones is diminishing by the day, so this deal is a great opportunity to snag a pro model that comes with great accessories.

If you could use an upgraded drone or want to get your first model, today's record-low price on the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo could be the best opportunity to snag this model. We might not see stock last much longer.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. If you're not quite sure of the best way to tell your loved ones how you feel about them, there's always a greeting card. Even if you have the words, a card is always a fun way to put a smile on their face, especially if it carries a silly yet thoughtful message.

Moonpig, creator of quirky and adorable greeting cards ranging from adorable to slighty spicy, wants to give you a chance to say it the best way you can with an absolutely free Valentine's Day card. Right now, you can create and customize your own and send it absolutely free, all in just a few clicks.

Why Moonpig?

Moonpig has a wide selection of cards for just about any occasion. Whether you want to send a digital or physical card, there are tons of options for you to show you care.

In addition to cards, you can customize your own gifts and send them, including candles, candy, and more. There are also photo mugs as well that you can tweak to your liking, whether you're celebrating a birthday, sending well wishes for a wedding, or just wanting to say you care.

How to get the free Moonpig Valentine's Day card

The free Moonpig Valentine's Day card is up for grabs right now at the official Moonpig storefront. To get yours, simply browse the store's selection of Valentine's Day designs, then select the $9.99 Standard Card option. You'll be given the option to customize to your liking before adding to your cart.

Once at checkout, use the promo code TREAT4YOU, which will automatically discount your card and add free shipping. You'll be able to apply this to any Valentine's Day card, no matter who you're shopping for. There are tons of designs to choose from, from sarcastic to sincere, and even some spicy options thrown in there as well.

There doesn't seem to be a cutoff date, but you'll want to get your card sooner than later. Valentine's Day is only a couple of weeks away, after all.

You don't need to settle for a network that only works some of the time. US Mobile offers multiple networks to keep you connected wherever you are.

SAVE $50: As of Feb. 4, shop the Mac Mini with M4 chip for $549. That saves you $50 off its $599 list price — not a bad deal for those rushing to start running OpenClaw AI.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac Mini (M4 Chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $549 at Amazon
$599 Save $50   Get Deal

The AI community is going nuts for the OpenClaw AI Assistant. It's an exceptionally easy-to-use AI agent and once installed can be used right away. Plus, once you start running the tool, your AI agent can join the now viral Moltbook. Moltbook is sort of like Reddit but rather than humans posting, it's only AI agents, which has sparked online debate if these AI agents are showing signs of sentience. Spoiler: that's not the case.

With the OpenClaw craze, people are running to buy Mac Mini computers. Why? Well, it's easiest to run Open Claw on an Apple computer and the Mac Mini is the cheapest variation to shop now. Plus, Amazon is running a well-timed deal.

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

As of Feb. 4, get the Apple Mac Mini (M4 Chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for just $549. That saves you $50 off its $599 list price. We'll be honest, this isn't the best-ever price on the Mac Mini. Previously, we've seen it go as low as $469, so this $549 price is pretty conservative.

That being said, if you're looking to get your hands on a Mac Mini ASAP, this is its best price at the moment.

RAID 0 is great, but also dangerous—at least, that's probably what you heard from many tech YouTubers over the past years. And sure, that's true. But it has a place to be.

Big, fast, and packed with luxury, the Audi Q7 is a seven-seat SUV loaded with leather, tech, and style. And somehow, a 2021 model can be had for just $31,350—less than a base Toyota RAV4 LE.

If you’ve recently upgraded to a new PC, the thought of throwing away your old one might weigh heavily on you. Surely there’s a better fate for it, right? As it turns out, there are actually lots of things to do with your old PC.

TL;DR: Get a laptop you can grow with, a 1TB Apple MacBook Pro, on sale now for just $439.99 (reg. $1,999), while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Macbook Pro 2020 (Refurbished) $439.99
$1,999 Save $1,559.01   Get Deal

Looking for a laptop that can keep up with your storage needs? With the amount of data we add every day, it’s no surprise that many of us rely on cloud storage or external hard drives to keep everything organized. This MacBook Pro not only offers the power and performance you expect from Apple’s most deluxe laptop, but it also comes with an impressive 1TB SSD.

Right now, you can get this MacBook Pro for only $439.99 (reg. $1,999), while supplies last.

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

Tired of getting the dreaded storage is full notification? It might be time to get a device that can keep up with all your data. This MacBook Pro comes with 1TB of SSD storage, so you can keep your important files right on your computer.

Aside from giving you plenty of space, this MacBook Pro also comes with some top-tier Apple features you’d expect — like a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor that runs at 2GHz and has turbo boost capabilities up to 3.8GHz. Its 13.3-inch screen has a 2560×1600 native resolution, vibrant colors, and Apple’s True Tone Technology, which helps reduce eye strain by adjusting to your lighting conditions.

This model has the Apple Touch Bar, a great addition at the top of the keyboard that serves up quick shortcuts. It’s easy and comfortable to type on with the Apple Magic Keyboard, and the impressive 10-hour battery keeps you from constantly having to charge it.

Curious how you’re saving over $1,500? This model comes with a grade A refurbished status, so it will arrive in near-mint condition, and you’ll enjoy a major discount.

Get a 1TB Apple MacBook Pro for only $439.99 (reg. $1,999).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Before I got my first "modern" smartphone, I was enjoying being a Blackberry user. It gave me unlimited web access and messaging, and of course, that lovely physical keyboard you could write a novel on using your thumbs.

TL;DR: The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 49-inch gaming monitor is now down to $799.99 at Amazon. That's $500 off its usual $1,299.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 Curved Gaming Monitor $799.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $500 Get Deal

If you’re a gamer who wants to invest in a big-brand OLED gaming monitor, but has been put off by the cost, Amazon has quite the Samsung deal for you. 

As of Feb. 4, the 49-inch curved Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 gaming monitor (G91SD model) is down to $799.99 at Amazon, knocking a massive $500 off its usual $1,299.99 list price. This is the best price we’ve seen yet on Samsung’s flagship ultra-wide OLED display, as confirmed on price tracker camelcamelcamel.

With a monitor at this scale, the headline feature here is the expansive 5120x1440 Dual QHD resolution spread across a dramatic 32:9 curved OLED panel. Essentially the equivalent of two 27-inch QHD monitors fused together, this will deliver tons of horizontal space for immersive gaming on titles like Arc Raiders, multitasking on streaming platforms like Twitch, or creative work in applications like Photoshop without bezels getting in the way. Thanks to QD-OLED tech, you’ll also get inky blacks, vibrant colors, and excellent contrast that standard LCD panels can’t match.

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

Performance-wise, the Odyssey OLED G9 doesn’t slack, either. The 144Hz refresh rate, paired with a near-instant 0.03ms response time keeps fast-paced games feeling smooth and responsive, while AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync compatibility that helps eliminate screen tearing. Samsung has even included burn-in mitigation features and a fully adjustable ergonomic stand to deliver a very polished package all around.

Meanwhile, the Acer Nitro WQHD gaming monitor is at a record-low price at Amazon. For LG, the UltraGear 27-inch gaming monitor has hit its record-low price.

TL;DR: Lego Insiders can exchange Insiders points for the Mini Pokémon Center. Points are available to redeem from Feb. 27, while stocks last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Mini Pokémon Center Only available as a Lego Insiders Reward Learn More

The release of the first-ever Lego Pokémon sets has naturally caused a stir. Whether or not you like what you see, you just know that these sets are going to sell like mad. We regularly see huge interest in anything released by Lego and Pokémon, so any sort of collaboration between these two brands was always going to send the world into a frenzy.

There are three main sets in this initial launch, featuring fan-favorites Pikachu, Eevee, Charizard, Venusaur, and Blastoise in Lego brick form. That's where most of the focus has been directed since preorders went live on Jan. 12, but there's more for fans to consider if you cast your net a little wider.

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

From Feb. 27, Lego Insiders can redeem 2,500 Lego Insiders points for the brand-new Mini Pokémon Center. This member-exclusive build is filled with mini-scale details inspired by all the different versions of the Pokémon Center from the Pokémon games, including sliding doors that open and close using lever functions, a healing station, seating area, and PC. It's recommended for ages 18+ and contains 233 pieces.

Not already a Lego Insider? Don't panic, you can sign up here for free.

This set is available in select markets, while stocks last. Members will get a code to add to their next order. The code is valid for 60 days and must be entered during checkout in the field labelled "enter promo code."

TL;DR: Live stream the third season of Love Island: All Stars for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We should all be seeking as little drama as possible in our private lives. There's a lot of joy to be found in a peaceful existence. That being said, there's also a great deal of joy to be found in watching other people's messy lives play out. And that's exactly what Love Island provides.

The hit show delivers weeks of flirting, breakups, and passionate debate between fame-hungry singles. It's exactly what we all need to get through these bleak winter months. And the only thing better than Love Island is Love Island: All Stars. Someone came up with the great idea to invite some of the best Love Island contestants back for a second (or third) chance at finding love.

They're looking for love, OK? They're not heading back for a quick paycheck. How dare you even suggest that.

If you're interested in watching Love Island: All Stars for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Love Island: All Stars in 2026?

The third season of Love Island: All Stars starts on Jan. 15. This latest season is expected to run for six weeks.

How to watch Love Island: All Stars for free in 2026

The third season of Love Island: All Stars is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX 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 ITVX to watch Love Island: All Stars from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Love Island: All Stars 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 ITVX

5. Stream Love Island: All Stars 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 Love Island: All Stars 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 ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free live streams on ITVX, 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 10 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 Love Island: All Stars for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Standard Excel lookups are perfectionists that fail on typos or extra spaces. While you could hack a solution using nested XLOOKUP, TRIM, and LOWER functions, it's brittle and hard to maintain. Power Query fuzzy matching is the smarter, "close enough" way to work.

Hank and John Green, YouTube icons and creators of online education shows Crash Course and SciShow, are handing over their famed production company Complexly to the public, transitioning to a nonprofit model as it combats online slop farms.

Acknowledging a rise in misinformation and low-quality content targeting online learners, Complexly's shift to a 501(c)3 status will allow the company to pursue content that may not have commercial appeal, but instead fosters "free, independent, and trustworthy online education," explained CEO Julie Walsh Smith. "Trust in information and access to education matter more than ever," the company wrote in a recent press release.

SEE ALSO: NASA aims for March Artemis 2 launch after test ends early

"Complexly has spent 14 years building deep trust with audiences by combining creative storytelling with rigorous educational standards," said co-founder Hank Green. Complexly was launched by the Green brothers in 2012, originally as EcoGeek LLC. The production company has since pioneered a variety of audio and video shows with support from organizations like PBS, the National Science Foundation, and Google, including SciShow Kids, podcast Dear Hank & John, and PBS offerings like The Origin of Everything and Eons.

Part of the new nonprofit model, Complexly has committed $8.5 million to produce additional educational content in the new year, including an expanded partnership with YouTube and other education partners. As a longstanding hub for educational content online, YouTube has become embroiled in its own AI-related controversies, including concerns about the prevalence of AI slop and automated content moderation. The platform has been cracking down on deepfaked content and what it calls "low-quality clutter" in response.

Meanwhile, AI startups like industry giant OpenAI have pushed toward for-profit models and native advertising to capitalize on the new information landscape, all while doubling down on chatbot-powered offerings for schools and healthcare.

"Complexly's mission has always been to create free, high-quality, and editorially independent educational content. We built this organization for the public good, and we’re excited to complete the final chapter of putting it entirely in the public’s hands by transitioning to a nonprofit," said now founder emeritus John Green.

I spend way too much time staring at screens. When I wake up, I reach for my phone first. In addition to the eight hours a day I spend typing away at my computer, my phone is always there, tempting me to open it and scroll through Instagram rather than getting my work done. When I'm unwinding with a TV show in the evening, my phone is there again, pulling my attention away from the screen. And before falling asleep, I'm once again scrolling through TikTok when I could be reading.

I'm not particularly proud of my screen time numbers or my need to be constantly stimulated. I've created time limits on my most distracting apps and set designated downtime schedules. But honestly, it still hasn't been enough — getting around those limits is as easy as hitting the snooze button.

Ironically, as I tried to lower my screen time, I was targeted with Instagram ads for The Brick, which promises stricter screen time controls to actually curb my phone usage. After testing the Brick for several months, I'm thrilled to say that it helped curb my screen time — cutting it in half — and finally taught me to be bored again.

Opens in a new window Credit: Brick The Brick $59 at Brick
  Shop Now How does The Brick work? The Brick app before, during and after Bricking your phone. Credit: Samantha Mangino

Screen time management apps can be great for ensuring you only spend a certain amount of time on social media a day, but there's a big issue — they're easy to bypass. Using my iPhone's built-in app limits, I quickly fell into the habit of sneaking in one more minute of TikTok, which then became another hour. Brick is also an app, but it adds a physical component, too, which takes away the easy bypass.

The Brick works by locking certain apps when you tap your phone to the Brick. To unlock your phone, you have to tap it against the Brick again. However, if you're in a pinch and really need to access your blocked apps without getting up to tap your phone, the Brick app has five emergency un-Bricks available in total. A word of caution, though, once you've used up these emergency un-Bricks, you have to factory reset your device to make them available again, so use them sparingly.

Previously, the Brick was only available on iOS devices; however, it's now also available on Android smartphones. Multiple devices can be used per Brick, too. My wife and I use the same Brick, keeping it on our refrigerator for easy access.

It's the only thing to truly get my screen time down I keep The Brick on our refrigerator, forcing me to get out of bed or off the couch if I want to un-Brick my phone. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Having the physical component of the Brick means that if you want to access your blocked apps, you can't just press a button. You have to get up and go to your Brick to tap your phone.

And let me tell you, that small physical element makes a world of difference. When I'm lounging on the couch in the evening and want to scroll through Instagram, even though I'm already watching a show, knowing I'd have to get up to un-Brick my phone is enough to deter me from scrolling. My favorite use of Bricking my phone is before bed, as it ensures social media isn't the first thing I see when I wake up and forces me to get out of bed if I do want to look at it.

Plus, the Brick has given me my attention back. When I Brick my phone, it takes away the distraction so I'm not watching my phone when I should be watching TV. But the Brick is even great when I'm not trying to focus on something else. With all my most distracting apps blocked, I'm finally bored again. When I have some downtime, rather than defaulting to scrolling, it motivates me to spend more time reading or finally tackle those errands I've been putting off.

It cut my screen time in half What my screen time looks like when I'm not using Brick. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable What my screen time looks like using Brick. Credit: Samantha Mangino

So what was the result of my using the Brick? It cut my screen time in half.

The best way to quantify the effectiveness of the Brick is through numbers. Before using the Brick, I was averaging about six hours of phone screen time a day. I didn't set out to limit my screen time by a certain number or percentage; I just wanted it to be less. So I was shocked when using the Brick cut my screen time down to an average of three hours a day. Yup, a whole 50 percent less.

Additionally, my whole household has adopted the Brick to limit screen time. I work from home, so I have to exercise a little discipline when I don't have in-person coworkers around. But even my wife, who teaches every day, Bricks their phone before heading to school every morning.

You can create different modes All the different modes I've created for Bricking my phone. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Bricking your phone isn't an all-or-nothing decision. The default setting allows you to block all apps — including your texts and video calls — making it essentially a dumb phone that only allows you to make standard phone calls. However, that's not your only option. You can create different modes, hand-selecting which apps to allow or which to block.

I've created some modes that make my phone similar to a dumb phone — except I do allow for video calls and texts. However, other modes I've created just block the apps that are my biggest distractions: Instagram, TikTok, X, Pinterest, and even Chrome. I also have a light version of this, which helps me stay distraction-free during work but still allows me access to Chrome in case I need to look something up.

Be careful about what apps you select

My only word of caution regarding the Brick is to check which apps get blocked. If you select the option to block all apps, that can end up preventing you access to apps that you might actually need. One time, I Bricked my phone before heading to the gym, only to realize that it was blocking my gym's app, which has my membership card. Another time, my Brick was blocking the Amazon app, which I needed to scan at Whole Foods to get extra savings.

Luckily, that's where Brick's emergency un-Bricking feature helps. Unfortunately, I've already used up two of the allotted five.

I wish it set app limits You can even keep track of how much time you've spent in Brick mode on the activity tab. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

One thing I do like about Apple's built-in screen time is that you can set app limits. Unfortunately, you can't set app limits with Brick. Instead, you just block all apps to try and cut back on your overall screen time. While I quickly adapted to Brick's system, I occasionally missed the app limits that would give me a cue that it was time to ditch social media for the evening.

It's a bit of an investment

Going from using a free screen time feature on my iPhone to paying $59 for The Brick is a little tough to stomach. That being said, it really works. It's the only system that's been able to effectively decrease my screen time. Plus, it's a one-time price to pay.

Other popular screen time apps, like Opal, have free versions, but to access all features, you'll need to pay $99.99 per year.

Is the Brick worth it? Opens in a new window Credit: Brick The Brick $59 at Brick
  Get Deal

The Brick is absolutely worth it. I've been raving about The Brick for months, ever since I started using it and recommending it to everyone I know. If you've been looking for a system to reduce your screen time and have found that built-in app limits aren't enough, the Brick is my favorite option.

The physical limitation of the Brick adds an extra barrier, making it especially effective at preventing you from overriding your screen time and staying truly distraction-free.

Microsoft Outlook, which many of us still consider the standard for professional email, has quietly gone through many improvements. The email client is no longer a clunky, static place that constantly requires manual effort. That old idea that you have to jump to a different task manager, calendar app, or communication platform is outdated.