IT General

Your VPN is probably leaking information without you knowing. From the domain names you visit to your real identity, if you use a VPN for privacy, you're going to want to read this one.

Bambu Lab is very particular about its slicer, to the point where cloud connectivity must be disabled if you want to use something other than Bambu Studio. Despite the obvious concerns this limitation raises, Bambu Studio isn’t a bad choice.

The best wireless earbuds range anywhere from $10 to $1,000, especially if you're going for professional-grade studio earphones. And if you care about active noise cancellation, you can easily spend $300 — that's the price of peace and quiet. You can also get hyperspecialized models like sleep earbuds, bone-conduction earbuds for working out, and open earbuds for transparency.

SEE ALSO: I replaced my $249 AirPods Pro with $19 wired EarPods

In 2026, our top picks for earbuds are the Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen), and Panasonic Technics AZ100s, which provide outstanding sound quality and ANC. But keep in mind that these models will run you $299 to $329. While we stand by the value of everything on this list, we know that spending over $300 on a pair of earbuds is a lot to stomach. That's why we've also included more budget-friendly wireless earbuds under $100 that still deliver excellent performance.

Ready to start shopping now? Here are our favorite wireless and noise-cancelling earbuds as of May 2026.

Types of earbuds

There are two types of earbuds: wireless and wired. While those descriptors are self-explanatory, let's get into the specifics of both.

Wireless

Wireless earbuds connect to devices via Bluetooth for cordless usage. These earbuds range from $20 budget models to high-end models with active noise cancellation. While they don't require a wire to connect to a device, some wireless earbuds still have a wire that might go around the back of the neck to connect the buds.

While earbuds traditionally don't provide the passive noise cancellation of over-the-ear headphones, wireless models often feature ANC, which electronically blocks out background noise. With wireless headphones, you need to consider the battery life. Most models should have an eight-hour or more battery life before they need to be recharged.

Wired

Wired earbuds are the original model: two buds connected by a wire to your audio source. While they once felt high tech, they're pretty basic now. Wired earbuds with active noise cancellation are basically non-existent, and you won't find any on our list.

The biggest positive to wired headphones is that they don't need to be charged. They're a great backup option to keep in your bag in case your usual wireless headphones or earbuds run out of charge.

New additions to this guide

After extensive testing, Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard rounded up the best sleep earbuds. You can read her full guide, but as of February 2026, we've added the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Special to this guide, which Allard says are the best sleep earbuds for most people. Also in February 2026, we added the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds as our top pick for the best overall earbud, and removed the previous generation, the WF-1000XM5, as the best Sony earbud.

As of August 2025, we also updated the best earbuds for working out to the Powerbeats Pro 2 and added the Shokz OpenDots One as the best open earbuds.

What are the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds?

If you're just looking for a pair of everyday wireless earbuds, all but one of the models in this guide will check that box. (We formerly included the Marshall Mode earbuds for folks who preferred a wired option, but have since removed them from our guide as the version we tested is difficult to find in stock these days.)

If you're looking for the highest quality wireless earbuds, you can't go wrong with the Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Pro 3, and Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds, our most recent recommendation in 2026. Both of these wireless earbuds feature elite noise-cancellation, stellar sound, long battery life, and a comfortable fit for extended wear.

Still, this guide includes several other earbuds we stand behind. Apple users may prefer the AirPods Pro, while shoppers on a budget may prefer buds from Marshall or Anker Soundcore. If you need help picking the perfect pair, read on.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're stylish.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 12, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Quite the pair

The words are related to fashion.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe an article of clothing.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Fancy Pants.

NYT Strands word list for May 12

• Gaucho

• Harem

• Palazzo

• Fancy Pants

• Toreador

• Sailor

• Tuxedo

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Strands.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an avid reader.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 12, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Large text

• Green: Religious sites

• Blue: Lengthy

• Purple: Money

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Substantial book

• Green: "Saint" cities

• Blue: "Long" things

• Purple: Currencies plus a letter

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

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1066 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Substantial book: OPUS, TOME, VOLUME, WORK

• "Saint" cities: MONICA, PAULO, PETERSBURG, SALVADOR

• "Long" things: DISTANCE, DIVISION, JOHNS, WEEKEND

• Currencies plus a letter: FRANCI, RANDO, REALM, WONK

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 12, 2026

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're never late.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 12, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 12, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Tells time.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter C appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CLOCK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Wordle.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box up for preorder at $119.45, putting it under $120 and about $15 over TCGplayer's current market price of $103.78. Walmart is also cheaper right now at $113.97.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box $119.45 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

The Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising expansion has seen price fluctuations matching the likes of Ascended Heroes, but you can thankfully still secure the Elite Trainer Box at leading retailers for under $120. 

As of May 12, Amazon has the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box listed from $119.45, with free delivery shown for May 27-28. That lowest preorder is sold and shipped by Kings Games. BetterShopping4You has a $119.45 listing with free delivery shown for Saturday, May 30. 

Amazon comes with a premium compared to the two other key retailers in the space, but it is still a worthwhile price if you prefer sticking with Amazon for your trading card needs.  Walmart has the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box listed for $113.97 with free shipping, while TCGplayer's unopened presale listings start at $103.75

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!

No matter where you buy from, the Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box includes the following:

• Nine Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Chaos Rising booster packs

• One full-art foil promo card featuring Fennekin

• 65 card sleeves

• 40 Pokémon TCG Energy cards

• A player's guide

• Six damage-counter dice

• One competition-legal coin-flip die

• One plastic coin

• A collector's box with six dividers

• One Pokémon TCG Live code card

Launching May 22, Chaos Rising heads back to Lumiose City, where Mega Floette ex is turning the city into a disaster zone. Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, and Mega Dragalge ex are among the Mega Evolution Pokémon ex featured, giving collectors another Legends: Z-A-flavored expansion to chase. 

To make sure you’re stocked up after release, you can still preorder individual Pokémon TCG Chaos Rising Booster Packs for $12.99. As for currently available ETBs in the Pokémon TCG, the Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box is still on sale for under $70. 

Although currently not available on Amazon, the Pokémon TCG’s newly announced Pitch Black expansion Booster Packs, ETBs, Display Boxes, and Booster Bundles are available to preorder at TCGplayer.

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

Two years ago, I replaced my laptop with an Android-based desktop, and for most of the time since, I've used Samsung DeX whenever I needed to do something the internal screen on my Galaxy Z Fold 6 couldn't handle. That worked out surprisingly well for me, but I've since decided to fall back into the familiar arms of Linux regardless, and Samsung isn't entirely to blame.

Donald Trump's newly released UFO files not only glow with distracting X-Files energy but also the power of Céline Dion, according to Stephen Colbert.

The Late Show host unpacked the U.S. government's recent drop of "new, never-before-seen files" on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), a term Colbert described as "also my pre-show warm-up."

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creator today!

"So, what's in these mysterious, top secret, super cool files?" asked the host. "For example, one of the astronauts [Alan Bean] from Apollo 12 reported 'flashes of light.' And we actually have footage of the astronaut describing what they saw."

Cut to the music video for Dion's eternal power ballad "It's All Coming Back to Me Now." "Thank you, Commander Dion," says Colbert.

And the Céline reaction videos do not stop there.

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Stephen Colbert's Late Show is coming to a close, and the guests appear to be getting more entertainingly chaotic every day.

Last week we had leg wrestling with John Krasinski, and on Monday we had Colbert interviewing all four other late night hosts that were in the Strike Force Five podcast — Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver — at the same time.

The result is as hilarious and ridiculous as you'd expect, with jokes and anecdotes gradually leading on to a game in which the hosts hold up paddles to vote for which one of them is most likely to do various things. Fallon and Colbert even share a brief kiss.

If you want to know when the last episode of the Late Show will air and how to watch it, we've got you covered.

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

SAVE $350: As of May 12, the Roborock Qrevo S5V is on sale for $549.99 at Amazon. That's a 39% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: roborock Roborock Qrevo S5V $549.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $350   Get Deal

The Roborock Qrevo S5V is back on sale at Amazon. As of May 11, you can save $350 on this impressive model. It vacuums, it mops, and it navigates your home all by itself. Buy now for just $549.99 (down from $899.99).

This robot vacuum has a 12,000Pa HyperForce suction powered by a brushless motor. It can pick up dirt from all floor types, even stubborn dirt and pet hair. It includes a rubberised floating main brush and an arc-shaped side brush as part of an SGS-certified zero-tangle system intended to reduce hair getting stuck. It also uses a FlexiArm design with dual spinning mop pads rotating at 200 RPM, alongside a 10 mm mop lift to help prevent your carpets from getting wet.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

It also comes with an all-in-one docking station where it empties dust into a 10-week storage bin. Here it also takes care of self-washing the mops, drying them, and automatically filling the water tank.

And you don't even need to tell it where to go. This robot vacuum uses structured light sensors to navigate around items like cables and furniture legs as well as the PreciSense LiDAR navigation which creates maps of your floorplan.

You can even choose between two colors, black and white, to better match your space. Get this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $50: As of May 12, the Garmin Forerunner 165 is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 165 $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50   Get Deal

A good fitness tracker can make your runs feel easier and recovery feel more valuable. If you've been in the market for an upgrade, there's a great deal on the Garmin Forerunner 165 live right now at Amazon. As of May 12, you'll save $50 with the new price of $199.99 on both the black and whitestone colors.

As the name suggests, the Forerunner 165 is designed for runners. It includes many helpful features, including built-in GPS for tracking pace and distance, wrist-based heart rate monitoring, and much more. The 43mm screen is AMOLED, so the display is always bright and colorful. It's also controlled both by a touchscreen and the traditional button controls.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

The battery life is great and ideal if you're wanting to hit longer distances. You'll get up to 11 days in smartwatch mode or up to 19 hours in GPS mode. And it's not just suited for running — there are more than 25 built-in sports tracking modes, including swimming, cycling, HIIT, and strength training.

This smartwatch also gives you a morning report with information such as how well you slept, your recovery time, training outlook, weather, and more.

Get this Garmin deal online at Amazon right now.

SAVE $70: As of May 12, the Roku 65-inch Smart TV is on sale for $379.99 at Amazon. That's a 16% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 65-inch smart TV $379.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $70   Get Deal

The Roku 65-inch Smart TV is back on sale at Amazon, and this time it's down to its lowest-ever price. As of May 12, it's $70 off. That drops the price down from $449.99 to $379.99.

This smart TV has a QLED display and HDR10 support for enhanced color. It benefits from smart features like the Roku Smart Picture which automatically adjusts incoming signals and picture settings. The TV also includes access to Roku’s streaming platform, with over 500 free TV channels giving you live shows, movies, news, weather, and Roku Originals.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

Not to mention, you'll also have easy access to a wide range of streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. You can even personalize the home screen through customized app placements, making everyday use much easier.

It also supports voice control through Roku Voice, Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. Just use the advanced voice remote which lets you use your voice to search through multiple apps at once and research queries online. It also has a lost remote finder function which lets you track its location in the Roku app.

You can find this TV deal at Amazon right now.

SAVE OVER $1,000: As of May 12, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is on sale for $2,299.99 at Amazon. That's a 38% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus $2,299.99 at Amazon
$3,699 Save $1,399.01   Get Deal

The Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is back on sale at Amazon, this time with more than $1,000 off the list price.

If you're looking for a seriously reliable power unit that will see you through not just days, but weeks, don't miss out. As of May 12, this portable power station is currently down to $2,299.99 from the $3,699 list price. That's a 38% discount. The unit comes with two 200W solar panels, so you'll be able to keep it charged using solar power while off-grid.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

The Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus is a portable power station with a 3,600W output. It supports dual voltage output of 120V and 240V in parallel and has a 3,584Wh capacity that can be expanded up to 21kWh per unit or 43kWh by adding multiple units.

It's a big purchase, but one that will last you many years. In fact, Jackery states it is rated for 6,000 charge cycles and a lifespan of up to 10 years, thanks to its high-temperature resistant ceramic membrane battery cells. It can cope with harsh conditions too, and has even been passed to operate in temperatures as low as -4°F.

This is a limited-time deal on the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus at Amazon. Act fast to save big.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub for free with a VPN. The best services for unblocking porn sites from Australia are ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN.

The world of porn continues to be impacted by age-verification laws. Back in early 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws for online adult content. Pornhub hit back by blocking users from those locations. A similar situation took place France and the UK, and now Australians are facing the same set of challenges.

The porn blocks arrived just days before new online safety codes came into effect, requiring organisations to verify the ages of users. It's the same story we've seen before, with the same straightforward workaround.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile just dropped the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to claim

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Australia, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Australia

VPNs are tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub from Australia by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN or ProtonVPN)

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 a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Proton VPN Proton VPN (1-Month Plan) $10.81 only at Proton VPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment. The situation may have changed before the free-trial period comes to an end.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN and ProtonVPN are the top choices for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in locations all around the world

• Easy-to-use apps available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policies so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Multiple simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantees

Unblock Pornhub for free in Australia with ExpressVPN or ProtonVPN.

TL;DR: The iPhone 17 is free right now with T-Mobile. To claim yours, simply switch and bring your number on an Experience Beyond or Better Value plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free   Shop Now

Leading mobile carriers are battling it out to offer you the most tempting deals. They all want you to make the switch, but right now, T-Mobile has gained the upper hand on the likes of Verizon and AT&T by dropping a free iPhone deal that doesn't require a trade-in.

For a limited time, you can claim the Apple Phone 17 for free when switching to T-Mobile and bringing your number on an Experience Beyond or Better Value plan. It's a straightforward offer that removes the trade-in barrier associated with a lot of these "free deals."

The iPhone 17e is also available for free with any T-Mobile plan (without a trade-in). For power users, the iPhone 17 Pro could be yours if you trade in your eligible phone in any condition on an Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plan. For all of these deals, you do need to pay taxes and a $35 device connection fee. There's the catch, but it's a small price to pay for a free iPhone.

The iPhone 17 is primed and ready to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. In Mashable's review, Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." According to our review, the camera is "almost as good as the one on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max."

iPhone 18 announcements are still months away, so this limited-time T-Mobile offer is your best means of securing the latest iPhone tech at a low price.

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile.

Vacuum-turned-everything brand Dreame has dropped its version of a hack for living without a garbage disposal. That's how I'm framing electric countertop "composter alternatives" that are just drying and condensing food, not making actual compost. That doesn't mean these appliances are pointless — they're still a brilliant way to keep your kitchen from reeking of old food rotting in the trash. That's an especially big deal in a small space like my apartment, where I put use of my beloved Mill food recycling bin on hold to test the Dreame S25P Food Waste Disposer for two weeks.

Design and price: Smaller footprint, lower price than others

The Dreame food waste disposer is incredibly slim and delightfully chic. Not that competitors like the Lomi 3 or Food Cycler are eyesores — they're cute enough, but very much scream "I'm an appliance with a bucket inside." Dreame's machine is literally just a beige rectangle. I could see this minimalist color and shape combo alone being the deciding factor for aesthetic-minded shoppers who prefer countertop appliances to be as subtle as possible.

I played around with the Dreame disposer's placement to test its versatility in the wild. I originally set it up on the end of my kitchen credenza that sits opposite the wall of cabinets and appliances, then moved it to my last free slab of countertop.

I put a glass cutting board underneath to protect the wood. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable You need around 20 inches of clearance for the lid to fully flip open. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

For being an appliance, the Dreame disposer doesn't look obnoxiously appliance-y among the rest of my decor. If you're fully maxed out on counter real estate, it certainly has the curb appeal to chill in harmony on another more styled flat surface near the kitchen.

Overall, Dreame's design has a negligibly smaller footprint in cubic inches than the Lomi 3. But the unique way that the Dreame disposer is oriented makes it better suited for a tight squeeze. It's less than eight inches wide with an oblong design that runs perpendicularly to the counter, very similar to how a Ninja Slushi sits.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creator today!

But the smartest part of the design is that the control panel is on top at the front instead of on the side like the Lomi. If your only free counter space was a sliver beside your coffee maker or blender, you'd still have front-facing access to the button that opens the lid or starts a cycle. If you have empty space in a cabinet or pantry, you could technically store the Dreame disposer away until you need to use it. It obviously wouldn't be instantly accessible, so you'd have to remember to get it out before you're ready to dump something in it.

The temperature monitor switches to a countdown timer when a cycle is running. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Sansa says, "Look how skinny this thing is! I barely fit!" Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Speaking of remembering to open the lid before your hands are full, the Dreame SF25's lid opening process is oddly impractical. It goes into standby mode after a few minutes of no interaction, so you actually have to tap twice to open the lid: once to wake the device up, and then once to open the lid. The buttons are more like a touchscreen than physical, pressable buttons, and more often than not, I don't have a free finger. I'm either waiting to push plate scrapings in with a fork or am carrying a sink strainer full of soggy food, using the other hand to keep the juice from dripping on the floor. I really miss my Mill's presser foot in times like these.

SEE ALSO: How to actually recycle electronics, beauty empties, toys, and more tricky items in 2026

I could also really do without the voice assistant narration between each step. For an appliance that claims to be "whisper quiet," which it genuinely is when running a cycle, it feels counterintuitive to loudly announce that "the device is now in standby mode," "the door is opening," and "the door is closed," every single time. I hope there's a way to disable that and I just haven't found it yet.

What can go in the Dreame food waste disposer?

Dreame's list of acceptable food waste includes fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, eggshells, nuts and grains, small bones, and fibrous foods. That's a pretty standard lineup for indoor food waste bins. I found it odd that Dreame doesn't officially green-light dairy in the list. I throw cheese in there, and it's been fine. It's probably milk or globs of yogurt that would mess with the bucket's interior mechanism.

This cycle had a mix of old fruits and veggies, stale chips, eggshells, and rice. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The end result looks like soil with some chunks sprinkled in. No, it doesn't stink. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

When thinking about who should buy one of these devices, residents of cities with mandatory food separation rules (like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City) come to mind. The Dreame disposer would make the separation of daily food scraps a much less gross process, and again, its compact build feels ideal for small apartment living. When I lived in Brooklyn years ago and was trudging to a local compost drop-off with a dripping bag of melting frozen food scraps, I could have really used this damn Dreame machine.

If you are using an electric food waste condenser for collected curbside or community compost, you still have to follow the organization's rules of what can and can't go in. While NYC residents are allowed to toss meat, bones, and dairy into their curbside compost bins, many smaller community compost groups don't allow meat or dairy — the fat and protein in animal products attract pests to outdoor compost piles. That still applies to food waste in dried dirt form.

You'll barely know this thing is running

When enough scraps have piled up in the Dreame bucket, running a cycle is as easy as hitting start (there's just one setting). The stirring, drying, and grinding mechanism inside is legitimately inaudible, and shouldn't take more than six hours. At the end, you're left with a pile of dirt that's significantly smaller than the stack of food you started with. You can throw it in the trash if that's your only option. It'll take up less room and keep the bag smelling much fresher.

The bucket's spiral blades spin to stir and grind food scraps. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The charcoal filter neutralizes odor from the food sitting inside. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

My household of three took a few days to completely fill the bucket up the first time. The 2.5-liter capacity is smaller than most competing countertop devices, but not by an inconvenient amount. I've been inclined to run a cycle before the bucket is full, anyway. You can't smell a thing when the lid is closed, but things can get diabolical when it's opened.

One of my only bones to pick with this product is the fact that its Amazon listing calls it an electric composter. It's not. No microbes are involved, so no, it's not creating fertilizer for your garden. (Dreame's website does refer to the SF25 as a food waste disposer with an end result that is "suitable for direct compost.") But why try to be something it's not? Marketing it as a device that downsizes your kitchen trash could strike a chord with a whole new group of people who don't care about composting. I have hope in the "buying a food waste disposer for convenience purposes" to "giving a shit about the United States' serious food waste problem" pipeline.

Dreame SF25 Food Waste Disposer $199.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30   Shop Now at Amazon

Having spent time both in front of and behind the camera, Kelsey Impicciche has long perfected her content creation set-up.

The gamer and YouTube creator has amassed a following that numbers in the millions, having spent the past 12 years posting videos of herself playing The Sims, Animal Crossing, and more life simulator games to her channel under the handle @kelseydangerous.

SEE ALSO: How Kelsey Impicciche turned a viral 'Sims' video into 1 million YouTube subscribers

Impicciche also worked at BuzzFeed for several years, where her breakout video on BuzzFeed's Multiplayer channel, "Single Girl Tries The 100 Baby Challenge In The Sims 4," has garnered 24 million views since it debuted in 2018. This past year, she added "author" to her resume thanks to the 2026 release of her debut novel, The Voice of the Ocean.

Impicciche's dreamy set-up includes two Alienware monitors. Credit: Kelsey Impicciche To record audio, she uses a Shure mic pluged into a Zoom H6 audio recorder. Credit: Kelsey Impicciche

While she may have her go-to filming and streaming set-up now, that wasn't always the case.

"You don't have to know it perfect at the beginning. You learn by doing," says Impicciche.

Credit: Zooey Liao/Mashable/Amazon/Kelsey Impicciche

We chatted with Impicciche at BookCon to get a full rundown on her filming essentials, including the tech that can handle the heft of all her gaming needs.

Cyberpower PCs and Alienware monitors Opens in a new window Credit: Cyberpower PC Cyberpower PC From $903 Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Alienware Alienware Gaming Monitor $349.99 at Dell
  Shop Now

Before cameras, mics, and lights even come into the picture, Impicciche needs a PC.

"I need one that can handle The Sims, because it's a huge game," says Impicciche.

She uses two Cyberpower PC towers, which she mentions can be custom built online (her specific models are no longer available.) Also crucial to her streaming endeavors are Elgato capture cards.

For monitors, Impicciche uses two Alienware monitors, one standard and one curved.

Wired headphones Opens in a new window Credit: HyperX HyperX Cloud III Headphones $79.99 at Best Buy
$99.99 Save $20   Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech G735 Headphones $149.99 at Amazon
$259.99 Save $110   Shop Now

For simultaneously filming and gaming, a good pair of headphones is essential. Impicciche likes both the HyperX Cloud and Logitech G735 headphones.

Canon C100 Opens in a new window Credit: Canon Canon C100 (Used) $698.95 at B&H Photo and Video
  Shop Now

Whether she's streaming or filming, Impicciche uses the Canon C100 with a 24-70mm lens.

"This camera connects directly to my PC using another Elgato capture card and it's HDMI output," says Impicciche.

The C100 is no longer sold new, but it remains a widely beloved video camera and can be purchased used.

Zoom recorder and Shure SM7B Microphone Opens in a new window Credit: Zoom Zoom H6 Essential Handheld Recorder $329.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Shure Shure SM7B Microphone $395 at Amazon
$439 Save $44   Get Deal

Impicciche's audio set-up includes a Shure SM7B microphone and a Zoom H6 audio recorder.

"My microphone is on a splitter so it feeds into the Zoom H6 for recording sound for video, but it also feeds into my audio mixer so I can use it for streaming."

Her audio mixer also connects to her streaming PC so she can adjust the sound of her game, personal audio, and music all on the same device. Currently, she uses the TC-Helicon GoXLR but wouldn't recommend it as the company is no longer supporting updates on the tech.

She also keeps a back-up microphone attached to her camera on the off chance her main microphone runs out of storage.

Elgato lights Opens in a new window Credit: Elgato Elgato Key Lights $359.98 at B&H Photo and Video
  Shop Now

Lighting is crucial for all content creators. While Impicciche thinks the best light for filming any type of content is a window with really good natural light, sometimes you have to fake it. For filming for YouTube or streaming, her set-up includes two key lights from Elgato.

Rode mic Opens in a new window Credit: Rode Rode VideoMic Me-C+ $79
  Shop Now

Not all of Impicciche's content requires the full set-up. For filming TikTok content, she gets it done with her iPhone and a Rode mic. The Rode VideoMic Me-C+ plugs directly into her phone so she doesn't have to worry about connecting wireless mics on the go.

The Milky Way's core doesn't look like the ancient stellar graveyard many astronomers once thought it was.

At the heart of a massive new survey from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers are mapping one of the most crowded regions in our galaxy. Early results from the project may help address a long-running debate about the age of the Milky Way's central bulge — the tightly packed region of space surrounding the galaxy's core.

For decades, many astronomers treated the bulge as a relic from the Milky Way's earliest years. Previous studies of star brightness and color placed most of its formation around 10 billion years ago. By comparison, our solar system formed just 4.6 billion years ago.

But newer research has complicated that picture. Some studies suggest a noticeable share of stars near the galactic center may be much younger — perhaps only 5 billion to 8 billion years old. If true, that would mean the Milky Way kept developing its central region far later than some scientists had ever imagined. If astronomers can determine when the bulge's stars formed, they can reconstruct how the galaxy itself grew and changed over time.

The Hubble survey will build a catalog of 20 to 30 million objects in this dense region, said Sean Terry, an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The team has published a paper on the Hubble survey in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

SEE ALSO: 5 times NASA astronauts pop up in Trump's newly released UFO files

Researchers designed the Hubble program to support the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will search the same region for planets using gravitational microlensing, a technique that detects distant objects by measuring how their gravity bends and brightens starlight. The Roman mission could launch as early as this fall. 

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creator today!

"The main goal of these observations is to be able to identify objects that participate in lensing events during the Roman survey, catching them before they undergo the lensing event," said Jay Anderson, a co-author based at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, in a statement. "When, in a couple of years, an event happens during Roman's long stare at the field, we can go back and say, 'This was a red star, this was a blue star, and the event happened when the red star went in front of the blue star.'"

But the Hubble survey also stands on its own. It delivers one of the sharpest wide-area views ever captured of the Milky Way's crowded core, where dust clouds block much of the light and stars are so tightly packed that their images often overlap. By distinguishing those stars more cleanly, the survey allows astronomers to assemble a consistent catalog across 354 fields near the galactic center. 

Even so, conditions vary sharply throughout the region. In some fields, astronomers match thousands of stars to measurements from the Gaia spacecraft, a mission that tracked star positions and their motion across the sky. In others, dense dust blots out so much light that only a few hundred stars appear clearly enough for comparison.

The variation itself helps map the inner galaxy. It shows where dust obscures the view and where starlight passes through more easily. While Hubble sharpens the view of crowded stars, it cannot remove the effects of dust. That means there are still some patchy areas of the Milky Way's interior.

The Hubble Space Telescope reveals the Milky Way's crowded core in this 2018 image of the galactic bulge. Credit: NASA / ESA / Thomas Brown

Researchers expect future work from the survey to produce detailed maps of the interstellar dust in the galactic center, showing where starlight is blocked and where it shines. That will help astronomers trace how stars are distributed.

The Roman telescope will repeatedly monitor the same region and track changes in how stars move and brighten over time across millions of objects. By collecting Hubble images years earlier, astronomers effectively created a "before" snapshot of the galactic bulge.

That long time gap could help scientists measure how fast stars drift across the sky with unusual precision. It may also help them identify faint or otherwise hidden objects through their gravitational effects.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to Voibe for $49.99 (reg. $199) and turn your voice into text with fast, offline AI dictation

Opens in a new window Credit: Essence AI Voibe Lifetime Subscription $49.99
$199 Save $149.01   Get Deal

Typing all day can drain your momentum, especially when you’re going from emails, notes, feedback, and long-form drafts. Ever wish your ideas could hit the screen as fast as you think them? That’s where Voibe comes in.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Voibe is on sale for $49.99, down from $199, giving you a 75% discount.

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!

Voibe is a Mac dictation app powered by OpenAI’s latest Whisper model, transcribing speech into text with impressive speed. Unlike cloud-based tools, everything happens locally, so your recordings won’t leave your device. That means less lag and more privacy, with words appearing almost as soon as you speak them.

Optimized for Apple Silicon Macs, Voibe works in nearly any app where you can place a cursor. The workflow is refreshing and simple: hold a key, speak, and release when you’re done. It also recognizes accents, conversational language, and technical jargon, making it a welcome change for anyone who found older dictation tools stubborn or “blah.”

Voibe claims users can type up to three times faster with voice dictation, which may appeal to writers, marketers, students, remote workers, or anyone handling text-heavy tasks throughout the day. It can also make prompting tools like ChatGPT or Claude feel more natural by letting you speak detailed ideas instead of typing them manually.

Another advantage is reliability. Since Voibe doesn’t require an internet connection, it keeps working even when Wi-Fi is unreliable or unavailable — useful for travel, coffee shop work sessions, or staying focused without browser distractions.

If faster note-taking or easier voice-to-text situations sound useful to you, the Voibe lifetime subscription is currently available for $49.99 (reg. $199) while the deal lasts.

StackSocial prices subject to change.