IT General

SAVE $100: The Apple M5 iPad Pro (WiFi, 11-inch, 265GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, down from the list price of $999. That's a 10% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro (M5, 11-inch, 265GB) $899 at Amazon
$999 Save $100   Get Deal

A powerful and versatile tablet is one of life's greatest pleasures. It's perfect for times when you don't feel like hauling out the laptop but also have tasks that are too complex for a small phone screen. It can also be excellent for travel. If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line tablet, check out this Apple deal.

As of Jan. 29, the Apple M5 iPad Pro (WiFi, 11-inch, 265GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, marked down from the standard price of $999. That's a 10% discount that shaves $100 off the price. It also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

In Mashable's review of the best iPads, the iPad Pro with M5 processor earns the top spot as the ideal model for professionals. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "This 2025 release is loaded with Apple's fastest processing power thanks to the M5 processor, giving it way more power than the average user really needs. Graphic designers can store all of their creative work on the device, which has up to 2TB of storage. It's also a smart choice for video editors."

SEE ALSO: The noise-cancelling Apple AirPods 4 just got $60 cheaper

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth did a full review of the M5 iPad Pro last fall and wrote, " It's the kind of gadget that makes you feel like you're living in the future." Some highlight features include its ultra-thin design, ultra-lightweight feel, and the fact that it gets up to 1,600 nits of brightness.

If you're seeking out a professional upgrade, consider the iPad Pro while it's on sale at Amazon for $899. The sale price applies to both the silver and black colorways.

Thermometers are some of the cheapest and most effective sensors you can add to your smart home. They can be used in automations to make your heating and cooling more effective and cheaper to run, and most have displays so they function as standalone devices.

SAVE $20: As of Jan. 29, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for just $19.99 with the on-page coupon code 4KSELECT20. That's 50% off its list price of $39.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $19.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $20.00 with on-page coupon 4KSELECT20 Get Deal

One of Mashable readers' top buys from Black Friday is back on sale. While it's not quite as spectacular of a discount, it's still one worth shouting about.

As of Jan. 29, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is just $19.99 at Amazon with the on-page coupon code 4KSELECT20 (make sure to hit "redeem" next to the code). That's 50% or $20 off its list price of $39.99.

The 4K Select is the newest Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup and the most affordable option that offers 4K quality with HDR10+ support. It's the first Fire TV Stick to feature the ultra-responsive and speedy new operating system called Vega. While we haven't had a chance to test it yet, we're glad that Amazon decided to switch things up up from the previous operating system. We found the older system a bit laggy in our testing, so an upgrade was certainly in order.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select still features the same plug-and-play design as the previous streaming sticks, though, which instantly brings all of your favorite streaming apps into a single platform. Just press and ask Alexa to open your favorite app, pick up an episode where you left off, show you sports scores, and more. It offers support for Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, NordVPN, IPVanish, Alexa+, and Amazon Kids+ (coming soon).

If you don't have a smart TV, this will instantly transform your current setup. If you do, it will make your TV even smarter — all for just 20 bucks. That's a whole lot cheaper than buying a new TV, just saying.

According to RepairPal, the average annual repair cost for an Audi is $987. For a Chevrolet, the cost is $649. The Audi is 52 percent more expensive on an annual basis. That is a significant difference!

It's a great week to be a loon. If you've fallen under the spell of the hit HBO Max/Crave show Heated Rivalry, you know how incredible Shane Hollander's Team Canada fleece is. He sported it during his time in Sochi for the Olympics. The fleece was so good that fans have been begging Canada to "release the fleece" for weeks. On Threads, the term "release the fleece" has 47 million tags. And we finally have incredible news, loons — the Heated Rivalry fleece is coming.

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So far the exact details are vague. We know Canadian brand Province of Canada is manufacturing the fleece, and the brand's website states that all of their products are 100% made in Canada. We also know 10% of proceeds from fleece sales will be donated to a charity. So far, 106,000 people have liked the brand's Instagram post announcing the official collaboration.

Executive producers of the show and co-presidents of Accent Aigu Entertainment Jacob Tierney and Brendan Brady are quoted as saying, "We’re so excited to partner with Province of Canada. As a Canadian-based, independent apparel brand that does amazing work sourcing and manufacturing high-quality clothing, we share a common ethos. We look forward to bringing it to life with the creativity and care fans expect.”

It's a damn good fleece, that's for sure. Credit: HBO Max / Crave How to score your very own Heated Rivalry fleece

Province of Canada hasn't announced the fleece's release date yet. Instead, you'll want to sign up for e-mail notifications. The brand promises to email us once the fleece is available to order (checks email 70 times per day). We'll be sure to update this article once we have more information.

SEE ALSO: I found the headphones Ilya Rozanov wears in "Heated Rivalry" and they're on sale at Amazon for $100 off How much will the Heated Rivalry fleece cost?

Pricing details for the Heated Rivalry fleece have yet to be announced, but our guess is that it won't come cheap. Checking out currently available fleeces on the Province of Canada website leads us to believe a fleece will come in at least $120 USD. The Province of Canada's reverse fleece pullover is listed at $168 CAD (that's $123.77 USD with today's exchange rate) and the brand's reverse fleece overshirt is listed at $198 CAD ($145.87 USD).

Will the Heated Rivalry fleece be available in the U.S.?

The Heated Rivalry fleece landing page says, "Our goal is to make shipping available to as many countries as possible," but the Province of Canada's website currently explains they're not shipping to the U.S. as of last August. The brand lists Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand as their current shipping options. We're hopeful this pause on U.S. shipping will lift in time to score the fleece. If not, maybe we'll need to plan a trip?

How to shop more official Heated Rivalry merch

Heated Rivalry does have an official merch shop, but all 33 items are sold out at the time of writing. The shop promises to have a restock soon, and you can bet we'll be getting the "I'm coming to the cottage" hat to pair with the official Team Canada fleece.

While we wait for this merch, might we suggest making a tuna melt with Grillo's Pickles? Ilya and Shane would want that for us. Pair it with an ice cold Canada Dry Ginger Ale and rewatch all six episodes.

Every time you open your browser you see the Start Page, and you probably click right past it without giving it much thought. However, it is a great place to put something useful—so I did. Here's how.

Samsung apparently doesn't have enough foldables on the market, so prepare for one more before the end of 2026.

Just days after confirming the U.S. price and release date for the new TriFold, the company is rumored to have a fourth foldable in the works, to go alongside the TriFold and the follow-ups to the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip lineups. The so-called "Wide Fold" will be similar to the Z Fold, but will open up into a bigger inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio. According to Korean outlet ET News, Samsung is gearing up to release the phone this summer at the same time as the Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung Galaxy TriFold is coming to America: Price, release date confirmed

In a vacuum, it seems strange for Samsung to introduce yet another foldable to its portfolio, one that sort of sits in between the Z Fold and the TriFold. However, apparently the idea is to compete with Apple's still-unconfirmed iPhone Fold, said to release this year with a 4:3 aspect ratio for its inner display. If Samsung did indeed release its Wide Fold phone in the summer, that would most likely beat the iPhone Fold to market by at least a month or two, given that Apple's big annual iPhone announcement event is always in September. Samsung evidently doesn't want to get beaten to the punch by Apple, if these reports are to be believed.

Just a few years ago, the idea that there would be this flourishing ecosystem of foldables in the U.S. seemed unbelievable. But here we are.

Apple's AirTag 2 is finally here.

Well, the product's actual name is once again just "AirTag," but we'll call it AirTag 2 because it's a second-generation product. So what does it bring to the table? What can it bring to the table, given that it's just a silver-and-white puck that tracks its own location?

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag 2 (4-pack) $99 at Amazon
  Shop Now What is AirTag?

Before we dive into details, a little history. The original AirTag tracking device was launched in April 2021. It's deceivingly simple: You connect it to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch via Bluetooth, and then you can track its location through Apple's Find My app. Because the Find My network uses compatible iPhones, iPads, and other devices to help track lost items — and because there are a lot of iPhones in the world — the Find My network is famous for its reliability.

The AirTag is, in fact, a dual tracker. It relies on Bluetooth signals from other iOS and iPadOS devices it encounters to provide a rough location. If it's close enough, then you can precisely track it, thanks to Apple's ultra-wideband U1 chip.

The AirTag also features a speaker, and you can play a sound to make finding it easier. It relies on (replaceable but not rechargeable) battery power, with an advertised one year of battery life.

Use cases are numerous. You can put it in a key ring (Apple provides several options) and use it to track your keys. You can do the same for your wallet, backpack, or bike. Or you can put it in your luggage when you fly to make sure it doesn't get lost — at least not for very long.

How is AirTag 2 better than AirTag?

The AirTag 2 doesn't bring any revolutionary new features. It's still a little puck that you can track via Find My. But it does improve a few important aspects of the original AirTag.

You can get a FineWoven key ring for your AirTag for $35. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

First, the AirTag 2 has Apple's new U2 chip and a new Bluetooth chip. Thanks to this, you'll be able to track it precisely from farther away — 50 percent farther than the old AirTag. Keep in mind that you'll need an iPhone 15 or later (the iPhone 16e is not included) as only those phones have the new U2 chip as well.

The AirTag 2 also has a louder speaker than the original AirTags. That's important for obvious reasons; if your AirTag is hanging on a keychain you've misplaced in a coat pocket, it will now be easier to hear its sound when you trigger it.

The battery inside the two devices is exactly the same, as are other specifications such as dimensions and weight.

Is the range really better?

Apple doesn't disclose the precise range for Precision Finding on the AirTag, probably because it depends on numerous factors, such as how many walls are between you and your missing item.

Considering there was a couple of walls between me and the AirTag, this is a great result. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

But the company sent me an AirTag 2 to try out, so I could test the range in my two-bedroom apartment. The results I got were pretty good. I placed the new AirTag in one bedroom, and then went to the farthest corner of the apartment. It took a second, but my iPhone 17 Pro Max was able to detect it from about 15 meters (49 feet) away, with two walls between us, and could pinpoint its location at 11 meters (36 feet) away.

On the original AirTag, the best I could get was about 30 feet; anything farther than that and the signal would be lost.

As for the sound, it is definitely louder than before, though it's hard to say by exactly how much. I placed my AirTag 2 in a backpack, and I could still easily hear it from another room.

What about the price?

The price for the new AirTag 2 is the same as for the original: $29 for one AirTag or $99 for a pack of four. They're available for sale now at Apple and Amazon. However, it is worth noting that the first-gen AirTag is often discounted. You can get the AirTag 1 for $25.99 on Amazon (or grab a 4-pack for $69.99), which is a better deal, especially if you own an older iPhone that doesn't support precision tracking.

Products featured in this story: Apple AirTag 2 $29 Shop Now Apple AirTag 2 (4-pack) $99 Shop Now Apple AirTag 1 (4-pack) $69.99 (save $29.01) Get Deal Apple AirTag FineWoven Key Ring $35 Shop Now

Spotify is probably far from the first app you think about when it comes to messaging, but it was added last year as an easier way to share content with friends. Now, the service is expanding on that with the ability to create group chats.

YouTube is blocking a popular workaround for background playback — e.g. playing only the audio of a video with your screen off — in a move that'll likely prove frustrating to a number of users.

Android users have relied on third-party browsers to work around limitations on background playback, but now users of Samsung Internet, Brave, Vivaldi, and Edge have reported being unable to play YouTube sound in the background, according to tech site 9to5Google.

SEE ALSO: Parents can now set limits on YouTube Shorts for teen accounts

Piunikaweb, a Pixel-focused tech site, wrote that the "sudden, simultaneous failure across multiple browsers strongly suggests a targeted change by YouTube." 9to5Google tested the new limitations on Samsung Internet and found that "video playback ends within a couple of seconds of the display going dark."

YouTube limits background play on mobile to Premium subscribers, so the company's targeting of a workaround makes sense, even if it is frustrating to users. So, for now at least, it seems the folks who used the third-party browser workaround are stuck like the rest of us folks who're operating on Chrome or Safari: Pay up or give up your background sounds.

SAVE $14.99: As of Jan. 29, get the JBL Charge 4 for $84.96 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $99.95. That's a discount of 15% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon JBL Charge 4 $84.96 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $14.99   Get Deal

If you're the type of person who likes to share your favorite songs wherever you go, you need a portable speaker. JBL makes a few great ones, and if you're looking for one to invest in without spending an arm and a leg, today's your lucky day.

As of Jan. 29, get the JBL Charge 4 for $84.96 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $99.95. That's $14.99 off and a discount of 15%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 12 best Bluetooth speakers of 2025

The JBL Charge 4 is a small but mighty speaker. It can serve up crisp treble as well as deep, satisfying bass, and offers excellent, clear overall audio. That makes it the perfect option for taking everywhere you go.

It has a sizable rechargeable battery that gives you up to 20 hours of playtime, and boasts IPX7 waterproofing, so whether you're listening out in the snow and ice or around the pool when the weather gets warm, you don't have to worry about it getting wet.

It's simple to connect to your phone or other device, and you can connect multiple speakers at once, so if you want more sound, it's capable of delivering it that too. If you're looking for a great and reliable Bluetooth speaker, pick this one up while it's still at its lowest price yet.

Mainstream cars are stepping up, and some interiors are starting to feel downright luxurious. Prices are creeping higher too, sometimes rivaling actual luxury rides.

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 29, the Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are on sale for just $119 at Amazon and Walmart. That's 34% off their list price and about $20 away from their best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation $119.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $60.00   Get Deal

It's not every day that you can score a pair of noise-cancelling AirPods for under $120. So if you're in the market for a new pair, we highly recommend adding the fourth-generation earbuds to your cart ASAP.

As of Jan. 29, the Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation are on sale for just $119 at both Amazon and Walmart. That's a pretty impressive $60 discount or 34% off their list price. It's also only $20 away from their lowest price ever, which they hit during Cyber Week.

A great value even at full price, the AirPods 4 offer personalized spatial audio, voice isolation, Siri interactions, improved bass, mids, and highs over their predecessor, a comfy and snug fit, and a more compact charging case that's easier to locate. Mashable's reviewer noted that the fit is surprisingly snug and actually stays put, the noise-cancellation is "elite," and the sound is "like honey."

They'll last you about five hours per charge — up to 30 with the charging case — making them a solid daily driver. While we still think the AirPods Pro 3 are the best earbuds for Apple users, the AirPods 4 with ANC are the better choice if you're looking to save some money. And since they're 34% off, they're an even better value.

What is the formula for the ideal New York City movie? For starters, the movie should be filmed in New York City. That sounds obvious, but you would be surprised to learn how many movies use other cities as a stand-in for NYC. Not every scene has to be filmed in New York City, considering many interior scenes are shot on a sound stage. At the very least, there should be some action captured in the busy streets of the Big Apple.

SAVE $599.68: As of Jan. 29, the Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is on sale for $898.32 at Amazon. That's 40% off its list price and a new best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV $898.32 at Amazon
$1,498 Save $599.68   Get Deal

It's officially one of the best times to upgrade your TV, y'all. Not only is it a huge season for sports, with the NFL postseason wrapping up and the 2026 Winter Olympics just a week away. But it's also one of the best times to score a major discount on a 2025 TV.

As of Jan. 29, the Hisense 65-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV is on sale for only $898.32 at Amazon. That's 40% or nearly $600 off its list price of $1,498 and a new best price on record. This discount actually beats its Cyber Week price by nearly $100.

The 2025 Hisense U8 TV is remarkably vibrant and colorful, making it a great choice for watching sports, gaming, or immersing yourself in movies and TV shows. CNET (Mashable's sister site, also owned by Ziff Davis) reviewer Ty Pendlebury called it the brightest TV he's ever reviewed, but noted that "it complements that brightness with excellent contrast and well-saturated colors." Specs-wise, it boasts 5000 nits peak brightness, up to 5,600 local dimming zones, a 165Hz native refresh rate, and support for HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG.

The Google TV smart platform provides a streamlined interface to navigate every major streaming service, offers Google Cast (by default) as well as Apple AirPlay, and features built-in Google Assistant for hands-free TV and smart home device control. You can ask it to search for content, recommend your next watch, set alarms, check your doorbell camera, and more.

The Hisense U8 is typically a little pricey at nearly $1,500, but with a 40% discount, it's a total steal. If you're due for an upgrade, now's the time.

Gmail is one of Google’s oldest apps, and it might be the most widely used. Tons of features have been added over the years. The good news is that many of these things can be turned off—if you can find them in the messy settings.

Got a shiny new Android phone? Take some time to make these nine quick changes—they'll let you hit the ground running with a smooth, reliable Android experience.

SAVE $225: As of Jan. 29, get the Citizen Eco-Drive Star Wars Darth Vader Chronograph Watch for $225 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $450. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Citizen Eco-Drive Star Wars Darth Vader Chronograph Watch $225 at Amazon
$450 Save $225   Get Deal

If you're interested in buying a watch but aren't interested in the "smart" side of it, there are some very stylish timepieces out there. In fact, we've found one that not only looks great for everyday wear, but it'll attract Star Wars fans everywhere. And you can get it right now for the lowest price we've seen, which is a huge plus.

As of Jan. 29, get the Citizen Eco-Drive Star Wars Darth Vader Chronograph Watch for $225 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $450. That's $225 off and a discount of 50%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is now $250 off on Amazon. That's $50 better than its Black Friday deal.

This 44mm chronograph watch is all about Darth Vader, with the iconic character's helmet, a TIE fighter, and additional fun Star Wars details adorning the screen and sub-dials. Plus, its luminous crimson hour markers give you a familiar Sith glow like Vader's lightsaber.

But the coolest part is that this watch is powered by Citizen's Eco-Drive tech, so you'll never need a battery for it. It'll run and run, so you can wear it to your heart's delight without having to pay for one. Coupled with 100M water resistance and a fun black case that also features Darth Vader and you've got yourself an extremely stylish gift for any Star Wars fan.

If you're ready to pick one up, be sure to get it while it's on sale, because it likely won't stick around at this price.

SAVE $86.01: The Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $112.99, down from the list price of $199. That's a 43% discount and a new record-low price at Amazon.

Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station $112.99 at Amazon
$199 Save $86.01   See It at Amazon

There's a unique heart-sinking feel we get these days when our phones go dead. Try as we might to avoid hitting a dreaded zero-battery phone, it can happen when the power goes out or if we're off the grid for an extended period of time like summer camping trips. Instead of experiencing this pain, upgrading to a portable power station ensures you always have extra power on hand, and there's an ultra portable model on sale today.

As of Jan. 29, the Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station is on sale for just $112.99 at Amazon in both black and meadow green, marked down from the usual price of $199. Today's sale means you can save $86.01 on the mini portable power station. That's a 43% discount and a new record-low price at Amazon.

The Bluetti Elite 10 is a tiny portable power station that offers 128Wh of battery. In normal terms, that means you'll be able to recharge a phone about six times or a laptop twice. While that's not a huge amount of power, it'll be perfect to keep on your nightstand during a power outage to have your phone recharging and the bedside lamp on.

SEE ALSO: Last chance to score the DJI Power 1000 V2 portable power station for under $430

Another major bonus of being mini is that the Bluetti Elite 10 weighs just four pounds. That means it's super easy to carry around the house should the power go out. It's also a practical option to bringing along to the campground to keep phones charged.

While it's small in size, it packs in two USB-C ports, two USB-A, and one AC port. Recharging options include standard wall charging or solar with a 100W max panel. It'll take about 70 minutes to recharge with wall charging or about 90 minutes with a 100W solar panel.

Ensure all your small gadgets stay charged up during the next power outage or on the next camping trip thanks to the Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station. It's on sale for the lowest price we've ever spotted at Amazon, so this is a great time to make the upgrade.

I’ve had a smartwatch on my wrist for over a decade. That's why I’ve been very skeptical of smart rings, but I recently decided to give one a fair shot. My opinion has changed, though maybe not how you’d expect.