IT General

"America-First Dating."

These words are plastered on top of a "dating application" website for conservative OnlyFans model Anya Lacey.

19-year-old Lacey, who also has 1.3 million followers on Instagram and over 680,000 on TikTok, isn't afraid to call out her seemingly contradictory existence: She posts nude photos online, but she also wants to be a tradwife — a woman, typically married with children, who adheres to traditional feminine gender roles of domestic labor and subservience to her husband.

SEE ALSO: The OnlyFans creator mansion that's dividing the internet

"You're a tradwife and post [cat emoji] pictures," one of her videos is captioned. "You're a Christian and do Ohh Eff [OnlyFans]."

But to Lacey, doing OnlyFans doesn't mean she's not "traditional."

"It's a new time," Lacey told Mashable in an interview. "We all have phones, we all have social media. And if you can be traditional and at the same time make an income off of showing it to the world and promoting it to the world, all the better to you."

Now, the OnlyFans creator wants a partner husband. Lacey launched her Date Anya last week, and already the site has had over 30,000 visitors and 2,100 completed questionnaires from people who want to date her. Mashable spoke with Lacey about her dating site and her politics at a time when Republicans want to erase porn on the internet.

How Anya Lacey started her OnlyFans

Last year, Lacey started gaining a following on TikTok and hosted TikTok Lives. She'd get DMs about whether she had an OnlyFans, and she started seriously considering it.

"I was like, 'What if I really did this, and not just for funsies, but actually as a business strategy," she told Mashable. "I decided, why not give it a shot?"

She started posting nude photos on OnlyFans in addition to waitressing, but quit waitressing at the end of 2024. She also said she's had other odd jobs, like sales and delivering pizzas.

"I put all my effort into this," Lacey said of her OnlyFans and social media presence. When women come to her for advice on how to do the same, she says, "Unless you're OK with your family, your future children, your grandparents, seeing every part of you — and I mean, every part of you — don't do it."

"When I started, I said, 'I am OK with all that," said Lacey, who lives in Florida. "I'm OK with the consequences that come with that. I'm OK with the workload that comes with that.'"

Lacey said she's always been a hard worker no matter what the job is. Even if someone came to her and offered a billion dollars, she'd still work.

So, why does she want to be a tradwife?

The OnlyFans tradwife

Lacey describes herself as a "red-blooded conservative," and to her, conservative means believing in family, tradition, and "what's right and standing up for it to the fullest." In addition to finding a husband, she also wants to give men and women dating tips, including "Exclusivity before intimacy. Protect your future children."

On the Date Anya site, some of her non-negotiables include monogamy before intimacy, not splitting the bill on a first date, and not having a partner whose life is "dominated by porn." 

But Lacey said that out of all the jobs she's had, nothing has brought her the security and opportunity that OnlyFans has — and she has no plans of stopping. "There's definitely an end date that God has a date for," she said, but she doesn't. 

As a Christian with what she called Judeo-Christian principles, Lacey said there's a "moral reckoning" inside her about doing OnlyFans.

"We all sin to a certain extent, and I think at the end of the day, if I can provide…my future children with the absolute best life possible, and making sure that my husband has that as well, I'm willing to make this temporary sacrifice for this time in order to get those things in the end," she said, "especially when I know on the inside that I do believe in God and I try to live the rest of my life in the most Christian, [God-]fearing way."

She also believes one can be "traditional" in terms of adhering to gender roles, without being conservative.

"There's a lot that goes into it besides just baking sourdough," she said, like having children and listening to your husband even when it's inconvenient. 

When your party wants to ban your job

Lacey recognizes that some fellow conservatives want to ban porn, but she said a lot of people voting for that are the biggest customers. "I think we all know this to a certain extent," she said. "But as I said, we're all sinners."

She believes Christian, God-fearing men in the House and Senate watch pornography, and while they grandstand, porn bans won't happen due to the First Amendment. 

Some Republican lawmakers are trying to make it happen, however. Project 2025, the far-right wishlist for President Trump's second term, calls for an outright porn ban and imprisoning its creators. Since Trump's inauguration in January, Republicans have introduced several bills to do just that: Oklahoma's porn ban, Michigan's porn ban (and ban on erotic ASMR and VPNs…), and an interstate bill to change the definition of obscenity, which experts told Mashable would basically ban porn as well.

These bills have yet to gain momentum to be passed and enacted, but it's not just explicit bans that impact the porn industry. For years, age-verification bills — which require proof of age like a facial recognition scan or government ID — have been enacted in states across the country to access adult content sites. While free speech experts and an initial NYU study suggested that these bills don't work for their intended purpose (to stop minors from viewing this content), they persist. 

Last year, Project 2025 co-writer and director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought, reportedly said in a secret recording that these bills would serve to ban porn through the "back door."

Experts have told Mashable that this porn censorship has a high likelihood of creeping into "safe for work" corners of the internet, as it already has in the UK, with non-pornographic entities like video games and Spotify requiring proof of age.

Lacey believes that even if something is immoral doesn't mean it should be illegal.

"Honestly, in my heart of hearts, there is a part of me that believes that pornography is wrong, but there [are] a lot of things that I think are morally wrong but should not be legally wrong," like drinking and smoking, she said.

It doesn't seem that many Republican politicians share this view publicly, but for now, Lacey can still go after her dream of being a tradwife who does OnlyFans.

SAVE OVER $7: As of Sept. 25, the Pokémon TCG White Flare Binder Collection is $46.94 at TCGplayer, compared to $53.99 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company White Flare Binder Collection $46.94 at TCGplayer
$53.99 Save $7.05 Get Deal

Looking to get in on the Black Bolt and White Flare train as the hype dies down in the wake of Mega Evolution? Well this White Flare Binder Collection is $46.94 at TCGplayer, which is on the money in terms of market value and $7.05 cheaper than Amazon's price. Perfect, right?

White Flare sealed product is normally the cheaper option of the dual Unovan-themed end point of the Scarlet and Violet era, despite it having stunning Black White Rares, Illustration Rares, Secret Art Rares and Pokéball / Masterball rares.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

It's simple, trainers want the Victini ex and Zekrom ex Black White rares from Black Bolt more than Reshiram ex and Victini ex from White Flare by a big margin, more on that below. But that doesn't mean White Flare is not the lesser half of an amazing expansion, with it's top chase cards worth nearly $400 at the moment and climbing.

Most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

It's clear from the top chase cards from Black Bolt and White Flare that the Scarlet and Violet era is one of the most popular yet. Some of these cards are the most valuable amongst the other expansions, but buying them separately will likely save you money over buying endless boosters and hoping for the best.

Here's the top chase cards in Black Bolt and White Flare alongside their secondary market values and where to buy them right now:

1. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $425
   Market price: $455.32
   Most recent sale: $400

2. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $395
   Market price: $422.12
   Most recent sale: $420

3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $401.63
   Market price: $388.18
   Most recent sale: $390

4. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $349
   Market price: $373.68
   Most recent sale: $385

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $214.99
   Market price: $212.56
   Most recent sale: $215

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $194
   Market price: $192.33
   Most recent sale: $179.99

Switching to Linux is exciting, but let’s be honest. One of the first things that hits you is the question: “What about my apps?” For years you’ve probably relied on Microsoft Office, Photoshop, OneDrive, or similar tools. The good news is that Linux has a thriving ecosystem of open source applications that can step in for your everyday needs. Even better, most of them can be installed and used within minutes, no complicated setup required.

Out of all the phones in Xiaomi’s lineup, I like the “T Pro” series the most. It’s not the company’s flagship – this accolade is reserved for the typically very powerful but bulky “Ultra” variant – but an in-betweener which offers great performance for a reasonable price.

With the Xiaomi 15T Pro, which follows last year’s Xiaomi 14T Pro, the company did exactly what was expected: It upgraded the phone in several key ways while keeping the price at the same level.

Before I continue with the review, I’d like to highlight just how odd a year this will be for Xiaomi’s lineup. The Xiaomi 15T Pro was just launched. But the company’s President of mobile phones Lu Weibing announced that the company will also launch the Xiaomi 17 series this month.

You read that right, the Xiaomi 17 series, which follows the Xiaomi 15 series, meaning that the Xiaomi 16 series will just get skipped (the new name being an obvious nod to Apple’s iPhone 17). And that’s on top of the company cramming in two important phone launches so close to one another.

Fortunately, it’s not necessary to sweat any of these details if you’re in the market for an affordable phone with flagship-level performance, because that’s exactly what the Xiaomi 15T Pro is. With that out of the way, let’s continue with the review.

Xiaomi 15T Pro: Price and specs The triple rear camera now has 5x optical zoom. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Xiaomi 15T Pro is a straightforward evolution of its predecessor, the 14T Pro. It looks similar, but has a larger display, more advanced camera, more powerful chip inside, and a larger battery. Xiaomi basically upgraded the phone in every way that matters. Here’s a quick overview of the specs.

• 6.83-inch AMOLED display with a 44Hz refresh rate

• 50/50/12-megapixel triple rear camera with 5x optical zoom

• MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chip

• 12GB of RAM

• 256GB/512GB/1TB storage

• 5,500mAh battery with 90W wired and 50W wireless fast charging

Xiaomi 15T Pro: Design and display

Xiaomi didn’t take any chances with the design: It’s still a slab of glass with a punch-hole selfie camera on the front, and a simple polished aluminum surface on the back, with a large camera bump with four black circles which houses three cameras and some sensors. That’s pretty much what the last model looked like, though the unit that XIaomi sent me has a nice, chocolatey Mocha Gold color which makes the phone look fancy.

It's not vastly different from previous model, but it does look and feel nice. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The display, however, has grown in size. It now measures 6.83 inches (roughly the same as Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max) with very thin bezels on the side. It’s bright, beautiful, and very smooth, thanks to the adaptive 144Hz refresh rate. The display is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 7i, which should make it quite durable, and, as is customary for Xiaomi and most other Chinese phone makers, it comes with a pre-applied screen protection.

Oh, and there are two other colors on offer: Black, and Gray. Booooring. Get the chocolate one.

Xiaomi 15T Pro: Performance and AI Battery life is great, and charging is very fast. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

MediaTek’s Dimensity chipsets aren’t what most people have in mind when they think about top mobile chips. This is wrong. The chip inside this phone, the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+, is roughly as powerful as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for most tasks, only lagging slightly in GPU performance. Here, it’s coupled with 12GB of RAM, making my day-to-day usage very smooth.

I played a few games of PUBG, and I never noticed any frame rate drops, even when I maxed out the settings. I'm not a hardcore gamer, but this phone is powerful enough for my needs.

On the AI side, you get Google’s Gemini, a familiar option that’ll do just fine for most folks. You can invoke it with a long press of the power button on the side or by saying “Hey Google,” and immediately start annoying your friends by asking the AI about any topic that comes up in conversation.

Underneath Xiaomi's HyperOS skin you get Android 15, which is annoying, given that Android 16 has been available since June. When buying a new phone, I'd prefer to have the latest version of the underlying OS beneath, but it just wasn't meant to be on this one.

Oh, and also annoyingly, Xiaomi still packs its phones with pre-installed third-party apps. For example, I don't know what WPS Office is, and I'd rather chose my own office suite instead of having this thing already installed on a brand new phone.

Xiaomi 15T Pro: Cameras

Xiaomi's Leica branded camera system is the best when you use the main, 50-megapixel camera. The photos are crisp and detailed in daylight; come dusk, and they get a little fuzzy but they're still surprisingly colorful. If you go wide, however, the quality decreases significantly.

This photo looks brighter and more colorful than it should have, given how dark it really was. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

I was able to use the Xiaomi 15T Pro unit at the same time as Apple's new iPhones, and it was interesting to see whether the more affordable Xiaomi can hang in there with the most powerful Apple phone, the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Go wide, and you'll lose on the details. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The answer is: Sometimes yes, mostly no. The iPhone had better wide shots, sharper night shots, less artificial-looking macro shots. The Xiaomi's telephoto camera hangs in there pretty well, though, especially at 2x magnification.

Left: Xiaomi 15T Pro Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: Xiaomi 15T Pro I've gotten the best results with 2x zoom, but the Leica telephoto camera on this phone goes to 5x optical. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Selfies are pretty great. The 32-megapixel front camera produces detailed, crisp shots, but you'll get the best results in well lit conditions.

I've consistently gotten very detailed selfies with accurate colors. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Xiaomi 15T Pro: Battery life

On paper, the Xiaomi 15T Pro has a roughly 10 percent bigger battery than the last year’s model. I’ve given it a few very intense days, taking photos, gaming, and streaming videos for hours on end, and it held up amazingly well. This phone will easily last two days between charges.

Charging, both wired and wireless, is pretty fast; I was able to charge the Xiaomi 15T Pro from near-zero to full charge in about 45 minutes, though you'll need a fast charger for that.

Is the Xiaomi 15T Pro worth it? It's a great phone, but it competes against so many new models. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Xiaomi’s 15T Pro strikes me as a no-nonsense purchase. It’s affordable while hitting the sweet spots in almost every way that matters, be it battery life, display quality, or camera performance. In Mocha Gold it actually looks fancy, too. You do have to get used to Xiaomi’s UI and settings (something I haven’t had too many problems with for years now), and it probably isn’t the best choice for hardcore gamers.

Xiaomi's biggest problem here is the fact that the company is also launching an entirely new lineup of Xiaomi 17 phones, making Xiaomi 15T sound obsolete right from the get go. A different launch timing would benefit this model more.

The Xiaomi 15T Pro starts at €799 ($938) in Europe. There's also a cheaper variant, the Xiaomi 15T, that has a less powerful chip, slower charging, and lacks 5x zoom; that one starts at €649 ($762). You can get them at Xiaomi's online store.

The curse of the physical collector has always been changes to newer formats. Just when your LaserDisc or VHS collection is looking great, DVD comes out, and you have to buy the better version of movies you already own, then rinse and repeat with Blu-ray, and now 4K UHD.

Jimmy Kimmel's return to television on Tuesday came with high expectations — and based on the reaction his monologue received online, it seems those were more than met.

The late night host's return monologue has broken a record on his YouTube channel, become his most viewed YouTube monologue of all time less than a day after it went live. At the time of writing the video is closing in on 20 million views. Kimmel's previous most-watched monologue, an eight-year-old clip in which he gives an emotional speech about his son's heart surgery, currently has 14 million views.

SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert has a heartwarming reaction to Jimmy Kimmel's viral return monologue

Kimmel's show was suspended last week following comments he made about the right-wing reaction to Charlie Kirk's murder. His monologue drew criticism from Trump-appointed FCC chair Brendan Carr, who threatened Kimmel's network ABC during a podcast appearance. Shortly afterwards Nexstar, which owns multiple ABC affiliates and is currently seeking Trump administration approval for an upcoming merger, made the decision to pull Kimmel off the air on its stations. Disney-owned ABC then announced that they were "indefinitely suspending" Kimmel's show — a decision that the company reversed at the start of this week, following pressure from celebrities and customers cancelling their Disney+ subscriptions in protest.

Kimmel's return has drawn the ire of Trump, who took to Truth Social to lament the decision and issue a threat to ABC. But based on how Kimmel has responded to that threat, the host clearly isn't planning to stop making fun of the president anytime soon.

If your local station still isn't airing Kimmel, here's how you can watch his show.

SAVE $4.98: As of Sept. 25, the Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Binder Collection is $50 at TCGplayer, compared to $55.94 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Black Bolt Booster Bundle $50 at TCGplayer
$55.94 Save $5.94 Get Deal

Black Bolt is an absolute banger of a set to end the Scarlet and Violet era. It has chase cards worth over $400 in Victini ex and Zakrom ex Black White Rares, which is pushing secondary market values of anything Black Bolt slightly above it's twin set, White Flare. So when TCGplayer has the Black Bolt Binder Collection for $5.94 less than Amazon at $50, it's a good idea to snap it up.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

Whilst the Black White Rares are exclusive to Black Bolt and White Flare, it's setting the trend for the next era of Mega Evolutions and it's first expansion, Phantasmal Flames. I'm talking about the twin set trend with Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex heading up Mega Evolution, lots of Illustration Rares and the gold rares having a similar layout and design of Black White Rares, but obviously in gold.

Most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Black Bolt and White Flare are massive sets, especially with every Pokémon joining in from Unova and every one having it's own Illustration Rare or Secret Art Rare. There's also the Pokéball and Masterball rares padding the set out significantly, with means catching those top-end chase cards is likely to take a tone of booster packs to pull off.

If you don't fancy taking the risk and likely spending more on booster packs to get them, here's the top chase cards from Black Bolt and White Flare in price order:

1. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $425
   Market price: $455.32
   Most recent sale: $400

2. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $395
   Market price: $422.12
   Most recent sale: $420

3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $401.63
   Market price: $388.18
   Most recent sale: $390

4. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $349
   Market price: $373.68
   Most recent sale: $385

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $214.99
   Market price: $212.56
   Most recent sale: $215

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $194
   Market price: $192.33
   Most recent sale: $179.99

Sadly, you can't buy the motivation to get your butt in the gym. And fitness wearables alone won't make you healthier. But a great fitness tracker can help light a fire under your behind and motivate you to take more than 500 steps in a day. And hey, that's not nothing!

The conversation around fitness has changed quite a bit over the past few years (as made clear by Every Fashion Brand Ever releasing an athleisure line). We can thank the self-care revolution for this one. Actively monitoring your fitness, sleep, and overall health metrics isn't just for athletes or people training for marathons. It's a building block of wellness that people are baking into their daily groove, just like keeping up with a skincare routine or eating vegetables.

Whether you splurge on an Equinox membership or rely on home fitness and smart home gyms, the best fitness trackers do so much more than count steps and monitor your heart rate. The Apple Watch Series 11 lets you connect to a whole host of fitness apps, but it can also play music and send texts. Then there's the classic Fitbit, which keeps you focused on the most important metrics. And more recently, smart rings like the Samsung Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring give you round-the-clock health monitoring.

What do we love about fitness trackers? Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

We tested a lot of different wearables for this guide, and a lot of Mashable team members use these devices on a daily basis.

When it comes to exercise, we think they're the next best thing to having a personal trainer — they suggest workouts, track your heart rate, and let you know when it's time for a breather — all on your own time. Whether your preferred form of exercise is the gym, a long run, a few laps in the pool, a 10-minute workout on YouTube, or a casual walk around the neighborhood, it'll be there to record all of your PRs and motivate you with new challenges.

Some of the metrics available in the Oura app. Credit: Oura app We found the Whoop home page was a touch cluttered compared to Oura. Credit: Whoop app

In our testing, we found that the best fitness trackers don't just track your workout, but also help you optimize the rest of your day. Trackers that monitor your sleep (sometimes going as deep as times spent in each stage of sleep), body temperature, and blood-oxygen levels offer deep insights into your health. They'll even give you a heads-up if you've been exercising too hard.

So, which fitness trackers do we rely on in our daily lives? You'll find our favorites below, but you can also see how popular products like the Apple Watch Series 11, Oura Ring 4, and Fitbit Charge 6 compare to each other.

Mashable staffers and contributors Dylan Haas, Kimberly Gedeon, Sam Stone, Samantha Mangino, and Stan Schroeder tested fitness trackers for this guide.

What's new

In September 2025, we replaced the Apple Watch Series 10 with the newer Apple Watch Series 11, crowning it our new favorite smartwatch. They're almost identical devices in terms of features and design, but the Series 11 offers a vastly better battery life for the exact same price. This upgrade makes it much more practical for sleep and fitness tracking.

We decided to remove the Whoop 4.0 as a top pick because it's been discontinued: You can no longer purchase it through Whoop's website or at third-party retailers like Amazon. We'll soon try the newer Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG, which have smaller designs, longer battery lives, and different band options. They also support new health insights (like a Pace of Aging score), which vary based on your Whoop membership tier.

What's on deck

We're in the process of testing several new fitness trackers and retesting some of our current top picks for long-term viability. We'll soon update this guide with our findings. Here's what's on the docket:

• Apple Watch Ultra 3

• Garmin Forerunner 570

• Google Pixel Watch 3

• Fitbit Charge 6

• Oura Ring 4

• Suunto Run

• Whoop 5.0

• Whoop MG

Proton Mail is rolling out brand-new mobile apps for iOS and Android, which have been rebuilt from the ground up to be faster, more intuitive, and to provide a more private inbox experience. The new apps are available today.

A backup power system is a great idea in case of emergencies, but it's a must for homeowners living somewhere affected by bad weather and hurricanes. That's why I have a whole-home backup setup powered by the Goal Zero Yeti Pro 4000 and the Haven 10 transfer switch. After dealing with several storms and a power outage, I'm confident saying that it's worth the price and effort.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025:

AcrossItem found behind someone's ear in a classic magic trick

• The answer is Coin.

Do the Floss or the Griddy

• The answer is Dance.

Helpful pointer

• The answer is Arrow.

Moody sorts, often

• The answer is Teens.

Sums up

• The answer is Adds.

DownGave a hoot

• The answer is Cared.

"No Turn ___" (street sign)

• The answer is On red.

App images

• The answer is Icons.

One "N" of CNN

• The answer is News.

Numbers to crunch

• The answer is Data.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

SAVE $50: As of Sept. 25, Ozlo Sleepbuds are on sale for $299 at Amazon. That's a 14% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ozlo Ozlo Sleepbuds $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Get Deal

Sleep earbuds, or sleepbuds, are the latest audio technology to make waves in the market. Ideal for light sleepers, they block out unwanted noise, play soothing sounds, and help you drift off faster. Sound like something you need? Check out this latest Amazon deal on the Ozlo Sleepbuds, currently at their lowest-ever price.

As of Sept. 25, you can score a $50 discount on Ozlo Sleepbuds, now just $299. For $29 extra, you can also get the handy travel case.

SEE ALSO: Get a free Soundcore Select 4 speaker when you pick up the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds at Amazon

Ozlo claims that its technology is clinically proven to help you not just fall asleep faster, but stay asleep longer. They use noise-masking sounds to block out distractions like snoring, city noise, or the annoying click of your clock ticking. Prefer to fall asleep to a relaxing sound? They can stream audio all night with up to 10 hours of playtime on a single charge. The earbuds even detect when you’ve fallen asleep and automatically switch from streaming audio to soothing sleep sounds.

As you'd hope for something you wear while you sleep, they're super comfortable, and side-sleeper-approved. They have soft silicone tips that mold to your ears so you can wear them all night. In the morning, enjoy the built-in personal alarm that wakes you gently without disturbing anyone else.

It's important to note that these are not multi-use earbuds. Because they’re built for sleep, there’s no microphone, so you can't take calls or send voice messages. Keep in mind that these are for sleep, and nothing else.

Ready to hack your sleep? Get this deal on Amazon now.

SAVE ALMOST $600: As of Sept. 25, the Samsung 75-Inch Class Neo QLED TV is on sale for $2,099.99 at Amazon. That's a 22% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75-Inch Class Neo QLED TV $2,099.99 at Amazon
$2,697.99 Save $598 Get Deal

October's Prime Day is just around the corner, but Amazon has already pulled out some great deals ahead of the main event. If you're looking for a new TV to transform your cozy Fall movie nights, then you need to check out this deal on the Samsung 75-Inch Class Neo QLED.

As of Sept. 25, it is currently at its lowest-ever price, down to $2,099.99. That's a saving of almost $600 on list price. If the 75-inch model is too big or small for your space, there are also deals to be had on the 55-inch, 65-inch, and 85-inch models.

SEE ALSO: Level up your living room with this discounted 85-inch Hisense U7 4K TV

This TV has an advanced AI processor that uses 128 neural networks to boost the picture quality. Whether you’re settling in for the night with a movie, gaming, or watching live sports, it all feels incredibly immersive. It can even upscale non-4K content to 4K, giving you sharp visuals at all times. Brightness and contrast are also strong, so much so that you’ll notice all the subtle details in every scene. And if light from windows or lamps are at play, the reflections won't affect this TV.

And who wants a TV that lags? Not you, and this processor smooths motion for sports and VRR gaming at up to 4K 165Hz, keeping things virtually tear-free and making sure you never lose track of fast-moving objects.

Get this great TV deal from Amazon ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

Stephen Colbert showed support for fellow late night host Jimmy Kimmel following his suspension last week, and he's shown just as much support on Kimmel's return to TV.

The host was back on the air on Tuesday night, giving a 28-minute monologue that quickly went viral on YouTube, in which he addressed his suspension, his comments on Charlie Kirk's shooter, and the issue of free speech. Millions of people tuned in, and Stephen Colbert was one of them.

"You're in a good mood, I'm in a good mood, because last night our friend Jimmy Kimmel returned to television," says Colbert in the clip above, at the start of his monologue. "Just so proud of him. So proud to know that man. Jimmy spoke beautifully about free speech and unity, he made great jokes, showed his deep emotions, got huge ratings. It did so well that Disney just announced that next summer they're releasing Guillermo & Stitch. Live action!"

Colbert went on to talk about the tens of millions of YouTube views Kimmel's return monologue received. "Congrats Jimmy! That's pretty rare. That puts you just five billion views behind El Chombo's song with the dancing alien that sings in Spanish."

If your ABC station isn't showing Kimmel, here's how to watch his show.

SAVE $500: As of Sept. 25, the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 gaming laptop is on sale for $3,999 at Amazon. That's an 11% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 $3,999 at Amazon
$4,499.99 Save $500.99 Get Deal

Looking for an upgrade to your gaming setup? You don't need to wait until Prime Day for a great deal; you can save big on the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 at Amazon right now. As of Sept. 25, this gaming laptop is reduced by a whopping $500, now priced at $3,999. According to camelcamelcamel, this is its lowest-ever price.

This is obviously a splurge, but serious gamers want the best. It runs on Windows 11 Pro with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, so you’re getting really impressive performance out of the box. With 32GB of fast DDR5 memory and a massive 2TB SSD, multitasking is smooth and lag-free, and you’ll have plenty of space for storing games and files.

SEE ALSO: Upgrade your gaming PC and save on the Asus Dual Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition GPU

Display-wise, it has an 18-inch ROG Nebula HDR display with Mini LED technology, over 2,000 dimming zones, dual ACR layers, a super-fast 240Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 color, making visuals vibrant, clear, and lifelike. It has some really cool lighting features, too. On the lid, there’s the customizable AniMe Vision display, where you can showcase text, animations, or even your own designs. Around the base, a full-surround RGB light bar creates a 360° glow that makes the laptop stand out.

And to keep everything running cool and smoothly, this laptop benefits from an advanced thermal system that combines a vapor chamber, tri-fan design, and liquid metal for top performance without overheating.

Sold yet? Head to Amazon to pick up this gaming laptop deal.

SAVE $24: As of Sept. 25, the Apple AirTag four-pack is on sale for $74.99 at Amazon. That's a 24% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag 4-Pack $74.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $24.01 Get Deal

Prime Day is almost back, with just over a week to go before Amazon treats us to some incredible deals and discounts. TVs, earbuds, e-readers, everything and anything can be heavily discounted over this period. It's also a great time to purchase Apple products, with AirTags already seeing great discounts ahead of the event.

As of Sept. 25, you can find the four-pack of AirTags on sale at Amazon for $74.99, a $24 saving on list price. This deal is perfect if you have lots of items or devices you want to keep tabs on, like your phone, keys, tablet, or even your passport.

SEE ALSO: iPhones could soon offer more support for non-Apple smartwatches

AirTags work as a tracking device. You attach them to whatever you don't want to lose and follow it in the Find My app. If you do lose it, you can use the map to track it down. And if that doesn't work, the AirTag has a small speaker built in and can play a noise to alert you to its location.

AirTags are IP67 water and dust-resistant, so if your items end up somewhere they really shouldn't be, the AirTag can still remain trackable. It also has a year-long battery life, and when it does run out, just replace it with a CR2032 coin cell battery — nice and easy.

Get this AirTag deal from Amazon now.

Samsung usually launches its next wave of flagship devices over the winter. The Galaxy S25 was released in early February, and the Galaxy S24 before it came in late January. Thus, it stands to reason that the Galaxy S26 will come around the same time in 2026. Despite being several months out for release, there are already a ton of rumors about Samsung’s upcoming flagship. Let’s take a look at them. 

To start, rumors say that Samsung is likely shaking up its lineup a little bit. According to a GSMA database listing (spotted by SammyPolice), it appears as though Samsung will end the Plus part of its lineup with the Galaxy S26 series of phones. That would leave the base Galaxy S26, the iPhone 17 Air competitor in the Galaxy S26 Edge, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra. 

SEE ALSO: Samsung’s Project Moohan VR headset could launch in October — here’s everything we know

It’s unclear if Samsung will keep its naming conventions the same with one phone going down, but there is a rumor that the base Galaxy S26 will be rebranded to a more iPhone-like S26 Pro, so we’ll refer to it as the S26 Pro in this article. As for the rest of the specs, here is every rumor that we could find. 

Display, design, and size

In terms of overall size, it appears Samsung isn’t looking to reinvent the wheel. A leak from Digital Chat Station on Weibo suggests that the overall dimensions of the Galaxy S26 Pro, S26 Ultra, and S26 Edge will be similar to their 2025 counterparts. The S26 Pro is rumored to sport a 6.27-inch screen, which is larger than the S25’s 6.2-inch display. There is no word yet on the screen size of the S26 Ultra or S26 Edge, but there have been some rumors that the design will be at least slightly different from prior years. 

In comparison, here's the S25 Ultra. Credit: James Martin / Mashable

There haven’t been any rumors yet about specs, but Samsung has used the same AMOLED 2X screen in its last two flagships, so we’ll see if any changes happen next year. The screen may have some neat tricks, though. A recent rumor from IceUniverse states that the S26 series will have a smart privacy mode that blocks people from seeing your screen at an angle. This may be powered by Samsung’s Flex Magic Pixel, which the brand showed off in early 2024. 

Specs

For specs, the rumors don’t say anything that isn’t already expected. The Galaxy S26 series is currently rumored to have the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip, which Qualcomm rebranded to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 a couple of weeks ago. There is also a rumor that Samsung will equip some S26 models with an Exynos chip, which Samsung fans hope is the Exynos 2600, which has also been making some noise in the rumor mill over the last week.

In terms of the small stuff, like storage and RAM, there have been some small rumblings. One rumor says that the Galaxy S26 (all models) will feature 16GB of RAM, a 4GB increase from the last few years, and the most a Galaxy phone has had since the Galaxy S21 Ultra. In terms of storage capacity, there are no rumors that anything will change, so the 128GB base (256GB on the Ultra) is likely to remain in place for now, with upgraded storage available as an option. 

Battery and charging

Based on early rumors, this may be one of the most interesting changes coming to the S26 lineup. Samsung has been working on a stacked battery design that would allow for more dense batteries in the same physical space. This could bring a long-awaited bump to battery size. According to current rumors, the S26 Ultra is slated to come with a 5,500 mAh stacked battery, a 10 percent increase from the S25 Ultra. Samsung may be removing a camera to add even more battery capacity. The S26 Pro is rumored to come with a 4,200mAh cell, up from the 4,000mAh in the Galaxy S25. 

For charging, it’s unlikely that the Galaxy S26 series will get one. Samsung is definitely working on 60W wired charging, but so far, it seems that Samsung will wait for the Galaxy S27 series (or later) to implement it. This could change as we get closer to launch for the S26 series, but for now, it seems that 45W will be around for at least one more year. There are also rumors that wireless charging may see a bump to the Qi2 standard

Camera

The camera system in the Galaxy S26 series may change quite a bit, and there are a few different rumors that say different things. Jumping right in, one rumor says that the S26 series will have the same megapixel count but will feature a new, as-of-yet unannounced sensor from the same ISOCELL GN series as prior Samsung models. On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, a 200MP camera is rumored, as is a 324MP lens with a 50MP, 3x telephoto lens. It’s more likely that Samsung will do the 200MP with a new sensor, but all leaks are being considered right now. 

S25 Ultra with its five cameras. Credit: James Martin / Mashable

In addition, there are rumors that Samsung will bring back its variable aperture on the main shooter, which Samsung hasn’t included on its camera system since the Galaxy S10 series back in 2019. As previously mentioned, Samsung may be considering dropping the number of cameras to three instead of four, like on prior models, to make space for a larger battery. Other rumors about the camera include a dual periscope design that’ll magnify to 8x, but that is just speculation at this time.

Other features and hardware

Much of the rest of the Galaxy S26 lineup is predictable. It’ll come with the latest One UI out of the gate with the latest version of Android. That is no surprise, and we don’t need rumors to predict that one. The S26 series will likely get One UI 8.5, which is slated for a rather large redesign along with a host of new features, including the aforementioned privacy screen feature. According to rumor, the redesign emulates Apple’s Liquid Glass in some ways with transparent UI elements. 

The only other piece of hardware we haven’t talked about is the S-Pen. Samsung appears to be set to do something big with the S-Pen. The rumors speculate that the S-Pen is sticking around and will come with some upgrades. The new functionality may have something to do with how magnetic accessories work, and this seems to be linked to the aforementioned Qi2 wireless charging upgrade. 

Lots of potential for change

Samsung has caught a lot of flak over the last few years for using a lot of the same components year after year, like the camera sensor, display technology, battery size, and even design. Should the Galaxy S26 series rumors pan out, it seems Samsung is aiming for a sizable departure from its earlier flagship lineup with a new camera sensor, more battery, a slightly different design, and more. We’ll have to wait until early next year to see it for sure, but there’s enough here to get a little excited.

TL;DR: Pay $149.99 once (reg. $299), get lifetime access to 2TB of Drime cloud storage — secure, encrypted, collaborative, and hassle-free.

Opens in a new window Credit: Drime Drime Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $149.99
$299 Save $149.01 Get Deal

If you’re juggling free Google Drive space, scattered Dropbox folders, or worse — those old USB sticks rattling around in your desk—it’s time to rethink your storage game. Drime Secure Cloud Storage is an all-in-one solution that gives you 2TB of lifetime storage for just $149.99 (reg. $299).

But it’s not just more storage — it’s a smarter way to manage your files. Think of it as your digital HQ — secure, collaborative, and accessible wherever you are. Whether you’re a freelancer sharing projects with clients, a business leader managing documents, or just someone with way too many vacation videos, Drime keeps your files safe, organized, and easy to work with.

SEE ALSO: Score Microsoft Office for Windows as a lifetime license for under $50

Here’s what makes it stand out:

• Encrypted Vault: Store sensitive files with zero-knowledge security.

• Unlimited File Size: Upload everything from tiny PDFs to massive video projects.

• Collaborative Workspaces: Share, edit, and comment on files with teammates.

• Built-in Editors and Tools: Make changes to docs, PDFs, and media without leaving Drime.

• Smart Sharing Options: Passwords, expiration dates, custom links, and access stats.

• Advanced Streaming: Smooth video playback, even for large files.

• Drime Sign: Request and collect e-signatures without external apps.

Pay once and you’re set for life. Plus, it’s hosted in Europe, fully GDPR-compliant, and built with end-to-end 256-bit AES encryption, so your most sensitive files stay private.

So, why keep paying monthly for fewer features? Lock in 2TB of lifetime Drime storage and collaboration tools today for 49% less and tick “streamline cloud storage” off your to-do list.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025 (so far), and where to stream them

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand-new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of the week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're hankering for some juicy TV dramas, a classic musical with a fresh remaster, dark comedy mayhem, or the MCU's freshest and possibly most infuriating releases, we've got something just for you.

11. Marvel Zombies

If you liked the zombie-focused episode of Marvel's What If...?, we've got great news for you. The alt-timeline animated saga that asks, "What if the Avengers got zombie bit?" is now its own mini-series, called Marvel Zombies — not to be confused with the comic series of the same name.

In this four-episode arc, plenty of fan favorites from across the MCU's movies and TV shows will appear, including Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Ironheart, Kate Bishop, Okoye, Black Panther, Yelena Belova, Blade, Xu Shang-Chi, the Scarlet Witch, and many, many more. But the bad news is a lot of your faves are flesh-craving zombies who've maintained their superpowers and fighting skills. This means you'll get some face-offs you might never have dared imagine. But fair warning, this series is deeply, deeply bleak.

It's as if the MCU has been holding a grudge about all those critiques that they don't kill off enough characters and saved them all up for this. So be warned, while this is for fans who love an MCU shake-up and deep-cut callbacks, it's also the darkest, most depressing MCU release to date. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Awkwafina, David Harbour, Simu Liu, Elizabeth Olsen, Randall Park, Florence Pugh, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Hailee Steinfeld, Tessa Thompson, Dominique Thorne, Iman Vellani, and Todd Williams

How to watch: Marvel Zombies is now streaming on Disney+.

9. Slow Horses, Season 5

The Emmy–winning espionage drama Slow Horses returns for its highly anticipated fifth season, based on Mick Herron's fifth Slough House book, London Rules. (Shout out to the show for putting out five seasons since its 2022 premiere — I admire the efficiency.)

This time around, the Slow Horses, led by Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), are investigating a series of increasingly bizarre events befalling London. Expect tech specialist Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung) to take on a bigger role this season, especially since his glamorous new girlfriend makes the whole team suspicious.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Saskia Reeves, Rosalind Eleazar, Christopher Chung, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Ruth Bradley, James Callis, Tom Brooke, Jonathan Pryce, and Nick Mohammed

How to watch: Slow Horses premieres Sept. 24 on Apple TV+.

8. The Man in My Basement

What would you be willing to sell of yourself? Your house? Your heirlooms? Your soul?

These are the questions posed in The Man in My Basement, the genre-bending directorial debut feature from filmmaker Nadia Latif. She adapts Walter Mosley's novel of the same name, with the author himself as her co-writer. Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton) stars as a man on the verge of losing the home his family has had for generations. But the answer to his financial woes could be a stranger with a strange offer: a fortune to allow him to live in the basement for several weeks. As this stranger is played by Willem Dafoe, you know this one's going to get weird. But unless you've read Mosley's book, you couldn't guess where this will go. — K.P.

SEE ALSO: 'The Man in My Basement' review: Willem Dafoe and Corey Hawkins face off in spooky thriller

Starring: Corey Hawkins, Willem Dafoe, Anna Diop, Jonathan Ajayi, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr., Pamela Nomvete, Tamara Lawrance

How to watch: The Man in My Basement debuts on Hulu and Disney+ on Sept. 26.

7. House of Guinness

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight returns to Netflix with House of Guinness, which crosses Irish history with Succession-style family drama.

House of Guinness kicks off with the death of beer tycoon Sir Benjamin Guinness, who wills his business to two of his four children: hard-partying Arthur (Anthony Boyle) and diligent businessman Edward (Louis Partridge). Guinness' other children, Anne (Emily Fairn) and Ben (Fionn O'Shea), get nothing. So begins a sprawling conflict among siblings, and among the citizens of Dublin who cross paths with the family. Who will come out on top in this gritty period piece? — B.E.

Starring: Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, Fionn O'Shea, David Wilmot, James Norton, Jack Gleeson, Niamh McCormack, Seamus O'Hara, Dervla Kirwan, Michael McElhatton, Danielle Galligan, Hilda Fay, and Cassian Bilton

How to watch: House of Guinness is now streaming on Netflix.

6. M3GAN 2.0

In 2023, M3GAN took the world of horror by storm with her American Girl doll aesthetic and killer dance moves. A sequel seemed inevitable. But much to our shock and horror, M3GAN 2.0 abandoned its horror movie roots for a flood of espionage thriller action and sci-fi shenanigans.

In my review for Mashable, I jeered, "The result is a sequel that is a horrendous mishmash of ideas and influences. M3GAN 2.0 is occasionally outrageous, but mostly it's derivative, bewildering, and bland." Fleeing from what the fans loved about the first film, this follow-up tanked hard at the box office. And now you can easily see why. — K.P.

Starring: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ivanna Sakhno, and Jemaine Clement

How to watch: M3GAN 2.0 debuts on Peacock on Sept. 26.

5. Adulthood

Alex Winter helms this dark comedy that takes the battle of caring for elder parents to some truly gnarly places. Josh Gad and Kaya Scodelario co-star as siblings who are shocked to discover a corpse in the walls of their childhood home. Desperate to cover it up to protect their ailing mother, they go down a twisted spiral of big, bad decisions that leads to all kinds of comical mayhem.

While the screenplay by Michael M.B. Galvin has some gnawing plot holes, in my review out of the film's TIFF premiere, I cheered, "Still, if you're seeking something funky, funny, and charmingly chaotic, Adulthood delivers." — K.P.

Starring: Josh Gad, Kaya Scodelario, Billie Lourd, Alex Winter, and Anthony Carrigan

How to watch: Adulthood is now available to purchase on Prime Video.

4. The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The MCU got a fresh look with the throwback '60s fun of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn star as the eponymous superhero team, made up of Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and the Thing. In this rousing adventure, they must not only save the world from the planet-wrecker Galactus (Ralph Ineson), but also save the youngest of their family, baby Franklin.

In his review for Mashable, Siddhant Adlakha wrote, "The film strikes this balance without ever sacrificing the flawed humanity and the uncompromising heart that have long made Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben some of the most lovable fixtures in all-ages American fiction. First Steps is, in a word, fantastic." — K.P.

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Ineson

How to watch: The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now available for rental or purchase on Prime Video.

3. Wayward

Canadian comedian Mae Martin makes the leap to drama and showrunner with Wayward, as the creator and star of this new Netflix mini-series. Set in the curious small town of Tall Pines, Vermont, Wayward offers a dazzling ensemble cast led by the one and only Toni Collette, who plays an enigmatic cult leader.

Serene and intimidating, Evelyn Wade (Collette) runs Tall Pines Academy, a reform school for teenagers with some peculiar practices. Some rebellious teens are desperate to get out, and a new-to-town cop (Martin) may be their best chance for rescue.

In my review for Mashable, I cautioned: "All this makes for a show that's very easy to binge-watch. So now a warning: Don't hit play on Wayward unless you're ready to surrender yourself to eight hours of this sensational series. Like the town at its center, it's hard to walk away from." — K.P.

Starring: Mae Martin, Brandon Jay McLaren, Sarah Gadon, Patrick J. Adams, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Patrick Gallagher, Sydney Topliffe, Joshua Close, and Toni Collette

How to watch: Wayward is now streaming on Netflix.

2. The Sound of Music

2025 marks the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music, so what better way to celebrate than checking out the remastered version of the film, coming to digital this week? If you're a big Sound of Music fan, get ready to relive headstrong Maria's (Julie Andrews) journey from nun to governess to surprise music teacher, and revisit classic tunes like "My Favorite Things" and "Do-Re-Mi." And if you've never seen the movie in the first place, consider this a sign from the movie gods to do so! — B.E.

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood, Charmian Carr, and Eleanor Parker

How to watch: The Sound of Music remastered is now available on digital.

1. The Lowdown

Reservation Dogs co-creator Sterlin Harjo returns to FX with The Lowdown, a "Tulsa noir" led by Ethan Hawke. Hawke stars as Lee Raybon, a so-called "truthstorian" dedicated to exposing the darkest secrets of Tulsa's most powerful and corrupt figures. Among them is the Washberg family, a dynasty with its fair share of dirty laundry. When the Washberg family's black sheep Dale (Tim Blake Nelson) dies under mysterious circumstances, Lee knows he's got something major on his hands, so he sets off into an investigation of Tulsa's criminal underbelly. His digging around could lead to game-changing revelations — or to him winding up dead in a car trunk.

Harjo and Hawke previously collaborated on the penultimate entry of Reservation Dogs, one of the best episodes of one of the best shows of recent years. Naturally, their reunion is nothing short of electric, with The Lowdown balancing Reservation Dogs' hangout comedy stylings with a gripping noir mystery. As I wrote in my review, "The Lowdown turned out to be some of the most fun I've had watching TV this year." Get into it. — B.E.

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Keith David, Kaniehtiio Horn, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Kyle MacLachlan, Scott Shepherd, Siena East, Michael Hitchcock, Michael “Killer Mike” Render, Cody Lightning, Tim Blake Nelson, and Tracy Letts

How to watch: The Lowdown's first two episodes are now streaming on Hulu. New episodes debut each Tuesday.

(*) denotes a blurb has come from a prior list.

I see you, annotators — the readers with color-coded highlighting systems and tabs sticking out of every book. Going digital with an e-reader might not seem like it's for you, but with all the advancements in the market, things are changing. I've seen it all in the Kindle line-up, from the most basic Kindle to a color e-reader and now the Kindle Scribe.

Launched in late 2024, Amazon debuted the next generation of the Kindle Scribe. It's the largest in the brand's lineup and the only model that comes with a pen and the ability to write. I'd spent time with the previous generation of Scribe, so I wanted to see how Amazon improved the device. Unfortunately... it wasn't much.

Here's what I think about the Kindle Scribe and if it's worth it.

Kindle Scribe price and specs Putting the original Kindle Scribe (left) head to head with the 2024 Kindle Scribe (right). Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The 2024 Kindle Scribe is the same size as the previous generation but features a redesigned screen with even borders surrounding the screen.

These are the full specs for the 2024 Kindle Scribe:

• 10.2-inch display, up to 94 nits brightness, and 300 ppi resolution

• USB-C charging port with up to 12 weeks of battery life

• Starts at 16GB of storage, with 32GB and 64GB options available

• Premium pen included

• Comes in tungsten (dark gray) and metallic jade

• Not waterproof

All the perks of a Kindle e-reader, plus annotation Jotting down my thoughts on the Kindle Scribe... on the Kindle Scribe. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Kindles are great e-readers — our favorite, in fact. So, it's no surprise that the Kindle Scribe has the same possibilities. You can access books through the Kindle Store or Libby. Like all Kindles, there's seamless Libby integration to make it easy to read your library books.

But it has something other Kindles don't, the ability to annotate. With an included stylus (called the "premium pen"), you can write using the notebook feature as a digital notebook. Plus, this latest generation of Kindle Scribe allows you to annotate within the margins of books. I used it to annotate long PDFs, write notes in the margins, and handwrite line edits. Once I was done, I could send the annotated document from the Kindle to my email so I could easily send it back to my colleague.

When not in use, the premium pen magnetically attaches to the Kindle Scribe, keeping it within reach. However, it's not the only e-reader with this ability. The Kobo Libra Colour also allows for annotations, but does it all with color. Other e-ink tablets with color include the ReMarkable Paper Pro and Paper Pro Move, which are great for jotting down notes and reading PDFs but less so for reading books.

It's the slowest e-reader in the line-up

While it offers the same ability as other Kindles to read through a vast array of books, it is noticeably slower than other models in Amazon's line-up. When Amazon announced the new generation of Kindles in late 2024, the Kindle, Paperwhite, and Paperwhite Signature Edition were all touted as the brand's fastest devices, which they certainly are.

While the Kindle Scribe's displays have been redesigned, its processor has not been updated. The Scribe often lags when starting to wake up or switching between journals and books. I also noticed some pauses when turning pages, something I never experience on other Kindles. This is especially disappointing considering the price, which is more than double that of the Paperwhite.

It's nice to write on, but the displays will ghost you After switching to the notebook section of the Kindle, you can still see book covers from my library bleeding through the screen. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

When it comes to annotating and writing on a Kindle Scribe, I love the tactile feel. The anti-glare screen and premium pen of the Kindle Scribe have a texture that emulates the feeling of writing with a pen and paper. It's much different and preferential to the slippery texture of writing on an iPad with an Apple Pencil.

However, while the display has a nice feel, it suffers from a ghosting issue. The back end of the premium pen works as an eraser, so you can flip it over when you want to erase some notes. However, a shadow of your erased writing really lingers. When I exited the notebook I had erased, the shadow lingered even as I opened a new book and tried to read.

It's more expensive than an iPad

The Kindle Scribe is not a tablet. It's an e-reader with the ability to write. Why am I noting this? Because it's certainly priced like a tablet. The Kindle Scribe starts at $399.99 for the 16GB model and tops out at $449.99 for the 64GB model. Considering the recently launched 11th-generation iPad with 128GB of storage starts at $349.99, the Kindle Scribe is a terrible value.

A tablet, like an iPad, has so many capabilities, like browsing social media and the web, streaming video, gaming, drawing, and even reading, with access to the Kindle app, Apple Books, and even Libby on there. Meanwhile, you're limited to just reading or writing on a Scribe — no streaming, gaming, or more. If you're looking for a distraction-free reader, maybe that's a draw. But otherwise, it's just too expensive.

Is the Kindle Scribe worth it? Kindles are usually great e-readers, but the Scribe doesn't live up to the rest of the line-up. Credit: Samantha Mangino

There's only one specific circumstance I imagine the Kindle Scribe is worth. If you're an avid annotator and want a distraction-free e-reader, the Kindle Scribe is great. It allows you to write notes in the margins of e-books or annotate PDFs, which you can then view on your computer.

But otherwise, if you're excited by the idea of an e-reader you can annotate on, look elsewhere. For $399.99, the Kindle Scribe isn't worth it with its meager performance and screen ghosting issues.

If you want an e-reader that you can annotate with, check out the Kobo Libra Colour, which costs $229.99. The Libra Colour is $170 less than the base model Kindle Scribe and comes with twice the storage. Or, if you want to spend your money on something that can do more than just read and write, swing for the iPad 11th generation, which is $349.99 — still $50 cheaper than the Scribe.

6-month update: Do I still use the Kindle Scribe?

Since initially testing the Kindle Scribe six months ago, how do I feel about the device now? Well, I haven't reached for it since. In terms of e-readers, I opt for the Kobo Clara Colour or Kindle Paperwhite as my daily device.

My Mashable colleague Chris Taylor has tested two devices from ReMarkable, and based on his reviews, I think they're better alternatives to the Kindle Scribe. The ReMarkable Paper Pro and Paper Pro Move are e-ink tablets that are like futuristic legal pads. So if you're looking into the Scribe to take notes, consider a ReMarkable tablet instead.

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) $399.99 at Amazon
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