Technology

I run Home Assistant in Proxmox on my mini PC, along with multiple other services. I use local LLMs running in Ollama, but they're very slow on my local hardware. I've always wanted to use a local LLM to make my local voice assistant smarter, but until now, it's always been far too slow or inaccurate to be of any use.

The beauty of ESP32 boards is that you can add additional hardware to them to make them even more versatile. An ESP32 board that includes an NFC reader opens up a whole world of possibilities. You can use one in combination with smart home software such as Home Assistant to replace a wide range of smart home devices, often for a fraction of the price.

I've been using the Raycast beta for Windows as my main way to launch apps, find files, and move around my PC. It handles most of my search needs, so I rarely have a reason to use Windows' built-in search anymore.

The Slow Mo Guys' giant water balloon series is the gift that keeps on giving.

There have been many, many iterations of this format over the years, but the ingredients remains the same in each: Dan, who is one half of the YouTube duo, plus a six foot water balloon. This time a ramp is added into the mix too and Dan climbs inside the balloon before rolling down its slope and bursting forth at the bottom.

The slow motion results speak for themselves.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage and meet the Mashable 101 to discover the internet’s most exciting voices.

Donald Trump may not have got many laughs during his White House Correspondents' Dinner speech, but he did provide the late night hosts with a good amount of material.

Jon Stewart already had a wonderful time breaking the event down on The Daily Show, and in the clip above Seth Meyers has just as much fun — drawing attention to the long, empty silence that met Trump waffling about his controversial $400 million White House ballroom.

"Oh my God, that room is so quiet," says Meyers. "Is the audience sitting behind four-inch glass? Until they showed a shot of the crowd I just assumed everybody had left to go take a closer look at the ballroom. You could both hear a pin drop and see people who looked like they'd just sat on a pin."

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SAVE OVER $800: As of July 28, the Hisense 85-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV is on sale for $1,698 at Amazon. That's $801.99 off its full price of $2,499.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-Inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD TV $1,698 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $801.99   Get Deal

Big TVs come with equally big price tags, which is why we're always on the lookout for good deals. As of July 28, Amazon has dropped an offer on the Hisense 85-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV that's caught our eye, with just over $800 slashed off its list price for a limited time.

Usually, this massive screen comes with a hefty price tag of $2,499.99, but you can grab it for $1,698 right now at Amazon. Overall, it's a great 32% discount. Plus, Hisense is a TV brand we think very highly of, so it's well worth dropping cash on.

SEE ALSO: Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 from Amazon and get a free $100 gift card

Thanks to 4K resolution and Hi-QLED technology, this Hisense TV's display makes movies and shows you've put on shine with sharp clarity and stunning colors. Its huge 85-inch screen size will help you feel even more immersed in what you're watching, too. According to the store page, it also boasts a native 165Hz refresh rate. This prevents blur or lag from slowing down on-screen action, which is great news for everything from gaming to watching sports.

On top of all that, it's also a smart TV with Google TV. With this, you can organize all your favorite streaming apps on the home screen so you can jump into them right away.

Treat yourself to a TV upgrade with this discount on the Hisense 85-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV at Amazon.

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

FREE GIFT: Until July 31, buy Lego's The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter and get The Darksaber ($29.99 value) for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter $249.99 at Lego
Get a free Darksaber set ($29.99 value) through July 31, while supplies last. Shop Now

If you're a Star Wars fan, Lego is running a solid freebie deal right now.

Buy the Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter, and Lego will throw in The Darksaber for free — a $29.99 value. The offer runs until July 31, while supplies last, and is available exclusively at Lego.

The N-1 Starfighter build uses special silver-colored bricks to capture the ship's detail, and it comes with The Mandalorian and Grogu figurines, so it's a solid centerpiece for a Star Wars display, even before the freebie comes in play. The Darksaber set recreates the black-handled lightsaber associated with ruling Mandalore, and it's built specifically as an adult collector's piece — it comes with a display stand and nameplate and has 278 pieces in total.

What you need to know before ordering

Your purchase must include the N-1 Starfighter set (75442) to qualify, and Pick a Brick (Standard) orders don't count toward the promo. You're also limited to one Darksaber per account.

Some fine print worth flagging — if you return the N-1 Starfighter for a refund, Lego says the Darksaber must be returned with it, and you can't swap the freebie for another item or cash. It's also an online-only deal, so it won't work at Legoland Parks, Legoland Discovery Centers, or Lego Certified Stores.

If you've had your eye on the N-1 Starfighter already, this is a good time to grab it — you get a bonus Mandalorian set at no extra cost, and deals like this disappear once supplies run out.

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

A heart-shaped Samsung phone is going viral online, with video of the device racking up thousands of likes and shares on both X and Instagram. Don't get too excited about it, though. The video is AI-generated, and the phone doesn't exist.

SEE ALSO: Samsung unveils Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: Everything you need to know about the flagship foldable

Video of a Samsung-branded, heart-shaped phone has been spreading on social media, depicting a person pulling protective plastic off the device inside a store. While many savvy social media users quickly deduced that the phone was an AI-generated fake, a few wondered if it was real or expressed excitement to buy it.

Unfortunately for lovers of whimsy, the heart phone is most definitely not real. The clip was originally posted to Instagram by @tanu_mobile, an account filled with AI-generated clips of fantastical tech products, and has accumulated 49.2 million views at time of writing. In addition to posting the fake heart-shaped Samsung phone, @tanu_mobile has also posted other AI-generated heart-shaped phones with Apple and Vivo branding within the last few days. 

Featured Video For You Samsung Z Fold 8 Ultra Vs iPhone 17 Pro Max

Though none of these videos explicitly disclose that they were made with AI, the descriptions for some do say that the phones are "fanmade." @tanu_mobile also acknowledged that a previous video of a Samsung-branded heart phone which they'd posted weeks ago was AI generated. The use of generative AI is particularly clear in the video of the heart-shaped Vivo phone, in which a woman's clothes suddenly morph into an entirely different outfit.

The currently viral Samsung heart phone video has a few tells as well. Specifically, the Samsung signage in the reflection on the phone is misspelled, and its app names are garbled. Some of the app icons are giveaways too, as the device appears to have iOS' Phone, Notes, and Calendar apps installed. Samsung uses the Android operating system, so does not use these specific Apple apps.

Samsung has gotten slightly more creative with its phones' form factor recently with the new Galaxy Z Fold 8, a foldable with a shorter body than is typical of modern smartphones. Even so, there have been no reports that it's venturing into more novel shapes such as hearts at present.

While the Samsung heart phone may not exist, the video is a good reminder to be sceptical when scrolling, especially considering the prevalence of AI-generated videos. Question unusual and exciting new products before being swept up in the hype — particularly if there weren't even any rumours about them before they showed up on your For You feed.

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This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

It's 2026 and times are good for low-effort consumers. Yes, you can get pretty much anything you want by just tapping and swiping of your smartphone: Your shopping, your favourite takeaway, your high-ticket tech, even — our personal favourite — a hot date. And why shouldn't you? Online dating is nothing new. Apps and websites have dominated the dating world for the best part of 20 years. In fact, some sites go all the way back to the mid-1990s. But things are constantly evolving in the world of app-based dating.

According to our favourite sex-perts at Lovehoney — the progressive sex toy brand that sells everything from lingerie to lubricants and dildos — we're living in horny-but-wholesome times. Lovehoney has named 2026 "The Year of Pleasure."

That doesn’t mean quick-and-easy pleasure from one-night stands and flings. It may come as some surprise, but research says that one-night stands are on the out. Would-be daters are now cruising for "purposeful pleasure" and "meaningful connections." That means hookups with substance — flings that mean something. Yes, we're still hooking up, but we're getting more selective about who we hookup with and why. So, it's important to get the right dating app because each app offers something a little different. And you need the right tools to find the right date.

To help you get started, we’ve looked at the top apps and taken advice from sex and relationship experts.

What to know before you swipe

Before you start downloading apps, it’s good know just how to approach online dating. Our advice is to be 100 percent honest about who and what you’re up for. And maybe give a pass to the mainstream dating apps that are more about romance and happily ever afters (the likes of eharmony, in other words). The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the best free options will have features like profile verification to keep you safe.

Our main advice though is to stick to apps which are purpose-built for hookups, casual fun, and satisfying your kink (whatever that kink might be). It can be freeing, not to mention productive, to be open about specific desires. The ways in which we understand sex and relationships are changing all the time — just looking at fast-growing "heteroflexible" sexuality — and hookup apps allow you to explore curiosities with no judgement or social anxiety.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet NSFW chats

It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, whether it's the chance to explore a new sexual frontier, a friends-with-benefits situation on the reg, or an old school one-night stand (the one-night stand might be going out of fashion, but it’s still hella fun as long as it’s safe and on your terms).

Whatever your desire, we’re here to help make it happen. This guide to the best hookups apps is based on Mashable’s own real-world testing, expert input, and general experience. We’ve broken down each of the best hookup apps available right now, with an option for every type of dater and every dating desire.

These are the best hookup apps for 2026.

TL;DR: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on July 18. Romance Book Blast, hosted by Romance Booklovers, offers free romance books in a variety of subgenres.

Rejoice, because another Stuff Your Kindle Day is going live on July 28.

Romance Book Blast, hosted by Romance Booklovers, is offering free romance books from a variety of subgenres. The chance to bolster your reserve of reading material for free is special, but it actually gets better: Everything that you download is yours to keep forever. That means you can stock up without a care in the world.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the new Motorola Razr for free — how to get yours

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Romance Book Blast takes place on July 28. This 24-hour giveaway is a little more stressful than some of the events that drag on for multiple days. With this free event, you will need to act fairly quickly to secure everything on your list.

Which books are free?

Romance Book Blast is a (you guessed it) romance book giveaway with everything listed for free. There's a helpful hub page with everything organized by subgenre. Take some time to properly peruse your options, or head directly to the sub-category that works best for you:

• Steamy Romance 1

• Steamy Romance 2

• Sweet and No Spice

• Romantic Comedy

• Small Town Romance

• Sports Romance

• Fantasy Romance

• Dark Romance and Romantic Suspense

• Paranormal Romance

• Young and New Adult

• Later in Life

• Historical Romance

• Science Fiction

• Short Read Romance

• Erotica and Erotic Romance

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep forever, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $109.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase for a limited time.

Jon Stewart offered a live commentary on Donald Trump's speech during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which was packed full of attempted jokes and awkward silence aplenty.

In the Daily Show monologue above Stewart goes through line by line, playing everything from a clip of the U.S. president deciding halfway through a sentence to change the target of his joke — "Oh my God, don't tell us you're changing the target of your roast joke halfway through the joke!" yells Stewart. "We don't know the target, just change it!" — to footage of Trump blaming his speech writer for a joke not landing ("Who the hell wrote that line?" repeats Stewart. "Um, it sounds like you? It sounds exactly like something you would say.").

Ultimately, one of Stewart's lines near the start probably sums things up best.

"You know, normally I'd say don't quit your day job, but in this case I will make an exception."

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TL;DR: YouTube and NBCUniversal have struck a deal that will bundle Peacock Premium into YouTube Premium's $15.99 per month subscription starting early next year, adding access to live sports (NFL, NBA, MLB) and shows like Law & Order, SNL, and Love Island — no separate Peacock subscription required.

Starting early next year, YouTube Premium is about to become much more valuable.

YouTube and NBCUniversal have announced a deal that folds Peacock Premium directly into the $15.99 per month YouTube Premium subscription — meaning if you're already paying for YouTube Premium, you won't need a separate Peacock subscription to access its content.

The bundle brings a big chunk of NBCUniversal's content into the mix:

• Live sports, including NFL, NBA, and MLB games

• Entertainment staples like Law & Order, Saturday Night Live, and Love Island

• Peacock's broader library of movies and originals

If you've been paying for Peacock separately, or skipping it because it felt like one subscription too many, this changes that math pretty significantly.

Peacock has struggled to compete with the bigger streaming players — it currently sits at 48 million subscribers, compared to YouTube Premium and YouTube Music's combined 125 million. By folding into YouTube Premium rather than selling it as an add-on, NBCUniversal is essentially betting that YouTube's scale can do what Peacock hasn't managed on its own.

SEE ALSO: Alert the group chat: You can stream Lollapalooza live from your couch

YouTube Premium already has multiple tiers — an $8.99 per month Premium Lite plan and a $26.99 per month family plan. If this partnership works out, YouTube could end up bundling in more streaming services down the line, rather than staying as a video platform with a premium tier.

Worth noting too: Peacock just turned a profit for the first time last quarter, and this deal is the latest in a string of partnerships it has struck recently, including bundles with Apple TV, Prime Video, and Roku — all part of the same push to get more eyes on Peacock.

Either way, this deal shows just how far streaming platforms are willing to go to keep up — and Peacock finally has a real shot at the audience it's been chasing.

TL;DR: AT&T is giving away the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 for free when you trade in an eligible device and sign up for a qualifying unlimited plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung AT&T: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 for free   Get Deal

At Samsung Unpacked last week, the tech giant announced a whole range of new tech, from smartphones to smartwatches. If the Galaxy Z Fold 8 caught your eye, you may not have to pay full price, as AT&T is offering eligible customers the chance to get it for free.

Yes, you read that right. This is thanks to a new trade-in offer. The promotion is available to both new and existing customers who activate a new line or upgrade an existing one, with the biggest savings reserved for those on the carrier's Premium 2.0 unlimited plan.

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To qualify for the maximum discount, you'll need to purchase the Galaxy Z Fold 8 on a 36-month, 0% APR installment plan, sign up for (or already have) an eligible AT&T Premium 2.0 plan, and trade in a qualifying smartphone worth at least $290. If you meet all of these requirements, you'll receive up to $1,900 in bill credits over the course of the installment plan. Since that's enough to cover the Galaxy Z Fold 8's starting price, it effectively means you can get the phone for free.

Eligible trade-in devices to receive the full $1,900 credit include the Apple iPhone 15, iPhone 16, and iPhone 17; Samsung's Galaxy S24, S25, and S26 lineups; the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Fold7; and Google's latest Pixel 10 devices.

It's worth noting that if you pay off the phone early, upgrade before the agreement ends, cancel your service, or move to a lower-tier plan, this could reduce or end the remaining credits, meaning you'll be responsible for any outstanding balance.

Head to AT&T to get this preorder promotion while it's still available.

With just three episodes out, Elizabeth Meriwether's Furious is shaping up to be a mesmerizing crime drama. Episode 1 introduced a mysterious female serial killer (Lola Petticrew) who targets men in their own homes. Episode 2 showed her whole process, which involves manipulation, drugging, and a deadly hostage situation.

SEE ALSO: 'Furious' review: Hulu's new crime drama is savage, smart, and addictive

However, Mira, the hapless daughter that wandered in the crime scene didn't meet the murderous wrath of Jinny/Vanessa/Catherine. But Becky, the social worker played by Chloe Troast, does in episode 3.

Becky works at the domestic violence shelter where Catherine is hiding as Jinny — the name stolen from the girl she mugged in episode 1. Catherine realizes she can seduce Becky in the shelter to get her to bend some rules, and from there, Catherine goes into full-on blackmail.

Chloe Troast and Lola Petticrew in "Furious." Credit: Disney / Sarah Shatz

While initially resistant, Becky meets Catherine's terms, delivering a bag of goods, including cleaning products and a new wig. Then, Becky insists she's done with her. But with the promise of weed — and the suggestion of another hook-up — Catherine lures her into a thicket of Central Park, where Becky's corpse will later be found.

In an interview with Mashable, Petticrew spelled out Catherine's reasoning.

"Even though we know Catherine is who Catherine is," they said, referring to the audience understanding this killer's capabilities, "Becky doesn't know that when she works at the shelter. And [as far as she knows], she takes advantage of a vulnerable person. And so, for Catherine, you gotta go. Becky, in a sense, is just as bad as any man."

The first three episodes of Furious are now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes every Monday through Aug. 31. 

It's only been a few months since Logan Paul's $16 million Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card sale set a record, but he's already on the hunt for something more valuable.

The controversial YouTuber-turned-WWE star released a one-hour mini-documentary on YouTube on Friday, chronicling his quest to acquire a card that doesn't exist yet.

So what exactly is he trying to do, and why is the Pokémon card he's trying to acquire potentially so valuable? Let's break it down.

SEE ALSO: I tried to buy my son some Pokémon cards at retail price. It was almost impossible. Which Pokémon card is Logan Paul trying to acquire?

In a nutshell, the origin of Pokémon cards can be dated back to 1996. Rather than being sold in packs, the first trading cards were available to peel from sheets found in a Japanese comic called CoroCoro. Pairs of cards were released over a number of issues, with the first – issue 223 – containing Pikachu and Jigglypuff cards.

The catch? Although there are many of these cards in circulation, there is apparently still no Pikachu that's been graded a perfect 10 by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) body.

The video above chronicles Paul's attempt to secure one, following him as he buys copies of CoroCoro 223 along with pre-production sheets of the cards that came with the issue, hoping to peel a Pikachu card that's high enough quality to make the grade of Gem Mint 10 (categorised on PSA's website as a "virtually perfect card").

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. When will we know if Logan Paul has acquired the PSA 10 Pikachu?

This is the big question. Normally getting cards graded with PSA takes time (from five to 25 business days), but in the documentary we see Paul getting two cards graded far more quickly after dropping them off at one of the PSA offices himself.

At the end of the video, he announces a live streaming event where he will peel the Pikachu card that he hopes to get graded a 10. What we don't know is what will happen next. Will the event end with Paul showing the card off and getting ready to take it to PSA? Or does he have the kind of relationship with the authenticator where he'll be able to organise for one of its graders to attend the event, and do the grading in person?

We'll have to wait for the stream, which is happening July 30 at 9:30 p.m. EST on Paul's YouTube channel, to find out.

Featured Video For You Boys on the internet are telling me nicotine is a productivity hack

Dreame, one of my favorite robot vacuum brands, has really been experimenting with new product categories. I've tested a fancy pet air purifier and a countertop composter alternative from Dreame so far in 2026. But it was the release of a red light mask that piqued my interest the most. Is that not random as hell?

Dreame isn't totally new to the beauty tech industry — two of its hair dryers have made our list of the best Dyson Supersonic dupes. But skincare is a whole other ball game, especially considering how saturated the red light mask market has become in the past year or two. At this point, it would take a lot for any new mask to stand out from the other top red light masks all over the internet.

Behold: The Dreame Chrona. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

But Dreame did manage to make the Chrona mask stand out. And in more ways than one.

What's special about the Dreame Chrona face mask?

The first exciting thing about the Dreame Chrona mask is the fact that it's cordless. Not just cordless in a "you don't need to be plugged into the wall" way, but cordless in a "no remote attached" way. Completely wireless LED face masks are a pretty rare find as it is, and you're even less likely to come across one that's this affordable and still reputable. Both cordless Therabody masks come to mind: The original TheraFace Mask costs $649.99 and the TheraFace Mask Glo costs $379.99.

The Chrona mask weighs less than a pound and can be tucked into my duffle bag. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Since the mask is easy to pack, I was able to keep up with my routine at the beach. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Wired remotes aren't that big of a deal, but I can't say that they don't get in the way if you're not sitting still. I love that I can be productive and do something like fold laundry while wearing the Chrona mask — without worrying about bumping the cord or knocking the pants clip off.

Also huge: The Chrona is one of the only flexible silicone masks that offer blue light. It's much harder to pack a hard shell mask like the Shark CryoGlow, forcing me to go on several trips (including two vacations to Disney World) without my line of defense against surprise pimples.

Red light and blue light are far from your only options

The Dreame Chrona mask has more light colors than any LED face mask I've ever tried.

The Chrona mask in Rejuvenate Mode. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The Chrona mask in Restore Mode. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Inside the mask, there are 280 LED bulbs with an irradiance measurement of 40 mW/cm² — well within the optimal range. (Irradiance determines light density, or how much usable light energy is actually reaching your skin per session).

You can use the completely wireless remote to choose a setting, choose from three levels of bulb brightness, and even customize session times of five, 10, and 15 minutes. Five settings target the following skincare concerns:

• Rejuvenate Mode (red at 630nm + near-infrared at 850nm): Boosts collagen production, firms skin, reduces the appearance of fine lines, and promotes cellular healing

• Calm Mode (blue at 465nm): Inhibits non-hormonal acne by killing surface bacteria

• Brighten Mode (yellow/amber at 590nm): Targets sun damage and revives dull complexions

• Balance Mode (green at 530nm): Neutralizes visible redness and hyperpigmentation

• Restore Mode (full spectrum): Firms, smooths, and brightens through cycles of red, yellow, and green light for all-in-one revitalization

The big metallic circle on the headband also has a button to cycle between settings. On days that I'm planning to do back-to-back sessions, it's clutch to be able to switch between modes without carrying the remote around.

The screen shows how many minutes are left in your session. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Once you know what each color does, you can choose a setting without the remote. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Dreame Chrona battery life

The chrome circle is also the mask's battery. It clicks onto the headband with magnets and can be popped off for easy charging via USB-C. The Dreame Chrona mask has a listed battery life of 60 minutes, which translates into six 10-minute sessions. Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern found the battery to last closer to 45 minutes during her time trying out the mask. The mask comes with a spare battery, so realistically, you could swap them out and get about 90 minutes of battery life before having to recharge.

Chrona mask results: Do all of the settings actually work?

Two months in, the Chrona mask has kept my skin smooth and even-toned. I've been able to use CC cream as foundation and concealer for the entire summer without certain areas begging for extra coverage. Makeup doesn't settle into my forehead fine lines even if I'm sweaty, and dry setting powder gets noticeably less cakey.

I've also barely gotten a zit during this time — a huge win, considering I was getting a new zit every single day before I started testing red light masks two years ago. I also see a slight reduction in the redness on my cheeks.

I had hoped that the Chrona mask would make my post-inflammatory erythema a little less noticeable. There are a few post-pimple sites that've stuck around my chin for months, and they're still pretty dark and red. More consistent use of the Chrona's green light setting might help.

SEE ALSO: Shark FacialPro Glow review: The pore de-clogging is legit, but it may not be right for every skin type

It's important to note that my Chrona journey has been more about sustaining the fine line and acne progress from the other red light masks I've been testing throughout the past year or two. I always end up going back to the Shark CryoGlow mask, so its results are my baseline for assessing how well another LED face mask works.

One small complaint, but it's NBD

OK, the Chrona mask's strap placement is a little awkward. It's so high up that it's surely supposed to sit above your ears, but this makes the mask bottom-heavy. I tend to pull the velcro straps as tight as they'll go to prevent the mask from falling down, which does leave light lines on my forehead and nose sometimes.

While I do prefer a double strap situation for a more stable fit, the Chrona mask is still the easiest mask to wear around the house that I've ever tried.

Is the Dreame Chrona mask worth it?

Absolutely. The Dreame Chrona mask is easily the best budget red light mask you'll come across. It offers classic red and blue light settings at science-backed wavelengths, plus yellow and green light settings that could offer your skin even more ways to glow. At $269.99, the Chrona mask is a much more accessible path to at-home red light therapy than the popular Omnilux or CurrentBody masks.

I always say that the best red light face mask to buy is the one that you'll actually wear on a daily basis. The Dreame Chrona mask makes it easy to maintain the consistency that's required to see results. Being so lightweight and truly cordless, the Chrona mask can seamlessly be worn during any of the tasks you normally do at home.

Dreame Chrona Anti-Aging Skincare Mask $224.99 at Amazon
$269.99 Save $45   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Dreame

National Chicken Wing Day lands on July 29.

Major chains across the country are dropping limited-time deals, BOGO promos, and wing discounts to celebrate this special day. Whether you take your wings bone-in, boneless, drenched in extra-spicy sauce, or coated in lemon pepper, this is officially your excuse to indulge in your passion.

These are our favorite National Chicken Wing Day deals in 2026:

7-Eleven

Get 10 wings delivered for $8 with the app. This offer is valid until Aug. 25.

Bad Daddy’s

Score $0.99 wings in classic Buffalo or sweet-and-spicy Thai chili on July 29 for dine-in guests. To qualify, you need to make a minimum order of six wings, with a limit of 18 wings per person.

Buffalo’s Cafe

Get $19.99 all-you-can-eat wings for dine-in guests on July 29.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Grab a free order of wings (bone-in or boneless) with any $15 dine-in purchase on July 29.

Dave & Buster’s

Score $0.50 boneless wings and $1 bone-in wings all day.

Hooters

Dine-in guests can get 10 wings (bone-in or boneless) for $7.29 with any beverage purchase on July 29.

Hurricane Grill & Wings

Get $0.99 bone-in or boneless wings all day on July 29 for dine-in guests.

Native Grill & Wings

Get $0.49 bone-in wings with any drink purchase on July 29. Valid for dine-in, takeout, or orders placed directly through the Native Grill & Wings app or website.

Pilot

On July 29, customers who order on the Pilot app can get five jumbo wings for $5.

Raise the Roost

Grab $1 single chicken tenders or traditional bone-in wings from July 27-30 at participating locations.

Sonny's BBQ

Loyalty members get a free 6-count of Sauced & Tossed wings with any entrée purchase.

Speedy Cafe

Speedy Rewards members can grab special promotional pricing on 5-piece or 8-piece boneless wing orders through Aug. 25.

TGI Fridays

Order Matchday Wing Bites starting at $8.99 (six bone-in or eight boneless wings with fries and dip) or upgrade to the Matchday Goal Line Platter starting at $16.99 (eight wings, three chicken fingers, and golden onion rings).

The Greene Turtle

Get the $19.99 all-you-can-eat wing-and-fries special (valid for both bone-in and boneless wings, upon request).

Wings and Rings

Take 40% off all wings on July 28-29 for dine-in and online orders.

Wingstop

Club Wingstop members can unlock daily sweepstakes for concert tickets, $500 Ticketmaster gift cards, and VIP festival packages until July 31.

Look, we're happy that young Mira (Riley Vinson) made it through her brush with Furious' serial killer (Lola Petticrew) alive. But three men have been felled by this murderess. What compelled her to leave Mira, a witness who saw her unmasked, alive?

Mashable Entertainment Editor asked Petticrew. But before we get to their answer, a bit of context:

In episode 2 of the Elizabeth Meriwether-created crime drama, killer Catherine has taken over the posh high-rise apartment of Oliver Charles (Rob Delaney), a lawyer who was working for her last victim, Caleb Easton. She's got Oliver drugged and trapped in his own home, as she's done at least twice before with other victims. But his daughter Mira catches her by surprise with an unexpected visit.

Over the course of the episode, Catherine bonds with Mira. They eat chicken, talk about boys and dads, and do their hair together — "like twins," as Mira puts it. But after the little girl finds her dad's body, Catherine gets shockingly honest with Mira.

In episode 3, while being interrogated by FBI agent Alice Black (Emmy Rossum), Mira recounts, "My dad had sex with her when she was my age. He paid her."

Meriwether's script doesn't deal in flashbacks. However, by showing Mira, who is clearly a child, as Catherine talks about being abused at the same age, we don't need flashbacks to understand the evil done to her.

Petticrew said of this choice, "I think that sometimes on screen, it feels like we are showing these violent images of things that happen to women and their bodies, and quite often there either isn't a reason. Or we could have done it without it. And often, that's almost the better artistic choice."

They continued, "Having Mira there, and you know, the young actress that played Mira [Vinson] was just so phenomenal. I mean, it was so much better than any flashback ever could have been, to be confronted with the image of her. Those were difficult, challenging scenes, but also intensely rewarding. When you get to work with an actress like that, especially a young one who is so emotionally open and able to pull things [out] of you that you didn't even expect, it's a complete and utter gift."

Why doesn't Catherine kill Mira in Furious?

To this, Petticrew said, "Mira is an innocent, a complete innocent. Mira hasn't done anything wrong."

They added, "Catherine has her own moral standards that, while other people may not understand them, they're there, and Mira is a complete innocent, and therefore [Catherine] has no reason. And she sees herself in her. And when they have that moment, you can see it all over Mira's face, and I think that Mira believes her."

The first three episodes of Furious are now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes every Monday through Aug. 31. 

TL;DR: Instead of paying high-tech prices, get a near-mint refurbished MacBook Air on sale for $199.97.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2018 (Refurbished) $244.99
$1,199 Save $954.01   Get Deal

If you’ve been tracking tech prices lately, you know how hard it is to find a good price on a computer, even a basic one, for little daily tasks. Rather than dropping a whole paycheck on a brand new Apple computer, more shoppers have started switching to refurbished computers like this MacBook Air. It’s in near-mint condition with a grade-A refurbished rating, and it’s on sale for $199.97 (reg. $1,199).

This MacBook comes with a dual-core Intel Core i5 that runs at 1.6GHz and boosts to 3.6GHz. It has 8GB of RAM, enough for browsing, streaming, or light productivity, and the 128GB SSD gives you a good bit of room for apps and files.

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You also get a 13.3-inch Retina display at 2560×1600, so text stays sharp, and photos look right whether you’re on the web or building a slide. Battery life runs up to 12 hours of browsing or playback, so you can leave the charger at home most days. There are two Thunderbolt 3 ports for charging, an external monitor, transfers up to 40 Gb/s, and Touch ID unlocks it with your fingerprint.

This model still updates to macOS Sonoma, so you get the latest features and security patches instead of a laptop stuck on older software.

Grade A refurbished means it shows up in near-mint condition with very minimal to zero scuffing on the case. You also get a wall charger and a 40-day parts-and-labor warranty.

Skip the markup and get a Mac for a smarter price. Pick up a MacBook Air while they’re on sale for $199.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: ARTA combines AI image generation, video creation, avatars, photo editing, and more into one app. Get a one-year Premium subscription for $19.97 (reg. $39.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: AIBY ARTA AI Premium Plan Subscriptions $19.97
$39.99 Save $20.02   Get Deal

AI image generators used to mean typing a prompt and hoping the result looked anything like what you had in mind. Now they’re generating videos, editing selfies, creating professional headshots, and even letting you try on virtual outfits. ARTA puts all of that into one app, and for a limited time, you can grab a 1-year subscription for only $19.97 (reg. $39.99).

Built on AI models including Flux, GPT-4o, and Nano Banana, ARTA can create everything from realistic headshots and social media graphics to stylized artwork, product mockups, and short AI-generated videos. Upload a photo to swap outfits, experiment with different hairstyles, remove distracting objects, or generate an entirely new look without opening a complicated editing program.

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ARTA isn’t just for chasing the latest AI trend, either. You can use it for work, too. Mock up marketing concepts, design presentation graphics, generate blog illustrations, create eye-catching thumbnails, or quickly produce visuals for social posts when stock photos just won’t cut it. With more than 45 art styles and customizable aspect ratios, there’s enough flexibility to create images that fit your project instead of the other way around.

The Premium plan includes 500 credits every week, which refresh automatically for AI images, avatar packs, videos, and edits. Because ARTA works on iPhone, Android, and desktop — and has earned more than 78,000 four-star reviews on the App Store — you can start a project on your phone and finish it wherever it’s most convenient.

Normally $39.99, score a 1-year subscription to ARTA AI for only $19.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.