Technology

It’s no secret that a good percentage of thefts are opportunistic in nature. Thieves target items that are easy to grab, so a good defense often boils down to making items less inviting.

Google didn't really bring the heat with most of the Pixel 11 lineup this year. The base Pixel model and the foldable Pixel 11 Pro Fold are both totally fine, but they don't stand out among the competition thanks to minor and unremarkable changes.

That's mostly true for the flagship Pixel 11 Pro as well, but what it lacks in incredible innovations, it makes up for in being a very good, very easy-to-use Android device with excellent cameras. Photography is fun on the Pixel 11 Pro, which is not something I feel about many handsets these days. A combination of hardware and software makes your images consistently look nice, even in challenging lighting conditions.

Between that and acceptable levels of performance and battery life, the new Pro is the smartphone I recommend getting in the Pixel 11 lineup. Just don't buy it for HiLight.

SEE ALSO: Review: Google Pixel 11 is sleek, but you might be happier with a cheap Pixel 10 Google Pixel 11 Pro review: The inevitable price increase Nice display. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Despite filling the lede for review with a bunch of praise for the phone, I'm going to pivot right away into something I dislike about it: the starting price. At $1,099, it's $100 more than the Pixel 10 Pro was at launch. There are some caveats to that, as I'll cover momentarily, but the fact of the matter is that you can't get a Pixel 11 Pro for (technically) less than $1,000 anymore. That stinks.

But at least the colors this year are nice: Canyon, Olive, Fog, and Obsidian. I reviewed the Canyon model and I found it pretty easy on the eyes. Here are the basic specs for the Pixel 11 Pro:

• Display: 6.3 inches with 1280x2586 resolution, 1-120Hz refresh rate, and 3,600 nits peak brightness

• Processor: Google Tensor G6

• RAM: 12/16GB

• Storage: 256/512GB/1TB

• Battery: 4,850mAh

• Rear cameras: 50MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP telephoto

• Front camera: 42MP

Alright, so, there are a few things to clarify here. The display's size and resolution haven't changed at all since the Pixel 10 Pro, but the peak brightness has, with an extra 300 nits on this year's device to boost daytime performance. In outdoor usage, I had no problem clearly seeing what was on the screen, so I'd say that little boost did its job. The base Pixel 11 didn't get the same upgrade, so that's one of the things you get for the extra money.

Camera bar is a little thick. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

One major drawback, though, is that Google has cut the RAM on the lowest-end model to 12GB. Last year, you could get a Pixel 10 Pro with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. This year, the 256GB model is tied to 12GB of RAM, while the 512GB and 1TB models get those four extra gigs of memory. I totally get that we live in the world of RAMageddon, but it still blows to see a phone downgrade year-over-year like that. I guess I should get used to it.

HiLight doesn't impress me much

HiLight is a little light module built into the camera bar on Pixel 11 Pro devices. This is supposed to be the one major hardware innovation this year, but I just don't see it. It only lights up when Gemini is in use or when someone calls you on the phone, two use cases that almost never happen in my life (aside from spam calls). It's theoretically a decent way to notify the user that something is up when the phone is turned over, but as it is right now, HiLight is a dud.

Lastly, I'll mention that the camera bar on the Pixel 11 Pro is much bulkier than on the base model. That's not a huge deal, especially if you put a case on the phone, but it is noticeable if you happen to have used both phones.

HiLight stinks. Credit: René Ramos / Mashable Google Pixel 11 Pro: Performance

I would describe the Pixel 11 Pro as "performant." Everything loads quickly and smoothly, and on-device AI tasks process in just a few seconds. It's not outstanding among other flagship smartphones, but these days, it's almost impossible for everyday performance to do that. Every phone is fast now. It's great.

Weirdly, the Geekbench 7 benchmarking software didn't agree with my IRL assessment. The Pixel 11 Pro got stunningly low scores on the test I ran: 1,448 for single-core CPU testing and 4,642 for multi-core testing. That's multiple thousands of points worse than the base Pixel 11, but I swear there is not a meaningful difference in practical use. Google's Tensor chips have always underperformed in Geekbench tests, so I'm guessing there's just something odd happening here that isn't really reflective of reality.

Google Pixel 11 Pro: AI features

One nice thing Google does is provide AI feature parity across its entire device lineup each year, and the Pixel 11 series is no different. As with the base Pixel 11 and the Pro Fold, the Pixel 11 Pro will use contextual on-screen prompts, such as a text message someone sent about a restaurant reservation, to surface relevant information or create calendar entries for you. These aren't exactly life-changing features, but they might save you a little bit of time.

The real AI juice this year is in Magic Capture and Rambler. Magic Capture is a new capture mode built into the Camera app that works the same as recording video, but once you're done recording, the phone will slice up the video into several clear, pristine still images for you, complete with automatic cropping and unblurring. I have found this great for getting good photos of pigeons around New York City, as they're fidgety and quick to scatter if you move too suddenly or get too close.

This guy really didn't want to be my friend. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

I'm as big an AI skeptic as there is, but Magic Capture works for me because it's genuinely useful and isn't really trying to replace any of your cognitive functions. It's not creating new information; it's just giving you usable still images from videos.

Rambler, meanwhile, is a new function built into Gboard that's able to clean up your speech-to-text recordings. If you're prone to "umms" and changing direction mid-sentence, Rambler does a nice job of turning whatever nonsense you give it into a readable sentence. I imagine this will be a godsend for people who like to dictate their text messages.

Google Pixel 11 Pro: Battery life Who among us doesn't like lying flat on our faces? Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Google rates each Pixel 11 device for 30 hours of battery life, and in my testing, that's about what I got out of them. The Pixel 11 Pro is no different.

Our testing method involves playing an HD video in full-screen on the device until it dies. Using that rubric, I got about 29.5 hours of juice out of the Pixel 11 Pro. As always, there are plenty of ways to squeeze even more life out of a phone, such as turning off 120Hz support and using battery-saving modes. I am confident you can go more than a full day without charging this phone.

Google Pixel 11 Pro review: The camera test

The real reason to get a Pixel 11 Pro (and this is true most years of the Pixel Pro phones) is the camera array. The rear cameras may not wow you with giant megapixel counts, but between the hardware and Google's patented software magic, it's so easy for even someone like me who knows nothing about photography to get great photos on a Pixel 11 Pro.

Every photo I took came out looking roughly like this, with clarity, vividness, and great color accuracy.

These won't be in bloom for long. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable Fall is almost here. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

Night Sight is excellent, too. These plants are nigh-invisible at night, but with Night Sight, it looks like I photographed them during the day.

Left: No Night Sight. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable Right: Night Sight. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

I'm always a fan of macro photography, and the Pixel 11 Pro takes pristine shots of things like plants up close and personal.

Macro rocks. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

I'd also like to shout out the digital zoom, which Google upped to 120x this year after it topped out at 100x on Pixel 10 Pro. This has been my favorite parlor trick on Pixel phones for a few years now. It's really amazing how good photos taken from super far away can look on this device. In the image on the left, you can't even see the church steeple that's the subject of the image on the right, but I was standing in the same place, looking in the same direction for both shots.

Nothing to see here, right? Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable It's not perfect, but for 120x zoom, that's really good. Credit: Alex Perry / Mashable

Between all of that and the addition of Magic Capture, this is a great phone for photography.

Google Pixel 11 Pro: The verdict

In case it wasn't clear, if you absolutely must have a phone from the Pixel 11 series and the extra money is not a hurdle for you, I'd recommend the Pixel 11 Pro. It's just a rock-solid Android phone with a really great photography suite. Sure, HiLight is a bust, and the camera bar is a little bulky relative to the base Pixel 11, but those are compromises that are worth living with if you want the best Pixel 11 phone.

Google Pixel 11 Pro $1,042.31 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $56.69   See It at Amazon See It at Best Buy

We are just days away from Apple's big September iPhone event. That means that along with new iPhones, the official launch of iOS 27 is just around the corner.

Even if you're not planning to upgrade to the iPhone 18 Pro or Apple's first foldable device, the new iOS 27 is packed with new features that will make your current smartphone feel brand new, including the long-awaited debut of Siri AI.

If you've installed the iOS 27 beta, then you might already have these features on your iPhone. But, if you're waiting for the official release, here are some of the top iOS 27 features you should be looking forward to.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iOS 27 is coming soon: Everything we know so far Siri AI

This is the big one. Apple announced plans for a completely rebuilt Siri assistant years ago. Now, they're finally going to launch Siri AI, powered by Apple Intelligence, with iOS 27.

For the first time, Siri now has its own app where users can type or speak to interact with the AI assistant. Users can still interact with Siri AI from anywhere on the device by just saying "Hey Siri," holding the iPhone's side button, or swiping down on the Dynamic Island. However, Siri AI will now live within its app too, where users can pull up past interactions and conversations with Siri.

Once a user accesses Siri AI, they can ask well beyond just general questions like how the weather is outside. They can even dive deeper than asking for real-time updates from online sources. Siri can now pull contextual information from the user themself to answer questions. Siri can pull answers from a user's emails, calendars, documents, notes, photos, and more.

There are even new tools within Siri AI as well, such as Write with Siri, in which a user can speak to Siri AI, and the assistant will generate text based on what the user asked for.

SEE ALSO: These 29 iPhones support iOS 27 and the public beta: Is yours on the list? Visual Intelligence

Speaking of Siri AI tools, this one deserves a callout of its own.

Visual Intelligence is a new iOS 27 feature that gives Siri AI the ability to answer questions based on what's right in front of the user. Simply point your iPhone camera at a movie on TV or a meal on the table, and Siri AI will be able to answer whatever questions you may have about it.

Users can also use Visual Intelligence to ask questions about photos, videos, or whatever else is on their iPhone screen as well.

Three new major AI photo editing tools (finally)

Apple Photos is getting a big upgrade with three new editing tools that will honestly make it feel like you've just upgraded to a new camera.

The biggest of the new features is Spatial Reframing. Using AI and the spatial data captured when snapping a photo, you can now change the angle and perspective of a picture after you've already taken it.

Extend is another new photo editing feature that uses AI to basically zoom out on a photo and generate more of the surroundings than what was captured in the original picture.

Finally, Clean Up is an improvement on a similar functionality that was already available on iOS devices. Just circle an object in a photo with your finger and Clean Up will remove the object.

Image Playground

Image Playground is getting real. 

Previously, the AI photo generation tool was mostly seen as a toy where users could generate cartoonish images. Now, Image Playground will be able to generate much more realistic photos as well.

Users will also be able to combine multiple different image elements and make additional edits via prompts to generate images.

New customization options

iOS 27 will introduce a new Liquid Glass slider, making it easier to adapt the transparency settings to your liking. In addition, if you have a relatively new iPhone, you'll also be able to customize Siri's voice.

Credit: Apple / Mashable Photo Composite Shortcuts update

There are quite a few updates to existing apps and features in iOS 27. If you want to read more about those, you can check them out in Mashable's previous iOS 27 and Siri AI coverage (here and here).

However, one upgrade to an existing feature feels like a whole new experience, so we think it deserves a standalone mention.

Apple has reimagined Shortcuts, perhaps one of the iPhone's lesser-used features, to make it much more welcoming to the average iPhone user. Shortcuts allow the user to set up a chain of commands or automated actions. It's supposed to make complicated processes easier; however, the initial manual setup is fairly intimidating to non-technical people.

With iOS 27, users will now be able to describe exactly what automation they want to setup with Shortcuts, and then Shortcuts will handle the entire setup process.

Bonus: Multitasking on the iPhone Ultra

If you're planning to get the first-ever Apple foldable, then you'll be able to use your iPhone more like a tablet. The larger inner screen will allow you to run multiple apps side-by-side, enabling new ways to multitask on your phone. While we haven't been able to preview these features in the iOS 27 beta yet, we know they're coming thanks to hints in the code and other leaks.

Top Apple Deals we found this week:

• Apple AirTag 2 (4-Pack) — $79.99 $99 (save $20)

• Apple AirPods 4 — $99 $129 (save $30)

• Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) — $649 $749 (save $100)

• Apple iPhone Air (256GB, unlocked) — $849.99 $999.99 (save $150)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,849 $1,999 (save $150)

• Shop all the best Apple Labor Day deals

Astronomers just spotted an enormous, 10-sided shape surrounding Saturn's southern skies.

They call it a decagon because it has 10 corners and 10 long sides. It rings the planet's southern mid-latitudes, where a powerful jet stream races around the globe. 

From Earth, we don't literally look up at Saturn's underbelly. Instead, Saturn tilts on its axis, so its poles lean toward or away from us in space over its long seasons. For more than a decade, the south stayed tipped away, and even our best telescopes could not see those latitudes clearly. 

But when Saturn's tilt swung the south pole back toward Earth, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and large ground‑based observatories finally gained a clear view from 2023 to 2025.

That timing explains why the decagon appears only now and why scientists are so interested. Researchers say it gives them a chance to watch how a giant planet can sculpt its winds into sharp, angular shapes in real time.

SEE ALSO: A battle-tested spacecraft now begins its approach to Mercury

So what is this thing, really? The decagon is not a ring of solid clouds in Saturn's sky. It's a giant atmospheric wave — a repeating bend in the winds that runs all the way around the planet.

Waves in air behave similar to waves in an ocean. Water doesn't pick up and slide across the sea in one big piece; instead, it rises and falls in place as the wave shape passes by. 

When Saturn's tilt swung the south pole back toward Earth, Hubble finally gained a clear view of the strange atmospheric wave pattern. Credit: NASA / ESA / Agustin Sánchez-Lavega / Amy Simon / Michael Wong / Alyssa Pagan

Details about the new phenomenon were published in Science Advances. 

If aliens on Saturn were to point the same telescopes at Earth, they would not see such geometric shapes in our clouds. Here, high‑altitude winds in the jet stream sometimes wobble north and south. Those bends help steer cold snaps, heat domes, and storm tracks. From space, they look messy and lumpy because continents, mountains, and coastlines keep chopping them up.

But Saturn has no continents or mountains — only deep layers of gas. That clean racetrack lets waves in the jet fall into regular patterns.

In the southern jet that hosts the decagon, the wind wiggles slightly toward the pole and slightly toward the equator as it flows. Where the wave bends one way, clouds pile up or brighten. Where it bends the other way, clouds thin out or darken. Up close, nothing actually has knife‑sharp edges, even on that alien world. But the repeated pattern tricks our eyes into seeing lines and corners.

"The most intriguing part to me is that this seems to have just formed recently," said Amy Simon, a co-author of the study based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, in a statement. "The question is, why did it suddenly form now when we haven't seen one before?"

Each facet of the decagon stretches about 10,000 miles. Credit: NASA / ESA / Agustin Sánchez-Lavega / Amy Simon / Michael Wong / Alyssa Pagan

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The decagon is enormous. Each side spans on the order of 10,000 miles. A jet stream under it tears along at about 260 mph, while its corners slowly shift back and forth over roughly month‑long cycles.

The structure also seems to evolve. Hubble images from 2023 show only weak hints of corners. By 2024 and 2025, all 10 points appear, though some look brighter and sharper. 

A nearby storm adds another wrinkle. Just north of the decagon, astronomers track a red spot a few thousand miles wide — not to be confused with the solar system's most famous Great Read Spot on Jupiter. In some colors, it looks bright, which means its clouds reach higher than the surroundings. In ultraviolet light, it looks dark. 

The strongest corners of the decagon gather near this storm. That proximity hints that the storm and the wave share energy in the same jet, and the red spot may help trigger or influence the shape.

To test ideas, scientists built a computer simulation of Saturn's weather layer at those latitudes. They set the model's winds to match the jet, then poked and prodded it in different ways: with a line of small bumps, with a storm like the red spot, and with a neat 10-wave pattern to start.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft photographed Saturn's hexagonal atmospheric wave pattern ringing its north pole in July 2013. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech /Space Science Institute

Though the details didn't match the real decagon, the model showed that strong, curved jets can create polygon‑like waves when something nudges them.

Only after they pinned down the southern decagon did researchers compare it to Saturn's north‑pole hexagon (Yes, there's another geometric wave pattern up top). The hexagon, with its six sides, has held its shape since the Voyager flybys in the early 1980s. It stands almost fixed relative to Saturn's rotation and has fairly even sides and corners.

The southern decagon, on the other hand, looks far less stable and only showed up a few years ago. Its corners shift in strength and position, and parts of the pattern look much weaker than others. That difference tells scientists the southern wave may be more ephemeral.

"Images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which orbited Saturn between 2004 and 2017, showed no inkling of a long-lived formation, either," said Agustín Sánchez-Lavega, lead author of the study. 

The new decagon is especially valuable to scientists because it connects to a bigger puzzle across the solar system. On Jupiter, the poles host clusters of cyclones that arrange themselves into ring‑like, sometimes-polygonal patterns. By tracking Saturn's 10-sided wave through changing seasons and shifting sunlight, scientists hope to learn why some giant‑planet jets settle into tidy structures and others break into tangled storms instead.

I write about holiday sales for a living, and somehow, I still managed to forget that this Monday is a federal holiday until about an hour ago. If you also just realized that Labor Day 2026 is literally this Monday (where does the time go?), don't worry!

Here's a complete list of what stores are open and closed this Labor Day.

What stores will be open on Labor Day?

Banks, schools, and the DMV may shut down, but most businesses stay open on Labor Day so they can cash in on the sales. That said, it's always a good idea to double-check your local store hours, especially if you plan to shop later in the day.

SEE ALSO: 40+ Labor Day deals: We found limited-time deals on TVs, mattresses, Apple, and more to shop this weekend Groceries and big-box retailers

• Walmart: The big box retailer is open with regular hours; Walmart typically operates from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

• Target: The bullseye store will also be open, generally from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., though local times may vary (check out the Target 2026 Halloween collection)

• Warehouse clubs: BJ's Wholesale Club is open during regular hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m; Sam's Club is open, but locations will close early at 6 p.m. local time. Unfortunately, Costco will be closed, however.

• Trader Joe's and Whole Foods: Trader Joe's is operating normally from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Whole Foods locations are open but will have modified holiday hours, usually around 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Aldi: Open, but locations will operate on limited hours from 8:30 a.m. and close early at 6 p.m.

• National and regional supermarkets: Kroger and its family of stores are open, though their pharmacy hours might vary. Regional grocery chains, including Stop & Shop, ShopRite, ACME, Foodtown, Lidl, and Wegmans, will also operate on open schedules. Wegmans locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., while Stop & Shop is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Apple: The Apple store should be open if you need to grab a spare charger or fix your iPhone. However, if you're looking for the best Labor Day Apple deals, you'll need to shop online.

Hardware, department, and specialty stores

• Hardware stores: Home Depot and Lowe's are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., though Home Depot hours can vary slightly by location. IKEA is also open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Department stores: Best Buy, Kohl's, Macy's, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx, JCPenney, Old Navy, Burlington, Boscov's, and Marshalls are open with regular hours.

• Discount and dollar stores: Five Below, Goodwill, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar are all open and running normal hours.

• Specialty and hobby stores: Barnes and Noble, Bath & Body Works, Bass Pro Shops, Dick's Sporting Goods, Petco, PetSmart, REI, and Ulta Beauty will all be open with normal hours. Hobby Lobby is open, but operates on reduced hours from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• Pharmacies: CVS and Walgreens storefronts are open. However, most Walgreens pharmacies and select CVS pharmacies will be closed, except 24-hour locations.

What restaurants are open on Labor Day?

If you're not the BBQ, cookout type (I get it) and you'd rather not spend the day cooking, most major restaurant chains and fast-food drive-thrus are open with regular hours nationwide.

• Fast food and coffee: Starbucks, Dunkin', McDonald's, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, and Burger King are generally open, though individual franchise hours can vary slightly on holidays.

• Sit-down dining: Chains like Applebee's, Chili's, Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and Cracker Barrel keep their doors open to handle the holiday weekend crowds.

SEE ALSO: Labor Day 2026 deals: Score free food from Cheesecake Factory, Krispy Kreme, 7-Eleven, and more What's closed on Labor Day?

The general rule is that if it's a government building, a bank, or a membership warehouse that isn't Sam's Club or BJ's, it's closed.

• Costco: Costco is closed on Labor Day.

• Government offices: Federal, state, and local administrative offices, including courts, the DMV, and public libraries, are closed.

• Schools: Public schools and universities are closed.

• Banks: Branch locations are closed, but ATMs and online banking will still be available.

• Financial markets: The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed.

• Mail services: The USPS will not pick up or deliver regular mail, though Priority Mail Express will still run. UPS and FedEx will not have standard ground pickup and delivery services on Labor Day, though their critical/express services and some FedEx Office locations might have modified operating hours.

Looking for Labor Day sales online?

• The best Labor Day deals already live: Shop mattresses, tools, and TVs

• The best pre-Labor Day deals on Apple products

• The best Labor Day sales on mattresses, bedding, and pillows

• The best Labor Day home improvement deals from The Home Depot

• Shop the Ruggable pre-Labor Day sale on washable rugs

TL;DR: Through Sept. 10, get a lifetime 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for $69.97 (reg. $540), with tools for AI chat, writing, images, PDFs, documents, audio, video, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $69.97
$540 Save $470.03   Get Deal

AI subscriptions aren’t cheap, but they’re manageable if you only use one model like ChatGPT. However, if you need tools for generating images, writing copy, analyzing documents, or translating between languages, a platform like 1min.AI is a more viable option. 

1min.AI gives you lifetime access to some of the most popular AI tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral, and many others. It’s also only $69.97 for a lifetime subscription in honor of Labor Day (reg. $540).

1min.AI runs in your browser and pulls a ton of everyday work into one place. You can research keywords, draft blog posts, rewrite and shorten text, generate social posts, and keep a consistent brand voice across projects. There are tools to summarize or translate documents, chat with multiple PDFs at once, and spin up slide presentations. For visuals, you can generate images from prompts, upscale low-resolution pictures, remove backgrounds, extend edges, or turn rough sketches into cleaner artwork.

Here’s a small sample of the AI models you’ll get access to:

• GPT

• Claude 3 Opus and Claude 3 Sonnet

• Gemini Pro 1.5

• Llama 3

• Mistral models

The Advanced Business Plan includes 4,000,000 credits each month, plus the chance to earn up to 450,000 more through daily logins and other tasks. Credits are shared across writing, images, audio, and video, so you can lean harder on whichever tools you need that month. The plan supports up to 20 members, with shared workspaces, an unlimited prompt library, unlimited storage, and unlimited brand voices. If you don’t use all your credits, they just roll over, so you aren’t missing out if you have a lighter month.

It’s only $69.97 (reg. $540) to get a 1min.AI lifetime subscription during this Labor Day sale, through Sept. 10.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Swiftspeed AI App Builder helps you create iOS, Android, and web apps without coding, and three years of Pro access is on sale for $39.99 (reg. $432).

Opens in a new window Credit: Swiftspeed AI Swiftspeed AI App Builder Pro Plan: 3-Year Subscription $39.99
$432 Save $392.01   Get Deal

Ever since the rise of smartphones, there has always been “an app for that,” which also usually means “a developer is required for that.” But thanks to AI, you can now get surprisingly far into app development without knowing what a curly brace does. Swiftspeed AI App Builder uses AI and visual editing tools to help you create iOS, Android, and web apps, with three years of Pro access currently on sale for $39.99 (reg. $432).

You can start by describing what you want to build, and Swiftspeed generates the foundation for you. From there, its drag-and-drop editor lets you customize layouts, forms, workflows, databases, and other elements without suddenly needing to become a software engineer.

If you already have an existing website, you don’t necessarily have to start over to turn it into an app. Swiftspeed can turn existing websites, WordPress sites, WooCommerce stores, and Shopify stores into apps, making this particularly useful for small businesses that already have an online presence but want somewhere to live on their customers’ home screens.

One Swiftspeed project can become an Android app, an iOS app, and a progressive web app (PWA), so you don’t have to build separate versions from scratch. The Pro Plan also includes the files and source code for your Android and iOS apps, with the iOS version ready for testing via Apple’s TestFlight.

There’s plenty to add once you’ve built the basics, too. Stripe and PayPal integrations can handle payments, while in-app purchases and AdMob support provide monetization options. You can also add push notifications, analytics, an app wallet, audio and video content, RSS feeds, quizzes, and custom pages.

AI doesn’t stop at generating the initial app, either. Swiftspeed supports chatbot functionality using providers including OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, and DeepSeek, so you can incorporate AI features depending on what you’re building.

The Pro Plan covers one app and three seats, with 5GB of storage, 300 monthly push notifications, AI agent credits, priority support, and no Swiftspeed branding.

While Swiftspeed can create the files needed to publish your app, it doesn’t eliminate Apple and Google’s requirements. You’ll still need your own Apple Developer or Google Play Developer account, pay any applicable developer fees, prepare your store listing materials, and submit the app for approval yourself.

Normally $432, you can grab a 3-year subscription to Swiftspeed AI for only $39.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Online communities tend to develop their own vocabularies and methods of communication, especially if they've been around for a very long time. If you're new to AdultFriendFinder, you'll quickly come across slang and short-hand terms you may never have encountered before, as well as more acronyms than you know what to do with. 

Some of these are obvious, or used across online dating cultures, but some of them are highly specific to niche communities like the worlds of BDSM and kink. 

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More

Here's a glossary of some of the most essential AFF lingo you'll want to know as you navigate the site:

Common AFF slang terms you need to know

• Aftercare: Term for cuddling and/or words of affirmation after the conclusion of a BDSM scenario 

• Bate buds: Two or more people who enjoy masturbating to the same content and who exchange recommendations 

• CD: Cross-dressing, usually referring to a person who enjoys wearing the clothing of another gender

• Cuckolding: The practice or scenario of consensual infidelity, widely enjoyed in non-monogamous relationships

• DD/LG: Acronym for "daddy dom, little girl," describing a male-dominant, female-submissive relationship

• Dom/Domme: Short-hand term for the dominant partner in a BDSM relationship. The terms master/mistress are often used interchangeably with dom/domme

• Edging: The practice of approaching sexual orgasm without ever reaching it.

• ENM: Ethical non-monogamy, also known as an open relationship

• Little: Short-hand term for the submissive partner in a BDSM relationship

• Limits/Hard Limits: The list of someone's non-negotiable boundaries. Respecting these limits is a central tenet of kink culture and should be practiced even in online encounters

• MD/LB: Acronym for "mommy domme, little boy," describing a female-dominant, male-submissive relationship

• Orgasm Control: A scenario in which one partner voluntarily relinquishes control of their sexual climax to another play partner

• Shibari: The Japanese art of decorative rope bondage, usually requiring a high degree of experience to execute properly

• Switch: Someone who occasionally enjoys being either dominant or submissive

• Vanilla: A non-pejorative term describing a preference for non-kinky sexual practices

Best Labor Day 2026 deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $649 (save $100) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,397.99 (save $1,102) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Echo Show 11 $189.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra $329 (save $120) Get Deal Best home deal Ruggable save up to 30% sitewide Get Deal Best outdoor deal Ninja FrostVault Cooler (30 quart) $169.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best robot lawn mower deal Segway Navimow X430 Robot Lawn Mower $2,249 (save $250) Get Deal

Summer is officially coming to an end, but Labor Day weekend is finally here. While saying goodbye to summer feels a bit sad, the cooler weather is rolling in, and we've got one final long weekend to kick back and save before fall sets in.

If you're looking for a seasonal refresh, big-box retailers are offering huge discounts across almost every category. It's the ideal time to upgrade your mattress, stock up on outdoor gear during the REI Labor Day Sale, or grab a 4K TV just in time for kickoff ahead of the NHL and NFL seasons.

We won't see discounts this big again until Black Friday, so now's the time to act — especially with tech and appliance prices continuing to climb. We're tracking the best Labor Day deals live all weekend long across Apple, TVs, mattresses, laptops, and home essentials.

Best Apple deals Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $649
$749 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple iPad Air with an M4 chip is something to behold. It's a step up in performance from the previous M3, and it's super lightweight and thin. It's also powerful and smart enough to handle intense programs like Final Cut Pro, making it a great option for creators and artists.

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the M4 iPad Air and wrote, "Artists and note-takers will definitely appreciate this one."

More Apple deals

• Apple AirTag (2nd Gen, 4 pack) — $79.99 $99 (save $19.01)

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $399 $449 (save $50)

Best mattress and bedding deals Opens in a new window Credit: DreamCloud DreamCloud Classic Hybrid Mattress (Queen) $699 at DreamCloud
$1,892 Save $1,193   Get Deal Why we like it

For Labor Day, the Queen-size DreamCloud Classic Hybrid Mattress is marked down to $699, which is up to 60% off.

It's a 12-inch hybrid that balances comfort and support, using a cooling fiber cover, an inch of pressure-relieving memory foam, and individually wrapped coils so you don't feel it every single time your partner tosses and turns. You also get a 365-night home trial and a "Forever Warranty" so you aren't stuck with it if you hate it.

If you're upgrading your whole setup, I highly recommend grabbing a base while you're at it. I actually have the Bamboo Platform Bed Frame they have on the site, and it genuinely only took me 20 minutes to put together.

Even more mattress deals

• Avocado: Save up to 20% on organic mattresses

• Bear: Take 35% off sitewide + get free sleep accessories with a new mattress

• Brooklyn Bedding: Take 25% off sitewide and 30% off dorm essentials

• Casper: Save up to 30% on mattresses and 35% off on bundles

• Coyuchi: Take 20% off natural mattresses

• DreamCloud: Save up to 60% on mattresses and 66% on bundles

• Eight Sleep: Take up to $500 off Pods and accessories

• Essentia: Up to 25% off sitewide + 2 FREE pillows

• Nectar: Save up to 50% on mattresses and 66% on bundles

• Tuft & Needle: Save 25% on all bundles

• Purple: Take up to $800 a mattress and base

Best TV deals TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,397.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,102.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If you're hunting for the best Labor Day TV deal to carry you through football season and winter movie nights, the 65-inch TCL QM8L is down to $1,397.99 at Amazon, which is the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Instead of cutting corners to hit a price point, this panel delivers high-end specs: 4,000+ local dimming zones and up to 6,000 nits of peak brightness eliminate haloing, so dark scenes look black rather than washed-out gray.

You're also getting a native 144Hz refresh rate for live sports and gaming, a 7000:1 contrast ratio, built-in Audio by Bang & Olufsen, and Google TV built right in, so you aren't fighting three different remotes just to open an app.

More TV deals

• Insignia 50-inch F50 LED 4K TV — $159.99 $299.99 (save $140)

• Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED 4K Fire TV — $259.99 $469.99 (save $210)

• LG 55-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $699.99 $1,299.99 (save $600)

• Hisense 55-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,499.99 (save $600)

• LG 65-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,799.99 (save $900)

• Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $997.99 $1,999.99 (save $1,002)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia 7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,298 $1,598 (save $300)

• Samsung 65-inch S85H OLED 4K TV — $1,397.99 $1,999.99 (save $602)

• LG 65-Inch B6 OLED 4K TV — $1,199.99 $1,999.99 (save $800)

• Samsung 65-inch S90H OLED 4K TV — $1,597.99 $2,697.99 (save $1,100)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 II QD QLED 4K TV — $2,498 $3,299.99 (save $801.99)

• Samsung 65-inch S95H OLED 4K TV — $2,799.99 $3,399.99 (save $600)

Best home & kitchen appliance deals

• Frigidaire 24" Front Control Built-In Dishwasher — $299.99 $377.99 (save $78)

• Whirlpool 7-cu ft Vented Electric Dryer — $499 $719 (save $220)

• GE 30 in. 4.8 cu. ft. Freestanding Gas Range — $699 $799 (save $100)

• LG FlushFit 24" Top Control Smart Built-In Dishwasher — $599.99 $1,049.99 (save $450)

• LG 4.5-cu ft Stackable SMART Front Load Washer — $929 $1,199 (save $270)

• LG 36 in. 28 cu. ft. 3-Door French Door Refrigerator — $1,799 $3,099 (save $1,300)

• Samsung Bespoke 36 in. 29 cu. ft. 4-Door French Door Refrigerator — $1,799 $3,199 (save $1,400)

• LG WashTower Stacked SMART Laundry Center — $1,899 $2,699 (save $800)

• GE Profile UltraFast Ventless All-In-One Washer Dryer Combo — $2,199 $2,999 (save $800)

Best home deals

• Millwood Pines Lift Top Coffee Table — $79.99 $160.99 (save $81)

• Shark Rocket Pet Plus Corded Stick Vacuum — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)

• Shark Steam & Scrub — $159 $189.99 (save $30.99)

• Dakota Fields Chingford Indoor/Outdoor Hanging Egg Chair — $184.99 $219.99 (save $35)

• Anthropologie Dog Icon Side Table — $298.80 $498 (save $199.20)

• Anthropologie Irie Carmine Jacquard Oak Dining Chair — $398.40 $498 (save $99.60)

• Roborock New Qrevo S Pro Robot Vacuum — $429.99 $699.99 (save $270)

• Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2 Robot Vacuum — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200)

• Anthropologie Fern Marble Top Bookcase — $1,518.40 $1,898 (save $379.60)

• Anthropologie Sinclair Irena 80-inch Sofa — $3,428.60 $4,898 (save $1,469.40)

The best deals on Milwaukee tools in Home Depot's Labor Day sale: Best stapler deal Milwaukee M12 Cordless Crown Stapler $129 (save $210) Get Deal Best multi-tool deal Milwaukee M12 FUEL Oscillating Multi-Tool $199 (save $250) Get Deal Best cut-off tool deal Milwaukee M12 FUEL Compact Cut-Off Tool $199 (save $240) Get Deal Best ratchet deal Milwaukee M12 Cordless 3/8 in. Ratchet $199 (save $260) Get Deal

Every home has that one drawer of half-broken tools you've been meaning to replace, and Home Depot's Labor Day sale is a solid excuse to finally do it. With up to 62% off Milwaukee's 12-volt cordless tools, you can score top-tier durability and long-lasting battery life without breaking the bank.

Below are the best deals from the sale, from a stapler that'll save your hands on upholstery projects to a cutoff tool that can handle metal, PVC, and tile in tight spaces.

Best for upholstery and DIY fixes Opens in a new window Credit: Milwaukee Milwaukee M12 Cordless Crown Stapler $129 at The Home Depot
$339 Save $210 Currently sold out, but you can sign up to get notified for restocks. Get Deal Why we like it

 The Milwaukee M12 Cordless Crown Stapler drives 3/8-inch staples through a range of materials, and at just 3 lbs. and 7.5 inches long, it's compact enough to fit into tight spaces or clip right onto your tool belt. The trigger is designed to reduce hand fatigue, and you can switch between sequential and contact firing modes depending on the job, which is useful whether you're doing upholstery, securing weatherstripping, or laying carpet underlayment.

Best for finishing touches Opens in a new window Credit: Milwaukee Milwaukee M12 FUEL Oscillating Multi-Tool $199 at The Home Depot
$449 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

The M12 FUEL Oscillating Multi-Tool is built for speed and control: Milwaukee's Powerstate brushless motor pushes out 10,000 to 20,000 oscillations per minute, which the brand says is the fastest cutting speed on a 12V platform. It's also designed to vibrate less, so your hands don't take the brunt of a long project, and the tool-free blade change means you're not hunting for an Allen key mid-task. It handles wood, metal, plaster, and drywall, and switches over to a sander with the right attachment.

Best for tight-space cutting jobs Opens in a new window Credit: Milwaukee M12 FUEL Compact Cut-Off Tool $199 at The Home Depot
$449 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

The M12 FUEL Compact Cut-Off Tool is for the small, awkward jobs like trimming a rusted-out bolt, cutting PVC to fit, or working under a sink where a full-size saw just won't reach. It spins at 20,000 RPM and comes with three accessories out of the box, so it's ready for multiple materials without extra purchases. The reversible blade rotation gives you more control over the direction of your cut, and an LED light helps you see what you're doing in dim spaces.

Best for auto repair and maintenance Opens in a new window Credit: Milwaukee M12 Cordless 3/8 in. Ratchet $199 at The Home Depot
$459 Save $260   Get Deal Why we like it

The M12 Cordless ratchet gives you the power and speed of a pneumatic tool without needing an air hose, making it much more practical for home maintenance or car repairs. It produces up to 35 ft-lbs of torque and 250 RPM, and at just under 11 inches long and less than 2 lbs, it fits into engine bays and other cramped spots that pneumatic ratchets can't reach. A built-in LED light and onboard fuel gauge help you see what you're doing and track your charge.

More Milwaukee tools deals

• Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/4-Inch Hex Impact Driver & Hackzall Combo — $199 $369 (save $170)

• Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2-Inch Impact Wrench Kit w/ 5.0Ah Battery — $299 $459 (save $160)

• Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit w/ (3) 5.0Ah Batteries — $399 $558 (save $159)

• Milwaukee M18 FUEL 6-1/2-Inch Plunge Cut Track Saw with 55-Inch Guide Rail — $429 $569 (save $140)

• Milwaukee M18 8-Tool Cordless Combo Kit w/ (2) Batteries & Charger — $649 $1,298 (save $649)

We're busy covering all the best deals that are dropping over Labor Day weekend. We've lined up the best Apple deals, the best mattress deals, the best Home Depot deals, and so much more. But what about the hungry? Won't someone think about food?

The good news for absolutely everyone is that many popular restaurant chains are launching limited-time deals over Labor Day weekend, meaning you can eat for free (or at a heavily discounted price). We've scoured the market for the best offers and lined up the best deals from the likes of Capital One Café, Firehouse Subs, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, and other popular spots.

These are our favorite Labor Day deals in 2026.

7-Eleven

7Rewards members can grab a hot sandwich with a 20-ounce Coca-Cola or Pepsi fountain soda for $6. You can also get any roller grill item, a bag of 7-Select chips, and a large Big Gulp for $3 through Labor Day weekend.

BJ’s Brewhouse and Restaurant

Grab the $13 Pizookie Meal Deal on Sept. 7, which includes a choice of one of eight select Brewhouse entrees alongside a signature Pizookie dessert.

Benihana

Education professionals dining through Sept. 7 can pick up one eligible five-course hibachi entree and get a second entree for free with a valid ID.

Capital One Café

Get a free handcrafted beverage on Sept. 7. Just register your mobile phone number online to load a digital pass directly into your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet (limit one pass per customer).

Cheesecake Factory

Score a $10 bonus eCard when you purchase $50 in digital gift cards online through Sept. 7. The bonus card is redeemable on future visits from Sept. 8-30.

Chipotle

Chipotle is running a "Sunday Reset" special over the holiday weekend. Families and groups can score a buy-two-get-one-free entree deal on Sept. 6, from 3 p.m. to closing, when ordering online or in the app with the code SUNDAYS.

Cracker Barrel

Dine in by Sept. 7 and order any adult entree plus a Kids Meal to score a free collectible B’loonie Petz toy.

Del Taco

Del Yeah! Rewards members ordering online or through the official app can get 20% off purchases of $10 or more all weekend long.

Eddie Merlot’s

Spend $75 or more on online orders from Sept. 4-7 and knock $25 off your bill by using promo code WEEKEND at checkout.

Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill

Inner Circle loyalty members can order a full rack of Baby Back Ribs served with fries and fresh fruit for $19.95 from Sept. 3-7.

Firehouse Subs

Buy any sub between Sept. 4-7 to unlock a second sub of your choice for just $1.

Hash Kitchen

Sweet breakfast classics are marked down to $7 each from Sept. 4-7. Guests who sign up for the Brunch Club over Labor Day weekend score a free specialty coffee or Loaded Water.

HTeaO

Score two gallons of iced tea for just $12 from Sept. 4-7.

Krispy Kreme

From Sept. 4-7, buy any dozen doughnuts or 16-count Minis at regular price and grab an additional dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts for just $2 when using code BOGO2 online or in-store.

Kona Grill

Educators can celebrate early by showing a valid school ID while dining in through Sept. 7 to unlock BOGO entrees from a select menu (limit two deals per table).

Krystal

Pick up an Original Sackful for $12 or upgrade to a Cheese Sackful for $15 on Sept. 7.

Moxies

Drop in during Happy Hour (3-6 p.m. on Sept. 7) to snag $12 featured cocktails, $12 shareable appetizers, $9 select glasses of wine, and $6 local craft beers.

Polly’s Pies

Get a whole Banberry Pie for $14.99 through Labor Day.

Port of Subs

Free delivery on all online or mobile app orders placed between Sept. 4-7.

Raise the Roost

The 24-piece Nugget Party Pack is $25 from Sept. 3-7. The bundle comes loaded with 24 chicken nuggets, two large sides, four biscuits, dipping sauces, and cinnamon-sugar hand pies.

Sonny’s BBQ

Take $25 off catering orders over $200 through Sept. 7 when you enter promo code 25OFFCATER at checkout.

STK Steakhouse

Teachers and school staff receive BOGO entrees when showing a valid school ID through Sept. 7.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Apply coupon code WEEKEND at online checkout from Sept. 4-7 to take $25 off orders totaling $75 or more.

Teriyaki Madness

Rewards members earn double loyalty points along with a 20% discount on all orders placed between Sept. 5-7.

TL;DR: Live stream select Premier League fixtures (Liverpool vs. Nottingham Forest on Aug. 29) for free on CazéTV. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Domestic football is back. Are we fatigued from a summer of sport? Absolutely not. We're impatient for rivalries to be renewed in some of the most competitive leagues in the world. And if we're talking truly unpredictable action from elite clubs in incredibly passionate stadiums, it's tough to beat the Premier League.

How will Arsenal cope with the pressure of being champions? Will Manchester City bounce back from the loss of iconic manager Pep Guardiola? Can Manchester United finally recapture some of their former glories? There are so many questions to be answered as the Premier League returns.

If you want to watch the 2026-27 Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Premier League?

The Premier League is the highest level of the English football league system. The league is contested by 20 clubs, with each team playing 38 fixtures: two against each other, one home and one away.

The defending champions are Arsenal.

When is the Premier League?

The opening match round of the 2026/27 Premier League season will start on Aug. 21. The season runs until the final round of fixtures on May 30.

How to watch the Premier League for free

CazéTV will be showing select Premier League fixtures for free on their YouTube channel.

These free live streams are geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Premier League from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026-27 Premier League by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 Brazil

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Premier League fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the Premier League without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures (plus coverage of Ligue 1 and La Liga) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams all season, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for CazeTV?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 80% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

In the age of on-demand everything, it’s no surprise that we can get "dates" (and I use that term loosely) with the tap of a button. Thanks to classic hookup apps like Tinder and newcomers like Pure, finding a sexy new friend can be as straightforward as ordering a pizza. As for the quality? That’s about the same as your pizza — hit or miss, depending on the time of day, where you're located, and how hungry you are.

SEE ALSO: Is AdultFriendFinder the best dating site for Gen Z?

Fortunately, you’ve got me, your resident dating app expert (though I prefer modern-day Carrie Bradshaw), to guide you to the promised land, aka the best hookup apps.

I’ve spent the past three years (yes, years) researching, downloading, and testing dozens of the top dating apps to find the best ones for all kinds of daters, including the one-night-stand crowd. From discreet sexting apps to dating sites for serious relationships, I've swiped through them all. I also consulted a helpful panel of sex and relationship experts to make sure my picks are solid.

How to get the most out of hookup apps

My number one rule is to be brutally honest about what you want. Are you here for a good time? Own it. That means staying in your lane; don't go looking for a one-night stand on an app like eharmony. I mean, just read through Reddit. Women are on these apps (despite what all the dudes think/say) and are looking for FWBs, but they ignore 99 percent of messages because guys either send weird openers or pretend to want a relationship just to get a hookup.

"Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."

And here's a little secret I picked up from Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai: Timing is everything. He found that people messaging on Tinder's "Free Tonight" feature after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher chance of hooking up.

So, whether you're looking for a one-night stand, a regular FWB situation, a free hookup app, or just a space to explore your sexuality, I've got you covered. Based on all my hands-on testing and expert consultations, I’ve broken down the best hookup apps and sites for every type of person and mood.

Recent updates to this guide

• Hily (added August 2026): I’ve added Hily to our top picks because its free tier is surprisingly generous (up to 100 likes a day!) and its AI safety tech (like Consent Guard) makes it a standout option for casual, blunt daters looking for a fresh alternative to the Big Three.

• Hinge: Hinge just keeps getting better, so I’ve bumped it up higher on my list as of October 2025. In our most recent update in August 2026, it still earns the top spot for casual dating with personality. Its user base is growing, and my own recent tests on the app have been surprisingly positive.

• Sniffies (added September 2025): I've added Sniffies, the map-based app for queer men, because it's been gaining a lot of traction in the casual hookup scene. (It got a little too spicy for Apple and was pulled from the App Store, so it's now technically a dating site.) Don't say I didn't warn you about the NSFW content.

• FetLife (added September 2025): FetLife is my new favorite "Honorable Mention." It's not your typical hookup app; it's more of a social network for the kink community (and, oddly enough, the best hookup app for gamers). Just remember: it's a community, so don't treat it like Tinder.

• Plenty of Fish (removed January 2025): POF went through a rebrand recently, and honestly, I'm not impressed. My latest tests showed they removed key features like free messaging with non-matches, and I kept running into the same old profiles.

• Match (removed August 2025): I know some people say they've found casual hookups on Match, but that's not what it's for. Match is where you go to find a serious, long-term relationship, and I still recommend it for that. But for a hookup? You're just fishing in the wrong pond.

Why some popular hookup apps didn't make the cut

You might notice a few apps that pop up in ads or other lists are missing here. That’s intentional. I swipe through the good, the bad, and the downright sketchy so you don’t have to. For an app to make my list, it has to be effective, safe, and worth your time.

Here's a shortlist of apps that didn't make the cut this year:

• Wild: You’ve probably seen ads for this one. On paper, Wild sounds like the perfect casual dating app. In practice, the paywalls are aggressive, the distance filter doesn't work, and you have to pay for anything that's even remotely useful. Unless you're willing to spend serious cash upfront (and hope for the best), the experience feels more limited than with more generous free options like Tinder or Hily.

• DOWN: This app (formerly "Bang With Friends") is known for its simple "Get Down" vs. "Get Date" feature. It sounds clever, but in reality, the experience is messy at best. Many users report feeling scammed by subscriptions that don't deliver matches, or finding that the few real people on there are... let's say "odd." It’s hard to recommend an app when the main user complaint is "Is anyone real?" Hard pass.

• Facebook Dating: Yes, Facebook has a dating section, and it’s surprisingly massive (and completely free, which is huge). While it's a decent option for casual dating, the vibe tends to be a bit more "friends of friends" and "relationship-focused" than the anonymous, no-strings energy you get from apps like Pure or Feeld. (For Mashable's Chance Townsend, signing up was "the most uneventful dating experience" of his life.) It's worth a shot if you're already on Facebook, but it didn't quite crack my top tier for no-strings-attached hookups specifically.

Back-to-school season is here, and even if it's been awhile since you've been a student, there's a seriousness in the air. You might be desiring less of a fling and more of a long-term connection. Why not search for your next sapphic love on a dating app?

As a lesbian, you probably know all about them. Lesbian Americans (along with bisexual and gay Americans) are far more likely to have ever used dating apps than straight Americans: 51 percent to 28 percent, according to the Pew Research Center.

​​Online dating as a lesbian can be a joyous experience, but it can also involve having your space invaded by straight people or seeing your ex-girlfriends (and your ex-girlfriends' ex-girlfriends) show up in your feed over and over.

Over the decades, queer women have turned to personal ads, frequented bars, and relied on word of mouth to find love. These days, it's not too different. From trying to find a date on WLW TikTok to entrapranureal lesbians creating new apps just for them, LGBTQ women are down to get creative to find their special someone.

Thankfully, in 2026, there are both niche and general apps where queer women can find a partner — whether for one night or for life. Which ones are the best dating apps for lesbians? We tested the most popular dating sites and apps and drew on insights from our Dating & Relationships writers to find out.

How to find the best dating apps for lesbians Niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only option for finding love. Credit: Stacey Zhu / Mashable

In Mashable's recommendations below, you'll find both general dating apps and apps specifically for queer people. As the former appeals to the general population, you'll find more users in these spaces. The caveat, however, is that when you swipe on other women, you might find those coupled with men who are looking for another woman to have a threesome with (aka unicorn hunters). No judgment here, but that's probably not what you're looking for. Then again, people of all types are on dating apps like Tinder and Hinge. You never know who you may come across.

Then there are apps specifically for the community, like HER and Lex. If you yearn for a smaller dating scene, head for these apps. While there's no "Grindr for lesbians" — we go into why in the FAQ section — these apps are more so like stepping into your neighborhood lesbian bar than an app like Bumble. 

You can also try multiple dating apps, as each one below has a free version. You can filter by the gender you identify with and are looking for, and sometimes, as with OkCupid, there are many options to choose from.

Diving into the dating pool isn't easy, but the water's fine. Check out our guide below for the full rundown of our recommendations and dating app reviews.

Don't worry if your summer fling fizzled out. As Mashable's deputy culture editor, Olivia Tauber, wrote, fall is the best time to date.

Between cozy sweaters and dates at the apple orchard, autumn is a great time to find your special someone. And while several single women and men recently told Mashable that dating in 2026 isn't necessarily fun, that doesn't mean there's no hope.

While singles are increasingly frustrated with dating apps, one coach we spoke to said the apps aren't keeping people single; it's how they're using them. If you're swiping into the void and avoiding talking to people, yes, it may be hard to find a date! But it is absolutely possible to find your person online. In fact, Mashable recently interviewed several married couples who met on dating apps.

SEE ALSO: Gen Z has a new dating app profile rule, apparently

According to 2023 findings from the Pew Research Center, one in ten partnered adults (married, living with a partner, or in a committed relationship) met their partner on a dating app or site. If you're a younger adult and/or LGBTQ, you're more likely to have met your significant other online: one in five adults under 30 and nearly one in four for LGBTQ adults.

The same study found that almost half (44 percent) of dating app users said a major reason for using them was to meet a long-term partner. So, if that's you, you're certainly not alone, despite what you might see people lament on TikTok. 

But with so many apps, from Bumble to eharmony, it can be challenging to determine which ones to invest in. And the discourse on dating app culture can be unrelenting. In 2025, singles told Mashable they'd rather meet a potential partner in person, but they're begrudgingly on the apps. Some, like Tinder, have seen their revenue decrease in recent years, while Hinge is growing. Even then, though, daters bemoan even the most popular of apps. A Kinsey scientist recently told Mashable where daters are going wrong: use dating apps as a tool, not to let them run the show — and stop self-optimizing, already.

Despite the frustration over The Apps™, it's undeniable that if you want to date from the comfort and safety of your home, they're the way to do it. If you're, say, introverted or have difficulty approaching someone in person, an app can still be useful.

What is the #1 best dating app?

Considering the variation in experiences on all the dating apps, it's difficult to quantify which ones are the "best." Some people find their spouses on Tinder, while others are disappointed that their matches are only looking for hookups. 

That being said, if you're looking for something serious, your best bet is likely an app with a large user base, options for you to indicate what you're looking for in your bio, and filters to weed out who you really want to partner with. There are also apps whose branding is geared towards finding one's ultimate match — like eharmony and Match, both decades-old sites with reputations for helping users find their spouse. Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel also have a reputation for more "serious" connections.

Depending on the type of relationship you're seeking, you may also benefit from a more niche app. Take one app on our list, SilverSingles, for people over 50. Sure, there are older adults on apps like Tinder and Bumble as well, but you may have more luck finding someone age-appropriate if you're in a space meant just for you.

Which dating site is best for serious relationships?

Mashable has researched to pick out a few from the plethora of dating sites (and apps) out there. These options are available for both Android and Apple users, so the type of phone you have won't determine your options. In terms of monetary investment, you can use some of these for free (like Tinder and Bumble), while others are more pay-to-play. We've also included some "niche" options, like the aforementioned SilverSingles and Elite Singles, so you have more than the standard buffet of dating apps.

Here are the best dating apps for serious relationships:

For a handful of days each year, Berlin turns into the tech capital of the world. This year, IFA has close to 2,000 brands showcasing the latest technology from air fryers to robot lawn mowers to sleep earbuds and, of course, robots. Aside from CES in January, it's the best opportunity to check out what's on the horizon from top brands like Dreame, DJI, Anker, Dyson, and plenty more.

Some of the tech on display teeters on the useless side or focuses on grand ideas that are unlikely to become mainstream. Others, like a ceiling light that can mimic natural outdoor light and stick vacuums with more suction power than ever before, are well worth bringing home.

As expected, this year's event has a major emphasis on AI. Plenty of the AI advancements on display at IFA in 2026 are pretty great and streamline life where we need it most.

In an email, IFA CEO Leif Lindner explained, "What excites me most is seeing entire categories become more intuitive because AI is solving real problems, not simply being added for its own sake,' he said. "That’s what’s driving the innovations I’m most excited about this year, from robotics moving closer to practical everyday applications, to wearables that help you build better habits, to connected kitchen appliances that are genuinely helpful."

Below, we've rounded up the best products Mashable has spotted at IFA so far. We'll keep this list updated as the show continues on through Sept. 8. Some of the items are already available for sale in the U.S. while a few others will be worth the wait.

A fancy new version of the Anker Sleep earbuds

The Soundcore Sleep A30 Special are Mashable's favorite sleep earbuds, and now we have two new iterations: Sleep Earbuds 4 and Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro. Coming in at 20% slimmer than the Sleep A30 model, the new Sleep Earbuds 4 are designed to be even more comfortable for side sleepers. If you share a bed with someone who snores, the AI-generated dynamic snore masking system in the Sleep Earbuds 4 could make a major difference in your sleep quality.

The Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro come with advanced features and this snazzy case with disaply. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

The fancier Sleep Earbuds Pro 4 use the same earbud design as the standard Sleep Earbuds 4 but come with a more advanced case, among other features. Similar to the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds, the Sleep Earbuds Pro 4 have an on-case display that lets sleepers check sleep metrics upon waking.

The screen also allows users to adjust the volume, change sleep tracks, or set an alarm from the case itself, rather than reaching for a phone.

The Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 are priced at $229.99 with a launch set for the beginning of October. The Anker Sleep Earbuds Pro 4 will sell for $349.99 come November. Preorders at Anker are currently eligible for a $30-off coupon that comes from putting down a $1 deposit.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 $199.99 at Anker
$229.99 Save $30   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Sleep Earbuds Pro 4 $319.99 at Anker
$349.99 Save $30   Get Deal A camping portable power station that fits into your backpack

The EcoFlow River 3 Plus is one of my favorite portable power stations for camping, so I'm thrilled we got introduced to the EcoFlow River Gen4 at IFA. Completely redesigned from the River 3, the River Gen4 features a compact design that's significantly smaller than its predecessor. The River 260 Gen4 comes with a capacity of 256Wh, 300W sustained output, and a peak of 600W. At about 6.5 pounds, it's highly portable for a weekend of camping.

EcoFlow brough two new camping-friendly models to IFA 2026. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Going bigger, the EcoFlow River 520 Gen4 has 512Wh of capacity, 500W of AC output, and a 1,000W peak. The larger of the River 520 doubles the power capacity but doesn't double the weight, coming in at just 10 pounds. Again, that's manageable enough to pack along on a camping trip for most people. Both models have a 10 millisecond UPS, fast-charging USB-C ports, and quick recharging.

We're still waiting on the U.S. launch date information and pricing. EcoFlow also showcased a compact 60W solar panel at IFA that seems like it'll be the perfect companion for these two new models.

An upgraded DJI 360-degree camera

It's a sad time to be a DJI fan in the U.S. The brand packed the new DJI Osmo 360 II for IFA this year, but as of now, it's not coming to the U.S. thanks to current regulations. The new model replaces last year's Osmo 360 and comes with improvements such as the ability to shoot 8K panoramic footage. It also doubles the brightness range, offering 14.5 stops of dynamic range compared to the previous 13.5.

The DJI Osmo 360 II has reduced power consumption and advances image quality. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

We're keeping a close eye on availability in the United States. At the same time, we're still waiting for the U.S. to see the launch of the DJI Power 1000 Mini, too.

An 8K creator camera from Dreame

Dreame continues to make waves with its product expansion, and at IFA 2026, the brand revealed the Dreame Leaptic Cube 8K action camera. With a U.S. launch set for November and a competitive price of $449, Dreame is coming for the likes of DJI and Insta360.

The Dreame Leaptic Cube 8K action camera's hands-free gestures are impressive. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable Dreame packed all the accessories we'll have access to when the Leaptic Cube launches. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

When hands-on with the Dreame Leaptic Cube, I found it remarkably lightweight, and the gesture options for taking still photos and starting and stopping recording are both easy and incredibly responsive. The modular design offers plenty of benefits, including the ability to add extra batteries.

Dreame's also ready with accessory packages for cycling, underwater exploration, and even mounting to the dog. We'll continue to monitor preorder opportunities before the launch in November 2026.

TL;DR: Hatch Baby, priced at $79.99, is a nightlight and sound machine that grows with your kid — plus three months of 1:1 chat with real sleep consultants. After that, it's $69.99 per year or $6.99 per month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hatch Hatch Baby $79.99 at Hatch
  Shop Now

Hatch has spent years building sleep gadgets for adults — the Restore line of smart alarm clocks has quietly become a go-to for people trying to fix their bedtime scroll habit. Now the brand is turning that same playbook on the people who arguably need it more: babies who haven't figured out how to sleep yet.

Hatch Baby is available now for $79.99 in many colorways: beechwood, putty, mint, peach, and greige. The price includes three months of Hatch+, the brand's subscription tier that unlocks 1:1 chat with certified sleep consultants and Hatch's full library of sleep content.

Unlike a basic white noise machine your baby will outgrow, Hatch Baby works for four different stages of childhood:

• Expecting — soothing lights and sounds to prep the nursery before the baby even arrives

• Newborn — calming cues plus Smart Sleep Logging to start building healthy sleep habits from night one

• 6 months — lullabies and Pink Noise, which Hatch says is linked to higher-quality deep sleep and tends to feel gentler on little ears than standard white noise

• 2 years — Time-for-Bed and Time-to-Rise cues that teach toddlers when it's okay to get out of bed

The device is controlled through a "Big Button" you tap to start bedtime sounds, plus a twist dial for volume. There's also a soft nightlight built in for late-night feedings and diaper changes without flipping on the overheads.

The main feature is the support system layered on top of the hardware. Hatch+ includes 1:1 chat that blends AI and human expertise — Hatch AI Chat is available any time, while actual Certified Sleep Consultants are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, for more in-depth questions.

Keep in mind, this is sleep coaching, not medical advice. For health-related questions, you'll need your pediatrician.

Credit: Hatch How Hatch Baby works

More than a gadget, Hatch Baby is a complete sleep support system — offering Smart Sleep Logging with Nap Nudges, adaptive schedules, and milestone guides to help answer any midnight questions and keep the baby’s routine on track.

The built-in Tuck-Ins feature also adds a deeply personal touch by letting parents or distant family members record custom lullabies, stories, and bedtime messages to play directly through the device.

Everything runs through the Hatch app, which requires a 2.4 GHz WiFi connection (with Bluetooth as a backup), so you can start a sound, check a sleep log, or adjust a routine from another room — or another city.

Hatch+ subscription

The three months of Hatch+ included with purchase is not an auto-renewing trial — Hatch says it simply ends unless you opt back in. After that, you can keep going for $69.99 per year or $6.99 per month.

If you decide not to renew, you still get to keep the basics: lights and sounds, the Time-for-Bed/Time-to-Rise cues, Tuck-Ins from family, and phone playback. What you lose is the full subscription layer — the 1:1 Sleep Consultant chat, the Sleep Guides, premium stories and songs, dynamic lighting, and predictive schedules.

Every Hatch Baby purchase ships with the device and a power cord, weighs about 1.1 pounds, and comes with a 30-night bedside trial and a one-year warranty. It's also HSA/FSA eligible — a small but very real perk for parents already feeling the sting of nursery expenses.

Whether you stick with the full subscription or keep it simple with the free features, if it gets you even one extra hour of sleep, it’s worth every penny. Get the Hatch Baby for $79.99.

TL;DR: This refurbished 2018 MacBook Air with a 13-inch Retina display and Intel Core i5 processor is on sale for $267.99 (reg. $1,399).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2018 (Refurbished) $267.99
$1,399 Save $1,131.01   Get Deal

This refurbished MacBook Air brings a Retina display, Intel Core i5 processor, and lightweight design to a much more approachable price. The 2018 13-inch model is on sale for $267.99 (reg. $1,399), with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for everyday computing.

The 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor is suited to common tasks such as browsing the web, editing documents, streaming, and basic photo editing. Its 13.3-inch Retina display has a 2560 x 1600 resolution, while True-to-life visuals make it useful for everything from working on presentations to watching movies. The laptop also has Touch ID for convenient device access and two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports for charging, displays, and compatible accessories.

The portability of this MacBook Air is one of its main advantages. This model weighs just over 2.5 pounds and has a slim profile, making it easy to carry between home, work, or class. The built-in battery is rated for up to 12 hours of web browsing or movie playback, while the 720p FaceTime HD camera, stereo speakers, three microphones, and headphone jack cover the basics for video calls and entertainment.

This MacBook Air is a practical option for students, remote workers, or anyone who primarily needs a portable computer for productivity and general use. It supports updates up to macOS Sonoma 14, though shoppers should keep in mind that this is a 2018 Intel-based MacBook and won’t have the newer hardware found in current models.

The laptop has a Grade A refurbished rating, meaning it should arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to no visible scuffing on the case. For shoppers who don’t need the latest MacBook and want to keep their budget under $300, this model offers a combination of portability, a Retina display and everyday performance.

Get this refurbished MacBook Air for $267.99 (reg. $1,399) while it’s on sale today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream the Bundesliga for free on CazéTV, AbemaTV, and BBC iPlayer. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There's already a lot of football on the schedule. Fans quite simply don't have time to watch everything, but if you're making tough decisions about what to include on your watch list, the Bundesliga should be a priority. Is it the single best league in Europe in terms of overall quality? Probably not, but it's got a strong argument for being the most entertaining.

The big question every season is whether any team can compete with Bayern Munich for the title. Competing with a side stacked with elite talent like Olise, Kane, and Díaz is not easy, but the likes of Dortmund and RB Leipzig always have a chance. Could this season deliver a surprise winner?

If you want to watch the Bundesliga for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Bundesliga?

The Bundesliga is Germany's leading professional men's soccer league. It features 18 clubs competing across 34 matchdays, including heavyweight teams like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

The defending champions are Bayern Munich.

When is the Bundesliga?

The 2026/27 Bundesliga season runs from Aug. 28 to May 22.

How to watch the Bundesliga for free

The Bundesliga is available to live stream for free on a number of streaming platforms:

• Brazil — CazéTV (up to two live matches per week)

• Japan — AbemaTV (two live matches per week)

• UK — BBC iPlayer (select Friday evening fixtures)

These free live streams are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Bundesliga from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the Bundesliga by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 Brazil, Japan, or the UK

4. Visit CazéTV, AbemaTV, or BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Bundesliga fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the Bundesliga without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams all season, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Bundesliga?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 80% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the Bundesliga for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $300: Ecovacs' new flagship, the Deebot X12S OmniCyclone, is certified to remove 97% of dust mite allergens from the carpet. It self-washes, self-empties, and mops with fresh water — and it's $999.99 right now, 23% off its $1,299.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Deebot X12S OmniCyclone $999.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $300   Get Deal

If you've been circling a robot vacuum purchase and waiting for a "real" discount to pull the trigger, this is it. Ecovacs just dropped its brand-new flagship, the Deebot X12S OmniCyclone, available for $999.99, down from its $1,299.99 list price. That's obviously the lowest price this model has been since it debuted. 

If you've got carpet, pets, or a dust mite allergy you've made peace with, this is the moment to stop scrolling and finally buy the thing. Most robot vacuums glide over your carpet and grab whatever's sitting on top. The X12S actually digs in. It's built with a sealed chamber specifically for extracting dust mite allergens from carpet fibers, and it's been independently tested (SGS-certified) to remove an average of 97.44% of them. 

Credit: Ecovacs

And instead of dragging a damp pad around and smearing dirty water everywhere, it feeds itself fresh water through 32 tiny outlets while a built-in scraper wipes the dirty water away in real-time — so you're not redistributing grime across your kitchen floor. It also pre-treats sticky, dried-on messes before it even starts scrubbing.

The suction is rated at 53AW, which means it's got enough pull to lift pet hair and debris rather than just push it around. And it's built to stop hair from wrapping around the brushes, which is the main reason robot vacuums die early.

The smartest part, though, might be how it handles carpet versus hard floor in the same run. When it senses a carpet, it lifts the wet mop roller and covers it, so it doesn't drag a damp pad across your rug and leave it soggy. It also charges itself every time it stops to wash its own roller, so a routine maintenance break doubles as a mini recharge.

Credit: Ecovacs

When it's done, it handles its own cleanup: no dust bags, no wringing out a mop — the base station empties the bin, washes the roller in hot water, dries it with hot air, and cleans itself. 

Grab the flagship Ecovacs robot vacuum while it’s $300 off at Amazon.