IT General

8 streaming services got more expensive in 2026, and Netflix isn't even the worst offender

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 16:15

Streaming was supposed to be a cheaper alternative to cable television. Unfortunately, that ship has sailed. Streaming has now become a necessity for major media companies. Between new originals, licensed content, live broadcasts, and sporting events, many streaming services have significantly expanded their content offerings. More movies and shows lead to bigger spending, which, ultimately, has resulted in higher subscription prices.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 9 tools every DIY mechanic needs—and why a 10mm socket isn't one of them

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 16:00

Want to tackle some DIY car repairs? Well, having the right tools can make or break the experience. Here are the nine essential tools every DIY car repair kit should include, and why each one matters.

Categories: IT General, Technology

BLK launches Events feature to bring Black singles together IRL

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 16:00

Following Tinder's launch of an IRL Events feature this summer, another Match Group-owned app, BLK, is doing the same.

BLK, a dating app for Black singles with more than 13 million downloads, is introducing Events in 29 American cities today after testing in Atlanta this summer.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best hookup apps of 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt

"Black singles have always met through community," Corinne Harris, director of brand marketing at Match Group, stated in a press release shared with Mashable. "What our community keeps telling us is that they want to meet people in person; they just don't always know where to go. Events answers that. It takes the pressure off and puts the focus on being in the room with people who understand you."

Mashable has also reported time and again that daters long to meet potential connections in person rather than on their phones, but they're unsure how to do so. Dating apps are now attempting to bridge that gap themselves. In addition to Tinder Events, Bumble has hosted events in various cities this summer, and Hinge has its One More Hour initiative to encourage community events. (Hinge is also owned by Match Group.)

On BLK, 60 percent of singles surveyed last year said they prefer meeting someone in shared spaces. But a recent survey found that nearly seven in 10 feel lonely, and six in 10 don't know where to go to meet people.

Now, BLK users in major areas like Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C, and Miami will be able to use Events. They can find a nearby event, reserve a spot, invite friends, add it to their calendar, and connect with others going before, during, and after the event. Like Tinder's Events feature, BLK users will also be able to match with other attendees.

Since the Atlanta test began on Aug. 7, 65 percent of eligible active users engaged with the tab, according to BLK, signaling an interest in venturing offline...but using the app to help.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hollywoods tech movie boom has arrived

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:52

The people selling us the future are having a bit of an image problem right now: AI companies are promising to transform work while workers worry about losing their jobs. Social platforms have become fixtures of daily life even as questions about their influence on people and politics persist. And the founders behind them are increasingly part of the controversy themselves. Which makes this a pretty interesting moment for Hollywood to put them on a much bigger screen, don't you think?

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This fall and winter, Hollywood is turning its cameras on four of tech's most consequential and controversial founders: Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla and SpaceX's Elon Musk, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes. Their stories are wildly different, spanning social media, electric cars and rockets, artificial intelligence, and convicted fraud. But the films have a common question at their center: What happens when someone promises to change the world, and millions of people, investors, and institutions decide to believe them?

The founders are getting their close-up. The audience is already skeptical.

When The Social Network first arrived in 2010, Facebook’s beginnings supplied plenty of drama. But writer-director Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning, opening Oct. 9, has a different perspective than his movie from over a decade ago. As he put it: "'The Social Network' was about the invention of Facebook. 'Social Reckoning' is about what it’s become and, in particular, Facebook’s role in the rise of extremism and divisiveness."

In the film, Jeremy Strong takes on Zuckerberg, with Mikey Madison playing Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and Jeremy Allen White as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, and is set to follow the disclosures behind the newspaper’s "Facebook Files" investigation, tracing what Facebook actually knew about the harms of its platforms, and what happened when that information became public.

But since 2021, the allegations about harm to young users have hardly faded. In August 2026, Meta agreed to a settlement worth up to $17.1 billion with a coalition of attorneys general over claims that it knowingly built addictive features that harmed children and teens. The agreement, subject to court approval, also requires new restrictions on minors’ use of Facebook and Instagram.

That is part of the history audiences bring to the movie theater. As Meta’s platforms have become woven into how we talk, get news, and spend our time, scandal after scandal has given users reasons to question the company’s influence. Concerns about social media’s power are widespread: A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 78 percent of Americans believed social media companies had too much power and influence in politics, up from 72 percent in 2020.

The pushback goes beyond what’s on our feeds. People across the country, on both sides of the political aisle, have been resisting the technologies becoming part of their everyday lives.

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Whether they’re fighting data centers going up in their communities, protesting or vandalizing Flock Safety cameras, or dubbing Meta’s smart glasses "pervert glasses" online, people aren’t simply buying into the future tech companies are selling anymore.

AI has its own skeptics. A June 2026 survey found that 52 percent of Americans were more concerned than excited about its growing use in daily life. The distrusted tech now has its own movie as well, adding to this slate. Artificial, director Luca Guadagnino’s drama about Sam Altman’s 2023 firing and return to OpenAI, is set to take audiences inside the fight over who gets to run one of the companies shaping that technology. Andrew Garfield plays Altman and said making the film actually left him questioning his own use of AI.

"I got off my ChatGPT immediately," Garfield told Jimmy Kimmel Live! in September, explaining that learning more had made him realize "we’re careening into some very unknown territory."

"They’re not an evil person, they've got blinkers on."

It’s easy to see why these stories draw us in. There’s money, competition, and the conviction that you’re building something important enough to change everyone’s lives. A founder may see that ambition as heroic, though for the people living with the consequences, it can look very different. Ron’s Gone Wrong co-writer Peter Baynham told WIRED in 2023 that the film’s contrasting tech executives reflected how these figures can see themselves as the good guys.

"They think they’re on a heroic mission to make the world a better place," he said. "They’re not an evil person, they’ve got blinkers on."

To me, that's a more interesting character to watch than someone who simply wants to do harm — someone so convinced they’re helping that they stop questioning what their version of progress costs everyone else.

No one better epitomizes that ideal than Elizabeth Holmes. If you watched The Dropout, you know what I mean. Holmes promised to revolutionize blood testing through her startup, Theranos, and went to extraordinary lengths to sell investors on technology that could not do what she claimed. That deception led to her conviction for defrauding investors.

Now she’s the subject of You Can See Everything, a documentary opening Oct. 16 from directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. It follows Holmes in the 34 days before she reported to prison for

+her TK-year sentence, with the equally uncomfortable-to-watch Fielder — whose Nathan for You and The Rehearsal turn awkwardness into must-watch television — joining her at home. If you’ve seen his work, you can imagine why that pairing is hard to resist.

SEE ALSO: Does 'You Can See Everything' live up to the hype?

Holmes won’t be the only tech figure appearing as herself this fall. Audiences will also get a closer look at Elon Musk in filmmaker Alex Gibney's documentary, Musk. Musk's influence stretches from the cars people drive to the posts they see on X and the politics shaping their lives.

The film will explore his business empire and political influence, opening in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 9 before expanding nationally. For viewers used to encountering Musk through his posts and the headlines they generate, the film offers a chance to spend more time with the story behind them.

Now, just because all these movies are arriving at the same time doesn’t necessarily mean change will follow. But they can bring scrutiny beyond the usual audience for tech news. Someone who uses ChatGPT, Facebook, Instagram, or X every day may know relatively little about the people and decisions behind those products. But what film is very good at is giving audiences a reason to look more closely at topics they may — or may not — be familiar with.

For now, I'm looking forward to seeing whether Andrew Garfield really nails Sam Altman's (in)famous walk.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Samsung 85-Inch QN70F Smart TV is at its absolute best price for October Prime Day — save over $500

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:49

SAVE $558: As of Oct. 6, the Samsung 85-Inch Class Neo QLED QN70F 4K Mini LED Smart TV (2025 Model) is on sale for $1,139.99 at Amazon. That’s a 33% discount for Prime Big Deal Days and marks its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 85-Inch QN70F 4K Mini LED Smart TV $1,139.99 at Amazon
$1,697.99 Save $558   Get Deal

Prime Day discounts are officially live, and Samsung’s massive 85-inch QN70F Neo QLED just hit a huge price milestone. It dropped to $1,139.99 — down 33% from its standard $1,697.99 price tag. Getting a display this size for just over a grand is a rare buy, marking its absolute lowest price since launch. If you want a home-theater setup without spending thousands, this is easily one of the best value picks on the board.

The real draw of this model comes down to its Mini LED panel. Instead of using a few oversized backlights that spill light across the screen, Samsung uses thousands of tiny LEDs grouped into tightly controlled dimming zones. That level of precision keeps deep blacks looking dark and uniform during shadowy movie scenes rather than turning into a murky gray, while bright highlights still pack a heavy punch.

SEE ALSO: The best October Prime Day TV deals, according to our experts: Save $1,200 on OLED TVs

Processing is handled by an onboard chip that runs 20 separate neural networks to upscale whatever you are watching. Standard 1080p cable feeds, older YouTube videos, and compressed streams get cleaned up with sharper lines and better contrast in real time, making them look remarkably close to native 4K. An automated HDR remastering feature also injects extra color pop into non-HDR content, so everyday viewing looks noticeably richer.

Fast motion is another area where this display excels, thanks to a native 144Hz refresh rate and full Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support. Live sports stay crisp without blurry artifacts, and high-frame-rate console or PC gaming runs completely tear-free.

Lock in the $558 savings before this Prime Day deal ends.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts
Categories: IT General, Technology

Marcello Hernández Good Hang with Amy Poehler is a delight

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:43

Saturday Night Live fans, the latest episode of Good Hang is must-watch material.

In the episode above dropped Tuesday, host and SNL alum Amy Poehler chats with current SNL cast member (and Mashable 101 alum) Marcello Hernández — and he brought flowers, people.

The comedian talks through his storied career so far, including his Netflix special American Boy, as well as growing up with his Dominican dad and Cuban mom, playing baseball as a kid, soccer in college, getting into drama with a John Leguizamo monologue, taking his teachers to see SNL, and being the Gen Z face of the show.

Plus, fellow SNL star Sarah Sherman drops in on Zoom with a Marcello Hernández screen saver and it's a delight.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to turn your Raspberry Pi into an Android TV box

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:30

Android is a powerful operating system with tons of potential. As a result, many set-top box makers often settle on it. It's hard not to see why: it gives users an easy way to install Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and more. But what if you could make your Android-powered TV box? Here's how you can do it with a Raspberry Pi.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best AirPods deals on October Prime Day: $79 AirPods and AirPods Pro 3 on sale

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:28
The best AirPods deals on Prime Big Deal Days: Best overall deal Apple AirPods 4 $79 (save $50.99) Get Deal Best AirPods Pro deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 (save $70) Get Deal Best airpods max deal Apple AirPods Max 2 $429 (save $120) Get Deal Best budget ANC deal Apple AirPods Pro (1st Gen) with MagSafe Case $89.99 (save $159.01) Get Deal

Wallets at the ready, folks: October Prime Day has officially dropped.

The sale, also dubbed Prime Big Deal Days, is the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season — a chance to stock up on marked-down tech with deals on items such as AirPods.

The sale runs Oct. 6-7, and our team is tracking all the best AirPods deals. So far, we haven't seen any price drops on the newly announced AirPods 5 (more on that below), but we have seen some other competitive price drops — including an all-time low match on 1st-Gen Pros. As someone who tests and writes about headphones and earbuds year-round, I get why Apple users are willing to invest in AirPods. As a deals expert, I also much prefer to see folks grab AirPods on sale.

SEE ALSO: Rare iPad deal: The Apple iPad mini is $100 off for October Prime Day

The key to shopping these sales smartly is grabbing deals at just the right time. That's why I've rounded up the best AirPods deals live so far, plus the three that you should keep an eye on. Check them out below, and be sure to follow more of Mashable's October Prime Day coverage.

Best AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $79 at Walmart
$129.99 Save $50.99   Get Deal Why we picked this

The humble AirPods 4. What they lack in active noise cancellation, they make up for in a more appealing price point of $79, a total discount of over $50. With the release of the AirPods 5, these are the last AirPods available without ANC. Maybe that's ideal for you, or maybe you simply appreciate the lower price point. In either case, this is likely the last holiday shopping season you can grab these buds on sale. Just note that they are still $10 away from their record low price of $69, but their availability may be limited as we get further into the shopping season — they've already sold out on Amazon.

Best AirPods Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179
$249 Save $70   Get Deal Why we picked this

For listeners who need ANC in their ears, the AirPods Pro 3 currently boast one of the best Amazon discounts on AirPods. Having just dropped to $179, they're now just $10 off their lowest-ever reduction of $169. Sure, they're not the latest and most advanced model anymore, but you get a bunch of great features, including adaptive noise cancellation, Live Translation, heart rate sensing, and three-dimensional spatial audio.

Best budget ANC deal Apple AirPods Pro (1st Gen) $224.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $24.01   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Abt Electronics Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

Amazon just brought back the 1st-Gen AirPods Pro for $89.99, matching their all-time record low. Yes, they run on Apple's older H1 chip rather than current-gen silicon, but at under $90, you're getting active noise cancellation and silicone ear tips for just $10 more than the non-ANC AirPods 4. If you want proper noise cancellation without spending $179 on the Pro 3, this is easily the best value on the board — just keep in mind stock on discontinued generations usually disappears fast during Prime Day.

More AirPods dealsAirPods deals to wait for
  • The AirPods 5 have only received one small deal — a $4 price drop — so far since their release on Sept. 18. Granted, they're still very new to the market, so even that price dip is notable. We're hoping that as we get further into holiday deal season, a slightly more substantial deal comes along.

  • The AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case haven't dropped in price just yet, so we're not holding our breath that they will, especially since they're still brand new. That said, October Prime Day is a very appropriate time for a surprise deal, so the chance that we see even a small dip isn't zero. At the very least, grabbing them at full price is still likely a better deal than grabbing the AirPods 4 with ANC on sale (more on that below).

  • Amazon likes to drop the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation to $149 (down from $179), which might look like a good deal at first glance. But there's a catch. Their newer analog, the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, has a standard list price of $149 and comes with an improved feature set, including better active noise cancellation and sound quality, with the same battery life. In other words, paying $149 for the older model doesn't make sense — the AirPods 4 with ANC would have to be priced well below that (like the Best Buy deal we mentioned above) for it to be a deal worth picking up.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple AirPods 4 are just $79, which seems like a mistake. Dont miss this rare deal.

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:18

SAVE OVER $50: As of Oct. 5, the Apple AirPods 4 are available for $79 at Walmart. That's a total saving of $50.99 from the regular list price of $129.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $79 at Walmart
$129.99 Save $50.99   Get Deal

You may have heard by now that Amazon is hosting another October Prime Day deal, but that isn't your only chance to save. Over the weekend, you could grab the Apple AirPods 4 for just $99 at Amazon, but you can now get an even better deal on those exact AirPods as part of the Walmart Fall Sale.

The Walmart Fall Sale event runs from Oct. 5 through 11, but there's no guarantee these popular earbuds will be available for much longer. (They're already completely sold out at Amazon.) Apple recently released the AirPods 5, and so once these past-gen earbuds are gone, they're likely gone forever.

Again, as of Oct. 5, the Apple AirPods 4 are now just $79 a Walmart, which gives you savings of $50.99. If you don't care about ANC (or have a tendency to lose your earbuds), then the more basic AirPods are a more practical choice.

It's worth noting that these are the last generation of AirPods to not feature active noise cancellation (though there is an ANC version available at Walmart, which is almost double the price). If you don't need ANC, these are an absolute steal right now — one of the very best bargains you'll find on any AirPods. You get spatial audio, high-quality Apple sound, and a charging case that delivers up to 30 hours of runtime.

Grab the Apple AirPods 4 before they sell out at Walmart. They're available now for just $79, which is just a smidge above their all-time record low price.

More Walmart AirPods deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Dells budget XPS laptop is only $600 for October Prime Day — save $200 on the best Windows MacBook Neo

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:13

SAVE $200: The Dell XPS 13 is on sale for up to 25% off during Best Buy's Techtober Sale. Two 512GB variants of the premium-built budget laptop are cheaper than ever (starting at just $599.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core 5 320, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 at Best Buy
$799.99 Save $200   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core 5 320, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $799.99 at Best Buy
$999.99 Save $200   Get Deal

Apple's mega-popular budget MacBook Neo is only $10 off for Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon's "October Prime Day" event (live now through Oct. 7). That's not a huge surprise given the fact that it hardly ever goes on sale, but it does kind of sting when the Neo's best Windows alternative is a whopping $200 off at a competing retailer this week.

In one of the best laptop deals I've seen so far this year, the new Dell XPS 13 is on sale for up to 25% off at Best Buy during its Techtober Sale, which runs through Sunday, Oct. 11. Two models with an Intel Core 5 320 chip, 512GB of storage, and either 8GB or 16GB of RAM are both $200 off — a discount that brings them down to their lowest prices ever, starting from just $599.99. Meanwhile, the MacBook Neo starts at $689 with 50 percent less storage.

Best Buy's deals are especially great in the wake of the XPS 13's $100 price hike, which arrived last month amid an ongoing memory crisis. You used to be able to buy the 8GB RAM/512GB SSD variant for $599.99 on Dell's website if you were a student, but after the price increase, it's now $699.99 there with its education offer.

The Dell XPS 13's crisp 120Hz touchscreen display is a highlight. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

I tested the Dell XPS 13 earlier this fall and was so impressed by its build quality (not to mention its battery life — with roughly 19 hours of stamina per charge, it outlasts the MacBook Neo and M5 MacBook Air). Unlike many other budget PCs, it has an all-aluminum design that doesn't reflect its bargain-bin price point. And unlike Apple's Neo, it comes equipped with a sharp, smooth touchscreen and a backlit keyboard. The XPS 13 is also way more portable than the MacBook Neo, weighing a full half-pound less. It's a smart pick for a child or younger student.

For what it's worth, I would splurge on the XPS 13 with 16GB of RAM if your budget allows: Windows 11 uses a lot of memory even when the machine is idling. That said, the 8GB RAM model will be totally fine if you don't plan on doing a ton of multitasking.

Prime members only have 48 hours to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This stunning TCL 75-inch R7D 4K TV is $599.99 on Amazon — score the best-ever price on Prime Day

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:11

SAVE $110: As of Oct. 6, the TCL 75-inch R7D 4K TV is available for $599.99 on Amazon. That's $110 in savings off the regular list price of $709.99 — a new record low.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 75-inch R7D 4K TV $599.99 at Amazon
$709.99 Save $110   Get Deal

After weeks of anticipation, October Prime Day is here at last — a major Amazon sale event that kicks off the holiday shopping season. For many shoppers, oversized TVs are the go-to item on occasions like these, dating back to viral videos of shoppers racing through supermarket aisles to get the best TV deals.

Fortunately, you don't have to do that now. You can buy a huge TV from the comfort of your own home. And as Amazon is absolutely stacked with options, there's no shortage of deals on impressive TVs, including money off a 75-inch monster from TCL.

As of Oct. 6, the TCL 75-inch R7D 4K TV is marked down to $599.99, its lowest-ever price on Amazon. That saves you $110 from the list price of $709.99.

TCL is known for budget-level TVs that deliver decent specs for the price. That means this TV is already great value before the sale, so you really are getting a bargain with this October Prime Day reduction.

It runs on the Roku TV operating system, giving you near-limitless access to movies and shows, and uses QLED display tech to deliver sharp 4K visuals. It also has motion technology and a gaming mode for optimizing the next-gen gaming experience. And you can link it up with your favorite voice assistant.

Don't miss the TCL 75-inch R7D 4K TV for $599.99 and save yourself $110.

More TCL TV deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The 512GB SanDisk microSD Express card for Switch 2 hits lowest-ever price — save $70 on Prime Day

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:08

SAVE $70: As of Oct. 6, the SanDisk 512GB microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 is on sale for $129.99 at Amazon. That’s a 35% discount for Prime Big Deal Days and matches its lowest price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk 512GB microSD Express Card $129.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $70   Shop Now

Prime Big Deal Days has officially kicked off, bringing huge price drops on everything from smart TVs to laptop gear, but gamers know the real victory is scoring top-tier setup upgrades at a discount. Right now, the officially licensed SanDisk 512GB microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 is down to $129.99. That’s a 35% discount off its usual $199.99 list price.

SanDisk built this card using new express tech, pushing read speeds up to a blistering 880 MB/s and write speeds up to 650 MB/s. To put that into simple terms: it moves game files more like a super-fast solid-state drive than older memory cards, so game levels load up almost instantly and digital downloads finish faster.

SEE ALSO: The best October Prime Day gaming deals: I found PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox deals worth grabbing now

Because it's officially licensed for the Nintendo Switch 2, you know it works flawlessly with the console right out of the box. That raw speed isn't just for launching games, either — it handles crisp gameplay screenshots and smooth Full HD video recording in real time without causing your game to stutter or freeze.

With 512GB of room, you get plenty of space to keep your entire digital collection saved in one place. That means no more constantly deleting and re-downloading huge games set in Hyrule or the Mushroom Kingdom just to free up space for the next big drop. Plus, the physical card is built tough against water, drops, and heat, so your save files stay safe when you're playing on the go.

Lock in this 35% discount and never worry about running out of storage on your Switch 2 again.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts
Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Prime Day outdoor deals: Anker power stations, Igloo coolers, and LifeStraws are among our top picks

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:05
Best October Prime Day outdoor deals: Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C1000 $469.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best cooler deal Igloo Trailmate Cooler (50 quart) $99.99 (save $20) Get Deal Best outdoor speaker deal Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $56.99 (save $43) Get Deal Best camping deal Coleman 4-Person Instant Cabin $149.99 (save $68.50) Get Deal Best personal water filter LifeStraw Personal Water Filter $12.98 (save $4.97) Get Deal Best fire pit deal Solo Stove Mesa XL $89.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best outdoor projector deal Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector $559.99 (save $190) Get Deal

If you're like me and prefer to camp in the moderate fall temps instead of sweating it out in the summer, you're in need of some fresh outdoor gear. Luckily, Amazon's October Prime Day has arrived, running Oct. 6 and 7, which kicks off the end-of-year savings. It's a great time to stock up on gear.

I've compiled the best Prime Day outdoor deals if you're searching for upgrades or replacements to your current gear. These deals will get you outside to enjoy fall colors and cooler temps. Be sure to keep an eye on all of Mashable's October Prime Day coverage throughout the event.

Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C1000 $469.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $130   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

I've tested dozens of portable power stations while camping over the last few years, and the original Anker Solix C1000 remains a top-tier choice. Now that it's on sale for under $450, it's a great time to make the move to camping with power. Keep phones charged, pack the air fryer, or take your laptop workstation into the great outdoors.

The Anker Solix C1000 packs in 1,056Wh of battery capacity and a peak output of 2,400W. Anker included a massive six AC ports, dual USB-A ports, and dual USB-C ports. I also love the onboard lightbar, and it recharges back to 100 percent in under an hour.

More portable power station dealsBest cooler deal Igloo Trailmate Cooler (50 quart) $99.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

With a giant 50-quart capacity, the Igloo Trailmate cooler is on sale for under $100 for October Prime Day. Without ice, that size can fit up to 81 cans. The foam-insulated walls and lid measure 1.5 inches thick for better ice retention, and the rubberized latches provide added reassurance that the cooler is properly sealed to keep things cold. Igloo also added a built-in bottle opener for those of us who always forget to pack one.

More cooler dealsBest outdoor speaker deal Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $64.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

On Mashable's ranking of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 earns the top spot as the model that's ready for both outdoor adventures and the shower. Contributor Alex Bracetti's review says, "The rugged mesh exterior prevents moisture and other hazards from damaging both the inside and outside of the speaker. A 14-hour charge is enough for a month of daily shower use."

More outdoor speaker dealsBest outdoor projector deal Nebula Capsule 3 $559.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $190   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Read our full review of the Anker Nebula Capsule 3.

I pack light — as in, my one carry-on backpack comes in at under 20 pounds. Committing to an extra two pounds of tech was actually a big deal for me, but bringing the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector to Japan earned it a permanent place in my travel bag. It projects a 120-inch 1080p display, automatically calibrates its own perfect focus (seriously, it's undeniably gratifying to watch), and doubles as a Bluetooth speaker with "damn fine" sound quality.

Best camping deal Coleman 4-Person Instant Cabin $149.99 at Amazon
$218.49 Save $68.50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Every great camping trip comes with a home base. The Coleman Instant Cabin is a one-minute setup tent that's also easy to store. For October Prime Day, the four-person tent is on sale for $149.99. To make things even easier at the campsite, the Coleman tent has pre-attached poles that only need to be extended. Plus, the included rainfly is integrated into the design, making assembly simple.

More camping deals

Prime members only have 48 hours to shop Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale. Sign up for a Prime 30-day free trial if you want to save some cash, and follow Mashable’s guide to the best October Prime Day deals and live blog for the latest updates.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best October Prime Day TV deals, according to our experts: Save $1,200 on OLED TVs

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:03
The best October Prime Day TV deals: Best budget TV deal Amazon Ember 55-inch 4-Series 4K TV $279.99 (save $180) Get Deal Best OLED TV deal Samsung 65-inch S90H OLED 4K TV $1,497.99 (save $1,202) Get Deal Best QLED TV Deal TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,197.99 (save $1,302) Get Deal Best art TV deal Amazon Ember 55-inch Artline QLED 4K TV $499.99 (save $400) Get Deal Best Roku TV deal Roku 65-inch Plus Series QLED 4K TV $429.99 (save $220) Get Deal Best small TV deal Amazon Ember 43-inch 4-Series 4K TV $199.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best TV Deal Under $500 TCL 65-inch T7 Series QLED 4K Google TV $448.99 (save $81) Get Deal Our Dream TV Samsung 65-Inch S95F Series OLED 4K Smart TV $2,319 (save $180.99) Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale features lots of amazing tech deals (duh). But it's an especially good time to be shopping for a new TV, as 2026 models have been on the market long enough to see hefty discounts. Sure, you could wait a few weeks until Black Friday to see if they get even cheaper, but if you're tired of watching football games on an old TV, then take advantage of the top Prime Day deals on TVs now.

On the first day of Prime Big Deal Days, which is live through midnight on Oct. 7, we've spotted best-ever pricing on some of our favorite 2026 OLED and QLED TVs. Amazon Ember TVs have particularly steep discounts, which is great news if you're on a budget this season. And if you're willing to invest in a flagship model, then you can save $1,200 on the award-winning Samsung S90H OLED TV.

SEE ALSO: October Prime Day 2026: Live updates on Apple, Kindle, Lego, and Samsung deals

Our tech experts have collected all of the best October Prime Day TV deals from brands like TCL, Hisense, Amazon Fire TV, LG, and Samsung. We'll be updating this guide regularly as the sale heats up, so keep checking back for more discounts.

Feeling lost? Check out the Mashable guide to TV specs for a quick refresh on the difference between QLED, OLED, Mini LED, and RGB displays. And to make life easier, we've marked our editors' top deals with a ✅.

Best Prime Day budget TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 55-inch 4-Series 4K TV $279.99 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $180   Get Deal Why we like it

As much as we might drool over Sony's new flagship Bravia 7 II True RGB TV, when it comes time to actually add a TV to our shopping cart, we often have to lower our expectations. The good news: TVs are among the few tech products that have gotten cheaper over the past five years, and even budget TVs offer fairly impressive displays and sound.

The Amazon Ember 4-Series is a good starter TV if you're on a budget, and that's why it's one of the best October Prime Day TV deals we've found so far. Despite clocking in at under $300, this 55-inch TV has a 4K HDR10+ display, WiFi 6 support, a speedy quad-core processor, and doubles as an Alexa smart speaker. If you're already in the Amazon ecosystem and OLEDs aren't in your budget, don't overthink this one.

Best art TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 55-inch Artline QLED 4K TV $499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400   Get Deal Why we like it

If you want an aesthetic TV that doubles as artwork on your wall, but don't quite have the budget for Samsung's The Frame, Amazon's new Ember Artline TVs are a solid alternative. The 55-inch model is on sale for less than $500 for Prime Big Deal Days, which is 44% off and its best price on record. While Amazon's art TV isn't quite as impressive in the specs department as Samsung's, it does offer a free art gallery and a wide selection of frame options at no extra cost. It's not our top pick at full price, but at $400 off? It's hard to pass up.

Best OLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch S90H OLED 4K TV $1,497.99 at Amazon
$2,699.99 Save $1,202.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Combining immersive deep blacks and the contrast known to come from Glare Flare OLED technology, the Samsung S90H is another great Prime Day bargain if making the jump to an OLED TV has been on your radar — now only $1,497.99.

Its selling point is the NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor, which uses 128 neural networks to enhance picture and sound, while 4K AI Upscaling Pro sharpens lower-resolution content. Gamers also get unique benefits thanks to the Motion Xcelerator 165Hz, Nvidia G-Sync, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support for smoother, lower-latency play.

Best QLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,197.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,302.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Mashable's TV expert named TCL's QM8L TV the best QLED TV for most people, highlighting its "superb peak brightness, detailed picture quality, and fantastic glare handling" in her review. The SQD part of its name stands for "super quantum dot" mini LEDs, which are a major reason why it's one of the brightest TVs you can buy in 2026. Period. At full price, the 65-inch model costs $2,500, but thanks to October Prime Day savings, it's down to just $1,197.99. That's over 50% in savings and its lowest price ever, confirmed with the Amazon price tracker camelcamelcamel.

Best Roku TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 65-inch Plus Series QLED 4K TV $429.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $220   Get Deal Why we like it

Not a fan of the Fire TV ecosystem? This deal on the 65-inch Roku Plus Series TV shaves $220 off for October Prime Day. It's selling fast, which makes sense; it's down to its best price ever and puts a 65-inch Mini-LED QLED in your living room for less than $450. Mini-LED backlighting and local dimming enable finer tuning of the bright, detailed 4K QLED display. It also features Dolby Atmos sound, Roku Smart Picture, and a delightfully simple interface.

Our dream TV: Samsung S95F OLED TV Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-Inch S95F Series OLED 4K Smart TV $2,319 at Samsung
$2,499.99 Save $180.99 Almost sold out! Get Deal Why we like it

Our tech editor says this is the TV he'd buy if money were no object. What makes this Samsung OLED so special? While the LG C6 and Samsung S90H OLED TVs offer a better overall value, there are some distinct features that make the S95F so special — and so hard to find in stock (it's totally sold out at Samsung and almost sold out at Amazon).

The S95F borrows everything we love about The Frame art TVs and brings them into a flagship TV with a stunning OLED display. This TV has the ultra-thin design of The Frame, but crucially, it also has the same matte, anti-glare display, which is unrivaled in the TV world. Because it also has art mode, you can use it as an art TV without sacrificing any specs, making this the ideal TV for cinephiles, gamers, and design lovers.

So, while it doesn't have a huge discount (Best Buy has the best offer at the moment), we still think it's one of the best Prime Day deals on TVs.

More October Prime Day TV dealsUnder 50-inch TV deals50 to 55-inch TV deals65-inch TV deals75-inch TV deals80 to 85-inch TV dealsOver 85-inch TV deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Hisense is expanding into portable audio with its new Boom speaker family — score loud deals on Prime Day

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:03
The best Prime Day deals on Hisense Boom portable speakers: Hisense FlexBoom Portable Bluetooth Speaker $79.99 (save $40) Get Deal Hisense WeBoom Portable Bluetooth Speaker $149.99 (save $50) Get Deal Hisense VoyageBoom Portable Bluetooth Speaker $249.99 (save $50) Get Deal

You know Hisense for giving high-end TVs budget-friendly price tags, but now the brand is bringing that same energy into portable audio. Just in time for Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event running Oct. 6 through Oct. 7, Hisense is officially launching its brand-new Boom family of Bluetooth speakers — and dropping immediate discounts on all three models.

Whether you need a lightweight speaker to throw in a backpack or a heavy-hitting outdoor system with thumping bass for pool days and backyard hangouts, the lineup has something for every setup.

Hisense FlexBoom Speaker Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense FlexBoom Portable Bluetooth Speaker $79.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $40   Get Deal

The entry point to Hisense’s new audio line balances grab-and-go portability with solid volume, pushing out up to 40 watts of punchy sound with crisp highs. The FlexBoom speaker carries an IP67 rating for dust- and water-resistance, so it handles beach trips, rainy hikes, and poolside drops. You get up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge — plus a fast 10-minute quick charge that nets two extra hours of playback along with built-in FM radio, hands-free speakerphone calling, and easy app controls to tweak your sound settings.

Hisense WeBoom Speaker Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense WeBoom Portable Bluetooth Speaker $149.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $50   Get Deal

The mid-sized WeBoom is ideal for full-day outdoor adventures, pairing a massive 24-hour battery life with a quick 10-minute charge that gets you two extra hours of playtime. Equipped with dual woofers and passive radiators, a single tap of the Bass Boost button cranks up the low end, while beat-synced ambient lighting sets the mood through the ConnectLife app. It is built like a tank with IP67 dust- and water-resistance, and supports Auracast pairing so you can link multiple speakers together.

Hisense VoyageBoom Speaker Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense VoyageBoom Portable Bluetooth Speaker $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50   Get Deal

The VoyageBoom is for big outdoor hangouts, backing 180W of peak power with a dedicated built-in subwoofer and a double-tap bass boost. It packs an IP67 waterproof design, up to 24 hours of battery life, and a built-in power bank to keep your phone charged while streaming. Extra perks like beat-driven lights, a cozy campfire mode, mic and guitar inputs, and multi-speaker pairing make it a complete portable entertainment rig.

No matter which size best fits your vibe, grabbing these Prime Day prices before the end of Oct. 7 is an absolute no-brainer.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Narwal’s robot vacuum and mop combo lineup gets major price cuts for Prime Day

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:00

Pet hair, kitchen crumbs, and muddy footprints can make floor cleaning a daily job. A robot vacuum that cleans, mops, and even handles its own mop care can take most of that work off your hands.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get 44% off this Western Digital External Drive on a Prime Day special

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 14:56

External drives, like the WD Elements, are essential storage devices everyone should have to protect valuable data from crashes or theft. They're also great for storing your movie and music collections because you can take them anywhere and access the offline files without a subscription.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Prime Day deals on fitness trackers are live: Get Garmins and Fitbits for under $200

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 14:36
The best Prime Day deals on fitness trackers: Best budget fitness tracker deal Fitbit Inspire 3 $89 (save $10.95) Get Deal Best mid-range fitness tracker deal Fitbit Charge 6 $131.56 (Save $28.39) Get Deal Best Android smartwatch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm) $219.99 (Save $80) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $349.99 (save $50) Get Deal

If a new fitness tracker is on your wishlist, October Prime Day is the perfect time to shop. Amazon has discounted popular models from Fitbit, Garmin, Oura, and other big-name brands for its 48-hour event running Oct. 6-7.

SEE ALSO: Sony headphones are hitting record lows on October Prime Day: Shop XM6, XM5, and budget headphones

We've cross-referenced Amazon's live deals with Mashable's official guide to the best fitness trackers. Below, you'll find the best actual Prime Day deals on the wearables our team has personally tested and reviewed, plus a few other notable price drops worth your attention.

Best mid-range fitness tracker deal Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker (Black) $0 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

The Fitbit Charge 6 is officially Mashable's favorite mid-range fitness tracker. It hits the sweet spot for budget buyers who don't want to sacrifice essential features. You get a built-in GPS that frees you from your smartphone, an intuitive AMOLED display, and 40 different exercise modes. If you're an intermediate user looking for a reliable wearable that covers all your bases at a great price, this is your answer.

Best budget fitness tracker deal Fitbit Inspire 3 $79.95 at Best Buy
$99.95 Save $20   Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

Read our full review of the Fitbit Inspire 3.

If you don't want a small smartphone strapped to your wrist at all times, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is Mashable's top budget pick. It's a simple, low-profile tracker that offers comprehensive health and fitness metrics (including sleep data) without the bulky interface. At well under $100, it provides everything you need and nothing you don't.

More fitness tracker deals Best Android smartwatch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm) $219.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $80   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

For Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is down to $219.99 (originally $299.99), coming within $1.50 of its all-time record low of $218.49. Earning a 4.6-star rating and a Mashable Choice Award, it features a thinner "squircle" design that lies flatter on the wrist, tight Google Gemini AI integration, and deep biometrics through Samsung Health (including personalized sleep coaching and daily Energy Scores).

Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) Buy One Apple Watch, and Get a Second Apple Watch $300 off at T-Mobile
  Get Deal at T-Mobile Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

Read our full review of the Apple Watch Series 11.

While the last-gen Series 11 isn't seeing discounts on Amazon right now, Apple's flagship Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) is down to $349.99 from $399.00. That $49.01 markdown brings Apple's latest hardware down to an accessible price point ahead of Prime Day. It delivers even faster processing, a display that's twice as scratch-resistant, deeper Apple Intelligence integration via Workout Buddy, and advanced health monitoring like Daily Readiness scores and more frequent heart rate variability (HRV) readings.

More smartwatch deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

4 overlooked Milwaukee tools that save you hours on the job

How-To Geek - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 14:30

We all know that finding the right tool for the job is important, but sometimes it's pretty difficult amid all the outside noise, different tool ecosystems, battery platforms, and endless options scattered across store shelves. Milwaukee makes some extremely popular and common tools everyone enjoys, but it's those "sleeper" tools that are often overlooked you'll love the most.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dont miss Prime Day’s biggest surprise: A rare Yeti Tundra cooler deal

Mashable - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 14:20

SAVE 25%: For Prime Big Deal Days 2026, the Yeti Limited Edition Tundra 45 Cooler is on sale for $243.75 at Amazon, down from its $325 list price. That’s 25% off and a rare discount on one of Yeti's most popular products.

Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Limited Edition Tundra 45 Cooler $243.75 at Amazon
$325 Save $81.25   Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days usually brings standard price cuts on tech and small appliances, but experienced Prime Day shoppers also know this is one of the only times of the year when Yeti coolers go on sale. Even so, Yeti's hard coolers almost never drop below their standard retail price, making this Amazon offer one of the standout discounts of the shopping event so far.

Right now, the Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler in the limited-edition aquamarine violet color is marked down to $243.75, a 25% savings off its standard $325 list price.

The Yeti Tundra 45 is a rock-solid, single-piece hard cooler that offers enough space to hold up to 26 standard aluminum cans, with a recommended 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio. Instead of cheap glued panels, Yeti uses a rotomolded plastic shell — making the body practically uncrackable even if it takes a beating in a truck bed. Our tech editor personally tested Yeti's Tundra coolers to verify the brand's claims that they hold ice for at least three days, and he came away very impressed. There's a reason Yeti is the gold standard for outdoor coolers.

SEE ALSO: The best Prime Day outdoor deals: Anker power stations, Igloo coolers, and LifeStraws are among our top picks

The insulation setup is what really sets it apart from grocery-store ice chests. It packs up to three inches of pressure-injected foam directly into extra-thick walls, paired with a freezer-style sealing gasket around the lid to lock in cold air and keep heat out for multi-day trips. On the lid, heavy-duty rubber T-latches pull the lid down tight without snapping, rusting, or popping loose over time.

For extra usability out in the field, non-marking rubber feet on the bottom keep the cooler from sliding around on slippery boat decks or truck beds, while a leakproof drain plug lets you empty melted ice without removing the cap entirely. It also comes with a certified bear-resistant rating when locked and ships with a removable dry goods basket to keep your food out of the slush at the bottom.

Snag this rare Prime Day discount on the Yeti Limited Edition Tundra 45 Cooler.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts
Categories: IT General, Technology
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