IT General

Will Tesla's new, affordable electric vehicle be called Tesla Model Q? Don't hold your breath for the name, but a cheaper Tesla is, apparently, coming.

A Deutsche Bank report mentions the new model and claims the car will launch in the first half of 2025, with a starting price under $30,000.

SEE ALSO: Tesla app for Apple Watch hands-on: Friggin' finally!

According to GlobalChinaEV, Travis Axelrod (Teslaa's Head of Investor Relations) talked about the vehicle with Deutsche Bank. The report claims that the car – codenamed "Redwood" – will be 15 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter than Tesla's Model 3, and that it will cost Tesla about half as much to manufacture.

The report also mentions two battery configurations for the car (53kWh and 75kWh), as well as single- and dual-motor variants.

Take these details with a grain of salt. The Wall Street Journal's Becky Peterson claims she saw a copy of the Deutsche Bank report. She does confirm that Axelrod discussed the new Tesla with Deutsche Bank (Model Q seems to be Deutsche Bank's name for the car, not Tesla's). She also claims that the new car will be built on Tesla's existing production lines, and that it will cost less than $30,000 with subsidies (meaning that the actual starting price would be $37,499).

Tweet may have been deleted

But Peterson says that the report does not contain any details about the car's size, cost, or that it will built on Redwood, which is Tesla's internal code name for a mass market vehicle built on a new platform which was paused by Musk earlier in 2024.

When laid out like this, the report doesn't really bring much new to the table, given that Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently said a cheaper Tesla is coming in the first half of 2025, without revealing any additional details. Musk also specifically said that a non-Robotaxi Tesla car that costs $25,000 will not happen.

Where does all this leave us? Well, mostly where we were before. Despite Musk's own AI Grok already claiming that Tesla has "announced the upcoming launch of the Model Q," nothing new has been officially announced. Yes, a more affordable Tesla seems to be coming next year, but it's unclear whether it'll be an entirely new model or just a cheaper Model 3.

SAVE OVER $170: As of Dec. 10, the 512GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ tablet is on sale for $945 at Amazon. This is 16% off its list price of $1,119.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S10+ Plus $945.00 at Amazon
$1,119.99 Save $174.99 Get Deal

Amazon has plenty of deals still available after the Cyber Monday shopping event, including on some newer pieces of tech from this year. For a limited time, you can still save on this year's Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ tablet, if you're still looking to pick up some tech ahead of the holidays as a gift or for yourself.

The 512GB model of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ tablet is currently down to $945, 16% off its list price of $1,119.99. This is also its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, making it a great time to scoop it up if you've had your eye on it for some time. And if you've had it in mind as a gift for the holidays, Amazon also has a note above the 'Add to Cart' button saying it'll arrive 13 days before Christmas, so there's no need to worry about delays.

SEE ALSO: Act fast: Save $130 on the 11-inch Apple iPad Air (M2) with Best Buy's Deal of the Day

Boasting a large 12.4-inch screen and a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor, this tablet is a powerful piece of tech. We've also ranked it as the best option for AI in our roundup of the best tablets in 2024, noting "It's not a cheap option but it has plenty of power, which comes courtesy of its MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ CPU. This will give you plenty of oomph for creative tasks and gaming, with superb graphics and incredibly quick performance overall."

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so act fast to pick up the 512GB model of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ tablet for $945 at Amazon.

If you're curious to see more deals at Amazon leftover from Cyber Monday, it's worth having a look at our list of Amazon's Cyber Monday deals. A few deals are still live after the sale event, so you can see if any options you liked are still available at their discounted price.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for December 10 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 10 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A paved outdoor area.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

PATIO.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 10 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Formally recognize someone

• Green: Airplane trip from start to finish

• Blue: Looking for something without seeing it

• Purple: Misspelled countries

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Give a Title To

• Green: Parts of a Flight

• Blue: Feel Around (For)

• Purple: Countries Minus First Letter

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #548 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Give a Title To: CALL, DUB, LABEL, NAME

• Parts of a Flight: CRUISE, TAKEOFF, TAXI, TOUCHDOWN

• Feel Around (For): FISH, FUMBLE, ROOT, RUMMAGE

• Countries Minus First Letter: INLAND, OLIVIA, RAN, WANDA

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 10

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

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

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

SAVE $130: As of Dec. 10, Best Buy's Deal of the Day is offering a 128GB 11-inch Apple iPad Air (M2) for $469, $130 off its original price of $599.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air (M2) $469.00 at Best Buy
$599.00 Save $130.00 Get Deal

If you're in the shopping spirit ahead of the holidays, whether to get something for someone in your life or to pick up a little treat for yourself, there are still quite a few deals available after Cyber Monday. Best Buy's Deal of the Day currently has a great offer on an Apple iPad Air that you definitely don't want to miss.

On Dec. 10, you can score an 11-inch iPad Air (M2) for $469. This is $130 off its original price of $599, and according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, even marks its lowest price yet in comparison to Amazon. Even lower than Cyber Monday, which is a steal.

SEE ALSO: I love finding gaming laptop deals, and $300 off the HP Omen is one of the best

We think very highly of this iPad as well, ranking it as the best option for most people in our roundup of the best iPads of 2024. Our review also said that the "M2 chip brings sweet energy efficiency and a performance uptick." It's a worthy investment for those looking for an iPad upgrade.

If you want to scoop it up at this price, you'll want to act fast to grab this 11-inch iPad Air (M2) for $469 before the deal disappears.

Hoping to find even more Apple deals right now? Thankfully, a few are still on sale after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Have a look through our roundup of Apple Cyber Monday deals to see if any that caught your eye during the sale events are still live at their discounted price.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, December 10, 2024:

Across"The ___," "Seinfeld" episode in which Kramer gets everyone tickets for "Pagliacci"

• The answer is Opera.

The fourth of Santa's eight reindeer (plus Rudolph!)

• The answer is Vixen.

Live and breathe

• The answer is Exist.

Baptisms and the like

• The answer is Rites

Cantankerous

• The answer is Testy.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 9 DownObvious for all to see

• The answer is Overt.

Impish creature of folklore

• The answer is Pixie.

Airplane rows with extra legroom

• The answer is Exits.

Press the power button on a Nintendo Switch for about 15 seconds to do this

• The answer is Reset.

Anxious about what's ahead

• The answer is Antsy.

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 $300: As of Dec. 10, HP Omen Transcend 14 gaming laptop is on sale for $1,299.99 at Best Buy. That’s $300 off its regular $1,599.99 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Omen Transcend 14 $1,299.99 at Best Buy
$1,599.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

Gamers and creators, this one’s for you. The HP Omen Transcend 14 gaming laptop is now available for $1,299.99 at Best Buy, a $300 discount from its usual $1,599.99 price. With cutting-edge hardware, a sleek design, and a vibrant OLED display, this laptop is built to handle everything from competitive gaming to content creation.

What sets this laptop apart is its stunning 14-inch OLED display. Featuring a 2.8K resolution (2880 x 1800) and a 120Hz refresh rate, it brings vivid colors, deep blacks, and buttery-smooth visuals to life. Certified by VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black, it ensures exceptional color accuracy and contrast, making it ideal for gamers and video editors alike. Its micro-edge design maximizes the screen-to-body ratio for an immersive viewing experience.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sora first look: YouTuber Marques Brownlee breaks down the problems with the AI video model

At the heart of the Omen Transcend 14 is Intel’s new Core Ultra 7 processor, designed to deliver high performance in demanding scenarios. Paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, this laptop can easily handle the latest AAA games, 3D rendering, and video editing. The 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD ensure quick load times, efficient multitasking, and ample storage for your projects and games.

One of the highlights of this machine is its portability. Housed in a lightweight, all-metal chassis, it’s easy to take on the go without sacrificing power. The 71 Wh battery supports USB-C fast charging, giving you a 50% charge in just 30 minutes, perfect for those who need quick power-ups between classes or meetings.

Gamers will love the HP Omen Tempest Cooling Technology, which ensures stable performance during intense gaming sessions. The four-zone RGB keyboard lets you customize your setup, while WASD keys are highlighted for optimal gameplay control. Add to that the IMAX Enhanced certification and HyperX Audio, and you have a device that offers visual and auditory immersion.

Connectivity is top-notch with Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. The laptop also includes thoughtful extras like an HP True Vision FHD IR camera for secure logins and an Eyesafe Certified display to reduce eye strain during long hours of work or play.

This deal also includes three free months of PC Game Pass, which gives you access to hundreds of high-quality games. If you’ve been looking for a versatile gaming laptop that balances portability, power, and a stunning display, the HP Omen Transcend 14 is a fantastic pick. Grab it for $1,299.99 at Best Buy before the price goes back up.

SAVE 70: As of Dec. 10, the Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker is available for $49 at Walmart. That’s a $70 discount off its original $119 price, making it a steal for audiophiles on the go.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose SoundLink Micro $49.00 at Walmart
$119.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal

Portable speakers are a must-have for music lovers, and the Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker is a standout option. Now available for just $49 at Walmart, this compact yet powerful device offers premium sound at an unbeatable price. With a $70 discount off its usual $119, this is the lowest price we’ve seen, making it the perfect opportunity to snag one for yourself or as a thoughtful holiday gift.

Despite its tiny size, the Bose SoundLink Micro packs a big punch. Thanks to Bose’s audio engineering, this speaker delivers crisp sound with deep, impactful bass that can fill a room or your favorite outdoor spot. It’s perfect for backyard hangouts, road trips, and poolside parties. The rubberized silicone exterior is designed to absorb drops and resist scratches, so it can handle life’s adventures without missing a beat.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sora first look: YouTuber Marques Brownlee breaks down the problems with the AI video model

The SoundLink Micro doesn’t just survive the elements; it thrives in them. It’s fully waterproof and dustproof, so this speaker is ready to go from braving a rainstorm to hitting the beach. Plus, it features a tear-resistant strap that easily attaches to bikes, backpacks, or coolers, making it one of the most travel-friendly options in its class.

Battery life is another highlight of the SoundLink Micro. With up to six hours of playback per charge, it’s got enough juice to power through your daily adventures. You can double the sound when paired with another Bose speaker for a truly immersive experience. It even connects seamlessly to select Bose soundbars, letting you expand your audio setup at home.

But the perks don’t stop there. The SoundLink Micro is a smart assistant that allows you to take calls or control Siri or Google Assistant with a button. It also syncs with the Bose Connect app, making it easy to manage Bluetooth connections, access updates, and unlock new features.

Available in black, stone blue, and white smoke, this speaker is as stylish as it is functional. At just $49, the Bose SoundLink Micro is a fantastic deal for anyone. Whether buying for themselves or gifting it to someone else, don’t wait too long — at this price, it’s bound to sell out fast.

SAVE OVER $400: As of Dec. 10, LG 55-inch OLED B3 Smart 4K TV is on sale for $798 at Walmart. That’s over $400 off its usual $1,199 price, making it a great deal for movie buffs and gamers alike.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 55-inch OLED B3 Smart 4K TV $798.00 at Walmart
$1,199.99 Save $401.99 Get Deal

If you've been waiting for a stunning OLED TV that balances premium features with an approachable price, your wait is over. The LG 55-inch OLED B3 Smart 4K TV is now available for $798 at Walmart, a $401 discount from its original $1,199 price.

OLED TVs are a game-changer in home entertainment, and the B3 model proves why. Its self-lit pixels provide unmatched contrast with perfect black levels and vivid colors. The visuals are breathtaking from watching a dimly lit drama or a vibrant animated movie. The α7 AI Processor Gen6 optimizes picture and sound automatically, ensuring everything you watch looks its best.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sora first look: YouTuber Marques Brownlee breaks down the problems with the AI video model

But this TV isn't just for movie nights. Gamers will appreciate features like the native 120Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and VRR (variable refresh rate), which make fast-paced gaming sessions incredibly smooth. The 0.1ms response time adds an extra edge, while four HDMI 2.1 ports let you connect all your devices without hassle.

Powered by WebOS23, the B3 has LG Channels for free access to over 300 live streaming options and an intuitive Magic Remote. With Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos onboard, you're also treated to immersive visuals and sound that rival the theater experience.

At $798, this LG OLED TV is a rare deal that combines cutting-edge tech with a significant discount. This is the perfect time to upgrade your movie nights, level up your gaming setup, or both. Don't let this deal slip away!

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 10 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Terms Serena Williams would know

• Green: Throws a baseball

• Blue: Soccer greats

• Purple: Award-winning football players

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Tennis terms

• Green: Baseball pitching roles

• Blue: French soccer greats

• Purple: Heisman-winning RBs

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #78 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Tennis terms - FAULT, LET, RALLY, VOLLEY

• Baseball pitching roles - ACE, CLOSER, OPENER, SETUP

• French soccer greats - GIROUD, GRIEZMANN, HENRY, MBAPPE

• Heisman-winning RBs - BUSH, GEORGE, INGRAM, SANDERS

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

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

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

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

You'll never look at the Teletubbies the same way after watching the stunning, harrowing, blood-spattered trailer for 28 Years Later — one of the biggest movies coming in 2025.

Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland reunite to instil their signature brand of existential, survivalist dread, one we've feasted on since 2002's Cillian Murphy-led 28 Days Later, one of the best British horror movies of all time.

Set (of course), 28 years after the events of the first two films (following 2007's 28 Weeks Later), the decimation of society after a contagious virus has not ebbed. This time, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes fend off zombies all while we get glimpses of the horrifying state of the world. Bone columns and skull pyramids? Churches filled with ravenous creatures?

Folks, this is how you make a damn trailer. And the film was reportedly mostly shot on an iPhone 15 Pro Max?

How to watch: 28 Years Later opens June 20.

SAVE OVER $800: As of Dec. 10, TCL 55-inch Class QLED 4K Smart NXTFRAME TV is available for $697.99 at Amazon. That’s a massive $802 off its $1,499.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 55-inch Class QLED 4K Smart NXTFRAME TV $697.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $802.00 Get Deal

This is your sign if you've been waiting for a TV upgrade that feels more like a splurge than a necessity. The TCL 55-inch QLED 4K Smart NXTFRAME TV (2024 model) is currently down to $697.99 at Amazon. With an impressive $802 discount, it's one of the best deals you'll find this season for a high-end TV packed with premium features.

This ultra-slim TV is designed to blend seamlessly into any living space. It boasts a stunning anti-glare QLED screen with 4K Ultra HD resolution, making every scene pop with vivid color and detail. TCL's AIPQ Pro Processor enhances the picture quality, delivering optimized brightness, contrast, and clarity.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sora first look: YouTuber Marques Brownlee breaks down the problems with the AI video model

The TV includes a 120Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync for gamers, ensuring buttery-smooth visuals during fast-paced action sequences. Built-in Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos support elevate your viewing experience with vibrant visuals and immersive sound. Plus, the TV is equipped with Google Assistant and Alexa compatibility, making it a breeze to control smart home devices or search for your next Netflix binge.

TCL has considered everything with this model, including its thinnest world's-thinnest design at just 1.1 inches deep. It comes with a flush wall mount for an elegant look. Still, additional stands and floor mounts are also available for more versatility. If you've ever wanted a TV that doubles as a statement piece, this is it.

Deals like this don't last long — especially during the holiday shopping season. At $697.99, you're snagging an $802 discount and a lot of style. Don't miss out!

Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn't—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they're usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we've got you covered.

A pivotal history of Earth lies submerged beneath the Bering Sea.

Today this frigid strait separates North America and Asia, but geologists suspect when the oceans were dramatically lower a land bridge tied the two continents together — allowing humans and other species to cross into the Americas. Scientists thought the Bering Land Bridge mirrored the dry grassy plains found in the nearby Siberian steppe ecosystem. But new research, employing a vessel's sonar and coring technology, shows the environment was likely dominated by bogs, floodplains, and snaking streams.

The soggy bridge might have allowed some to pass, but not others.

"The watery, wet landscape could have been a barrier for some species, or a pathway for species that actually travel by water," Jenna Hill, a U.S. Geological Survey geologist who coauthored the research, said in a statement. "That’s how this fits into the bigger picture."

SEE ALSO: NASA ventured into the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, a forbidding land

The research, entitled "The Bering Land Bridge During the Last Glacial Stage: Great Grazing or Buggy Bogs?" will be presented at the American Geophysical Union's 2024 meeting.

Before Earth's glaciers dramatically receded and filled the oceans at the end of the last ice age some 11,000 years ago, the bridge was an expansive migration corridor, spreading 1,000 miles from north to south. Humans began crossing over by around 16,500 years ago, which many scientists argue was the earliest (but not the only) migration to the Americas.

Agile, though at times drenched, humans could have skirted ponds and bogs as they slogged westward towards modern-day Alaska. But some larger ice mammals — who never made it across — might have been deterred by the wet region. For example, woolly rhinos never made it to North America, while American camels (who went extinct some 12,000 years ago) and short-faced bears (who inhabited great swathes of North America including Alaska and the Yukon) never made it to Asia.

Even though the bridge was open for business, conditions there may have thwarted much movement. Pleistocene bison made two big migrations into North America. "But DNA analysis shows a fair amount of genetic separation of Pleistocene bison from east and west Beringia suggesting there was only limited movement of bison back west over the land bridge," Pamela Groves, a research scientist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, previously wrote.

Yet some iconic ice age herbivores still found ways to cross.

"It may have been marshy, but we are still seeing evidence of mammoths," Sarah Fowell, a paleogeologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said in a statement. "Even if it was mostly floodplains and ponds, the grazers were around, just uphill following higher, drier areas."

A map of Beringia, a vast area periodically exposed during Earth's glaciations. Lighter browns depict once exposed land areas. Credit: NPS An artist's depiction of a woolly rhino during the last ice age. Credit: aleks1949 / Getty Images

The Bering Land Bridge's boggy environs were revealed by a research cruise aboard the R/V Sikuliaq, an over 260-foot oceanographic vessel operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The researchers used sonar (which bounces signals off the seafloor) to identify low-lying regions of the former land bridge, and then captured sediment cores from 36 different submerged sites, hundreds of feet underwater.

They found sediments from freshwater lakes, abundant egg cases from freshwater fleas, moss leaves, and beyond. The evidence clearly showed a swampy world.

"We were looking for several large lakes," explained Fowell. "What we actually found was evidence of lots of small lakes and river channels."

The new, hard-earned findings will almost certainly stoke more scientific study and debate about this influential Arctic region, and how it helped mold the diverse world we see today.

TL;DR: Learning fits any schedule with a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium, only $59.99 (reg. $299). 

Sometimes, you can sit down with a book everyone else liked and still get absolutely nothing out of it. It doesn't matter if you're a speed reader, that's still a lot of lost time, and life gets busy. 

If you want a faster way of getting to the meat of a good book, check out Headway. Headway is a mobile app that summarizes a ton of nonfiction bestsellers into quick, actionable insights. You can use these either as a lesson in their own regard or as a way to see which books are actually worth reading in full, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for $59.99 (reg. $299). 

There's finally time to learn

Headway gives you access to a huge collection of titles, and it's growing all the time. There are already over 1,500 with 30-50 added every month. Headway even gives you an incentive to keep learning and growing by gamifying the whole process. See how many days you can keep your streak going. There are even achievements for the completionists. 

The insights you get from Headway summaries are a quick way to learn the key lessons from a book. It's not quite the same experience as reading the full text, but nothing's stopping you from going back and diving in once you know a book is worth the time. 

Headway tailors recommendations to your unique interests, so every summary aligns with your aspirations. Whether you prefer reading or listening, professionally narrated audio versions let you learn on the go. 

Join over 15 million other users and find time to learn. 

Get a Headway Premium Lifetime Subscription for $59.99. 

Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription - $59.99

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: GTHW App Limited Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription $59.99
$299.95 Save $239.96 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to FastestVPN for just $24.97 (reg. $360) and protect up to ten devices with military-grade encryption, malware protection, and more.

Online security isn’t optional anymore; it's just part of being online. With FastestVPN, you can protect your personal data, unblock geo-restricted content, and browse the web with peace of mind. For just $24.97 (reg. $360), this lifetime subscription covers up to ten devices, making it a cost-effective solution for individuals, families, or even small businesses.

Want to stream your favorite shows on Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu? Or bypass geo-restrictions to access BBC iPlayer or Hotstar? FastestVPN makes it easy, delivering smooth, buffer-free streaming. Gamers and torrent users will also love its P2P-optimized servers for fast, anonymous downloads and lag-free gaming sessions.

FastestVPN stands out for its military-grade encryption, anti-malware features, and ad blocker. With over 600 servers worldwide, you can stream, torrent, and browse without limits — while staying completely anonymous. Its 10Gbps+ servers allow for blazing-fast speeds, and the Double VPN feature provides an extra layer of encryption for those who want maximum security.

Worried about possible speed reductions? While advanced features like Double VPN can slow things down, FastestVPN’s optimized servers and protocols let you balance security and speed effortlessly. Plus, the Smart Connect feature automatically finds the fastest server for you.

For just $24.97, you’re saving a lot of money and investing in lifetime protection for all your devices. This one-time purchase gives you unlimited access to FastestVPN’s cutting-edge features without any continuous fees, including ad-blocking and malware protection, global server access for unrestricted browsing, and simultaneous use on ten devices.

Take advantage of this holiday pricing and order your protection today.

Get lifetime access to FastestVPN for just $24.97 (reg. $360) for a limited time.

FastestVPN: Lifetime Subscription (10 Devices) - $24.97

Get It Here

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: FastestVPN FastestVPN: Lifetime Subscription $24.97
$360.00 Save $335.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get the 12-in-1 USB-C Hub and Laptop Stand for just $56.97 (reg. $99.99) — 12 ports, ergonomic design, and holiday delivery guaranteed when ordered through December 15.

Streamline your tech setup with this 12-in-1 USB-C Hub Multi-Port Adapter and Laptop Stand, currently just $56.97 (reg. $99.99). Designed for professionals, students, and gamers alike, this versatile device combines robust connectivity with ergonomic design. With on-time delivery guaranteed when you order through December 15, it’s an ideal gift (or treat for yourself) this holiday season.

You can forget about a cluttered workstation and hello to easier multitasking. This 12-in-1 hub offers triple monitor support, 87W fast charging, super-speed USB 3.0 ports, and dual card readers — all in a sleek aluminum design that doubles as a laptop stand. It’s compact, portable, and built to handle all your connectivity needs, from transferring files to hosting video calls.

The integrated laptop stand offers an elevated experience and can help improve your posture, enhance airflow to prevent overheating, and boost overall comfort during long hours of work or streaming. Plus, with 4K support and fast Ethernet, your productivity could amp up.

Tech-savvy loved ones will appreciate this multitasking powerhouse. Whether they’re working remotely, gaming with friends, or juggling creative projects, this hub helps ensure their laptop is always powered, connected, and cool.

At this limited-time low price, you’re scoring a thoughtful, practical gift that doesn’t break the bank.

Get your 12-in-1 USB-C Hub for $56.97 (reg. $99.99) and in time for Christmas when you order through December 15.

12-in-1 USB-C Hub and Laptop Stand - $56.97

Get It Here

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart 12-in-1 USB-C Hub and Laptop Stand $56.97
$99.99 Save $43.02 Get Deal

TL;DR: Grab this wireless Apple Watch keychain charger for just $19.99 — a great gift or stocking stuffer idea.

• Wireless Apple Watch charger built into a compact keychain design for ultimate portability

• Compatible with all Apple Watch models, making it a versatile gift for any Apple fan

• Equipped with a USB connector for quick recharging without extra cables or adapters

• Magnetic charging surface securely holds the watch in place during charging

• Built-in indicator light shows charging status for added convenience

• Sleek, lightweight design makes it an ideal stocking stuffer or small gift

• Perfect for commutes, vacations, or keeping as a handy backup

Make holiday gifting easy with this practical and stylish Apple Watch wireless keychain charger, available for 59% off at only $19.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: VistaShops Apple Watch Wireless Charger Keychain $19.99
$49.95 Save $29.96 Get Deal

Social media platforms have historically run their content moderation much like a parent running a house full of teenagers: If you live under my roof, you follow my rules. But as social media has become increasingly ubiquitous in our offline life — and more inherently political — the questions have become: Who really owns the roof, who makes those rules, and are our civil liberties at stake?

Under President-elect Donald Trump's administration, this debate will likely intensify until the politicization of content moderation reaches a fever pitch.

How did we get here?

The evolution of content moderation began slowly, gaining speed as social media’s influence grew. It became increasingly clear that something had to be done when Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube played key roles in the Arab Spring, a series of protests in the Arab world in response to government corruption, in the 2010s. Facebook was used as a tool for activists to organize, but it quickly became controversial. YouTube grappled with whether to allow violent videos that served educational or documentary purposes in response to activists in Egypt and Libya exposing police torture. Around the same time, Twitter rolled out its "country withheld tweet" policy. 

In 2013, leaked documents from Facebook’s moderation offices showed what content, exactly, Facebook was moderating. The following year, the issue of online radicalization emerged across social media platforms. YouTube reversed its policy on allowing certain violent videos after one showing journalist James Foley’s beheading went viral. Twitter faced backlash over unchecked harassment over the release of the women-led Ghostbusters film, which led to a content moderation change. 

Behind the scenes, the people who moderated the content reported horrible working conditions. And then came 2016.

Misinformation and disinformation plagued the U.S. presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Trump. Despite Facebook launching a fact-checking program, platforms struggled to stop the spread of misinformation and election interference. In Myanmar, the Rohingya people faced huge acts of ethnic violence fueled by Facebook content. Meanwhile, Facebook Live became a place to broadcast suicides and shootings, including the murder of Philando Castile. In 2018, TikTok launched in China, and in the same year, Twitter removed 70 million bots to curb the influence of political misinformation. Later that year, YouTube released its first transparency report, and Facebook formed its Oversight Board, allowing users to appeal its decisions. In 2019, the Chirstchurch terrorist attack, which was broadcast on Facebook Live, led to the Christchurch Call to Action to Eliminate Terrorist and Violent Extremist Content Online, a group of nations "working together under the rubric of the Call to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting the Internet." Twitter allowed its users to appeal content removal later that year, and eventually, TikTok launched internationally. 

All the while, Trump was president. He signed an executive order on Preventing Online Censorship, which targeted Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and aimed to curb what he saw as biases against himself and other conservatives in how platforms moderate content. This came after many of Trump's tweets were flagged by Twitter for misleading information. He and others in his party accused platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Google of anti-conservative bias, which led to Congressional hearings and investigations into moderated content — a kind of impact that Katie Harbath, founder and CEO of tech policy firm Anchor Change and a former Facebook executive, calls "reputational."

The pandemic, January 6, and the peak of politicization

Then, COVID-19 hit. Misinformation about the global epidemic ran rampant, and more people died as a result. The rules to moderate content online expanded internationally to counter the ever-growing phenomena of hate speech, election misinformation, and health misinformation. Facebook introduced policies targeting Holocaust denial content, hate groups, organized militia groups, and conspiracy theories, while Twitter launched its transparency center. 

But January 6, 2021, marked a turning point. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube banned or locked then-President Trump’s accounts for inciting violence during the Capitol attack. 

"I would say Trump de-platforming was a peak swing of the pendulum," Katie Harbath, founder and CEO of tech policy firm Anchor Change and a former Facebook exec, told Mashable. "Since then, over the next four years, [platforms have] been coming back a little bit more to center in terms of how much content they are willing to take down. [And] they're being a lot more quiet about it. They're not being as transparent about it because they don't want the political target on their back around that."

Where are we now?

Since then, Trump has been reinstated on all social media platforms. But the focus has remained: Republicans claim that content moderation silences conservative voices. As Berin Szóka, President of TechFreedom, told Mashable: "Censorship is just content moderation that someone doesn't like."

Elon Musk, a self-identified "free-speech absolutist," acquired Twitter in late 2022 and fueled this rhetoric. In January 2023, House Republicans established a subcommittee on the “Weaponization of the Federal Government," targeting alleged censorship of conservative views. In one of their first official acts, they sent letters to research groups demanding any documentation of correspondence between those groups and the federal government or social media companies about content moderation. Meanwhile, a lawsuit alleged that President Joe Biden's administration pressured platforms to suppress COVID-19 misinformation, which attorney generals argued was a form of suppression of speech. 

Meta, in a notable shift, has reduced its focus on political content, particularly on its Twitter competitor Threads, which Harbath says is "not necessarily content moderation, but it's a decision about what types of content they're presenting to people or not."

What will we see in the future of content moderation?

President-elect Trump has made content moderation a campaign issue. Brendan Carr, his pick to lead the FCC, has already echoed this agenda, calling for the dismantling of what he dubs the "censorship cartel" and an attempt to "restore free speech rights for everyday Americans."

"To do that, they have to either bully or require tech companies to carry speech that they don't want to carry," Szóka said. "Republicans are at war on content moderation."

This "war" will likely play out on a few different fronts: legislative and reputational, as Harbath says. Reputationally, we'll see more congressional hearings with tech execs, more posts on X from Trump, and more dubious energy concerning content moderation in general. Legislatively, we have an interesting road ahead. 

As Szóka says, Carr will likely do Trump's bidding with regard to criteria for eligibility for Section 230 immunity, which "grants complete immunity for publisher or speaker activities regardless of whether the challenged speech is unlawful." This means that Facebook is not liable for misinformation, hate speech, or anything else that goes down on the platform that it owns and runs with its money.

"[Republicans will] use Section 230 because by doing that, they can say, 'We're not requiring anything,’" Szóka said. "You're free, as a private company, to do what you want. But if you want Section 230 immunity, you have to be neutral, and we decide what's neutral."

Harbath sees chaos ahead but questions whether Section 230 will actually change: “There'll probably be a debate and a discussion around it, but whether or not 230 actually changes, I'm skeptical."

At the same time, the rise of AI is reshaping the future of content moderation. "The next four years, how people are consuming information, what we're talking about today is gonna be completely irrelevant and look completely different," Harbath said. "AI is just gonna change how we think about our news feeds, the incentives for people, what they're posting, what that looks like, and it's gonna open up new challenges for the tech companies in terms of how it’s politicized."

Should we freak out? Probably not. According to Harbath, it’s still too early to predict what content moderation under a second Trump term will look like. But we should keep our eyes open. The rules of content moderation — and who gets to write them — are increasingly shaped by political power, public perception, and technological evolution, setting the stage for battles over free speech, corporate responsibility, and the role of government in regulating online spaces.

"Overall, it's way too early to really know exactly what this is gonna look like," Harbath said.

Is there anything more romantic than cuddling on the couch?! Of course not. There’s a reason modern dating can be summarized with the phrase "Netflix and chill." Netflix is for lovers! 

With a deep catalog and a seemingly endless supply of rom-coms, the streaming giant has a lock on the love department. Whether you're looking for something to make you cry, make you sigh, or put you in the mood, Netflix has a movie for you.

Here are the best romantic movies on Netflix (in no particular order).

1. Hit Man Credit: Brian Roedel / Netflix

Glen Powell is Gary Johnson, a New Orleans psychology professor who finds himself posing as a hitman to help the local police catch people setting up murder-for-hire schemes. And even though he’s shy and awkward in his regular life, it turns out, he’s pretty great at pretending to be an assassin! Until he meets Madison (Adria Arjona), a desperate woman looking for an escape from her marriage. The attraction is undeniable and they quickly start hooking up. So what if she thinks he’s a killer? Nothing could go wrong here, right? 

Richard Linklater’s 2023 Hit Man is a sexy, silly, fast-paced adventure made all the more exciting by the fact that it’s inspired by the true story of a very real, 1980s-1990s professor in Houston! — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Carol

Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel The Price of Salt (republished as Carol in 1990), Todd Haynes' Carol stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara as two forbidden lovers in 1950s New York. Therese (Mara) is an aspiring photographer working at a department store one Christmas when she meets Carol (Blanchett), who is shopping for a present for her daughter. The sparks fly immediately, but their blossoming love has a few roadblocks, such as Carol's impending divorce from her crappy husband Harge (Kyle Chandler, no!), not to mention that era's attitude toward homosexuality.

If you're in the mood for queer yearning, a tense slow-burn, and one of the best sapphic love stories ever, Carol is the perfect watch. You will feel all the feelings. — Yasmeen Hamadeh, Freelance Contributor  

How to watch: Carol is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Lady Chatterley's Lover Credit: Netflix

This modern adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's scandalous 1928 novel will leave you absolutely swooning. Emma Corrin (The Crown) is spectacular as Connie Reid, the titular Lady Chatterley. Her marriage to Clifford Chatterley seemed like the perfect match before the war, but when he returns paralyzed, withdrawn, and uninterested in her happiness, Connie feels utterly alone and isolated in their empty countryside manor. She finds a refuge for her oppressive loneliness in the estate's gamekeeper, Oliver Mellors (Jack O'Connell). Very quickly the two begin a torrid affair that is both passionate and tender, exuberant and profound — and a threat to both of their lifestyles. 

Much like the source material, Lady Chatterley's Lover puts sex on full display. Their trysts are steamy and explicit, but thanks to the incredible vulnerability of Corrin and O'Connell, and the steady hand of director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, they never feel pornographic. The lovers' stolen moments are deeply intimate and personal. Together, in the sumptuous woods of the Chatterley estate, they explore each other's bodies and souls with unbridled joy. It's an elegant and sensual adaptation that makes an age-old story feel like a breath of fresh air. — K.G.

How to watch: Lady Chatterley's Lover is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' review: A steamy affair that makes room to examine class 4. Entergalactic

When street artist Jabari (Kid Cudi) moves into his new Manhattan apartment for a major job opportunity, he knows his life is about to change. But what he doesn’t anticipate is how mesmerized he will be by his charming photographer neighbor, Meadow (Jessica Williams). 

With a breathtaking animation style reminiscent of Into the Spiderverse and Arcane, Entergalactic is a fresh, captivating love story. Accompanied by the music of Kid Cudi’s 2022 album of the same name, the couple falls head over heels in a breathless, unbelievably lovely sequence — it’s hard not to fall with them. With epically imaginative visuals and a star-studded supporting voice cast featuring Ty Dolla Sign, Timothée Chalamet, and Vanessa Hudgens, Entergalactic is a one-of-a-kind romance for the modern audience. — K.G.

How to watch: Entergalactic is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Love at First Sight Credit: Netflix

Based on a hit novel by Jennifer E. Smith, Love at First Sight is a delightful romance with an airport at the center of its meet-cute. Haley Lu Richardson is a perpetually late, underprepared American student heading to London for her dad’s wedding, and Ben Hardy is a charismatic Brit who offers to lend her his phone charger at a crucial moment. They fall in love during the flight, but a mix-up at baggage claim prevents the star-crossed pair from sharing their contact information. Will they ever see each other again? Love at First Sight is a champion charmer, but it also packs a more weighty emotional punch than your standard rom-com. Gut-wrenching moments from a particularly unique costume party will stay with you for days.* — K.G.

How to watch: Love at First Sight is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: 12 of the best movies by Black creators to watch on Netflix now 6. When We First Met Credit: Jami Saunders

Groundhog Day meets Some Kind of Wonderful in this delightful romantic comedy from director Ari Sandel. Adam Devine and Alexandra Daddario star as Noah and Avery, friends who could've worked as a couple but didn't get the timing right. So when the pining Noah discovers a magical photo booth that will transport him back to the night he and Avery first met, he's willing to do anything to get it right this time(s). Funny and surprisingly sweet, When We First Met is a hidden gem time-travel romp with spectacular supporting performances and a predictable ending you'll like all the same. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: When We First Met is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

Karan Johar's directorial debut became an instant Bollywood classic when it hit theaters in 1998. Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) and Anjali (Kajol) are college besties until Rahul falls in love with Tina (Rani Mukerji) and Anjali realizes her true feelings for him. The friends become estranged before Tina dies, leaving behind a daughter, also named Anjali in honor of their old friend. Little Anjali grows up reading letters from her late mother, and she learns about her father's old friend — his first love. Tina tasks her daughter with tracking down Anjali and reuniting the friends as lovers, once and for all.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai remains Johar's best work to date, a film that made his name synonymous with pure power in the Hindi film industry. Khan and Kajol's chemistry captivates throughout, from their Gap-clad days of college teasing to the unfathomable sexual tension of the gazebo scene. Despite being famous for its love triangle, the movie never pits Anjali and Tina against each other, instead depicting a beautiful friendship between the two women as well as their respective relationships to Rahul. "Pyar dosti hai," Rahul declares early on: Love is friendship. And Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is nothing if not a timeless story about friends. — Proma Khosla, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is now streaming on Netflix.

8. Set It Up Credit: Netflix

Rom-coms are back, baby — and Set It Up, written by Katie Silberman (who also penned Booksmart) and directed by Claire Scanlon (The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), is one of the best entries of this new golden age! Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell are young assistants who hatch a plan to set up their high-strung, demanding bosses (Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs) so they can finally get a weekend off. What these two schemers never anticipated, of course, was that they might find themselves in their own romance in the process. Whoops!

Set It Up is a fun, hilarious romp that feels exponentially more real than your standard, candy-coated romantic comedy. The characters are charming because they're flawed, and they talk like people you know (Zoey uses insider nicknames like "Golf Guy" when chatting with her friends about her dating life). If you're looking for a romantic comedy that leaves you feeling like you just had the night out with your crew, this is the movie for you.* — K.G.

How to watch: Set It Up is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Why everyone you know is falling hard for 'Set It Up' 9. Before Sunset 

1995’s dreamy one-night love story Before Sunrise completely rocked the romance genre. Instead of elaborate meet-cutes, star-crossed circumstances, or mistaken identities, we got two very real people meeting, talking, connecting, and over the course of a single evening, falling in love. It was simple — and audiences were enraptured. 

Before Sunset is writer/director Richard Linklater’s excellent 2004 follow-up to Sunrise. In the first film, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) meet on a train in Europe, disembark in Vienna, and spend the next few hours discussing life, love, and everything in between. In the morning, Jesse will be flying back to the United States, and Céline will be returning to school in Paris, so they better make the most of their night together. Before Sunset catches up with them 10 years later. Did they stay together or did they say goodbye? Thought-provoking, minimalist, and completely engrossing, the Before series is a must-watch entry for all romance fans. — K.G.

How to watch: Before Sunset is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Been So Long Credit: Netflix

Do you love musicals, romance, and Michaela Coel? Then Been So Long is the movie for you. This stylish musical epic follows Simone (Coel), a young, single mother in London completely wrapped up in caring for her differently abled daughter. After her friends and family tell her she's too uptight, she finally agrees to a night out and meets the handsome, complicated Raymond (Arinzé Kene). The two tentatively begin a flirtation, though they'll each have to contend with their own baggage before the relationship can thrive.

Directed by Tinge Krishnan and adapted from the successful stage show of the same name, Been So Long is a bright and buoyant musical for the modern era. The stories are grounded and complex, the characters are relatable, and — perhaps most importantly — the songs are absolute bops!* — K.G.

How to watch: Been So Long is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Plus One

Ben King (Jack Quaid) and Alice Mori (Maya Erskine) are old college friends who, in their late twenties, find themselves some of the few people in their circles left without partners. With a summer of endless weddings and awkward singles tables ahead of them, Ben and Alice decide to team up as each other’s plus ones and wingmen for the nuptial marathon, accidentally falling for each other along the way. 

With a cast full of indie comedy darlings and a funny, grounded script, Plus One is a top notch rom-com for the modern era. For outrageous hijinks and convenient romance, look elsewhere. This is a sweet, relatable winner that feels about as real as a rom-com can get.* — K.G.

How to watch: Plus One is now streaming on Netflix.

12. To All the Boys I've Loved Before Credit: Netflix

Netflix's rom-com revival kicked off in 2018, a year whose slate included this criminally charming movie based on the novel by Jenny Han. Lara Jean (Lana Condor) is a hopeless romantic in the habit of writing letters to her most epic crushes — writing, not sending. When the letters are leaked, she starts pretending to date Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) to divert attention from her real crush on her sister's boyfriend.

SEE ALSO: Why 'XO, Kitty' has the best relationship in the 'To All the Boys...' franchise

With a bouncy pop soundtrack and visual style that is the envy of your entire Instagram feed, To All the Boys is the kind of movie you can return to again and again, a comfort watch as sweet as Lara Jean's baked goods. Will we ever tire of watching fictional characters fake love until it becomes real? If they're even half as adorable as these two, the answer is no. — P.K.

How to watch: To All the Boys I've Loved Before is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Our Souls at Night 

Quiet, sweet, and touching, Our Souls at Night is a beautiful meditation on companionship and love. Jane Fonda and Robert Redford are excellent as two widowed, long-time neighbors who decide to start spending the night in the same bed to stave off loneliness. The arrangement is purely platonic, a simple solution to a problem — but as they get to know each other, a deeper love begins to bloom. 

Fonda and Redford are truly mesmerizing here, completely self-assured in bringing this spare, sophisticated script to life. There aren't a ton of films about romance in our twilight years, but the poignancy of Our Souls at Night proves that the power of love will never get old. — K.G.

How to watch: Our Souls at Night is now streaming on Netflix.

14. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Though this 1940s-set title is a bit of a mouthful, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a straightforward tale of boy-meets-girl. Or boy in a book club meets lady author who is staying in town to do research on the German occupation and uncovers WWII secrets. Lily James (Rebecca, Downton Abbey) and Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones) star as a bookish couple whose interest in history — and the author Charles Lamb — brings them together even as the world tries to move them away from each other. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter 

How to watch: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is now streaming on Netflix.

15. The Half of It Credit: Netflix

Director Alice Wu's The Half of It hinges on straight-A student Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) and her journey toward self-acceptance. It does wonders for the streaming service's rom-com catalog, not because it's especially new in its ideas, but because Wu executes them with a flair all her own.

A charming combination of unique subject matter and clichéd storytelling, The Half of It explores the perspectives of characters rare to the genre — namely, Ellie who is a queer, Chinese-American teenager — with some pretty predictable narrative turns. You haven't seen this story done with these characters anywhere else before, but you'll feel like you have. That's a victory for the genre in its own right.* — A.F.

How to watch: The Half of It is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Call Me by Your Name

Timothée Chalamet became a household name with his raw and passionate performance in Luca Guadagnino's Call Me by Your Name (2017). Chalamet plays Elio, a teenager living with his parents in 1980s Italy. When his father, a professor of archaeology, invites a grad student to live with them over the summer, sparks fly between the two young men. When so many LGBTQ romances are centered on repression, Call Me by Your Name is defined by joy. The romance between Elio and Oliver (Armie Hammer) is both tentative and ardent, and as Mashable’s Laura Prudom put it, “will make you believe in love again.” Though Armie Hammer’s multiple sexual harassment scandals have cast a shadow on his former work, there’s no denying that Call Me By Your Name is a hopeful, romantic triumph. — K.G.

How to watch: Call Me by Your Name is streaming on Netflix starting July 1.

17. Always Be My Maybe Credit: Ed Araquel / Netflix

The thrill of a new romance often lies in just that — the fact that it's new. But what if your truest love lies in one of your oldest relationships? Always Be My Maybe stars Ali Wong and Randall Park as a pair of childhood besties who lost touch in their teens but find their way back to each other as grownups. With a delightful supporting cast that also includes Daniel Dae Kim, James Saito, and Keanu Reeves, Always Be My Maybe is as deliciously cozy as a bowl of Mom's kimchi jjigae — and just as satisfying. — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Always Be My Maybe is now streaming on Netflix.

18. She’s Gotta Have It

​​Thirty-one years before it was a Netflix series, She’s Gotta Have It was the daring comedy that launched Spike Lee's career and became a landmark in America's emerging independent film scene. Filmed on a tight budget on black-and-white stock, this Lee joint centers on Nola Darling (Tracy Camilla Johns), a charming Brooklyn-based graphic artist who is juggling three lovers. When these jealous men demand she choose just one of them, Nola is pushed to consider what she wants from love, sex, and relationships. Critics championed how Lee captured a side of Black experience rarely shown in mainstream movies. The prestigious Cannes Film Festival honored him with the Award of the Youth, while the Independent Spirit Awards gave him the award for best first feature, and Johns best female lead.* — K.P.

How to watch: She’s Gotta Have It is streaming on Netflix.

19. The Last Letter From Your Lover

The sweeping, soapy melodrama The Last Letter From Your Lover spans half a century and checks off all the romance tropes: love letters, deceit, impeccable costumes, and ill-timed amnesia. It's The Notebook meets An Affair to Remember, with a dash of every period romance sprinkled in for good measure. Don't think about it too hard, and you'll be sure to enjoy the ride. 

SEE ALSO: 9 horny and romantic books that will completely consume you

It's the '60s, and Shailene Woodley is Jennifer Stirling, a woman putting the pieces of her life back together after a car accident damages her memories — and her connection to her husband, Laurence (Joe Alwyn). When she discovers a love letter between "J" and "Boot," she can't help but wonder what else she's forgotten. At the same time, we also follow Ellie (Felicity Jones), a present-day reporter who stumbles across the letter in her publication's archives and becomes determined to find out what happened to the mysterious, passionate pair. The Last Letter From Your Lover is moody, glamorous, and boasts a stellar cast — a cozy, stylish pick for movie night. — K.G.

How to watch: The Last Letter From Your Lover is now streaming on Netflix.

20. The Incredible Jessica James Credit: Netflix

Get a masterclass in self-confidence and healthy communication from The Incredible Jessica James. Jessica Williams stars opposite Chris O'Dowd, with a supporting performance from LaKeith Stanfield. This charming tale of a woman who will stop at nothing to be loved the way she deserves explores so much of what makes romance the sticky business that it is. But this rom-com boasts just the right amount of optimism to keep you invested until its stunningly grounded happily-ever-after.* — A.F.

How to watch: The Incredible Jessica James is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Falling Inn Love

As a genre, romance can offer us a deep exploration of human relationships and what they demand of us — vulnerability, bravery, emotional intelligence — or it can simply be delightfully mindless fluff. Falling Inn Love is a truly excellent example of the latter. Christina Milian is delightful as Gabriela, a city girl from San Francisco who somehow wins a rustic New Zealand inn. And who happens to be the only person qualified to help her fix up the ramshackle property? That’s right — the hunkiest guy in town, Jake (Adam Demos, who co-stars in Netflix's steamy series Sex/Life).

Look, you're not here for the plot. You're here to watch hot people fall in love in a beautiful location, and Falling Inn Love absolutely delivers, with charm to spare. — K.G.

How to watch: Falling Inn Love is now streaming on Netflix.

22. All the Bright Places Credit: Michele K. Short / Netflix

There's nothing like a good ol' YA love story to get the tears going, and All the Bright Places is a guaranteed tear-jerker. Adapted from Jennifer Niven's novel of the same name, All the Bright Places follows two lonely teenagers, Theodore Finch (Justice Smith) and Violet Markey (Elle Fanning), who serendipitously meet one day and become fast friends, then quickly fall in love. The two discover that they share many similarities despite never really talking to each other at school before, which All the Bright Places uses to navigate hefty themes like teen mental health, loss, and grief. The ending will make you cry. Theodore and Violet's relationship will make you cry. And in my book, that's a 10/10 romance movie. — Y.H. 

How to watch: All the Bright Places is now streaming on Netflix.

23. The Lost City

Does it ever feel like nothing will fix your problems but a Sanda Bullock romantic comedy? Enter 2022’s The Lost City. Is it a perfect movie? No. Is it a ridiculously fun adventure chock-full of charismatic actors and one iconic sequin jumpsuit? Heck yes, it is!

Bullock is Loretta Sage, a reclusive romance novelist who has given up on love in her own life after the death of her husband. Channing Tatum is simply perfect as the himbo cover model for her books who is secretly in love with her. When an unhinged billionaire kidnaps Loretta because her latest book recalls similar details to a lost treasure he’s hunting, Tatum takes it upon himself, and his zero useful skills, to rescue her.* — K.G.

How to watch: The Lost City is now streaming on Netflix.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry has been modified from a previous Mashable list.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Get Deal

UPDATE: Dec. 9, 2024, 3:09 p.m. EST This article, previously published in June 2024, has been updated to reflect Netflix's current selection.