IT General

SAVE 50 CENTS PER GALLON: Amazon Prime members can save 50 cents per gallon at BP, Amoco, and participating ampm and Thorntons gas stations. Here’s how to claim your fuel discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime / Earnify Save 50 cents per gallon at select gas stations   Learn More

If you're an Amazon Prime member, the perks don't end just because Prime Day is dead and gone. The party continues this 4th of July weekend with fuel savings.

From July 2-5, Prime members can save 50 cents per gallon at over 7,500 participating BP, Amoco, ampm, and Thorntons gas stations across the country. The discount is only valid on one purchase throughout the weekend, so choose wisely which car you want to fuel up.

Credit: Amazon

So, how do you lock in the savings? Well, obviously you'll need a Prime membership (if you're not already a member, sign up here). Next you'll need an Earnify account (don't worry it's free to create). You must link your accounts through the activation landing page, which will give Earnify your Prime membership status, name, and email in order to redeem the offer. While not required, the Earnify app can help you locate participating gas stations nearby as well.

Even better, once your accounts are linked, not only will you save 50 cents per gallon this weekend on gas, but you'll continue to save 10 cents per gallon at participating stations throughout the year. It may not be the most exciting task on your 4th of July to-do list, but it's certainly one that will pay off when your Monday commute rolls around.

Restaurant chains across the country are celebrating America's 250th birthday with July 4 food deals, discounts, and freebies. These are a few of our favorite things.

If you don't want to tend to the grill or babysit the barbecue all day during 4th of July weekend, we've rounded up plenty of spots you can score some food specials. The usual suspects like Burger King, Krispy Kreme, and Firehouse Subs are on the list, along with some wildcards like Fazoli's, Jack in the Box, and Jason's Deli. In other words, there's a deal or a freebie for whatever you're craving.

Arby's

Arby's is offering $1.99 sliders in restaurants, online, and in the app for a limited time. Slider options include Roast Beef, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken, and Ham.

Burger King

Burger King Royal Perks members can get a Whopper Jr. for just $2.50 on July 4 only — exclusively in the BK App or on BK.com.

The burger chain is also offering limited-edition Firecracker Cookie Pies while supplies last.

Carl's Jr.

From July 3-5, Carl's Jr rewards members can get a Double Cheeseburger for just $2.50 in the Carl's Jr. app, at Carlsjr.com, or by scanning the QR code in stores.

Checkers & Rally’s

Checkers and Rally's are offering an All-American $2.50 Duo on July 4 only, which includes an All-American Hamburger with pickles, ketchup, and mustard plus a warm apple pie.

Fazoli's

Purchase any Family Meal at Fazoli's from July 3-7 and get a free Whole Pizza using the code FIREWORKS26.

Firehouse Subs

From June 29 through July 4, customers who purchase a small or medium sub can get a second for just $2.50. Note that the offer excludes Steak & Cheese Melts and Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket subs.

Hardee's

Hardee's rewards members can score a free Star-Spangled Biscuit in the Hardee's app from July 3-5.

The Greene Turtle

Select Greene Turtle locations will have $2.50 domestic pints available on July 4 only. The offer is available for dine-in customers who purchase an entrée or handheld.

Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box is offering its Jack Pack Rewards members a free fry (any size/shape) with any in-app purchase of $1 or more from July 3-5.

Jason’s Deli

Jason's Deli is offering its Deli Dollars Rewards members a free slice with any purchase from July 1-5. Plus, the chain has a limited-time Red, White, and Blueberry Cake available.

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme customers who rock the country's colors in stores on July 4 get a free Original Glazed donut (one per guest). Plus, customers can score an Original Glazed dozen for only $2.50 with the purchase of any dozen or 16-count Minis at regular price from July 2-5.

Krystal

Get a free Bomb Pop on July 4 with any in-store purchase at Krystal while supplies last. The fast-food chain is also offering rotating daily deals for members of its Club Krystal loyalty program in the Krystal app all summer long.

Logan's Roadhouse

Logan's Roadhouse is offering $25 digital gift cards for only $17.76 exclusively online from July 3-5. You can also grab a limited-time Red, White, and Blue Cake in stores and get complimentary Red, White, and Blue Butter served with the signature rolls when you dine in.

Sonic

Sonic has a limited-time $2.50 menu through July 12 that includes an All-American 6-inch Hot Dog, medium Onion Rings, Jr. Double Cheeseburger, and Red, White, and Blue Slush Float. The discount applies automatically online, in the app, or at the restaurant itself.

TGI Fridays

On July 4 only, TGI Fridays customers can get a free dessert with the purchase of any entrée.

TL;DR: All fixtures of the 2026 Nations Championship are available to watch for free on ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is shaping up to be a special year for sport.

The schedule has been ridiculously busy this year. We've hardly had time to breathe between the Winter Olympics, T20 World Cup, and World Cup, and now the world of rugby has dropped a totally new competition to grab its share of the spotlight.

The Nations Championship is changing the game. This fresh tournament promises to deliver six rounds of elite matchups between top international sides followed by a blockbuster Finals Weekend. It feels like the Rugby World Cup without the filler.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is an international rugby union competition featuring 12 men's teams. The teams are divided into two pools of six (Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere). Over two international windows, each team plays all the teams in the opposite pool once. Every team plays three games at home and three away.

After six rounds, a finals series will be contested over three days with each team matched against the same ranked team in the other pool to decide final placements.

When is the 2026 Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is the first edition of this competition. This year's tournament runs from the first round of fixtures on July 4 to the final on Nov. 29. The first round of fixtures is as follows:

• New Zealand vs. France — 3:10 a.m. ET on July 4

• Japan vs. Italy — 4:40 a.m. ET on July 4

• Australia vs. Ireland — 6:10 a.m. ET on July 4

• Fiji vs. Wales — 9:10 a.m. ET on July 4

• South Africa vs. England — 11:10 a.m. ET on July 4

• Argentina vs. Scotland — 3:10 p.m. ET on July 4

How to watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free

The 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: 1min.AI gives you lifetime access to AI models like GPT, Gemini, and Claude, and it’s only $70 for life through the end of the day today.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $69.97
$540 Save $470.03   Get Deal

Paying separate monthly fees for ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, and Gemini Advanced runs about $60 a month, and that’s basically just for generating text and basic images. 1min.AI bundles dozens of major AI models into one platform that you only have to pay for once. During Deal Days, a lifetime subscription is only $69.97 (reg. $540).

1min.AI gives you access to a wide range of AI models so you’re not locked into one tool’s strengths or blind spots. On the writing side, you’ll get access to AI for blog generation, keyword research, rewriting, summarizing, paraphrasing, grammar checking, and social media comment generation across LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Image tools go well beyond a basic generator, with editing and manipulation capabilities that cover tasks even a professional designer would reach for a separate app to do. Audio handles voice, music, and translation work. Video covers both creation and editing, including tools specifically for YouTube content. Documents can be chatted with, translated, or turned into presentations without leaving the platform.

This plan includes 4,000,000 credits per month, plus the option to earn up to 450,000 additional credits each month for free by logging in daily, leaving reviews, or referring people. That works out to roughly 1.1 million words generated, around 1,186 images, and 37 videos per month, with team sharing for up to 20 members.

Stop paying a different subscription for every AI model you use. Through July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a 1min.AI lifetime subscription on sale for $69.97.

Remember to browse the rest of the Deal Days catalog.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license for $29.97 (reg. $219.99) through July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $29.97
$219.99 Save $190.02   Get Deal

This is your last chance to ditch Microsoft 365’s subscription fees for good. Until tonight at 11:59 p.m., you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for much less than its usual retail price. This is part of our extended Deal Days event. Simply pay once, download the full software suite, and never worry about renewals again.

We know what you’re thinking, but rest assured, this isn’t some stripped-down lite version either. It’s the real deal. Whether you’re writing reports, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing emails, or wrangling databases, the lifetime version of Microsoft Office has you covered.

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It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. The full pro-level toolkit, minus the stress of a subscription. Plus, with instant license delivery and free customer support, getting started is as painless as your new spreadsheet workflow.

No more “trial expired” pop-ups. No more surprise charges. Just the latest versions of Microsoft’s best apps, ready to support all of your work and personal needs.

Download Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $29.97 until July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $219.99). No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a near-mint Apple MacBook Pro (2020) with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD for $394.97 (reg. $1,799).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Macbook Pro 2020 (Refurbished) $394.97
$1,799 Save $1,404.03   Get Deal

Could your laptop use an upgrade? If you’re tired of limping along an old device, let this deal be your sign to treat yourself to a new (to you) MacBook Pro. This sleek model offers impressive power and performance, and right now you can grab it for only $394.97 — over $1,400 off the usual price — until July 1.

There’s a reason MacBook Pros have amassed such a cult following. Apple‘s most powerful and portable device lets you tackle your workload from anywhere without slowing down. This particular model offers a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with a 2GHz base speed and Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz, so it can keep up with your daily multitasking and heavy-duty tasks, too.

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This model offers some awesome Apple features, like a Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar, which provides comfortable typing and easy access to shortcuts. You’ll also have boosted security with Touch ID, so you can log in with just your finger.

Four Thunderbolt 3 ports offer plenty of connectivity options. And speaking of connecting, you can get through a full workday without needing to find an electrical outlet, thanks to the 10 hours of battery life on a single charge.

You’re saving big thanks to this model’s Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition, with minimal to zero scuffing, while you enjoy the deep discount.

Get this MacBook Pro for just $394.97 (reg. $1,799) until July 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale for $19.17 at Amazon, down from its $34.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box $19.17 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $15.82 Get Deal

Magic: The Gathering can be a lot to take in if you’re just starting out, but the Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box is built to make that first step much easier. What makes said box even better right now is that Amazon has dropped it under $20.

As of July 1, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale for $19.17 at Amazon. That's 45% off its $34.99 list price, saving you $15.82 on this starter-friendly two-player box. 

That price puts Amazon well below TCGplayer’s current market price of $25.64. By comparison, the lowest TCGplayer listing is $25.80 with shipping included, which means Amazon is now more than $6 cheaper than both the market value and the lowest available listing on the dedicated trading card marketplace. 

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The Beginner Box is designed for two players — starting with a guided Aang versus Zuko match using two 20-card tutorial decks. Each deck comes with a step-by-step guide, so you can learn Magic’s basic flow without needing to build your own deck first. 

Once that first game is done, the box opens up into eight more 20-card Avatar-themed half-decks. These cover Firebending, Earthbending, Waterbending, Allies, Big Creatures, Counters, Spells, and Attacking. Combine any two, and you’ll have a 40-card deck ready for another casual match.

You also get two playboards, two Spindown life counters, five double-sided tokens, two learn-to-play guides, and a rules reference booklet, so there’s enough here to sit down and start playing without buying anything else first.

You can also grab the 30-pack Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box for only $125.95. As for what’s coming soon, you can pre-order the 30-pack Reality Fracture Play Booster Box for $154.99.

TL;DR: The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon, down from its $599.99 list price. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-Inch Odyssey OLED G6 (G61SH) Gaming Monitor $399.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $200 Get Deal

OLED gaming monitors are among the priciest peripheral upgrades you can buy, but you can save $200 on a top-level Samsung model right now.

As of July 1, the Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon. That's 33% off the $599.99 list price of this QD-OLED display. 

This is the 240Hz Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G61SH model, with a 27-inch QHD screen, 2560x1440 resolution, and a rapid 0.03ms response time. In layman’s terms, I’d recommend this as a fantastic OLED boost for PC players who understandably want fast-moving visuals without paying more for the 360Hz version. 

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For competitive games like Fortnite, League of Legends, or even a round of Fall Guys, the 240Hz refresh rate gives you much smoother motion than a standard 60Hz or 144Hz display, while AMD FreeSync Premium helps keep the monitor and GPU in sync to reduce screen tearing, lag, and choppy-looking action. 

As for the Odyssey G6’s OLED panel, the QD-OLED display is built for high brightness and a wide colour range, with HDR10 support adding brighter highlights and more detailed shadows. It’s also Pantone Validated, with support for over 2,100 colours and more than 110 skin tone shades — making all manner of visuals pop when you’re playing cinematic adventure games like Pragmata or the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.

For those who are worried about potential drawbacks of OLED, Samsung has even included OLED Safeguard tech, which uses a thermal modulation system to help reduce the risk of burn-in. 

If you’re shopping for other brands, LG’s Ultragear QHD monitor is on sale at $300 off. For another option from Samsung, the 27-inch G5 monitor is now $100 off.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box is on sale for $182.55 at Amazon, down from its $191.13 market price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box $182.55 at Amazon
  Get Deal

Prismatic Evolutions has remained one of the Pokémon TCG’s most stubbornly expensive Scarlet and Violet expansions, thanks in no small part to its Eevee-heavy lineup and continued demand from collectors since its launch in January 2025. However, Amazon has now dropped the Elite Trainer Box to under its market price. 

As of July 1, the Pokémon TCG Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box from the Scarlet and Violet set is available at Amazon for $182.55. Compared to TCGplayer’s current $191.13 market price, that saves you $8.58 on the sealed nine-pack collector box. 

Walmart is the cheapest of all, now only $174.88. That's $55.07 off its original $229.95 list price. 

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Inside the Pokémon TCG’s Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box, you’ll get nine titular booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet expansion, one full-art foil promo card featuring Eevee, 65 card sleeves featuring Eevee as a Stellar Tera Pokémon, 45 Energy cards, a player’s guide, six damage-counter dice, one competition-legal coin-flip die, two plastic condition markers, a collector’s box with four dividers, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. 

Since launching early last year, Prismatic Evolution has become one of the most expensive and sought-after expansions both in the modern Pokémon TCG and wider trading card market. A large reason for this is its incredibly valuable Eeveelution chase cards that are now worth up to $1,500 (available to buy separately on TCGplayer) — including Umbreon ex, SIR Sylveon ex, SIR Leafeon ex, SIR Espeon ex, SIR Glaceon ex, SIR Flareon ex, SIR Jolteon ex, and SIR Eevee ex. 

You can now buy the Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Box for under $90 on Amazon. You can also grab the six-pack Chaos Rising Booster Bundle for just over $50. 

SAVE OVER $250: As of July 1, the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus espresso machine is on sale for its lowest-ever price of $249 at Amazon. That's $250.95 off its full price of $499.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus Espresso Machine $249 at Amazon
$499.95 Save $250.95   Get Deal

If the rising summer sun has you getting up earlier these days, a tasty cup of espresso can help boost your energy. If you've been thinking about buying a machine to handle that, the good news is Amazon still has some solid discounts available on select models post-Prime Day.

The De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus espresso machine is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon, so there's no better time to grab it.

As of July 1, the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus is down from $499.95 to $249. You'll want to be quick — it currently has a limited time deal tag, so this excellent offer may not be around much longer.

SEE ALSO: Get ready to fight for your life: Starbucks is dropping a new Pink Drink Bearista Cup

If you're worried about how much countertop space the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus takes up, the good news is it's actually quite compact. This model comes in at 8.15-inches wide, so you don't have to worry about a chunky new addition to your kitchen.

It features a 15 bar professional pump that provides optimal pressure for brewing, and thanks to Advanced Thermoblock technology it works quickly. Plus, it comes with an automatic steam wand which helps create milk foam for drinks and latte art, if you enjoy that.

Now is your chance to score this great deal on the De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus espresso machine at Amazon.

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Fable and Mythos are back, baby.

Anthropic has announced it will restore access to its most powerful models, Claude Fable 5, and Claude Mythos 5, to users worldwide on Wednesday July 1.

The decision comes after the U.S. government lifted the worldwide export ban on the models, as it deemed them too powerful to be used by foreign nationals.

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

"We’ve received notice that the Department of Commerce has lifted export controls on Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5. We'll begin restoring access tomorrow (...) We’re grateful to our users for their patience, and to everyone who worked with us on redeploying the models," the company said in a tweet.

In a blog post published late on Tuesday, the company said Fable 5 will be available for users globally on the Claude Platform, Claude.ai, Claude Code, and Claude Cowork. For Pro, Max, Team, and select Enterprise team, Fable 5 will be included for up to 50 percent of weekly usage limits through July 7; after that, it will be available via usage credits. Fable 5 will not be immediately available on AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Foundry, but Anthropic says that's coming "as quickly as possible."

SEE ALSO: Anthropic to provide California government with AI tools

Mythos 5, which is exceptionally good at finding security vulnerabilities, was never widely available, with Anthropic giving access only to select companies and organizations. Those, too, were cut off after Trump's administration intervened. Anthropic restored access to Mythos 5 following the government's approval on June 26. The company says it's coordinating with the government to expand access to more partners, both domestic and international, through its Glasswing program.

In its post, Anthropic once again provided a timeline of events which led to the government ban. It all started with a vulnerability, found by Amazon researchers, which enabled users to bypass Fable 5 safeguards, prompting the U.S. government to ban the models altogether. Anthropic says this vulnerability could not have been used to provide Mythos-level hacking techniques, but it's now fixed with a new safeguard that blocks any dangerous requests.

"The new classifier also comes at the cost of flagging benign requests more often during routine coding and debugging tasks. As with all our safeguards, we’ll continue to refine this to better distinguish genuine misuse from legitimate requests and reduce false positives," said the blog post.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 1, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for July 1, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 1 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 1 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 1 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

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

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Foreshadow.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

AUGUR

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To delete.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for Juy 1, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ERASE

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

A long, pointy weapon.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 1 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 30, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SPEAR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Lotion.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CREAM

Final Hurdle hint

Unsectured.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

LOOSE

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

It should come as no surprise, but modern Australian households have long evolved past the point of a ”family computer”. That relic of a bygone millennial era – the family’s sole access point to riding the information superhighway. Back when people used to say things like “surfing the web” and for that matter, the phrase “riding the information superhighway”. Today, your typical Australian family manages an entire ecosystem of connected infrastructure: smartphones, remote work laptops, school-issued tablets, gaming consoles, and an expanding list of smart home IoT (Internet of Things) devices. This can make creating watertight digital security for an entire household tricky. As these multi-device ecosystems scale, they introduce a wider attack surface for external threats while complicating internal privacy management.

This is why at PCMag, we recommend trying to consolidate your household’s digital security into a single suite as much as possible. Look for trusted security suites that offer specialised family plans. Something with parental controls, preferably a VPN, room to grow as new devices are added, and a tiered account system that allows administrator privileges. You want your entire family to have access to essential services such as antivirus, password managers, identity theft protection and encrypted backup. But you also need to be conscious of the dangers of a single access point holding the “keys to the kingdom” when it comes to your entire family's personal information. Having a single administrator avoids needing to leave passwords just laying around the house, and a high device-count limit means you don’t pay for countless different individual subscriptions for everyone.

Managing the multidevice household ecosystem

On top of your standard personal devices, as more and more smart home technology integrates into local networks, securing the whole home requires more than just antivirus on your laptop. In a modern home, every single device connected to your Wi-Fi is a door. Bitdefender handles this by providing high-volume licensing via their Family Plans — covering up to 15 or 25 devices under a single subscription, depending on the selected tier. Dedicated local clients provide automated threat detection across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android systems, preventing a compromise on a single mobile device from pivoting laterally across the home Wi-Fi network.

Maintaining individual digital spaces

A common point of contention in shared household security plans is data overlap. When multiple family members share a single account configuration, personal data boundaries can become blurred. For this, we need security software that treats household members as distinct digital entities. Rather than forcing the family to share a single administrative profile or master password, each member should receive their own isolated digital space.

As an example, Bitdefender Family Plans generally handle this well. With a structural isolation ensures that a teenager's personal logs, search queries, and credentials remain private, utilising unique vaults within the Password Manager and separate Anti-Tracker configurations. Concurrently, parents can secure sensitive work emails, financial profiles, and banking credentials using the isolated, sandboxed Safepay browser environment without exposing administrative keys to the rest of the household.

Content and screen time management

The modern internet can be a hostile environment for a child, filled with social media pressures, cyberbullying, explicit content, and algorithmically optimised apps designed to maximise screen time. No parent has the time or the energy to hover over their child’s shoulder every minute they are using a screen. It ruins the relationship and is practically impossible when kids need devices for schoolwork. Instead, modern digital parenting requires a shift toward automation—setting healthy, invisible boundaries that run passively in the background.

For example, Bitdefender integrates a Parental Control module directly into its central management console, Bitdefender Central, allowing parents to configure distinct rulesets customised to each child's age group. The objective is to create a safe digital playground. You want a system that automatically filters out explicit web categories, enforces a hard bedtime by pausing internet access, and flags suspicious links or phishing scams before a child can click them, all while giving them the freedom to explore the web safely within those borders.

Finding the right solution

When you look at this massive list of requirements—protecting smart TVs, isolating work from play, giving teens their privacy, and keeping children safe—doing it manually on a device-by-device basis is a recipe for burnout. This is exactly where a centralised system like what is found within the Bitdefender Family Plans comes into play.

Rather than buying individual antivirus licenses or trying to configure separate parental control apps, Bitdefender’s Family Plans (available across Total Security, Premium Security, and Ultimate Security tiers) scale up drastically, offering high-volume licensing that covers up to 15 or 25 devices under a single subscription. This allows you to protect the main computers, every family member's phone, the school tablets, and importantly, use Network Threat Prevention to stop threats trying to exploit unsecured smart home IoT hardware at the traffic level. A Bitdefender Ultimate Security Family plan gives your entire household access to:

• Parental Controls

• Scam Protection Pro

• Unlimited VPN traffic

• Encrypted Password Manager

• Continuous Dark Web Monitoring

• Security Advice from Bitdefender Experts

• Licencing for up to 25 devices (Windows, macOS, Android and iOS)

Ultimately, securing a modern home in the digital age is about building a resilient infrastructure that silently handles the heavy lifting of network security and content filtering in the background, giving everyone in the household the freedom to navigate the digital world safely. As a PCMag Editors’ Choice, we can safely recommend Bitdefender to solve many of these key issues facing larger households. But for more information, check out our entire guide to the Best Security Suites in 2026.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a good drink.

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.

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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.

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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 July 1, 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: Found on a map

• Green: Famous films

• Blue: Drink up!

• Purple: Nations

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Things named after places

• Green: Best Picture winners/nominees

• Blue: Places in cocktail names

• Purple: Starting with countries

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 #1116 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things named after places: CHAMPAGNE, CHINA, COLOGNE, LIMERICK

• Best Picture winners/nominees: CASABLANCA, CHICAGO, FARGO, MUNICH

• Places in cocktail names: CUBA, LONG ISLAND, MOSCOW, SINGAPORE

• Starting with countries: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, GUINEA-BISSAU, INDIANAPOLIS, NIGERIA

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 July 1, 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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you have a hunch.

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 July 1, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Not a red herring

The words are related to pointers.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe tips.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Telltale sign.

NYT Strands word list for July 1

• Hint

• Indication

• Clue

• Telltale Sign

• Intimation

• Evidence

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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're unsure.

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 July 1, 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 July 1, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To hesitate.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

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...

DEMUR

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 yesterday's Wordle.

Love Island USA may still be predominately a show about dating. But as Season 8 has unfolded, viewers have cared less about romantic pairings than usual. According to online chatter, they're invested in something that has long been controversial in the show: friendships.

We're not talking about a huge shift in the dynamic. Peacock's reality series, which airs every night except Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET, still has all the usual ingredients: bombshells, recouplings, public votes, and the kind of villa drama that turns one conversation into a full internet investigation.

And season 8's Casa Amor episode, where couples get the chance to cheat mid-season, did still revolve around couples drama. Cast member KC returned from Casa Amor with Tierra, a.k.a. “Titi” — leaving his previous partner Aniya single. Aniya broke down in front of the group, telling KC she had picked him every time, and he had not picked her back. KC's response was filled with attitude.

But the part of the confrontation fans remembered? How fellow islander Melanie stayed by Aniya’s side as she cried.

Melanie helped Aniya away from the fire pit, and tried to pull her out of the spiral. Melanie reminded Aniya that KC did not fit in the life she wanted.

Finally, Melanie told Aniya that even if they did not find love in the villa, they had found each other.

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Fans pointed to other heartwarming displays of female friendship. After the heart rate challenge, the women got a rare night and morning to themselves, and viewers noticed how much softer the villa felt without the men taking center stage.

Specific fan favorite moments: the women cooking grilled cheese together, practicing dances, and hyping each other up with confidence-boosting speeches.

And after the June 30 episode, in which Trinity and Bryce became boyfriend and girlfriend, the internet couldn't help but fall in love with how the other Girls reacted when Trinity shared the good news.

Melt!

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These are the moments that stick, even after getting dumped. Former cast member Beatriz — booted off the island June 12 — has said that despite her earlier drama with Melanie (a scene that contained Melanie's iconic walking away line, "give me 10"), she saw the conflict as part of a real friendship.

“Friends go through their own little discussions or quarrels," Beatriz told Variety. "But at the end of day, we squash it."

She also added that viewers miss plenty of off-screen conversations and deeper connections because the show is edited down to one hour. Despite appearances, Trinity and Kayda were her closest friends in the villa, Beatriz explained. She was more sad about leaving them than leaving the show itself.

In short, female friendships feel like this season's more reliable love stories. Indeed, there's not much contest — given KC brushing off Aniya’s hurt via another hurtful reference to the "good family" he's been extra interested in (Aniya's father is former NBA player Donnell Harvey), Corbin describing the Girls team in the Casa “college Girls” while the Girls back in the villa are "high school," and Sincere continuing to test Melanie’s patience.

What about the bromance?

It isn't just the Girls that are getting friendly. Season 8 has also had a bromance, one that social media adores.

After the Paradise Cove twist in episode 2 put Kayda, Zach, and Bryce in a separate hut for 24 hours, fans started paying just as much attention to Zach and Bryce as they did to the intended love triangle.

Viewers have compiled weeks worth of edits of the two — noting that the real chemistry in Paradise Cove might not have been between Kayda and either man, but between the Boys themselves.

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Their connection has since developed into one of the villa's most talked about storylines—whether romantic or platonic.

"Friendship Island" is not a new term. It has been a part of Love Island USA fandom since Season 6, when JaNa was saved from elimination by her friends despite not having one of the villa’s strongest romantic connections at the time. "This isn’t 'Friendship Island,' this is 'Love Island,'" fellow islander Aaron insisted at the time.

Since then, fans have used "Friendship Island” as both criticism and compliment. Sometimes the phrase is used the way Aaron used it, to argue that Islanders are playing it too safe because they do not want to step on their friends’ toes.

Sometimes, however, it is used to celebrate the friendships that make the show work even when the couples do not. And this season, friendship seems to be the highlight of each episode.

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The women are still competing within the structure of a dating show; navigating jealousy, rejection, and public judgment isn't easy. The scenes that resonate most with audiences are when islanders are honest about the difficulty of the show. They remind each other, and us, that Love Island (like life) isn't always about finding the right partner.

It could actually be about the friends we make along the way.

The best TVs of 2026 so far at a glance Best RGB TV so far Samsung R95H Micro RGB 4K TV starting at $3,199.99 Shop Now Best OLED TV of 2026 so far Samsung S95H OLED 4K TV starting at $2,499.99 Shop Now Brightest TV of 2026 so far TCL X11L SQD Mini LED QLED 4K TV starting at $3,999.99 Shop Now Best budget TV of 2026 so far Hisense U6 Pro Mini LED 4K Fire TV $529.99 at Amazon Shop Now Best art TV of 2026 so far LG Gallery TV with Frame Mini LED QNED 4K TV starting at $1,299.99 Shop Now

I've been tracking TV deals and new releases at Mashable for years. My friends and family have watched me scramble to compare the new models during CES in January, and then scramble to see which of those models got a big discount during Prime Day or Black Friday. And I always hear some iteration of this question: "How much can TVs possibly change over the years?"

That's a valid question most of the time. If you're not a serious gamer or someone who tests TV specs for a living, the difference between an OLED TV model from the current year vs. the same model from the year prior probably isn't all that riveting. But I promise you, the best TVs of 2026 so far are quite literally built different.

2026 is the year of the RGB TV. What is that?

The conversation about the best TV for whatever situation has been a dichotomous battle between QLED and OLED forever. As a refresher, QLED TVs typically get brighter but sometimes struggle with black levels and blooming. OLED TVs rule the world of contrast and picture quality in dark rooms, but aren't as vibrant in bright rooms. RGB is kind of the best of both worlds, and it was easily the biggest TV trend at CES 2026.

RGB doesn't automatically knock OLED and QLED to second and third place. The big TV brands that dropped an RGB TV or two, like Samsung, LG, and Hisense, also unveiled new OLED or QLED models that are still highly competitive, depending on your typical streaming or gaming situation.

Halfway through the year, let's stop to organize all of the new models before even more come out. Whether you're watching the World Cup or a marathon of the best movies of 2026, these are the best TVs of 2026 so far that will truly do them justice.

Samsung R95H Credit: Samsung

The Samsung R95H is the best RGB TV of 2026 so far. No, this isn't the 115-inch Samsung RGB TV that costs $30,000. Samsung extended its Micro RGB technology into a much more palatable size and price range.

It seems like anyone who has seen the Samsung R95H in person can agree on one thing: The color palette is so vivid and so realistic, it almost feels... unreal. The R95H covers between 95 and 100 percent of the BT.2020 color spectrum, reproducing more than 2,000 Pantone-validated colors. Samsung uses artificial intelligence to adjust shades scene by scene and manages to deliver very precise contrast with virtually no blooming.

Compared to the cheaper R85H RGB line from Samsung, the R95H dishes out a clearer, more responsive picture with a native refresh rate of 165Hz and support for Samsung's newest HDR format, HDR10+ advanced. The R95H adds to the premium experience with features like the Wireless One Connect Box and Samsung's phenomenal glare-free coating, plus an art TV-esque No Gap Wall Mount.

The Samsung R95H only comes in four sizes. Here's the price breakdown:

• Samsung 65-inch R95H — $3,199.99

• Samsung 75-inch R95H — $4,499.99

• Samsung 85-inch R95H — $6,499.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung R95H Micro RGB 4K TV starting at $3,199.99 Shop Now

Need something smaller than 65 inches? Sony does get credit for extending its True RGB technology to some smaller sizes. You can grab the 2026 Sony Bravia 7 II in 55 inches, or 50 inches later this summer.

Samsung S95H Credit: Samsung

The Samsung S95H is the best OLED TV of 2026 so far. Though a single letter differentiates the S95H's title from the R95H, the S95H OLED serves a much different purpose. Due to its pixel-by-pixel dimming, OLED still provides the most elite contrast out of any type of TV backlighting.

The S95H's contrast ratio is as close to infinite as you could ask for. The black levels are deep and the shadows are sharp to the point of feeling lifelike. Naturally, this is a great option for cinephiles watching in dark rooms. In lit rooms, the S95H's peak brightness of up to 2,500 nits fares better than the vast majority of other OLEDs. (PCMag's Will Greenwald calls it "OLED's new benchmark breakthrough.")

When it was released in April, I referred to the S95H as a "curiously Frame Pro-like OLED TV." I mean, it checks off several art TV boxes: an anti-glare screen, a floating wall mount that lies flush with the wall, an artsy bezel that's silver instead of black... oh, and it's the first Samsung OLED to feature the Samsung Art Store.

The Samsung S95H comes in four sizes. Here's the price breakdown:

• Samsung 55-inch S95H — $2,499.99

• Samsung 65-inch S95H — $3,399.99

• Samsung 77-inch S95H — $4,499.99

• Samsung 83-inch S95H — $6,499.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung S95H OLED 4K TV starting at $2,499.99 Shop Now TCL X11L Credit: TCL

The TCL X11L Google TV is the brightest TV of 2026 so far. Released in January, TCL didn't take the RGB route that most of its competitors did. Instead, TCL's new SQD (Super Quantum Dot) backlight absolutely beams at up to 10,000 nits of peak brightness. That unprecedented number is fueled by thousands and thousands of acute local dimming zones: 11,520 zones in the smallest 75-inch model or up to 20,000 in the 100-inch model.

Such a high zone count allows for extremely precise darkening around bright objects, cushioning against haloing. If you don't mess around when it comes to HDR, the TCL X11L would be a supreme choice for a heavy-duty home theater. The X11L would also fare well in rooms where the TV will be competing with lots of windows and direct sunlight.

The X11L's size range is limited to just three options. Here's the price breakdown:

• TCL 75-inch X11L — $4,999.99 ($3,999.99 on sale)

• TCL 85-inch X11L — $7,999.99 ($5,999.99 on sale)

• TCL 98-inch X11L — $9,999.99

If you need something smaller than 75 inches, TCL also dropped two more budget-friendly SQD TV tiers: The QM7L and QM8L.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL X11L SQD Mini LED QLED 4K TV starting at $3,999.99 Shop Now Hisense U6 Pro Credit: Hisense

The mini LED Hisense U6 Pro Fire TV is the best budget TV of 2026 so far. It was released in March, wedged comfortably between the entry-level Hisense U6 and the higher-tier Hisense U7.

The U6 Pro has quite a robust full-array local dimming setup for the price: the 65-inch model features 240 dimming zones and reaches 1,200 nits at peak brightness. Early reviewers note its vibrancy and deep black levels (for being a non-OLED TV, that is). Further adding to the U6 Pro's visibility in the daylight or in a lit room at night, the screen is coated with an anti-glare finish to minimize reflections and preserve shadows — a nice touch not often seen on the affordable end of the spectrum.

Its native 144Hz refresh rate, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium, and two HDMI 2.1 ports make it an unbeatable choice for gaming or watching sports.

The U6 Pro also gets points for its size range. Here's the price breakdown:

• Hisense 55-inch U6 Pro — $849.99 ($597.99 on sale)

• Hisense 65-inch U6 Pro — $1,099.99 ($749.99 on sale)

• Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro — $1,399.99 ($848.99 on sale)

• Hisense 85-inch U6 Pro — $1,999.99 ($1,197.99 on sale)

• Hisense 100-inch U6 Pro — $3,499.99 ($2,297.99 on sale)

Hisense U6 Pro Mini LED QLED 4K TV $529.99 at Amazon
$849.99 Save $320 starting at $849.99 Shop Now at Amazon LG Gallery TV with Frame

The LG Gallery TV with Frame is the best art TV of 2026 so far. As a matte mini LED TV with interchangeable frames, this is the most direct competitor to The Frame or The Frame Pro that LG has ever released. If you're a fan of LG's Magic Remote, you finally have a true artsy non-OLED option that won't risk burn-in if left on all day.

Granted, the LG Gallery TV makes up most of the big art TV news of the year thus far. In the spring, Samsung made negligible updates to The Frame Pro, and Hisense added a 50-inch model to the CanvasTV lineup. We know that the TCL A400 Pro, a long-awaited update to the original NXTVISION TV, exists — it just hasn't been released in the U.S. yet.

It's a bummer that LG only offers the Gallery TV in two sizes as of June, but at least they're practical. Here's the price breakdown:

• LG 55-inch Gallery TV with Frame — $1,299.99

• LG 65-inch Gallery TV with Frame — $1,799.99

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG Gallery TV with Frame Mini LED QNED 4K TV starting at $1,299.99 Shop Now

Sherlock Holmes' sharp, fearless sister Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) is all grown up and headed for sunnier European shores, as Enola Holmes 3 throws an international case on her desk and a wedding date on her calendar. 

Based on Nancy Springer's The Enola Holmes Mysteries and adapted by Jack Thorne, the Netflix films have seen the British detective solve the case of the missing mum and the case of the missing sister. Now, with Adolescence director Philip Barantini on a much more upbeat project, Enola Holmes 3 sees her off to Malta. And Enola's got a lot on her plate: She's conflicted about tying the knot, and her famous brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) has been kidnapped, leaving behind only cryptic notebooks for Enola to decipher.

SEE ALSO: 'Enola Holmes 2' includes a real historical event. Here's what happened.

With another playful performance from Brown and her accomplished co-stars, and a Victorian narrative that surprisingly acknowledges Britain's bloody colonial legacy, Enola Holmes 3 files another satisfyingly twisty case for the franchise. And this time, we finally get to hang out properly with Dr. John Watson (Himesh Patel).

Enola Holmes 3 sends Victorian London's heroes to sunnier shores. Louis Partridge and Himesh Patel in "Enola Holmes 3." Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Leaving the perilous alleyways of Victorian England behind, Enola Holmes 3 sends our young sleuth to sun-drenched Malta, where another adventure awaits: marriage. Despite Sherlock's grumblings about losing that all-important Holmes name to an aristocrat, she's engaged to her dear Lord Ernest Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge). However, Enola's increasingly cold feet lead to something much more chilling: missing family members and a sinister plot.

But while Sherlock's sister may be in a completely new setting, the elements of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work have followed her to Malta — as have the charming Enola Holmes-style collage animations and sketches. Though it's not set on Baker Street, watching Enola teaming up with Watson or in hand-to-hand combat with Moriarty is a pure Sherlockian delight, with the young heroine really getting to step into her brother's shoes this time around — with hand-drawn CSI effects highlighting clues and forensic detail.

Sharon Duncan-Brewster is truly chilling in her unnerving interpretation of the villainous Moriarty. Henry Cavill ruffles his debonair version of the famous detective. And Helena Bonham Carter seems to have a ball as Enola's vigilante mother, Eudoria. Thankfully, we get much more time with Patel as the Watson, as the actor brings charm, elegance, and care to Sherlock's future companion — and watching Enola and Watson bitch about Sherlock's worst habits is long overdue.

Millie Bobby Brown's Enola remains on the case. Millie Bobby Brown in "Enola Homes 3." Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

As the titular heroine, Brown has plenty to balance. While bringing that Holmes-style energy, wit, and curiosity to her investigative side, the star also embraces Enola's struggle with societal expectations, of choosing her now-established career as a Holmes or her marriage as the future Lady Tewkesbury. Enola's Fleabag-style fourth-wall breaking remains an engaging tool for Brown to lean on, though it does have a cheesy "you're probably wondering how I got here" effect at times. Nonetheless, she also kicks ass with impressive stunt sequences, jumping across balconies in burning buildings, firing guns from speeding carriages, and doling out some brutal hand-to-hand combat.

Brown also makes a sweet pair with Partridge, as the film crafts an adorable grown-up romance for the detective and the viscount. And Brown and Cavill's now worn-in relationship as the Detectives Holmes feels authentic, as Enola relies on her brother's teachings to track him down.

Barantini and editor Tommy Boulding weave Enola's memories from the first two films into her present, providing a handy recap of character bonds. But there's still plenty to reveal, secrets which lead Enola Holmes 3 into delicate territory.

Enola Holmes 3 acknowledges British colonialism within its twisty mystery. Henry Cavill in "Enola Holmes 3." Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

It's not the first thing you'd expect in a teen adventure movie, but as an adaptation of Victorian literature, Enola Holmes 3 acknowledges the painful legacy of British colonialism in theme and narrative.

Set within the late 1880s in the Victorian era, the Enola Holmes series has already successfully dabbled in real events, with the Matchgirls Strike fuelling the narrative of Enola Holmes 2. In the third film, the reach of Empire is no abstract concept and instead a present reality, with the Anglo-Afghan Wars factoring into the storyline, and the film's Malta setting as a Crown Colony proving loaded territory for the characters.

The Malta we watch Enola in — as she trawls through crime scenes and chases leads through a carnival — is one of beauty, but also British sovereignty. Maltese characters are openly deemed second-class citizens, and Enola becomes enlightened, especially when she teams up with Mikiel Mizzi (a great Joe Azzopardi) of the real Partito Anti-Riformista, who resist the Crown. This does hinge on virtue-signalling for the heroine, but it's an acknowledgment by the franchise of the realities of the romanticised period.

Exactly how far characters would go "for queen and country" becomes an underlying consideration. Watson reflects on his father's role during British Raj, and Enola realises her wealthy British privilege. However, Enola Holmes 3 is not a history lesson, merely a reflection of the context it's set within.

As the third chapter in this mystery history trilogy, Enola Homes 3 gives our young detective a high stakes case to crack, a sweet, enduring love story, and real-world context to consider.

Enola Holmes 3 is streaming on Netflix July 1.