IT General

In case you missed it, we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. As part of that survey, we also asked our readers about their smart assistants of choice, pitting Alexa against Siri and Google Home.

This is a space that's rapidly changing, with Google revamping Google Home devices with Gemini AI, and both Alexa and Siri getting key upgrades for the AI era. While this is going on behind the scenes, millions of people are just looking for a quick download on the day's weather. So, when you need to automate your home's lights or find out whether you need an umbrella, which smart home assistant do you trust?

Check out our full Readers' Choice results, and continue reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred smart assistants.

SEE ALSO: Readers' Choice Awards 2025: Your favorite smart home brands Your favorite smart assistants

Google is our readers' favored assistant, with an 8 out of 10 overall satisfaction rating. Amazon's Alexa follows behind with a 7.7, and Apple trailing at 7.2. Google was also rated highest for "most likely to recommend." To see how the brands scored across different categories, click through the chart below using either the arrow keys or the dropdown menu.

Voice recognition and response to prompts

Google is ahead of the competition in voice recognition, in our readers' experiences. It secured an 8.5 out of 10 rating, while Amazon received a 7.7 and Apple got a 7.6. Survey respondents called their Google Assistant-enabled products "reliable" and "awesome." One reported that Google Assistant seems to always find the answers to the questions they ask.

Another Google user said that they were overall very satisfied, but that occasionally, the assistant stops understanding or commands stop working.

A respondent who uses Amazon products said, "Overall, I've found the Alexa system to be 99.9 percent reliable. On a rare occasion, it will not catch a command to turn on or off a light. Its answers to questions beyond general knowledge are not strong (Google is much better), but suffice for most daily things." Another said, "Sometimes Alexa activates, indicating it is on, but does not respond to my command."

In addition to voice recognition, Google also took the cake in responses to questions and commands, scoring 8 out of 10, while Amazon and Apple scored 7.1 and 7.2, respectively.

Programmable actions, routines, and automations

Not enough respondents rated Google or Apple in programmable actions, so Amazon wins by default in this category. For routines and automation, though, Google is rated higher at 8.2 compared to Amazon's 7.5.

One survey respondent said that they like Alexa for routine items and integrations, but Google Assistant is better at answering questions.

An Alexa user reported that they have a morning routine that provides the weather report, reads news headlines, and turns on their office lights. That same person also uses Alexa to create shopping lists. They wrote, "The more I use it, the more things I find I can do."

For another reader, their best experience with the Amazon smart assistant is when they set up their smart home with Alexa and "connected everything from lights to thermostats to smart plugs." They enjoy the ease of controlling everything with their voice, especially when their hands are full.

A Google user wrote, "Our whole house has Google displays, speakers, TVs integrated with Google TV, and third-party plugs, bulbs, and the like. Just recently, I upgraded to a Google Mesh router. The third-party devices can occasionally be a bit tricky to set up, but once everything is working, it's nice to be able to control everything right in the Google Home app."

Likelihood to recommend

Mashable readers are most likely to recommend Google Assistant, with an 8.2 rating. Amazon Alexa follows behind with 7.8, while Apple's Siri trails at 7.1.

Google users appreciate being able to change the assistant's voice, the safety and convenience voice commands provide, Google's music recommendations, and the reliability.

Siri users called the assistant "awesome" and said it gives the proper information they need.

Multiple Amazon users said that they "love" their Alexa devices. One wrote, "My family owns a few different models of Alexa devices...I would recommend and will purchase more Amazon Echo devices in the future."

Shop smart assistants Amazon Echo Dot $49.99 at Amazon Shop Now Amazon Echo Show 5 $89.99 at Amazon Shop Now Google Nest Mini $49 at the Google Store Shop Now Google Nest Hub $99.99 at the Google Store Shop Now

Mashable recently introduced our first-ever Readers' Choice Awards, where we polled our readers on the smart home tech they use and love. The final results are in, and your favorite smart home brands have been revealed. You can check out our full results, but we also asked readers about specific smart home products, like security cameras.

Continue reading for our breakdown of our readers’ preferred security cameras.

SEE ALSO: Readers' Choice Awards 2025: Your favorite smart home brands Your favorite security cameras

It was a tight race, but Blink won by a hair. Our survey respondents rated Blink 7.8 out of 10 for overall satisfaction, while Ring and Wyze scored 7.7. Blink didn't take the lead in every category, so tab through the chart below to see where each brand excelled (or fell flat).

Editor's note: Although our readers use and love Ring, we do not endorse Ring in our product recommendations because of a host of past privacy issues.

Click the arrow buttons or the dropdown menu to see all scoring categories within the chart.

Cost and setup

There's a clear winner in the cost category: Wyze secured a 9.1 rating, blowing Blink (8.1) and Ring (7.5) out of the water. Wyze's more favorable cost might be the reason it scored weaker in some other categories, though. Ring got the lowest cost score, which makes sense because it's billed as a more premium brand than Blink or Wyze. (Blink and Ring are both Amazon-owned companies.)

Both Ring and Blink scored pretty middle-of-the-road on monitoring costs, aka the extra subscription costs associated with security cameras, such as cloud storage or access to additional smart features. One survey respondent did highlight Blink's free cloud storage as a pro for the brand. Meanwhile, a Ring user said, "My experience with the Ring security camera has been mostly great. The only thing that I do not feel overwhelmingly positive about is the monthly subscription fee. I would be happy to keep data on a local server that I could delete after a certain time period that I chose. I don't really find the monthly service necessary or a value for the money."

In addition to cost, Wyze also scored the best for setup, followed by Ring, then Blink.

Audio and video quality

Owning a security camera becomes moot if you can't actually see or hear anything it captures, which is why audio and video quality are such important factors to consider. Blink, Ring, and Wyze all scored highly in video quality, but the scores dropped in the audio department. Wyze took the biggest hit with a score of 6.7 out of 10 in audio (compared to its 7.8 for audio). If you want the best combo of audio and video, Blink is the way to go, according to our readers.

One Blink user said, "The audio quality of the recordings can be a bit muffled at times," and, "While generally good, the image quality isn't as sharp as I'd hoped for in certain situations, like during heavy rain."

A Ring user commented that their security camera's video quality is good compared to others.

Motion detection

A common gripe with security cameras and video doorbells is that they either don't capture enough footage before a movement occurs, or they're too sensitive and bombard your phone with motion detection alerts. Both of these were comments we received in our Readers' Choice survey. Ring scored the best in this category, with an impressive 8.1 satisfaction rate.

In the words of one respondent: "The picture quality, motion detection feature, and two-way voice capabilities are absolutely sufficient for my needs." On the other hand, another Ring user wrote, "I've set motion detection to the highest sensitivity, but there are still movements it doesn't pick up sometimes." And conversely, another user said, "Smart motion detection consistently identifies spiders, raccoons, and opossums as people." So, it's a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to people's experiences with motion detection.

And the same goes for Blink. One respondent reported, "Motion detection works well, and I get alerts to my phone right away." While another said, "Often the wind sets off the motion sensor, causing the alarm to go off over and over."

Likelihood to recommend

All three of our readers' favorite security camera brands scored decently well on likelihood to recommend. Ring was the highest at 8.0, with Wyze right behind it at 7.9, and Blink trailing closely at 7.8.

Ring Battery Doorbell 1440p Head-to-Toe Video (2024 Release, Satin Nickel) $49.99 at Best Buy
$99.99 Save $50.00   See It at Best Buy See It at Amazon Shop home security cameras Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera $39.99 at Amazon Shop Now Blink Outdoor 4 $27.99 at Amazon Shop Now Wyze outdoor/indoor battery camera $85.30 at Amazon Shop Now Wyze Solar Cam Pan $79.98 at Amazon Shop Now Ring Outdoor Cam Plus $59.99 at Amazon Shop Now Ring Battery Video Doorbell $49.99 at Best Buy Shop Now

TL;DR: Live stream San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're still in the early stages of the new NBA season, but you can already see how this campaign is likely to play out for the Spurs and Kings. Wemby's Spurs look very strong at 8-3. The Kings however are floundering at 3-9. Fans will be expecting the home side to take this one without hassle.

If you want to watch Spurs vs. Kings in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spurs vs. Kings?

Spurs vs. Kings in the NBA starts at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 16. This game takes place at the Frost Bank Center.

How to watch Spurs vs. Kings for free

Spurs vs. Kings in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, 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 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 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

Wondering where the moon is disappearing to? This is due to the lunar cycle, meaning each night a bit less of it is lit up until it disappears completely at the New Moon.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Nov. 16, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This means 12% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

There's not as much to see tonight, but if you look hard enough, you might spot a few features. If you don't have any visual aids, you'll be able to spot the Aristarchus Plateau. This is a 25-mile diameter crater. With binoculars you'll also be able to see the Grimaldi Basin, and with a telescope you'll see the Reiner Gamma.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases, like the Waning Crescent, are all part of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, according to NASA. These phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. So, sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes not there at all (aka, the New Moon). There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

The eight main moon phases are:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 16 Pips

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

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

Equal (1): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 16 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (2): Everything in this orangespace must add to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 16 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.

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

Number (8): Everything in this red space must add to 8. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this orange space must add to 8. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this red space must be equal to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this red space must be equal to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy if you love Carolina sports.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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.

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

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

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

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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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: Remote work

• Green: East coast teams

• Blue: Places to race

• Purple: On the nose logos

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: At-Home Exercise Equipment

• Green: North Carolina Teams

• Blue: Settings for Races

• Purple: Teams with a Basketball in Their Logo

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 #419 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• At-Home Exercise Equipment - BIKE, JUMP ROPE, TREADMILL, YOGA MAT

• North Carolina Teams - HORNETS, HURRICANES, PANTHERS, WAKE FOREST

• Settings for Races - CIRCUIT, SWIMMING POOL, TRACK, VELODROME

• Teams with a Basketball in Their Logo - 76ERS, HEAT, KNICKS, SUNS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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 today's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love game night.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 16, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Strategy

• Green: Ordinary

• Blue: Patterned

• Purple: Found on a popular board game

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Technique

• Green: Run-of-the-mill

• Blue: Stripy things

• Purple: Words on Monopoly squares

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 #889 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Technique: APPROACH, METHOD, PHILOSOPHY, SCHOOL

• Run-of-the-mill: BANAL, EVERYDAY, HUMDRUM, PEDESTRIAN

• Stripy things: BARCODE, IBM LOGO, RUGBY SHIRT, ZEBRA

• Words on Monopoly squares: AVENUE, PARKING, RAILROAD, TAX

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 November 16, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a burrito.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 16, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 16, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Around it goes

The words are related to coverage.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things that are used to cover something.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is That's a Wrap.

NYT Strands word list for November 16

• Scarf

• Shawl

• Stole

• Cellophane

• Foil

• Flatbread

• That's a Wrap

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 16, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 16, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To brandish.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.

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...

WIELD

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 November 16, 2025

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.

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

A music and film genre.

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

INDIE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A hut.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 16, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SHACK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Rough.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 16, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

RIGID

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Hereditary material.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 16 Hurdle Word 4 answer

GENES

Final Hurdle hint

A jewelry measurement.

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

KARAT

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

By now, it's common knowledge that if you have a device—whether a fridge or a smart TV—it's collecting information about you and sending them back home. It's not controversial anymore.

TL;DR: Get a refurbished Apple MacBook Air on sale for $194.97 with free shipping through Nov. 16 (reg. $999). This is a great device for everyday use.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $194.97
$999 Save $804.03   Get Deal

Yes, you read that right. You can grab one of Apple’s infamous MacBook Airs for under $200, and there’s no catch. Well, inventory is extremely low, so you’ll have to make sure to get yours before they sell out.

But you get the same performance, portability, and quality MacBooks are known for, except you only pay $194.97 vs. the $999 MSRP because of its refurbished status. You’ll also receive free shipping for a limited time.

SEE ALSO: Apple's new M5 iPad Pro keeps getting cheaper — score it for its best price yet

Powered by a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and Intel HD Graphics 6000, this MacBook Air breezes through web browsing, email, shopping, streaming, and basic work projects. It’s paired with 128GB of flash storage, giving you plenty of space for documents, photos, and apps, all while keeping things zippy.

And with 12 hours of battery life, you won’t be tethered to an outlet, whether you’re at home, at the office, or camped out at a coffee shop.

The 13.3-inch widescreen display with 1440×900 resolution allows your movies, spreadsheets, and FaceTime calls to look sharp and vibrant. Meanwhile, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth make it easy to stay connected and share files across your devices.

This machine isn’t just affordable; it’s also worry-free. With its Grade A/B refurbished rating, you may notice a tiny scuff or scratch, but inside, you’re getting a fully functional MacBook ready to roll.

At this price, it’s perfect as a primary laptop, a backup machine, or even a dedicated travel computer. Lightweight, reliable, and sleek — it’s the kind of deal that makes sense whether you’re working, learning, or just binge-watching.

Don’t miss this refurbished MacBook Air deal: $194.97 until Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT, or when inventory runs out (reg. $999).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

It might not feel like it,but digital photography is still relatively new. Yet once the digital shutterbug bit, everyone was taking photos all the time. The thing is, those digital photos from the early 2000s are at risk of disappearing forever—here's why.

America’s smallest SUVs don’t usually steal the spotlight, but one model is quietly dominating the segment, even outperforming some of the most established Japanese nameplates. Its surge in sales isn’t a fluke; it’s the result of smart packaging, strong value, and features that resonate with buyers who want more for less.

Retro gaming and collecting retro games is all the rage right now, but there are some among us for whom there's never been a break between "retro" and modern gaming. Their retro collections come from simply never getting rid of old games, but keeping them.

There's always some tension between those who don't care about keeping a personal collection of media and those who want to control and maintain certain titles to access and watch whenever they want, without third-party dependence.

TL;DR: Live stream Ireland vs. Australia in the Autumn Internationals for free on RTE Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Ireland started the Autumn Internationals with a tough defeat to the All Blacks, but bounced back against Japan last weekend. Now they face off against Australia in an intriguing matchup. Australia will be desperate to secure a result after defeats to England and Italy.

If you want to watch Ireland vs. Australia in the Autumn Internationals from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ireland vs. Australia?

Ireland vs. Australia in the 2025 Autumn Internationals kicks off at 8:10 p.m. GMT on Nov. 15. This fixture takes place at the Aviva Stadium.

How to watch Ireland vs. Australia for free

Ireland vs. Australia in the 2025 Autumn Internationals is available to live stream for free on RTE Player.

RTE Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, 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 Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTE Player to stream the Autumn Internationals for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ireland vs. Australia 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 Ireland

4. Visit RTE Player

5. Watch Ireland vs. Australia 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 access free live streams of the Autumn Internationals without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream all of Ireland's Autumn Internationals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTE Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• 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 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 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Ireland vs. Australia in the Autumn Internationals for free with ExpressVPN.

As of Nov. 14, Walmart's first Black Friday sale is officially live. While Walmart+ members got a five-hour head start, the sale is now open to everyone. The event only runs through Nov. 16, and on the first day of the sale, we've already seen popular products like Beats Studio Buds completely sell out, so shop accordingly. For this shopping guide, we searched for products that are cheapest at Walmart, including Shark Matrix 2-in-1 robot vacuums, Apple AirPods Pro 2, and Samsung QN65 QLED TVs.

Walmart's early Black Friday deals at a glance: Best TV deal Vizio 50-inch Class 4K LED HDR Limited Edition Smart TV (V4K50S-08) $128 (Save $86) Get Deal BEST LEGO DEAL Lego Wicked Welcome to Emerald City Building Set $74.94 (save $25.05) Get Deal Best laptop deal HP 14-inch HD Chromebook (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $119 (save $290.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods Pro 2 (2nd Gen) $139 (save $100) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal 3i G10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $255.99 (save $43.99) Get Deal Best Stick Vacuum Deal Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner $399.99 (save $330) Get Deal FOR GAME NIGHT Hurry Up Chicken Butt by Exploding Kittens $10 (save $9.99) Get Deal BIGGEST SAVINGS Seray Adjustable Outdoor Basketball Hoop $186.99 (save $213) Get Deal GET ALL THE PERKS 1-Year Walmart+ Membership $49 (Save $49) Get Deal

This is just the first of Walmart's planned holiday events. After this one ends, things will cool off until the second Black Friday sale, which runs from Nov. 25 through Nov. 30. That will be followed by an online-only Cyber Monday sale on Dec. 1. Until then, Walmart is hosting rollbacks galore, as well as a 50% off deal for Walmart+ memberships. You can either choose from the usual 30-day free trial or get a one-year membership for $49. On top of that, you can score major bargains on headphones, laptops and Chromebooks, holiday decor, toys and games, and affordable smart TVs.

SEE ALSO: 100+ of the best early Black Friday gaming deals — epic deals on consoles, games, accessories, and more

We've combed through all the best Walmart Black Friday deals, checked them against other retailers' prices, and gathered them all into one convenient place. Keep checking back as we add more deals.

Best Walmart Black Friday TV deal Vizio 50-inch Class 4K LED HDR Limited Edition Smart TV (V4K50S-08) $128 at Walmart
$214 Save $86   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

Vizio TVs are known for being affordable and surprisingly high-quality (for the price). And right now, you can get a 50-inch Vizio 4K LED HDR "limited edition" Vizio Smart TV at Walmart for just $128. That's an $86 savings off its $214 list price. It's a pretty incredible price for a 50-inch TV that features Dolby Vision Bright+, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. We couldn't find this exact model anywhere else for this price, so if you're looking for a new TV that fits within your budget, this might be your best bet.

50- and 55-inch TV deals

• LG 55-inch 4K UHD AI Smart TV (55UA7000) — $248 $328.99 (save $80.99)

• Samsung 55-inch Class QLED 4K QLED Smart TV (QN55Q6FAAFXZA) — $348 $499.99 (save $151.99)

65-inch TV deals

• Samsung 65-inch Class Crystal UHD U7900F 4K Smart TV (UN65U7900FFXZA) — $328 $429.99 (save $101.99)

• Samsung 65-inch Class QLED 4K QLED Smart TV (QN65Q6FAAFXZA) — $448 $599.99 (save $151.99)

• Hisense 65-inch Class QLED 4K S7N CanvasTV™ Series Google Smart TV (65S7N) — $947 $1,297.99 (save $350.99)

• LG 65-inch C5 Series 4K UHD OLED evo AI Smart webOS TV (OLED65C5PUA) — $1,396.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,103)

70- and 75-inch TV deals

• Hisense 75-inch Class H5 Series QLED 4K UHD Roku Smart TV (75H5QBR) — $378 $499 (save $121)

• Samsung 75-inch Class QLED 4K QLED Smart TV (QN75Q6FAAFXZA) — $598 $799.99 (save $201.99)

Best laptop deal HP 14-inch HD Chromebook (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $119 at Walmart
$409.99 Save $290.99   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

At $119 (down from $409.99), the HP 14-inch HD Chromebook (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) is a great starter laptop for students or commuters who need something lightweight, speedy, and capable of handling daily tasks like email and working in multiple tabs. This laptop isn't available on Amazon right now, and it's about $100 more at Best Buy. With more than 2K reviews and a 4.4-star rating, and smart apps like Gemini, Docs, and Gmail built right in, you can't beat this deal.

More Black Friday laptop deals at Walmart

• CHUWI 14.1-inch HeroBook Pro (Intel Gemini-Lake N4020 Quad Core, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $185.69 $249 (save $63.31)

• CHUWI 15.6-inch HeroBook Plus (Intel Celeron N4020, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $195.79 $299 (save $103.21)

• HP 15.6-inch Windows Laptop (Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $219 $549 (save $330)

• Lenovo 15.6-inch IdeaPad 1 Laptop (Intel Dual Core Processor, 12GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $278.99 $359 (save $80.01)

• Auusda 15.6-inch Business Laptop (Intel N95 CPU, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $329.99 $927.69 (save $597.70)

• HP 15.6-inch Victus Gaming Laptop (Intel Core i5-13420H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD RTX 4050) — $499 $1,049.99 (save $550.99)

• Alienware 16-inch Aurora Gaming Laptop (Intel Core 7-240H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050) — $799 $1,249.99 (save $450.99)

Best earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $139 at Walmart
$239 Save $100 $88.99 more at Amazon Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 have since been eclipsed by the new AirPods Pro 3, but they're still a phenomenal pair of headphones, and this $139.99 sale price is absurdly low for flagship-quality buds. Walmart is actually beating Amazon's lowest-ever sale price on the earbuds by $20. The AirPods Pro 2 have incredible ANC, as well as seamless connectivity for Apple users.

More earbuds and headphones deals

• Beats Flex — $30.01 $69.95 (save $39.94)

• Beats Solo Buds — $39 $69 (save $30)

• JBL Tune Flex (ANC) — $44.95 $54 (save $9.05)

• JBL Tune Buds Ghost Edition Wireless Earbuds — $49.95 $99.95 (save $50)

• Apple AirPods 4 (ANC) — $84.99 $129.99 (save $45)

• Beats Studio Buds+ (ANC) — $88 $169.95 (save $81.95)

• JBL Tune 670NC Headphones — $64.95 $109.95 (save $45)

• Beats Fit Pro (ANC) — $149 $199.99 (save $50.99)

Best Walmart vacuum deal 3i G10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $255.99 at Walmart
$299.98 Save $43.99   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

The 3i G10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo is Mashable's vacuum expert and senior shopping reporter, Leah Stodart's, favorite budget-friendly robovac under $500. It's not a well-known brand (you've probably never heard of it), but it is efficient and effective at getting the job done. It boasts numerous high-end features, including a live-stream pet camera and smart mapping. With its dust-compacting, space-saving design, you won't have to deal with a self-emptying dock. And right now you can get it for $255.99, down from $299.98. Not to be dramatic, but: What a deal!

More Black Friday vacuum deals

• Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner Pet Stain Edition — $78.97 $98.93 (save $19.96)

• Lefant Robot Vacuum — $86.99 $289.99 (save $203)

• ONSON 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum — $88.99 $359.99 (save $271)

• Shark Matrix 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum — $194 $379.99 (save $185.99)

• iRobot Roomba 1010 — $198 $339.99 (save $141.99)

• Dyson Big Ball Turbinehead Canister Vacuum — $229.99 $379.99 (save $150)

• Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner — $399.99 $729.99 (save $330)

• Roborock Q10 X5+ — $259.99 $499.99 (save $240)

• Dreame 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum — $399.98 $449.99 (save $50.01)

• Roborock QV 35S 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum — $459.99 $749.99 (save $290)

Best deal on toys and games Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Wicked Welcome to Emerald City Building Set $74.94 at Walmart
$99.99 Save $25.05   Get Deal Why we like it

One of our favorite things about the new Wicked movies? Parents can enjoy them just as much as kids. If you have little ones who are obsessed with Glinda and Elphaba (yes, this Lego set comes with figures of them both), then make their Christmas with this Lego building kit. Bonus: Walmart has the best price on this set as of this writing, so you know you're getting a good Black Friday deal.

More Walmart Black Friday deals on toys and games

• Hurry Up Chicken Butt by Exploding Kittens — $10 $19.99 (save $10)

• Bluey Light Up Kids Scooter — $18 $34.99 (save $16.99)

• Lego Botanicals Happy Plants Building Set — $18.39 $22.99 (save $4.60)

• Hot Wheels Action 4-Loop Crash Out Track Set with Motorized Booster — $30 $53.99 (save $23.99)

• Lego Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian Gift Set — $45 $62.97 (save $17.97)

• Seray Adjustable Outdoor Basketball Hoop — $186.99 $399.99 (save $213)

Best Walmart Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) $249 at Walmart
$399 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple recently replaced the Series 10 smartwatch with the Series 11, but the only real difference between the two models? The newest version has a longer battery life. Besides that, they're virtually identical, except now the Series 10 is a lot more affordable. You won't find this watch on sale at Amazon, but at Walmart, the remaining sizes and colors are on sale for $249 — that's a savings of $150 on one of the best smartwatches in the world.

More Walmart deals on Apple products:

• Apple AirTag — $18 $29 (save $11)

• Apple iPad 11-inches (128 GB) — $299 $349 (save $50)

UPDATE: Nov. 16, 2025, 2:17 p.m. EST This article has been updated to reflect the fact that the Walmart Early Black Friday sale ends soon.

When it comes to display technology, the two most important and prolific technologies are LCD and OLED. E-Ink is a completely different approach to creating images on a screen, but no one thinks of it in the same breath as LCD or OLED.

In theory, an always-on display can help a smartwatch look and feel more like a traditional watch. Personally, I’ve always felt smartwatches look better when that screen turns off. I don’t get the hype. To my eyes, an always-on display is a battery life hit for almost no benefit.