Technology

PC components cost a small fortune these days, which means putting together a new build can set you back considerably.

Docker's explosive adoption and dominance over the tech industry is incredible, to say the least. But because Docker's rise was so meteoric, a lot of people tend to mistake it for some kind of mystical, groundbreaking, all-new way of doing things. But the reality is much more simple: Linux set the groundwork for containers decades ago, and Docker found an appealing way to use it.

Samsung's Galaxy phones are some of the best Androids you can buy, and we all know why. They're packed with a slew of features, excellent screens, and solid cameras. Part of what makes Galaxy phones unique is the dizzying number of features and customization controls. You're probably familiar with all the big-name ones, but here are a few tiny features you'll actually appreciate.

I’ve had an exoskeleton under my desk for several months now. That’s not a sentence I ever expected to type, but 2026 is weird like that. It was sent to me by a company called Hypershell, and it’s quite the conversation starter.

What's the best iPhone to buy right now? This fall, that question got a lot more interesting.

In mid-September, Apple launched the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max with upgraded cameras, a revamped vapor chamber cooling system, longer battery life, and a fresh, AI-ready chipset. A month later, it released the long-awaited iPhone Duo, its first-ever foldable. Mashable senior editor Stan Schroeder deemed it "the most exciting iPhone since the first one."

The new Apple phones join the standard iPhone 17, the budget iPhone 17e, and the super-slim iPhone Air to round out the 2026 iPhone roster, which now runs on iOS 27. We've tested the entire iPhone family, and we've compared them all to pick the best iPhone for every type of user.

Best iPhones at a glance: Best iPhone for most people Apple iPhone 17 (256GB) $0 with trade-in on select Experience plans at T-Mobile Shop Now Best budget iPhone Apple iPhone 17e (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile Shop Now Best iPhone for photography Apple iPhone 18 Pro (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile Shop Now Best iPhone for battery life Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (256GB) $2.78/month for 36 months with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile Shop Now Best foldable iPhone Apple iPhone Duo (256GB) $799 with new line and port on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile Shop Now Best iPhone for design snobs Apple iPhone Air (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile Shop Now A note on Apple's iPhone price increases

Apple's smartphones have never been more powerful, feature-rich, or diverse in their form factors. Alas, they've also never been pricier. Every current iPhone has gotten more expensive due to the ongoing global memory crisis, which has jacked up the cost of electronic components over the past year. (The Duo turned out to be slightly less of a splurge than the gossip mill predicted, though it's still the most expensive iPhone ever.) Unfortunately, there's no escaping higher prices with any other brand: All the best smartphones have seen price increases this year.

SEE ALSO: Memory pricing suggests iPhones could get even more expensive in 2027

So, is it worth splashing out on the Duo or one of the new Pro models? Or would you be perfectly happy with something less snazzy and more wallet-friendly, relatively speaking? After extensively testing every single iPhone, Mashable's experts have recommendations for all budgets and usage needs.

One more thing: Before you buy your new iPhone, be sure to check out our coverage of the latest carrier deals. If you trade in an older device and sign up for a new line or data plan, you could pay a fraction of the price — or nothing at all.

Best iPhone for most people: iPhone 17 In addition to plain white (pictured), the iPhone 17 also comes in mist blue, sage, lavender, and black finishes. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone 17

• Who it's for: In all likelihood, you. We think the iPhone 17 is the model most people should buy. It's also the most colorful iPhone on the market.

The new iPhone 18 Pros and iPhone Duo are amazing phones, but they're overkill for the average user. Last year's iPhone 17 is still the most well-rounded, "just right" phone in Apple's lineup. (We don't expect the new base model iPhone 18 to land until spring 2027.)

The iPhone 17 is a fast-enough, long-lasting-enough, nice-looking-enough smartphone that feels "Pro" where it counts for most people. Namely, it has a 120Hz, always-on display and an ultrawide camera with a dedicated macro mode, but none of the extra photography or thermal fixings intended for superusers. Compared to the budget iPhone 17e, which costs $200 less, it has a brighter, smoother screen, nicer cameras, and 15 percent more battery life.

Was the iPhone 17 an earth-shattering upgrade over the iPhone 16? Not really, but it got better in some crucial yet practical ways without straying over the $1,000 mark. Mashable's Schroeder christened it "the most compelling standard iPhone in years."

Apple iPhone 17 (256GB) $0 with trade-in on select Experience plans at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Apple.com iPhone 17 specs

• Screen size and display: 6.3-inch OLED display with 2,622 x 1,206 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide), 48MP (ultrawide), and 18MP (front)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 30 hours of video playback

• Processor: Apple A19

• Storage: 256GB or 512GB

• Colors: Black, white, mist blue, sage, or lavender

• Dimensions: 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches

• Weight: 6.24 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Best cheap iPhone: iPhone 17e The iPhone 17e is Apple's first budget smartphone with MagSafe support. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone 17e

• Who it's for: We recommend the iPhone 17e for frugal shoppers who just want the core iPhone experience, as well as those who like small, pocket-friendly phones. It would also make a great starter phone for a teenager.

The iPhone 17e delivers your go-to iOS features like FaceTime and Siri AI, plus the classically clean Apple look — now with MagSafe! — for the least amount of money. It's a compact little device with a sharp, if not super-smooth display, and a battery that should last you a day between charges. It runs on the same A19 chip as the regular iPhone 17 and starts with the same amount of storage (256GB), which makes it more future-proof than last year's iPhone 16e (which started with half that).

The cameras on the iPhone 17e aren't as "versatile" as the ones on the iPhone 17, Schroeder said; it lacks an ultrawide lens and has a noticeably inferior front camera. But at least it takes marginally better low-light pictures than its predecessor.

Apple iPhone 17e (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Best Buy iPhone 17e specs

• Screen size and display: 6.1-inch OLED display with 2,532 x 1,170 resolution and 60Hz refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide) and 12MP (front)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 26 hours of video playback

• Processor: Apple A19

• Storage: 256GB or 512GB

• Colors: Black, white, or soft pink

• Dimensions: 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches

• Weight: 5.96 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Best iPhone for photography: iPhone 18 Pro Good riddance, cosmic orange. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

• Who it's for: Get the smaller iPhone 18 Pro if you're a mobile photographer or creator looking for the best cameras.

Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max feature the latest Apple camera technology, but we think the former has greater appeal for on-the-go shutterbugs because it's more compact and less expensive.

What's new with those cameras? A new physical variable aperture on its main camera lens, for starters. This gives you more control over the exposure and depth of field of photos. It works automatically, but you can also adjust it manually via the Camera app. There, you'll find other new Pro controls for tweaking settings like white balance and shutter speed; new Photographic Styles; new Cinematic effects that can be applied to videos after they're recorded; and a new Focus Tracking tool that locks on moving subjects.

The average user might appreciate those upgrades, "but I do bet that the majority of people will try out the manual aperture setting once and then leave it on auto," wrote Mashable's Schroeder in his review. Power users will make the best use of them.

Besides the new camera features, the new A20 Pro chip also provides extra support for AI tasks, including the newer, smarter Siri AI. There's plenty of storage space, too: Unlike older iPhones, the 18 Pro supports up to 2TB of storage.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Apple.com iPhone 18 Pro specs

• Screen size and display: 6.3-inch OLED display with 2,622 x 1,206 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide), 48MP (ultrawide), 48MP (4x telephoto), and 18MP (front)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 36 hours of video playback

• Processor: Apple A20 Pro

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB

• Colors: Black, silver, glacier, and burgundy

• Dimensions: 5.91 x 2.83 x 0.34 inches

• Weight: 7.44 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Best iPhone for battery life: iPhone 18 Pro Max The iPhone 18 Pro Max (left) is a slightly larger and even longer-lasting version of the iPhone 18 Pro (right). Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

• Who it's for: The latest iPhone Pro Max is geared toward battery life maximizers who hate being chained to an outlet and Apple fans with large hands. That's not a euphemism for anything: This is a big ol' phone.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is rated for up to 45 hours of video playback per charge, making it the longest-lasting iPhone ever. (Its battery is so big that Apple had to come up with a way to get around shipping restrictions that limit battery sizes, according to MacRumors.) Inside, you'll find the powerful A20 Pro chip and an improved vapor chamber cooling system that helps prevent overheating during extended heavy use. Schroeder tried to push this new hardware to the limit "by playing a few games of PUBG: Battlegrounds on the highest settings for a full hour," he wrote, and "The phone barely got warm." What's more, its battery only fell by nine percent.

The regular iPhone 18 Pro has the same chipset and cooling system as the Max version, though it's shorter-lived and smaller. The iPhone 18 Pro Max's size is an advantage for mobile gamers and movie-watchers who value immersion (but not so much that they can justify an iPhone Duo).

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (256GB) $2.78/month for 36 months with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Apple.com iPhone 18 Pro Max specs

• Screen size and display: 6.9-inch OLED display with 2,868 x 1,320 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide), 48MP (ultrawide), 48MP (4x telephoto), and 18MP (front)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 45 hours of video playback

• Processor: Apple A20 Pro

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB

• Colors: Black, silver, glacier, and burgundy

• Dimensions: 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 inches

• Weight: 8.78 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Best foldable iPhone: iPhone Duo Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone Duo

• Who it's for: The iPhone Duo is a worthy investment if you're a well-off early adopter, tech enthusiast, or avid multitasker who consumes most of their entertainment on their phone. It's not for people who rely heavily on Face ID — it only has Touch ID.

Apple's first foldable is a feat in hardware and user interface design. It has some first-gen quirks, but they're not dealbreakers. And though it's expensive, "it's a quality-made product with enough novelty to justify the high asking price," said Schroeder.

The Duo features a passport-style design with a roomy matte inner display, a smooth hinge, and an extremely subtle crease. This form factor opens up a world of usage possibilities. You can use it closed like a normal phone. You can snap it open to play games and watch movies on it, like you would a tablet. You can have two apps running side by side. (It has the same peppy A20 chip as the new iPhone 18 Pros, so it's got plenty of horsepower for heavier workloads.) You can even draw or take notes on either display using a USB-C Apple Pencil.

The Duo's battery life isn't Pro-tier, but it's quite good for a device that powers two screens at once. In typical mixed use, it lasts about as long as the cheap iPhone 17e. Its cameras are probably the most lackluster thing about it, especially its crummy inner selfie camera, but that's typically the case with foldables, in our experience.

Apple iPhone Duo (256GB) $799 with new line and port on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile
  Learn More at T-Mobile Learn More at Apple.com Learn More at Verizon iPhone Duo specs

• Inner screen size and display: 7.6-inch OLED display with 1,878 x 2,670 resolution, 120Hz variable refresh rate, and nano-texture finish

• Outer screen size and display: 5.4-inch OLED display with 1,398 x 2,034 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide), 48MP (ultrawide), 12MP (front, outer), and an additional inner, under-display FaceTime camera (resolution TBA)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 44 hours of video playback when using the outer display; up to 31 hours of video playback when using the inner display

• Processor: Apple A20 Pro

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB

• Colors: Night sky and star white

• Unfolded dimensions: 4.64 x 6.48 x 0.21 inches

• Folded dimensions: 4.64 x 3.31 x 0.44 inches

• Weight: 8.96 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Best iPhone for design snobs: iPhone Air Left: The iPhone Air is so thin. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable Right: Like, REALLY thin. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

• Read our full review of the iPhone Air

• Who it's for: This is the iPhone for minimalists and aesthetes who care more about their phone's looks than its performance. Its camera system, in particular, is pretty mediocre for the money.

People who bought the iPhone Air often say the same thing: Its svelte form factor ruins you for other phones.

The iPhone Air is the thinnest handset Apple has ever made — and arguably the "sexiest," said Schroeder. If you set it next to one of the iPhone Pros, "it feels like a Ford F-150 parked next to a Porsche," he wrote. "The Porsche may not have the utility that a pick-up has, but it turns heads." The bezels on its smooth, detailed display are virtually invisible, and its rear camera bump blends into the back of its chassis when you look at it straight-on. It's made from titanium, so it's not easy to scratch up, and it's super comfy to hold. It's peak Apple sleekness.

An A19 Pro chip makes the iPhone Air mildly faster than the A19-powered iPhone 17, though it doesn't last as long. (Apple makes a MagSafe battery that you can slap on the back of it, but costs $100 extra and works against the device's "ultra-thin" thing.) Camera-wise, it has better zoom than the iPhone 17, but it misses out on an ultrawide shooter à la the iPhone 17e. While you probably won't win any photography prizes with the Air, it's perfectly fine for selfies and everyday snapshots.

Apple iPhone Air (256GB) $0 with trade-in on Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile
  Shop Now at T-Mobile Shop Now at Walmart Shop Now at Apple.com iPhone Air specs

• Screen size and display: 6.5-inch OLED display with 2,736 x 1,260 resolution and 120Hz variable refresh rate

• Cameras: 48MP (wide) and 18MP (front)

• Battery life (rated): Up to 27 hours of video playback

• Processor: A19 Pro

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB

• Colors: Space black, cloud white, light gold, and sky blue

• Dimensions: 6.15 x 2.94 x 0.22 inches

• Weight: 5.82 ounces

• Software: iOS 27

Mashable tech editor Timothy Beck Werth also contributed to this guide.

Apple raised prices this year, but who didn't? Well, now that Black Friday sale season is here, this is your best chance to cancel out those price hikes. That's why we're paying extra close attention to early Black Friday Apple deals.

Yes, Apple does do Black Friday, but not in the way you might expect. Shopping directly on Apple's website usually means getting a measly gift card for future purchases. The real way to find great deals? Looking at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. Especially as Black Friday approaches (mark Nov. 27 in your calendar), retailers duke it out to see who can offer the best prices on AirPods, MacBooks, and iPads. Walmart and Amazon are infamous for outdoing each other by a single cent.

Usually, prices on Apple products drop to record lows during the hectic Black Friday weekend. However, especially good deals can also sell out quick. In my five years covering Black Friday at Mashable, I've seen many an AirPod Pro deal go out of stock before I can finish writing a 200-word story about the deal.

SEE ALSO: 14 headphones deals that are already Black Friday-worthy

Shopping early lets you score decent savings while avoiding the post-Thanksgiving chaos. So, how do you know what to buy, and what to save for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? That's where the expertise of the Mashable shopping team can be helpful.

How I chose the best early Apple deals

Let's start with the very expensive elephant in the room. In June, Apple raised prices on MacBooks, Macs, iPads, the HomePod, Apple TVs, and even the Vision Pro headset, followed by iPhone price increases in September. With many products rising up to $200 in price, the likelihood of seeing products fall to record-low prices is, well, low. Instead, I used price-tracking tools to look for products at or near record-low prices over the past five months.

SEE ALSO: The 45 best early Black Friday deals: Shop Kindle, Lego, and Bose

I also took into account the frequency of deals. If, like the AirPods Pro 3, there's a $50 deal that's nearly always on, I don't necessarily consider that a deal worth highlighting. On the other hand, if an iPad is $100 off for the first time in a month, I'll include it and note its pricing history.

Finally, I considered our reviewers' first-hand experiences with these products. Most of the items in this guide have been hands-on tested by at least one person on the Mashable staff, and I prioritized Mashable award winners, choosing the best deals based on overall product performance and value.

Best Black Friday AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $89 at Walmart
$129 Save $40   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

AirPods with no active noise cancellation are a thing of the past, unless you pick up a pair of the last-generation earbuds. The AirPods 4 without ANC don't stand up against the AirPods 5 with ANC at full price, but picking them up for a sub-$100 price point makes them a much better buy. With five hours of battery life per charge, an IP54 water- and dust-resistance rating, spatial audio for immersive listening, and voice isolation for calls, they're a great daily pair of earbuds. With no silicone ear tips, they're also ideal for folks who like the Apple experience, but prefer a semi-open ear design.

While this $89 sale price has been live for some time, I imagine Walmart is clearing out the last of its stock — these earbuds are no longer sold new at Amazon, Apple, or Best Buy (at least, not by a first-party seller). During Black Friday, I imagine they'll clear out for good.

More early AirPods deals Apple AirPods Max 2 $449 (save $100) Get Deal Black Friday AirPods deals to watch for

• The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for $199 at the time of writing. While the $50 discount off their $249 isn't necessarily bad, it is common, and almost certain to get significantly lower during the week of Black Friday. Ahead of June's Prime Day sale, they dropped to a record low of $169.

• The AirPods 5 haven't received a proper discount yet, as Apple's newest AirPods. The version without a wireless charging case got a few dollars off the $129 around their release, while the $149 wireless charging case edition hasn't had any price drops. If these buds are going on sale in 2026, Black Friday is likely when.

Best early MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,349 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

At $250 off, this is the lowest price we've seen on the 13-inch MacBook Air since June. The terabyte of built-in storage means you probably won't ever run into the issue of having to delete a bunch of files when updating your operating system, while the M5 chip will easily power you through daily tasks. According to our laptop expert, this is a great laptop for college students due to its size, but it's also a great daily driver in general. If you prefer a slightly larger display, the 15-inch Air with 1TB of storage is also $250 off at the time of writing.

More early MacBook deals Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $684 (save $15) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 (save $200) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,299 (save $200) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,549 (save $250) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,599 (save $200) Get Deal Black Friday MacBook deals to watch for

MacBook prices went up in June of this year, with the Neo jumping by $100 and the Air by $200. That means it's highly unlikely we'll see any prices reach their former record lows, even if they're starting at a much higher price point. I've taken this into account as I select the best deals and note the deals to look out for.

• The MacBook Neo only dropped $10 over October Prime Day, which means that the $684 price isn't bad, but the real Black Friday dream for this laptop would be if it dropped back down to its former list price of $599.

• The MacBook Pro hasn't really dropped below the sale price of $1,799 since the price was raised in June. That is, except for one time on October 31, according to the price-tracking tool camelcamelcamel, when it fell to $1,349. While I'm not keeping my fingers crossed for that much of a price dip, a $250 discount would at least be an improvement.

Best early iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi) $649.99 at Amazon
$749 Save $99.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

While it's pricier than the base iPad, the M4 chip in this tablet means that it's more versatile, being just as good for streaming as it is for creative projects. Since the price raise on iPads, the Air has fallen to $649 a handful of times, dropping even as low as $559 in August. Still, even with the price raise this is one of the better value (and more future proof) tablets you can pick up from Apple. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a return to the $559 low, but in the meantime, this is a solid deal to pick up in early Black Friday sale season.

More early iPad deals Apple iPad (A16, 128GB, WiFi) $399.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi) $849.99 (save $99.01) Get Deal Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, 256GB, WiFi) $1,099 (save $99.01) Get Deal Black Friday iPad deals to watch

• The base iPad used to regularly go on sale for $299 pre-price raise. Its current $399.99 price isn't bad, especially compared to the rest of the iPad lineup — but it could be even better.

• The 11-inch iPad Pro is technically on sale, but a price drop of $99 on a $1,200 isn't significant. It is the lowest price this tablet has dropped to in the past five months, which is why I included it as one of the best early deals. Still, a $200 price drop for Black Friday would make this a more palatable tablet to pick up.

Best early Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 3 (49mm, GPS + cellular) $549 at Best Buy
$799 Save $250   Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 shares similar features to the newer Ultra 4. In his review of the Ultra 4, Mashable's Stan Schroeder wrote, "It's an amazing smartwatch, but not an essential upgrade from last year's model." A huge benefit of opting for the Ultra 3? The list price is $100 cheaper, and during Best Buy's first phase of Black Friday deals, it's at an even more impressive discount of $549, making it $150 cheaper than the Ultra 4's current sale price of $799. In other words, it's easily the best Apple Watch deal available right now.

More early Apple Watch deals Apple Watch Ultra 4 (49mm, GPS + cellular) $799.99 (save $99.01) Get Deal Black Friday Apple Watch deals to watch

• The Apple Watch SE 3 dropped $50 to a price of $199 during October Prime Day, so I expect to see a return to this price point during or in the lead-up to Black Friday.

• The Apple Watch Series 12 was announced just this past September, but it has dropped down to $349.99 once already. In Black Friday's past, new generations of Apple Watch have fallen as low as $329. It would be great to see a return to that pattern, but with RAMaggedon, we're hoping for a $50 markdown.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

Fresh off their triumph in the wildly chaotic Series 22, Taskmaster champion Chloe Petts sits down with Say More's Mark Stetson to break down what it really takes to claim Greg Davies’ golden head.

From navigating the unfiltered comedic mayhem of fellow contestants like Richard Ayoade to executing game-winning strategies—including the legendary hide-and-seek decoy and that heartbreaking baked beans calculation—Chloe opens up about balancing raw competitive drive with pure absurdity. Plus, they reflect on the moments that almost broke them and their work co-founding the queer comedy collective, The LOL Word.

Taskmaster Series 22 is streaming now on YouTube.

SAVE $250: Two configurations of the M5 Apple MacBook Air are $250 off at Amazon and Best Buy as of Nov. 6. Get a 13- or 15-inch model with 16GB of RAM and a full 1TB of storage starting at $1,349.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,349 at Amazon and Best Buy
$1,599 Save $250   Shop Now at Amazon and Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,549 at Amazon and Best Buy
$1,799 Save $250   Shop Now at Amazon and Best Buy

Some of the Black Friday MacBook deals we expected to see later this month have arrived early. As of Nov. 6, Amazon and Best Buy are both selling two popular configurations of the Apple MacBook Air (M5) for $250 off, a discount that completely erases their summer price hikes —and then some.

For the uninitiated, the M5 MacBook Air is a Mashable Choice Award winner. Tech editor Timothy Beck Werth called it "an impressive piece of machinery" with a premium, lightweight design, a "fantastic" display, and a ridiculously fast processor. (Read his full MacBook Air review.) This is the most recent version of the MacBook Air, as Apple's recent MacBook releases focused solely on the Pro models.

The 13-inch MacBook Air with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage has fallen to $1,349 (normally $1,599), while its 15-inch counterpart is marked down to $1,549 (typically $1,799). The other configurations of Apple's sleek and speedy ultraportable are all $200 off, which isn't too shabby in the age of RAMageddon.

We feel confident in recommending these MacBook deals to early bird shoppers. Last Black Friday, no retailers' MacBook discounts exceeded $250. In 2024, Amazon offered $255 off a couple models, but we don't think a potential extra $5 savings is worth waiting several weeks for; at that point, you risk your preferred model selling out.

When Smosh Games plays the social deduction game Werewolf, or variations on it, the vibes are of cousins gathering in a basement during a family holiday party. A herd of the comedy channel's cast members squeezes onto one massive couch, which quickly becomes a war zone as a team of "villagers" must suss out the "werewolves" among them. Accusations fly, alliances crumble, and general chaos abounds.

SEE ALSO: If you love 'Traitors,' you need to play these games

This November, though, Smosh Games levels up its Werewolf videos in a big way, with two supersized Werewolf in Real Life episodes. Each installment throws cast members Courtney Miller, Amanda Lehan-Canto, Tommy Bowe, Chanse McCrary, Angela Giarratana, Guchi, Courtney Theophin, and Eli Gonzalez into a mansion for a larger-than-life game of Werewolf, hosted by fellow cast member Shayne Topp. It's basically Smosh meets The Traitors, and it's certainly the channel's most ambitious project since 2025's Smosh Summer Games, which spanned across every Smosh YouTube channel.

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Other gaming channels, such as Good Time Society and No Rolls Barred, have pulled off similar large-scale projects based on social deduction game Blood on the Clocktower. In 2020, Smosh Games even put out Among Us in Real Life, a video that feels like Werewolf in Real Life's progenitor. But while that video clocks in at 17 minutes long and takes place on Smosh's real-life set, Werewolf in Real Life goes bigger, with episodes ranging from an hour to an hour and a half long, as well as elaborate sets and costumes.

Amanda Lehan-Canto, Angela Giarratana, and Courtney Theophin in "Werewolf in Real Life." Credit: Smosh

For Smosh Games Channel Director Spencer Agnew, a project of this magnitude seemed daunting at first.

"I don't think I felt ready to do something like this," Agnew told Mashable in a video call.

Agnew credits the 2025 arrival of Smosh Games producer Anders Norberg, who also co-directed Werewolf in Real Life with Agnew, for helping push him and the team to believe in a project of this scale. Norberg's background includes working on reality TV series like Survivor and Big Brother, so his experience proved vital for Werewolf in Real Life.

The reality TV influence shines through in Werewolf in Real Life's cast confessionals, a narrative tool Smosh also employed in the return of Smosh Summer Games. However, the main focus remains the gameplay, which combines the standard roles of One Night Ultimate Werewolf with the deliberations and side conversations of Blood on the Clocktower. (Players do vote each other out, Traitors-style, at dramatic roundtables.)

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Nov. 6, 2026)

"The biggest thing that we had for this was, I wanted to preserve the structure and momentum of a normal game of Werewolf or Blood on the Clocktower, which was always going to be really hard when shooting on location," Agnew said.

Agnew and the Smosh Games crew had to ensure that the cast maintained a sense of urgency and Werewolf-style paranoia throughout the shoot. Unlike The Traitors, where cameras are running throughout the castle, Werewolf in Real Life could only film in one room at a time, meaning the cast had to take breaks from the game while the crew reset for the next shots. Yet the transitions between scenes feel seamless.

A large part of that comes down to the immersion of the environment, which cast members said helped them lock into the game.

"Being in a massive haunted mansion, if you will, and being in full costume — and the thing is, not costumes, those were legit Irish wool sweaters, a Greek fisherman cap — it just immediately raised the stakes for me," Lehan-Canto told Mashable in a joint video interview with Bowe. "I was like, 'It's Werewolf. Someone is gonna die tonight.'"

"When you're in your comfy sweater and you're sitting on a couch ass to ass with everyone and you're looking at a card, there's less energy around it. It's more casual," Bowe added. "[With Werewolf in Real Life,] your call time is early, you're getting into a full outfit, and you're playing Werewolf, and Shayne looks like a Christmas tree made out of special fabrics. It made it so intense that in the second episode, Chanse will not let me have a one-on-one conversation because he's just truly giddy about talking to people."

The cast of Smosh in "Werewolf in Real Life." Credit: Smosh

The costumes, designed by costume designer Mila Hermanovski, were inspired by the villagers in Resident Evil Village at Agnew's request, while the set, helmed by production designer Andrew Lau, ushers in a deliciously spooky atmosphere.

"To me, the costumes and the set really helped everyone come to life, and it gives them so much more comedic fodder," Agnew said. "That's my favorite thing to do, is to set cast up with a playground that they can play in, and props to play with, and costumes to inhabit, and characters to figure out, and it makes my job the easiest, most fun job in the world."

While the first episode presents a fairly standard game of Werewolf, with just two Werewolves and a Seer, the second episode, out Nov. 8, promises to take things further. This time around, the game incorporates roles like the Hunter, who gets to kill someone if they're killed; the Bodyguard, who has the ability to protect someone during the night phase; and the Cupid, who chooses two players to be Lovers, whose fates are bound to one another.

"The people that Cupid picked feels like a produced moment, but it was genuinely off the cuff, and it leads to the funniest moments ever," Agnew teased.

Even as Werewolf in Real Life kicks it up a notch from episode to episode, Agnew and Norberg are already cooking up what new installments of this level of immersive gameplay could look like for Smosh's future. At some point, Agnew would love to incorporate the Tanner role, whose main objective is to get killed by the villagers, and who has led to several twisty moments in Smosh Games' usual Werewolf fare.

Elsewhere, Agnew and Norberg are looking at reskinning the game to fit into different eras. Hermanovski suggested a '70s-era Studio 54 moment, while Agnew is also intrigued by a late '60s, early '70s Scooby Doo-inspired look.

Whatever the future of the game looks like, the priority for Agnew remains authentic cast reactions, as well as a limited level of producer-manufactured drama.

"I feel like we could play the exact same roles we did in the last one, and it would be just as fun and funny, because they're just an incredible cast," Agnew said.

The first episode of Werewolf in Real Life is now on YouTube. The second premieres Nov. 8 on the Smosh Games channel.

Best early Black Friday deals at a glance Best Apple Deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 (save $200) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort noise-cancelling headphones $169 (save $190) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 75-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,497.99 (save $1,502) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Kindle Bundle (16GB Kindle, Knit Case, Kindle Click) $190.97 (save $34) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Crispi Air Fryer $159.99 (save $20) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Pokémon Eevee $47.99 (save $12) Get Deal

The moment Halloween wraps, we turn to the holiday season. For most people, that means Hallmark holiday specials, planning Thanksgiving, and Christmas music on the radio. But for Mashable's shopping team, it means only one thing: It's time to prep for Black Friday sales. Yes, we know that Black Friday 2026 doesn't technically start until Nov. 27, but that hasn't stopped retailers.

So, we are officially on the hunt for the best early Black Friday deals. And as of this writing, we've found huge $200 discounts on MacBook Air laptops, 53% discounts on Bose noise-cancelling headphones, and 50% savings on award-winning QLED TVs, not to mention discounts on Pokémon Lego sets and other items on our holiday wishlists.

So, if you don't want to wait for Thanksgiving to get your hands on the best gifts of the year, retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Sephora, and Best Buy already have plenty of early deals to entice you. And in a year of relentless price hikes, it's nice to finally get some relief.

How do we choose the best deals? The Mashable shopping team has an encyclopedic knowledge of the latest tech gadgets, gifts, and trending products. We use price-tracking tools, insider knowledge, and our years of experience covering sales like this to search for the best discounts. We're looking for first-ever price drops on new products, steep markdowns on past-gen products, and record-low prices on must-have items from Apple, Ninja, Shark, Dyson, and Lego.

Best early Black Friday Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Apple MacBook Air is a stunner of a laptop, with the blazing-fast M5 chip. If you have a MacBook that's a few generations behind, you'll instantly notice a difference with the speakers and cameras, not to mention Siri AI. In the weeks before Black Friday, this popular laptop is $200 off, bringing it down to its lowest price in almost six months. It's also the best price we've seen since Apple raised prices over the summer.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Air (M5).

More Apple deals

AirPods

• Apple AirPods 4 — $89 $129 (save $30)

• Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation — $119.97 $179 (save $59.04)

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

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $449 $549 (save $100)

iPads

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

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) — $545 $599 (save $54)

iPhones

• iPhone 18 Pro (256 GB) — Free with 36 months of billing credits $1,199.99 (save $1,199.99)

• iPhone 16 Plus (128GB, Unlocked) — $799.99 $829.99 (save $30)

• iPhone 15 Plus (128GB, Refurbished) — $549.99 $899 (save $349.01)

MacBooks

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,299 $1,499 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $2,822 $3,199 (save $377)

Best Black Friday deals on headphones and earbuds Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort $169 at Amazon
$359 Save $190   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The best Black Friday deals always include savings on noise-cancelling headphones. And the Bose QuietComfort are not only some of the most comfortable headphones in the world (according to our headphones reviewer), but also some of the best mid-range headphones you can buy. And when they're marked down 53%? Nothing else comes close. Pick up these ANC headphones while they're marked down to just $169 and thank us later.

More headphones deals

• Sony WH-CH530 — $48 $69.99 (save $21.99)

• Sony WH-CH720N — $88 $179.99 (save $91.99)

• Marshall Major V — $89.99 $159.99 (save $70)

• Sony WH-CH730N — $128 $179.99 (save $51.99)

• Nothing Headphone (a) — $129 $199 (save $70)

• Nothing Headphone (1) — $199 $299 (save $100)

• Bose QuietComfort (2nd gen) — $199 $359 (save $160)

• Marshall Monitor III — $199.99 $279.99 (save $80)

• Sennheiser Momentum 4 — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)

• Sony WH-1000XM5 — $198 $399.99 (save $201.99)

• Sony WH-1000XM4C — $248 $299.99 (save $51.99 with on-page coupon)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) — $369 $449 (save $80)

• Sony WH-1000XM6 — $378 $459.99 (save $81.99)

• Apple AirPods Max 2 — $449 $549 (save $100)

More earbuds deals

• CMF by Nothing Buds 2 — $29 $49 (save $20)

• JBL Vibe Beam 2 — $29.95 $49.95 (save $20)

• Nothing Ear (a) — $59 $79 (save $20)

• Sony WF-C710N — $78.99 $129.99 (save $51)

• Nothing Ear (3a) — $79 $99 (save $20)

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

• Beats Studio Buds + — $99.95 $169.95 (save $70)

• Bose QuietComfort earbuds — $129 $179 (save $50)

• Marshall Motif II — $129.99 $219.99 (save $90)

• Refurbished Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds — $149 $299 (save $150)

• Beats Powerbeats Fit — $169.95 $199.99 (save $30.04)

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

• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — $199.95 $249.95

• Refurbished Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) — $279 $299 (save $20)

Best Black Friday TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 75-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $1,497.99 at Amazon
$2,999.99 Save $1,502.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Black Friday is one of the best times of year to buy a new TV, and you don't have to wait until the end of November. Go ahead and treat yourself to an award-winning 75-inch TCL QLED TV for a cool 50% off the retail price. It comes with built-in Google TV OS, up to 6,000 nits of brightness, and a super-thin design for a modern look. Plus, Amazon is tossing in free delivery and unpacking in the room of your choice.

More TV deals

Under 50-inch TV deals

• onn. 32-inch HD TV — $68 $88 (save $20)

• TCL 40-inch Q3CR QLED TV — $149.99 $299.99 (save $150)

• Samsung 43-inch M70H Mini-LED 4K TV — $247.99 $349.99 (save $102)

• LG 43-inch 75B Mini-LED 4K TV — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200)

• LG 48-inch B6 OLED 4K TV — $699.99 $1,199.99 (save $500)

• Samsung 48-inch S85H OLED 4K TV — $749.99 $1,199.99 (save $450)

50 to 55-inch TV deals

• Insignia 50-inch F50 4K TV — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120)

• Hisense 55-inch E6 Hi-QLED 4K TV — $296.99 $429.99 (save $133)

• Samsung 55-inch M70H Mini-LED 4k TV — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)

• Hisense 50-inch E7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV — $449.99 $699.99 (save $250)

• LG 55-inch B6E OLED 4K TV — $799.99 $1,399.99 (save $600)

• LG 55-inch C6 OLED 4K TV — $999.99 $1,999.99 (save $1,000)

• Samsung 55-inch R85H RGB 4K TV — $1,029.99 $1,599.99 (save $570)

65-inch TV deals

• Toshiba 65-inch G700 ArtVision QLED 4K TV — $997.99 $1,999.99 (save $1,002)

• Samsung 65-inch S85H OLED 4K TV — $1,297.99 $1,999.99 (save $702)

• LG C6 Series OLED 4K TV — $1,399.99 $2,699.99 (save $1,300)

• Samsung 65-inch The Frame Pro LS03HW QLED 4K TV — $1,597.99 $1,999.99 (save $402)

• Samsung 65-inch R95H RGB 4K TV — $2,799.99 $3,199.99 (save $400)

70 to 75-inch TV deals

• Insignia 70-inch F50 4K TV — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200)

• Samsung 75-inch M70H Mini-LED 4K TV — $539.25 $729.99 (save $190.74)

• TCL 75-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $1,497.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,502)

80 to 85-inch TV deals

• LG 85-inch NU700B 4K TV — $699.99 $849.99 (save $150)

• TCL 85-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

Over 85-inch TV deals

• Hisense 100-inch U7 Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,999.99 $4,499.99 (save $1,500)

Best Amazon device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Bundle (16GB Kindle, Knit Case, Kindle Click) $190.97 at Amazon
$224.97 Save $34   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

We consider ourselves Kindle experts, and we've been eagerly testing all of the new Kindle e-readers Amazon released this fall. Even though the new Kindles just came out, you can already pick up the base model and the new Kindle Click page turner in a discounted bundle. BookTok has been waiting a long time for a proper Kindle page-turner accessory, and we're big fans.

If you're not interested in the Kindle Click, we expect all of the new Kindles to get their first real discounts when Black Friday begins, so you may want to add them to your cart and wait until Nov. 27.

More Kindle deals

2026 Kindle Deals

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Cover, and Power Adapter Bundle — $229.97 $269.97 (save $40)

• Amazon Kindle (32GB), Cover, and Kindle Click Bundle — $233.97 $274.97 (save $41)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, Page Turn Cover, Sling Bag Bundle — $365.97 $429.97 (save $64)

2024 Kindle Deals

• Kindle (16GB, 2024 model), Cover, and Power Adapter Bundle — $186.97 $201.97 (save $15)

• Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (2024 model), Cover, and Wireless Charging Dock Bundle — $372.97 $407.97 (save $35)

More Amazon Device deals

• Echo Dot Max — $89.99 $119.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Echo Show 8 — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)

• Amazon Echo Show 11 — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select — $14.99 $49.99 (save $35 with on-page code SELECT4K)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K — $15.96 $59.99 (save $44.03 with on-page coupon code FTV4K)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick HD — $17.99 $39.99 (save $22 with on-page code HDFTV)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet — $72.99 $154.99 (save $82)

• Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet — $79.99 $129.99 (save $50)

• Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet — $94.99 $169.99 (save $75)

• Harry Potter Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (limited edition) — $132.99 $189.99 (save $57)

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Crispi Air Fryer $159.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

You may have heard that Mashable's gift experts recently named the Ninja Crispi glass air fryer as the best kitchen gift of 2026. This 4-in-1 countertop appliance actually comes with two glass containers, which are sized just right for easy storage. We've had very good experiences with Ninja appliances in recent years, and this particular air fryer has become a Mashable team favorite.

More Kitchen deals

• Ninja Professional Plus Blender — $89.99 $119.99 (save $30)

• Ninja Air Fryer XL with MaxCrisp — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)

• Ninja PossibleCooker Pro — $129.95 $169.99 (save $40.04)

• Keurig K-Duo — $129.99 $219.99 (save $90)

• Ninja BlendSense Tech Kitchen System — $179.95 $249.99 (save $70.04)

• Nespresso Vertuo Up — $199 $229 (save $30)

• Meraki Dual Boiler Espresso Machine — $1,799 $1,999 (save $200)

Best Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon Eevee $47.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

We love Pokémon. We love Lego. Putting them together just makes sense, especially as we're celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. Legos are always popular holiday gifts for kids and adults alike, and we're anticipating big Black Friday Lego deals. The pre-Black Friday season is also a great time to order Lego Advent calendars.

More Lego deals

• Lego Botanicals Rocking Plants — $19.97 $22.99 (save $3.02)

• Lego Friends Advent Calendar — $25 $34.99 (save $9.99)

• Lego Botanicals Flowering Cactus — $27.95 $34.99 (save $7.04)

• Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar — $30 $44.99 (save $14.99)

• Lego Botanicals Succulents — $32.99 $49.99 (save $17)

• Lego Star Wars AT-RT Attack — $35.99 $44.99 (save $9)

• Lego Icons Poinsettia — $42.99 $49.99 (save $7)

• Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Mos Eisley Cantina — $53.99 $79.99 (save $26)

• Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower — $55.95 $69.99 (save $14.04)

• Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter — $55.99 $69.99 (save $14)

• Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement — $62.04 $109.99 (save $47.95)

• Lego Star Wars Smart Play: Millennium Falcon — $79.95 $99.99 (save $20.04)

• Lego Star Wars Grogu (Mandalorian Apprentice) — $103.99 $129.99 (save $26)

• Lego Icons Tranquil Garden — $103.99 $109.99 (save $6)

• Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball — $183.18 $199.99 (save $16.81)

• Lego Icons Tropical Aquarium — $446.82 $479.99 (save $33.17)

The best free deals ahead of Black Friday: Best free membership deal Amazon Prime 30-day free trial Get Deal Best free reading deal Kindle+ 30-day free trial Get Deal Best free music deal Apple Music 1-month free trial Get Deal Best free audiobook deal Audible 30-day free trial Get Deal

I’ve spent the past few weeks looking through early Black Friday deals, and while I love a good discount, nothing beats an unexpected freebie — especially when I’m buying gifts for other people.

SEE ALSO: The Black Friday 2026 countdown is on: Our top 7 hacks for finding the best deals

Of course, “free” usually comes with a few conditions. You might need to be a new subscriber, qualify for a specific offer, or remember to cancel before the first charge is made. So I’m rounding up the free trials worth considering, along with what you get, who qualifies, and what you’ll pay if you keep the subscription.

Best free membership deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Prime (30-day free trial)   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Paying for a membership just to shop a sale feels a little counterproductive. Luckily, eligible customers can try Amazon Prime free for 30 days. Starting your trial now gives you time to shop early deals and still have it for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. After the trial, Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, depending on your selected plan.

Prime comes with more than free shipping, though that’s probably the perk you’ll use most while shopping for gifts. You also get Prime Video, Amazon Music’s ad-free listening options, access to a selection of books through Prime Reading, and member-exclusive deals. The newest addition is $0 delivery fees on eligible Uber Eats restaurant orders of $25 or more placed through Amazon — a useful extra for the nights you’d rather order dinner than make it.

Best free reading deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle+ (30-day free trial)   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Books are one of those things I don’t particularly enjoy putting a spending limit on. A subscription at least gives you a way to read more without paying for every title separately. Kindle+, formerly Kindle Unlimited, offers a 30-day free trial with access to a catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and comics. It automatically renews at $11.99 per month unless you cancel.

You might also see an offer for two months for $0.99 total. That’s not free, but it’s worth comparing with the trial before you choose.

Best free music deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Music Apple Music (1-month free trial)   Get Deal at Apple Why we like it

A music subscription is pretty easy to test for a month. You’ll have time to find your favorite artists, try a few playlists, and decide whether you like it enough to pay for it. New subscribers can get one month of Apple Music free, including ad-free listening and downloads for when you don’t have an internet connection. The Individual plan costs $11.99 per month afterward.

And despite the name, you don’t need an iPhone to use it — Apple Music also works on Android and Windows.

More free music deals

• Spotify Premium Individual — One month free for people who haven’t tried Premium before, then $12.99 per month. Includes ad-free music and offline downloads.

• Amazon Music Unlimited Individual — 30 days free for new subscribers, then $11.99 per month for Prime members or $12.99 per month for nonmembers, plus applicable tax.

Best free audiobook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Audible (30-day free trial)   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Not all reading has to involve sitting down with a book. Audible’s 30-day free trial lets new customers choose one audiobook from its collection, including bestsellers and new releases, and listen to an included catalog of podcasts. After the trial, it automatically renews at $8.99 per month unless you cancel.

There’s also a separate promotion for three months at $0.99 per month, plus a $20 Audible bonus. I wouldn’t call that free, but paying $2.97 for three months might make more sense than taking one free month and then paying the regular rate.

More free audiobook offers

• Hoopla — Free through participating public libraries. Check whether your library offers access before signing up; this is library borrowing, not a subscription trial that turns into a monthly bill.

• Kobo Plus Listen — 14 days free, then $7.99 per month. The Read & Listen plan includes both ebooks and audiobooks for $9.99 per month after the trial. You can use the Kobo Books app on your phone or tablet, so there’s no need to buy an e-reader.

• Everand — 30 days free, with plans starting at $11.99 per month afterward. The trial includes one premium-title unlock, plus unlimited access to a separate catalog of more than 20,000 audiobooks, ebooks, and podcasts.

• All You Can Books — 30 days free, then $24.99 per month. The service advertises unlimited downloads from its catalog of audiobooks, ebooks, language courses, and other content, and says downloaded files remain yours even after cancellation.

Best free magazine and news deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple News+ (1-month free trial)   Get Deal at Apple Why we like it

Apple News+ gives new subscribers one month to try its collection of newspapers and magazines, making it a different option from the book-focused subscriptions above. The subscription costs $12.99 per month after the trial.

I’d use the free month to check whether the publications you actually want to read are included. A long list of magazines sounds nice, but it doesn’t mean much if you’re only opening one of them.

TL;DR: Ms. Rachel and Mr. Aron's debut studio album I'm So Happy arrives on the screen-free Yoto audio platform on Nov. 12, packing all 23 tracks onto a physical card ahead of the holiday season.

Opens in a new window Credit: Yoto Ms. Rachel I'm So Happy Yoto Card $14.99 at Yoto
  Preorder at Yoto

If you live with a toddler, Ms. Rachel's catchy melodies and speech-development tunes are probably already the permanent soundtrack in your home. Between their massive YouTube following and a hit Netflix series, Rachel and Aron Accurso have basically become honorary members of millions of households. The only real catch was that letting your toddler pick the songs usually meant giving up your phone screen.

That changes this holiday season. Interactive children's audio company Yoto announced that I'm So Happy, the couple's debut studio album, will land in Yoto's physical library starting Nov. 12. Marking the first time Ms. Rachel's music is available on a dedicated kid-friendly audio platform, the physical card is available for preorder on the official Yoto website for $14.99.

All 23 tracks on a screen-free smart card

The I'm So Happy card packs every single one of the record's 23 tracks into a physical smart card that little hands can control themselves. When the record first came out, it quickly became an absolute staple for families, dominating the children's music charts.

Executive-produced by Rachel and Aron alongside Grammy-winning producer Scott Riesett, the tracklist includes viral fan favorites such as "I Love a Rainbow," "Big Feelings," "I Could Be Your Friend," "Icky Sticky Bubblegum," and "Hop Little Bunnies." It also features fresh arrangements of classic playground staples like "Old MacDonald" and "The Wheels on the Bus," as well as early-learning jams like "Phonics" and "Counting to 20!"

Kids simply slide the card into the slot on any Yoto player to start the audio, so they can jump, clap, and sing along without holding a fragile smartphone.

Yoto Mini vs. Yoto Player 4th Gen Opens in a new window Credit: Yoto Play Yoto Mini 4th Gen $109.99 at Yoto Play
  Shop Now at Yoto Play Opens in a new window Credit: Yoto Play Yoto Player 4th Gen $149.99 at Yoto Play
  Shop Now at Yoto Play

The card is backward-compatible with every generation of Yoto hardware (and works inside the free Yoto mobile app), but if you do not own a device yet, Yoto's latest fourth-generation lineup covers two distinct use cases.

If your family is often on the move, the Yoto Mini (4th Gen) is built specifically for strollers, car rides, and road trips. It features a rugged, puddle-proof exterior, up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge, and enough internal memory to store over 1,000 hours of audio offline.

In the box, you get the player, a USB-C charging cable, a Welcome / Make Your Own card, a free digital Journey Jams card, and free access to Yoto Daily and Yoto Radio streams.

SEE ALSO: Yoto announces 4th generation of popular audio players

For everyday listening around the house, the full-sized Yoto Player (4th Gen) is designed to stay parked on a nightstand or shelf; it swaps the ultra-compact frame for richer stereo sound, an integrated full-panel nightlight, and a built-in "okay-to-wake" clock face that helps little ones learn when morning has arrived.

Like the Mini, it ships with a USB-C cable, a Make Your Own card, access to Yoto Daily and Yoto Radio, and a free 5 Minute Stories From Around the World digital card.

You can preorder the I'm So Happy card for $14.99 before it lands on doorsteps Nov. 12. If you are looking to get a jump on holiday shopping, pairing it with a player is pretty much a guaranteed win for any toddler house.

TL;DR: Dave and Buster's is temporarily rebranding to Doom and Buster's ahead of Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday, rolling out new arcade games, themed cocktails, and double-ticket DOOMHOUR events from Nov. 16 through Jan. 31, 2027.

Doctor Doom is not waiting around for his return to the big screen to claim new territory. Ahead of Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday arriving in theaters on Dec. 18, Dave and Buster's is temporarily surrendering its name, gaming floors, and bar to Latveria's ruler for a nationwide takeover dubbed Doom and Buster's.

While select Marvel games began rolling out to arcade floors this week, the full experiential takeover officially launches on Nov. 16 and runs through Jan. 31, 2027. Between now and late January, visitors have two and a half months to jump into new Marvel games, collect exclusive merch, and sip themed drinks as they count down to the premiere.

Credit: Dave & Buster's / Marvel Step inside the Doomsday Zone

The cornerstone of the takeover is the in-store Doomsday Zone, framed by custom entry arches, Marvel signage, and villainous game displays. The rollout introduces many brand-new games and interactive attractions:

• Marvel Cosmic Invasion — A fast-paced, four-player beat-'em-up where you pick two Marvel superheroes and switch between their abilities mid-fight to survive waves of enemies.

• Avengers: Roller Race and Battle — A four-player head-to-head racing game where the fastest racer to the finish takes down a villain along the way to help save the day.

• Human Crane — A life-sized claw attraction where guests strap into a harness, lift off, and get lowered directly into a pit of giant inflatables and prizes.

• Mystery Crane — The classic claw machine with a twist, hiding surprise prizes inside mystery pillow boxes.

• Thor's Hammer Strike — A test-of-strength cabinet where one hammer swing can land your name on the leaderboard and score ticket jackpots.

• Smash N Win — A target-shooting game where players can collect 20 different Marvel character-themed balls.

• The Arena — A dedicated interactive space featuring immersive gameplay and themed floor takeovers.

• Avengers Themed Photo Booth — A commemorative photo booth where you can snap solo or group pictures and take home a physical photo keepsake.

Credit: Dave & Buster's / Marvel

Arcade floors will also feature an Avengers Funko pusher machine stocked exclusively with themed Funko collectibles, limited-edition Marvel cotton candy flavors, and collectible Power Cards spotlighting Doctor Doom, Thor, and Yelena available at kiosks while supplies last.

Double ticket drops and villainous cocktails

For ticket hunters, Doom is also taking over the prize desk math. Starting Nov. 16, locations nationwide will trigger DOOMHOUR — a surprise 60-minute window that awards double tickets on all green-swipe games.

D&B Rewards members will receive advance warning straight to their phones: an in-app notification 24 hours ahead reveals the date, and a second notification drops the day of to reveal the exact hour before in-store screens and D&B Live radio sound the alarm for everyone else. Fans can also rack up exclusive digital badges and bonus game chips by completing new Rewards Challenges inside the mobile app throughout the event.

Doom's rule extends straight to the bar with three cocktails and two mocktails running through Jan. 31, 2027:

• Doomsday's Dominion — Melon liqueur, pineapple, and Smirnoff vodka paired with an ominous Black Magic sidecar.

• Multiversal Mule — Dragon fruit and ginger beer spiked with Smirnoff, edible shimmer, and a glowing LED cube.

• Fantastic Flight — A four-part flight of mini citrus sour cocktails highlighting different super-powered flavors.

• Panther's Potion (Mocktail) — An alcohol-free cherry and ginger blend served with a shimmering vibranium sidecar.

• Captain Punch (Mocktail) — A tropical blue raspberry and coconut mocktail finished with a sour candy ribbon.

Attractions, games, and drink availability can vary by venue across Dave and Buster's locations. You can check your local store's game lineup and sign up for DOOMHOUR alerts on the Doom and Buster's website.

TL;DR: DJI launched the Matrice 5T, a rugged enterprise drone packing 1K thermal imaging, LiDAR, and AI object tracking to find missing people in pitch-black darkness and bad weather.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Matrice 5T   Learn More at DJI

Searching for a missing person across dense forests or choppy waters is grueling enough in broad daylight. Once night falls, or when heavy fog and blinding rain set in, standard aerial cameras hit a hard physical wall. Search and rescue crews are often left squinting at pixelated monitor screens and hoping a flashlight beam catches something reflective.

DJI designed the Matrice 5T to tackle those exact conditions. Built for first responders, disaster relief crews, and infrastructure inspectors, the enterprise drone functions as an all-in-one sensor rig engineered to handle pitch-black darkness, dense dust, and stormy weather.

Instead of using a standard night camera, the Matrice 5T packs a dedicated multi-sensor setup. The heart of its nighttime search gear is a native 1K thermal camera (1280 x 1024 resolution) with four times as many pixels as typical 640 x 512 sensors, letting teams spot faint heat signatures in cold terrain or rubble. With Ultra-High Resolution mode turned on, it doubles to 2560 x 2048 to keep heat sources crisp against messy backgrounds.

Thermal tech built for darkness

That thermal view is backed by long-range zoom and full-color night optics. The wide camera pulls color out of near-total darkness down to 0.01 lux, while a telephoto camera combines monochrome night vision with up to 176x hybrid zoom to read license plates from 400 meters away. For close-up utility work, a separate 50MP medium telephoto camera checks hardware from 10 meters out.

Flying low in the dark is risky around trees and wires, so the Matrice 5T combines omnidirectional low-light fisheye sensors with LiDAR and millimeter-wave radar. The top-mounted LiDAR spots thin overhead lines up to 32 meters away at night and locks onto them to fly alongside during line checks.

When the weather turns, the millimeter-wave radar cuts through thick fog, heavy rain, or blowing dust that blinds regular cameras. In deep river canyons or between tall buildings where GPS drops out, the drone fuses its visual and radar data to map the area in real-time, keeping flight smooth and steady.

Built-in AI and longer flight times

Spotting something in the dark is one thing, but figuring out what it is takes more work. The drone packs built-in edge AI models that can scan both thermal and standard video feeds in parallel to recognize more than 20 object categories, from vehicles and boats to individual humans. Responders connected to DJI FlightHub 2 can enter text prompts or upload reference images in the DJI Pilot 2 app to have the drone automatically sweep patrol zones and flag targets.

SEE ALSO: The best early Black Friday drone deals have landed — save on DJI, Ruko, Antigravity, and more

To keep long operations running without constant battery swaps, the aircraft offers up to 59 minutes of flight time and carries an IP55 weather-resistance rating, so it can operate in dust storms, downpours, and temperatures ranging from minus-20 degrees to 50 degrees Celsius. The O4 Enterprise transmission system reaches up to 40 kilometers, backed by cellular dongles and multi-drone relay modes to keep video streams live even when mountains or buildings block a direct line of sight.

Fast field modeling and tighter security

Beyond search missions, the drone doubles as a high-precision surveying tool. Paired with DJI Terra, the controller turns 200 photos into 2.5D models or local point clouds in just eight minutes — no ground control points needed. It can also generate 3D models on the fly to auto-route inspections along bridges and solar grids, or handle takeoffs and landings directly from moving boat decks.

Because enterprise and emergency data is sensitive, DJI requires opt-in permissions to share photos and video, while U.S. operators no longer sync flight logs to company servers. The system uses AES-256 encryption alongside ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certifications. For restricted airspace, a built-in Flight Termination System module lets pilots cut propeller power on demand or triggers automatically if the drone strays past a preset geofence boundary.

SEE ALSO: The best early Black Friday drone deals have landed — save on DJI, Ruko, Antigravity, and more

The DJI Matrice 5T is now available through authorized DJI Enterprise dealers.

TL;DR: Move through your piano learning journey at your own pace with this lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, on sale now for just $109.97 (reg. $299.99) through Nov. 8.

Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription $109.97
$299.99 Save $190.02   Get Deal

It’s easy to lose an hour scrolling on your phone without anything to show for it. If you’re looking for an easy way to use your phone for good, it may be time to try Skoove Premium Piano Lessons. This innovative app turns your smartphone, tablet, or laptop into your very own private piano instructor, helping you work on your skills whenever you have free time.

Right now, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for just $109.97 through Nov. 8.

Turn your spare time into piano lessons with Skoove. This AI-powered app makes it easier than ever to learn an instrument, without spending a fortune on lessons or commuting to a studio.

Whether you’re a total beginner, an intermediate player, or an advanced pianist, you can improve your skills with Skoove Premium Piano Lessons. Thanks to the AI component, it can provide real-time feedback to help you improve with every session — all you need is a piano or keyboard and a tablet, smartphone, or computer to get started.

Skoove gives you personalized feedback as you go, and even plans lessons for you. The app is packed with over 400 lessons and thousands of instructional videos to choose from. You’ll also learn tunes by some of your favorite artists, from Adele to The Beatles.

If you need more help with your piano skills, Skoove also offers one-on-one support with real music instructors. Your lifetime subscription includes monthly updated lessons and songs, so you’ll never run out of material.

Lock in your own lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for just $109.97 now through Nov. 8.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: If you’re looking for tools that don’t require a subscription, snag this lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows can be yours for just $29.97 (reg. $219.99) through Nov. 8.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $29.97
$219.99 Save $190.02   Get Deal

Whether you need to update your resume or put together a household budget, Word and Excel continue to come in handy regularly. If you haven’t had a license for these helpful Microsoft Office tools, let this be your sign. You can get these two classics and five more with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license — now for only $29.97 until Nov. 8.

If you’re tired of paying monthly for your go-to productivity apps, it’s time to go old school. This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows license gives you old staples and new favorites for a one-time low price — no recurring fees required.

Let this suite of Microsoft Office apps help you tackle documents, spreadsheets, presentations, emails, note-taking, and more. It includes your old go-tos, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, plus new additions like Teams, Access, and OneNote.

A ribbon-based user interface makes it easy to access all the features, tools, and customizations you need. This edition is tied to your PC, not a Microsoft account, so it is affordable and ready for use at work and at home.

Make sure you’re running Windows 10 or Windows 11 prior to purchase. After you buy, you’ll receive instant delivery and download access.

Get your own lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for just $29.97 now through Nov. 8.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Erica Layer, a mom of a 2- and 6-year-old, has an enviable to-do list for her AI agent. 

The busy executive relies on an Instinct agent for low-stakes but time-intensive household tasks like meal planning, calendaring, and birthday reminders. 

"I do get a huge amount of time back," Layer says of delegating to an AI agent. "But also I'm doing the things that I just was dropping completely before."

Still, Layer is conflicted about her agent's persistence. The AI has suggested completing tasks on her behalf without explaining what happens to the data it accesses. Recently, her Instinct agent researched a family trip in Portugal, where she lives, and offered to book train tickets. 

SEE ALSO: 'Not everything needs to be known': How one day with no phone changed my life

The catch? It wanted her kids' passports to make the purchase. Layer runs a fractional AI company, operates her own team of agents professionally, and has taught nearly 100 people to build agentic operating systems. She consulted Instinct's data privacy terms, felt they lacked transparency, and worried about how her data would be used. Layer, who wrote about her experience, made the reservation herself instead.

Mashable attempted to contact Instinct's founder for comment but did not receive a reply as of publication.

Like many parents — particularly moms — Layer is eager for an agent to handle the exhausting aspects of running a household. At the same time, she's unwilling to connect her personal data to a platform without clarity about its policies. 

Parents are poised to be among the earliest adopters of AI agents for their families, yet unclear risks may compromise their personal and sensitive data. Experts say the excitement over agentic products for families is warranted, but that parents should first grasp how to best protect their data. 

"I would love to have this mental load out of my head"

In a few short months, overwhelmed parents in the U.S. suddenly have their pick of agentic products. The September launch of Meta's Muse, reportedly in response to Instinct's early success, sparked instant competition. OpenAI quickly followed with its AI agent Dots, and Anthropic opened a waitlist for its "proactive" agent Claude Duet.  

These products have overshadowed startup offerings like Fambot and Fo, both created by working parents and tech executives turned entrepreneurs. Fambot bills itself as a parent's "AI chief of staff" and Fo insists it'll "get sh*t done." 

Meanwhile, Marissa Mayer, formerly the CEO of Yahoo, debuted her AI agent Dazzle to viral controversy after sharing with the New York Times that she asked her AI agent to choose three of her twin daughters' standout qualities for a school birthday slide. Mayer said on X the anecdote lacked important context about trying to challenge Dazzle with the prompt. 

Either way, Layer wrote on Substack that she didn't appreciate how the response to Dazzle minimized the value of AI tools for households, particularly for working moms.

S. Shyam Sundar, director of the Penn State Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence, says parents who turn to AI to save time on tedious tasks aren't being selfish.

"I think it's looking out for more the psychological welfare of the household and the relationships within that household," he said. 

Amy Wu Martin, a new mom and partner at the early-stage investment firm Menlo Ventures, says she's saved a lot of time letting Muse and Claude research whether restaurants and hotels are kid-friendly. 

"I would love to have this mental load out of my head," she says of mundane parenting tasks. 

Parents as early AI adopters 

Menlo Ventures' survey research suggests parents are indeed AI power users. They are nearly twice as likely to use AI daily as non-parents. Among parents polled by the firm, 40 percent use AI daily for tasks like meal planning, shopping, and logistics. She envisions a future in which AI agents can handle purchases for parents, like ordering diapers. 

Personally, Wu Martin has stopped short of connecting her inbox to an agent because of data security concerns. She's open, however, to letting an AI agent coordinate calendars with her husband.

Fambot, co-founded by dad of three and former Uber executive David Reich, turns school emails, sports schedules, and parent chats into a clear daily plan. 

The agent gets read-only access to a parent's inbox, calendars, and WhatsApp groups and proceeds to manage every task it perceives relevant. It parses the school newsletters, sports schedules, and parent chats, then generates specific action items, calendar events, and a text summary each evening of what the parent needs to know. 

Shivani Poddar, who previously worked as a senior engineering lead at Google DeepMind, recently launched the AI agent Fo through her startup Wajo AI. While it's not designed specifically for parents, Poddar says she relies on it for tasks like reminding her to buy a Halloween costume well in advance and finding a Mandarin class in San Francisco for her toddler. Fo can also bring a human customer service agent into its loop if necessary. 

Really, Poddar says, she's looking to gain time back to spend with her child, and she knows other parents want that, too. 

AI agent privacy and safety red flags

Kayne McGladrey, a virtual chief information security officer, says parents who want to use an AI agent can take reasonable privacy precautions. 

Yet he understands that many consumers have developed "privacy nihilism." They feel like their digital lives will be compromised at any moment regardless of their choices. That can make vigilance feel like a losing battle, especially when privacy and security policies are dense and packed with jargon.

Privacy phrases to watch out for

He recommends evaluating an agentic product's marketing claims, especially those related to privacy and security. Consumers should look for phrases like "zero retention," "zero training," "no storage on the provider's server," and "zero-knowledge encryption." 

Such phrases indicate the company's data practices prioritize consumer privacy and security by storing information carefully and limiting whether it's used to train AI models.

McGladrey, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), also says consumers should check to see if a company isolates credentials. 

This is critical if an agent, for example, has a consumer's bank account and Gmail passwords. Those pieces of data should be stored and used separately. When saved in the same place, it dramatically increases the risk that they can be stolen by bad actors who can exploit a user's inbox to access their bank account.

Why inbox privacy matters

Generally speaking, parents may underestimate the sensitive information in their inbox. They may want an AI agent to read the weekly school newsletter but forget that their inbox also includes private communication with school staff, health care, and mental health providers, for example.  

McGladrey says an agent having access to a child's health care information isn't necessarily an immediate problem. Instead, the longer-term question is where that data is stored and what happens to it over time. 

If an AI agent startup goes out of business and lands in bankruptcy court, that data could end up in the hands of another company. Advertisers would also love to access families' lives at this scale for better targeting, McGladrey notes. 

While consumers may be inclined to trust an AI agent from a well-known platform like Meta, that company has had its own privacy scandal.

McGladrey says IEEE is developing new standards for agentic security so companies can reference widely accepted privacy and security benchmarks. Those likely won't be ready until 2027, however. 

Risk vs. reward

Nevertheless, McGladrey understands that some parents will embrace AI agents for convenience, despite the potential trade-offs. 

"I think that it's going to be an individual determination of what we're willing to accept for risk versus reward or perceived reward," McGladrey says. 

As much as Erica Layer would love to maximize an AI agent for her family's needs, she presently uses Instinct without connecting it to her email or personal information. Fambot, Fo, and Muse, among other agentic products, are not available to her yet in Europe. 

"I am waiting for the company that builds with safety in mind," she says.

If he wanted to, he would. If he likes you, you'll know. If he doesn't, you'll be confused. If it's meant to be, it'll happen. Spend just a smidgeon of time on dating TikTok, and you'll likely be greeted by one of these hackneyed platitudes. TikTok is riddled with bad dating advice that reduces the human experience to a set of rigid rules.

Relationships aren't that simple, says certified dating coach Sabrina Zohar, author of the New York Times bestseller Why Am I Like This? She believes the black-and-white thinking that dominates dating advice on social media could be holding us back from actually getting to know people.

Zohar is beloved online for her no-bullshit approach to dating. With 6.3 million followers across social media, she hosts the Sabrina Zohar Show, which is currently ranked in the top 0.05 percent of podcasts globally. Her no-nonsense insights don't always land, however. "I get yelled at all the time," she tells Mashable in an interview. "I get yelled at for saying 'Someone texting you or someone not texting you doesn't mean they don't like you.' And people lose their marbles because it's safer to hold on to a narrative they believe than to create something new because it takes more bandwidth."

"I don't think people are dating to connect," she says. "I think they're dating to be chosen."

So hold onto your marbles, but toss these pieces of dating advice that are likely holding you back.

If he wanted to, he would

First up on her list of least-favourite pieces of dating advice is: "if he wanted to, he would." And she's not alone in her dislike for this all-too-popular TikTok cliché. In 2020, I wrote about my distaste for this particular piece of advice. People in my life have said it to me in response to my own dating woes, and it usually makes me feel worse than I already do. Imagine you're already dealing with heartbreak or disappointment, and someone essentially implies that the person you were dating didn't want it (or you) badly enough. Cool cool cool, guess I'm not enough!

"If the world were just about want, we would be in a very different place," says Zohar. "Want and do are two different fundamental parts of your brain."

SEE ALSO: The problem with TikTok's dating advice 'if he wanted to, he would'

"Now, I'm not excusing shitty behaviour. If somebody is treating you poorly and you say, 'Well, if he wanted to, he would,' maybe that person genuinely just doesn't have the awareness, the bandwidth, and the capacity. That doesn't mean it's okay."

"Maybe that person genuinely just doesn't have the awareness, the bandwidth, and the capacity."

And just because someone doesn't have capacity, that doesn't mean we accept the bare minimum. A person can really like you, but still lack the self-awareness and emotional availability to be consistent and communicative.

If they like you, you'll know. If they don't, you'll be confused.

Another annoying dating line that's trotted out far too often is: "If they like you, you'll know. If they don't, you'll be confused."

"The reason I don't like it is because dating is very confusing," says Zohar.

"To me, what actually matters is someone who cares about you, cares about their intent and their impact on you. That's what matters here," she says.

Don't sleep with them until the 3rd date

The third date rule — the idea that you shouldn't have sex until at least the third date — was popularised in the 1990s by Sex And The City and is still widely accepted in dating culture today. The reasoning behind the rule has historically been so that women aren't perceived as "too easy" or "slutty" in heterosexual dating scenarios — patriarchal ideas steeped in slut-shaming culture and purity culture. To many of us, these ideas feel outdated and out of place in modern society, but sadly misogynist discourse still reigns supreme online. And the manosphere's obsession with women's body counts has reignited conversations around women's number of sexual partners and its supposed bearing on her "value."

Zohar is now engaged to her partner Ryan, and she proudly asserts that she did not abide by this rule. "I fucked my partner on the first date, and here we are four years later, and he wants to marry me," she tells me.

That doesn't mean you should sleep with someone before you're ready, of course. It takes time to build trust and connection. Whether it's the first, third, or thirteenth date, sex should only happen when you feel ready to take that step.

"No one has to sleep with someone until they're ready. Like, please do what feels authentic to you," says Zohar.

Never show a man too much interest

Plenty of TikTok dating advice leans heavily into playing games and creating an air of aloofness. As a millennial woman who grew up hearing that we shouldn't text back straight away and should carefully curate an air of "cool girl" nonchalance, this kind of advice comes at a cost. Typically, playing games like these forces you to be inauthentic and to ignore your own needs. As Zohar explains: "There's a thread of, like, 'Want to know how to lose a guy? Show him interest. Answer quick. Make a plan. And don't worry, he'll run.'"

And, sure, maybe that advice will work for a little while. Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen, and all that. But are you being real?

"What you're doing is you're perpetuating inauthenticity," says Zohar. "Self-respect feels authentic, whereas the dating games feel performative."

"You want authentic? You want real? You've got to be real."

"You want authentic? You want real? You've got to be real," she adds.

The right person won't trigger your anxiety

Zohar also hates the narrative of, "Well, the right partner shouldn't make you anxious," or, "The right partner won't trigger you."

"It's like, that is a fucking lie," she says. "Your partner will trigger you."

Speaking of her own relationship, Zohar openly admits that she gets triggered by things her partner says. "There are times where he says stuff, and I'm like, 'That is not supportive.' Did I have to break up with him because of that? No, because then we would have been done after date one."

"Relationships are a mirror," she adds. A person can be an excellent partner to you, but you can still feel anxious, insecure, confused, and scared of losing them. Expecting your relationships to be free of emotional discomfort will set you up for disappointment.

Bad relationship advice is everywhere on social media. And sometimes the TikTok algorithm can sniff out heartbreak or even dating anxiety before you've even uttered the words out loud. Once you engage with one or two of these videos, your entire feed will be full of it. Zohar says that social media algorithms seem to actively reward bad dating advice. That's typically because bad advice often comes in the form of declarative, binary, black-and-white statements that lack the nuance needed when talking about dating and relationships.

"I refuse to do clickbait," says Zohar. "I refuse to do the binary. And so, if you don't create division, the platforms don't want you."

Human beings are complex. Dating is confusing, and relationships are full of emotional ups and downs. TikTok's abundance of catchy dating advice might feel instructive in the moment, but it could be distorting your ideas of what real relationships are really like.

Why Am I Like This? by Sabrina Zohar is published by Merky Books in the UK and Penguin Random House in the U.S. Purchase it from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Looking to fuel up your Netflix queue with some high-octane action?

Whether you're a fan of wild Westerns, cunning detectives, high-swinging superheroes, ravenous zombies, rowdy thieves, or hard-hitting heroines, Netflix has a pitch-perfect movie for every kind of adrenaline seeker.

We know scrolling through the streaming app can be a chore when all you want to do is Netflix and chill. So, we've taken out the hard step by highlighting the most stunt-stuffed, battle-powered, high-speed films the streamer has to offer.

SEE ALSO: Best movies of 2026, and where to watch them now

Here are the best action movies on Netflix, streaming right now.

25. Becky

If you want to see a gang of violent white supremacists have their asses handed to them by a child, watch Becky.

Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion (Cooties, Bushwick) co-direct this David and Goliath thriller, which stars Lulu Wilson (The Haunting of Hill House) as a 13-year-old girl who channels her grief into vengeance. After losing her mom to cancer, Becky isn't eager to spend a weekend in a remote cabin with her dad (Joel McHale), his girlfriend, Kayla (Amanda Brugel), and her young son, Ty (Isaiah Rockcliffe). But bonding takes a backseat to surviving when a band of neo-Nazis descend, on a mission that could cost the family their lives.

Becky grew into a franchise with Wrath of Becky (also streaming on Netflix) and The Last Temptation of Becky, which is now in theaters. But for my money, the first film is still the best, thanks in part to a truly terrifying turn by Kevin James as the head neo-Nazi. Trust me, this one kicks ass. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Lulu Wilson, Kevin James, Joel McHale, Amanda Brugel, and Isaiah Rockcliffe

How to watch: Becky is now streaming on Netflix.

24. Thrash Phoebe Dynevor in "Thrash." Credit: Ben King / Netflix

I don't want to hear it. Nope. Not a bad word will be said here about Thrash, one of the most rudely welcomed movies on Netflix. Writer/director Tommy Wirkola (Violent Night, Dead Snow) delivered a proper nail-biter of a shark survival movie here, the 24-hour tale of a hurricane that becomes a tsunami that becomes a bona fide shark invasion of a South Carolina small town. It's glorious! We've got nightmarish cinematography, increasingly flooded sets, strong performances from Djimon Hounsou, Whitney Peak, and Phoebe Dynevor, and one wildly foreshadowed shark-infested water birth. The simple task of getting from A to B in this film? Good luck.

The Thrash production team, led by production designer David Ingram, built an entire town and utterly destroyed it with flash flooding, savage marine predators, and director of photography Matthew Weston's unrelentingly stressful camera work, and that's not enough for you? Did you see that bull shark kitchen scene? Well, you have your right to an opinion and this is mine: "If you like shark movies, Thrash is a solid survival thriller with a talented cast and visuals that had me locked in. Wirkola's ability to balance horror, action, and comedy remains a praise-worthy feat. Dive into it." — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak, and Djimon Hounsou

How to watch: Thrash is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Looper Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis play different versions of the same hitman in "Looper." Credit: Tristar / Everett / Shutterstock.com

The best way to hide a body is to send it back in time, or so goes the prevailing logic of Looper, one of the best science-fiction movies of the last decade. Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a Looper, an assassin in the year 2044. He kills the poor souls that his mob bosses send to him from 30 years in the future. Joe dutifully waits at a specific spot and time for his target to appear so he can do the dirty deed and collect the cash with no one the wiser. The system works perfectly until the day he comes face to face with his latest hit — his future self, played by a superb Bruce Willis. 

It’s a fantastic time-travel movie that shines even brighter because of its cast of immensely relatable and grounded characters. Writer and director Rian Johnson’s futuristic world is fascinating, but how Joe grapples with it is even more so. Willis shines in an uncharacteristically antagonistic role, Gordon-Levitt matches Willis’ energy seamlessly, and Emily Blunt is a surprise second-act star. Looper is a breathless thriller, as exciting as it is thought-provoking.* —Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo, Jeff Daniels, and Emily Blunt

How to watch: Looper is now streaming on Netflix.

22. The Bourne Identity

Breaking from the James Bond mold, this American-in-chaos thriller stars Matt Damon as an assassin with amnesia. With no memory of who he is but the muscle memory of an action hero, Jason Bourne must dodge bullets and enemies to rediscover himself. Along the way, he depends on a spunky stranger (Franka Potente), sparking a steamy romance that leads to one of the hottest haircuts ever captured on film. (Matt Damon — hot bod barber!)

Director Doug Liman brings a unique brand of action to this nail-biter, unfurling fight scenes fast and furious, while his by-the-skin-of-their-teeth escape scenes will give you goosebumps. Robert Ludlum's Bourne novels inspired a string of exciting Bourne films. But this one remains the best, most thrilling of the bunch.* — K.P.

Starring: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, Clive Owen, Walton Goggins, and Julia Stiles

How to watch: The Bourne Identity is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, and Sophia Lillis in " Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves." Credit: Paramount Pictures

Straddling the line between a faithfulness to the decades-old RPG and introducing mainstream audiences to its world with a deft touch was always a big ask, but co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (who also share writing credits with Michael Gilio) did better than anybody expected to be possible with this 2023 adaptation. Starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, and Justice Smith as a band of merry wizards and what-nots hunting down an ancient relic, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is très goofy, but lovingly so. It's honestly a very good time at the movies!

Unfortunately, shifting release dates and other factors led D&D to kinda bomb at the box office. But now that the movie has landed on Netflix, our communal chance to right this infernal wrong has arrived. Let's all slip into our wizarding robes and watch this movie dozens of times, spread the word to all of our friends, and roll the eight-sided die on an improbable sequel!* — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

Starring: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Sophia Lillis, and Justice Smith

How to watch: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is now streaming on Netflix.

20. The Lost City Credit: Paramount Pictures

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

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

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt, Daniel Radcliffe, Patti Harrison, Bowen Yang, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph

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

19. Karate Kid: Legends Ben Wang stars opposite Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan in "Karate Kids: Legends." Credit: Sony

It's easy to be cynical about sequels when Hollywood's cinematic landscape is littered with bad examples. But then a sequel comes along that's so good, it'll knock you out. Karate Kid: Legends is a sensational sequel, building on the classic underdog framework of the original 1984 Karate Kid movie while working in fresh fun, familiar faces, and a dazzling new talent. 

SEE ALSO: Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio, and Ben Wang choose their ultimate 'Karate Kid: Legends' squad

Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, Karate Kid: Legends unites the original trilogy's Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) with the 2010 Karate Kid's martial arts master Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). Together, they train a new "karate kid" to best a ruthless bully. But the best bits of this high-kicking sequel are actually when this new kid, Li Fong (played by the dynamic Ben Wang), is carving out his own story in New York City.* — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio, and Ben Wang

How to watch: Karate Kid: Legends is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Back in Action Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Aptly titled, Back in Action not only refers to the plotline of this charming espionage comedy but also the return of its stars to the spotlight.

Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz co-star as a couple of spies who fake their deaths to flee their dangerous jobs once they learn they've got a baby on the way. Cut to 15 years later, when they're middle-aged with a cozy suburban life that's interrupted by an unexpected visit from some former colleagues. To keep their kids safe, they'll need to go on one more mission. And things get pretty zany — and yeah, corny too. But there's an undeniable pleasure in watching Diaz and Foxx bounce off each other's energy.

In my review for Mashable, I wrote, "Don't overthink it. Turn on Back in Action, and allow the star power and nostalgia for the heyday of '90s rom-coms, the peak of Cameron Diaz fame, and the fun of all that wash over you."* — K.P.

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Andrew Scott, Jamie Demetriou, Kyle Chandler, and Glenn Close

How to watch: Back in Action is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Upgrade

The always-welcome Logan Marshall-Green stars here as Grey, an auto mechanic who gets sucked into a nefarious world of cyber-horror when a car crash leaves him paralyzed and his wife dead. Implanted with an untested computer chip that can control his limbs and "fix" his paralysis, Grey's mind starts communicating with the technology, which in turns starts egging him on. After all, why just walk when you can be a kick-ass super-soldier? Needless to say, as in any good RoboCop spin, the corporations are not to be trusted when it comes to our best interests. — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

Starring: Logan Marshall-Green, Betty Gabriel, and Simon Maiden

How to watch: Upgrade is now streaming on Netflix.

16. The Union

Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry team up for an action-comedy that is surprisingly charming! He's a Boston everyman who works construction by day and by night hooks up with local hotties (including his former seventh-grade English teacher). She's a globe-trekking secret agent — and his high school girlfriend — who shows up at their old dive bar out of the blue to invite him in on a secret mission. Together, they're working for The Union.

Explosive espionage action blends with rom-com chemistry as Wahlberg and Berry delve into car chases, gun fights, and plenty of bouncy banter. J.K. Simmons brings gruff bravado, while Evil's Mike Colter delivers breathtaking swagger. Full of thrills, fun, and verve, The Union is a great pick for movie night at home.* — K.P.

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Halle Berry, J.K. Simmons, and Mike Colter

How to watch: The Union is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Coming back onto the scene 30 years after Beverly Hills Cop III flopped, this fourth installment of the comedic crime-solving adventures of Detroit police officer Axel Foley has no right to be as good as it is. Not only did screenwriters Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten have to manage how public opinion has shifted when it comes to cops who play by their own rules, but also how to approach Axel's wise-cracking sense of humor that traditionally put just about everyone in its crosshairs. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F manages both in a way that gives fresh life to the character without casting aside the fans who loved his wild ways.

As I wrote in my rave review, "Eddie Murphy is as good as ever as Axel Foley." Plus, he's got his old friends, like John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot back and in action. It's an absolute blast to see all these energies colliding, and yet there's room for newcomers, like the dynamic Taylour Paige and the always solid Joseph Gordon-Levitt, both of whom prove to be compelling foils to the ever-quipping Murphy. "In the end, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F isn't just a great sequel, or an awesome action-comedy; it might just be the most entertaining movie of [2024]."* — K.P.

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Taylour Paige, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot

How to watch: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Okja Credit: Netflix

Blending drama with fantasy/adventure and weaving in a very real message about the horrors of the meat industry, Bong Joon Ho's Okja is a beautifully unique creature feature, striped with action.

The film follows Mina (Ahn Seo-hyun), the granddaughter of a farmer in South Korea who has spent the last 10 years rearing a genetically modified super-pig called Okja as part of a breeding project spearheaded by a grim U.S. corporation. This movie is dark in places, magical in others, and poignant overall, asking us to stop and reflect on the dark side of an industry the majority of us are complicit in. Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal make for an entertaining pair of villains, too.* — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

Starring: Ahn Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Steven Yeun, and Jake Gyllenhaal

How to watch: Okja is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Damsel Credit: John Wilson / Netflix

Netflix has invested big in Millie Bobby Brown. Not only has the English ingenue led Stranger Things for years, but also she's become an outright action star through movies she has headlined and produced for the streamer, including a pair of Enola Holmes adventures and the fearsome fairy tale Damsel. Here, Brown stars as Elodie, a dutiful damsel destined to wed a handsome prince (Nick Robinson)! But rather than happily ever after, her deceitful groom pitches her into a dragon's pit. However, that's far from the end of her story. She'll fight her way to salvation and vengeance, one fiery sequence at a time.

In her review, Mashable's Belen Edwards wrote, "Boasting some inventive twists and a heartfelt lead performance from Brown, Damsel may not be groundbreaking fantasy, but it is a thrilling ride." — K.P.

Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Ray Winstone, Nick Robinson, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Angela Bassett, and Robin Wright

How to watch: Damsel is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Damsel' trailer will put you in distress 12. Army of the Dead Credit: Netflix

Sometimes all you want is to grab hold of that action-o-meter and crank the dial, hard, to a solid 11. Army of the Dead more than delivers on that front, opening with a musical montage of guns and exploding body parts — and it only gets gorier from there. Zack Snyder's story follows a band of mercenaries hired to steal $200 million from a casino in Las Vegas. The problem? Vegas has been invaded by zombies, the city is quarantined, and the military is planning to blow the entire thing up with a tactical nuclear strike. The sprawling cast includes Dave Bautista, Omari Hardwick, Hiroyuki Sanada, Garret Dillahunt, and Ana de la Reguera, as well as a digitally added Tig Notaro.

What follows is a gloriously silly romp that refuses to take itself too seriously, propelling us through a series of explosions and bullets while the story twists and turns through a 148-minute runtime that feels oh, so much shorter. — S.H.

Starring: Dave Bautista, Omari Hardwick, Hiroyuki Sanada, Garret Dillahunt, Ana de la Reguera, Ella Purnell, and Tig Notaro

How to watch: Army of the Dead is now streaming on Netflix.

11. The Harder They Fall Credit: David Lee / Netflix

Put 'em up, as this is hands-down one of the best action movies in the Wild West.

Directed by Jeymes Samuel, The Harder They Fall defiantly redefines the predominantly white Western, boasting an incredible cast of Black stars: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beetz, LaKeith Stanfield, and Delroy Lindo. A tale of heroes and villains, the film follows Nat Love (Majors) on his quest for revenge against the formidable Rufus Buck (Elba). But he'll have to make his gunslinging way through "Treacherous" Trudy Smith (King) and Cherokee Bill (Stanfield) first. Even before the opening credits roll, you'll fall hard for this one. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beetz, LaKeith Stanfield, and Delroy Lindo

How to watch: The Harder They Fall is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Enola Holmes Credit: Netflix

Sherlock Holmes's much cooler little sister is an overlooked young action hero in Enola Holmes. Based on author Nancy Springer's popular book series The Enola Holmes Mysteries, the film puts the great detective's savvy 16-year-old sibling on the case, played with energetic spoonfuls of gumption by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. She's set to solve the greatest mystery of her young life: to find her missing mother (Helena Bonham Carter) through a series of deliberately cryptic clues — all while breaking the fourth wall and confiding in the audience, thanks to Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer and His Dark Materials' Jack Thorne's sharp screenplay.

Stepping into the footsteps of her famous brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and avoiding those of her stuffier misogynist brother Mycroft (Sam Claflin), Enola's case leads her on a wild ride through Victorian-era England, with more than a few fistfights and butts to kick along the way. And lucky for you, Brown brings even more action with Enola Holmes 2 and Enola Holmes 3. — S.C.

Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Helena Bonham Carter, Henry Cavill, and Sam Claflin

How to watch: Enola Holmes is now streaming on Netflix.

9. They Cloned Tyrone Credit: Netflix

With this 2023 release, co-writer/director Juel Taylor pulls plenty of inspiration from Blaxploitation. John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris star as a drug dealer, a pimp, and a sex worker who undercover a nefarious conspiracy that's happening underneath their neighborhood. Taylor and fellow screenwriter Tony Rettenmaier weave in wild twists, fly fight scenes, irreverent humor, and swaggering style for what our critic called "a propulsive comedy-thriller with weight." As bold as it is star-studded, you won't want to miss They Cloned Tyrone. And stay for the credits, trust us. — K.P.

Starring: John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris

How to watch: They Cloned Tyrone is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: We need to talk about 'They Cloned Tyrone's ending 8. Kill Boksoon Credit: No Ju-han / Netflix

Gil Bok-Soon (Jeon Do-yeon) is a single mother who often finds herself at odds with her teenage daughter. She's also a highly skilled and successful assassin. Kill Boksoon is a fantastic action film that sees its main character head straight from a brutal killing to the grocery store so she can get dinner on the table. It's one hell of a hook that sucks you in immediately. The fight scenes are hypnotic and the cinematography ambitious and exciting. It's a gripping thriller that makes plenty of space for the complex emotional reality of its characters.* — K.G.

Starring: Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, and Kim Si-a

How to watch: Kill Boksoon is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Da 5 Bloods Credit: Netflix

Spike Lee copters audiences back to the Vietnam War with Da 5 Bloods, a daring film that's part drama, part war movie, and part heist flick. Named for a squad of Black U.S. Army soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, Lee's critically heralded 2020 joint follows this band of brothers through a treacherous war zone, then rediscovers them in a present where they're seeking to uncover the past — and a big payday.

Sequences of brutal battles, narrow escapes, and high-tension hijinks make Da 5 Bloods an enthralling watch. Though inspired by history, it's impossible to predict where Lee's story will lead. Our guides on this intense journey through time, loss, war, and brotherhood are Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and the late Chadwick Boseman. Together, they and Lee create an American war film that can't be missed. — K.P.

Starring: Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Chadwick Boseman

How to watch: Da 5 Bloods is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Apex

From Baltasar Kormákur comes a horror thriller that should scare the adrenaline junkie right out of you. Charlize Theron stars as a rock climber determined to take on the white water rapids in Australia solo. But out here in the wilderness, she soon realizes the forces of nature aren't what she should fear. It's a hunter who has his sights set on her.

SEE ALSO: 'Apex' review: This is why women choose the bear

A truly gnarly action movie, Apex pits a steely Theron against an unhinged Taron Egerton. And sure, the script by Jeremy Robbins sets up some early hints that this is going into sicko territory, but I'd wager you won't predict just how wild this cat-and-mouse game gets. Silence your cell phone. Turn the lights down, and give yourself over to this frightening, fucked-up ride.* — K.P.

Starring: Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton

How to watch: Apex is now streaming on Netflix.

5. The Old Guard Credit: Netflix

Folks looking for that summer blockbuster thrill, search no further than The Old Guard. Based on the superhero comic books of the same name, director Gina Prince-Bythewood's movie sucks viewers into a slick, well-crafted world of action and narrative that isn't particularly unique but delivers its formulaic pieces with enough precision to keep you invested.

Charlize Theron crushes as the ass-kicking leader of an immortal warrior fight crew, with performances by Harry Melling, Marwan Kenzari, KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Veronica Ngo, Matthias Schoenaerts, and more.* And don't overlook the sequel, The Old Guard 2. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter 

Starring: Charlize Theron, Harry Melling, Marwan Kenzari, KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Veronica Ngo, and Matthias Schoenaerts

How to watch: The Old Guard is now streaming on Netflix.

4. RRR

You've never seen an action movie quite as bombastic or as bromantic as RRR. Director S.S. Rajamouli draws loosely from history to tell the story of Indian freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.). Over the film's three-hour runtime, the two unwittingly face off in the search for a kidnapped girl, become the best of friends, and square off against villainous English colonizers.

SEE ALSO: Was 'RRR' snubbed at the Oscars?

Any of RRR's action sequences would be the pinnacle of a lesser action movie, but the film seems determined to outdo itself with showstopper after showstopper. Take when Raju faces down hundreds of protesters and wins, or when Bheem fights a tiger bare-handed. Would you believe me if I told you those happen within the first 20 minutes? The action — and the movie — only get more awesome from there. — B.E.

Starring: Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson, Alison Doody, and Olivia Morris

How to watch: RRR is now streaming on Netflix.

3. KPop Demon Hunters Credit: Netflix

Officially the most popular Netflix original movie of all time, KPop Demon Hunters delivers a little bit of everything: romance, action, comedy, and a totally addictive soundtrack.

SEE ALSO: How 'KPop Demon Hunters' became a love letter to K-pop and its fandom

The story stars with K-pop trio HUNTR/X, who, when they aren't making bops like "Golden," are battling demons to protect the very souls of their fans. But just as they think they're on the verge of building an impenetrable barrier with their songs, the demons fight back with a boy band of their own. The Saja Boys are comically hot, delivering smooth moves, devious plans, and plenty of slapstick. Plus, they've got a tiger, who is cute, creepy, and silly to boot! Whether it's the martial arts action sequences, the swoon-worthy song-and-dance numbers, or the cheeky sense of humor that's grabbed fans of all ages, KPop Demon Hunters is sure to thrill. And hey, now there's a sing-along version too. — K.P.

Starring: Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, Ken Jeong, Lee Byung-hun, Daniel Dae Kim, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Joel Kim Booster, and Liza Koshy

How to watch: KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

This 2018 electrifying adventure won Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards for its dynamic style and compelling coming-of-age story. Forget what you thought you knew about the high-swinging superhero. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse focuses on Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), an Afro-Latino teen, whose radioactive spider-bite gives him superpowers. But to learn how to be a hero, he'll have to take lessons from some friends from alternate realities, like Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson).

On top of the kinetic animation style that pulls inspiration from comic books and graffiti, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse also offers side-splitting comedy and eye-popping action. And it's family-friendly to boot. — K.P.

Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, Mahershala Ali, Lily Tomlin, Kathryn Hahn, Liev Schreiber, Zoë Kravitz, and Kimiko Glenn

How to watch: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Godzilla Minus One Credit: Toho Company Ltd / Everett / Shutterstock.com

You don't know Godzilla until you see Godzilla Minus One. The American movies featuring the classic kaiju go for huge monster-versus-monster face-offs, bogged down by tedious human characters. But writer/director Takashi Yamazaki reclaims the Japanese icon with a movie that gets the balance between rampaging monster action and human drama just right.

SEE ALSO: 'Godzilla Minus Zero' review: The epic monster melodrama fans have been roaring for

Set near the close of World War II, Godzilla Minus One proves a fascinating tale of atomic age terror. Ryunosuke Kamiki stars as a kamikaze pilot who first flubs his mission, then crosses paths with the giant lizard with atomic breath. Survivor's guilt torments him, even as he cobbles together a found family of fellow survivors. This cast of characters is dynamic, making the scenes of simple home-cooked meals just as satisfying as sequences of town-trampling destruction. Actually, one deeply informs the other. Because while the movie's jaw-dropping special effects rightfully won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, it's the emotional impact of them that makes this Godzilla hit harder than any contemporary. Even on the small screen, you'll be in awe.* — K.P.

Starring: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, and Kuranosuke Sasaki

How to watch: Godzilla Minus One is streaming on Netflix.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix   Get Deal

* denotes the entry comes from a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: Nov. 6, 2026, 2:50 p.m. EST This list was first published on May 24, 2020. It has since been updated to reflect the current selection on Netflix.

SAVE WITH CODE ALLONSALE: During the Sephora Savings Event, the Shark FlexStyle is on sale for only $179.10 for Beauty Insiders. That's 40% off and its lowest price ever. (VIB and Rouge members save even more.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle 4-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Dryer $179.10 at Sephora
$299 Save $119.90 Use code ALLONSALE at checkout. Must be Beauty Insider member (free to join). Shop Now at Sephora

Mashable's favorite Dyson Airwrap dupe has fallen to a new record-low price during Sephora's fall Savings Event, live through Nov. 9.

Normally $299, the stellar Shark FlexStyle is now on sale for only $179.10 in a special-edition Winter Pearl colorway. That's an unprecedented 40% savings; this beats its previous all-time low of $199.99 by about $20.

To unlock Sephora's deal, you must be a member of its Beauty Insider rewards program and enter the coupon code ALLONSALE at checkout — that will stack an extra 10% discount on top of the FlexStyle's existing $199 sale price there. Beauty Insider is free to join.

If you've been a member of the Beauty Insider program for a while, you might be able to get the FlexStyle for even cheaper. Members with VIB and Rogue status can stack 15% and 20% discounts. (You have to have spent at least $350 or $1,000 at Sephora in the past year, respectively.) Rogue members will save 47% total and pay a mere $159.20.

The Mashable Choice Award-winning Shark FlexStyle is one of our top Christmas gifts of the year. Unlike Dyson's much pricier Airwrap multistyler, its base can twist to function like a regular L-shaped hair dryer, a feature that impressed our reviewer. This base model comes with four attachments: two auto-wrap curling barrels, an oval brush, and a styling concentrator.