IT General

Choosing the best laptop is a largely subjective decision that comes down to your primary use cases, your preferred operating system, and your budget. In other words, there's no such thing as a universally best laptop.

This is an annoying fact of life for both laptop shoppers and those of us doling out "best laptop" recommendations, since we can't make custom judgment calls for everyone in need of a new machine. (I would love to, but I've got a thing after this.) However, I can confidently point you in the right direction of some standouts that I and other members of the Mashable team have vetted and approved.

What are the best Windows laptops right now?

As of March 2025, Mashable's top laptop overall is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, a sophisticated Copilot+ PC with incredible performance, an unrivaled battery life of nearly 23 hours, and some fun AI features, if you're into that sort of thing. Note that Microsoft recently announced an Intel version that may appeal to users wary of Windows on ARM for app compatibility reasons, but it's a business-oriented model with a significant markup.

Among hybrid laptops, our 2-in-1 frontrunner is the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 9), a solid performer with a gorgeous 2.8K OLED display, a rotating soundbar, and a superb webcam.

SEE ALSO: The best cheap laptops for 2025: 6 models under $1,000 that we tested and approved

For those on a budget, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 9) is our newly crowned "best cheap laptop" under $1,000. It's a 2-in-1 Copilot+ PC with ample power for everyday tasks, a good amount of ports, and a starting price of $899.99. It replaces our previous pick, the $799.99 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which has a premium, ultra-portable design and an excellent keyboard but dated internals and a lousy 720p webcam. (It's still a passable option for brand loyalists with tight purse strings, but don't buy it unless it's on sale.)

What are the best MacBooks?

Team Apple is currently in limbo. Out of all the models we've actually tested, we think the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air is the best MacBook for most people. It's a sleek, peppy notebook that's ideal for work and school; however, Apple just discontinued it after announcing its successor, the M4 MacBook Air, which offers open-lid support for two displays and promises faster performance.

So where does that leave shoppers? As of March 12, you can buy the new M4 MacBook starting at $999. We don't like throwing our full recommendation behind laptops without thoroughly testing them first, but barring any surprises, we have a strong suspicion it's going to be our new No. 1 pick. (We already know what to expect from its M4 chip). Stay tuned for next month's update to find out if the M4 Air is as good as it seems on paper. In the meantime, you can grab the remaining M3 MacBook Air models on sale for $799.

SEE ALSO: Hands on with the M4 MacBook Air: The sky blue color is SO subtle

Beyond that, the 16-inch M4 Pro-powered MacBook Pro is still holding strong as our favorite laptop for photo and video editing. It's stupid fast, beautifully made, long-lasting, and configurable with a stunning nano-texture display.

Read on for Mashable's in-depth guide to the best laptops of 2025. FYI: We've listed the pricing and specs of our testing units, which may not apply to each laptop's base model.

UPDATE: Mar. 15, 2025, 5:00 a.m. EDT New flagship robot vacuums from several top brands were announced at CES 2025 in January. I'm currently testing the Dreame X50 Ultra at home with others on the way, and will update this guide accordingly.

The best self-emptying robot vacuums have one huge perk past the obvious act of vacuuming the floor for you. (Hint: It's in the name.)

When you outsource vacuuming to a robot, your floors get cleaned way more often, right? There's just one little downside to that extra attention that your floors are getting: More debris off the floor means a dust bin that fills up faster, and emptying a vacuum's dust bin by hand is arguably the worst part of the chore.

SEE ALSO: Top 3 best robot vacuums from CES 2025, from coolest to most practical

Hence, self-emptying robot vacuums were born. These vacs do your vacuuming and emptying for you for weeks (or even months) at a time, storing the debris collected on each trip in a larger compartment that's located in the charging dock. It's the obvious supplementary step for the full hands-off cleaning experience, and it's rare to see a robot vacuum from 2024 or 2025 that doesn't have automatic emptying. (That's why Dyson's move to skip self-emptying on its $1,199.99 robot vacuum was so bold it's comical.)

Are self-emptying robot vacuums worth it?

Not having to lift a finger when it comes to floor maintenance is well worth it for anyone who just doesn’t feel like wrestling an upright vacuum out of the closet every few days. And if you don't feel like manually vacuuming yourself, it's only natural that you'll also decide you don't feel like manually dumping your robot vac's dust bin into the trash can every day. If we're doing this whole automated thing, let's do it the right way.

Automatic emptying quickly proves its worth in households where the layer of pet fur would otherwise have you dumping the vacuum's tiny dust bin after just a few rooms. The best self-emptying robot vacuum cleaners let you off the hook for months at a time. (Most brands claim to have capacities averaging between six to eight weeks, but almost every self-emptying dock I've tested in my 1,300 square foot apartment lasted much longer than that.)

SEE ALSO: It wasn't hard to narrow down the best Shark robot vacuums to these top 3

For people with allergies, auto-emptying also spares you from inhaling the inevitable puff of dust that emerges when dumping a dustbin into the trash. Speaking of avoiding the grosser parts of the job, if you're specifically seeking a robot vacuum that mops, many self-emptying docks also take it upon themselves to wash and dry the dirty mopping pads after the job is done.

I've been testing the latest and greatest self-emptying robot vacuums released in 2024 and 2025 against my old favorites from years prior. So far for 2025, these are the four self-emptiers to consider for your home.

(Note that each vacuum's retail price is listed by default, but that I've also noted the most common sale price each vacuum frequently drops to in "The Good" section. And yes, robot vacuum deals are common all throughout the year — not just during a shopping holiday like Black Friday.)

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 on/in water

• Green: Baseball-related

• Blue: Share a first name

• Purple: Not a ball

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

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

• Yellow: Boat sports

• Green: Baseball terms that are also food

• Blue: Famous sporting Tims

• Purple: Sports that don't use a ball

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 #173 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Boat sports - CANOEING, KAYAKING, ROWING, SAILING

• Baseball terms that are also food - CAN OF CORN, JAM, PICKLE, TATER

• Famous sporting Tims - BROWN, DUNCAN, HORTON, SALMON

• Sports that don't use a ball - BADMINTON, CURLING, DARTS, ICE HOCKEY

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

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

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

France delivered the performance of the 2025 Six Nations against Ireland to secure 42-27 victory away from home, and now Les Bleus hold all the cards. They can win the Six Nations with a victory over Scotland in the final round of the competition.

If you want to watch France vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is France vs. Scotland?

France vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 8 p.m. GMT on March 15. This fixture takes place at the Stade de France.

How to watch France vs. Scotland for free

France vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream France vs. Scotland from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream France vs. Scotland for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch France vs. Scotland without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream France vs. Scotland in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Italy vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Ireland may have blown their chance at winning the 2025 Six Nations, but they'll want to finish this year's competition on a high. Of course, Italy will do everything they can to upset the odds in Rome.

If you want to watch Italy vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Italy vs. Ireland?

Italy vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 2:15 p.m. GMT on March 15. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Olimpico.

How to watch Italy vs. Ireland for free

Italy vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Italy vs. Ireland from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream Italy vs. Ireland for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Italy vs. Ireland without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Italy vs. Ireland in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Wales vs. England in the 2025 Six Nations for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

England responded to losing their opening 2025 Six Nations game against Ireland by winning the next three against France, Scotland, and Italy. Can they finish on a high against Wales and give themselves a chance of winning the tournament? You can find out without spending anything.

If you want to watch Wales vs. England in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Wales vs. England?

Wales vs. England in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 4:45 p.m. GMT on March 15. This fixture takes place at the Millennium Stadium.

How to watch Wales vs. England for free

Wales vs. England in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Wales vs. England by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wales vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Wales vs. England without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Wales vs. England in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

The online world can be a dangerous place, with hackers, viruses, and surveillance software lurking in every corner of the web. We're not trying to scare you, but have you ever considered just how much of your personal data is exposed to this sort of thing whilst you're browsing? If not, you probably should. You might be surprised by the results.

Your data is seriously valuable stuff these days, and everyone is looking to get their hands on it. Once you come to understand that the internet is insecure, it's perfectly normal to feel a little concerned about how much of your data is up for grabs. There's no need to panic though, because there is a simple and effective way that you can stay protected.

To stay safe online and keep all of your data and personal information secure, you really should consider investing in a VPN.

What is a VPN?

VPNs provide protection for your data and identity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location). All of your activity is untraceable and secure because everything passes through an encrypted tunnel. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside is protected against online threats. This means that hackers, governments, and your internet service provider will be unable to access any of your information.

Do you need a VPN?

Investing in a VPN is one of the best ways to ensure your safety and anonymity online. VPNs are vital tools in the fight against scammers and cybercriminals, but there's another reason you might consider these security services. And it has nothing to do with security.

SEE ALSO: The best VPNs for remaining anonymous online

VPNs can be used to unlock streaming services from around the world, including the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. How do they do this? It's actually a really simple process, and it can significantly boost your content options. All you need to do is open up your preferred VPN, connect to a server from another country in order to spoof your IP to another address, and then head to your preferred streaming site. This process tricks the site into thinking you are based in another country, meaning you can watch all that great content that is normally blocked.

VPNs are really useful for cybersecurity and streaming, which means they should be a worthwhile investment for just about everyone.

What should you know before subscribing to a VPN?

Selecting a VPN that is right for you is not easy, because there are a lot of options all offering similar packages. To make the decision a little simpler, we have highlighted a selection of the most important things to consider before making any sort of purchase:

• Connection speed — This is absolutely vital whether you're looking to use a VPN for online security or streaming. It's normal for a VPN to result in a drop in your connection speed, but you shouldn't accept anything significant.

• Encryption — We know that a lot of people will be using VPNs for streaming, but these services are primarily designed to provide cybersecurity, so encryption is important. The best VPNs will offer powerful protection for your data, meaning that everything is unreadable and untraceable.

• Number of connections — You should seek out a VPN that offers multiple simultaneous connections, so you can stay protected on all your devices at the same time. This is also beneficial for large families or households with multiple people likely to be online at the same time.

• Privacy policy — The best VPNs should be very clear about how they handle, store, and use your data. These practices should be laid out in a privacy policy, and if they aren't super clear, you should look elsewhere.

• Server network — The best VPNs provide access to thousands of servers located all around the world. This is useful as you should always be able to find a stable and speedy connection for streaming, shopping, or browsing.

There are plenty of other things that are worth considering, like bandwidth, apps for certain operating systems, and customer support, but these are probably the most important features to keep in mind.

Should you use free VPNs?

With free versions of popular VPNs and free trials of VPNs with full access to everything you get with a premium plan, why would you ever pay? As with most things in life, you get what you pay for with VPNs.

There tends to always be a catch with free versions, and it's normally in the form of limited data usage. If you're just an occasional user, these plans will work fine. But if you're going to be streaming or downloading, this isn't going to work. Free trials are a little bit different: they come with everything you get in a paid plan, but obviously they don't tend to last very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing, but this isn't a long-term solution.

To gain access to advanced security features without limitations on usage, you need to pay up. The best VPNs are generally the most expensive, but there are plenty of cheap plans out there, especially if you're willing to commit to a lengthy contract.

What is the best VPN?

There are a lot of VPNs out there, and we recommend taking some time to carefully access all your options. Once you have established exactly what you need, you can turn your attention to finding the best deals on all the top VPNs.

We have reached out to partners in order to line up a list of the best deals on the most popular providers, to help you save big. You can find all the best deals on the likes of ExpressVPN, NordVPN, PureVPN, and more.

These are the best VPN deals in 2025.

TL;DR: Through 30 March, grab a lifetime of cloud storage from Koofr on sale for £92.72 (reg. £626.51) with coupon code KOOFR.

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) £92.72
£626.51 Save £533.79 Use code 'KOOFR' Get Deal

So many cloud storage services come with a monthly fee. It may feel cheap at first, but how many of those files are only there temporarily? With every month you pay for cloud storage, the value starts to fade. The cheaper overall alternative is to get cloud storage that lasts for life without needing to pay more than a one-time fee. Take a look at Koofr's offer for a 1TB lifetime cloud storage subscription for £92.72. Just use the code KOOFR when you checkout at the Mashable Shop.

Koofr takes your privacy seriously with top-notch encryption for your files, both when they're being transferred and while they're stored. They also don’t track your activity, so you can rest easy knowing your data is secure and private.

What really stands out about Koofr is how flexible and user-friendly it is. Whether you're on your smartphone, desktop, or using WebDAV, you can easily access and manage your files from anywhere. The interface is straightforward, so even if you're new to cloud storage, you’ll find it easy to use.

Plus, if you’re already using other cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, or OneDrive, Koofr integrates smoothly, letting you handle everything from one place.

And for keeping your digital space in order, Koofr has some neat features. The Duplicate Finder helps you eliminate unnecessary duplicates, while advanced renaming options let you customise file links. This way, you can keep your files organised and your digital space clutter-free.

Keep your files safe and sound with a Koofr 1TB Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for £92.72 (reg. £626.51) with promo code KOOFR through 30 March.

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Looking for Microsoft Office deals? A license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home is now available for a one-time price of £100.53 (reg. £192.59) through 30 March, giving you lifetime access to key productivity tools.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC — Lifetime License £100.53 at the Mashable Shop
£192.59 Save £92.06 Get Deal

Why deal with subscription fees when you can own your productivity tools for life? Microsoft Office 2024 Home offers lifetime access with a one-time purchase of £100.53 — a 13% discount — letting you unlock the full suite with no recurring payments: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Whether you’re managing projects for work, school, or personal life, this edition provides all the tools you need to stay productive.

What’s new in Office 2024? For starters, Excel now allows you to handle larger datasets and multiple workbooks at once, making it easier to work on complex projects and analyses. PowerPoint ups your presentation game with new features for recording presentations, including integrated voice narration, and live camera feeds, which can help add a personal touch, especially during virtual meetings or remote work settings. Outlook now comes with an upgraded accessibility checker that ensures your emails are clear, readable, and meet accessibility standards, helping you communicate more effectively.

Office 2024’s streamlined interface is designed to be intuitive, with a unified look across apps, making it easier to jump between tasks and stay organised. Whether you're preparing financial reports, creating presentations, or simply managing everyday tasks, this suite works seamlessly across both Macs and PCs.

This one-time payment guarantees a lifetime device license for all of these tools.

Say goodbye to monthly fees and hello to a better way to work — score a lifetime device license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC for £100.53 (reg. £192.59) until 30 February at 11:59 p.m. PT. Get this deal — and more Microsoft Office deals — at the Mashable Shop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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's The Mini crossword answers for March 15 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: An acute jut

• Green: Parts of a guitar

• Blue: Lawyer terms

• Purple: Words in a popular nursery rhyme

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

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

• Yellow: Sharp protrusion

• Green: Features of stringed instruments

• Blue: Litigation verbs

• Purple: In "Star Light, Star Bright"

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 #643 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Sharp protrusion: BARB, BRISTLE, NEEDLE, SPINE

• Features of stringed instruments: BRIDGE, NECK, PEG, STRING

• Litigation verbs: CHARGE, MOVE, SERVE, SUS

• In "Star Light, Star Bright": MAY, MIGHT, TONIGHT WISH

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 March 15

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.

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for March 15 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 15, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Something used to serve soup.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

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...

LADLE.

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 March 15

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're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 March 15 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 15 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Free for all

The words are often used in marketing.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are giveaways.

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 SwagBag.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for March 15

• Tote

• Decal

• Pencil

• Shirt

• Notebook

• Lanyard

• Bottle

• SwagBag

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.

CRTs have been out of the mainstream for over two decades, but that doesn't mean there aren't modern games that get something a little special from being displayed by a high-voltage electron gun instead of twisty liquid crystals.

4K monitors are finally becoming more affordable, and so you may be thinking it's time to upgrade that 1440p or even 1080p display to something with way more pixels, and a much sharper image as a result.

A solar eclipse is a beautiful cosmic event in which you get to see the Sun as a ring of fire. But why exactly does a solar eclipse occur, and why is it advised never to view a solar eclipse with the naked eye? Here's everything you need to know.

Apple reportedly held an all-hands meeting with its Siri team to discuss the "embarrassing" and "ugly" delay of AI-enhanced functionality. Details from the meeting show that this AI voice assistant functionality, which has been heavily advertised through the iPhone 16 marketing campaign, may arrive even later than expected.

Star Wars fever has slowed down a bit from its heyday, but it's still a hugely popular franchise with tons of fans. Movies and TV shows are just a small part of it though—if you're a gamer and a Star Wars fan, these classic Star Wars games absolutely cannot be ignored.

T-Mobile has begun another wave of price hikes, this time hitting customers with legacy plans.

A leaked memo obtained by CNET prepared the Internet for the price hikes. (Full disclosure: CNET is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as Mashable.) In the memo, T-Mobile said this week it would begin raising prices for some subscribers. John Freier, president of T-Mobile’s consumer group, noted that the price hikes were due to “rising costs over the past several years.

Subscribers who are getting hit with the price increase started receiving notifications this week that their prices were going up, as stated in the memo. Reddit user anonymousdoe5147 posted an apparent screenshot of the text message. 

“For the first time in nearly a decade, we’re making an update to the price of some of our older monthly service plans,” T-Mobile’s text reportedly read. “Starting on 4/2/2025, your phone plan will increase by $5 per line per month. You’ll keep all the benefits you currently enjoy, and your rate plan type and bill due date will remain the same.”

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile Starlink is offering free (temporary) access even if you're not a T-Mobile customer

The price hikes are the final piece of a series of  “price adjustments” that T-Mobile began last year. At the time, the carrier increased rates by either $2 or $5 per month, depending on the plan. At the time, the increases affected customers on T-Mobile’s Simple Choice Plan (released 2013), T-Mobile One Plan (released 2016), and T-Mobile’s Magenta and Magenta Max plans (released 2019 and 2021, respectively). Some T-Mobile business customers were also affected.

People on T-Mobile’s current Go5G, Go5G Plus, and Go5G Next plans, along with those with T-Mobile’s Price Lock guarantee, are unaffected.

T-Mobile justified the price increase by stating that “even with these small updates, on average, T-Mobile customers pay less.”

Which T-Mobile plans are affected?

T-Mobile hasn’t stated which plans are affected, so the overall impact remains a mystery. Based on complaints on Reddit, it seems Magenta MAX and T-Mobile ONE plans were primarily affected.

Customers were apparently directed through text to an FAQ on T-Mobile’s website. The company doesn’t list which plans are affected there either, but it does note that the carrier’s Un-contract Promise is still in effect. Thus, anyone who’s very unhappy about the rate increases has 60 days to notify T-Mobile that they’re leaving, and T-Mobile says it will pay the final month of recurring charges.

If you're a PC gamer, you're probably used to gaming on Windows 10. Later this year, though, you'll have to switch to Windows 11. Fortunately, Windows 11 includes some cool gaming features that you have to look forward to when upgrading.

Macs used to have no end of gaming options, until about the turn of the century. Since then, gaming on a Mac has been a bit of a joke at Apple's expense. However, in recent years, things have taken a turn for the better, with Apple making many moves that should result in more games coming to its platform,