IT General

This March, design-centric British company Nothing launched what is arguably its strongest lineup of devices yet. Alongside the budget Nothing Phone (4a) and the Nothing Headphones (a) came a midrange offering — the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro.

This phone is also the closest you'll get to a flagship offering from Nothing in 2026; the company says it'll release no official flagship phone this year. But that's OK. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro still brings a premium experience to a midrange price point.

The design of the phone backtracks on the haphazard look of the Nothing Phone (3). Phone design is subjective, of course, but I'm definitely picking up what Nothing is putting down here. There is a lot to like about this phone, including the $499 price. 

SEE ALSO: Every major MWC 2026 announcement, including Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Honor Robot phone

As with all midrange phones, there are a few compromises — and some might be tough to swallow. At $499, you will not have a perfect phone.

I've been using a Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, provided by Nothing, as my main phone for 10 days, running the company's Android software and using T-Mobile's network in the Chicagoland area. Here's what I thought.

The whole Nothing package Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

Alongside the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, the company launched two other devices. The Nothing Phone (4a) is a budget offering with a slower processor, slightly slower memory, and fewer cameras than its bigger sibling. It's also not available in the U.S.

The other device was the Nothing Headphone (a) — a budget version of Nothing's first over-ear headphones launched last July, the Nothing Headphone (1). For a lower price point, you get a simpler design, but in more colors. But by all reports, they sound just as good and have the same controls as the flagship headphones, making a compelling offering at $199.

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As for the Phone (4a) Pro, it too is the whole package. Tech specs ahead: It runs on a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, which is decidedly midrange, but it falls squarely in line with the phone's price range. There's also 8GB or 12GB of RAM along with 128GB or 256GB of storage, all powered with a 5,000 mAh battery. India SKUs add another 400mAh to that. The 6.83-inch AMOLED screen is gorgeous with excellent color reproduction. It refreshes at up to 144 Hz, so everything is quite smooth.

TL;DR on the specs: this phone punches above its weight.

Software is great with some trade-offs Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

Design is at the forefront of Nothing's ethos, and all of the design choices built into its Android skin are intentional.

For example, Nothing has a grayscale icon pack for apps that turns your home screen into a black-and-white version of its former self. I can get behind this in theory — the "digital minimalism" of grayscale apps supposedly helps us have healthier relationships with our phones. Your mileage may vary, but my brain focuses on color much more than shape, so I haven't often switched to the icon pack.

One confounding choice: the inability to turn off the app drawer. I prefer to have all my apps on my home screen, organized into folders. Nothing doesn't allow the easy creation of folders either. Every time I wanted to file an app, I had to go to the app drawer, then drag the app into an appropriate folder. Not a fan of that.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

Then there's Essential Space, a kind of digital notebook activated by the Essential Key on the left side of the phone. This is meant to be a repository of your thoughts and reminders. When you need to remember something, the Essential key lets you grab a screenshot and allows you to add a voice note as well. AI then organizes your thoughts and notes.

I might not be a typical use case here, but generally, I don't remember things with screenshots; it's just not how my brain is wired. There is another design choice I love, however.

Enter the Matrix Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

The Glyph Matrix, which we saw on the Nothing Phone (3), is back on the back of this phone. I adore it. However, Nothing has cut down its functionality.

First of all, the dot matrix itself has larger "pixels" which means lower resolution inside that matrix. That's fine for things like letters and numbers, but it's bad for anything else. The Glyph Matrix has a neat trick where you can use it as a mirror to take a selfie with the main camera, and on the Nothing Phone (3), it worked really well.

On the Nothing Phone (4a), however, the resolution is so low that you can't tell what's in the window when trying to shoot. It's very disappointing.

It's also disappointing that you can only activate the Glyph Matrix when the phone is flipped over on its face. This is likely a cost-saving measure, since there is no capacitive button to press this time. Still, it's a little off-putting.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

You can have a persistent display of the time, or battery level, or a few other options, but the whimsical toys from the Nothing Phone (3) version, like the Magic 8-ball, are nowhere to be found.

Nothing says you can get more toys from the community, but that has real "we can't wait to see what the developers do with it" energy. To borrow a nerdy reference, the Glyph Matrix feels nerfed.

Performance and Battery

The Nothing Phone comes with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor — a very midrange choice. On Geekbench, the phone yields 1,287/3,906 single/multi-core scores. That means it's fine with most tasks you'll throw at it — opening apps, playing simple games, watching videos.

It will start to get bogged down when playing serious titles like "Genshin Impact," or trying to edit videos. For most people shopping in this price range, that's perfectly fine. 

That also means the phone sips battery like a champ. I regularly got just under two days of light-medium use on a single charge. That's the kind of endurance I like to see out of a phone. If you're a heavy user, you'll easily get through a full day and probably a little more without plugging it in.

Cameras are the main trade-off Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

It doesn't seem, on the surface, like Nothing cut corners with the cameras here. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro has two 50-megapixel sensors on the back for its main and 3.5x telephoto lens, an 8-megapixel shooter for ultrawide, and a 32-megapixel camera on the front.

But when you look at the results, it's fairly obvious that these are midrange cameras.

During the day, in good lighting, the phone is a very capable shooter, though the ultrawide leaves something to be desired. Details such as brickwork are lost. That's not surprising considering the small sensor size — but if you're looking for consistency between lenses, you won't find it here. 

Macro shots are similarly blotchy, though the phone uses the main sensor for those macros. Most phones switch to the ultrawide lens for macro shots. Nothing bucks that trend — but as a result, you can't get as close to your subject as you may want.

Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

At night, things fall apart pretty quickly. Light sources are way overblown and darkness is very grainy. Video is not bad — as long as you're not moving. Start walking, and the video quality degrades significantly, with lots of judder following your footfalls. 

Quality photos are possible at night, and they can be fine for social media sharing. But when you try to make photos larger, the flaws are a lot easier to spot.

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Price and final verdict

Overall, there's a lot to like about the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro. This is a very good midrange offering with the usual corners cut — the camera being the main one. It's not that the camera setup is bad; it's just very midrange. If this phone lived in a vacuum, that would be a good trade.

It's priced at $499, the same as the recently-released Google Pixel 10a. I bring that up because the Pixel 10a is not compromised in camera quality; far from it. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro has a telephoto that the Pixel 10a lacks, so there's that to consider.

The camera array on Google Pixel 10a. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro camera array. Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable

If you value good shots of far-away subjects, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is the better buy. But if you value overall camera quality, get the Pixel 10a.

The two phones are also polar opposites when it comes to design. The Pixel 10a is about as boring as it gets with a flat back and no camera bump. Meanwhile, on the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, you get Nothing's signature transparent design and a sizable camera island.

Your preference will vary, of course, but I much prefer the boldness of the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, and Nothing hardware in general. If you like flair, it doesn't get more flair-y than this. If you want excellent software, Nothing delivers that as well.

If you want something different, that's the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro in a nutshell. This phone is for people who love to stand out and carry a conversation starter in their pocket. It's also for design fans who want a phone that makes a statement. It's a true midrange phone, and it's a pretty good value at $499.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, Unlocked $499 at Amazon
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Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who know their Simpsons.

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.

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

SEE ALSO: 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: Sports clubs

• Green: Net game lingo

• Blue: Places to go for gold

• Purple: Simpsons guest stars

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Pro teams whose names start with S

• Green: Volleyball terms

• Blue: Olympic host cities

• Purple: MLB players in "Homer at the Bat"

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 #550 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Pro teams whose names start with S - SEAHAWKS, SENATORS, SHARKS, SPURS

• Volleyball terms - SERVE, SETTER, SIDE OUT, SPIKE

• Olympics host cities - SAPPORO, SARAJEVO, STOCKHOLM, SYDNEY

• MLB players in "Homer at the Bat" - SAX, SCIOSCIA, SMITH, STRAWBERRY

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.

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 March 27, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for March 27, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for March 27 Pips

Less than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Less than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for March 27 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (20): Everything in this space must add up to 20. The answer is 1-5 placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for March 27 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 2-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

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

SAVE OVER $1,000: As of March 27, the TCL 98-inch Class QM8K Series is on sale for $2,997.97 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 98-inch Class QM8K Series $2,997.97 at Amazon
$3,999.99 Save $1,002.02   Get Deal

Looking for a new TV? There couldn't be a better time to buy.

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is well underway, and TVs are just one of many products getting heavy discounts right now. And if you're looking for something really impressive for less, the TCL 98-inch Class QM8K Series is over $1,000 off heading into the weekend.

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As of March 27, you can take home this TV for $2,997.96 — that's $1,002.02 off the list price. This price is for the huge 98-inch model. The 65-inch and 75-inch TVs are also on sale for around $500 off.

With this TV you'll get a combination of advanced Mini LED technology and the new Halo Control System to give you the perfect, well-rounded viewing experience. It also has a CrystalGlow WHVA panel that gives you vibrant colors and detail. Combine this with the anti-reflective ZeroBorder design and you've got a great TV for any occasion.

Gamers are also covered thanks to the built-in Game Accelerator 288. This supports up to 288Hz variable refresh rate for lag-free gaming. And for streaming, you'll get access to Google TV, meaning it's easy to browse content and your favorite apps will be on one handy home page.

This TV deal is available online in Amazon's Big Spring Sale right now.

SAVE $98: As of March 27, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Vlogging Camera is down to $439 in the Amazon Spring Sale, a record-low price. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo is also on sale for $569.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Gimbal Camera $439 at Amazon
$499 Save $60 Lowest-ever price Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo $569 at Amazon
$629 Save $60   Get Deal

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, which runs through March 31, has plenty of deals for creators looking for a bargain. None are better than the offers on the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, a 4K gimbal camera. Mashable’s tech editor hailed this camera as “close to perfect” in his review.

All content creators reach a point where they need to stop using their phone and start investing in pro gear — microphones, video cameras, portable lights, everything. And the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Gimbal Camera has emerged as a popular all-in-one solution, which is why it has a cult following among vloggers, creators, and videographers.

Why we love the DJI Osmo Pocket 3

Every time our reporters attend a conference or event with a lot of creators, this camera is everywhere. It's often hard to find in stock, let alone at a record price.

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo, which includes a DJI microphone, is currently marked down to $569. (Just a few hours ago, this camera was marked down to $531, so prices are changing fast.) That’s a $60 saving on the regular list price of $629. You can also buy the camera on its own for $439, a new record low price for this popular gimbal camera, according to camelcamelcamel.

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DJI is best known for awesome drones, but the tech brand makes premium devices in the content creation category. This camera is small but hugely impressive, with a 3-axis gimbal for steady video and face tracking. Other helpful features include face detection, vertical video mode, 180-degree Spinshot motion, and wireless connectivity to DJI microphones (which are also on sale).

Mashable tech editor Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 back in 2023 and said, “It really is hard for me to imagine a better camera for video content creators. Because it can connect wirelessly to your devices, you can use this for both recording video and livestreaming.” Three years later, it's still the best in its category.

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 rarely goes on sale, so grab the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo for $569 in the Amazon Big Spring Sale. You can also grab the camera on its own for $439.

Best Amazon Big Spring Sale portable power stations deals at a glance: Best Bluetti deal Bluetti Elite 200 V2 $749 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal Best Anker Solix bundle deal Anker Soloix F3800 Portable Power Station, BP3800 Expansion Battery, and 400W Solar Panel $3,498.99 at Amazon (save $3,898.01) Get Deal Best Jackery deal Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 $429 at Amazon (save $370) Get Deal Best DJI deal DJI Power 1000 V2 $364 at Amazon (save $65) Get Deal Best deal for camping Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $428.99 at Amazon (save $370.01) Get Deal

I'll let you in on a little secret about portable power stations — they're almost always on some type of discount. It's rare that I see any of my favorite models listed at full price, which is not a bad thing. But it makes it harder to discern a good deal from a meh deal. To help out, I've scrolled the pages of the Amazon Big Spring Sale to find the deals I think are actually worth buying.

A portable power station has become a must-have tech item. It's like your favorite noise-cancelling earbuds — no idea how we survived without them. They've been my savior during power outages to keep the refrigerator running, my phone charged up, and the WiFi router connected. They're also well worth packing along on upcoming camping trips. Think of movie nights under the stars with a powered-up portable projector and fresh popcorn.

The one snag here is that batteries aren't cheap, and that's especially true of high-tech and long-lasting batteries found in portable power stations. Because of this, I recommend shopping for a power station during major sales like the Amazon Big Spring Sale is a wise move. Here are some of my favorite models seeing steep discounts during the sale. I'll keep this page updated as the sale rolls in and we see new deals pop up.

Best Bluetti deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bluetti Elite 200 V2 $749 at Amazon
$949 Save $200   Get Deal Why we like it

If you need a large and in charge power solution, whether in an emergency or going off-grid, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is a fantastic option. It comes with 2,600Wh of battery power, which is more than enough to charge larger items like laptops and small appliances. It's also capable of recharging your phones and keeping the WiFi router on for an extended period of time. If you find that you routinely lose power, this unit is something you'll want to keep on hand to make sure you can charge things up when you need them.

More Bluetti deals

• Bluetti Elite 10 — $112.98 $199 (save $86.02)

• Bluetti Elite 30 V2 — $218.99 $299 (save $80.01)

• Bluetti X30 CPAP Battery Backup — $278.99 $329 (save $50.01)

• Bluetti Elite 100 V2 with 200W Solar Panel — $699 $1,399 (save $700)

• Bluetti Elite 300 — $1,099 $1,699 (save $600)

• Bluetti Apex 300 — $1,444 $1,699 (save $255)

Best Anker deal Anker Solix F3800 $3,498.99 at Amazon
$7,397 Save $3,898.01   See It at Amazon

The massive Anker Solix F3800 is ideal for home backup should the power cut out. On its own, the Solix F3800 comes with 3,8400 Wh of battery capacity to keep your tech running without grid power, but Anker made this deal even better during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. The Solix F3800 comes bundled with a BP3800 Expansion Battery and a 400W solar panel. The extra battery brings the total capacity up to 7,680Wh while the addition of a solar panel puts you in line for recharging off-grid.

More Anker Solix deals

• Anker Solix C300 — $169.99 $249.99 (save $80)

• Anker Solix C1000 — $429.99 $799 (save $369.01)

• Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 — $749 $1,499 (save $750)

• Anker Solix F2000 — $799.99 $1,999 (save $1,199.01)

• Anker Solix F3800 — $1,898.99 $2,599 (save $700.01)

• Anker Solix E10 — $4,299 $5,799 (save $1,500)

Best Jackery deal Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 $429 at Amazon
$799 Save $370   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for a portable power station to take along to the campground this summer, the Jackery Explorer 100 V2 is an ideal model. It's a mix of portability, durability, solid port options, and it's on sale for under $430. This Jackery model comes with 1,070Wh for recharging your phones while camping, keeping the speaker ready to go, and powering up the projector for movie nights. Plus, it weighs under 24 pounds, so you won't have to struggle lugging it around camp.

More Jackery deals

• Jackery SolarSaga 100W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel — $197.99 $299 (save $101.01)

• Jackery 1000 v2 with 200W Solar Panel — $698.99 $1,499 (save $600.01)

• Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 — $749 $1,499 (save $750)

• Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus — $1,598.99 $2,799 (save $1,200.01)

Best deal for camping Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Solix Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $428.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $370.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2.

After testing dozens of portable power stations, one of my go-to models for taking along on a weekend of camping is the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2. Sure, you can go lighter and even more portable models, but I love the Solix C1000's combination of 1,024Wh, three USB-C ports, and the excellent Anker Solix app. It's also incredibly easy to carry around the campground, weighing under 25 pounds. Plus, Anker won a Guinness World Record for the power station's ability to recharge in just 49 minutes.

More portable power stations on sale at Amazon

• EcoFlow River 2 Pro — $314.99 $529 (save $214.01)

• DJI Power 1000 — $349 $699 (save $350)

• DJI Power 1000 V2 — $364 $699 (save $335)

• Goal Zero Yeti 500 — $399.89 $499.95 (save $100.06)

• Segway Cube 2000 — $538.98 $899.99 (save $361.01)

• EcoFlow Delta 3 with 220W Solar Panel — $588.98 $999 (save $410.02)

• Goal Zero Yeti 700 — $599.89 $699.95 (save $100.06)

• DJI Power 2000 — $699 $1,299 (save $600)

• EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 — $2,099 $3,699 (save $1,600)

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, March 27, 2026:

AcrossBad place to spend time on your phone, it's said

• The answer is In bed.

Bridge-crossing fees

• The answer is tolls.

"Yeah, but even so ..."

• The answer is Still.

Internet joke

• The answer is Meme.

"SportsCenter" channel

• The answer is ESPN.

DownWords after a knock on the door

• The answer is It's Me.

Material for a lecture

• The answer is Notes.

Goodyear vehicle

• The answer is Blimp.

Comedian DeGeneres

• The answer is Ellen.

Broadband connection, for short

• The answer is DSL.

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

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 the latest Mini Crossword.

SAVE $500: As of March 27, the Samsung 40-inch Odyssey G7 is on sale for $699.99 at Amazon. That's a 42% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 40-inch Odyssey G7 $699.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $500   Get Deal

If you're looking to upgrade your gaming setup, Amazon's Big Spring Sale has come at the right time.

For a whole week (until March 31), the retailer will be dropping low prices on everything from Apple devices to everyday household essentials. And gaming products are getting the same treatment, with a standout deal live on the Samsung 40-inch Odyssey G7. As of March 27, this gaming monitor is down from $1,199.99 to $699.99, saving you $500 on list price.

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This is a 40-inch curved gaming monitor with a 1,000R design and a 21:9 ultrawide display. You'll get a detailed 4K resolution that fills more of your field of view. It supports VESA DisplayHDR 600 for improved contrast, giving you deeper blacks and brighter highlights.

It also has a 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time (GtG), so with every game you'll have reduced lag and you can enjoy smoother, more responsive gameplay. Plus, it includes FreeSync Premium Pro support and offers height and swivel adjustments for a more comfortable, customizable setup.

This gaming monitor deal is live at Amazon now, so don't miss out.

TL;DR: Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box on sale for $118.99 in the Big Spring Sale, which knocks $45.71 off its $164.70 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box $118.99 at Amazon
$164.70 Save $45.71 Get Deal

The Amazon Big Spring Sale has been delivering solid deals across gaming, Pokémon, and even Apple products, but this latest offer is especially interesting if you have been waiting for a better entry point on one of Magic’s newest full booster boxes.

As of March 27, Amazon has the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box listed for $118.99, down from the $164.70 list price. That works out to a 28% discount, which is a sizable enough drop to make this one of the more appealing sealed MTG buys right now.

For this new price, you're getting a full box with 30 Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Boosters. Each pack comes with 14 Magic: The Gathering trading cards. Play Boosters are the format’s all-purpose option — useful for Limited play, casual pack opening, or just building out a collection.

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Each booster can contain 1 to 4 rare-or-higher cards, along with 3 to 5 uncommons, 6 to 9 commons, 1 land, and 1 traditional foil card of any rarity. There is even a chance at a foil borderless mythic rare, though Amazon says those appear in less than 1% of boosters. 

Lorwyn Eclipsed brings MTG back to the dual plane of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor, leaning into the split between light and darkness, order and chaos, and the return of familiar creature types, including Kithkin, boggarts, merrow, and Elves. 

Among other MTG deals, collectors can also buy the Magic: The Gathering Duskmourn House of Horrors Play Booster Box for $22 off. What’s more, the Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven Play Booster Box is still available for under $150. 

SAVE $50: As of March 27, Apple AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for $199 in the Amazon Spring Sale. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 at Amazon
$249 Save $50   Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale has been a welcome event for anyone who wants to save big on Apple products. We're only three days in but we've already seen huge savings on MacBooks, iPads, and AirTags. And if you've been eyeing up the Apple AirPods Pro 3, you'll be pleased to hear that they've dropped below $200. As of March 27, these AirPods are down to $199, saving you $50 on list price.

AirPods Pro 3 provide an incredible listening experience thanks to their three-dimensional audio with a new acoustic architecture that enhances bass and improves clarity. At this low price, they sound even better.

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Alongside incredible sound quality, these AirPods include built-in heart rate tracking for workouts. They'll also let you see the amount of calories burned for up to 50 different workouts. Other smart features include live translation and personalized audio tuning that adjusts the sound based on your ear shape and fit.

And for a perfect fit, they come with five ear tip sizes. They also have various hearing-focused features like at-home hearing tests, conversation boost, and hearing protection that protects your ears from damage from any loud external noises. For battery life, you'll get up to eight hours of listening with noise cancellation enabled, or up to 10 hours in transparency mode.

Get this AirPods deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: As of March 27, the ASUS ROG 32-inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitor is down to $899.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. That's $400 off the list price of $1,299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG 32-inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitor $899.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $400   Get Deal

Gamers love a major sale. Sure, gaming is all in the name of fun but once you start buying all that hardware it becomes a very serious business. Gaming at the top level doesn't come cheap. Thank goodness then for the Amazon Big Spring Sale, which runs through March 31 with stacks of deals. And if it is gaming hardware you’re trying to buy — specifically a gaming monitor — we recommend checking out the ASUS ROG 32-inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitor, now discounted by 31%.

The ASUS ROG 32-inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitor is currently available for $899.99, saving you $400 on list price. It’s usually listed at $1,299.99.

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This monitor is a mid-sized model but it’s packing a mighty spec for a fully immersive gaming experience. Most experts agree that OLED is the best display technology available, whether you’re looking at gaming monitors or smart TVs, but this model also adds lots of gaming specific features. 

It’s compatible with NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology for butter-smooth, low-latency gameplay, plus anti-flicker technology and AI-assisted visuals that create an all-round improved gaming world. It also comes with a refresh rate of 240Hz but can max out at 480Hz in FHD mode. 

Don’t miss your chance to save $400 on the ASUS ROG 32-inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitor as part of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale — now available for just $899.99.

SAVE $80: As of March 27, the DJI Mic 3 is on sale for $249 in the Amazon Spring Sale. That's a 24% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic 3 $249 at Amazon
$329 Save $80   Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale has dropped, and there's a great discount on the DJI Mic 3. If you create any sort of content, this is a piece of kit you won't regret buying. And as of March 27, you can get it for its best-ever price, now down to $249 from $329.

The DJI Mic 3 is essentially a compact wireless microphone system that's designed for portable recording. It has a lightweight design, so it's ideal for filming on the go. It comes with a carrying pouch, charging case, one locking 3.5mm TRS to TRS audio adapter cable, two magnets, two magnetic clips, a USB-C mobile phone adapter, one receiver, two transmitters, four windscreens (two black and two black/grey), and a USB-C to USB-C data cable.

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The receiver can pair with up to four transmitters and sync audio to multiple receivers, so it's a great choice for group recordings like podcasts or interviews. And the sound quality is truly great. It uses adaptive gain control to record consistent audio levels, in all kinds of environments. It benefits from great noise cancellation settings too, ideal if you're recording in busy, loud spaces.

You can find this DJI deal in Amazon's Big Spring Sale right now.

TL;DR: As of March 27, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum is down to $899.99 in the Amazon Spring Sale. That's $600 off the list price of $1,499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame X50 Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum $899.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $600   Get Deal

We’re three days into the Amazon Big Spring Sale and we’re seeing even more opportunities for you to save big money on high-ticket tech. If you’ve always wanted a robot vacuum, for instance, but never quite had the $1,500 budget for a premium model, this sale is your chance to save literally hundreds of dollars. In fact, you can save a massive $600 on the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum, a vacuum and mop 2-in-1 model with a stacked set of features.

The Dreame X50 Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum is now available for $899.99, 40% off the regular list price of $1,499.99 — a total saving of $600. According to camelcamelcamel, that’s a record-low price for this robot vacuum.

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The Dreame X50 Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum offers serious value for money. It can pretty much do it all, with VersaLift navigation that uses AI and LED vision to find its way around and detect various obstacles and messes. It can even tell the difference between solid dirt and liquid spills and cleans up accordingly. 

It will climb over obstacles of 2.6 inches — such as rugs, steps, and door tracks — by using its retractable ProLeap legs. It also gets under furniture and cleans deep into corners of your living space. And when it's work is done for the day, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete returns to its docking station to automatically empty its load and self-clean its mop heads. All while you put your feet up, of course.

Be sure to get this awesome device while it’s so heavily discounted in the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Buy the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum for $899.99 for a limited time.

We have seen the future of AI via Large Language Models. And it's smaller than you think.

That much was clear in 2025, when we first saw China's DeepSeek — a slimmer, lighter LLM that required way less data center energy to do its job and performed surprisingly well on benchmark tests against heftier American AI models. (Ironically, it was built atop an open source U.S. model, Meta's Llama).

DeepSeek may have foundered on privacy concerns, but the trend towards smaller and smarter AI isn't going away. The evolution is on display again in TurboQuant, a compression algorithm that Google quietly unveiled this week via a Google Research paper.

The paper itself is pretty impenetrable if you're not an AI nerd who talks tokens and high-dimensional vectors. We'll get into a more detailed explanation below. But here's the TL;DR: The TurboQuant algorithm can make LLMs' memory usage six times smaller.

What does that mean? Less energy usage, perhaps to the point where running a powerful AI model on your powerful smartphone becomes possible. Less RAM usage, right on time for the ongoing RAM shortage.

Certainly, algorithms like this can help LLMs make more efficient use of the data centers they're hosted in — either by using the extra space to run more complex models, or, hear me out, by allowing us not to rush into building so many unpopular new data centers in the first place.

And that, paradoxically, could be a problem for the AI economy, at least as it's currently structured.

Why smaller and smarter will mess up NVIDIA

For the past three years, tech stocks have been riding ever higher on the back of one company alone: NVIDIA. And NVIDIA has been riding ever higher on the assumption that we're in the middle of what CEO Jensen Huang called this month "the largest infrastructure buildout in history" — an explosion of data centers, for which NVIDIA will be the chief provider of chips.

But that infrastructure build-out, if you look at data centers actually built versus data centers promised, is already stumbling, as a fresh New York Times investigation just made clear. What's the holdup? Not just opposition from concerned citizens across the U.S., now including the NAACP. It's also permits, applications, inspections, and the other unsexy but often necessary parts of the local government machinery.

Not least of the problems: A dearth of power generation and transmission, which doesn't sit well with the AI industry's unquantifiable ability to soak up electricity and suck up water.

What happens when the desire for more AI runs into a lack of infrastructure? Well, then necessity becomes the mother of invention. We learn to do more with less. And that's exactly what TurboQuant does.

Middle-out compression

Here's that explanation — although since TurboQuant is a compression algorithm, you'd be forgiven for imagining Google had the same NSFW "middle out" compression algorithm inspiration that drove the plot of the HBO comedy Silicon Valley.

So there's a couple of energy "bottlenecks" when AI models reach for something they really want and frequently use. One is called the key-value cache, which is like a really hot library that stores the most-used information. The other is the vector search, which matches things that look the same. TurboQuant effectively lubricates both at once, making memory grabs faster, smoother, and less fraught.

TurboQuant "helps unclog key-value cache bottlenecks by reducing the size of key-value pairs," Google's paper says, in part by the "clever" move of "randomly rotating the data vectors."

Got that? No? Well, it doesn't really matter. All you need to know is that there's a promising new field of extremely complex computational mathematics, and it works the way compression algorithms have long worked — making new technology faster, lighter, easier to run.

First, it was ZIP file downloads, then the video compression that enabled the streaming revolution, and now it's AI. The result could allow a more powerful LLM to run entirely on your phone, or it could crash the global economy, or both at the same time. Isn't life in 2026 wild?

NASA will shelve its plan for a small lunar space station in favor of building a base directly on the moon.

For years, the U.S. space agency talked up Gateway, a station that would circle the moon and act as both a lab and pit stop for lunar missions. Now, after another hard look at time, money, and logistics, officials say executing that project would only slow them down on the way to the main event: getting astronauts back on the moon — before China beats them to it. 

As NASA prepares to launch Artemis II, a 10-day crewed flight around the moon that could lift off as early as Wednesday, April 1, agency leaders are overhauling the moon-landing missions that will follow it, trying to ensure the first boots in the dust since 1972 are American. That means sticking a landing during the Artemis IV mission in 2028. 

But as for NASA's time crunch for the moon base, that part is largely self-inflicted. A target of 2030 for installing the first pieces of the astronaut habitat stemmed from Gateway plans the agency sold to stakeholders years ago. To keep the date, the agency says it must skip the space station — the project that helped establish the timeline in the first place. 

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December that mandated some kind of lunar outpost by 2030, but there's a catch: The directive can only set the policy deadline and has no control over the funding. So while NASA wants $20 billion over seven years to build the newly envisioned base, it lacks a financial guarantee from Congress to cover the full cost. Meanwhile, many U.S. lawmakers are focused on trying to save other space and Earth science initiatives Trump wants to cut. 

"I can't imagine anyone would rather their astronauts be above the moon looking down where all the action is, as opposed to being on the surface itself," said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. 

SEE ALSO: A solar system is forming right before our telescopes

The sweeping change to NASA's lunar ambitions came during an agency-hosted meeting in Washington this week dubbed Ignition, which sought to galvanize support from contractors, international space partners, and lawmakers. 

Astronauts would build the moon base at the lunar south pole, a region about the size of Virginia. The area has deep, shadowed craters that may hold ancient ice and other frozen material. If NASA can mine those resources, crews could use them for living and working on the surface without needing constant resupply from Earth.

NASA wants to build this moon base, with the first pieces installed in 2030. Credit: NASA illustration

The new plan rolls out in three phases. Over the next two years, NASA wants to prove it can hit the lunar surface often and reliably, using roughly two-dozen launches and more than 20 mostly commercial landings to drop off robots at the south pole, scout for water, and test nuclear-powered heaters that can maintain hardware in long stretches of darkness and cold. 

Around 2029, heftier landers would bring in power and communications gear, and rugged rovers would start leveling the ground for living quarters, assisted by a pressurized rover that would double as a mobile home. Then, in the 2030s, crews would get several habitat modules to support longer stays, as well as a steady stream of cargo flights carrying supplies and returning lunar samples to Earth.

A major goal of this final phase is learning how to use the moon's own soil, called regolith, said Carlos Garcia-Galan, the moon base program executive. NASA plans to test 3D printing and other methods to turn the material into bricks, and to extract oxygen, water, and other elements that could be useful for supporting the base.

NASA argues that learning to live on the moon is a necessary step toward getting humans to Mars. If something were to break, a Martian crew would be stuck for months in a distant, hostile world. 

By running a base on the moon, the agency hopes to work through the challenges of keeping people alive, especially during the long lunar nights of extreme cold, fixing critical gear without quick resupply and using local resources while astronauts are still only a three‑day trip away from home.

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"Clearly, when we get to Mars, we're going to need some of this capability," Garcia-Galan said, "and when we get there, it's going to be tried and true."

As for the sidelined Gateway project, NASA says the space station hasn't been canceled and could be reprioritized later. But given the agency intends to repurpose some of the hardware for the moon base, its future is uncertain. 

Test labs and other equipment that were built for the space station would shift to serving surface missions. By scrapping Gateway for parts, officials think they can pay for the base without a massive top-line increase.

"It does look like science fiction, but guess what," Garcia-Galan said, "we're planning to turn that into reality."

TL;DR: Bring home an Apple MacBook Air for only $199.97 (reg. $999) now through April 16, while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $199.97
$999 Save $799.03   Get Deal

If you’re looking for a luxurious laptop at a bargain price, this MacBook Air fits the bill. It offers all the bells and whistles you’ve come to love from Apple at a shockingly low price. In fact, if you act fast, you can get this MacBook Air for only $199.97 (reg. $999) through April 16, while supplies last.

Looking for a lightweight computer that can still deliver the power you need to knock out your to-do list? This MacBook Air is one of Apple’s most portable laptops, weighing just 2.96 pounds without skimping on features. A 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM help you multitask and get things done.

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This MacBook Air’s 13.3-inch widescreen display gives you plenty of space to tackle work or play, while Intel HD Graphics 6000 offers crystal-clear visuals and a smooth streaming experience. You also have 12 hours of battery life, so you can get it all done without needing an outlet.

Need to store files right on the device? 128GB of storage gives you plenty of space to save files and download apps. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities make it easy to connect from anywhere. You’re saving big because this model comes with a Grade A/B rating, which means it might have some light scuffing on the bevel or case, or light scratches or dents on the body.

Get an Apple MacBook Air for only $199.97 (reg. $999) now through April 16, while supplies last.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Teach your computer some brand new tricks with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, on sale now for just $32.97 (reg. $219.99) through April 12.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $32.97
$219.99 Save $187.02   Get Deal

Could your computer use a little spring refresh? This lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows gives your device eight new tools to work with, and right now you can secure them all for $32.97 (reg. $219.99) — just $5 each — until April 12.

Whether you’ve got an old PC that could use a little sprucing up or you just snagged a brand new computer that needs these apps, this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 lifetime license is on sale just in time for spring. There are eight tools included, with no monthly subscription fees required.

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Wondering what’s included? This license includes Microsoft Office staples like Word to help with your document creation, Excel to build spreadsheets, Outlook to manage your emails, and PowerPoint to design presentations. You’ll also get licenses for Access, which is great for managing large databases, Publisher, which lets you design professional documents, Teams to stay connected with others, and OneNote to elevate your note-taking.

If the year of this edition gives you pause, don’t worry. Each app has been redesigner and has a ribbon-based interface so it’s easy to access features, tools, and customizations. Before purchasing, make sure your computer is running Windows 10 or 11.

Get this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, on sale now for just $32.97 (reg. $219.99) through April 12.

Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The best classic deals to shop during the Amazon Big Spring Sale Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Bundle $171.97 at Amazon (save $51) Get Deal Best Bluetooth tracker deal Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4 pack) $59.99 at Amazon (save $39.01) Get Deal Best Fire Stick deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $24.99 at Amazon (save $25) Get Deal Best Apple AirPods deals Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal

The first major Amazon sale of 2026 is here. The Amazon Big Spring Sale, which kicked off on March 25, features some of the retailer's best spring deals all the way through March 31. During a time when the price of simply breathing seems to get more expensive by the day, seven full days of deals are welcome.

Amazon is notorious for offering a selection of classic deals during major sale events — sales that we see pop up every Prime Day and Black Friday. These include Amazon devices, Apple products, Ninja kitchen appliances, and plenty more.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026: Live updates on Apple, Kindle, DJI, and Brooklinen deals

We've been covering Amazon's Spring Sale since it first cropped up three years ago, and Amazon's other major sales for even longer than that, so we decided to put our expertise to use. The result? The below list of the nine best classic Amazon deals we've spotted so far during the Big Spring Sale.

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Bundle $171.97
$222.97 Save $51   Get Deal Why we like it

The standard Amazon Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB storage comes with a list price of $159.99, but during Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2025, we saw that drop to $124.99. So far, it's only dropped down to $134.99, which is just OK, but the Kindle Paperwhite Bundle is on a discount. The bundle includes the Paperwhite (Mashable's favorite Kindle), a plant-based leather cover, and a power adapter. The Kindle Paperwhite is the perfect spring break accessory since it's lightweight enough to pack along and it's waterproof. Plus, a single charge can last for up to 12 weeks.

Best Bluetooth tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (1st Gen, 4 pack) $59.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $39.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple AirTags are a staple feature during Amazon sales. Will we see the first-ever discount on the second-generation AirTags? That remains to be seen, but for now, you can snag a four-pack of first-generation Apple AirTags for only $59.99, beating their lowest price ever by about $3. For the bundle, each Apple Bluetooth tracker costs just $14.99. The timing for this deal couldn't be better since we're all eyes on spring break and we're booking summer travel since airfare prices have no bounds these days.

Best LifeStraw deal Opens in a new window Credit: LifeStraw LifeStraw Personal Water Filter $13.18 at Amazon
$20.06 Save $6.88   Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon markets its Spring Sale as being the perfect time to pick up seasonally-appropriate savings, like outdoor supplies. But that wasn't the only reason it was unsurprising to see the LifeStraw on sale — if there's a sitewide Amazon sale, this personal water filter will be available for less than its full price. This time around, that means you can grab it for just $13.18, saving you 34% on the portable water filter.

Best Fire Stick deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Naturally, Amazon devices get markdowns every time an Amazon sale comes around. While Kindles may get a lot of love, it's definitely worth taking a second look at the brand's Fire Stick selection. Case in point: this 4K Plus model is 50% off, bringing it down to just $24.99. This streaming stick essentially turns any TV into a smart TV with easy access to streaming services. And, it's much cheaper than a $130 Apple TV setup.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 at Amazon
$249 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

It doesn't matter if the most recent model of AirPods has been out for years or if it came out months ago (as is the case with the AirPods Pro 3) — they will be discounted if Amazon is running a sale. Our reviewer heaped praise onto the latest flagship earbuds from Apple, calling out their standout ANC, great out-of-the-box sound quality, and interesting extra features like the built-in heart rate monitor and live translation. At $199, they're not quite at the lowest price we've ever seen them hit — that'd be the $184 they were at in February — but $50 off Apple's latest earbuds is still a pretty sick deal.

Best air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Our Place Our Place Wonder Oven $185 at Amazon
  Get Deal Why we like it

Finding an air fryer that's big enough to actually cook an entire meal, looks cute on a countertop, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg seems almost an impossible task, but Our Place's Wonder Oven somehow pulls it off (a wonder, indeed). The 12.7-quart countertop oven comes with a wire rack, air fry basket, bake pan, and crumb tray, and can air fry, bake, roast, toast, broil, and reheat. That's versatility. At $129 for Prime members (a 30% discount off the $185 list price), it's an excellent deal on the air fryer that Mashable's Samantha Mangino calls her "favorite kitchen appliance."

Best Dyson deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic Nural $349.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $200   Get Deal Why we like it

The (in)famous Dyson Airwrap can be a hit or miss when it comes to Amazon sales, but at least one model of the Dyson Supersonic goes on sale during an Amazon savings event. This time around, we're delighted to see it's the Supersonic Nural. Make no mistake, this is a luxury purchase, but its speedy dry times and temperature-adjusting magnetic attachments do absolutely add something to the hair-drying experience. Considering its $549.99 price tag, grabbing it on sale is absolutely the move — luckily, it's $200 off, bringing it down to $349.99.

Best budget headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux ANC $41.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $38.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The JLab JBuds Lux ANC are what you get when you want Bose QuietComfort headphones but want to pay under $100. On sale, you can beat even that impressive valuation and grab them for under $50, at just $41.99. (The $359 Bose QuietComfort headphones, on the other hand, have not gone on sale as of day two of the Spring Sale.) These headphones earned a spot on our best budget headphones list thanks to their adjustable (and great) active noise cancellation, impressive battery life, and balanced sound profile. As an added bonus, you have your choice of four colorways on sale.

Best tent deal Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Coleman Sundome Camping Tent (4 person) $94.99 at Amazon
$117.99 Save $23   Get Deal Why we like it

If the four-person Coleman Sundome Camping Tent isn't on sale when Amazon is hosting a sitewide sale, hell has probably frozen over. What won't be freezing over is you, protected from the elements in this tent that can fit a queen-size mattress, withstand winds of up to 35 mph, and has a rainfly to keep you dry and warm. This Big Spring Sale markdown knocks the price to $94.99, saving you 19%, and making this tent cheaper than its three-person counterpart.

A quick look at the best Amazon Spring Sale Bluetooth speaker deals: Best JBL deal JBL Charge 6 $159.95 (save $40) Get Deal Best Sony deal Sony ULT Field 3 $142.95 (save $67.04) Get Deal Best smart home speaker deal Amazon Echo Dot Max $74.99 (save $25) Get Deal Best Anker deal Anker Soundcore 2 $29.99 (save $15 ) Get Deal Best Sonos deal Sonos Roam 2 $139 (save $40) Get Deal Best Bose deal Bose SoundLink Micro $89 (save $30) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back for its third year, and the deals have been pretty impressive so far. While we're not seeing Black-Friday-level deals across every category, there are tons of record lows out there.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026: Live updates on Apple, Samsung, DJI, and Kindle deals

Case in point: portable Bluetooth speakers. Since the weather is finally warming up, it's the perfect time to grab a speaker you can take outside without a worry (well, mostly). From big names like JBL and Sony to some underrated favorites, here are the best Bluetooth speaker deals worth your money right now.

Best JBL deal (for most people) JBL Charge 6 $159.95 at Walmart
$199.95 Save $40   Get Deal at Walmart

We've tested a lot of Bluetooth speakers over the years, but the JBL Charge 6 is still our top recommendation on the market. We ranked it the "Best for Most People" in our best portable Bluetooth speakers roundup, and for good reason.

Even though it is a little bit bigger and about $50 more than its predecessor, its superior sound more than makes up for it. "Even at the lowest volumes, the Charge 6's sound easily filled a living room, but never sacrificed quality for loudness," writes our Lead Shopping Reporter, Bethany Allard. "The companion app also comes with four different equalizer presets and a custom equalizer, so you can adjust the sound to be just right for your ears."

This two-pound speaker comes with a removable handle strap (so it's light enough to take to the beach, backpacking, or wherever else), offers up to 28 hours of playtime on a single charge, and features an IP68 water- and dustproof design. Bonus: it doubles as a portable charger via USB-C.

More JBL Bluetooth speaker deals

• JBL Grip — $69.95 $99.95 (save $30)

• JBL Flip 6 — $109.95 $129.95 (save $20)

• JBL Flip 7 — $109.95 $149.95 (save $40)

• JBL Charge 5 — $139.95 $179.95 (save $40)

• JBL Xtreme 4 — $299.95 $379.95 (save $80)

Best Sony deal (for bass lovers) Sony ULT Field 3 $113 at Amazon
$209.99 Save $96.99   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Sony Why we like it

Read our full review of the Sony ULT Field 3 speaker.

Whenever someone mentions Bluetooth speakers, JBL, Bose, and Sonos are probably the first brands that come to mind. And that's totally OK — they're all solid brands! But Sony is a pretty good competitor that people often just lump in with TVs and gaming.

One of my favorite speakers of all-time is the Sony SRS-XB100. I use it all the time, especially when I'm at the beach. It has a little strap on it, so I usually just hang it up in the outdoor shower or on the back of my truck if I have my tailgate down and cooler out. (That speaker is $20 off right now, and I highly recommend it if you're looking for something that's super small but sounds amazing. Looking for something bigger? I bought my dad the SRS-XG500 years ago, and we still use it on the beach every summer.)

If you're looking for bass, our team can't recommend the Sony ULT Field 3 enough. It's lightweight (not as much as the SRS-XB100, obviously), and according to our audio expert, Alex Bracetti, the ULT Field 3 outplays the Beats Pill. This speaker also has a 50-foot range, is IP67 water- and dustproof, and offers 24 hours of battery life, plus an extra 120 minutes of playtime with a quick 10-minute charge.

What's even better? The black colorway is currently on sale for $142.95, which is the lowest price we've seen this model go for to date.

More Sony Bluetooth speaker deals

• Sony SRS-XB100 — $43 $64.99 (save $21.99)

• Sony XE300 — $67.99 $199 (save $131.01)

• Sony ULT Field 1 — $79.95 $139.99 (save $60.04)

Even more Bluetooth speaker deals

• Klipsch Nashville — $117.99 $159 (save $41.01)

• Bose SoundLink Flex — $129 $149 (save $20)

• Marshall Acton III — $199.95 $299.99 (save $100)

The best Amazon Big Spring Sale TV deals at a glance: Best small TV deal Hisense 32-inch S5 DécoTV QLED FHD Fire TV $194.97 at Amazon (save $55.02) Get Deal Best 55-inch TV deal Hisense 55-inch Canvas QLED 4K TV $687.99 at Amazon (save $306) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $977.99 at Amazon (save $500) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $897.96 at Amazon (save $398) Get Deal

Most of the year's major flagship TVs announced in January are typically out by the end of March, cueing retailers to push deals on last year's TVs even harder. March was further established as one of the best months to buy a TV when Amazon started holding a massive annual spring sale. The 2026 Big Spring Sale runs from March 25 through 31, and a ton of Amazon TV deals are proving that the annual price drop cycle is real.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

It's not just Amazon's in-house Fire TVs that see big discounts during the Big Spring Sale (Amazon Fire TVs are hardly the best TVs you can get for the money right now). I've been tracking new TV releases and comparing TV specs at Mashable for years, and I consistently find that the most worthwhile Amazon TV deals are from solid budget brands like TCL and Hisense, with a few sizes of Samsung's The Frame occasionally thrown in.

Pro tip: Best Buy tends to have way more options for deals on flagship Samsung and LG TVs. For instance, Samsung just released its 2026 Neo QLED TVs on March 24 — Best Buy's stock of on-sale 2025 versions of those TVs, like the QN70F and QN80F, has been much more stable than Amazon's this week. Amazon barely has any recent LG TVs in stock at all, while Best Buy has countless 2024 and 2025 QNED and OLED models on sale.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy’s Tech Fest is over, but these deals are still worth your money

At any rate, I'm tracking the best sales on TVs at Amazon throughout the end of the Big Spring Sale on March 31, with the rolling list updated as prices change. Every model featured here is at, or lower than, its previous best price based on data from camelcamelcamel, so these are genuinely competitive offers. I'm keeping a special eye out for fresh discounts across the models I've picked as the best 65-inch TVs you can buy so far this year.

Best Big Spring Sale TV deal Hisense 75-inch U7 QLED 4K TV $897.96 at Amazon
$1,297.99 Save $400.03   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

One TV that's actually beating its previous record-low sale price is the 2025 75-inch Hisense U7. Currently 31% off, it's $103 cheaper than it was just a month ago during Presidents' Day sales.

The 2026 version of the same TV was just unveiled on March 6, so a new price drop on the predecessor model certainly tracks. The 2026 75-inch U7 will cost $1,999.99 — more than $1,000 steeper than the 2025 model's $897.96 sale price. Those are the kind of steals I was talking about. The 65-inch model is also at a new record-low $697.96 if 75 inches is a bit larger than you'd like.

This mini LED model packs a serious punch for the price. Its brightness in SDR and HDR gets consistently great notes across the internet, with glare handling strong enough for most sunlit rooms. You don't always see a 165 Hz refresh rate in budget to mid-range TVs, so the Hisense U7 is a top contender for an XL gaming TV under $1,000.

Deals on 43-inch TVs and under

• Hisense 32-inch S5 Déco QLED FHD TV — $194.99 $299.99 (save $105)

• Insignia 43-inch Class F50 Series 4K Fire TV — $132.99 $199.99 (save $67)

• Amazon 43-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV (newest model) — $199.97 $329.99 (save $130.02)

• Samsung 43-inch Q8F QLED 4K TV — $397.99 $547.99 (save $150)

Deals on 50-inch to 55-inch TVs

• Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $239.97 $399.99 (save $160.02)

• Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV (newest model) — $279.97 $459.99 (save $180.02)

• LG 50-inch QNED82 4K TV — $396.99 $466.99 (save $70)

• Hisense 55-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $398.97 $549.99 (save $151.02)

• TCL 55-inch T7 QLED 4K TV — $399.99 $599.99 (save $200)

• Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $419.99 $479.99 (save $60)

• Amazon 55-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $439.99 $499.99 (save $60)

• Hisense 55-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $687.99 $999.99 (save $312)

• Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $737.96 $898 (save $160.04)

• Samsung 55-inch S90F OLED 4K TV — $1,097.99 $1,597.99 (save $400)

Deals on 65-inch TVs

• Insignia 65-inch F50 4K Fire TV — $269.99 $449.99 (save $180)

• TCL 65-inch T7 QLED 4K Fire TV — $499 $699.99 (save $200)

• Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $697.96 $1,499.99 (save $802.03)

• Hisense 65-Inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $887.99 $1,097.99 (save $210)

• TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $977.97 $1,499.99 (save $522.02)

• Samsung 65-inch QN90F OLED 4K TV — $1,399.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,100)

Deals on 75-inch to 77-inch TVs

• Hisense 75-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $546.97 $799.99 (save $253.02)

• Hisense 75-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $597.96 $899.99 (save $302.03)

• TCL 75-inch T7 QLED 4K TV — $629.99 $899.99 (save $270)

• TCL 75-inch QM6K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $797.99 $999.99 (save $202)

• Hisense 75-inch U8 Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $1,299.99 $1,698 (save $398.01)

• TCL 75-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,497.97 $1,999.99 (save $502.02)

• Samsung 75-inch QN90F OLED 4K TV — $1,699.99 $2,99.99 (save $1,300)

• Samsung 77-inch S90F OLED 4K TV — $1,997.99 $2,497.99 (save $500)

Deals on 85-inch TVs

• Hisense 85-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $797.97 $1,299.99 (save $502.02)

• Hisense 85-inch U8 Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $1,687.96 $2,297.99 (save $610.03)