IT General

Mario Kart World, the lone original flagship launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2, is as much defined by what it is as what it is not. 

What it is is a tremendously fun Mario Kart game that hones the franchise’s trademark fun to a hilarious, borderline sadistic, and nearly scientifically perfect degree. What it’s not is a revolutionary open-world epic on par with the Switch 1’s biggest launch title, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, or even other open-world racers like Burnout Paradise and Forza Horizon. 

Do not create a game in your head that doesn’t exist; this is a kick-ass Mario Kart game that happens to have an open world in it. Whether that’s enough for you to want to buy a Switch 2 at launch or not is your business, not mine. While Mario Kart World doesn’t necessarily live up to the seemingly infinite potential of an open-world Mario Kart game, it lives up to my expectations as a longtime fan of the series who really, really enjoys playing it online, which in turn makes it a great showcase for what makes the Switch 2 awesome.

You can get Mario Kart World for $79 at Walmart (and $79.99 at Nintendo), or you can try to find the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle Check prices at Walmart Shop Now

You can also read my full hands-on deep dive on the Switch 2, but in the meantime, let's get into my Mario Kart World review.

Mario Kart World may not be what you expect Knockout Tour is the real highlight here. Credit: Nintendo

Back in April, when Nintendo first detailed Mario Kart World to the masses, plenty of folks (myself included) became wide-eyed with awe in thinking about what an open-world Mario Kart game could be. Mario Kart World is not quite that.

To be clear, after a week of extensive play, I don’t think that’s a bad thing, but it is disappointing, especially if you tuned out the later marketing that made it explicitly clear that the free roam feature is a goofy little side mode and not the main attraction. It’s an easy way to unlock new costumes for characters, and it’s full of little bespoke challenges to complete, but their rewards pretty much only come in the form of stickers, which don’t actually do anything meaningful. Those challenges are only worth doing for the love of the game, in other words.

Mario Kart World’s biggest surprise, then, is how much that doesn’t really bother me. Once the final game was in my hands, I realized the open world exists to justify the modes you just pick from a menu. Grand prix races ask players to race between tracks, for instance. The new Knockout Tour mode, which is the game’s biggest highlight, takes players on a Cannonball Run-esque (that’s a reference the kids will get) cross-country race, in which those at the back of the pack are gradually eliminated from contention over time. 

There are several Knockout Tour stretches available. Credit: Nintendo SEE ALSO: Switch 2 smashes Nintendo's own record, selling 3.5 million consoles

It’s tempting to call the open world “tacked-on,” but I would argue that's not really appropriate. The idea that all of these tracks are physically connected to one another is baked into the design of the major modes; Knockout Tour wouldn’t exist without the open world, therefore, the existence of the open world is justified. That said, since this is a Mario Kart World review, it’s worth noting that most tracks can be turned into regular three-lap circuits during multiplayer races, if you prefer that.

Still, I don’t want to let Nintendo entirely off the hook here. Free roam should be more rewarding than it is. Stickers are not a good enough incentive to complete P-switch challenges, many of which are genuinely pretty difficult. That being said, Mario Kart World is a ton of fun on its own merits, regardless of what you may or may not wish it was instead.

But the part where it’s Mario Kart might be better than ever The races are great. Credit: Nintendo

Once you process and get over the fact that this isn’t Burnout Paradise with blue shells, Mario Kart World rocks. The sorcerers over at Nintendo have found a bunch of ways to make the races more frenetic, chaotic, and arguably fun than ever.

For starters, there are now 24 competitors per race, rather than the traditional 12. That means the beginning portion of every race is kind of a nightmare, in a great way. There’s just a mass of humanity (and cows, and dolphins, and Goombas, and anything else that’s ever been in a Mario game) all trying to knock each other out. If you’re inclined to get mad at the part of Mario Kart where sometimes you get hit by a shell that you couldn’t do anything about, get ready for twice as much of that.

I’m not inclined to get mad about that because I think it makes Mario Kart more interesting than many other racing games. If I wanted to play a game where mere driving prowess was enough to win on its own, I would play almost any other racing game. I find comfort in the idea that sometimes you can be perfect, and it’s still not good enough because of some nonsense that was out of your control. That’s just life, man. 

Crucially, it’s also very funny to go from first to 20th in about three seconds. Learning to laugh at yourself is key to enjoying Mario Kart.

Donkey Kong rocks. Credit: Nintendo

With that in mind, though, the driving mechanics here are maybe my favorite in any Mario Kart. It still works roughly the same on the surface as it did in Mario Kart 8, in that drifting in order to build up boost is the main thing you have to worry about when you aren’t dodging items. There’s also a new charge jump mechanic on top of that, which enables the player to grind on rails or even ride along walls, two things that also build up boost if you do them right.

I haven’t even really scratched the surface of the kinds of shortcut opportunities that surely exist if you get good enough at those moves, but just knowing that there’s more depth here than before is enough for me. Pulling off a sick wallride feels great, if nothing else. 

All of this works in concert with the true greatness of the Knockout Tour mode to create something I’m going to casually play online for many, many dozens of hours. It’s truly exciting to win a Knockout Tour in a way it’s never been to win in Mario Kart before. Every time I finish in first place in an online Knockout Tour, I feel like I can take on God.

Mario Kart World is an excellent Switch 2 showcase The water is gorgeous. Credit: Nintendo

One very important aspect of Mario Kart World that maybe doesn’t come through until you see it running on a 4K TV with HDR turned on is that it’s one of the best-looking games of 2025 so far. The Switch 2’s big boost in horsepower over its predecessor, combined with Nintendo’s excellent-as-usual art direction, make it an absolute delight to look at pretty much at all times.

Mario Kart World is vibrant, colorful, and full of fun little details. Karts and racers bend and contort in cartoonish ways when they take hits, explosions now have comic book-esque “KABOOM!” text callouts on top of them, and the water, oh my god, the water. I think Mario Kart World might have the best-looking water I’ve seen in a video game. It needs to be seen to be believed.

Aside from World’s prowess as a technical showcase, it’s also a great demonstrator of the Switch 2’s neat online social features. I’ve had a ton of fun doing online races and Knockout Tours against friends while we casually hang out and talk about whatever is happening in our lives via GameChat. World is an incredible hangout game, if nothing else.

But there are some gaps in the online feature set Also gorgeous. Credit: Nintendo

Unfortunately, the online features could be a bit more fleshed out in a couple of ways.

First, free roaming around the open world with friends appears to be limited to driving around while waiting for races or Knockout Tours to start. The P-switch challenges are removed from the open world when playing this way, turning it into a glorified lobby rather than a true, cooperative open world. I wish there was more to do in the open world in general, but I think this sentiment is especially true of the online version of it.

Secondly, I wish you could queue up for online Knockout Tour races against random strangers while partied up with your friends. Instead, to do an online Knockout Tour with friends, you either need to find 23 other people (unlikely) or accept that some of the slots will be filled with NPC characters. I think this is a fantastic online game in many ways, but it’s not always ideal.

Is Mario Kart World worth it?

Look, everyone has their own idea of what a dollar is worth, or in this case, 80 of them. I think Mario Kart World is a great game and I would pay $80 for it if I had to, but I’m also comically irresponsible with money.

Moving past the value proposition of it all, World is just a ton of fun. It’s fun to look at, fun to win at, and even fun to lose at, if your mindset is properly attuned to it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Mario Kart World - U.S. Version $79 at Walmart
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Products in this story: Oura Ring 4 $349 at Amazon Get Deal Oura Ring Gen3 Horizon $249 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Oura Ring Sizing Kit $10 at Amazon Shop Now

If you can't figure out why you're dead exhausted upon waking or want to track how your body handles the stress of daily life, a smart ring will deliver answers. And my favorite smart ring, the famous Oura ring, starts providing answers quickly. Almost the second I slipped on the ring, I got data on my heart rate, skin temperature, and blood oxygen levels. And within days, the Oura app was collecting and reporting trends on my health biometrics. But for some data, users have to be patient.

The Oura app has three tabs: Today, Vitals, and My Health. 'Today' and 'Vitals' provide data you can immediately access — quick snapshots of your real-time health data. But 'My Health' is a home base for data that takes some time to calculate. And this isn't just one or two weeks of processing; one calculation requires months of patience.

Credit: Oura App / Mashable Photo Composite

'My Health' has three reports: Resilience, Heart Health, and Sleep Health. After about 28 days, data populates in both Resilience and Heart Health, but Sleep Health takes longer. I had to wait three months for my sleep chronotype to calculate. So, after 90 days of daily use, I finally got my chronotype, and it was well worth the wait.

What is a chronotype?

The terms early bird and night owl are more than just an idiom. They refer to chronotypes, aka your natural sleep cycle. Chronotypes were popularized by Dr. Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist specializing in sleep medicine. Dr. Breus described sleepers as either a lion, bear, wolf, or dolphin, adding a couple more animals to the traditional sleep cycle menagerie.

Oura breaks down users into six chronotypes: early morning, morning, late morning, early evening, evening, and late evening. With each chronotype comes a suggested sleep and wake time that works with your natural circadian rhythm, helping you get the best quality of sleep. Plus, it helps you realize when you're most productive so you can stop scheduling early morning meetings when you're most focused and productive in the afternoon or evening anyway.

How does Oura calculate chronotype? Any other 'early evening types' in the crowd? Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Oura rings track an impressive amount of biometrics to calculate your chronotype (hence the months-long wait). Through sleep tracking, activity tracking, and body temperature, Oura coalesces the data to conclude what chronotype category you fall into. And Oura isn't just taking a snapshot of data. Through three months of data collection, it can paint a fuller picture of your habits than you'd get after just 28 days, which might contain an off week or two and sway the data.

Why does Chronotype matter?

If you're trying to follow doctor's orders and get those recommended seven to eight hours of sleep a night, choosing the right sleep and wake times is crucial. If you're working backward, planning your sleep time around when you need to be awake, you may find that your bedtime still doesn't feel right. If you're having a hard time falling asleep or waking up way before your alarm, you might not be embracing your natural circadian rhythm.

Your chronotype gives you the insight to know when your body wants to wake and rest, as well as when it's most productive. While most people don't have the luxury to create their work hours around their sleep schedule, you can still get useful data for optimizing your life.

Why I love Oura's Chronotype feature According to Oura, evening types are innovative (not to brag). Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

My sleep schedule has been a problem since I was a kid. I'd stay up past my bedtime and oversleep early wake times for school. While I once saw this as a discipline problem, the irresponsibility of youth prompting me to stay up late, I've since learned this is just my natural sleep cadence. It's no surprise that I thrived while working restaurant hours post-grad.

Now that I'm working a 9-to-5, working from home, those late nights need to be cut short. For a while, I tried going to sleep at the same time as my partner, who goes to bed early and wakes at dawn, I just ended up tossing and turning in bed, frustrated that I couldn't fall asleep.

After wearing my Oura ring for three months, I finally got some answers. Oura assigned me the chronotype of 'early evening'. While I'm not an extreme night owl, my schedule does stray toward the later side. When Oura provided the suggested bedtime of 12:30 a.m. with an 8:30 a.m. wake time, I realized that was what my body wanted. When I was trying to be an early riser, I was fighting against my chronotype. I've since adjusted my schedule to embrace this routine and found that I fall asleep more easily and wake fully rested.

Oura isn't the only fitness tracker to provide this type of data. Whoop also does a good job at suggesting sleep and wake times; however, Whoop doesn't offer chronotype profiles.

There's a lot of vital information you can get from your Oura ring, but chronotype is my favorite feature. It's given me tangible info that genuinely improved my quality of sleep.

I know that an Oura ring is an expensive investment, and if you're going to splurge, it's reassuring to know you'll receive data that's actually useful.

Who can access chronotypes?

You can access the chronotype feature with the newer Oura Ring 4 and the older Oura Ring Gen3, but you'll need an Oura membership. The Oura app membership costs $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring 4 $349 at Amazon
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Pride Month is here, and The Film Library: A Kanopy Podcast is celebrating with an episode that embraces some of the best LGBTQ+ movies now streaming on Kanopy.

With over 30,000 titles to choose from, Kanopy offers a terrific array of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and shorts. The Film Library's co-hosts, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko and internet film critic Jeff Rauseo, make finding must-watch movies and TV shows even easier by highlighting the best of the batch.

Mashable offers watch guides for plenty of subscription streaming services, from Hulu to Netflix, and more, including the 75 best LGBTQ films to stream right now. But if you're looking for what you can stream with no fee, all you need for Kanopy access is your library card.

On this episode of The Film Library, Kristy and Jeff made their Pride picks, which include a groundbreaking drama, period romance, clever comedies, celebrated indies, and Oscar–nominated classics. Plus, Kristy gets personal with her appreciation of Frank Oz's 1997 comedy In & Out.

The Film Library: A Kanopy Podcast delivers new episodes twice per month, bringing new recommendations of hit films, hidden gems, misunderstood movies, and much, much more. Kanopy's catalog includes titles from BBC, Criterion, NEON, Samuel Goldwyn, HISTORY, A&E, The Great Courses, Kino Lorber, A24, and IFC Films. So, there's plenty to pick from whenever you log in!

How to watch: The Film Library: A Kanopy Podcast is available on Kanopy, YouTube, and wherever you download podcasts.

Following days of protest decrying the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and militarized federal forces in Los Angeles, downtown L.A. residents remained under curfew this week while California governor Gavin Newsom went toe-to-toe with President Trump, who sent Marines into the area. Memes, and viral misinformation, were abundant. 

Meanwhile, the "No Kings" organizing coalition has planned thousands more peaceful demonstrations this weekend, specifically orchestrated to overlap with Trump's planned military parade. While the organizations behind the events are gearing up for what they've said will be the "largest single-day, peaceful protest" in the country's history, some worry they may be met with an equal show of state-sanctioned violence — and attempts to undermine news coverage via viral falsehoods. 

SEE ALSO: U.S. government climate website axes staff, may shut down

Peter Adams, senior vice president of research and design for the News Literacy Project, explained that mass demonstrations are rife for online misinformation, patterns which can be spotted before protesters even touch ground. Adams runs the organization's online misinformation newsletter RumorGuard, which collates viral fact-checks and critical literacy tips. 

"Protests generally only happen around events that are highly polarizing and controversial," said Adams. "The more polarizing something is, the more people's political identities are activated and invoked. We know that these identities play a very strong role in how people react to information online. As polarization has increased in American society, this is even more at play."

News and misinformation debunking organizations, such as bipartisan NewsGuard, have reputed dozens of false posts, including those made by conservative commentators alleging Newsom had posted an outdated or AI-generated photo of national guard troops as he criticized Trump's militarized protest response. Such posts were propelled by X chatbot Grok, which told some users that the photos, first published by the San Francisco Chronicle, were outdated — ChatGPT users got similarly confusing responses. 

Others, including representatives of the Trump administration, fanned the flames with misattributed or outrightly false quotes from federal and international leaders, including California congresswoman Maxine Waters and Mexican president Claudia Scheinbaum. Viral posts from partisan voices on both sides of the conflict have attempted to sway, or overtly manipulate, public perception and recast reality in terms that are more favorable to their side, Adams explains. 

"Viral misinformation expresses patterns over time, and we can learn how to recognize those patterns and inoculate ourselves to a whole swath of viral rumors," explained Adams.  

As protests continue, here's what to look out for:

AI chatbot errors and hallucinations

"Chatbots often generate outdated or inaccurate details, and that can be especially true during fast-moving events," explained Adams and other News Literacy Project experts. While users are turning to built-in chatbots to fact-check on platforms that have removed internal fact-checking programs, AI-powered assistants are increasingly unreliable sources for news. 

Despite its convenience, "AI is really prone to making big errors, and to integrating details from low quality sources alongside high quality sources, sanitizing them and presenting falsehoods alongside facts that makes it harder for people to parse," said Adams. "Don't turn to generative AI to ask whether something is true and take it at its word."

The paid protestor myth

Nearly every mass demonstration is met with accusations that at least some of its participants were hired to be on the ground, according to the News Literacy Project. On June 10, for example, a fake Craigslist ad circulated on social media claiming to seek “the toughest badasses in the city” for a $6,500 to $12,500 payout to attend the L.A. demonstrations.

Online pranks or "troll" behavior may exacerbate the spread of such rumors. It's easier than ever to fake a screenshot from a user or official accounts, said Adams, and the fact that many public officials and agencies have started to lean into ironic posting only exacerbates public confusion about which posts are authentic. 

Featured Video For You How to blur people's faces in protest photos to protect their identities Bricks and other objects used for 'violent' protest

Allegations that protestors have staged piles of bricks or other objects ahead of time to help violent protestors is a "recurring hoax" surrounding mass demonstrations, the organization explains. 

During last week's protests, which led to combative encounters with police and the destruction of property, some online alleged the effort was organized, including placing bricks in strategic areas; the posts misleadingly included images from construction projects in New Jersey and Malaysia.

Recycled footage of looting, arson, or previous protests

Coverage of mass protests is also frequently drowned out by unrelated footage circulated online for virality or to inflame a specific response to the events (the same is often true during severe weather disasters). Videos from the wave of protests following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, for example, made the rounds following the Los Angeles demonstrations on June 8. 

"Sharing out-of-context footage is one of the most common tricks used to spread falsehoods," said the organization.

Video game or movie clips passed off as the real thing 

More recently, hyperrealistic footage from video games have been shared as real world events and news. Generative AI may also complicate an individual's ability to discern reality from fiction.

Individuals may fall victim to fake or ironic posts mistakenly shared as real news, or what Adams calls a "stolen satire" phenomenon, as brands and online trolls take advantage of a confusing information environment. Generally, the rise of news influencers, live streamers, and people claiming to be "citizen journalists"— now more frequently on the ground at protests — feed into ongoing partisan attempts to discredit the intent and veracity of standards-based news sources, says Adams. 

"We get into a territory where no one can agree what is real, and that is an environment in which democracy cannot flourish," he said. "Be aware of your emotions. Be wary of user-generated content and unknown sources. Always stop and verify you're not amplifying anything you're not confident is true."

SAVE $25.01: As of June 13, you can get the Renpho Smart Scale for $39.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $64.99. That's a discount of 38%.

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For better or worse, we've never had more metrics for tracking our health and weight. And with wearables like the Apple Watch and Oura Ring, we can even get real-time feedback on our health 24/7. One thing these fitness trackers can't do? Tell you your weight, which is why so many people invest in a smart scale that can sync with apps like Apple Health, Samsung Health, and MyFitnessPal. The Renpho Smart Scale can do that, and a lot more too.

As of June 13, get the Renpho Smart Scale for $39.98, down from its usual price of $64.99. That's $25.01 off and a discount of 38%.

This smart scale can offer 7 key body metrics, including body mass, bone mass, body fat, weight, water percentage, muscle mass, and metabolic age, all from its larger screen. All you have to do is step on it to get these measurements, which you can also track with the Renpho Health App. Add your body metrics from there to other connected apps from Apple, Samsung, and even MyFitnessPal.

You can create unlimited user profiles to track yourself as well as other members of the household, so you can all keep an eye on your health without having to track data manually or write down who's who when using it.

It can support up to 400 pounds, and it's a sleek, lightweight scale that's easy to pick up and put down if you need to move it. Plus, its compact profile means you can stash it in the bathroom or another small space and it won't be in the way since you'll likely be using it on a regular basis.

If you're ready to transform the way you take care of the information you receive about your body, a smart scale could be for you. And now's the time to pounce so you can get a quality one for a discount.

A spacecraft just got the first look at the bottom of the sun, and what it saw was a hot mess — literally. 

Our host star, about 93 million miles away in space, is in utter turmoil right now, having just reached peak chaos in its solar cycle. Similar to storm seasons on Earth, the sun experiences a weather pattern that repeats every 11 years. At the beginning and end of this stretch, flares and sunspots calm down. But solar activity rises before it falls, and when it climaxes, the sun roils with giant eruptions.

The Solar Orbiter, a collaborative mission between the European Space Agency and NASA, captured detailed images of the sun’s southern region in March, something no other probe has done at close range. While previous spacecraft have taken pictures around the sun's middle, the Solar Orbiter tilted to get the unprecedented southern view. 

What its instruments observed wasn't unexpected, though it remains mysterious: The poles had flipped. While a normal magnet has clear north and south poles, both of the sun's poles occupy the bottom now. This happens only for a short period during "solar maximum" before a single polarity eventually takes over, and the entire magnetic field reorders itself in the reversed configuration.

"How exactly this build-up occurs is still not fully understood," said Sami Solanki, leader of one of the orbiter instrument teams from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, in a statement, "so Solar Orbiter has reached high latitudes at just the right time to follow the whole process from its unique and advantageous perspective."

SEE ALSO: A spacecraft ‘touched’ the sun. Here’s how it survived.

The spacecraft, launched in 2020, used a gravity assist from Venus in February to swing out of the sun’s equatorial plane. That change in trajectory gave its cameras the fresh angle to see the southern region. One previous spacecraft — NASA and ESA's now-defunct Ulysses mission that began in the 1990s — flew over the sun's poles but did not have the ability to take pictures.

The orbiter comes equipped with several instruments that have different purposes. One images the sun in optical light, and another captures ultraviolet light. Two others map the sun's surface magnetic field and capture light from different temperatures of charged gas above the sun's surface.

Though the basis of the solar cycle — our star's internal clock — remains unclear, scientists think the key to understanding it lies at the poles. One of the primary mission objectives for the orbiter is to try to figure it out. Its findings may also improve predictions for space weather events that can disrupt power grids, satellites, and navigation systems.

In the March images, the orbiter viewed the sun from an angle of 17 degrees below the solar equator. Over the coming years, the spacecraft will tilt even farther. In December 2026, the orbit will change to a steeper 23 degrees. By 2029, it may reach 33 degrees to fully map both poles.

This article contains spoilers for Materialists.

When the internet discovered that Tinder was testing a height preference, it reignited a long-discussed matter: the importance of height, particularly men's height, in dating. The new film Materialists touches on height and romance as well, and now it's the topic du jour once again.

Focusing on appearance seems to be a plague on modern society; see the obsession with plastic surgery broadly and the meme about wanting a "man in finance, trust fund, 6'5", blue eyes" from last year. Yet height has been an issue with partners meeting each other for much longer. The Journal of Social Psychology published an article about height in mate selection back in 1954! The introduction states: "Undoubtedly, body height plays a role in the process of forming an attachment. The norm in our culture is that among lovers and married couples the man is taller than the woman."

SEE ALSO: Logging off helped me orgasm for the first time

Height shouldn't matter. How tall someone is doesn't reflect how thoughtful someone is, how good in bed they are, how they treat their family, or any number of deeper questions one might have when picking a life partner. So why does it matter?

Why height matters in dating

A more recent article (from 2015) published in Evolutionary Psychology presents a few possibilities about why women want taller men: perceived safety (a taller man is seen as more masculine and tougher), potential reproductive benefits (taller kids), and societal norms. Women may even think taller men have a better socioeconomic status than shorter men. 

Beyond evolutionary theory, it's not that surprising to me that it's in vogue to care so much about height right now. Conservative ideals have spread online in the past few years (just look at who's president in the U.S.). The manosphere, a cluster of far-right, misogynistic creators like Andrew Tate, has soared in its influence, especially on men and boys. They present an idea that men need to be dominant and women submissive. 

This movement is coupled with the rise of tradwives, who are anti-feminist and perpetuate the notion that a woman's place is in the home. 

These right-wing influencers promote gender essentialism, the idea that men and women have inherent biological traits and features. Many are also anti-LGBTQ, particularly anti-trans. Their content promotes heterosexual relationships — "traditional" kinds, where the man is the head of the household and the woman follows. 

As such, in the conservative ideal, a man should be bigger than a woman and take up more space. Like I mentioned in an interview on AirTalk about Tinder's height feature, women are taught to be small, especially smaller than their partners. Like the societal ideal of a large penis, this idea stems in patriarchy — and patriarchy hurts men, too. Men are supposed to be bigger and stronger. But what about men who aren't?

Some men are trying to buck genetics, thanks to expensive and painful elective surgery to lengthen their legs. As NBC News reported, the surgery requires cutting into leg bones and inserting rods. Recovery involves intensive physical therapy and eventually removing the rods. 

Materialists takes on this controversial surgery in the context of modern dating.

Height and dating in Materialists

Harry (Pedro Pascal) is a rich, intelligent, and single man who falls for matchmaker Lucy (Dakota Johnson) after meeting at a wedding. In Lucy's work, women are looking for a tall man with a taller salary, while men typically look for thin, attractive, and young women. Lucy herself only cares about a man being rich, though slowly over the course of the film, she realizes her broke ex John (Chris Evans) is the one for her.

Still, before then, Lucy falls for Harry's money and physical attributes. She calls him a 10/10 because he is not only rich and from a rich family but also tall. They start seeing each other, usually at Harry's $12 million home in Manhattan. 

But the relationship doesn't last long. There's a moment in the movie when Lucy discovers scars on Harry's legs. At first, she lets it go, but eventually she must ask: Did you get the surgery?

Yes, it turns out. Harry not only paid hundreds of thousands to have himself surgically made taller, but he apparently added as many inches on him as possible (six). He said he wouldn't have the courage to hit on Lucy at that wedding otherwise. 

When I watched Materialists at its New York premiere, the audience howled at this moment. The scene is meant for laughs, with strategic pauses from the actors, but it highlights a deep-rooted superficiality in our society. 

Lucy breaks up with Harry in this scene — apparently not because he was disingenuous about his height, but simply because she's not in love with him and neither is he in love with her.

SEE ALSO: Social media use may cause depression among young people, new study finds

As a bisexual person, I have a different perspective on height than straight women: I don't get it. I do get it from an internalized patriarchal way of wanting to be smaller than one's partner. Of wanting to be the "damsel," maybe, and a big, strong person coming to your rescue.

But height is something out of one's control, and — in my opinion — not what makes someone attractive. Beyond someone's physical traits, what makes someone hot is their personality, their interests, their empathy and care for others, and so much more.

Beyond someone's physical traits, what makes someone hot is their personality, their interests, their empathy and care for others, and so much more.

Materialists accurately scalps daters' obsession with looks and superficial traits, hence the title. When Harry tries to win Lucy over, he says he's not interested in material assets. Unfortunately, he might be in the minority. But at a time when people are desperate to get off dating apps, they can't seem to overcome the shallowness they perpetuate. This is undoubtedly also a result of social media penetrating every aspect of our lives. We see people who look nothing like the actual human beings in our orbit, having relationships that seem perfect from the 60-second clips they post online. Worse, some of these influencers push misogynistic and archaic ideas about relationships. 

In order to have real connections (and be less lonely as a result), it's time to shed what social media and influencers say we should have and focus on what matters, because someone tall may ultimately come up short.

Materialists is now in theaters.

TL;DR: Secure 20TB of cloud storage for life with Internxt Cloud Storage, now only $399.99 (reg. $4,900) with code STORAGE20 through July 20.

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Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
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There are many AI models on the market, and it can be tough to know which model to use for each task. That’s where 1min.AI comes in, consolidating them all on one convenient platform.

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Save time and money with this all-in-one AI lifetime subscription

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TL;DR: Act fast to get your own refurbished Apple MacBook Pro (3.1GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for only $329.97 (reg. $1,499) until July 20 while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished Apple MacBook Pro (3.1GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $329.97
$1,499 Save $1,169.03 Get Deal

Dreaming of a laptop upgrade without a hefty price tag? This summer, you can enjoy top-tier performance at a bargain price with this amazing deal on a refurbished Apple MacBook Pro (3.1GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD). While it would usually set you back $1,499, you can get it now for just $329.97 through July 20 while supplies last.

Who says a MacBook Pro has to break the bank?

See what all the hype is about with this MacBook Pro that doesn’t break the bank. It’s ready to get you through a busy summer, hectic fall, and beyond, with its powerful 3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost Technology that boosts speeds up to 3.5GHz.

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TL;DR: Ditch ads on up to 9 devices with this lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan, now just $15.97 with code FAMPLAN through July 20.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
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It’s time to upgrade your internet experience. AdGuard lets you experience the online world without the annoyance of ads, helping you save time and browse the web in peace. And right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan for up to nine devices in your home for just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN through July 20.

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It's already been a jam-packed year for gaming, and that's why I think Deliver At All Costs won't get nearly as much attention as the other big titles that already launched in 2025 (as well as those to come). Flanked on either side by the releases of Doom: The Dark Ages and Elden Ring Nightreign, it feels like Far Out Games' Konami-published debut is destined to be overshadowed. And while I don't think that Deliver At All Costs is some diamond in the rough that will overcome this summer's stacked release calendar, I do think it's well worth a weekend playthrough.

Deliver At All Costs is messy but undeniable fun.

The setup

Set in a fictional and embellished version of 1950s America, Deliver At All costs puts you in the shoes of Winston Green, a man on the run from his mysterious past and the newest courier at Amazon-adjacent shipping company We Deliver. Through unconventional, quirky cargo deliveries and pickups that leave the game's eccentric open world in disarray (and in some cases, literal shambles), you'll uncover Winston's secrets and a sinister corporate conspiracy.

SEE ALSO: Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review: The best gaming headset I've ever used Chaos, but the good kind

On several occasions, Deliver At All Costs reminded me of playing through classics like The Simpsons: Hit & Run and early Grand Theft Auto when I was a kid, and I mean that as a massive compliment. The game's overall wackiness and dynamism brought me back to those cherished gaming moments, except this time, I got to experience them with a way fresher coat of paint and a modern physics system that provided me with hours of gleeful mayhem.

Over the course of Deliver At All Costs' 20 missions, I encountered a cast of zany characters who all needed my help completing some truly wild tasks. Each one has its own unique mechanic that wildly changes how you approach each delivery. One of my favorites saw me transporting an assortment of balloons to would-be customers, but each time my car hit a small bump in the road, I'd go soaring through the air with no control, Up-style. Another involved hauling a live marlin across the city to the local fish market while the massive sea creature thrashed around in my trunk, throwing the vehicle off course at every turn. Some of these errands fall flat, though — a few are far too easy, while others presented a sharp difficulty spike. It's a shame that the most disappointing ones happen towards the game's conclusion, ending everything on a bit of a sour note. Still, the highs of this collection of missions outweigh the lows.

Uh, everyone out of the way, please. Credit: Far Out Games / Konami

The absolutely ludicrous physics system is another high point that really enhances the fun. Deliver's detailed open world takes you across three distinctive areas, all of them completely destructible down to their last brick. Every home, storefront, and high-rise can be reduced to rubble, sending debris (and sometimes civilians — don't worry, they get back up) flying in the process. The destruction is mostly just for fun — you can go the whole game without intentionally causing any damage — but you'd be robbing yourself of most of the excitement that the game has to offer. There are consequences to toppling too many structures, though, as the police will begin to pursue you if you get too carried away. I think this system could've been cut, though, because it's way too easy to lose the heat once they're on you're tail, making it more of a quick chore than an exhilarating chase.

Each area is also littered with collectibles, secret vehicles, side missions, and challenges to break up the pace, but unfortunately, not many of them are worth going out of your way to experience. The only time I felt that exploration was rewarding was when I hopped out of my vehicle to look at the game's many vista points, which brings you down to Winston's level to admire the carefully crafted environments that the devs worked so hard to bring to life. Sadly, those on-foot sections are a bit dull and stiff-feeling, which isn't helped by the game's dual-angle isometric view — I failed platforming sections over and over again simply because I couldn't get a handle on where my character was facing at a given moment, which became frustrating. The POV works way better while driving, which is why I basically stopped exiting my car.

The on-foot moments are a nice change of pace, at least for a while. Credit: Far Out Games / Konami

I'd also be remiss not to mention the well-realized 1950s aesthetic of the world, from the clothing, to the cars, to the score — I even found myself humming along to a few of the tunes while I wreaked havoc across town. I kind of got Destroy All Humans vibes from the game's world, but overall, I liked this better

A serious case of losing the plot

Deliver At All Costs' most notable weakness is its narrative. It's all over the place, filled with reckless genre hopping and jarring tone switches that left me feeling hollow at the end of it all. Starting as an amusing and lighthearted workplace comedy, the game quickly devolves into a disjointed tale of corporate conspiracy, to... well, I won't spoil it for you, but it goes completely off the rails.

The story's sharp turns create a huge problem for the actual gameplay, too. There are multiple instances within the narrative where the game's characters experience harmful consequences, including violence and, in some cases, even death. Now, on its face, that's not a problem, but in a game where you can comedically ragdoll a pedestrian with a truck, only for them to say "Ow!" and get up and go on with their day, those moments feel pretty dissonant. It's like if a Benny Hill Show sketch was sandwiched between scenes from Michael Clayton. It just doesn't work. Deliver At All Costs is at its best when it's embracing its own absurdity, and I think that Far Out Games made a mistake by not following that wacky spirit all the way through.

Nothing to see here! Everyone go about your day. Credit: Far Out Games / Konami

With Deliver At All Costs, Far Out Games has certainly shown that it has the technical prowess to make a game that's fun and unique. Hopefully, with their next at-bat, they can build on what they've learned in their debut and come up with a narrative, as well as supplementary content, to match their genuinely enjoyable gameplay.

Deliver At All Costs is available now on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Epic Games, and GOG.

Opens in a new window Credit: Konami 'Deliver At All Costs' $29.99
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Konami 'Deliver At All Costs' $29.99 at Playstation Store
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TL;DR: Unblock ePorner with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

More than a third of U.S. states have introduced restrictions for online adult content. After the introduction of these age verification laws, some porn sites blocked users from those locations. That means a lot of potential users are now seeking a workaround. Fortunately, you can still access all your favorite porn sites in just a few simple steps.

If you want to unblock porn sites like ePorner for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock ePorner for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process tricks porn sites into providing you with access even if there is a block in place over your network.

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4. Connect to ePorner from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most leading services do offer free trials or money-back guarantees.

By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like ePorner without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it means you can temporarily unblock porn sites like ePorner and then recover your investment.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like ePorner, for a number of reasons:

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Unblock ePorner for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to 2TB of secure, easy-to-use cloud storage with FileJump for just $69.97 (reg. $467) while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $69.97
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Looking to do some personal spring cleaning and get more organized? Start by tackling your digital clutter with FileJump’s 2TB lifetime cloud storage plan. For just $69.97 (reg. $467), you can back up your files, free up your devices, and ensure your important documents, photos, and videos are always accessible and secure.

FileJump is the ultimate "Goldilocks" of cloud storage, striking the perfect balance between affordability and premium features. Unlike other solutions that lock you into monthly subscriptions, FileJump’s lifetime plan offers peace of mind with a one-time payment. Plus, its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes organizing files user-friendly.

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TL;DR: Live stream Mexico vs. Dominican Republic in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off with Mexico vs. Dominican Republic. Mexico will be expected to progress into the knockout rounds and perhaps go all the way, but this opening game is not going to be easy. Mexico looked strong when beating Turkey in their last warm-up game, but they know they'll need to be at their best to secure three points here.

If you want to watch Mexico vs. Dominican Republic in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Mexico vs. Dominican Republic?

Mexico vs. Dominican Republic in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off at 10:15 p.m. ET on June 14. This fixture takes place at the SoFi Stadium.

How to watch Mexico vs. Dominican Republic for free

Mexico vs. Dominican Republic in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

These free live stream is not available in North or Central America, but fans in excluded territories can still watch this game for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Gold Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit YouTube

5. Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Mexico vs. Dominican Republic (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for YouTube?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on YouTube, 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 always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

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.

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

Aware.

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

ALERT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A chamber of a home.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 14, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SUITE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Ghastly.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 14, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ASHEN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To sit upon.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 14 Hurdle Word 4 answer

PERCH

Final Hurdle hint

A booth.

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

KIOSK

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

TL;DR: Live stream Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami in the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Club World Cup kicks off this weekend with a number of exciting fixtures, including Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami. We know that not everyone is convinced by this tournament, but the prospect of seeing games between teams that would never usually meet is something special. And Lionel Messi will be on display, so there's that as well.

If you want to watch Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami in the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami?

Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami in the 2025 Club World Cup kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on June 14. This fixture takes place at the Hard Rock Stadium.

How to watch Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami for free

Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami in the 2025 Club World Cup is available to live stream for free on DAZN.

These free live streams are available all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this popular streaming platform on your network, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free live streams of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by following these simple steps:

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4. Visit DAZN

5. Stream the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami in the 2025 Club World Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the Club World Cup before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for DAZN?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on DAZN, 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Al Ahly vs. Inter Miami in the 2025 Club World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Leinster vs. Bulls in the United Rugby Championship final for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The United Rugby Championship final is going to be massive. Leinster take on the Bulls in an epic showdown at Croke Park, with fans from all around the world clambering to secure a free live stream.

The good news for rugby fans is that it's possible to live stream the URC final without spending anything. If you want to watch Leinster vs. Bulls in the United Rugby Championship final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Leinster vs. Bulls?

Leinster vs. Bulls in the United Rugby Championship final starts at 5 p.m. BST on June 14. This fixture takes place at Croke Park.

How to watch Leinster vs. Bulls for free

Leinster vs. Bulls in the United Rugby Championship final is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can stream on TVNZ+ from any location.

Access free live streams of the United Rugby Championship final by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Leinster vs. Bulls for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming aren't free, but leading VPN providers do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By signing up for these deals, you'll be able access free live streams without actually spending anything. This is a temporary fix, but it gives you enough time to stream Leinster vs. Bulls (plus more United Rugby Championship fixtures) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to live stream the United Rugby Championship, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months of coverage for free — 61% off list price. This deal includes a year of unlimited data backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Leinster vs. Bulls for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Bath vs. Leicester in the Premiership Rugby final for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Premiership Rugby final promises to be a tense and really entertaining matchup between two talented sides. After a long season, Bath take on Leicester at Twickenham for the title. Bath had an 11-point advantage over Leicester Tigers at the end of the regular season, but that doesn't count for anything now.

If you're interested in watching Bath vs. Leicester in the Premiership Rugby final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bath vs. Leicester?

Bath vs. Leicester in the Premiership Rugby final starts at 3 p.m. BST on June 14. This fixture takes place at Twickenham Stadium.

How to watch Bath vs. Leicester for free

Bath vs. Leicester in the Premiership Rugby final is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform 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 bypass geo-restrictions to access ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the Premiership Rugby final by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream Bath vs. Leicester for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the Premiership Rugby final without actually spending anything. This is obviously a quick fix, but it gives you enough time to watch Bath vs. Leicester before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. This deal includes an extra three months of coverage, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

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This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Having a pet is great, particularly the furry kind. If you have a cat or a dog your life is likely all the richer and more fulfilling for having them. But there’s a downside to sharing you home with fur ball family members: Pet hair. On everything. All the time.

It’s in your car, on your clothes, on your sofa, and matted into the carpet. There’s probably even a circle of pet hair on your bed, a lasting reminder of their favourite sleeping spot right next to you. Cute but also, well, ewww.

Of course, you love them anyway, but that doesn’t mean you need to give up and accept a house full of pet hair. You have options, like buying a good handheld vacuum. The great thing is, you can find handheld vacs made specifically for sucking up pet hair. Here's some useful information and a round-up of the best available models.

Are handheld vacuums best for pet hair?

Traditional and robot vacuum cleaners are great, but let’s be honest, they don’t let you really get down into small corners or the small, dark crevices of your sofa. Handheld vacuums are ideal for pet hair because they’re generally small and lightweight, allowing you to walk around the house and attack any hair-strewn spots you find without having to drag a heavy vacuum behind you. A small handheld vacuum will get to work on your stairs, in your bedroom, or in your car.

Some pet vacuums are also modern and stylish, so you won’t mind leaving them out around your home and you can grab them whenever needed for a quick whizz around. This is especially true if you get a handheld vacuum with a docking station. Handheld vacuums are also quieter than traditional vacuums.

Best of all, most handheld vacuums are cordless and cost way less money than traditional cordless vacuums. This makes them even more convenient for your home and car. It also means you can use them on your clothes, too, because let’s be real: A handheld vacuum is way better at getting pet hair off your coat than a lint roller.

What vacuum features are good for pet hair?

If you’re shopping for a handheld vacuum that’s built to tackle pet hair, there are a few features you’ll want to consider:

Ergonomic design — You hold a handheld vacuum in your hands, which means you want to buy one that you can hold comfortably. Look for one that has an ergonomic handle so that you can hold and control it easily as you clean your home.

Weight — The whole point of a handheld vacuum is portability, so make sure it’s lightweight. Of course, everyone has a slightly different definition of “lightweight”, but in general, you want to make sure your arm doesn’t tire out faster than the battery.

Battery life — Most handheld vacuums are designed to be small, so they don’t hold a charge for long. Constant recharging can get frustrating quickly. Shop around for a vac with decent battery life. Some come with swappable batteries.

Suction power — It goes without saying, but a vacuum with weak suction is pretty useless, especially if you’re trying to clean up pet hair. So when you’re looking for a handheld vacuum, make sure you look for one with strong suction power.

Attachments — A good handheld vacuum will come with a variety of specialised tools to help you easily clean specific fabrics, crevices, or material types. Look for handheld vacs with motorised brushes, crevice tools, or pet hair brushes.

Storage — Some of the smaller handheld vacuums come with convenient charging docks for storing and charging n one place. Some docking stations have space to stash your attachments and accessories.

What is the best handheld vacuum for pet hair?

There are lots of vacuums on the market right now, so it can be tough to find “the one.” That’s why we’ve done the research for you and rounded up the best of the best. These handheld vacuums all suck, but in the best way possible.

These are the best handheld vacuum cleaners for pet hair in 2025.